Epilogue
Callie (the following spring)
As I climb into bed, one that feels too large without Luke in it, I send him a quick text.
Me:
One more sleep until forever.
I love you.
His response comes almost immediately.
Luke:
One more sleep until I’m keeping you next to me forever.
I love you, too.
Smiling, I drift off to sleep, dreaming of the day to come and all the days after that we'll spend together.
Morning arrives quickly, but for a moment I lie still, savoring the hush. Once I get up, the whirlwind begins. I barely have time to finish my coffee before the quiet erupts into chaos.
Harper arrives with pastries, Anna with her makeup kit, Rachel with her baby in tow, and even Mrs. Faraday stops by with something borrowed and blue—a delicate handkerchief passed down from her grandmother.
In front of my vanity, Harper fusses with my hair, muttering at me to stay still while I keep catching glimpses of my bright, excited eyes, flushed cheeks, and a happy grin I can’t suppress.
“You look stunning,” Nikki says softly from the doorway, already radiant in her burgundy bridesmaid gown. “Like the little sister I used to boss around grew into the beautiful bride who can’t wait to see her handsome groom.”
“Is it that obvious?” I laugh, earning another gentle scolding from Harper for moving.
“To everyone who knows you,” Nikki confirms. “Which, in this town, is pretty much everyone.” She crosses the room to join us. “Your dress counts as new, so I have something old for you.”
“You do?”
“Mom’s pearl earrings. She wore them when she married Dad.”
Nikki gently places the tiny white studs in my hand. “I wish they were here to see you.”
“Don’t cry, now,” Harper demands as she sniffles.
“Not sure I can promise you that,” I tell my best friend. “Thank you, Nikki.” I stand up and hug my sister tightly.
By the time we arrive at Cooper Lake, I’m a bundle of nerves and excitement.
The ceremony site is exactly as we dreamed: white chairs set on the grassy shore, an arch draped in spring flowers and greenery, the lake glittering under the May sun.
Wildflowers nod in the breeze, and the faint scent of honeysuckle drifts across the air.
From the tent, I catch glimpses of friends, neighbors, Luke’s fellow officers, my library staff, and other familiar faces gathered for our special day. And then I see Luke, standing near the arch, handsome in his dark suit, his best man at his side.
In just minutes, I’ll walk toward him. In just minutes, our forever begins.
“Ready?” Nikki asks, appearing at my side with a stunning arrangement of deep red dahlias, white roses, and greenery for me to carry. I take a deep breath, nodding. “More than ready.”
The music starts with an acoustic version of a song we both love, played by a local musician. Anna, Rachel, and Nikki take their turns down the aisle, each glowing in burgundy satin. Harper waits next to me, squeezing my hand before stepping out ahead of me.
And then it’s my turn. Once I take that first step, all I see is Luke. The rest of the world blurs until it’s just his grin, brimming with a love so fierce it’s almost painful to realize how much I adore him.
I don’t see our friends. I don’t hear the music. I don’t notice the flowers, which I’m sure are gorgeous.
Then I’m there, and he’s closing the distance to meet me.
“Hi,” he whispers.
“Hi,” I whisper back.
The ceremony flies by in a whirlwind of vows and promises. Luke speaks first, his voice strong though his eyes betray his emotion.
“Callie Cooper, fifteen years ago, I made the biggest mistake of my life when I let you go. But fate had other plans and brought us back together. You’re my partner, my best friend, my home.
I promise to love you through every chapter, and to remind you daily that our story is my favorite one of all. ”
Damn it. I wasn’t going to cry. Tears spill freely down my cheeks as I begin mine.
“Luke Caldwell, our story hasn’t been simple.
We’ve had more twists than the thickest novel on the shelves.
But you were always the boy who made my heart race, the man who taught me forgiveness, and the partner who shows me what real love looks like.
I promise to love you, not only for who you are today, but for who you’ll become tomorrow, and for all the days after that. ”
The rings slide into place.
The officiant smiles.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
Luke cups my face and kisses me, and the world around us erupts into cheers I don’t hear.
“Mrs. Caldwell,” he murmurs against my lips.
“Mr. Cooper,” I tease, laughing with him.
The reception is everything I hoped it would be—messy, joyful, and buzzing with enough gossip to power Cupid’s Creek for the next decade.
Luke and I can hardly move two steps without someone stopping us to offer congratulations or a story about how they “always knew.” I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard that tonight.
I spot Anna near the cake table, Harper at her side, both of them glowing in their bridesmaid dresses. I start to head toward them to thank Anna for the beautiful cake, but before I can, two women drift across my path.
“Did you hear?” one whispers to the other, though not nearly quietly enough. “A new bakery’s opening on Main. Out-of-towners. Supposed to be really fancy.”
“Poor Anna,” the other replies with a sympathetic shake of her head. “As if she hasn’t had enough on her plate.”
My stomach twists, but when I glance at Anna, I notice her expression is too calm.
I know her well enough to recognize the steel in her spine, the smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
Harper must see it too, because she leans in and murmurs something I can’t catch, her hand resting on Anna’s arm like an anchor.
A moment later, Anna excuses herself and heads outside for a breath of air, casting me an apologetic glance when she hurries by. I watch her go, worried because I know that look. It’s the one a woman gets when she’s planning her next move.
Later, when Luke and I finally steal a quiet moment together near the edge of the dance floor, I find myself glancing toward the doors where his sister disappeared. “She’ll be okay,” he says, following my gaze, though I see concern on his face.
“I know,” I say softly. “She’s stronger than people give her credit for. But I hate that it always feels like she has to prove herself.”
He slides an arm around my waist, tugging me closer. “She’ll figure it out. And you know what? So will we. No matter what this town throws at us.”
I tip my head back to meet his eyes, thrilled at the absolute certainty there. “Keeping you might be the only thing I’ve ever really been sure of.”
His grin is slow and devastating, the kind that still makes my heart stumble. “Good,” he says, pressing his lips to mine. “Because I’m never letting you go.”
I hope you enjoyed meeting Luke and Callie in Keeping You.