Epilogue

EPILOGUE

O ne Year Later

"Daisy," Maeve called out. "Mind your papa. Stay away from the dock."

"Mommy," the little girl responded. "Ducks."

"I know, darling. The ducks are fine where they are. They don't need your help."

"Don't worry, Maeve. I've got her," Kyle shouted back toward where she stood on the patio.

Maeve stepped back inside to admire the shiny new commercial ovens she'd just purchased for her bake shop. She'd found the small retail space for rent on Dock Street in the Province of Shelburne, the place that she and Kyle had made their home. It was small, but it had a pretty area out back where she'd installed café tables and chairs, sun umbrellas and big, overflowing planters with beautiful flowers ready to bloom. In the aftermath of the snowstorm last Thanksgiving, they'd quickly packed up and drove north, over the border into Canada, then on to Nova Scotia. As it turned out, Shelburne had been looking to expand their police force, and Kyle's friend Tony made a quick connection for him with the captain. He was hired on the spot. They found a big, old Victorian with plenty of room for family visits, and although it took longer for Maeve to acclimate to both the harsh winter weather and the small town itself, she finally felt at home.

It was so very different from life in London, and there was a large learning curve. It seemed to her at first that everyone here knew or was related to everyone else, but as it turned out, Daisy was the only passport she needed to become a true member of the community; the whole town had fallen in love with her little girl. She was warmly welcomed and when her new neighbors learned that she had once owned a bakery, they begged her to open one here. They pledged their support, and since her grand opening was less than a week away, she had a lot on the line. She'd be baking long and late the next few nights. At least she knew that her daughter would be well taken care of – Daisy and Kyle were nearly inseparable. She loved her papa, and he loved her as well.

If it wasn't enough to have the pressure of starting this new business venture, Sibby and the family was planning a trip to Shelburne for the grand opening. She still had to get the house in shape for the onslaught, but she was excited to see them once again. It had been too long.

When the paparazzi finally did find her, it was too late. The story had broken months before and most people had moved on to the newer scandals hitting the 24/7 news cycle. After all, there was always a fresh or salacious story for public consumption. She was yesterday's news, and happy to be just that. Whenever a stray reporter showed up in Shelburne now, her neighbors and friends circled her in an embrace of protection and a warmth she'd never experienced anywhere other than with Kyle's family. For that, she was incredibly grateful. And true to form, the royals had not acknowledged the story, or Daisy's existence. So much to be thankful for…

But then again, she had so many blessings, not the least of which was her marriage to Kyle. She could have never imagined a love like this, a life like this. Sometimes an accident is the wake-up call you don't know you need. In a flash, everything can change, and if you open your heart, the most unlikely of fairy tales can come true.

Including finding your very own true Prince Charming when you least expect it…