“It’s not bartending, for one thing. There was a part of me that thought you were running away from me, but you weren’t. You were running to your field of study, at which, I’m led to believe, you are one of the rare experts. I thought you were having a fling with Dr. Faraday.”

She chuckled. “He’s seventy-four and has a lovely wife and many smart grandchildren.”

“And this stint—this consulting job. You’ve been working so hard. How does it feel?”

“Important,” she said. “Vital. Valued. They needed me and I was useful. Taking a break and going to Colorado to get my footing in life was a good idea. Doing this work is also a good idea.”

Dakota shook his head. “How did that idiot you were married to ever let you get away?”

“He said I was dull. Antisocial, boring, incredibly flat in the personality department and arrogant.”

“God,” Dakota said with an incredulous laugh. “You are none of those things! You’re social, exciting, interesting and, if anything, self-effacing. When did you get your PhD?”

“Six or seven years ago. Or eight,” she added.

His hands were on her hips. Her hands on his arms, looking up into his eyes. “You’re the most exciting woman I know. I never once heard you mutter the words doctor or scientist or Nobel.”

“Well, I certainly was never considered for that!” she said.

“If you’re so boring and unappealing, why do I just want to get you naked right this minute?”

“Shh,” she said, but she laughed. “You are a very strange man, Mr. Jones. Who ever heard of wanting to make love to a geek?”

“I bet Mrs. Gates does it all the time.”

“Is this why you’re here? To tell me I’m not boring to you?”

“Yes. No. To tell you I’m proud of you, proud of the sacrifices you’ve made to do something this important. And to tell you I’ll support you. If you’ll have me. If you need to be here in LA, I’ll come to LA. If you need to live here to do your work, I can live here. The important thing is that you know I respect your dedication and I’m behind you.”

“Our families are in Colorado...”

“I know—quick flight. But I checked, Sid. There’s no world-famous quantum computing lab in Timberlake. If this fulfills you, you should do it. It’s about time the seas parted for you. I can be happy anywhere if I’m with you.”

She didn’t say anything for a moment that stretched out.

“And if you don’t want a man in your life, you have to say so. Or if you just don’t want a specific man following you around, say, for example, me, you tell me. Just say you don’t want me and I’ll go. I’ll probably be terrible about it... It could kill me, now that I think about it... But...”

“Cody, I’ve never wanted anyone in my life the way I want you,” she said. “And I don’t want to be in LA. I may come back here to this lab if I’m needed, if it’s convenient, but two weeks away from you is way too long. My heart has been aching for you. If you’re happy in Colorado, that would be perfect for me.”

“What about this, Sid? This is important work and you love it.”

“It is and I do. But there are research and development labs in Colorado that would be happy to have me. We could be close to Timberlake. We could talk about us.”

“You ready for that?”

“Yes. I’m in love with you, too. Couldn’t you tell?”

“I wanted to believe that’s what I felt. Will you let me spend the night tonight? Then tomorrow I’ll get out of your hair...”

“You can spend the night, and then tomorrow let’s both get back home. Together.”

“Just to be clear, I want to marry you, Dr. Shandon. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I’ve never wanted anything so much. Will you say yes?”

“I’ll absolutely marry you. I’ll have to. It’s the only way I can keep all the women back.” She got on her toes and gave him a quick kiss. “I want you all to myself.”

“I think we’re definitely on the same page.” He hugged her close.

“Am I going to have you all to myself or are we still being harassed by Neely?”

“Nah, Neely has found greener pastures. Oh, so much has happened in the two weeks you’ve been gone, it’s mind-boggling. I have a lot to tell you. Then we can go home and help celebrate all the happy endings.”

“Mine will be the happiest of all,” she said.

Kindness in words creates confidence.

Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.

Kindness in giving creates love.

—LAO TZU

Epilogue

ON THE LAST day of August, right before the Labor Day weekend filled up the town of Timberlake and Sullivan’s Crossing campground, Sierra and Connie appeared at the courthouse with Sam in their arms. A friendly-looking judge was on the bench. When it was their turn to go into the courtroom they were followed by lawyers and a witness or two.

Cal, Maggie and Elizabeth were there, dressed in their finery. Dakota and Sid filed in. Sully was there. Connie’s mom and brother were there. Rafe and Lisa followed. Three more firefighters entered.

The judge watched this entourage and smiled. He waited patiently until everyone in the gallery was settled and quiet. “Well,” he said. “Now I see why we couldn’t do this in chambers. Lovely family you have here, Mr. and Mrs. Boyle.”

“Thank you,” Sierra said happily.

“I see some things in my court that are sad, that are tragic, that make me angry, that frustrate and baffle me. But this beautiful story makes my heart glad. I personally think everyone should know about it. I think it should ‘go viral.’ Isn’t that what you young social media people say? Here we have a firefighter and paramedic called out on a terrible accident and thank God he was able to rescue a little guy, unhurt. And he and his wife wanted to keep that little guy and become his new family. What a beautiful story. What an excellent, selfless sentiment. And apparently not just the firefighter and his wife welcome this little guy, Sam, but the whole family and half the neighborhood. Sam,” he said, leaning over the bench and looking at Sam. “It looks like you have chosen a very good family for yourself.” The judge sat back and smiled. “By the power vested in me—”

With one rap of his gavel Sam legally became part of the family.