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“Your biggest seasons would be fall for the leafers and then hunters. But if you partnered with the local snowmobile club, that’d open up your options in the winter. We’re not near any ski resorts, but there’s the winter festival, and don’t forget, Merryville has the Christmas village.”

What the heck were they talking about?

“Uhm—”

Evie held up a finger, silencing me. “Do you think Simon would consider a partnership?”

“I don’t see why not? It’d bring him business. There are only a few places in town to stay. Rose and Edward have a room for rent. There are a few apartments, but not an actual bed-and-breakfast.”

I sat up. “Are you thinking about?—”

“Shush.” I had joked about Evie opening her own bed-and-breakfast, but I never thought she’d consider it.

I had mixed feelings about strangers in Mimi’s house, but then again, it’d allow us to keep her home and her memory alive.

Evie didn’t stop holding up her finger as she stood, pacing back and forth.

“There are four finished bedrooms and two suites with a third bathroom. That’d be difficult to sell for larger crowds. I’d need to crunch some numbers. One room could have two single beds at a discount. That’d work for the snowmobile club, but…”

“The attic,” I said.

Evie raised her eyebrow. “Elaborate.” Thanks for permission to speak, sis.

“Finish the attic, and that’d be two large rooms. It runs the length of the house. I’m not a plumber, but maybe they could be suites?”

Her expression shifted. I couldn’t fathom what went through her head. She had worked in hospitality for as long as I could remember. If she believed this could work, I’d default to her. We had equal ownership in Mimi’s house, and I’d gladly sign mine over if it allowed her to follow her dream.

“It sounds like a lot of?—”

“Bobby!” I almost forgot about the Wrights. “He works in construction. He could give you a number. I have some savings that I could?—”

“I couldn’t have you?—”

Seeing her face light up as she talked about the possibility was all the convincing I needed. I hadn’t been there for Evie all those years ago, but now… I could be the brother she needed. She deserved a happily ever after.

“Don’t argue with me.” Evie’s jaw dropped. My words came out firmer than expected. “A chance to be your own boss? Why wouldn’t I support that?”

Evie lowered her finger. I expected her to argue.

She’d put up some half-hearted reason why I shouldn’t.

And then— Evie moved across the living room.

Jumping on me with her arms around my neck.

I froze while her hug turned into a choke-hold.

“Thank you,” she whispered, with her face buried in my neck.

I returned the hug. The bridge had reached the other side.

Tyler got off the couch, taking a quick sniff of his flowers. I pulled Evie to the side so she sat with one arm still around my neck. Not even Tyler understood what this moment meant, but I was glad he was here to witness it. I added it to the list of things to talk about on our next date.

“As I’m sure you’ve both seen…” He pulled out his phone. “All I need to do is send a text that Mimi’s grandchildren are opening a bed-and-breakfast…”

“I knew you were on the text chain.”

“Bobby’s nephew will be over here by breakfast, interviewing you both for the Town Crier.”

Evie looked at me as she bit her top lip. I rested a hand on her leg, squeezing. I didn’t need to hear her speak. Our sibling bond had been bruised, but maybe it had never been broken. I read the fear on her face, the uncertainty of changing the entire course of her life.

Mimi had done it.

“Do it.”

Tyler snorted. His reaction was over the top. He held his belly with his free hand, and the laughing continued in a series of snorts. The sound of his laughter and Evie’s arm around my shoulders… Mimi… for good or bad, our adventures had begun.

“It’s not that funny,” I said.

He shot upright, wiping a tear from his eye. “No, it’s not.” He held out his phone, the incoming texts flying down the screen. “It’s funny that I sent it when Evie first asked.”

Gladys: I have the perfect bed frame for the smaller rooms.

Marigold: Tyler, did you get a surprise?

Simon: Tell her I’d love to help set up something.

Bonnie: Finally, Carl’s hunting buddies don’t have to sleep here.

Dorothy: Do we get a discount? My parents are coming for Harvestfest.

Amanda: Why am I on this text message?

Carla: Do renters get a free calendar?

Harvey: Has anybody seen my glasses?

Rose: I can give you emails from families asking for bigger spaces.

Bobby: What can we do?

Abraham: Hazel would love this.

Gladys: She would.

Laurel: Valhalla Bed she led by example.

“Thanks for helping Evie.”

“I didn’t do much,” he said. “She’s got the smarts to make this work.”

I agreed. If I could be any part of watching her flourish, I’d be the brother she deserved. Watching the people around me succeed filled my heart. That fullness spilled over and had me smiling as I thought about what successes awaited me. I need only to pull the trigger.

“I should head home.” When I glanced up, he smiled, admiring the flowers. “I need to get these in some water.”

I got to my feet, pulling him from the chair.

With my hands on his hips, I pulled him close, careful not to crush the bouquet.

Caught up in the moment, I nearly blurted out the news of the calendar.

No. As much as I wanted to see his eyes widen and light up at the news, it’d be even better when the entire town partook in the reveal.

I needed to ensure this carnival happened.

He raised an eyebrow. “What are you thinking about?”

I gave a slight shake of my head. “The carnival. I’m brainstorming ways to save it. I might have over-promised the committee.”

Tyler leaned in, his lips brushing mine. “I’ll help any way I can.”

I believed him. Maybe he had a grimoire stowed away, and we could summon little demons to run the carnival? I’m sure Firefly had seen weirder.

“You’re amazing.”

Tugging on his hips, we kissed. I could have stayed here, in this moment, and died a happy man.

Where life had once felt stagnant, I imagined myself running toward something, toward him.

I didn’t quite know how it’d pan out, not yet, but I wanted to see him at the finish line.

When he tried to pull away, I held firm.

I needed one last taste to motivate my sprint to victory.

I started making up for twenty years of missed kisses.

When I let him go, his eyes stayed closed. “Wow,” he whispered.

“I’ll call you.”

“You better.”

“Always,” I confessed.

Tyler took a step back, nearly running into a column as he stepped off the porch.

He got in his car and waved as he backed out of the driveway.

I turned to head into the house to see Evie’s nose pressed against the window.

With every exhale, a bloom of fog spread along the glass.

Evie pulled back, doodling hearts, before heading toward the kitchen.

I wasn’t ready to go in, not yet. Picking up the knocked-over chair, I took a seat. I imagined Mimi in the other, the two of us living our best lives. I hoped for a gust of wind to make it rock, a sign she admired her handiwork here.

No luck.

Instead, I watched the yard, the street light barely illuminating… a small fleck of light hovered in the yard. Squinting, I couldn’t find it again. I assumed it was the dark playing with my eyes.

Then another appeared, and then another.

Fireflies.

I held still in the chair as hundreds of tiny lights faded in and out. Glancing at the chair, I could almost see her smiling. I received her sign loud and clear. This is where I was meant to be. Settling in, I wanted to enjoy the moment with the memory of her.

“This is my adventure.”