Ten

Seeing him standing there, she knew she had to trust her heart this time.

—Hailey Fairchild, What the Heart Knows

Carwyn sends me flowers for Valentine's Day. He calls and we talk for hours.

He comes to visit over Presidents' Day weekend, and we do all the tourist things—the Staten Island Ferry, the Statue of Liberty,

the Empire State Building.

We wind up at the September 11 Memorial & Museum. It's a sobering reminder of how short life is and how quickly we can lose

those who are important to us. I don't want to lose Carwyn. And I don't want him to lose precious time with his father.

We talk every day after he leaves, and by the time I fly back to Cascade to spend spring break with him, I know what I need

to do to get my happy ending. In all my stories it's the hero who sacrifices for his woman, but in my real-life story, I realize

I need to be the one to sacrifice. After all, heroes aren't the only ones who can give their all for love.

Anyway, I'm not sure this is that great a sacrifice. I can write anywhere. And really, what's to fear about moving back? Gwendolyn? Pfft. Who cares if I run into her in the grocery store? I certainly won't be seeing her at Hair Today. As for her posse, most of them have moved away. All that remains are their ghosts, and I'm not afraid of ghosts. I'm not afraid of anything. My time away, even my mistletoe fails, forged me into a new woman, and that new woman can thrive anywhere. Thriving with the people who love me best—what's not to like about that? And New York will always be there.

For visits.

On the last night of my spring break trip, I go to Carwyn's place and cook dinner for him. And make my big announcement. "I'm

moving back to Cascade."

He looks at me, hopeful and yet afraid to hope. "Seriously? Are you sure?"

I nod.

Now he looks like he's just won the lottery, with a big grin on his face. "Oh, man, Hailey," is all he gets out before he

wraps me in a python hug and kisses me so hard I see stars. I'm so happy I feel like I've caught a whole galaxy in my hands.

He pulls back. Studies me. "Are you absolutely sure? You love New York."

"I really want this," I assure him. "I love New York but I love you more, and this is where I belong. In Cascade."

"And in my arms," he says and kisses me again. "You'll never regret coming back. I'll make sure of that," he promises.

I know I won't. This is the happy ending I've wanted all my life. I made a new start in New York City, but my big finish is

right here, where my story first began.