by Avery James
“Well, I figured who’s better at undoing a story than your company,” Nolan said. “It looks like the future’s bright. Should we walk and talk?”
“I think that’s a good idea,” Amy said. “I have a car waiting outside.”
“Where are we going?” Abby asked as they got into the elevator.
“We’re headed to the office,” Amy replied. “The real story is unfolding across town.”
“What story is that?” Abby asked.
“Ruth Heck has reconsidered her bid for reelection, and, in light of her grief, she will be stepping down from office.”
“Her grief?” Abby asked.
“I had a chat with the AG and reminded him that Ruth isn’t the only one with dirt on him. I left it up to him to cut a deal with Ruth. He’s looking into charges as we speak. Before you say anything, it was the right thing to do.” She turned to Nolan as they stepped out of the elevator into the lobby. “Have you told her about it?”
“I thought you should,” he said.
“Abby, I’ve been giving a lot of thought to your future with this company,” Amy said. “I told you that one day I saw you taking over the office. In light of everything that’s happened, I’m not sure that will be in the cards.”
“I understand,” Abby said.
“I had something else in mind,” Amy replied as they stepped outside. As they got into the waiting car, Abby could only wonder what something else entailed.
“I have Callie and Maggie working out the details at the office, but we don’t want to finalize anything without your input. And, of course, Nolan will play an integral role.”
Abby wasn’t sure what to think. “I think I’m missing something.”
“I’d like to open a new office,” Amy said. “And I’d like you to run it. I think a change of scenery could do you some good, and I have a new partner who insists you’d be perfect for the job.”
“A new partner?” Abby asked.
“It’s another joint venture,” Nolan said. “Like I was starting to say, Abby, I was hoping you’d come with me.”
“And I was hoping that you could get the new office off the ground. Nolan made a compelling argument about how needed our services are on that side of the pond, and I think you’d be the perfect person for the job. It’s still very early, but I think it’s worth looking into.”
“London?” Abby asked. “You want meet start an office in London?”
“Well, you won’t be on your own,” Amy said. “I was thinking Maggie could help you get things off the ground. Her husband does own property there, and no matter what I give to the two of you, you end up doing it together.”
The car pulled to a stop in front of the offices of Haven Communications. “Let’s go upstairs and talk it over. After this, take some time to think about it. You’ll have all the time you need, and if you decide it isn’t for you, we’ll figure something else out.” Amy looked down at her phone. “I think maybe I should give the two of you a moment alone, besides, I have a call I need to take. See you soon.” Amy got out of the car and headed inside while Abby hung back with Nolan.
“This is for real?” Abby asked. “Are you sure I’m not dreaming?”
“What do you say to one last fling?” Nolan asked. “It will be an adventure.”
“The first of many?”
“Well, I think we’ve had a few to date,” Nolan said, “but yeah, the first of many more.”
“So what do we do?”
“You mean after going upstairs?” Nolan asked. “I don’t know, but I have a jet fueled and waiting to whisk you away.”
“To where?” Abby asked.
“To anywhere your heart desires.”
“And where would you like to go?”
“Anywhere,” he said, “as long as it’s with you.”
Abby’s phone started buzzing in her purse. She ignored it for a moment, but it kept buzzing. She pulled it out and laughed as she read the message. “It’s Maggie,” she told Nolan. “She just keeps sending exclamation points and smiley faces and demanding to know why we’re not up there yet.”
“Well, let’s not keep them waiting,” he said.
Abby stepped out of the car onto the sidewalk and waited for Nolan to follow. As he stepped to her side, she took a moment to appreciate the moment. The sky was cloudless, and the sun felt warm on her face. She slipped her hand into Nolan’s and started to walk inside. It was shaping up to be a beautiful day.
Epilogue
A little over one year later…
Christmas with Nolan’s family was unlike anything Abby had ever seen. Nolan’s family’s home, which had seemed so cold and foreboding the first time she had visited, had been transformed into a wonderland. Garland hung from every railing. There were wreaths on the doors and candles in the windows. It seemed like every day, there was a fire crackling behind the screen in the great hall’s large hearth.
There was music, too, and friends. Every day there were new visitors, up from London, down from the highlands, even over from the US. The whole castle was bristling with cheer and life. It seemed like there was always music being played somewhere in the house. One night, Abby even walked in on Nolan’s dancing cheek to cheek in the kitchen.
