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Re: A Trip Around the Sun and Back to Her Heart

Randi stood there in the doorway for a moment, her fingers still curled lightly around the edge of the door as Andrew's familiar voice washed over her. For just a second, everything else—the packed suitcases, the tension in the house, the weight of leaving—fell away.

Her eyes softened the second she saw him.

"Hey..." she breathed, a small, almost fragile smile forming despite herself.

When he took her hand and kissed it, it hit her harder than she expected. Four years of memories—every laugh, every fight, every late-night promise—came rushing back all at once. She swallowed, trying to keep herself together, but her grip on his hand tightened just a little.

"You never catch me at a bad time," she said softly, though her voice wavered just enough to betray her.

For a moment, she glanced back over her shoulder—at the half-packed room, the life she was about to step into—and then back at him... the life she was about to leave behind.

At his offer, her lips trembled into a real smile this time, warmer, full of something deeper.

"One last ride, huh?" she whispered.

She let out a quiet breath, like she was making a choice all over again, then nodded.

"Yeah... I'd like that."

Randi stepped outside, closing the door behind her as if shutting out the world for just a little while. She didn't let go of his hand.

"You always did know how to steal me away," she added softly, a hint of their old teasing slipping through.

But then her expression shifted—more serious now, more vulnerable. Her thumb brushed lightly over his knuckles as she looked up at him.

"I've been trying to stay busy," she admitted. "Packing... planning... pretending this isn't... hard."

Her voice dropped on that last word.

She searched his face, like she was trying to memorize every detail.

"Seeing you..." she continued quietly, "makes it a whole lot harder to pretend."

There was a pause, heavy but not uncomfortable.

Then, gently—almost like she was afraid of the answer—she asked,

"How are they?"

Her eyes softened instantly at the thought of Jake and Josh.

"And you... Andrew?"

Re: Snowflakes and Sweethearts: A Christmas Love Story

Randi blinked in surprise when Andrew's face popped up on her screen. For just a second, there was something almost guilty in her expression—like she'd been caught in the middle of something she didn't quite want him to see—but then she smoothed it over with an easy smile.

"Andrew... hey," she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear as she shifted on her bed. The faint sound of music and laughter echoed somewhere in the background before she reached over and pushed a door mostly closed. "I'm good. I'm... really good, actually."

She studied his face for a moment, noticing the way his eyes looked a little more tired than usual, the way his smile didn't quite hide it.

"School's been... busy," she went on with a small shrug. "Finals coming up, projects, you know how it is. But I've been managing." There was a lightness to her tone, but it didn't quite match the way her eyes softened when she looked at him.

"And you?" she asked, tilting her head slightly. "How are you holding up with everything?"

Her gaze flickered, like she was searching the screen for something more—maybe the boys, maybe a piece of home she hadn't realized she missed.

There was a brief pause before she added, quieter this time,
"...How are Jake and Josh?"

Even as she asked, there was a faint hint of hesitation—like she wasn't sure she had the right to ask as much as she wanted to.

Re: An Irish Blessings Brings Love at the End of the Rainbow (2026)

