Three months later…
It had been an incredible amount of work, but everything had come together perfectly. After Blaze’s public declaration of…well, everything…things started to move very quickly.
His fans responded with incredible enthusiasm to the story about Hayden. In the days following the press conference, Blaze received an unprecedented amount of emails and letters from others whose families had been impacted by addiction. Donations poured in for the program, including the very generous donation from Trent and Brittany, of suitable land for an inpatient treatment facility. That was still a few months or even years away, but our vision was becoming a reality and that was beyond exciting.
Almost as exciting as having everyone we loved in attendance for the official opening of the program, Hayden’s Hope. Blaze’s parents had flown in two days earlier and planned to stay for a few weeks this time, after coming for a quick visit three months earlier after Blaze told them about the program for the first time. They’d been almost as eager to meet me as I had to meet them.
It had been beautiful watching Blaze reconnect with his parents after so many years of hurt between them. They were both coming back to life and had found a new purpose and a new way to honor their older son’s memory, by getting involved in the program. Plans were in the works to move them to Aspen Valley permanently, so they could be as hands-on as they wanted to be.
My mom and I had also experienced a dramatic shift in our relationship. Although we’d always been close, the last few months had seen a huge shift in our conversations now that we were finally open about some of the things we’d never discussed. She’d opened up about her true feelings when it came to life with Dad and how much she missed him. It would take some time, but I think I’d finally convinced her to start dating for real. No one would ever replace my father, but it was never too late to find a different kind of love.
Everyone had gathered at the new house Blaze and I had recently moved into together, for a quiet celebration.
“The place looks beautiful,” Sandy said as she gave me a hug. “I still can’t believe you guys found the perfect house so quickly.”
“Never mind how fast you two decided to move in together,” Jessie added.
We’d gathered for a little girl talk on my covered deck at the back of the house. It wasn’t quite as magical as the outdoor space I had at my little house, but it hadn’t made sense for us to live there together because there was no way to fence the property to keep out the paparazzi. After everything that happened, I now fully understood the need for privacy. Even though the initial media attention around us had died down, I wasn’t naive. Being with Blaze Barron meant we needed privacy and security.
We had been lucky to find such a great house in the same area as both Jessie and Abby. Now, instead of backing onto the creek, it ran right through our property. We were fully fenced in, and I was working on making the covered deck my own sanctuary. But I was a patient woman. After all, I’d waited over forty years for the love of my life.
“We didn’t see much point in waiting any longer,” I said. “After all, we’ve already waited half of our lives to find each other—why waste another day, right?”
“Cheers to that.” Brittany lifted her glass in a toast. “And cheers to you, Darla. I’m really proud of you.”
“We all are,” Jessie added.
I laughed and looked around the table at my best friends. “Why is that?”
It was Abby who explained, “We know it wasn’t easy for you to open yourself up to a new way of thinking. And we’re not going to take all the credit,” she continued quickly, “but I don’t think you can underestimate the importance of going for it.”
We all laughed, but she did have a point. “You’re not wrong,” I said. “But you know I can’t give a silly pact about letting loose and trying something new all the credit.” Abby opened her mouth to object, but I continued, “It wasn’t the pact that helped me discover the love of my life, and it wasn’t the pact that helped any of you, either.”
Emotion welled up in my chest, but I swallowed it down. “It was this.” I waved my hand to encompass the group. “It was us. We already have the greatest love in the world with one another, and I know without a doubt that it was that love and support that gave each and every one of us the strength to go after the romantic love we deserved.” I couldn’t hold back anymore. The tears burst forth and streamed down my cheeks in a messy sob.
Jessie laughed, but she, too, was crying when she said, “You’re so right, Darla.”
“I love you, ladies,” Brittany added. “More than anything.”
Sandy nodded, unable to speak through her own tears. After a few attempts, she waved her hands in the air and gave up.
“I agree,” Abby said. “A million times over.”
“We all have great men in our lives, but I have to say, girls…” I smiled through a curtain of happy tears. “Right here, right now, we have the greatest love of all.”
“We need to swear a new pact,” Abby announced to a round of groans and laughter, mixed with our messy tears.
“No way,” Brittany said. “No more—”
“No,” Abby interrupted. “This one is different. Hear me out.” We all waited, and finally, she continued. “We need to swear to always be there for one another. No matter what. No matter where our new loves take us in life. Friends forever.”
“I feel like I’m thirteen again.” Sandy laughed, but she nodded.
“We’ve already done that,” Brittany said. “Don’t you think?”
“Not in so many words,” Jessie said. “It goes without saying. But I’ll swear to it.”
“So will I.”
“Of course, I will.”
“Nothing could stop me.”
We swore our oath to one another, a pact I could finally get behind wholeheartedly, and sealed with a group hug.
I’d been the biggest naysayer of Abby’s original go for it pact, and I would never admit it, not out loud, but she’d been right. Life was too short not to take a chance. After all, that chance could lead to the best thing that had ever happened to you. And if you took the easy way out, played it safe and stayed in your comfort zone, you’d never know how amazing life could be.
It’s never too late to go for it.
And all five of us were living proof.
I hope you enjoyed Darla and Blaze’s story and all five of the friends!
If you haven’t had a chance to catch up with Abby, Jessie, Britt and Sandy, it’s never too late!
Check out the rest of the Finally Series Here.
If you love a happily ever after as much as I do, you’ll love Choosing Happily Ever After. Available NOW!
Read an excerpt right after this.
And if you want even more romance…click HERE for an exclusive FREE novella that isn’t available anywhere else!