Epilogue
The next October
Via paced back and forth in the back hallway of Pawsitive Vibes. Her wedding to Leo was going to start any minute now. They
had decided on a small, intimate ceremony with family and a few friends in the cat lounge, with a reception at the newly renovated
and expanded Second Chapter. Leo ran the bookstore, but he also worked remotely part-time for Arcadia Financial. He and Via
recently hired another employee—Buck Crenshaw’s granddaughter Talyn to help out in the store. Customers often visited both
shops, sometimes going back and forth between each one.
Leo had turned Earl’s apartment into a half office, half museum of his uncle’s collections and was moving into Via’s apartment
for the time being. But they had to get through the wedding first. She started to tug on her fingers.
Dora, dressed in her purple matron-of-honor sheath, her simple gold wedding band glinting under the canned ceiling lights,
put her hand on Via, stopping her movements. “Are you okay?”
“I’m nervous. Why am I nervous? I love him.
I want to marry him. I shouldn’t be nervous.
” She gripped the autumn-themed bouquet Anna had made for her.
Constance had tried to make the wedding more high society and less Pecan Corner.
Now that she was back in Leo’s life, Via was seeing some of her less-than-appealing quirks.
But she was his mother, Earl’s sister, and soon to be her mother-in-law.
That was the only reason she was wearing a fifty-thousand-dollar pearl necklace—something borrowed that Constance had worn when she married Leo’s father, Elliot.
Every other fancy thing she wanted was nipped in the bud, mostly by her son.
He might be letting Constance in, but he wasn’t letting her take over.
“Every bride is nervous,” Dora said. “Remember how nervous I was?”
“No. All I saw was you smiling, laughing, and being in love. Ugh, my stomach hurts.”
Dora took her hand. “Via . . . he’s here. In the lounge waiting for you. He’s not going anywhere.”
“I know . . .” She and Leo already texted each other several times today as they readied for the ceremony. He knew her anxiety,
and she suspected that was part of the reason he kept sending her sweet messages with sappy emojis for the past two hours,
reassuring her. He was definitely corny and she absolutely loved it. And hearing Dora’s words eased her nerves to the point
they almost disappeared. “Thank you. That was exactly what I needed to hear.”
She smiled. “That’s what sisters are for.”
Anna Abernathy, who turned out to be an excellent wedding coordinator, appeared with an orange rhinestone leash around her
wrist. She stopped in front of Via, slipping the leash off and putting it on Dora’s wrist. “It’s time, ladies.”
Dora kissed her on the cheek and they walked to the lounge entrance.
Via closed her eyes. Took a breath.
“You look beautiful, sweetheart. Those colors suit you.”
She opened her eyes and saw her dad smiling at her. Her dress was mostly off-white, with purple and orange accents. “Thanks,
Dad.” He looked so handsome in his black tux and bright orange tie. She threaded her arm through his.
At Anna’s direction, they moved to the doorway. “Leo’s a good one,” Dad said in a low voice.
Via grinned. “He’s the best.”
They entered the lounge, which was just as filled with autumn decor as last year. Several cats sauntered around, oblivious
to the festivities. Her heart leapt as she saw Leo in front of the picture window, his co-best men Charlie and Fergus right
beside him, along with best cat Sir Meow, his purple satin leash around Charlie’s wrist because Fergus’s was too big. Sir
had a purple bow tie on his collar and wore a custom shirt that said Harvard Boy on it. Dora and Birdie were on the opposite side, Birdie resplendent in her orange satin pantsuit. The woman didn’t do dresses.
Squeaks was adorable in a purple tutu and her own T-shirt. Smitten Kitten.
She took her place and looked at Leo. Cool, calm, breathtakingly handsome in his black tux and gold bow tie, another concession
to Constance. She couldn’t abide her son getting married in an off-the-rack suit. He met Via’s gaze, his eyes sparkling behind
his glasses. Swoon.
A few passersby stopped in front of the window, pausing to watch the festivities.
The ceremony flew by. Only one little mishap occurred before the vows, when the cats got bored and started grooming themselves—Sir in the worst place possible. Oh boy, she hadn’t thought about that. Charlie picked him up while Dora lifted Squeaks. Naughty kitties.
Leo chuckled and she shrugged as they faced each other. At the pastor’s direction, he said his vows, slid the gold band on
her finger, then quickly reached into his pocket and added her engagement ring to it—a round solitaire with little triangle
diamond cat ears at the top.
She said her vows and put on his wide black wedding band. He squeezed her fingers as the pastor pronounced them husband and
wife. She barely heard him because Leo was already leaning in for the kiss, his eyes shiny with love and a little misty with
emotion. Their lips touched, soft and tender, filled with the promise of their future together.
According to plan, Anna ushered everyone to Second Chapter after they congratulated the couple, giving them a little privacy
before the reception. She clasped her hands, as was her habit. “Earl would have been so proud.”
Via and Leo nodded. She didn’t have to look at her husband to see what he was feeling. She was feeling it too. Love for Earl
mixed with grief for what they had lost. What Pecan Corner had lost.
When she left, Leo looked down at Via’s feet, bedecked in orange-and-purple-checked pumps. He grinned, taking her in his arms.
“Nice dedication to the theme.”
“Thank you. I have a reputation to uphold.”
Later, after the reception, Charlie would bring around the Turismo, already packed for a weeklong honeymoon in the Adirondacks,
but right now she wanted to enjoy this moment, just the two of them . . . and the Pawsitive Vibes cats that were milling around
their feet.
His hands remained on her waist, his eyes melding with hers. “Guess I have to call you Mrs. Smitten Kitten now.”
She touched the dimple by his mouth. “You sure do, Mr. Harvard Boy.” She closed her eyes and leaned in for a kiss, only to
hit air. When she looked at him, she saw him frowning slightly. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Well . . .” His frown deepened. “Do you think they’ll miss us?”
Weird question but she’d go with it. “Our family and friends? I guess, but we’ll only be gone a week—”
“Not them. Sir and Squeaks. You did tell your parents that Squeaks likes her catnip in the evening, right?”
This man. “Yes, dear, I told them.”
“And to not let Sir eat more than his fair share of food. I know how Gayla likes to give him extra treats.”
“They’ll be fine.” She ran her fingers through the back of his hair, lightly stroking the base of his neck. He’d traded the
expensive LA coiffure for longer waves that curled over his collar. Bliss.
His smile returned, his irises turning a forest-green hue that made her engine run. “I remember the first time you did this,”
he said. “I liked it. A lot.”
“You never told me that.”
“You never asked.” He grinned. “Know what else I’m going to like?” She shivered as he moved his mouth close to her ear. “Searching
for your birthmark.”
“Leo,” she said, laughing.
“We could just bail on the reception.” He nuzzled her neck. “Head straight for the honeymoon.”
Oh, it was so tempting. Reluctantly, she pulled away. They looked at each other, no words needing to be said, just a nod in unison. Now was the time to celebrate with friends and family. They had a lifetime to be together.
He took her hand and nodded toward Second Chapter. “Ready, Octavia Bernice Brewster?”
“For the reception?”
“And . . . our new future.”
She smiled and took his hand. “For the rest of our lives.”