Epilogue

Rory

Three Months Later

“Are you ready, Mrs. Underwood?”

I smile not just at the question but the fact he called me Mrs. Underwood too.

“I think so.” His hands come to light on my shoulders, and I look in the mirror at the man I now call husband. My knight-in-shining-armor. “I was just kind of thinking about how everything changed since the first day I moved back.”

“Things certainly have changed. For the better.”

“For the better.” I agree.

Instead of losing everything, I found my forever.

And the house?

After the fire, the city worked out a deal to buy it from me and turn it into a park. The park where we got married…today. The mood of the land is…different since the fire happened. It’s almost like the fire purged the unrest and sadness that seemed to linger there. Instead, it feels light and airy and has such promise.

We used the gazebo in the middle of the park and it seemed like everyone in town came out to see Bennet and I get married. I’m just thankful his mom got him to hold off for the three months he gave us to plan it. He wanted to get married the weekend right after the fire. We’re supposed to be heading off for our honeymoon for now but I doubt people are done partying at the reception yet.

I might also be a little gloat-y about what Annie Jo Stevens said during our reception. She let it go after a few drinks that Jayden was beside herself and had already packed up most of her things to leave town. They used to be friends…until Jayden slept with Annie Jo’s current ex-husband. She was delighted ‘the better woman won’. Even after she told me I couldn’t be too upset. I probably would have done the same if things had turned out differently.

Te did not feel the same way. She told everybody she could find, including my loving husband who found it just as amusing as she did.

He leans forward and drops a kiss on my bare shoulder, the sweater I’m wearing has fallen off one side. His mouth moves even further up my neck until he is nuzzling up under my ear making me laugh and squirm against him.

I stand and turn so I can find his mouth with my own. It still hits me hard to think I get to kiss the man I have loved for so long any time I want or need to now. When I first came back home, I never thought I would find my way to Bennet or that he would hold me so tightly nothing could possibly hurt me.

“I have a present for you.”

His mouth tips up into a big grin. “For me?”

I nod and reach under the bed and bring out the beautifully wrapped box. I hand it to him and sit on the bed so I can watch him open it.

I see his face when he opens the top and hold my breath as I wait for him to say something, to react in some way. Seconds tick by until he brings shining bright blue orbs up to meet my gaze. His eyes are so full of hope.

“Really?”

I nod and stop trying to fight back the smile that has wanted to stretch across my face ever since I took the pregnancy test this morning right before we dressed to walk down the aisle. Before I can say another word he is lifting me and twirling me around. He lays me on the bed and kisses the breath out of me.

“You’ve done it now.”

I can't help but giggle, “Done what?”

“You’ve made us late for our plane, princess.” I open my mouth to tell him we're not late but don’t get anything out because Bennet is pulling my sweater up over my head and unhooking my bra. “You can’t tell me you’ve made me a fucking daddy and not expect me to want to celebrate by loving your sweet body, baby.”

I giggle even more and hold my arms open for him showing him how much I love him, how much I too want to celebrate the fact we’re having a baby, and our world is at peace and perfect. I can’t predict the future, I can’t tell where life will take us, but I can be certain wherever we go, this man will keep me safe, keep me protected, and love me with all of who he is!

My first love, my eternal crush, my husband, my hero! My Bennet! The man who has haunted my heart right from the start!

The End!