Page 178 of Where Roads Lead

They lost me there.

“What wedding announcement?”

“Yours and Will’s, of course.”

If I’d been drinking my coffee, it would’ve been a waste, because I would’ve spit it all out when I heard that outrageous comment.

I blushed, hoping desperately that Will was out of earshot and didn’t catch the comment.

Nothing scared a man off from a new relationship more than the mention of marriage.

“Oh, we’re not. I mean, we’ve only been together a little while. So, uh—”

They stared at me expectantly.

“So, at present we have no plans for matrimony.”

“Not now.” Cathy laughed.

“No, of course not,” Deb added. “But someday, right?”

I opened my mouth to respond, but the warm feeling of a hand on my back made the words catch in my throat.

I looked up to find Will standing behind my chair, smiling down at me before turning his attention to the gossiping women in front of us.

“Yes,” Will said with the security of a man who had his entire future on lock. “Someday.”

For once, I couldn’t wait for the future.

Epilogue

Elsie

Someday came sooner than I would’ve expected.

“Do you Elsie—” the officiant started, before getting cut off, rudely, by my very soon to be husband.

“Elspeth,” Will chimed in. “Her name is Elspeth.”

“I hate you,” I mouthed.

“What? Just trying to make sure everything is accurate and entirely legally binding.”

“Do you, Elspeth Cameron, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

“Uh, duh,” I said, because who in the world wouldn’t want to marry this man? But the officiant, I guess, didn’t accept that answer.

“Sorry.” I cleared my throat. “I do.”

“And do you, William Hughes, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

“Absolutely, I do.”

“Then, by the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You can now—”

Will had me in his arms before the poor guy could even finish his sentence.

“…kiss the bride.”