Chapter 51

fifty-one

ELLA

There’s a giant L scrawled on the front of this envelope.

Only one person in this entire world uses this monicker. With shaking hands, I open the flap and pull the letter out.

Over the years, you’ve asked a lot of questions that I haven’t always had answers to.

Do you think pumpkins have the ability to turn into carriages?

Yes, in fact, I do.

Am I doing what I thought I’d be doing with my life?

No, but I’m finally getting there.

How do I know if a risk is worth the consequences?

When the idea of NOT taking the risk is more frightening than taking it.

-Patch

I lift my eyes back up to Luke’s. He’s watching me intently, no doubt waiting to see how I’ll react to this letter. The poor man can’t stay still, rubbing his hands on his pant legs or rubbing an eyebrow.

“Is this real?” I ask.

This is a problem with fake relationships and secret pen pals, I guess. Reality is a bit of a struggle when you’re used to a different version.

A safer version.

That’s what we’ve been doing, really. For years. Hiding behind masks, pieces of paper, a pretend romance. It’s more difficult to be hurt when that separation exists.

The last two weeks have been an emotional roller coaster. The last couple of days have upped the ante, so processing that the man I’m pretty sure I’m in love with is the same person I wished he could be, is the icing on top.

It’s a lot.

“I always promised I’d be honest with you.” He nods. “Are you disappointed?”

“Are you joking?” I set the letter on my seat, and take the couple of steps to fit onto his seat. “How could I possibly be disappointed?”

Like thumbing through pages, years of letters flip through my mind.

I worry someone won’t stick around.

Be brave, Ella.

Magic in this town isn’t real.

“It’s you . You’re all I’ve ever wanted.” I lift my fingers to his lips, tracing them as this new information assimilates into my brain. My hand trails along his jaw, into his hair.

All these things I’ve learned about Patch collide with everything I know about Luke. When the information connects like this, I’m honestly shocked I didn’t see it before.

Is it possible I knew?

The mind is a powerful thing. I collected pieces of Patch and Luke and kept them tucked away tight where they were safe, only for them to resurface when I needed them most.

It makes sense, doesn’t it?

Luke feels like home because he is . He’s warmth, safety, love, and compassion, wrapped up in this wonderful package that has always accepted me for who I am.

“So are you saying I’m your favorite?” he asks, his smile brightening the inside of our pumpkin. Yet another moment I want to tuck away in my heart forever.

“You’re definitely my favorite, Luke Benjamin Jackson.”

His eyes brighten. “I knew you knew my middle name.”

“You’re not the only one who remembers the small things.”

I press my lips to his, shimmying closer to him in this small carriage seat. I don’t dare hope, but this kiss feels like a promise of forever.

Soft, slow kisses.

I love you.

When we pull away, our faces stay close.

“But you don’t participate in matchmaking magic.”

“If you remember, I only wrote the first letter to prove it was a sham.” He chuckles.

“Oh, I remember. You were so determined. But you kept writing.”

His cheeks color. One of the first times I think I’ve ever seen him look even a little embarrassed.

“It was nice to have someone to talk to. ”

This precious man. All those times we sat in silence together; he needed someone as much as I did. Why couldn’t we just talk about it?

“I wanted to tell you as soon as I figured it out.” His hand reaches up to cover mine.

“How long have you known?”

“About a week.” He flashes a grin. “Or at least that’s how long I knew for sure . I’ve suspected it for much longer.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I wanted to wait until the wedding was over. You’ve had so much going on with Charlotte, our crazy town, appointments, and the farm…”

“But you couldn’t wait.” I bite back a smile.

“No.” His hands cradle my face before dropping to my arms. “After our conversation the other night and with everything we found out about our farm and the magic beans, I didn’t want to tiptoe around anymore. I need you to know that I’m here for whatever Charlotte might throw at us. All of me. The things I’m not great at saying out loud, and everything else.”

My heart might actually explode. I’ve wished for this moment so many times it hardly feels real. Both the pumpkin carriage and Luke being Patch.

It’s the perfect little sliver of perfect.

The calm before the storm.

“Thank you for not waiting anymore. You’re everything I’ve ever wished for and more.”

“Is this what you wasted your wishing well wish on? Please tell me no.”

The carriage hits a bump, tossing me into Luke, and we both burst into laughter.

“I can’t tell you what I wished for, sir.”

“Well, I wished for you, too. ”

I try to push off his chest so I can see his face, and memorize the way he looks at me when he says things like this.

The walkie talkie crackles from the floor.

“Sorry to interrupt, but we’ve got a problem.”

And just like that, the storm is moving in.