Epilogue
ELLIE
Sunlight filtered through Drew’s bedroom curtains, casting golden stripes across the rumpled sheets. I stretched, loving that my body was deliciously sore in all the right places. I turned to find Drew on his side, watching me with an expression that made my heart skip.
“Morning,” he said, his voice still rough from sleep.
“Good morning.” I stretched to trace the line of his bearded jaw, still marveling that this was all real. That he was real. That last night—the bridge, his declarations, his choice to restructure his entire life—hadn’t been some weird fever dream.
He caught my hand and pressed a kiss to my palm. “Sleep okay?”
“Better than okay.” I’d slept deeply, dreamlessly, wrapped in his arms without the pressing weight of uncertainty crushing my chest. “Best sleep I’ve had in weeks.” Probably because after the insanity that was my sister’s rehearsal dinner, I’d already decided I wasn’t going to the wedding.
“Same.” He pulled me closer, and I let myself sink into his warmth, into the solid reality of his chest against my cheek. His heart beat steadily beneath my ear—reliable, constant, mine.
We stayed like that for a while, just breathing together as morning sounds drifted through the window. Birds chirped. A car passed on the street below. The world continued on while we existed in this perfect, quiet bubble.
Eventually, the real world intruded as his phone buzzed on the nightstand.
He groaned. “If that’s work—”
“It’s Saturday,” I reminded him, smiling against his skin. “And you have boundaries now, remember?”
“Right.” He relaxed back into the pillows, a sheepish grin on his face. “I still need to get used to that.”
My phone lit up a moment later, vibrating incessantly. I untangled myself reluctantly, sat up. and reached for it, expecting a text from Grace or maybe Martha checking in.
Instead, I found three missed calls and a jillion texts from Auntie Betty.
AUNTIE BETTY
OMG! You won’t believe this.
AUNTIE BETTY
Actually, never mind. You probably will. Celia and Kyle just canceled the wedding!
AUNTIE BETTY
The whole B&B can hear them arguing, but I have the room next to them. I can hear EVERYTHING.
AUNTIE BETTY
Did you know Kyle only proposed to Celia to be on the show Wedding Bells? Now Kyle’s saying he only stayed for her followers.
AUNTIE BETTY
Celia said he was a sucky lay. Bahaha but I bet you already knew that.
AUNTIE BETTY
I think Celia threw a shoe. I wonder if her aim was better than at Axe-Hole?
AUNTIE BETTY
Celia just kicked him out. And Kyle said he would have dumped her after the wedding. Holy crap. He’s an asshole! You dodged a bullet, kiddo.
AUNTIE BETTY
The bridesmaids are outside her door. Angie just stuck up for you with the other girls, and a lot of them are saying they want nothing to do with Celia. And Jenna said she can’t be associated with this fallout.
AUNTIE BETTY
Your mother just joined them. She is having a MELTDOWN. Hahahaha! She’s trying to blame you. No one is listening, and I just opened my door and told her to shut up. I can’t believe we’re related
AUNTIE BETTY
Celia slammed her door in your mother’s FACE and told her to leave her alone and that she’s cutting ties with her. This is CRAZY! That’s your mother’s worst nightmare ... Celia’s her co-dependent sidekick. But you know that.
AUNTIE BETTY
Kyle’s talking to the producer that showed up last night. He’s trying to get them to give him his own show. They laughed in his face!
AUNTIE BETTY
Okay, my advice to you—shut off your phone and avoid your mother. She’s on a rampage. Okay, love you! Call me when you can! BYE-EE! xoxo
I stared at the screen, waiting for the wave of emotions to hit. Guilt. Concern. The old instinct to fix things, smooth things over, make myself useful.
Nothing came.
Just … relief. Pure, uncomplicated relief.
“Everything okay?” Drew sat up, his hand finding my lower back.
“The wedding’s off.” I looked at him, the words tumbling out. “Celia and Kyle canceled it.”
His eyebrows rose. “Seriously?”
“Auntie Betty says Mom’s devastated.” I scrolled to the next text that just popped up. “But there’s more. Apparently the videographers got everything on camera. Celia’s whole influencer empire is about to come crashing down. Her sponsors are pulling out.”
“What do you mean?”
I skimmed the rest of my aunt’s message and let out a startled laugh.
“It’s finally coming out that the videos that went viral for her a year ago, not just the one where she apparently showed my wedding ideas book, but the one a few months later when she gave me a ‘surprise bridesmaid proposal’ were faked. ”
Drew’s expression shifted from confusion to disgust. “That’s …”
“Awful? Manipulative? On-brand?” I set the phone down. “Her whole following is built on those moments. The ‘thoughtful, loving bride persona’ that launched her entire wedding journey series was a farce.”