Randi blinked when the screen finally settled, and for a moment—just a moment—everything else faded except those two little faces in green.
Her boys.
Her smile came instantly, soft and full, the kind that only belonged to them.
"Top o' the morning, my handsome little men," she laughed gently, leaning closer to the screen as if she could somehow reach through it and touch them. When Andrew lifted his head and joined the frame, her smile flickered—just slightly—but it stayed.
"And would you look at that... six months old and already butchering an Irish accent," she teased, her eyes warm but knowing. "I leave for a little while and this is what happens?"
She watched them squirm, memorizing every little movement, every giggle. You could almost see it—the ache underneath her smile. The distance. The missing pieces.
When Andrew set them down and the tone shifted, so did she.
Her posture straightened just a bit.
School.
She nodded, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's... good. Busy. Harder than I thought it'd be, but I'm learning. A lot." There was pride there—but also exhaustion. And maybe a hint of loneliness she wasn't ready to admit out loud.
Then he mentioned St. Patrick's Day.
And visiting.
And suddenly, Randi went very still.
Not frozen... just thinking.
Really thinking.
Her eyes dropped for a second before coming back up to meet his through the screen.
"You want to come here?" she asked softly, not in disbelief—but in careful consideration.
The mention of "things to talk about" didn't go unnoticed. Not by her.
Of course it didn't.
She let out a slow breath, her fingers lightly tapping against her desk as she weighed everything—the promise they made... the people they were seeing... the distance... and those two little boys on the floor behind him.
Finally, she nodded.
"I think..." she started, her voice quieter now, more honest, "I think I'd really like that."
A small smile followed—but it wasn't as easy as before.
"Seeing the boys... spending the day together..." she paused, then added, more carefully, "talking... yeah. We should do that."
There was a beat of silence.
Then her eyes softened again, just a little more than before.
"But Andrew," she added gently, "we need to be real with each other when you come."
Not harsh. Not accusing.
Just... steady.
"About everything."
And there it was—the unspoken truth sitting right between them.
The promise they made.
The people in their lives.
The feelings that maybe never really went anywhere.
Randi gave him one more small smile, softer now, almost fragile.
"So yeah... come see us."

Re: Valentines Dreams Do Come True (2026)

Randi had just gotten Josh and Jake settled after a long, laughter-filled evening when the knock came.
She wasn't expecting anyone.
For a moment, she just stood there... heart quietly hoping.
"Boys, stay here a second," she said, brushing a hand over Jake's shoulder before heading to the door.
When she opened it—
"Andrew?"
But he wasn't standing there.
Her brow furrowed—and then she looked down the hall.
That's when she saw him.
Collapsed against the wall across from her door, head tilted forward, completely still.
"Andrew!"
She rushed to him instantly, dropping to her knees. Her hands went straight to his face—and she gasped.
He was burning up.
"Andrew—hey, hey... wake up," she urged, gently patting his cheek. "Come on... don't do this..."
Beside him, Peggy stood quietly, bundled in her coat, her small face pale with worry.
"Miss Randi... he fell asleep," she said softly, like she wasn't sure if that was the right word.
Randi's heart twisted.
"It's okay, sweetheart," she said quickly, softening her tone as she reached out to pull Peggy a little closer with one arm while still trying to rouse Andrew with the other. "We're gonna take care of him."
Andrew didn't respond—just a faint breath, uneven.
Randi pressed her hand to his forehead again, her stomach dropping.
"Way too hot..." she whispered under her breath.
She looked at Peggy, steadying herself. "I need you to be a big helper for me, alright?"
Peggy nodded immediately.
"Go inside my room—Josh and Jake are in there. Tell them to get the manager. Fast."
Peggy didn't hesitate—she hurried inside.
Randi turned back to Andrew, her hands trembling now as she pushed damp hair back from his forehead. Snow clung to his coat, half-melted. His clothes were cold... soaked.
"You've been out in this way too long..." she murmured, her voice tightening with worry. "What were you doing...?"
Her eyes flickered briefly down the hallway, then back to him.
She had a feeling she already knew.
A lump formed in her throat.
"You were trying to do something for me... weren't you?"
Footsteps came running—Josh and Jake, with the manager right behind them.
"What happened?" the manager asked quickly.
"He's got a fever—really high," Randi said, already shifting into focus. "He passed out out here. We need to get him inside and send for a doctor."
"Let's move him."
Carefully, they lifted Andrew and carried him into the room, laying him across the bed.
Randi moved fast, all instinct now.
"Josh—blankets. Jake—cool water, not ice cold. Hurry."
They scattered to help.
Randi knelt beside the bed, loosening Andrew's coat and scarf, her hands more gentle now. She brushed his hair back again, her touch lingering just a second longer than necessary.
"You push yourself too hard..." she whispered softly.
Andrew shifted slightly, a faint groan escaping him.
Randi leaned in immediately. "Andrew? Can you hear me?"
His eyes didn't open—but his head turned just a fraction toward her voice.
"...Randi..." he murmured weakly.
Her breath caught.
"I'm right here," she said softly, taking his hand in both of hers. "You're okay... we've got you."
His fingers twitched faintly in hers.
"...Valentine's..." he managed, barely audible.
Randi blinked, tears stinging her eyes.
Even now... that's what he was thinking about.
She shook her head gently, her thumb brushing over his hand.
"You don't need to worry about that," she whispered. "Not one bit."
She leaned closer, her voice softer now—more personal.
"You being here... that's more than enough."
Behind her, the boys hovered close, quiet and worried, while Peggy stood near the edge of the bed, watching Andrew carefully.
Randi glanced back at them briefly, giving a small reassuring nod—then turned her attention right back to him.
"Just rest," she murmured, smoothing his hair again. "That's all you need to do right now."
Outside, the snow continued to fall.
But inside that small hotel room—
everything had shifted.
Because whatever Andrew had been planning... whatever surprise he'd been working so hard on—
Didn't matter anymore.
He'd already made it clear where his heart was.
And this time... Randi wasn't going to walk away from it.

