She runs her palm across the fake lupine wall adorned with a neon light that readsMaisie Rae, her pen name.
“It’s perfect. I love it so much.” She walks over to the desk, dragging her fingers over the typewriter. She freezes after reading the words I typed on the page notched inside.
I’m already down on one knee when she turns around. “Come here, honey,” I beg. She rushes over, one hand planted over her mouth. I grab her free hand and let her see all the raw emotions I’m feeling.
“Maisie, you are, without a doubt, the love of my life. You are the blood that runs through my veins, the laughter that feeds my soul, and the love they write about in romance novels. I’m eternally indebted to you. Holding your heart is my greatest achievement. There are no words that could ever equate to the love I have for you, but I’m hoping you will do me the honor of calling you mine forever.”
I pull out a little black velvet box from my back pocket, flipping it open to reveal an emerald cut diamond set in a gold band. “Maisie Rae Brooks, the sweetest honey I’ve ever tasted, will you marry me and complete our epilogue?"
A sob wracks her body so hard, she falls to her knees and grabs my face. “Yes, yes, yes,” she chants. “Yes times a million, I will marry you, Gray. I don’t want to live another second not being yours.”
I slide the ring onto her finger with shaky hands before Idraw her in for a tear-filled kiss. Cheers erupt behind us. Our family floods Maisie’s new writing shed, pulling us in for a group hug full of happy tears and smiles.
After we both faced a life without family, we’ve found ourselves the best one we could have asked for. I’m not sure how life could get any sweeter.
epilogue two
. . .
MAISIE
three months later
“Today's the day.It’s my wedding day, Mom. I found that big, epic love you predicted for me. I found the twin flame to my heart. I don’t know how I’m supposed to walk down the aisle today without you and Dad, but I know you sent Gray in your place to protect me. My prince guarding my heart, just like you said. You would have loved him so much. I can picture Lan teasing that you would have loved him more than your own son. But you’re not here for the laughs, the memories, the big milestones. I wish so badly I could give you one last hug and tell you how much I love and miss you every day. I miss you so much, it hurts.”
I run my thumb over the letter she would have given me today, reading over her words again. I was so lost the first time I read them, wondering if that epic love I yearned for was within reach. If I even wanted it. Oh, how things have changed. I stand here now, with a heart full of love, excited to spend every day with that love right by my side.
I tuck the letter back in the frame hanging above my desk next to the paper I framed that readsWill you marry me?from theday Grayson proposed, plus a flower petal he framed. He told meit reminded him of me, whatever that means.
We didn’t want to wait a year for some overly flashy wedding. We wanted to be married as soon as possible, surrounded by the people who helped us get here. We settled on a classic intimate wedding right here on the ranch with close family and friends.
“There you are,” Roxy sighs, entering the shack.
“I’m right here," I laugh, drawing her in for a hug.
She looks over at the framed letter. “She would have loved him.”
“I know,” I laugh through a silent sob, blinking the tears back so I don’t ruin my makeup.
“She’s here in spirit. I can feel her everywhere. She would never miss her little girl's special day.” She pulls a beautiful lavender jade necklace from her pocket. “This was your mother’s. She wore it on her wedding day right here on the ranch. She said it matched the Lupines perfectly,” she chuckles, unclasping it. “She would have wanted you to have it.”
I move my hair to the side so she can put it on me. It rests perfectly above the deep cut lace bodice of my wedding dress. “It’s stunning,” I breathe before I pull her in for a hug.
“Nope, don’t go doing that,” she scolds, wiping the single tear from my cheek. “No crying, or you’ll ruin your makeup, and then I’ll start crying.” I huff a laugh, looking over my mother’s letter one last time. Roxy loops her arm in mine. “Let’s go get you married!”
The ceremony goes perfectly, Lan walking me down the aisle. Evie was the most adorable ring bearer—she even had Gray tearing up. She has him wrapped around her little paw now. All the tears were shed, my makeup inevitably ruined. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Grayson and I are having our first dance under a blanket of stars,Flightless Bird, American Mouthby Iron & Wine playing. Life couldn’t be moresweet.
“Hiwife,” he rasps, pulling me tight against him.
“Hihusband,” I coo, a dopey smile on my face. “Today was perfect.”
“It was, and so are you. I can’t wait to love you for the rest of my days, Maisie Rae Brooks-Miles.”
I decided to hyphenate my last name so I could keep a little piece of my parents with me. Grayson just smiled and saidI would expect nothing less. I couldn’t have found a better man.
I run my palm down his suit, my fingers tangling in the necklace he always wears with an N and an L charm hanging from it, except now, there’s an M joining them. “When did you get that?” I hum.
