Epilogue 2

HARLOW

When I went back to Tulsa to pack up my apartment, Jill thought my engagement ring idea was brilliant. My sister thought I was insane. Though, I could say the same for her being smitten with Tim. Yeah, Teddy’s brother, the brute.

They have a solid love-hate thing going on. Turns out, they eloped months back, and she has the nerve to suggest that my designing my own engagement ring and merely suggesting Teddy and I get married is lunacy.

I mean, really?!

After over a month in Maple Falls and free from the shackles of Preston & Lemieux Legal Logistics, I’ve gained perspective over numerous areas of my life.

1a. If I could be a town, it would be Maple Falls. It’s such a happy place. That’s why Teddy and I are getting married there next month. Shh. He doesn’t know yet, but I’ve been working closely with Lacey, his manager’s assistant, around his schedule now that he’s back playing for the Knights.

1b. The celebration the guys had at Micah Lemon’s house when he announced his return was epic. I love the Ice Breakers hockey fam and am really looking forward to a long-term group of permanent puck bunnies, aka the wives of the players, aka the WAGs.

2a. My mother is now an independent woman. She works part-time at a tanning salon—so she can get my sister the employee discount. She also started playing Mahjong on Monday nights with some women who aren’t part of her snooty ladies’ club—women who’d look down on her if she could no longer donate a five hundred dollar bouquet for their monthly luncheons. It’s progress.

2b. Granted, Mom gets a floral arrangement discount at the florist where my sister works, but still. It’s the idea that these women are senior discount versions of high school mean girls and my mother is better off without them.

3a. As for Monroe, we had a long talk about love, of all things. She’s head over heels for my best friend’s brother. While he’s in jail, she goes to a support group at our church. We had the idea that he should read the Bible, so Teddy brought him one. There’s a prison ministry that visits once a week that he can join. This was her stipulation if she’s ever going to speak to him again.

3b. Monroe has the gall to question me buying my own ring when she got married and didn’t even tell me?! That’s an argument for another time though.

My sister waters one of my plants on the windowsill in my new apartment in Omaha. “I still don’t understand, but I’ll admit it’s pretty.”

The engagement ring catches in the light, and I can’t help but admire it and the purple stones—for passion, the way I feel about Teddy .

“It’s hard to explain, but so is love.” My voice is uncharacteristically wistful.

“I’m going to be real. I thought you’d be an old cat, er, gecko lady.” Monroe eyes Leo warily.

“He’s friendly.”

“And scaley.”

“If you’re going to question and criticize, what about you getting married without telling us? Does Mom know?” I ask, still floored they eloped even though she claims they’re currently separated with the whole jail sentence and all.

“She figured it out when I got mail addressed to Mrs. Powell.”

My jaw lowers. “We’re both Mrs. Powell.”

“You haven’t tied the knot yet.”

“I guess we both do things our way.”

“We have Dad to thank for that,” Monroe says.

My eyes bulge. “Um, you mean doing things his way.”

“Did we even know the same man?” she asks.

“His dying wish was for me to keep the firm going.”

My sister actually guffaws and clutches her stomach.

“What’s so funny?”

“Mom told you that, huh?”

“Yeah, she was there. I got to the hospital as quickly as I could, but it was too late.” Sadness streaks my voice.

“Trust me, that was Mom’s wish. A way to keep him with us.”

“Are you sure about that?” I ask, somewhat shocked. Why would she tell me otherwise, apart from the obvious monthly paycheck?

“Who spends practically every day with her?” my sister asks .

Monroe has a point. “I think the best thing for you to do is what you want to do. Go be a roller derby queen. Make your hippie tea. Marry the hockey player.”

“It’s not hippie tea. It’s Sereni-tea.”

“I rest my case.”

“Hey, I’m the lawyer.” I tip my head to the side. “What do you think of the name Milk & Honey for my tea brand?”

“I love it.”

An uncommon affection rises in my chest for my sister, for my family. Maybe we’ll be okay. Perhaps my grumpiness was getting in the way.

“Will you be my maid of honor?” I ask.

Monroe wears her genuine, non-pageant smile. “I’d be delighted.”

All the women in my friend group fretted about their nerves and anxiety on their wedding day. I guess it pays to marry your best friend. Granted, my stomach swoops and dips like the snowflakes in the wind. But this isn’t nervousness. More like excitement.

We’re having a small-ish wedding in Maple Falls and invited all our friends and family, including the Knights and Ice Breakers. For those who couldn’t make it on relatively short notice, we’re also offering a live stream—Tim will be watching from jail.

We could’ve waited until next year because we loved autumn here, but that surprise winter storm is when our love story began and we wanted a white wedding. Just our luck, snowflakes shower gently down, painting the wide lawn at the resort in a fresh canvas.

I get ready with the bridal party, dressed in a sheath gown with a little blue heart sewn into the hem—yes, we invited Mrs. Cagle who insisted on the tradition. I guess she had it hidden in her dress and had fifty-two years of wedded bliss. Because she never had a daughter and knew Teddy and I were meant to be, she thought it would be a special addition.

Standing by the window of The Regent’s Hotel, I see cars pull up, valets take the keys, and our guests gather. A soft rapping sound comes from somewhere nearby. I look around and spot Teddy on the veranda outside my suite. He waves and gestures for me to come outside.

Traditionally, we’re not supposed to see each other before the ceremony. I whisper, “No peeking. Cover your eyes.”

“If you wish.” He turns so he’s facing away. “But I bet you look beautiful.”

Teddy doesn’t even need to say as much because he’s blown up my insecurity that most guys just tolerate me. The man loves me, and I love him—we’re best friends and so much more.

He always wears a tailored suit before a big game, but his butt in his tux is a sight to behold, but then I turn around too so we’re back to back.

“Everything okay?” I ask.

“Yeah. You?”

“It’s great.” He reaches back for my hand, squeezing it.

“I have something for you. A little wedding present.” He slides a paper bag into my other hand .

“Funny, I have something for you too, but I was going to give it to you on our honeymoon.” This summer, when the hockey season is over, we’re visiting the States I need to finish my mug collection. I also finished my book. It’s called Fantasy on Ice and features a princess and a knight with uncommon powers. I figured he could read it on our trip.

I peer into the paper bag and find a churro. “How’d you know I needed one of these?”

“I snuck it from the catering truck.”

We have a hot chocolate fountain with a churro bar, along with My Big Fat Burrito catering the event. Because my love for this town is unending and so is the supply of maple and apple cider everything, we include that on the wedding menu with a cozy winter twist.

Also in the bag is a book, no it’s a photo album. I flip through photos that look familiar—there’s ice, water, and lots of Teddy action shots and his hockey butt. A few of us too. “This is so thoughtful.”

“I wanted you to have a record of how far we’ve come.”

“And we still have forever.”

“Funny that you said I’m getting hitched next,” Teddy says.

“Didn’t think it would be to me.” But deep down I’d hoped.

“You know how the pastor will say, ‘You may now kiss,’ after we’ve exchanged vows?”

“I’m very much looking forward to that moment.”

“What if we keep our eyes closed now and kiss one more time as friends right now?”

I giggle. “I like that idea, but eyes closed, Hot Shot. ”

Teddy agrees, but as we turn, I sense he peeks because he lets out a little gasp. Before our mouths mash together, he whispers, “You are beautiful and worthy and I love you for you.”

“I love you,” I whisper.

The kiss swallows my thoughts, but I store Teddy’s words in my heart.

For more small town hockey romcom, featuring the Nebraska Knights, check out my hockey romance series: Nebraska Knights Holiday Hockey Romance .