White Water: Ryder Bay Epilogue

by Ford, Jordan

  Kevin’s face bunches with unrest as he looks between his two daughters and then announces, “Savannah wants to stay in Ryder Bay.”

  “I know, I’m so relieved. I was wondering how crappy things were gonna get when she left.”

  “Lettie!” her dad barks.

  “Oh, come on, Dad. You know this house will fall apart without her.”

  “I…” Kevin frowns and snaps his finger at his youngest daughter. “You’re not helping!”

  “Dad.” Savannah rests her hand on the table, tapping it to get his attention. “Please. I know what I want. Don’t force me off to college when I don’t have a clue yet as to what I want to pursue.”

  “That’s what college is for, so you can figure it out.”

  “I don’t want you pouring money into my education right now. I’m just asking for a year off studying. I’m so over exams and assignments. I just want to get a job, earn some of my own money. Live for a while. Let me experience life without the pressure of school.” She smiles, but it falters at her dad’s unsettled expression.

  My girlfriend deflates beside me, and I can’t stand it. It’s probably not my place, but I speak up anyway. “Kevin, I know it’s not my place to butt in, but I can see how much you value education, and Savannah’s not saying that she’ll never go to college. She just wants a little time to figure it all out. And she wants to be here with her family while she’s doing that. Changes are brewing.” I flick my eyes to Lettie for the briefest moment, hopefully making my point clear. “Savannah wants to help with that transition.”

  Kevin looks to the table for a beat, his swallow thick and audible as he rubs the back of his neck.

  Lettie shoots me a confused frown. “What changes?”

  “Nothing bad.” I wink at her.

  She leans back in her chair, still mystified, while Kevin clears his throat, obviously trying to distract her. She glances at her father, who has his eyes trained on Savannah.

  Holding up his index finger, he chokes out, “One year.”

  Savannah’s face lights with a hopeful smile. “To start, anyway.”

  He gives her a warning frown, but she counters it with a cute grin.

  A rumbling, resigned kind of sound comes from the back of his throat before he mutters, “Well, map it out for me, then.”

  Savannah pulls in a deep breath, then launches into the plan we’ve been tossing around for the last few days. “As soon as we graduate, I’ll start looking for a job.”

  Kevin shakes his head. “You need to have a summer break first. At least a few weeks.”

  She smiles at her dad and reaches across the table. “I won’t let you down, Dad. I know what I’m doing, and it’s for all the right reasons.”

  Her father takes her hand with a proud smile. “You’ve never let me down, Savvy Sue. I doubt you’ll ever be able to. I just want you to have the best shot at a great life.”

  “I do have a great life.” She smiles. “I have an amazing life, and it’s thanks to you and my family and my boyfriend.” She glances at me, then looks to her dad again. “Griffin’s going to a community college just north of here.”

  Kevin seems really pleased about this and gives me a nod and smile that reminds me of Marshall and Denee. They looked exactly the same way when I told them.

  My swallow is thick as I’m overcome with deep gratitude for all the amazing people in my life.

  “I love you, Dad,” Savannah whispers.

  His eyes glass with tears as he squeezes her hand.

  “And I love everyone at this table.” Lettie lets out a happy sigh. “And I love Jace!” She raises her hands in the air and looks blissfully in love. “He’s staying. Did I tell you he’s staying? And now my sister’s staying.” She gives Savannah’s shoulder a squeeze. “Life is good!” She jumps up with a happy laugh, and we all watch her skip to the stairs.

  “Man, that guy has brought out her sunshine.” Kevin shakes his head. “She’s humming. She’s skipping. Do you remember how she always used to do that as a kid?”

  Savannah nods, her lips stretching into a wide smile. “Love does make you sing…and hum.”

  Her father pauses, then can’t help a bashful grin. “I can’t seem to stop myself.”

  “Well, I’m really glad you’re happy.” Savannah nods again. “I’m serious. I really am. I’m looking forward to officially meeting Lara.”

  He winces and starts running a hand over the back of his head. “How do you think Lettie and Lou will take it?”

  “Don’t let them catch you naked and it’ll probably go pretty smoothly.”

  He frowns at her. “Hey, you got home early.”

  Savannah shakes her head and gets up from the table with a teasing wink. I take the hand she extends to me and we start walking for the front door.

  “I’ll need you there when I tell them,” he calls after us.

  Savannah stops and swivels back with a smile. “I’ll be here.”

  I squeeze her hand with a little laugh as she walks me to my truck. Glancing up at the night sky, I take in the bright moon. It looks amazing tonight. Savannah’s fingers play with a couple of my dreads as she leans against my truck and smiles at me.

  The moon gives her milky skin a magical glow, and her smile warms me from my heart right down to my toes. Lettie’s right; life is good. With a soft smile, I lean toward her, brushing my thumb along her jawline as I press my lips to hers.