Re: A Promise of Forever Bound by Love and United by Destiny and Two Golden Wedding Bands

Hoss was already laughing so hard he had to grab onto the doorframe for support.
"Pa, I swear—I ain't never seen nothin' like that in my life!" he wheezed. "He was spinnin' around like he was at a dance hall—only he forgot the important part!"
Joe doubled over beside him. "No, no—the best part was the razor microphone. Andrew, you were really committing to the performance!"
Andrew groaned, yanking his towel tighter around his waist as his face burned bright red. "You three done, or you wanna invite the whole town in too?"
Ben tried to straighten up, clearing his throat, but the corners of his mouth kept twitching. "Son... I've seen a lot of things in this house over the years, but that might be a first."
Leaning casually against the frame, Adam—his younger twin by minutes, though he'd never admit it mattered—watched Andrew with a slow, amused smirk.
"Oh, I don't know," Adam drawled. "I've seen him do worse. Just... not usually with an audience."
Andrew shot him a look. "Oh, you're real funny. Keep it up and I'll start telling stories."
Adam raised an eyebrow. "Careful. You're the groom today. I'd hate for anything... embarrassing to delay the ceremony."
Hoss perked up instantly. "Oh now wait—stories?"
Andrew pointed at him. "Don't encourage him!"
Joe grinned. "Too late. I'm invested now."
Adam pushed off the doorframe, stepping a little closer, his tone still light but his eyes sharper—more brother than tease now. "Relax, Andrew. If this is how you're handling nerves, I'd say you're doing just fine."
Andrew let out a breath, some of the embarrassment fading as he shook his head. "Was it that obvious?"
"All you were missing was a spotlight," Joe shot back.
Ben finally stepped in, smiling warmly. "Son, nerves are normal. But if you're this happy before the wedding..." he paused, glancing around at the others, "...I'd say you're exactly where you're supposed to be."
There was a small beat—then Adam nodded once, quieter now.
"He's right," Adam said. "You've been waiting for this. And Randi?" A faint smile tugged at his lips. "She's worth every second of it."
Andrew looked at him—really looked—and something settled in his chest.
"Yeah," he said, softer. "She is."
Hoss clapped his hands together suddenly. "Alright then! Let's get this man dressed before he starts singin' again!"
Joe snorted. "Please no encore."
Andrew grabbed a washcloth and tossed it at him. "Out! All of you, out!"
They piled out of the room, still laughing and shoving at each other, Ben shaking his head as he followed them.
Adam lingered just a second longer in the doorway.
"Hey," he said.
Andrew glanced up.
Adam gave a small, knowing smirk. "Try to keep the towel on till the ceremony."
Andrew huffed a laugh. "Get out."
And as Adam finally disappeared down the hall, Andrew stood there for a moment—smiling, steady, and a whole lot less nervous than before.