Wild Love

Ford emails Rosie to remind her of the fundraiser in Emerald Lake that they’re attending. He purchases her a dress, and they take a private jet to the event. Rosie says that she feels like a “princess” in her dress as they fly to the fancy resort for the gala. Ford is distracted by worrying about Cora, who he left with his parents. He’s anxious to return home in time for her upcoming end-of-school event they are hosting. Rosie jokes about returning to their room and letting Ford rip off her dress. He says that he might, and she says that if he destroys the expensive dress, she will “break up” with him. She freezes, realizing that she inadvertently labeled them a couple.

Though Ford hates having his photo taken, he happily introduces Rosie as his girlfriend on the red carpet. Ford quickly realizes that the event is more about wealthy people hobnobbing than doing anything meaningful to help the wildfire victims. It reminds him why he stays out of the public spotlight and retreated to Rose Hill. Rosie sees a former coworker, Faye, from Apex. Faye is sorry about what Stan did to Rosie but reports that Apex is falling apart after repeatedly being evicted from their building. Ford tries to hide his expression, but Rosie knows that he’s responsible and pulls him aside to talk.

Rosie and Ford return to their hotel room, and she demands an explanation. Ford says that he has been buying high-value real estate in Vancouver, including Apex headquarters. He explains that no amount of money can repair what Stan did to her and that he will spend any amount of money to get vengeance. Rosie cries, and they kiss passionately. After having sex, Rosie tells Ford that she loves him, and he responds that he’s never stopped loving her.

Ford awakens, wrapped blissfully around Rosie, but he can hear his phone buzzing. It’s his lawyer calling to tell him that West is in jail in Vancouver for punching Stan. Rosie is awake now, and Ford knows that he must tell her the truth, even though she may be furious. Before Rosie and Ford became a couple, Ford told West about what happened with Stan. West has been helping Ford exact his revenge on Stan by hand-delivering the eviction notices. This time, West made Stan angry, and they got into an altercation. Rosie is infuriated because what happened at Apex is her story, and she’s angry that Ford involved West and jeopardized his safety, especially since he’s a father. She accuses Ford of being “privileged beyond compare” and wielding his name “like a weapon” (402). Rosie packs to return to Calgary alone. She tells Ford that he must fix the mess he’s created.

On the way to the police station, Ford reflects on what Rosie said about his privilege, and he knows she’s right. Even though he and Willa have experienced struggles, wealth and family name have made life easier. Yet he decides to use his privilege to help West and introduces himself to the police officer, knowing that he will recognize his name instantly. However, West has already made friends with the officers by ordering them donuts. Also, he’s been released because Stan attacked first and West only hit him out of self-defense. Ford sees Stan and his wife speaking with the police. Ford approaches him, saying that if he ever assaults a woman again, he will make sure he pays the price.

Ford apologizes to West for involving him, but West asserts that he acted on his own accord. Ford says that they are too old to be acting so recklessly. Ford explains that he should have never shared Rosie’s secret, but West knows she will forgive him. Ford reflects on his and Rosie’s relationship trajectory and how they have always understood one another without pretense. He realizes that he should invest in relationships with the people who matter most, those who love and understand him, aside from his name and status. Though he and Rosie argue, what he calls their “special brand of foreplay” (412), he feels that it’s just a sign that they are meant for each other.

Gemma drives Rosie back to her property, and then Rosie meets Mia to collect West’s children. Rosie lets the kids eat sugary snacks just before West returns home. He explains that he’s pressing charges against Stan for assault, but Rosie is still mad. She turns down his request to stay for dinner because she wants to relax on her dock. West says that it’s not hers or their family’s because it’s on Ford’s property. Rosie walks to the dock and finds that Ford has placed a sign that says “Rosie’s Dock” and left an envelope containing the deed to a portion of the property, which includes the dock.

Ford is swimming in the lake, and Rosie watches him, thinking about how much he has always cared for her. Rosie says that she needs 24 hours to be angry with him, and then they can move on. She plans to press charges against Stan for the assault. Ford is bringing Cora’s mother into town for the end-of-school party. Ford worries about where Rosie’s head is. She falls into the water and wraps herself around him, declaring her love and desire for them to be a team. At midnight, Ford comes to the bunkhouse, declaring an end to her time to be angry. He wants to give her half of Rose Hill’s Records and become business partners, and she accepts. He renames it “Wild Rose Records.” They spend all night together in the bunkhouse.

Rosie and Ford watch Cora and her friends enjoy the end-of-school party. They reminisce about when Rosie had friends over and West scared everyone by shutting off the lights. Marilyn is there, and she thanks Ford for all he’s done for Cora. Seeing how good it’s been for Cora to live at Rose Hill, she announces that they are moving there. Ford is thrilled and offers to buy them a house, but Marilyn insists that they only need help finding a realtor. Cora asks Ford if they can go out on the boat, and his heart swells when he overhears her calling him “dad” to her friends. Later, Rosie takes him to the office, where she reveals a plaque that she had made for the blue paint stain on the floor. She calls it “Wild Love, Paint on lumber, by Rosalie Belmont and Ford Grant” (436). They spend the rest of the day tangled up together on the couch in the office.

Rosie moves in with Ford, and they enjoy spending the summer with Cora. Marilyn purchases a home nearby, and they look forward to Cora having an open invitation to their house. Cora asks Rosie to play the “Bloody Mary” game, and Ford and West turn off the lights to scare them. When the lights come on, Ford is kneeling with a ring. Fittingly, Rosie teases him about saying no and makes him chase her down to the dock, where he puts the ring on her finger and pulls him into the lake. The chapter ends with Rosie’s diary entry from the night when West first shut the lights off. When everyone became afraid, Ford caught her and held onto her, saying, “I’ve got you” (447), and Rosie wrote that she wished the lights had stayed off because he made her feel safe.