22. EPILOGUE

EPILOGUE

Holland

ONE YEAR LATER

"Are you sure that's going to be enough room?" I ask as Ivy and I stand over the blueprint in question.

"Yes, this will be enough room. Don't be a smart ass." Ivy lovingly taps my shoulder and our contractor laughs. "No other changes on my end."

Ivy is talking about the need to extend her office, or home library, another three feet to account for a specific style of built-in bookshelves she wants. It's not a problem, obviously, but it's fun to tease her.

Three months ago, I sold part of the lodge to Greater When Green. They're a 40% partner, for now, and I hold the remaining 60%. We're going to work together on a three-year plan that will bring Greater When Green resources to The Emerald Canopy Lodge. We'll re-evaluate in a year to see how it's going.

Honestly, I love working with Greater When Green. They're honest, transparent, and have great ideas that I've never thought of. Ivy comes with me to every meeting and we don't make any significant lodge decisions without consulting the other.

I love that she cares about the lodge as much as I do .

It was her idea to add on to our home. We'll be able to keep all the original work Hazel did but add on an office for Ivy. She's still working at Sparks but went down part time. Stella gave her a promotion—Head of Events. After the gala last year was incredibly successful and raised triple the funds anyone had even hoped for, it was clear Ivy had a different talent set they wanted to use.

Ivy loves it.

When she's not working at Sparks or helping me with the lodge, she works a couple hours a week at Wildflower Fiction. Her and Bailey hit it off at one of the pop-up events we did at the lodge and Ivy was practically drooling to work with the bookstore in any capacity. I love seeing the two women work together, they're unstoppable.

"If we want to beat the rain, we need to go now. " Ivy says. She's downstairs, getting ready for a walk.

"Just a second!" I yell down the stairs.

I reach under the bed and pull out a wooden box—I've had it since I was a kid. I've always used it to keep mementos and anything I wanted to keep safe. I feel for the dog collar and pull it from the box. There's a small compartment; you'd never see it If you weren't looking for it, but it's there. My fingers open it and pull out the ring—an emerald cut diamond on a gold band. The ring I've been hiding in this specially made dog collar, waiting for the right moment, to ask Ivy to marry me.

Today's the day. I let out a shaky breath but can't stop smiling.

After securing the ring safely back in the dog collar, I run down the stairs.

"Slate, come here. Got a new collar for you," I say while taking off the one he's wearing, that is in perfectly fine condition. I do my best to mask my trembling fingers .

"What's wrong with that one?" Ivy asks, referring to the gray collar with his name embroidered in navy blue.

Trying not to jump I say, "It's time for a new one, that's all."

"I like the gray better than the green," she says.

I clip Slate's leash to the new collar, holding on to the ring I'll use to ask Ivy to be my wife. "I doubt it," I murmur under my breath.

"Huh?" she asks. Guess I wasn't quiet enough.

"Nothing. Are you ready?"

She nods and smiles at me, before giving me a quick kiss.

I feel like electricity runs on my skin, knowing I'm just a few minutes away from our favorite look out point. The place I took her when we first met and she reached down, looping her pinky with mine. The place where I started falling in love with her.

Today, that place will turn into the spot where I get down on one knee and ask her to be my wife.

Here's to forever.

THE END