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I grinned and hopped out of the car, practically running to her side and helping her out before swinging her into my arms. Then I stepped over to the house, carrying her up the steps and to the front door.
If you’d asked me the morning of that fateful wedding if I believed in love at first sight, I would have given you a resounding no.
But as I carried my bride over the threshold and prepared for a lifetime of waking up next to her, I realized I’d get to spend the rest of my life not only believing it, but enjoying every minute of what was clearly meant to be.
EPILOGUE - HATTIE
THIRTY YEARS LATER
“What about them?” Thatcher asked, pointing at the couple who crossed the street before us.
I sighed. “I already know their story.”
“You know everyone’s story,” he teased, rolling his hazel eyes.
“Oh, hold on, they’re new.”
He followed my gaze to a pair of women weighed down by large shopping bags as they exited a boutique across from our shop. He put down his coffee and crossed his arms over his chest. “Okay, what are they up to?”
“Well, the one on the right is a movie star in town filming a Hallmark movie. And the other one is her assistant. She’s not making her carry all of the bags because she wants to blend in.”
Thatcher smiled, and I grinned at him before sipping my coffee.
I loved that we still did this, even after all these years. Now that Bluffton Blooms was a staple in our town, my retired fire chief husband and I spent most of our mornings sitting outside the shop with our coffee, people-watching, and chatting with our neighbors and friends.
Well, I chatted with them. He still reserved the bulk of his people skills for me.
In fact, the older we got, the more reserved he became and the more like his mother I became. Everyone knew me as being the eyes and ears of this town, but who could blame me? I owned and operated one of Bluffton’s longest-running businesses and I took care to get to know each and every customer who stepped through my door.
Our son, Brett, had grown up to follow in his father’s footsteps. He’d joined the Marines right out of high school, and off he went, promising to return as often as possible.
And I was truly happy for him.
Sure, it pained me a little that we’d only had one child, and he didn’t want to continue our family’s legacy and run the shop, but I knew better than to try to force it.
My parents had settled into a new life full of laughter and love after retiring from Bluffton Blooms, and someday, so would I.
Just not anytime soon.
For now, Thatcher and I were content to keep it going, brightening the days of our small town with our colorful arrangements and fancy online ordering.
“Oh, here’s a tale as old as time,” I mused, wagging my brows.
Thatcher searched the street over the rim of his cup, then shook his head. “Don’t meddle, Hattie.”
“Me? Meddle? Never.”
“Daily. And twice on Sundays.”
“Hush, they’re coming,” I said with a wide smile, gazing up at the young pair heading our way. “Shelby Thompson, you look absolutely stunning today. Did you get a new dress?”
Stella and Michael’s daughter was like a daughter to me, too, and if Thatcher thought I wasn’t going to make every effort to push her and her supposed best friend together, he was dead wrong.
“Oh, um, yes, Ms. Hattie.” Shelby blushed and looked down at her dress, her cheeks growing even pinker when she noticed Paul’s gaze raking over her. “I just got it yesterday.”
“It is really nice,” Paul said with an awkward half-smile.
The fool.
