“Are we sure it’s too early for champagne?” Mike asked, his tone slightly plaintive.

Eli laughed. “I’ll buy you a beer later, Mike,” he promised. “Just you and me. Over at Sully’s.”

“Throw in a game of pool, and I’m in,” Mike replied.

Brynne watched the two of them with a soft smile and bright eyes, while Alice and Miranda, apparently unable to agree on which of them should fetch the coffee, both left the table.

“I guess I should have asked you for your daughter’s hand in marriage,” Eli told Brynne’s dad, as Miranda rattled over with a tray of cups and saucers and Alice followed with a full pot of java.

“That’s old-fashioned,” Mike answered, with a dismissive wave of one hand. “Brynne’s a grown woman, fully capable of deciding for herself.” He paused, winked at his daughter. “I do reserve the honor of walking my girl down the aisle, though.”

Alice filled everyone’s mug, including one for Miranda, with the deftness of a woman who has waited tables for nearly three decades. Frank, who might have been invited to join the party, had disappeared into the kitchen and busied himself with the usual chores.

“How many bridesmaids?” Alice asked, taking her order pad from her apron pocket and plucking a pencil from behind her ear to make notes.

“Sara and Shallie for sure,” Brynne answered. “Melba, too.”

“Flower girls?” Miranda prompted.

“Junior bridesmaids, I think,” Brynne said. “Maddie, if she can be here, Melba and Dan’s daughters, Jill and Carrie, and, of course, Sara’s girl, Hayley.”

“Perfect,” Alice decreed, scribbling away.

“Is this going to be a hen party?” Mike demanded good-naturedly. “Because if it is, I think I’ll take Eli up on his offer to buy me a beer.”

“Go,” Alice said, without looking up.

Brynne smiled at Eli and formed a subtle kiss with that remarkable mouth of hers.

“Sounds good to me,” Eli said, pushing back his chair. “Get your coat, Mike. It’s cold out there.”

With that, he stood.

Mike stood up, too.

“Only one beer,” Brynne said, addressing Eli. “You’re still on medication.”

Mike rolled his eyes, but they were twinkling as he laid one hand on Eli’s shoulder and said, “And so it begins.”

EPILOGUE

Nine months later...

ELI STOOD GAZING through the wide window of the hospital nursery, wonderstruck.

Two babies, side by side in their cots.

His sons, and Brynne’s.

Before Brynne had admitted she loved him, overcome her fears about throwing in with a cop and finally accepted his proposal, he hadn’t believed in miracles.

Loving Brynne, and being loved by her, had transformed him.

Eli Garrett 2.0.

And now there would be another transformation.

“How did this happen?” he murmured, thinking aloud.

His friends J.P. and Cord stood on either side of Eli and somehow, without touching him, kept him upright. They both chuckled.