Ambrose (The Theriot Family 5)

I glanced at Ambrose. “That will happen, but it might take a little while.”

She nodded. I knew she remembered me telling her Ambrose preferred solitude and that I hadn’t thought there was any chance of us being together because of it.

“Maybe not as long as you think,” Ambrose said. “I’ve set some goals for the renovation now that I’m going to be living there instead of the cabin. In a few months, I thought we…”

His voice faltered, and I took his hand in mine. “We can go slow with this.”

He shook his head. “No. I’m all in with you, with this project, with this family. I’m never going to be someone who wants people around constantly, but we’re going to have a fucking housewarming.”

I’d resisted as long as I could. I pulled him into my arms and kissed him. Everyone cheered even louder than they had before. My family was going to love him, and I already felt like a part of the Theriot family. I never imagined I could be this happy, especially not while living in a big old house in the middle of the bayou, but I knew I’d truly found home.

31

Epilogue

Two Months Later

Ambrose

The number of times I’d regretted agreeing to a housewarming party was in the hundreds, probably the thousands, but the entire downstairs was finished, plus one of the upstairs bedrooms. There was even some landscaping done out back, including the start of a garden that we could see from the back parlor. The porch had a swing as well as chairs, and the place was starting to look like it had in the pictures my uncle had shown me from its glory days.

I was excited for everyone to see the house. I just hoped I’d be able to get them all to leave at a reasonable time. I wanted to show off the work Eric and I had accomplished. I wanted my family to see the two of us were happy out here even if Eric had never imagined being somewhere remote like this, but there was only so much of my family I could take, and Eric’s family was coming too. I’d worried I needed to invite them to stay here, but he’d assured me they understood my need for privacy, and his mother and sister would have no desire to spend a long weekend in the middle of a bayou.

I stepped out onto the porch and looked toward the trees as I listened to the sound of the water just beyond them. Being outside always calmed me, but nothing was going to take away my anxiety over all the people coming to see the house. There was a breeze, and I could almost pretend it was refreshing. At least it cut down on the number of mosquitoes buzzing around. I hadn’t shared my miracle repellent with everyone. I was fairly sure most of them wouldn’t be willing to try it once they heard the ingredient list. Eric had been wise to say he didn’t want to know.

Eric joined me a few moments later. He stood behind me and began to massage my shoulders. “We don’t have to do this if it’s too hard for you.”

“That’s stupid. It’s just my family and yours.”

“You don’t like a lot of people in a confined space. It’s okay to have difficulty with that.”

“We’ve already invited everyone. Your parents and sister flew all the way here to see you.”

“To see us.”

“That makes me even more committed.”

“We can have my family over first, then yours can come later.”

“No. We’re doing it the way we planned. We have the food, and I’m not going to be able to convince myself to do this again on another day. Besides, I thought I’d tell Dax today.”

“Tell him what?”

“About what happened when… What made me leave the army.”

“I think that’s a great idea.” He deepened the massage, and I groaned, dropping my head forward and enjoying the way he worked at the knots my tension had created.

“You’ve worked so hard on this house and preparing for this party. Everyone is going to be impressed. I just wish I thought I could impress your aunt and uncle.”

I smiled as I turned in Eric’s arms and looped mine around his neck. “Uncle Bébe and Aunt Marjorie are going to adore you.”

“I don’t think I’m exactly the new family member they were looking for.”

“They weren’t expecting me to end up with anyone. They’ve always known I make my own choices, and after I came back… Well, you know I didn’t want to see anyone. The fact that you make me happy is enough. Uncle Bébe might try to size you up, but my aunt will set him straight if he does.”

“I can handle it. Your aunt doesn’t have to save me. I’m just not looking forward to it.”