Epilogue

EPILOGUE

CARRIE

One year later…

“ T he shoes are too tight.” Kyra screws up her little face, making the curls dance around her shoulders.

It takes me a moment to sweep the satin layers of my skirts out of the way and crouch down before her. I press my thumb down on the toe of the shoe, and as I suspected, there’s at least an inch of space between her toe and the end of the shoe.

Kyra’s complaining not because the shoe is too tight, but because she has to wear shoes at all. She’s usually barefoot or in her soccer cleats, and the pretty satin slippers we chose for the flower girl outfits are never going to feel right on her.

“You can take them off for the reception. ”

She tugs at the tulle dress with tiny roses embroidered on it. “And this too?”

“The dress has to stay on, honey.”

She makes a face but doesn’t complain again.

Olivia bounds into the room and pirouettes, her hand running over the fabric of her matching dress as it flares around her. Unlike her sister, Olivia loves her flower girl outfit. She wanted more sparkles and a tiara, but there was no way we’d get Kyra to wear one.

“Can we go yet?” Olivia chirps excitedly.

Joyce follows her into the room looking stately in her two-piece baby blue outfit. Her face still holds the tan from her European summer. She looks younger than she did when I first met her, and I guess love does that to you.

Once I moved into Cole’s place, Joyce and Gus took off for their cruise. They got married as soon as they came back, and Joyce moved in with Gus in his cabin closer to town. They come up every week to visit, and the girls go and stay with them some weekends.

I’m happy for Joyce. After so many years of looking after other people, she finally has a man looking after her.

There’s the sound of voices down the hall, and a moment later Suzie strides into the room. Her round belly stretches the fabric of her lilac satin maid of honor dress. I had to time the wedding around her pregnancy, but judging by the way she waddles, we’re in danger of this turning into a birth, not a wedding.

“Cole’s trying to get in to see you. ”

My heart skips a beat at the mention of my man’s name. “Did he leave something here?”

As is tradition, we spent the night before the wedding separately. Cole stayed in the Sunrise Cabin, and Joyce insisted we keep the blinds down on that side of the house all morning to make sure we don’t accidentally see each other.

“Yeah, you.” Suzie raises an eyebrow. “Says he has to see you.”

My heart plummets into my stomach and forms a tight nervous knot. Is he having second thoughts?

I catch Suzie’s eye, and she shakes her head slightly. “I told him no. He has to wait.”

I swallow down my doubts and head down the hall and to the front door of the cabin. I open it a crack, keeping myself hidden.

“Carrie, is that you?” Cole’s voice sounds desperate, and the knot in my stomach tightens.

“Cole, what’s wrong?”

He lets out a long sigh, and I hear him lean against the side of the cabin. “I miss you.”

I let out a long steady breath as the knot unwinds. It’s the first night we’ve spent apart since I moved here almost a year ago, and I missed him like crazy too.

“You’ll see me in an hour at the church.”

He lets out another long sigh. “I know, but I just needed to hear your voice.”

I lean my forehead against the door and smile. My heart warms for this man. No longer the grumpy reticent loner, when Cole opened his heart for me, he opened it all the way up.

“I’m here, baby. I’m right here.”

“Are you okay?”

“Of course I’m okay.” I dart a look down the hall to check that no one is listening. “And the baby’s fine too,” I whisper.

We found out two weeks ago that I’m pregnant. It’s too soon to tell the girls, but I did confess to Suzie last night. She’s been fussing over me ever since.

There’s a frustrated thump on the other side of the door and I imagine Cole bumping it with his fist. “I just want to hold you. I hate being without you, Carrie.”

“I know. Me too. Just another hour and we’ll be together, but I’m not risking your gran’s wrath if she catches us together before the wedding.”

Joyce takes the not seeing each other before the wedding very seriously, and I don’t want to upset her.

“Just a little kiss. I’ll keep my eyes closed.”

The weight shifts outside, and Cole presses his face to the crack between the door. I edge the door open just enough to press my lips to his. Instant warmth leaps through my body, and the nervousness slips away.

In an hour, I’ll marry Cole. I’ll become his wife and officially the girls’ mother. My life has never felt so right.

Read My Mountain Man Valentine next to find out what happens when Ethan meets the woman who changes his mind about love.

Read My Mountain Man Valentine.

Also mentioned in this book…

Did you miss Suzie and Jack’s story? Catch up with this single mom, second chance romance.

Read My Mountain Man Returns.

Curious about Sam, Cole’s military buddy who runs the recovery center for veterans? You can read his story here.

Check out All the Scars We Cannot See .

Not ready to say goodbye to Carrie and Cole. Find out what family life looks like six years from now. Read the My Mountain Man Grump bonus scene when you join the Sadie King email list.

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