Page 149 of The Havenport Collection

Bonus Epilogue

Callum

“ I t’s almost time,” Violet shouted, lowering the music.

Some kids squeezed by and ran up toward the deck to get the best viewing angle.

We were at Declan and Astrid’s house for their annual fireworks viewing party.

They had recently added on to the house and built a massive deck that was perfect for watching the fireworks over the harbor.

Patriot’s Homecoming was a special day for our family.

And every year I watched those fireworks and was reminded of just how lucky I was.

All our family and friends were here. My brothers with their wives and kids, my parents, and all my closest friends.

It was a clear, breezy night filled with good food and music and company.

My parents were on cloud nine, herding the grandkids and spoiling them with treats.

My dad was bouncing Declan’s baby on his hip while telling Henry yet another fishing story.

Violet walked up and handed me a beer. I pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. “You look gorgeous tonight.”

She snorted and wrapped her arm around my waist. I never got tired of having her close. It was nice to just have a moment of stillness together. It had been an incredibly busy summer at the farm.

Violet had hired me as CFO, and while I still maintained my other businesses, I took on a larger role as the farm continued to grow and evolve. Between the farm, my beverage distribution company, and helping out with Liam’s breweries and Declan’s fishing empire, I was crazy busy all the time.

But no matter how busy things got, I still made time to coach soccer and hang out with my favorite people.

“Everything okay?” I asked, seeing Violet check her phone.

“Oh yes. Just an update from Frankie. Tonight’s wedding went perfectly. Apparently she got three other inquiries during the reception.”

She pocketed her phone and took a long sip of her beer. “I want to pinch myself, Cal. I still can’t believe we did it.”

It had taken several years to recover the money Nick had stolen.

Astrid had been invaluable and fought for Violet every step of the way.

Nick had avoided jail time, being a first-time offender, but was forced to pay back every cent he had stolen from the farm as well as his other clients.

He had moved away in disgrace, and last time we’d heard anything about him he was selling used cars in Florida.

It took a while, but we got the finances under control, and things had improved significantly. It helped that Thompson Farm had quickly become a sought-after wedding destination. Violet and Frankie were booked out years in advance, and things had never been better.

“Are you okay?” she asked, giving my hand a squeeze. “After the boys’ big announcement last night? It’s okay if you’re feeling overwhelmed.”

I nodded. I was more than okay. I was soaring. Last night, Henry and Sam had sat us down and asked if I could adopt them and legally become their dad. I thought my heart would burst with joy. I still hadn’t quite recovered. Happy tears were shed, and many hugs were given.

I thought the day I married Violet was the happiest day of my life, but now there was some serious competition.

The adoption process would take a while, but they were adamant that they wanted us to be a legal family.

I would do anything—there was no mountain of paperwork I wouldn’t submit—to make that a reality for them. I loved them completely.

“I am thrilled. You know I’m up for the challenge.”

“I still can’t believe Henry made a PowerPoint.” Violet chuckled. “You are rubbing off on him, Cal. Next thing you know, you’ll have him analyzing the farm finances.”

I hugged her closer. “You’re making so much money hosting weddings, I could use the help keeping up with things. Those spreadsheets don’t create themselves, you know.” I discreetly pinched her ass, and she giggled.

“Mom. Dad. Look at this!” Sam yelled.

Every time one of the boys called me Dad, my heart skipped a beat. I still hadn’t gotten used to it, but it felt amazing. This was who I was meant to be. I still struggled. Some days were difficult, but I had a fantastic support system in place.

“Look at the giant s’more I made.” Sam proudly held up what could only be described as a marshmallow hoagie.

Violet squeezed my arm and laughed. Sam was still the same daredevil he had always been. Over the last five years we’d become well known at urgent care.

We took things slow, for the boys’ sake. After about six months of openly dating, I moved into the farmhouse. The boys were happy to have me and always made me feel like a member of the family.

Violet and I hadn’t planned on getting married. Since we had both already done it, we didn’t feel the need to make it legal. We were happy and had everything we needed.

But we hadn’t considered what it would mean to Henry and Sam. The boys had been asking constantly, and more and more, it became clear that although it didn’t matter to us, it mattered to them.

So we had a small ceremony on the farm last year.

The boys walked Violet down the aisle, and my heart had clenched.

In the years I had known them they had grown up so much.

Getting a front seat to their lives was a great privilege.

We had a fun party with our family and friends, and I will never forget what it felt like to be declared husband and wife.

To know that I got to spend my life with this incredible woman.

Mrs. Thompson had built her retirement cottage on the farm and was over every single day to help with the grandkids and run the farm store. Her cancer treatment had been successful, and she had been in remission for the last four years.

My own parents were the loving, smothering grandparents I knew they would be, and my dad used our expanding family as an excuse to get an even bigger sailboat that he was currently restoring. Given his pace, I assumed it would be seaworthy by the time the twins graduated college.

It was a perfect summer night, with clear skies and a cool breeze coming off the ocean. All the people I loved were here, and watching all the children run around and enjoy the fireworks as I had as a kid was so special.

Things looked slightly different than I had imagined, but I had achieved my dream of being a husband and dad.

And I had the most awesome kids ever. In addition to being my boss and a phenomenal CEO, my wife was also my best friend.

True to her word, we were a team and weathered all challenges together.

When things got rough, I brought the practicality, she brought the positive thinking, and together we worked things out.

And my anxiety? Well, it didn’t go away.

But I was living with it, managing it, and Violet and I talked to our kids about mental health.

And I got up every day and modeled coping mechanisms for my kids.

I continued with therapy and medication and lifestyle, and I got up and fought it every day.

And I wasn’t just fighting for me anymore.

I was fighting for Violet and my kids, because they deserved the absolute best I could give them. And I never gave any less.

While the kids were snuggled up on the deck with the grandparents, I took the opportunity to grab Violet and lead her away.

“Mr. Quinn, what do you think you’re doing?” she asked playfully as I pulled her behind the oak trees out of view.

“Kissing my sexy wife, Mrs. Quinn.”

As the fireworks exploded above us, lighting up the night sky, I made out with my wife.

Our love story had started during these fireworks, and every year they served as a reminder of just how lucky I was.

In Violet, I had found a partner, a best friend, and my true love. And I got to keep her forever.