Epilogue

EPILOGUE

MARLEY

“ F in,” I swat at her hand as she tries to dab lipstick on my lips before I dash out to have dinner with Liam. “I look fine. Stop it. I’m already going to be late.”

She scrunches her lips to the side as if she thinks differently. It’s been three months since the website launched and two since the printed paper hit the presses and it has been a whirlwind of success, more hard work, and more happiness than I could have ever imagined.

Liam is working hard in therapy and every day I see him become a little lighter, a little freer. He even lets the kitchen dishes sit until morning now without having to get up in the middle of the night to clean them. He still swiffers daily, but I’m learning to appreciate baby steps.

His love and this job have healed me in ways I didn’t know I needed. They have given me a purpose, a direction, and I did the last thing I thought I’d ever do—invited my mom to visit. I can’t wait for her to meet Liam when she arrives in a few weeks. I know she’ll love him as much as I do.

“Yes, you look fine,” Fin answers, “but don’t you ever want to liven things up?”

“My relationship with Liam is plenty lively.”

“Yes, so your face tells me every morning. Still. This is a big night, right?”

I scrunch my face. “Is it?” To my knowledge we’re just going to the Heartleaf, where we’ve eaten a dozen times before. “It’s just dinner, Fin.”

“But it’s your three-month anniversary ,” she stresses as if that means something important. I don’t have the energy to argue with her, so I pucker my lips and let her artfully paint them.

She squeals at the result. “Perfect, now go have fun. I want a full report tomorrow.”

Shaking my head, I leave the Post and set out on the short walk to Heartleaf covered head-to-toe in winter gear. The snow crunches under my boots as I walk and the biting winter air cuts across my cheeks. Somehow, I love it. I love everything about this place—the people, the shops, the weather—even when it tries to kill me.

Smiling, I pull open the door to the café, expecting to find it bustling with people as always. But tonight, it is still, silent. It’s just darkness and a trail of candles that lead out to the back deck. “What?” I ask to no one.

Calla, one of the owners, appears out of the backroom. “Good evening, Miss Green. We have a table for two reserved on the deck.” Her smile is so big I think she might burst, and it finally dawns on me what Fin was getting at. But he wouldn’t, would he?

My heart takes a flying leap into my throat and all I can manage to do is give Calla an awkward smile and follow her to the deck.

I burst into tears the moment I see Liam down on one knee, the snow-swept scene of Paintbrush Peak and its waterfall framing him like a fairytale prince.

A small table is set in the foreground, piled high with crystal and silver that reflect the dancing lights of a dozen candles while patio heaters make it feel cozy, even in below zero temps.

But the most beautiful thing, the most stunning thing, is Liam’s smile when he sees me. Like I am the sunshine he’s been searching for.

I rush toward him, hands over my mouth. “What are you doing?”

He chuckles. It’s warm and deep and my most favorite sound. “Well, I was hoping that would be obvious, Marley. I’m trying to ask if you’ll marry me.”

“What?” I can’t make sense of anything. I knew it would happen someday, I knew I would marry this man, but I had no inkling this was anywhere in the immediate timeline.

Shaking his head, he chuckles again, takes my left hand, and slips my mitten off. I gasp when his warm fingers weave through mine. “Marley Green. You have given me my life back and healed me in so many ways. You give me hope I haven’t had in years and a future I look forward to everyday. I love you. Now and forever. Will you marry me?”

Sobbing, I fall into his arms with a hiccupped ‘yes’ and kiss him like I haven’t seen him in years. When I’ve recovered, he slides the most perfect solitaire diamond I’ve ever seen on my finger and smiles at me.

“You’ve made the happiest man on the planet, future Mrs. Sutton. I love you.”

I take his face in my hands. “And you have made me the happiest woman on the planet. I love you too, future Mr. Green.”

He laughs and pulls me into his arms. “We can take any name you want, baby, as long as you’re mine.”

I kiss his lips. “I will always be yours.”