Iris and I wanted to pick Bill up from jail, but he insisted that we didn’t. He said he wanted us to meet him on our own front porch, that that was the image that had gotten him through the past few weeks. Sitting on the small porch that faced the road, rocking in rocking chairs, Iris and I were silent for a few minutes. I finally broke the quiet. “Do the last few weeks feel like a dream to you?”

She nodded. “Yeah. I was kind of thinking that. Like we were plucked out of our normal life and had this totally crazy experience, and then we were just dropped back at home.” She looked over at me. “Mom, I know Juniper Shores is small, and people will be talking about us forever, but I don’t want to go back to New York.”

I gasped. “Bradley! I need to call him and tell him I’m not taking the job.”

“You’re not?” she practically squealed.

I shook my head. “No. I love working at Montoya and Sons, and I love how happy you are with your friends here, and I love that Alice and Elliott will be three houses down and Grace and Julie are two blocks away. I think I found something here that I never even knew I was looking for.” Best friends, I thought. I had found best friends. And I wasn’t going to give them up.

We both jumped up when Oliver’s car pulled up in front of our house. I ran down the steps, Iris hot on my heels, and practically knocked Bill over as I jumped into his arms. He squeezed me tight and kissed me hard before turning to hug Iris and kiss her on her cheek. “My little detective,” he said. “I think you’ve earned yourself a paid internship.”

She nodded seriously. “Dad, I think I’m going to follow in your footsteps.” She paused. “Or maybe I can track down Jeremy Isaacs and learn a little more about securities fraud and embezzlement, you know?”

Bill groaned. “It’s too soon for jokes.”

“It was a little funny,” Iris whispered. She said, “Dad! I’m going to go turn on a really hot shower for you!” and ran ahead of us.

I waved to Oliver, who waved back and drove away. I wasn’t sure if he was giving us alone time or if he simply needed a break from our family. I wouldn’t blame him. Bill put his arm around me and kissed my forehead. “I can’t tell you how this feels. This is the best day of my life. Thank you for never giving up on me.”