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“I don’t think it was,” she says.
“Fuck. I don’t think it was either. We should ask him.”
I start to walk away, but she pulls me back.
“Oh no, you don’t, Luke. He winked. I’m good with a wink.”
I blow out a huge breath and run my hand through my hair. “I think I’m good with it too.”
She runs a soothing hand over my bicep as she stretches onto her tiptoes and begs me for a kiss. “Now, take me home and start enjoying that long life with me, please.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I cup the back of her head, holding her to me, and kiss this beautiful woman in a crowded lobby without a care in the world.
epilogue
“HAS ANYONE SEEN MYblack shawl?” I ask as I exit my bathroom.
Joe purrs from his place on my bed, smart enough to keep his distance, as I’m in my dress, ready to head to Melissa’s wedding.
I was at the barn earlier today to set up but came home for a shower and to do my hair and slide on my dress. We have to be back there within the hour because my pregnant business partner shouldn’t have to work her own wedding, no matter how good she is at her job.
I text the assistants we recently hired as full-time employees and make sure they have everything under control. They respond that they are ahead of schedule. I breathe in relief and look up at Joe.
“Where are they?” I ask him, referring to Ainsley and Luke.
In the months since Luke and I have been together, many changes have been made. He still works as a fireman, but was able to be transferred to a firehouse in the town of Castleton. Will was able to use his connections to get Luke a transfer. It’s a long commute but much closer than Walden. Now that Luke is working in the area, he’s moved into my townhouse, along with Joe who has made himself quite at home. It’s nice having Luke here. Not only do I get to spend my nights with the man I love, but Ainsley has a household with her father and mother who idolize her. Luke could work on being the disciplinarian though. It’s a good cop bad cop scenario that leaves me as the bad one. I don’t mind. He’s still making up for lost time with her.
Each day that passes, father and daughter grow closer. He takes her on a date once a month, and me once a week. We’ve even embarked on some family road trips like the kind his mother took him on when he was younger. We visit Mitch often, and have even made slight amends with my mother having spent Christmas Eve with her and my father.
My heart beats happier, and life moves at it should.
I find my shawl on the floor of my closet. It must have fallen off the hanger when I got dressed. I call out for my family once again. They couldn’t have gone far, seeing as they should be dressed in wedding attire and ready to go.
Joe leaps off the bed and onto my nightstand, where a red can of Coca-Cola is sitting. I look at it curiously, as I never have soda in the house. At least, not anywhere Ainsley can find it. There’s a Post-it note attached to the can.
Once, there was a girl who craved a Coke and found herself in nothing but a robe, rescued by a devastatingly handsome fireman. If you love me more than you love this can of soda, open the door.
Joe leaps off the bed and onto the floor, padding at the door for me to open it. I open the bedroom door and look down the hallway to see the gold ice bucket from the Walden Hotel on the floor with a Post-it note attached.
Confession time. I know you didn’t actually need this ice bucket. When a man wants to see a woman again, he’ll use any excuse to do so. I’m glad you left it in my truck. I’d have looked like an idiot if I showed up here that day just to tell you I missed you. If you missed me too, come into the kitchen.
I pad down the stairs and into the kitchen and find a box on the counter. I place the bucket and soda on the island and stare at the bottle of white sand with another Post-it note on it. It’s the same bottle I saw under the bathroom sink the first night at Luke’s house. The sand inside matches the sand on the outside of Ainsley’s locket.
I’ve kept this sand all these years because I never wanted to forget falling in love with you in Aruba. Now, I get to fall in love with you every day if you’ll just come find me.
Joe is standing by the French doors in the living room that lead to our small courtyard-style backyard. I open it and gasp at the sight before me. The yard is decorated with Christmas lights, and vases of ranunculus flowers in various shades of lavender and purple cover the space.
Luke is in his tuxedo, strong and handsome, combed-back hair and a devilish grin. It’s chilly out here, but the heat from the smoldering gaze of the man with navy eyes that breathe fire, setting everything they look at to dust, warms me in more ways than one.
Ainsley is by his side, wearing her party dress and looking like an angel with her hair brushed and decorated in a floral headband.
Luke smiles from the far end of the courtyard. “You got my notes.”
I smile. “They were clever.”
Ainsley takes my hand and moves me toward the center of the pavers. She’s smiling from ear to ear. “Mommy, Daddy has something very special to ask you.”
The butterflies in my stomach rumble as I place my hand there to calm my nerves. Luke looks the pillar of confidence as he swaggers my way, one step at a time.