“And now the truth’s coming out.” He threaded his fingers through my free hand.
“It is, in the best way possible. Apparently, it’s not even the recent videos taken here in Ruby River that are getting the most attention.
She must have been trying to prank me because she kept recording after she told me it was a joke, and someone,” I had a sneaking suspicion it was Angie.
“released the rest of the video and how Wedding Bells is horrified at her behavior. Her followers are super upset and hurt by all the lies that are coming out.”
“I don’t blame them.” Drew studied my face. “Are you okay?
“Yeah.” I was surprised at how much I meant it. “I’m really okay. I wasn’t planning to go today, and now I don’t have to make an excuse or worry about how the cameras would manipulate me not being there. It’s kind of perfect timing.”
“So what do you want to do today?” His thumb traced circles on my spine. “It’s Saturday. We have the whole day.”
An idea sparked. “Can we go to the shelter?”
Something flickered across his face—surprise, maybe, or was it nerves? “The shelter?”
“I know we were just there earlier this week, but …” I bit my lip. “I miss Stormy. And it’s been hard, leaving her there every time. I just want to see her. Maybe volunteer for a bit. Is that okay?”
“Of course it’s okay.” He was already reaching for his phone. “Let me call Theo and let him know we’re coming.”
I padded to the bathroom while he made the call, and by the time I emerged—shower, teeth brushed, hair done, yesterday’s emotional chaos somewhat contained—he was dressed and waiting with that same strange energy humming beneath his skin.
“Theo said anytime,” Drew said. “He’ll be there all morning.”
“Perfect.” I pulled on a pair of jeans and one of Drew’s oversized sweatshirts that had migrated to my side of the closet.
When did that happen? When had his space started to become our space without me noticing?
The drive to the shelter didn’t take long. I watched as the buildings and businesses that had become so familiar to me over the past few weeks go by and realized how much I loved it here.
Drew’s hand rested on my thigh the whole way, warm and grounding.
This could be home. This could really become my home if I was willing to take the leap and move here.
The shelter welcomed us with its big windows and the cheerful mural of cats and dogs painted across the side. Several cars already filled the parking lot—Saturday morning was prime volunteer time.
Inside, the familiar smell of pet food and disinfectant greeted us along with the chorus of barking from the kennels in back. The front desk was staffed by Louanne, one of the regular volunteers, who broke out into a huge smile when she saw us.
“Ellie! Drew!” She came around the desk to hug me. “I hadn’t expected to see you today, but I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Couldn’t stay away.” I hugged her back. “Is Stormy having a good morning?”
“You know how she is,” Louanne laughed and shook her head. “Theo’s waiting for you two in the back by the cat room.”
We pushed through the doors passing by the sweet puppies I’d befriended, and I silently promised to come back for lots of behind-the-ears scratchies.
By the time we reached the cats, joy settled in my chest. With everything happening I really needed a kitty cuddle.
I waved to the few Kingsley employees nearby.
“Ellie!” Karen from accounting waved, a tabby kitten draped over her shoulder. “Hi! It’s good to see you.”
“You too!” I waved back.
This is what community felt like. Showing up, being known, and most importantly belonging.
Theo emerged from the back room, his face creasing into a smile. “There you are. Right on time.”
That’s weird. It was like Theo was waiting for us specifically. “Hey,” I glanced around “Where’s—”
“Actually, Ellie,” Drew interrupted, his voice carrying a note I’d never heard before. “Can you wait here for a minute? I need to … There’s something I need to grab.”
I frowned. “What’s going on?
He grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “Just trust me.” He let go and disappeared in the back room with Theo.
I stood in the middle of the room as confusion swirled in my head. Karen and the other volunteers had gone conspicuously silent.
“What is happening right now?” I asked, hoping someone would crack.
“You’ll see.” Karen replied, a huge grin on her face.
The door opened.
Drew stepped out cradling a large, fluffy tortoiseshell cat with striking golden eyes.
The cat that had already stolen my heart.
Stormy.
Drew was holding Stormy. Stormy, who hated everyone. Stormy, who’d never let anyone but me within three feet without hissing. Stormy, who’d spent the last year at this shelter because she was “difficult” and “antisocial” and “not adoptable.”
Drew was holding her.
And she was … tolerating it. Her ears were back and her tail twitched with barely contained irritation, but she wasn’t struggling or scratching. She wasn’t fighting. Just enduring with the put-upon expression of a cat who’d decided this indignity was worth whatever came next.