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Epilogue
Two months later
“The façade is based on Spanish Colonial architecture.” Gus Mortimer led Callie and Jake across the faded carpet of the Vitaphone theater. “But the interior is kind of a mishmash of different influences—Spanish, Italian, Art Deco. Did you know this old place started as an opera and vaudeville theater? Turned into a movie palace in the 1930s when movies started becoming popular.”
“You told me that once.” Jake glanced at the older man as they stopped in the auditorium. “You said it was meant to make people feel like royalty.”
“Sure enough.” Gus gazed wistfully at dusty chandelier. “Can’t imagine the care they took building this place. There’s a name for the mural painting technique, too. Martha’s got some books on it.”
“Sgraffito.”Jake touched one of the wall panels. “Colored plaster applied to a wet surface.”
Gus raised his eyebrows. “You’ve been doing your research, son.”
“I have, indeed.”
Callie smiled.Researchwasn’t a strong enough word. After he’d finished his move to Bliss Cove—and into Callie’s house—Jake had spent the past few weeks immersing himself in the history of movie theater architecture. He’d been in touch with numerous experts across the country, and he’d secured an architect and a cinema historian to oversee what would be the meticulous work of restoring the Vitaphone theater to its original glory.
Jake was donating the full cost of the restoration to Hunter and Aria’s Monarch Properties, with extra funds allotted for years of upkeep and to ensure that the Mortimers could retire whenever they wanted without worrying about the theater’s future.
It was a perfect project for Jake—giving new life and a new chapter to the elegant old theater that had ignited his love for storytelling.
They wandered around the auditorium for another hour, discussing the details of interior design and making notes about further assessment and a timeline.
After Jake had jotted down several pages of notes, he and Callie left and walked down Mariposa Street to his car. Sunset light spilled over the cobblestones, and a salty breeze freshened the air.
People sat outside the pizza parlor, gobbling large slices of cheese and pepperoni, and through the window of Meow and Then, the Cat Lounge was half-full of customers drinking coffee and playing with the cats.
Farther down the street, Callie caught sight of Destiny leaning on a sawhorse in front of the former Bloom Room florist shop, where Metalworks owner Joe was replacing a rotted windowsill. As he slipped a chisel back into his tool belt, he turned and said something to her. Destiny smiled. Callie would have bet that astronauts on the international space station could see the other woman’s glow.
She and Jake returned to her house, where the Cat Formerly Known as Kit jumped off the back of a sofa to greet them. Callie bent to scratch his ears, and he butted his head against her leg.
After the combined pressure of Aria’s persistence and Jake’s newly discovered belief that cats were “good for the soul,” Callie had finally agreed to adopt Kit under the condition that she would be allowed to rename him. So Ripley had come to live with them the same week that Jake had moved back to Bliss Cove.
Though Jake’s hometown return hadn’t been without a few bumps, overall it had gone as well as either he or Callie could have expected. He occasionally stopped by Title Wave to see if it was open and if Sam needed any help stocking books. Callie didn’t think Sam had any actual friends in Bliss Cove—at least, she’d never seen him hanging out with anyone—but if he did have a friend, then Jake would come pretty close.
Overall, Jake kept a low profile in town, but he never turned down a request to help, whether it was visiting the children’s hospital or volunteering his time at a breast cancer fundraiser. The Bliss Cove residents were increasingly protective of him, however, and any hint of paparazzi or an invasion of his privacy brought both the police and Mayor Bowers out in full force, often backed by the other members of the Ground Hogs gardening club.
After Callie fed Ripley, she and Jake settled into the evening routine that had come naturally and easily to them—dinner, a discussion of upcoming plans, a bit of work and brainstorming about both her next book and his screenplay. This was followed by a lengthy and exquisite lovemaking session that left them both sweaty and enormously satisfied.
Her body still humming from their passion, Callie rested her head on Jake’s shoulder and skimmed her fingertips over his hard abdomen. A few short months ago, she’d never have imagined that he’d come back into her life, much less find his way into the very center of her heart.
Life was both unpredictable and deeply magical. The creators of myths had certainly known what they were talking about.
Jake pressed his lips to Callie’s forehead. “Now that you’re on summer break, let’s go away for a while.”
“Away where?”
“Anywhere we can get married.”
A breath stuck in her throat. She rose on one elbow to stare at him. He was watching her with a suffusion of love and tenderness filling his blue eyes.
“Y-you’re serious?” she stammered.
“No, I’m joking.” He grinned and tugged a lock of her hair. “Of course I’m serious. I love you like Superman loves Lois Lane. I want to marry you right this second, which I would totally do if there were a preacher somewhere nearby.”
“But…so soon?”
“It may seem like it’s soon, but we’ve known each other for a long time.” He rested his hand on the side of her neck, his gaze steady on hers. “I want to live the rest of my life with you, but I get it if you need time to think about it. I can wait. Or we can elope to an exotic island somewhere and get married in secret on the beach.”
