Epilogue Sam

F ive months later: Spring

The sound of the packing tape gun was still annoying. However, I found it was maybe less tortuous than I had previously determined when I wasn't reeling from being fired and having a complete existential crisis. I carefully wrapped the altar table in what I had left of the bubble wrap and placed it in a box.

"Hey, I still have room in the truck for this load. Is this all that's left?" Jesse asked, looking around at the few boxes I'd just finished taping.

"Yeah, I think so. And it's not like I can't stop back by if I forgot something." I shrugged.

This little guest cottage had been a haven for me for the past almost-year, and I was going to miss it. Don't get me wrong, I was deliriously excited about the little two-bedroom rental home Jesse and I were in the process of moving into. It was not far from Zin's, and it was all one floor, a necessity for Jesse's knee, and it had its own little courtyard with a tree and room for some raised garden beds that I'd already gotten approved by the landlord. He owed Zin a favor. I didn't ask.

"Are you sad? To be leaving?"

"Nostalgic, but not sad. I can't wait to set up our office space and let Laur loose in the house to decorate."

"Yeah, can you rein her in a little bit?"

"Nope. I'm throwing away the reins. Lighting them on fire." I picked up a box and followed him out to the truck.

"The things I do for you, woman."

"You just love me," I quipped back. "In all seriousness, though, I promise that we can pick things for the house together . I'll stifle Lauren's creativity if I must."

"You just love me, too," he said, pushing the box he was carrying onto the truck and kissing me lightly before taking mine.

I stuck my tongue out at him in a very mature fashion.

"We are allowed to actually stay in the new house tonight, yes?"

"New moon is tonight, so yes."

"Of course. Obviously." He held my door open and helped me in before getting in on his side.

"Obviously," I continued when he opened his door. "Anyway, are you going to make it to the book signing tonight?"

"Yep! Game should be over by 6, and I'll change and head there. Are you excited to see your design on all those books at once?"

"I am! I feel like the book is mine, even though I had nothing to do with writing it. My mom texted a bit ago that she flew back from Hilton Head early and is riding down for the signing with my dad. So that's something."

My mom and dad had been on good terms for forever. Their divorce was as amicable as one could be, I supposed, they just weren't great as a couple. It was still a little odd that they would choose to road trip together, though.

"The book is still partly yours, Sam. You put your heart into that cover. And I'm glad your mom recognizes it too. Just... do I need to be ready to run interference?"

Months ago, I'd learned that one of our regular customers was a romance writer, and I fell in love with her books, no pun intended. She'd purchased some of the new notebooks in the shop that sported my original designs, and we became fast friends. She convinced me to try my hand at designing a book cover for her next title, and it was finally released today. I was hosting her book launch celebration at the shop tonight, and she was doing a short reading and a signing, and I was something close to giddy about it.

Giddy was never a word I would have used to describe myself, but there was no other way to convey the bubbly, giggly feeling I had at seeing my design on a romance cover.

"I guess it is a little bit mine," I agreed, unable to stop grinning. "And no. I think we've come a long way, and I'm not worried about it. I am still upset that the book release is the same night as the season opener. You know the littles are my favorite to watch."

"There will be a bajillion more games, I swear."

"I know, I know. Don't remind me that I have to share you almost every night from now until August."

In addition to working as the assistant director for the program, Jesse had elected to coach two youth teams during baseball season—one five-and-six-year-old team and the other middle-school-aged. I loved seeing the younger ones practice. They tried so hard and were so cute when they got a hit, but I knew Jesse was invested in the jr. high team. Those kids looked at him like he was their hero, and he was determined to make sure they had fun with the sport. I couldn't wait to see how their season went.

I had originally tried to talk him into only taking on one team, worrying that he might burn himself out or put too much stress on his knee, but the way he'd been coming home energized and genuinely jolly after working with his teams, I couldn't begrudge him the months of nights and weekends spent on the diamond. I'd even learned the rules of the game and everything.

"You're the most amazing, supportive girlfriend who ever lived."

He pulled my hand to his mouth and brushed a kiss over my knuckles. His openness with his compliments and affection still took me by surprise sometimes, but it settled around me like a warm hoodie.

I CLEARED THE LAST surface of a cupcake wrapper as the evening wound down. The signing was a huge success— Gen sold out of the stock she brought and had a list of at least ten to sign and mail to people. The bookish cupcakes were adorable, and the colors matched the cover I'd designed.

Maybe cake decorating is my next endeavor. We could sell baked goods here at the shop.

I had to stop myself before my next hobby idea took hold. I was too busy as it was. Everyone had cleared out except for our families, plus Jer. I smirked at that.

"That was a wonderful event, Samantha. And you've outdone yourself with this cover. I can't wait to see Genevieve's book with your design on the NYT bestsellers list."

My mom gushed over the cover for the fourth time, and she was still pushing too hard. But she was trying, and I was practicing the art of letting things go.

"That would be an awesome accomplishment. I'm excited, though, because Gen mentioned me in some of her author groups on social media, and someone hired me to work on her next cover. It's a romantic suspense story, and it sounds amazing."

There was a light chorus of excitement and congratulations from my family and friends. I wanted to bottle this feeling and sell it as a potion. I thought back to my indecision from the past fall, worried that staying in Emberwood would be settling for a small life. In some ways, this life was small. Or perhaps it was slow. I felt like I got to enjoy my moments and do the things that made me happy without trying to follow someone else's rules. I was reminded every day that I'd made the right decision.

"Hey, Sam?" Jesse called from across the room.

"Yeah, babe?" I answered, making my way to him.

"Can you tell me what this tarot card means? I don't think I've seen this one before."

I felt a smile tug at my lips. I had been teaching Jesse to read tarot. He wasn't bad at reading intuitively, but he was trying to learn all the traditional meanings as well. Sometimes specific decks included their own little signature cards that weren't part of the traditional arcana, so I assumed that's what he had found. He'd been trying to find a deck he liked, and I'd seriously considered creating a baseball-themed deck for him. I let my hand rest on his bicep and leaned over to see what card he was looking at. He stepped back to give me a better view.

It was a hand-painted card, meaning it wasn't from a deck we sold in the store, but it was gorgeous. The image was of a girl with long, dark, curly hair wearing a pretty lace sundress, oddly similar to the one I was wearing. In front of her was a man with shaggy blond hair down on one knee. I took in the details of the card as my brain caught up with my eyes. The title of the card was labeled THE PROPOSAL .

"Jesse?" I murmured, turning to face where he'd been standing.

Only I didn't find him there because he was down on one knee, waiting for me to grasp what was happening.

"Sam, when you came back into my life, I was only just beginning to figure out who I was again, and I think you were right there with me. We've come so far, and I am so excited for everything that comes next. You give your all into everything that you do, and you continually surprise me with not only your talent and creativity, but with your unending loyalty and support for the people you love. I am so privileged that I get to be one of those people. It almost feels like I'm being greedy because I already get to live this amazing life with you, but I want you forever. Will you marry me?"