Epilogue

The bakery was stunning. The freshly-painted facade gleamed in the early June sunlight. The name, The Crafted Crumb, danced over the door. Colorful balloons and streamers added to the air of celebration.

As I approached, I spotted many familiar faces in the crowd. Sarah, Tyler, and Lainey were all there to help celebrate the opening of Rafe"s bakery. We"d worked on it for three months after leasing a storefront just three blocks from the Little Blue Bean.

Rafe had to arrive early, so we drove separate cars, and I picked Mom up on my way. For the first few months, she"d been so resistant to our relationship, but now she was one of our biggest cheerleaders.

A roar rose from the gathered crowd when Rafe emerged from the bakery with Mayor Grayson at his side. He looked so handsome in his apron with a light dusting of flour on one cheek. Holding a giant pair of scissors in his hands, he approached the bright red ribbon stretched taut across the entrance.

We held our breath, waiting for him to slice the fabric, but first, he had words to say. A slight murmur spread through the assembled crowd.

"Thank you all for being here today," he began. I knew he was nervous, but he kept his voice steady. "This bakery is more than just another Blue Harbor business to me—it"s a dream come true. I couldn"t have put this all together without the ongoing love and support of all of you out there."

We all cheered, and someone shouted, "Cut the ribbon! We"re hungry!" Laughter spread through the crowd and Rafe grinned.

With a triumphant snip, the ribbon fell to the ground, and a wave of applause swept through the crowd. I raced forward and wrapped Rafe up in a firm hug while we shared a kiss. He had done it, and that meant we had done it. Another of our dreams came true.

As we all stepped inside the bakery, an array of free pastries were spread across the counter accompanied by bottles of champagne. The rich scent of coffee came from machines set up in one corner.

Rafe"s creations looked like works of art, each one perfected through his endless efforts to hone his skills. Sarah poured a glass of champagne and raised it for a toast.

"To Rafe and Theo," she declared. Her voice rang out over the buzz of the crowd. "May this bakery be one of the first of many sweet adventures as they explore their lives together."

While the celebration continued, I reached into my pocket, my fingers brushing against a small velvet box. I continually checked all morning to make sure it was still there. It was time to use it to take the next step in our journey and create a forever promise.

While Rafe was speaking with Tyler, I couldn"t resist the urge to interrupt. I"d gathered all of my courage, and I needed to use it before I lost my nerve.

"Is something wrong?" Rafe asked.

"No, I think everything is perfectly right." With that comment, I fell to one knee. The room was suddenly silent, and all eyes were on us. I took Rafe"s hand in mine and gazed up at him.

"Rafe, from the first time I laid eyes on you at the grocery store, I knew my life would never be the same. You"ve brought so much joy to a heart I thought was broken. You"ve added so much light and love to my world. I want to spend the rest of my days with you because I"m so damned curious to see what will happen next."

We both chuckled, and the gathered crowd laughed along with us. I paused and took a deep breath as I opened the box, revealing a silver band sparkling in the sunlight streaming through the bakery"s windows.

"Rafe Wilder, will you marry me?"

For a moment, the entire world stopped turning. The only sound I heard was the pounding of my heart in my ears. Then, Rafe"s face exploded into a broad smile, and tears rolled down his cheeks.

"Yes, Theo! A thousand times yes!"

I rose to my feet and captured Rafe"s lips in a passionate kiss that held the promise of forever. Our gathered friends, family, and neighbors cheered for us, rushing forward to offer more hugs and congratulations.

As the day wore on, I marveled at the phenomenal journey that carried us to our engagement. We"d faced challenges, overcome obstacles, and strengthened our bond through our love and commitment to each other.

My mother, who was once cold and distant, now openly embraced Rafe as a second son. She looked at him with genuine affection.

Late in the afternoon, Rafe and I finally had a moment alone. We stood hand-in-hand on the sidewalk that ran along one side of the bakery. I stared into his eyes and said, "We"ve come so far. Now, there"s so much more ahead of us. We"ll chase our dreams and grow old side-by-side."

Rafe kissed me gently. "And I can"t wait. With you as my man, I know that anything is possible. Every day will be an adventure and a grand opportunity to fall in love with you all over again."

***

Thank you for reading My Sanctuary. If you haven"t read it yet, be sure to check out the 1st book in the Blue Harbor Boys series, Out of the Blue. Also, you can now preorder book 3, Blue Harbor Billionaire.