In a little over a year, Brigadoon, as Nolan called it, had become a second home for Abby, the kind of place she’d never had back in her old life. And like its namesake, it felt like a magical place that existed outside of the drudge of the everyday world.
On that particular morning, Abby had just come downstairs, and everything seemed to be in its place. The fire was gently crackling, the ornaments on the fifteen-foot-tall Christmas tree were glittering in the morning light, and the smell of cinnamon wafted in from the kitchen. In fact, there was only one thing missing as Abby stepped into the great hall: Nolan. He hadn’t been in the bedroom when she’d woken up that morning.
This wasn’t the first time that week she’d woken up to find Nolan gone. Every morning, he’d snuck off, and whenever she’d asked him about it, he’d make a joke or an excuse, but she knew something was up.
“Nolan?” Abby called out, “have I lost you again?”
Nolan ducked into the hall from the study. Abby smiled and shook her head. “Where have you been?” she asked. “I’ve been looking all over the… house for you.” It was still strange for her not to call it a castle, but she was trying.
"I've been trying to figure out if it’s possible to teach an old dog new tricks," Nolan said.
"Are you speaking literally or figuratively?" She asked.
Nolan laughed as he crossed the room. “A little bit of both, I think,” he said. He looked good. He was wearing khakis and a sweater, and it suited him every bit as well as Armani. He looked happy in a way she’d never seen before. It had been a little over a year since they left DC. They’d spent the first few months travelling around Europe before getting a place in London. They spent the next six months getting the European headquarters for Haven Communications off the ground. It had been exactly the change of scenery Abby had needed. Maggie had joined her in the spring, and together, they took on their first new clients and starting building a team to take on even the toughest challenges.
Their first several clients had been referred to them by Nolan. He really did seem to know every famous and influential person in Europe, or at least all of the ones who needed Abby’s help. And the cases had been a welcome break, too. Abby was still learning all of the social norms on the far side of the pond, but one thing was for sure, they kept her busy. By the end of the first spring, they were pulling in nearly as many clients as the DC office.
All of that seemed like a distant memory to Abby as she watched Nolan smiling back at her. They’d driven up for the holiday, taken a few days to stop at their favorite inn in the Lake district and to spend a night in Edinburgh, but it felt like it had been a lifetime since she’d left London. DC seemed like a half-remembered dream. There was no denying that there was something special abou
t the place where Nolan grew up. And Abby knew he knew it too.
She could see the light in his blue eyes as he walked over and gave her a big hug. "Angus, come here boy!" he called out. He looked over to Abby as he waited for the dog to trot into the room. There was still no sign of Angus. "Let me try that again," Nolan said. "Angus, come here boy.” This time the dog came into the great hall. He looked at Abby and Nolan before plopping down on the far side of the room.
"Some trick," Abby said. The dog was looking at her. Around his neck, he had a new collar with red and green stitching.
"Well, that's just half of it," Nolan said.
"You mean because he only came halfway to you?"
"Always the critic," he said.
"Angus, come here," Abby said. The dog stayed where he was. "Here, boy," she said. She leaned down, and Angus came bounding across the room, skidding to a stop in front of Abby.
"Show off," Nolan said.
"I can't help it if your dog likes me more," Abby teased.
"I was talking to him," Nolan replied with a laugh. "That slide was all him."
"Oh, so I suppose you taught him to only come when I called him?"
“Yeah,” Nolan said. “There’s another part, too.”
Abby placed her hand on the dog's head and gave him a scratch behind the ear. “I guess he’ll just have to keep trying,” she said to the dog. That's when she saw the glint of light reflecting off the collar or rather off of something attached to the collar. She reached down to feel the tags, and stopped dead still. Her heart was pounding, and she felt light headed. Her hand started to tremble. "Nolan?" she said. "Why is there a ring on your dog's collar?" She reached around and unclipped the collar, staring at disbelief at the diamond ring that was held on by a small carabiner.
Nolan took a knee beside her, and placed his hand on hers. "What do you say?" he asked. "I thought maybe it was time for an old dog to learn a new trick. Abby, I’ve had many things in my life, but until I met you, I never had true happiness, and I never knew love. I know I haven’t always been perfect, and that sometimes you probably wish you could go back to that bar we met in and tell me to just get to the point, but I love you, and I want to spend every day for the rest of my life with you. So, without getting any mushier than this, will you marry me?”
“Yes,” she said, turning and pressing her lips to his in a soft, sweet kiss. “I’ll be your last.”