And I get an inkling of what it might be sooner than I expected.
The mysterious young woman that was brought to town is none other than MrsFlynn, the Dean's very creative and talented architect!
A surprisingly young woman who Rayne introduced to Carter with interest being shown by both parties.
I find her in the girl's bedroom and she introduces herself to me, saying that with everything she's heard about me from Brina, Jerad, and Howard, wait, what? She calls my father Howard?, she feels like she knows me already.
Then she whispers to me, "Don't worry Brooke, I'm taking everything into consideration and I think you'll love the end results. Ssshhh, don't want to say anything more and ruin Summer's surprise. Call me tomorrow if you have any additional requests."
I don't let on that I have no idea what she's talking about, but with MrsFlynn involved, um, Mysti, I know it has to be something to do with the house.
A surprise I'm now even more curious about!
But asking questions would give away that I'm still not in on the secret, so I hold my tongue, though it almost kills me to do so.
But the suspense is short-lived because soon after Mysti leaves, Jerad tells all of us to check out something outside.
Before I know what's going on, the whole family has left the house and I can hear screaming and yelling in the distance.
It's dark so I can barely see a thing as I follow after them.
I see a house in the dim light, but can't make out much more, until I catch up with Jerad by the front porch, which is all lit up.
My first thought is that it's so welcoming, having a covered front porch.
But when I see my family just walking inside, I'm mortified.
Haven't I taught them better manners than that!?!
But Jerad doesn't give me time to reprimand them as he quickly ushers me inside and they all shout, "Welcome Home Mom!"
Stunned, I stand in the entryway of a house just down the road from ours, a house that seems vaguely familiar, right down to the wallpaper of our own home!
I glance at Summer and her gentle smile lets me know she's been in on the surprise the whole time!
As I now realize has everyone in my family, along with my parents, the Dean's, and even Mysti!
They were all conspiring to make me think the surprise was now Summer's, when it was mine all along.
And then everyone's talking at once telling Jerad they did it, they kept the secret!
I step towards Jerad with a smile and say, "A whole new house? But what about the farm? All of our hard work?"
Jerad smiles and tells me the old farmhouse and garden are still mine.
But with the roof and foundation being what they were, the place just wasn't sound enough to add expansions to, to keep being a home for a large family.
Along with our pets.
Which is when I realize there are two pet bowls, one filled for Kobe, the other waiting for Flynn once he's weaned off his mother's milk.
It's getting late so Jerad suggests we all head off to our beds and explore our new home in the morning.
Before we head to our bedroom, he pulls me close and whispers in my ear, "Is this better than that romantic vacation somewhere warm?"
I smile and say, "Maybe… let's check out our new bedroom and find out!"
But by the look on Rayne's face, I must have said it a bit louder than I thought.
No one does disgust as well as a teenage girl!
First thing the next morning, most of us head outside and admire our new garden space, with it's well-laid-out plots, and orchard, all within a new sturdy fence.
The new plants here were all taken from cuttings or seeds from the garden at the old farm lot.
We weed and harvest, taking care of a task that's become part of our daily routine.
Then we get a call from City Hall telling us that their first graduating class is so unexpectedly large it took a few more days to plan than usual.
Summer happily dons her cap and gown that were delivered by express mail moments later and takes off for City Hall, eager to get her diploma.
But we're surprised when Nolan dons his as well.
Luckily, he was a bit slower than Summer, and Jerad was able to snap a photo.
And then we're even more shocked when Carter spins into his!
With the delay, several classes will be graduating today, Summer's, Nolan's, and Carter's!
We finally catch up to Summer at the steps of City Hall, and get her to stand still long enough for her photo.
Jerad was even quick enough to catch a shot of Summer throwing her diploma up in the air with a cheer.
So instead of being disappointed that Summer didn't get a graduation, we're filled with joy at our three new graduates!
Nolan passing and voted Most Likely To Be Mediocre by his classmates.
(Which I thought was rather rude, but typical of teens just becoming young adults and something I would have laughed at when I was that age)
Carter graduating with Highest Honors, and being voted Most Likely to Write a Best-Seller. ( A book on how to catch perfect fish perhaps?)
And Summer graduating at the top of her class and being Class Valedictorian and being voted Most Likely to Have a Large Family!
This announcement made both Summer and Nolan blush and my eyes open wide.
Though with the house full at the moment, I don't have to worry about grandchildren just yet.
But graduation was not the biggest event of the day.
As soon as their robes were off, Nolan dropped to one knee and proposed to Summer!
Right there on the courthouse steps.
Most of us were busy checking out the crowd or playing on our phones.
But I heard Summer's gasp of delight and turned just in time.
To see my oldest daughter's face as her boyfriend, um, fiancé, slipped his ring on her finger!
A face that was filled with so much love, joy, and happiness, that I couldn't stop my own smile.
First graduation and then an engagement, Summer and Nolan are going full steam ahead!
As I keep all these precious sights stored in my memory, the newly engaged couple hug each other tight.
Then Summer, knowing no other way to express her feelings, grabs Nolan and kisses him soundly!
And I hear Jerad say, "That's my girl!"
Looks like Carter's not the only one that picked up on his romantic streak, even if she doesn't have the trait!
Speaking of Carter, I can't find him in the crowd anywhere.
And he wasn't.
He tells me all about it when he gets home, how he went to see a special someone.
Mysti!
He broke the ice with some chat about gardening.
Then decided his graduation cap and gown just aren't cutting it for a serious conversation.
He removes them, feeling much more comfortable in his jeans and shirt.
Comfortable enough to ask Mysti her sign!
Mysti blushed a bit and told him she's a Sagittarius.
Then for the bigger question, does she have a partner?
Carter said his heart jumped when she told him there wasn't anyone special in her life, yet!
And when he brought up fishing she was almost as excited as he was!
The next morning Carter tells us he's sure Mysti is the one for him and he invites her over to the house.
I have a feeling that Mysti feels the same way when I peek out the window and catch their hug.
A hug that expresses so much love that my heart almost bursts when I see it!
Carter surprised her with flowers this time as Mysti has already given him two bouquets.
He tells her he knows they haven't been dating long, but that she's the only one for him.
Then he asks her to be his one and only!
And she doesn't hesitate to accept.
I'm a bit surprised when the topic turns to children, but then I realize that Carter is telling Mysti that with a full house, Summer and Nolan can't start their family yet.
So he's moving to his own place today, the original Dean home right next door to Mysti's own home!
My heart catches in my throat a bit as I realize that Carter's just the first of our children moving out.
But then a burst of joy fills me as my next thought is that we're not losing our son, but we're gaining another daughter.
Summer's surprise turned out to be my surprise---A new home modeled after our original farmhouse but with a second story for expansion down the line and with a permanent, well laid out garden space!
And we were all surprised when graduation day finally was announced, but not just for Summer as Nolan and Carter graduated too.
Then Nolan surprised us all by proposing to Summer right after graduation!
And Carter followed his heart, asked Mysti Flynn to be his girlfriend, and moved across town to the house next door to hers.
Truly two days filled with surprises!
But with an empty space in the house, will Summer and Nolan take advantage of it?
And how long before Carter and Mysti move their relationship along?
What choices will Rayne, Autumn, and Winter make?
Well, those answers will be up to Summer to disclose as I'm turning over journal entries to her.
Follow along in Chapter 27: A New House, A New Heir
Coming soon.
