Epilogue
dorian
THREE MONTHS LATER
We’re shoved into Luke’s office with every other member of my family—except one—as well as some friends and coworkers.
The energy is palpable. I catch my dad’s eye over the sea of heads and note a decided twinkle, which makes my stomach flip.
What if we’d never caught his heart disease?
Would he even be here to see tonight unfold?
I’m so glad he is. I’m grateful for his good doctors and for Mom’s diligence in keeping his diet and exercise on track. He’s improved so much in recent months, both physically and mentally, and I know how lucky we’ve been.
I’m also pretty happy that Piper helped me see the importance of fictional stakes.
Yeah, maybe nothing in my books will ever come close to meaning as much as my own father, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t important in their own way.
Writing Paul and Kiley’s final story gave me closure in so many ways I didn’t know I was seeking.
My editor, agent, and publisher loved the book, and it’s in its first round of edits now. I have a feeling readers are going to be satisfied with the ending.
And no, Kiley doesn’t get murdered. She completes Paul. She brings him joy. He questions their relationship in the beginning of the book, but they’re still happily married by the end of it.
Just like I know I’m going to marry Piper. But I haven’t asked yet. It’s probably too soon. And I was the first to tell her I loved her last month while we walked through the farmer’s market hand in hand, though she said it right back.
I’m still trying to decide if it’s a sin to cut out the center of a book just so I can hide a ring in it. Will the engagement override the pain of seeing a book destroyed? With Piper, I just don’t know.
Avery is sitting on Luke’s desk, arguing with Caleb. I can’t hear what they’re saying, but my younger sister and Luke’s best friend have never quite gotten along.
“Enough, you two,” Mom says gently. “You’ll give us away.”
Avery rolls her eyes. Caleb looks smug. What a punk.
Piper leans in close. “We have to get Elena here somehow.”
“Why?”
“She’ll go crazy for this house.” She widens her eyes. “It’s every real estate agent’s dream.”
“True. You know Luke would give her a grand tour too. Why don’t you invite her to the next game night?”
“Harper.”
“She could come.”
Piper shoots me a look. “It’s too late, Dor.”
Didn’t think of that. “I bet Luke wouldn’t care if she just came over and looked at the house sometime.”
“Yeah, maybe. Or, if the next family barbecue is here, I’m bringing her.”
“Deal.”
We’re shushed next, so I kiss her on the temple, and she leans back against my chest.
Molly’s been standing at the door this entire time, her ear periodically pressed to it. She jumps back. “They’re here!”
The room goes perfectly still. We all listen as Paisley and Hudson walk through the house, her laugh echoing off the wooden floors.
“When?” someone whispers.
“He’ll open the door,” Luke says. I happen to know they’re here under the guise of picking something up from Luke’s desk.
It feels like an eternity, but it’s probably only another twenty seconds before Hudson opens the office door and Carrie, who’s manning the light switch, flips it on. We all shout, “Surprise!”
It effectively scares the daylights out of my sister. Paisley shrieks, clutching her heart.
“And happy engagement!” Mom croons.
“Mom!” Paisley says. “How did you…” She turns to Hudson. “Did you plan this?”
He grins at her, then leans down and kisses her. He only proposed a few minutes ago on Franklin’s Main Street, so he’s probably floating on cloud nine. “Thought you’d want to share with everyone.”
Paisley is beaming. She lifts her left hand to show off the dazzling ring, and the women go nuts.
Simone, her coworker, squeals, pulling her hand down for a closer look.
And then we all swarm them for hugs. Once they’ve gotten through the entire group and someone has handed Mom a wad of tissues, we gather in the living room.
“I’m so glad this day has come,” Mom says. “I’ve been holding a date for the reception at that barn you love, Paise. But don’t worry—if you don’t like it, I’ll get my money back.”
Paisley laughs out loud.
Hudson looks satisfied, rubbing her back.
I’m just insanely jealous. I take Piper’s hand and pull her from the sofa. “Come here.”
“Okay.” She follows me to the kitchen, where I wrap her in my arms and lean in close. “What’s going on?” she asks.
“Nothing. I just want that to be us.”
“Me too.”
“Someday?”
“Someday soon, I hope.”
I kiss her deeply.
When she pulls back, she looks directly into my eyes. “We do have to wait a bit, you know. We can’t steal their thunder.”
“Ring shopping this weekend?” I ask.
“You’re on.”