My body was vibrating with excitement like my dog when he was about to get a treat. Tears of happiness streamed from the corners of my eyes while Josiah took the ring out of the box and gently placed it on my finger.
He rose and I almost jumped into his arms, but didn’t want to make his injured leg buckle. So I threw my arms around him. “Oh my gosh, I love you so much. You saved my life and you’re going to marry me and you got me a house and I’m sorry I can’t stop because I’m just so happy I don’t know what to do.”
His arms were strong around me. He didn’t stop me from babbling. Just laughed softly while I went on and on, waiting for me to wear myself out.
When I finally stopped talking, he pulled back enough to kiss me. His lips were warm, his beard so rough and familiar.
“Are you calm now?” he asked, his voice low and quiet.
“Yes. But there’s one thing I don’t know.”
“What’s that?”
“You really did save my life, and now you’re giving me everything I’ve ever wanted. Better than everything I’ve ever wanted. How can I ever repay you?”
His brow furrowed, like I’d asked a silly question. “That’s easy.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m a simple man, Audrey. I just need one thing from you.”
“What’s that?”
“Just love me.”
I placed my hands alongside his face and looked into his eyes. “I will always love you.”
He pulled me close and kissed me again, slow and deep. I would always love him. There was no question. I’d wondered if I’d ever meet the love of my life. If things like marriage and a home and one day a family were in my future, or if I’d missed the boat.
I certainly hadn’t imagined I’d find everything I’d been looking for in a little town in the mountains. But here he was, kissing me, loving me. Ready to start a life with me.
My life hadn’t followed the path I’d expected. But I’d landed exactly where I was meant to be.
With him. Forever.
Epilogue
JOSIAH
Here’s the weird thing. I didn’t hate wedding planning.
There were parts of it that didn’t require my participation or opinion. The flowers, for example. Audrey could have whatever flowers she wanted. It wasn’t that I didn’t care, I just didn’t have a preference. They all looked the same to me, so whatever made Audrey happy was fine.
But the day we spent at Salishan Cellars winery, touring the facility and listening to the wedding planner’s ideas? It was actually kind of fun. Mostly because Audrey was as excited as a puppy. I couldn’t get enough of her big, bright eyes and her smile. It was like she was happy enough for both of us. And anything that made her happy was worth it.
So I went along with her when she asked me to, and stayed home when she didn’t. Thankfully, my presence wasn’t required for the choosing of bridesmaid dresses, and she’d gone with Sandra, Marigold, and her mom to try on wedding dresses. Apparently I wasn’t allowed to see that one until the big day, so whatever. I worked on my old house. I needed to get it ready to put on the market as another rental.
Plus, she had Marigold, who was, in Audrey’s words, a wedding expert. Which didn’t make sense to me, considering Marigold had never been married, but what did I know? Maybe it just meant Mari liked weddings. And when I thought about it, she had helped plan my sister’s wedding, so apparently it was just her thing.
Too bad she’d never been married, though. She was a nice girl. Seemed like there ought to be a nice guy out there for her.
When it came to cake tasting, though, that was a given. I was going. It wasn’t that I had strong opinions about cake flavors. She could have whatever she wanted. But it was cake, and they’d let us sample them? Count me in.
I was meeting her at the bakery at five-thirty. I checked the time. A little after five. Zachary and Luke had come over to the house—the one I’d been living in before—to help me install new kitchen cabinets. Zachary was usually down for an extra paycheck, especially if he was free, and Luke had been at my parents’ house when I’d asked Zachary. He helped out on my remodels once in a while and he’d offered to lend a hand. I appreciated it. Things would go quicker with three, especially since Dad was busy.
We’d decided on white cabinets, since the kitchen was small and anything else would be too dark. The house already looked considerably better than when I’d been living in it, which was slightly embarrassing. To be fair, I hadn’t cared all that much. But now that I lived in a house that was actually finished, the contrast was clear.
Luke and I brought one of the lower cabinets in from the garage and set it down.
He brushed his hands together. “Almost done.”
“I need to call it a day,” I said. “I have somewhere to be.”
“Sounds good. I can come back tomorrow if you need more help. At least for a few hours.”
“Thanks. Z, what about you?”
Zachary chewed a piece of gum. “Sorry, can’t. I have a job.”
“I thought you were bitching that your client canceled on you,” Luke said.
“No, this is new. Some wealthy out-of-towner building a mansion on the river north of town.”
“Nice. How’d you score that?”
Zachary shrugged. “He looked me up. Called and asked if I’d work for cash. Obviously yes.”
“Why is some rich dude paying you under the table?” Luke asked.
“I don’t know,” Zachary said. “Don’t really care.”
“Sounds sketch.”
“It’s fine,” Zachary said.
He was probably right. But a rich guy building a mansion outside town? I was surprised I hadn’t heard about it. That was the kind of thing to get the Tilikum gossip line buzzing.
Then I remembered I didn’t talk to people. That explained it.
Luke pulled his phone out of his pocket and scowled.
“What’s up?” Zachary asked.
“Aunt Louise. She will not leave me alone about this girl.”
“What’s wrong with her?”
“I don’t know and I don’t want to find out,” Luke said. “After the Jill incident, I don’t trust her.”
Zachary snickered.
Luke glared at him, then pocketed his phone. “What time tomorrow, Josiah?”
“Eight.”
“Got it. See you then.”
I pulled some cash out of my wallet and gave it to Zachary. “Thanks.”
He held up the bills. “No, thank you. And if I get done early, I’ll call. Make sure this gets done.”
“Thanks, man. See you later.”
I followed my brothers out and locked up, then left. I probably should have given myself more time so I could go home and change before meeting Audrey at the bakery. Too late for that. I gave my armpit a quick sniff. I wasn’t exactly clean, but I didn’t stink. It would have to do.
Angel Cakes Bakery was downtown, in a building painted to look like a fancy dessert. Audrey was already there. I parked next to her car and went inside.
If heaven has a smell, it smells like Angel Cakes Bakery. It washed over me as I walked in, sweet and sugary with a hint of vanilla.
Audrey was waiting by the front counter with Max on a leash. He saw me first and jerked forward, apparently forgetting he was tethered to his mama. He almost pulled Audrey across the lobby.
“Whoa, Max,” she said with a laugh. “Careful.”
I scratched his head, then slid an arm around Audrey’s waist, bringing her close so I could kiss her. With a deep inhale, I breathed her in. She smelled better than the bakery.
“Hi,” she said. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too.” I kissed her again.
“Oh good, you’re here.” The owner, Doris Tilburn, came out with a big tray of cake samples. She had to be at least seventy, but she didn’t show any signs of slowing down. Her gray hair was braided and she wore a white apron that said Angel Cakes on the front. “Take a seat over there and we’ll get started.”
We sat at a small table. Audrey tried to get Max to sit but he kept popping back up, his tail wagging, every time his butt hit the floor.
“I have something for you, good boy.” Doris pulled a dog treat out of her apron pocket. “You knew it was there, didn’t you? That’s a good boy.”
“That was sweet of you,” Audrey said. “Thanks, Doris.”