Epilogue
Callum carried the picnic basket to the table in clear view of the fountain, Brynn on one side, Parker chattering happily on the other. The late afternoon sun cast a golden glow over the scene, its warmth matching the contentment blooming in his chest.
“Before we eat, can we throw a coin in the fountain and make a wish?” Parker’s gaze bounced from Callum to Brynn, as though he couldn’t decide who to appeal to, his small face alight with eager anticipation.
“Up to your dad,” Brynn said easily, her voice lilting like music. “I’m not sure how hungry he is.”
Callum inhaled her intoxicatingly sweet peach scent. He was hungry all right, but not for food. The need to be near her, to solidify the connection between them, pulsed through him with the kind of ache he couldn’t ignore.
“Daddy, please?”
The tug at his hand snapped him out of his reverie. He glanced down at his son, whose shining eyes were full of trust, excitement and the unfiltered joy that made Callum’s heart swell. Parker had been counting down to this picnic all week .
Sticking a hand into his pocket, Callum pulled out a coin and held it out to Parker.
“Not just me.” Parker shook his head, his curls bouncing. “You need a coin. We each have to have our own to make a wish.”
When Callum tried to hand Brynn a coin, she shook her head with a soft smile. “I already made a wish.”
“Did it come true?” Parker asked, his tone innocent but full of curiosity.
“Yes, it did,” she said, her eyes meeting Callum’s with a warmth that made his pulse skip.
Callum joined Parker at the fountain’s edge, the bronze statues of Good Hope’s matriarchs standing watch over them. The air felt charged, as if the three women were silently cheering them on. He held his coin above the water.
“Wait!”
Parker’s urgent command, accompanied by a tug on Callum’s arm, made him pause.
“You have to close your eyes, make a wish and then toss the coin,” Parker explained with the seriousness only a child could muster.
Out of the corner of his eye, Callum saw Brynn biting her lip, clearly suppressing a smile. “Got it.”
He closed his eyes, his wish forming in the quiet depths of his heart, and tossed the coin. Parker’s coin plopped into the water at the same time.
Parker grinned. “I can’t wait for my wish to come true!”
“What did you wish for?” Brynn asked, leaning in with playful interest.
“I can’t tell you,” Parker said, wide-eyed. “If I do, it won’t come true.”
“I didn’t tell anyone my wish either,” Brynn said, smiling as they fist-bumped.
Callum chuckled, but his smile faded as Parker turned to him, his expression suddenly serious .
“You can tell your wish,” Parker said, “but if you do, it won’t come true.”
Callum’s gaze shifted from his son to Brynn. His heart pounded as if it already knew what was about to happen.
“Then I’m not saying,” Callum replied, his voice steady with purpose. “Because I’m very much hoping this wish will come true.”
He dropped to one knee, the world around them fading into nothingness.
Brynn’s breath caught, her eyes widening in stunned disbelief. “What are you doing?”
Callum reached into his pocket and pulled out a jeweler’s box, flipping it open to reveal a glittering diamond that caught the sunlight like a beacon.
“Did you forget you already asked me?” Brynn’s voice dropped to a whisper, her throat tight.
He smiled. “I didn’t forget.” His voice turned husky with emotion. “I just wanted to make it official.” He held her gaze, his eyes full of love and certainty. “Will you marry me, Brynn, and let me love you for all the days of my life?”
Tears welled in her eyes, spilling over as she nodded and extended her hand. “Yes. Oh, yes.” Callum slid the ring onto her finger with reverence before Brynn threw her arms around his neck, holding him tightly.
Parker erupted in cheers, clapping and jumping up and down. “Does this mean you’ll be my mommy?”
Brynn turned to him, cupping his cheeks with hands still wet with the tears she’d swiped away. “Yes, Parker. I would love to be your mommy.” She kissed him on the cheek, her voice breaking with emotion.
Parker beamed. “My wish came true! I already had a daddy. Now I have a mommy, too!”
“That’s what you wished for?” Brynn asked, her smile radiant.
The boy nodded, his face glowing with happiness .
“I knew it would come true,” Parker said with the unshakable faith of a child.
“How did you know?” Brynn asked, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead.
“The lady at the fountain winked at me when my coin hit the water,” Parker said matter-of-factly.
Brynn furrowed her brow, glancing at Callum. There hadn’t been anyone else by the fountain with them—or so she’d thought.
“Which lady?” she asked, curious.
“The one in the middle. The tall one.”
Understanding dawned as she exchanged a look with Callum, both of them smiling.
“Do you think Gladys is matchmaking from beyond the grave?” Brynn asked, laughing softly.
“I wouldn’t put it past her,” Callum replied, pulling her close. “I only wish she were here so I could thank her.”
Brynn leaned into him, her heart overflowing with a warmth almost too big to contain. With Callum’s steady embrace and Parker’s joyous laughter filling the air, she realized this wasn’t just a wish granted—it was the start of a beautiful life she hadn’t dared to dream was possible.
Thank you for coming along on Brynn and Callum’s journey. From the moment Callum and Brynn first met as children in Summer in Good Hope , I felt that these two would be a perfect match…someday.
Seeing those early connections come to fruition is only one of the many reasons I’m enjoying writing this series, which is set ten years after my Good Hope series ended.
Reviews are incredibly beneficial, especially when launching a new series. I’ve set a goal of 100 reviews, and I need your help to reach it!! I read each and every review, and I appreciate your kind words so much.
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