She was brave now.

“Just so you know, I do still have to go back to Chicago.”

He shook his head and kissed her again. “You can’t. I won’t let you. And I don’t think Maggie will, either.”

Oh, yes, Maggie. “I still have to tell her . . .”

“She knows. She was more aware than you realized when you were there earlier today. She said it doesn’t change how she feels about you.”

She stilled in his arms. “She’s not too upset?”

“I’m sure when everything settles down a little and she’s out of the hospital and life gets back to normal, some disappointment might set in. Not so much about you not being Cynthia, but just all the still-unanswered questions. But if I know Maggie, she’s going to keep looking for answers. And I’m going to do a better job now supporting her in it.”

“You are a ridiculously good man, Neil MacKean.”

“See, you say stuff like that and then you wonder why I don’t want you to leave.”

She laughed and kissed his cheek. “I have to. I’ve got to take care of my apartment, and my boss at Mezzani’s has been so good to me over the years that I should really give him two weeks’ notice.”

“Nope, too long.”

“Neil.”

“Syd.” He touched his forehead to hers. “As long as you come back . . .”

“Of course. There’s Melba to consider. And, after all, you haven’t told me how you feel about me.”

His arms tightened around her. “I was thinking I might spend the rest of my life telling you that.”

Oh, how her heart sang at that. No, it thumped. So loudly he could probably hear it through her shirt. So loud his sisters could probably hear it from outside the bathroom door, where they surely stood now.

“But for now . . .” Neil trailed kisses from her ear back to her mouth. “I think I’ll just tell you that I love you. And I don’t even care that it’s only been two weeks. I love you.”

“I love you, too.” Her hands moved to his face, his cheeks scratchy, her thumbs tracing his dimples. “I wonder if we’ve beat Maggie and Robert’s record.”

“I wonder if my sisters and Wilder have heard every word we’ve just said.”

Their laughter rang out from the hallway and he kissed her again.

“And I wonder if I’ll ever get tired of that,” she whispered against his lips.

“Don’t count on it, Sydney Rose. And remind me to fill you in on my new last name.” He pulled her closer and dipped his head once more. “Later.”

Epilogue

My Dearest Robert,

I have so much to tell you and so little time to tell it.