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Inlight ofSeth’sbehavior, the board of directors has decided to let him go.He’llno longer be working here, andI’llbe the editor for you andAdam.Onbehalf of the company,Iwant to apologize for his dishonesty and what he put you through.I’mashamed that we didn’t realize what was going on.
I’mmeeting withAlexlater this week to discuss everything.He’sgoing to offer to representAdamas well, and we’ll make sure he gets a fair offer.
Veryexcited to be working with you!
Best,
Daisy
Sherose to her feet as she read the last few sentences, picking up her phone and jogging intoAdam’soffice.Hewas on the phone, so she waited impatiently, bouncing on her toes.Shewas going to burst.Assoon as he hung up the phone, she thrust it at him.
“Readthis,” she said breathlessly, watching as he read the email.Watchingthe play of emotions across his face as his slight frown morphed into a wide smile.
“They’regoing to publish the book andSethis fired,” he said, looking up and meeting her eyes. “OhmyGod,Hazel.Youdid it.Youdid this.”
Shestepped around his desk and wrapped her arms around him. “Wedid it.”Shesighed happily, feeling as though all of the puzzle pieces of her messy life had fallen into place. “CanIask you something?”
“Anything.”
“Doyou still believe the legend is just that?”Hazeldidn’t.Shebelieved in magic with her whole being.She’dseen what it could do with her own eyes.Feltit with her own heart.
Heraised his eyebrows, holding her tight. “HowcouldInot?Youcame into my life, and everything changed for the better.Somethingspecial brought you here,Hazel.Magic.Fate.Destiny.Whateverit was,I’llbe grateful for it for the rest of my days.Magicis real, and the magic is you.”
EPILOGUE
Sixmonths later
Theair wasfresh and warm, the trees budding with green asAdamwove his fingers throughHazel’s.Upahead, he could hear the rushing of the falls and the burbling creek, thawed now that spring had officially taken hold.
Thepast six months had been, without a doubt, the best ofAdam’slife.Notlong after the gala,Hazelhad moved in with him.She’dfound a sublet for the remaining months on her lease, and then when it was up, she’d sold or donated most of her stuff, only moving a handful of things with her toGossamerFalls.Onher first night as an official resident ofGossamerFalls, they’d had celebratory drinks atPourDecisionswith his entire family along with the friends she’d made.Thatnight, he’d whispered “welcome home,” as he’d slid inside her.
Thedraft of the book, which they’d titledThroughtheMist, was inDaisy’shands, and they’d been going back and forth with edits and changes and additions.Itwas slated to be published the following year, and there was already talk of movie andTVrights being a hot commodity.Morethan anything, he was proud of the book they’d written together.Andhe’d be forever grateful toHazelfor giving him back a part of himself he thought he’d lost forever.
He’dalso pulled back on his hours at the hotel, delegating more responsibilities toAutumnso that he could spend more time writing and withHazel.Autumnwas happy to take on more, even if it meant she’d given those damned ghost hunters permission to film at their hotel.Thenagain, maybe they were onto something.Hedidn’t know how he hadn’t noticed it before, all the subtle signs that the hotel was home to more than just guests, but now that he’d seen it, felt it, it couldn’t be unseen.
Surprisingly, he found that he didn’t mind.
Thepath crunched beneath their boots as they walked, the roar of the falls growing louder.Thewater was thick and fast with winter runoff, the mist in the air landing on his hands and face.
“Showme exactly where you stood,” he said, nerves kicking to life in his stomach.Hazelhad told him about her experience at the falls under the full moon, and even he’d had to admit that it sounded pretty magical.
“Um, okay,” she said, giving him a strange little look.Hehad a feeling that she suspected what he was up to, but was willing to play along.Sheled him further down the path and then onto the rocks on the edge of the creek. “Itlooks a little different right now—different time of day, different season—butIthink it was right about here.”
Heslid his arm around her waist and held her close as they looked up at the majestic falls together.
“Here’swhere it all started,” she said, leaning into him.Hisheart felt like it was going to burst. “Thatnight changed my life in the best possible way.Ilearned about the legend, which in turn inspired the book.Butmore importantly,Imade a wish that led me to you.Thisplace brought us together.”Hervoice grew soft at the end, her eyes bright with emotion.
Hetook a deep breath, his hands shaking, his heart hammering wildly in his chest. “Whichis why it feels right to do this here.”Hestepped away from her, pulled the small velvet box out of his jacket pocket, and dropped to one knee. “Hazel,” he said, taking her hand in his. “BeforeImet you,Ididn’t believe in magic or legends.Ionly believed in whatIcould see with my own eyes.Butthen you came along, and you showed me that magic is very, very real.It’sthe things we see not with our eyes, but with our heart.Andwhat my heart sees is you.Ilove you, andIwant to spend the rest of my days loving you.”Heexhaled a shaky breath.Hazelwas shaking too, tears streaming down her cheeks as she stared down at him with her whole heart in her eyes. “IwishIcould give you the world.Ican’t obviously, butIcan give you this ring.”Heflipped open the box to reveal the ring he’d picked out withAutumn’shelp.Hazelpressed her fingers to her lips, and he swore he could feel the joy radiating off of her. “HazelRebeccaWoodward, you are the most incredible womanI’veever met.Willyou marry me?”
He’dbarely gotten the last syllable out before she was nodding and crying, “yes!”.Hehastily slid the ring on her finger, rose to his feet, and pulled her to him.
Asthey kissed, the mist intensified, clinging to their hair, their skin, even the tips of their eyelashes.Afeeling of wholeness so complete it took his breath away washed overAdam, and he knew there was only one thing left to say.HeheldHazeltight, his chin on her head as he looked up to the sky and the crest of the falls.
“Thankyou,” he whispered.
THEEND