  She lets out a delicate moan of approval, and I deepen the kiss. Lifting her onto the hood of the truck, I relish the feeling of her legs wrapping around me as we take our sweet time saying good night.

  As I run my hand up her back and press her against me, I’m once again overcome with gratitude. From a runaway street rat to a guy who’s starting college in the fall, and dating the hottest, sweetest girl on the planet… I never would have guessed that outcome for me.

  But life is good, and I never want to forget it or take it for granted.

  * * *

  Keep reading to find out where Jordan sees these Ryder Bay characters years down the track. Plus, you’ll get to find out about the new series she’s writing next!

  Dear Reader

  Thank you so much for reading the Ryder Bay epilogue. It was fun writing from everyone’s points of view and seeing what the future holds for each of the characters.

  It’s been an awesome year hanging out in this small beach town. Harley is still my favorite surfer chick, and I love that she finally opened up to Aidan about what happened to her. Those two are going to go from strength to strength. I imagine them eventually married and living back in Ryder Bay. Aidan will become a lifeguard and Harley will set up a surf school. I think they’ll have a couple of kids and will no doubt teach them to surf as soon as they can walk. I can picture some pretty cute family scenes in the water.

  As for Savannah and Griffin, they’ll end up married too. I can picture them with a big family, like four kids, and then maybe a surprise number five. They’ll stay in Ryder Bay as well, where Griffin will be lifeguarding alongside Aidan, as well as a little part-time paramedics work. Savannah will love being a mom, and I can actually imagine her doing this full time for a while. I can also imagine her running some kind of party-planning business. Like maybe she and Skylar’s mom set something up together, organizing birthday parties and events for people in town.

  Jed and Skylar will end up finding a happy home in New York and only pop back to Ryder Bay for visits. Skylar will complete a degree in design and end up working in the fashion industry, maybe. I still don’t have a super clear idea of where she’ll be. Jed will end up finding a passion for graphic design and start up a web design company or something like that. I can picture Skylar and him in their little apartment, working on design stuff together, sharing ideas and getting all excited. I’d like to think they’ll have a baby or two, but they’re both kind of career-focused to start.

  As for Lettie and Jace, after they both graduate from college, they’re going to split
the bay and head overseas for a while. I can picture them backpacking through Asia before eventually settling down somewhere in California. Jace will become a tattoo artist and Lettie… I’m not sure. I can imagine her being everything from a librarian to a writer to an English teacher. Maybe you can decide for yourself what she’ll end up becoming.

  One of my favorite things about writing a series like this is the world that gets created. I fall in love with these characters, their friendships and the new family they form. They become like real people to me, and that’s something very special. They’ll forever own a little piece of my heart, just like all my characters do.

  So, I’m really excited to let you know that while I’ve been writing this epilogue, a series that has been on the backburner for a couple of years has shot to the front of my mind and completely taken over every spare minute of thought. These new characters are wriggling their way into my heart, and I am beyond thrilled to write this new series.

  I’m going outside of the box just a little for this one…

  This new series will be set in New Zealand, and like White Water, it will follow multiple points of view throughout each story. Not eight, like I did with this epilogue, but this series will follow a variety of characters, and you’ll see different points of view throughout the series.

  So, what’s this new series about?

  It’s a little complex, but let me try to simplify it as much as I can…

  Three families

  A fatal car accident

  An unprepared guardian and his good-looking country boy son

  One big farmhouse

  Five city teenagers trying to deal with loss and getting to know their new ‘family’ while also adjusting to life on a farm, plus dealing with a new high school

  There is plenty more to it, and I think that’s why I’m so excited.

  Unlike my other Jordan Ford novels, I won’t be following one romance per book. These stories are going to cross over each other. I picture it kind of like a TV show in my head, with each book being a big, long episode in the lives of this makeshift family.

  It’s going to be an eventful journey with laughter, tears and, of course, heart-melting romance.

  It’ll also be an absolute privilege to let you hang out in New Zealand for a while.

  The first book is due to come out later this year, either September or October, depending on how smoothly the writing process goes.

  Be prepared for a city girl versus country boy romance.

  Eeeepppp!

  Are you excited?

  I can’t wait!

  I’d love to know your thoughts about this epilogue and what you think of the new series I’m embarking on. If you’d like to email me, I would LOVE to hear from you. So, send a message to hello@jordanfordbooks.com

  If you’d like to be kept up to date and also be the first to see teasers and book covers, then please join my Facebook reader group, Songbirds & Playmakers: Click this link to join.

  And if you’re not already part of my mailing list, I’d like to offer you the chance to join now. By signing up, you’ll be eligible to exclusive offers, giveaways and early releases. You’ll also receive a free copy of Harley’s diary, where you can find out exactly what went down with “that guy” who ruined her first prom. Click this link to sign up.

  xx

  Jordan