Epilogue
SHEPARD
Alot has happened in the six months since I made the full-time move to Loveville, and I haven’t regretted a moment of it. The hotel opened and we had our little test run for the town. Everyone had a great time, and it’s like the hotel has been in this town forever when it comes to the townspeople. It’s a beloved, local business now and I know that I’ve been fully accepted. The hotel is booming, especially right now during the winter skiing months.
Destiny and I are doing better than ever, and her business has really taken off since hosting the party at the hotel. She’s no longer just doing kids’ birthday parties or local weddings. She’s now traveling the country and planning events for major corporations. She always wanted to travel the world, and now we are doing it together.
While the two of us still aren’t living together, we spend nearly every waking moment side by side. If she’s not staying at my cabin, I’m staying at her house, although we stay at the cabin more times than not, when we’re not traveling. Tonight will be our first night back home after being gone for two weeks in Miami for a grand opening at a club that Destiny planned. She’s at her office in town now, returning the many emails she’s received since the press release on the hotel opening. It’s been a never-ending sea of requests for her assistance.
While she’s at work, I make the rounds at the hotel and make sure everything is running as smoothly as it can. As always, everything is smoother than silk sheets, so it’s onto my next task. I go by the flower shop and order a big bouquet of wildflowers and ask for them to be deliver ASAP to Destiny at her office. While they work on the order, I fill out the card.
“Destiny, I know how much you hate surprises, but I have another one for you. Please join me for dinner tonight on the back deck. I want to eat with you under a blanket of stars just like on our first date. Dress is casual or naked, whichever you prefer. I look forward to seeing you, my wildflower. Always yours, Shepard.”
With the flowers and the card out of the way, I pay for the delivery and head to the market to buy all the supplies I need to cook dinner. I buy a couple of steaks to throw on the grill, get all the ingredients to make a salad, pick out some large potatoes to bake, and then grab a freshly baked loaf of bread. The cabin is already stocked on wine that I had imported from Italy, so I skip over the wine section and grab some candles for the table. As I’m checking out, I find discounted roses. I grab a couple bouquets to sprinkle rose petals through the house and out to the back deck.
I check out, load up my new truck, and make the drive back up the mountainside. I carry everything in and go to fire up the grill. While the coals smolder, I work on seasoning the steaks and wrapping the potatoes in foil. I pop open a bottle of wine to let it breathe and get to work on setting the table and cooking.
Destiny always leaves the office around five, so I expect her to arrive any minute. I’ve gotten the patio table set up and the food is staying warm. I light the candles and pour the wine. The patio door is open, so I hear when the front door open when she walks in.
She walks out onto the patio with a smile. “What is all of this?” she asks, wrapping her arms around my waist and moving in for a kiss.
“I wanted a special evening with you. We’re finally back home, no work needs to be done tonight. Let’s just kick back, enjoy some good food, fine wine, and relax.”
“Deal,” she agrees, moving to take her seat at the table.
I retrieve our plates and set them on the table before taking my seat across from her.
“Mmmm, this smells amazing. Did you cook all this?”
I nod. “I had to do some Googling, but yes.”
She laughs. “This steak is cooked perfectly. I never knew you were a chef.”
I laugh. “I appreciate the confidence boost, but let’s not offend chefs everywhere.”
She smiles but takes a bite and makes a big show of chewing it to show how good it is. “I don’t care what you say. I’d rather eat this every day of the week than to have some fancy chef cook for me.”
I shake my head. “How were things at the office?”
She nods. “Busy, as always. I’m going to have to hire more employees. Someone who can manage the office while I’m gone. I walked in and my answering machine was full of messages. My email wasn’t that bad, since I can check them on the road, but I’m going to need more helping hands.”
“If there’s anything I can do, just let me know.”
“Well, I’ve been thinking about starting my own catering company. Then I wouldn’t have to pay out so much to outsource. You could be the chef.” She grins and I laugh.
“Nice try.”
Destiny rolls her eyes but lets the subject drop as she goes back to eating. “How are things at the hotel? Did you go by there today?”
“I did, and everything is running smoothly, like always.”
“Are you still moving forward with the hotel in Hawai’i?”
“I’m thinking about it. I figure we might as well get a vacation in now while we can, right? In the years to come, I’m sure our lives will only get busier.”
“I actually have some work I can do in Hawai’i, if I decide to take the job. How long do you think it will take to get everything ready before you need to go there?”
“A few months at least.”
