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With the success of Riley’s Recipe dog treats, Emma had hired two part-time bakers and left her job at Hadley Cove High, though she still tutored from time to time when extra help was needed. Riley even became a local celebrity as the smiling “face” of Barking Orders.
Emma no longer felt threatened by her domineering ex-husband. He had been caught and arrested by her father, with the help of her doorbell security footage. She’d even gotten a restraining order against him for good measure, making sure he’d never bother her again. He hadn’t said a single word to her since the incident, and sometimes, she wondered if Ashley ever took him back. For Ashley’s sake, she sincerely hoped not.
And then there was Luke.
After turning down the job offer in New York, Luke completely left the financial world to pursue something he was more passionate about—her. He used his experience to help Emma expand her dog treat business and had even assisted with closing the deal on the shop. They made a wonderful team.
As Emma meandered through the aisles, she surveyed the branded products: rows lined with Riley’s Recipe treats waiting to be sold. She paused in awe. Her heart swelled with pride, realizing her faith in herself had paid off in ways she never could have imagined.
Before the ceremony, she did one final walkthrough.
“Ready?” Luke emerged from the back, wrapping his arms around Emma and kissed her on the cheek.
“I think so. Are there a lot of people out there?”
Luke’s lips curved playfully. “Oh, not really. Just the whole town.”
Emma’s eyes widened.
“They’re here for you,“ Luke said, taking her hand. “So, let’s get out there and give them what they want.”
The sounds of clapping and whistling filled the air as they stepped through the front door. Luke squeezed her hand as Emma looked out into the crowd and grinned. Her grandfather and Lisa were at the front, along with Kara and Charlotte next to them. And there, in the very center, was Riley, held on a leash by Jeremiah. She even spotted Phil and her father off to the side.
“Thank y’all so much for being here today for the grand opening of Barking Orders!” Emma said. “I want to remind everyone that with every bag of Riley’s Recipe sold, a portion of the proceeds will go to Second Chance Rescue!”
As she prepared for the ribbon cutting, a familiar, friendly face approached. Mayor Williams, always involved in town events, stepped forward with her signature warm smile and handed Emma the giant scissors. “Congratulations, friend. The honor is all yours.”
When she cut the ribbon, Riley barked; out of the corner of her eye, she saw him slip from Jeremiah’s grip.
Emma felt a jolt of panic and yelled, “Riley! Can someone grab him, please?”
She darted in the direction she last saw him, the crowd parting as they tried to help. She could hear shouts of, “He went that way!” and, “I almost got him!” but Riley seemed to be eluding everyone.
Her heart pounded as she moved through the crowd. “Riley, where are you?” she called out.
She spotted a wagging tail behind the funnel cake stand and raced toward it.
But it wasn’t him.
Releasing a sigh, she turned in the other direction.
The distant chatter of the crowd faded as Emma’s gaze fixated on a familiar figure. Then, as if drawn by an unseen force, a clearing came into view among the sea of people.
There he is.
Emma’s heart raced. Without realizing, her pace quickened, feet almost gliding over the ground. As she neared, she instinctively reached out to grab Riley’s leash.
But as her fingers slid down the leash, they brushed against the velvety texture of a crimson ribbon. Tied intricately around the leash, it held a small box, more precious than anything she could have imagined. There was a weight to it, making her heart skip yet another beat.
The murmurs grew louder, turning into excited shouts. “Look behind you!” a voice echoed, followed by several others.
She whirled around. And there he was.
Luke, with a nervous yet genuine smile, was on one knee. Gently, he took the ribbon from her hand, his fingers deftly untying the knot and opening the box. He held it up as it glimmered in the sun like a tiny star, casting its own light across everything nearby.
The world seemed to pause.
Whispers of the crowd, the rustling leaves—everything faded into the background.
