Well. It’s a Lundstrom town to me… And I’m proud of my girl for finding it.
Prouder than she will ever know.
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
THREE YEARS LATER
Jacinta
For a guy who only ever really planned towns and houses, Kyle’s not too shabby at the actual hands-on construction of them either.
Sure it’s taken a while, but we do have all the time in the world.
Between six months abroad each year for research, and the other six divided up between home in the city and building the Cherry homestead, it’s almost finished.
Sitting on the front porch with Baby Melissa in my arms and little Archie in his playpen beside me, I can see the town of Cherry as its founding families might’ve all those years ago.
True to his word, Kyle made sure everyone got zero interest in any financing with anyone who could prove they were more than second-generation Cherry residents.
As it turns out, most everyone in town is at least third or fourth generation.
But somehow I think Kyle knew that before he made it part of his redevelopment proposal.
My dad was a little perplexed that Kyle refused to turn any profit from his last public development project.
But as Kyle promised, mom and dad have been as well looked after as anyone else in the town.
Both of them run the diner, which had a restoration as well, making it one of the biggest and most authentic fifties style diners in the state.
The Inn’s still there, but there’s a new industry not far from it, with a modern mill and even the old foundry up and running again.
But it’s the wholesome, small country town vibe that’s drawing visitors to the place again.
Barns have been rebuilt or repaired, houses restored and the whole town landscaped to the point of looking like it might have half a century ago.
And there’s not a cell phone tower or high-rise building in sight.
All the technology, including the outdated power line, are underground now, giving every house on every street a picture perfect view out their windows.
“Where’s Dada?” Little Archie asks, standing up in his playpen. Sensing something I can’t.
“Daddy’s getting us dinner baby. He’ll be back soon,” I tell him, not minding when he grizzles until I pick him up.
One precious little baby on each hip, all three of us look out over the valley as the sun dips behind some trees.
The point as it used to be called is not for teens to make out anymore. But Kyle was careful there too, making sure a suitable lookout was constructed not too far from the center of town, one that didn’t have a view of our house.
“There, there!” Archie cries out, thrusting a tiny finger towards the trail of dust coming up the hill.
“That’s right,” I coo. “Here comes daddy… I wonder what he’s brought for us.”
More lumber and paint by the looks. I smile, hearing the gears squeak on the old Ford every other time Kyle hits a bump in that track he swears every day he’s gonna fix.
He’s only been gone an hour or so, but every time Kyle comes home, every time the kid’s daddy is within sight, we all feel it.
It’s like a warm hug and a gentle squeeze of my hand.
It’s the same hand brushing my hair back before he kisses me again.
Every time it gives me the same chills and thrill it did like the first time he ever kissed me.
He even cleared the old lookout where he first brought me up here, adding some bushes around the exact spot with a perfect view of the Old Mill Inn.
Our own little secret reminder about that first day and my first time.
Just one of the thousand different ways he shows me as well as tells me the words that are on all of our lips as he pulls up.
After everyone’s had their kisses, hugs, and questions for dad. It’s my turn.
The homecoming I get even if he’s just been out to get lumber or if he’s been gone half the day because the truck broke down again.
Every time he makes me feel like his queen, reminding me of those three words.
Three words that are carried in the breeze, down into the valley that really is a Lundstrom town now.
And it always will be.
“I love you, Kyle.”
“I love you more baby… More than any of you will ever know.”