Richard’s expression went dark. “This changes everything. ”
Two days later, the FBI was in the conference room. The Brunswick acquisition was on hold.
Richard arranged private security for her home. “These people have killed to protect their operation,” he said. Then Brunswick’s CFO was found dead. Apparent suicide.
The FBI wanted to move Megan and Charlie to a secure location. “I have a property in Vermont,” Richard said. “Agent Keller approved it as a safe house. ”
They left that night.
Driving through sleet with security vehicles fore and aft. The lodge was beautiful. Modern. Warm.
Surrounded by pine forest and snow. Richard stayed in the caretaker’s cottage a quarter mile away. Each day, he came to the lodge. Built snowmen with Charlie.
Worked alongside Megan. In the evenings, they sat by the fire and talked. She learned about his father. His mother.
His doubts about the corporate life. He learned about Mark leaving when Charlie was six months old. The struggle. The determination.
A week in, the arrests came. Three countries. Major players in custody. The threat had passed.
“You can return to Boston tomorrow,” Richard told her on the deck, snow falling around them. “That’s good news,” she said, surprised by her reluctance. “Before we go back, I need to say something. You were right about our worlds being different.
But you were wrong that those differences matter more than what we found here. ”
He took her hands. “I don’t want to go back to my old life. The past week showed me what I’ve been missing.
I’m falling in love with both of you, Megan. And I’m terrified you’re going to tell me to go back to my cottage. ”
She kissed him instead. Snow falling.
His arms around her. “Charlie asked me this morning if we could build a snowman before we leave. ”
“Is that a yes to the snowman? ”
“It’s a yes to a lot more than that.
”
Six months later, Bennett Investments announced a reorganization. Richard remained CEO but established a charitable foundation for single-parent families. The foundation would be headed by Megan Wilson. She was now engaged to Bennett himself.
The wedding was small. At the Vermont lodge. Charlie wore a purple dress to match her stuffed elephant, who wore a miniature bow tie. In her vows, Megan spoke of accidental text messages and unexpected visitors.
Of love discovered in unlikely places. Richard promised to build a thousand snowmen. To value family above fortune. To never stop being grateful for the mistake that brought them together.
As they danced their first dance with Charlie twirling beside them, Megan thought about how the most significant chapters of our lives sometimes begin with the smallest of mistakes. And that true wealth has nothing to do with bank accounts and everything to do with the people we choose to love.