“Wow. I love that idea.”
“I thought you might. With Hayden and Riley promotin’ the town so much, I’m sure there’ll be a small business or two that can use this space.”
“This is wonderful!” she said, giving him a hug.
“I’ll need a real-estate agent, of course.” He smirked. “You wouldn’t happen to know anyone, would you?”
She leaned up and kissed him. “As a matter of fact, I do.”
Epilogue
Seven months later
Madge tightened the belt on her white bathrobe and walked out on the balcony of her hotel room. The Hawaiian breeze drifted over her short, damp hair. She placed her hands on the railing and closed her eyes, then smiled as she felt Don’s arms slip around her waist.
“Best trip ever?” he whispered in her ear.
She turned around and kissed him, then leaned against him, his robe matching hers. “Absolutely.”
He took her hand and led her back inside. Yesterday they had renewed their vows on the beach, with Harper and Rusty serving as witnesses. Then the couples parted ways. “What do you think the kids are doing?” she mused as she sat on the edge of the bed.
“I’m sure they’re not thinking about us.” Don walked to the table on the opposite side of the room and put some fresh fruit into a glass bowl. “And I don’t want to think aboutthem. I love ’em, but this trip is about you”—he gave her the fruit—“and me.” He sat next to her.
She selected a plump strawberry and handed it to him as he put his arm around her. It had been a long road to get to this point in their relationship, and there were times when she didn’t think they’d make it, particularly after she had started going to counseling with him. She’d had to face some uncomfortable truths about herself and her responsibility in their marriage. But they were both stronger afterward, and when he had asked her a month ago to renew their vows, she hadn’t hesitated to say yes.
Don touched her chin and brought his mouth to hers. “You taste like strawberries,” she said after they broke the kiss.
He smiled. “I love you, Maddie. Thanks for marrying me—a second time. Maybe in ten years we can do this again. But until then...” He drew her into his arms.
And the world melted away.
***
“I don’t know about this, Harper.”
She glanced at Rusty’s bare toes gripping the slippery rock beneath his feet. Their hiking sandals lay nearby. “You’ll be fine,” she said. “It’s just a waterfall.”
“That’s a mighty strong-lookin’ waterfall.”
She would have laughed if she didn’t know he was genuinely scared. When they had arrived in Hawaii two days agoto celebrate her parents’ renewing their vows, she’d promised herself she would fulfill one of her bucket-list items: standing under a waterfall. And who better to do that with than her husband of three months?
Rusty had bought #6 soon after he told her of his plans. For the next six months she had worked from home, mostly baking for the Sunshine Café and doing a few real-estate deals on the side. An antique store had moved into the bottom level of #6 in March, and the shop opened in May to great success.
But the highlight of the intervening months had been when she and Rusty married in a small ceremony at the church. They had kept the guest list to family and close friends, the way both of them had wanted it. The CCs and the BBs were there, of course, along with Senior and her parents. Amber, Austin, and their family had flown in from Colorado for the event, and her heart had swooned when she saw Rusty playing with his nephews and niece in the parking lot after the ceremony. Then she caught Senior watching them, too, happy tears in his eyes. Then she started crying, and her mother started crying, and soon everyone was bawling except for the kids.
It had been the perfect day.
Afterward she had moved into his newly renovated house. Living with Senior was an adjustment, but the extra addition on the back gave him his own living quarters with plenty of privacy. He only tried to butt into their business once or twice a week, something Harper didn’t mind too much. It was nice to be treated as part of his family.
“Just walk over here,” she said, motioning for Rusty tomove to the edge of the waterfall. It was a thirty-minute hike to these falls, and by some miracle they had the area all to themselves. But judging by the beauty of the falls and lagoon, they wouldn’t be alone for long.
“What if I fall in?” he said, glancing at the waves in the natural pool below.
“Why are you worried about that?” She turned from him and let the misting water cool her face. “You’re a good swimmer—”
His arm suddenly slid around her waist. He yanked her against him and lifted her off the ground, carrying her to the large rock behind the falls.
She squealed, then laughed as he set her down. Water thundered around them as Harper smacked him on the butt. “You had me going for a minute,” she said.
