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“Ow. What was that for?”
“I just want to make sure this is real.”
He tipped her chin so he could look into her eyes. “There’s nothing more real than my passion for you, my love for my daughter, and the promise I’ll make to love and protect you and to let both of my girls fly.”
Epilogue
Pale pinkand white striped wallpaper.Check.
White picture frame molding.Check.
Glossy hardwood floor.Check.
White café tables and pink-and-white striped cushioned chairs.Check.
Grace stood in the middle of the large, airy room, taking inventory.
It’s really happening.
I’m opening my own bakery.
She’d spent a little more than she should have to make her space as gorgeous as possible. It was, after all, located in Wild Wolff Village. But also, she really wanted her customers to settle in and stay a while. The ambience needed to be inviting, the seating comfortable, and the playlist conducive to concentrationandconversation.
The pièce de résistance was the logo Abby made for her. It adorned the storefront and the wall behind the counter.
The Singing Baker Patisserie.
This is it. This is exactly what I wanted.
With half the wall open to the bookstore, she and its owner had decided to share some expenses. Since they envisioned customers reading while lingering over coffee and a slice of opera cake, they’d splurged on dark pink velvet club chairs. Plate glass windows with cushioned seating let sunshine stream in, and the vases bursting with peonies added the perfect fresh and sunny touch.
Jaime came up from behind and hugged her. He gave her arm a pinch.
“Ow. What was that for?”
“You’ve got this look on your face like you’re not sure if this is real, and I’m making sure you know it is. You did this.” He nuzzled her neck. “Congratulations.”
She laughed and turned around within the shelter of his arms.
“I love you.” This man made her feel so cherished.
“I don’t think I have words for the way I love you. Because it’s passion and affection and friendship and lust and…It’s just so much more than I ever thought the word meant. You give me the space to become the woman I’m meant to be…you just make me so happy.” She got up on the tips of her toes. “But you can save the pinches for other parts of my body tonight when we’re alone.”
His gaze went heated. “I can do that.”
She cupped his cheeks. “I love you, Jaime Dupree. I love our life together.”
Kinny and her friends Ruby and Posie sat at a table working with the cookie cutters and play dough she’d made to keep them occupied. The Dupree family was here, and the Bowie brothers had brought their entire crew, kids and all. So many people had come to celebrate the opening of her bakery.
She had such a full and beautiful life…the only thing missing was her family’s involvement. She knew she’d hurt her mom, and her dad was busy—as general manager, he took on more than anyone else for Renzo’s—but she couldn’t help thinking they could try a little harder to stay in touch with her. It just felt like, if she wasn’t right there with them, they forgot about her.
If her parents were trying to teach her a lesson, that she would come to regret leaving the safety of her family, they could forget it. She loved her life here, and she hoped one day, they’d make an effort. If they wanted her in their lives, they’d have to do something different to fit her in.
“Ready to flip the sign?” Jaime asked.
“One second.” She kicked off her chef’s clogs and stood on a chair. “You guys?” The room quieted down. “I’m going to try really hard not to cry, but I’m incredibly grateful to all of you for being so supportive, for treating me like you’ve known me forever, and for stepping in to be my family.”
“We love you, Grace,” Kate called.
