Epilogue
Cam
Several Weeks Later…
“The car will be here in ten minutes!” Fletcher yells from the living room. After a grand reopening last week, we are off to visit Drew and Vito. Drew has decided to stay for another month in Italy and we’ve decided to spend our holidays there.
My life has been such a whirlwind that I’ve hardly had time to contemplate everything that’s happened.
The café is doing amazing. The show’s grand finale is in three weeks and we are having a viewing party at the café to celebrate.
We’ve hired three new employees two weeks ago.
And our profits are through the roof. I keep pinching myself.
Fletcher wants to wait and see if we can continue our success for the rest of the year, and if things are going well, he wants to invest in another small café in another city.
I think he’s crazy to take on more work, but I support helping small businesses, so I guess if that means he spends some time doing that, then that’s what we’ll do.
At least now, we have enough staff that I feel confident leaving for a few days.
I stuff the last of my toiletries into my suitcase and manage to zip it closed. I drag it into the living room.
“All set,” I declare.
“Who’s watching the apartment?” he asks.
“Al said he’d take in the mail and Ava and Carly are going to watch things for us,” I answer as I look around once more making sure I haven’t forgotten anything.
I frown. “Wait. Are we doing wrapped gifts for Christmas?” I ask.
Why hadn’t I thought of this? Did he bring a gift?
We had originally said the trip was our gift to each other.
Vito’s parents own a vineyard in Tuscany and we’re staying at a guesthouse on the property for most of our stay and Fletcher got us first-class plane tickets.
“I might have something small for you to unwrap,” he confesses.
I groan. “You suck! I’ll find you something,” I say as we make our way to the door and lock up.
We take the elevator down, which was pre-agreed upon since we almost never use it.
We get outside and I see a limo pulling up. Of course, he got a limo.
“The only gift I need is you,” he says, pulling me against him and kissing me.
“Ewww!” Ava calls out from above us.
“Ava, so help me, if you are leaning out that window!” I yell. That kid is going to be the death of all of us.
“Nope. Not leaning out,” she says.
We both look up and only see her head.
“Have fun on your trip,” she says.
“We will,” we reply in unison. I look down the street and see Jocelyn talking to Hutch at the bench. He hands her the bench flowers, and she giggles.
“What’s up with those two?” Fletcher asks as the driver loads our bags into the limo.
“No idea. But there’s definitely some sparks between them, right?” I say as I crawl into the warm car interior and out of the gently falling snow.
“That there is,” Fletcher agrees, scooting in beside me. He pulls me against him, and I lean on his shoulder.
“We are not talking shop on this trip,” I state.
“No shop. But we are going to some really great bakeries,” he points out.
“Fine. We can taste-test, but no buying stores or entering competitions or anything,” I say.
“I can probably agree to that,” he replies. I elbow him and he laughs.
“Fine, we will take a proper vacation,” he agrees.
I look up at him and then down at his lap.
“Eros,” I state.
He throws his head back and laughs. “How’d you figure it out?”
I shrug. “He’s like the god of love, right?”
Fletcher nods.
“It’s fitting,” I declare, and he gives me a smug smile. I roll my eyes and he laughs again.
I lean my head back down and he wraps his arm more tightly around my shoulders.
“I love you,” he whispers as the driver gets into the car.
“I love you more,” I reply back.
“Not possible,” he replies.
“Is too,” I retort.
“We’ll see about that, Hollywood,” he teases, and I sigh with contentment against him.
I don’t think we’ll ever stop competing, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
When I decided to buy the café, I knew I could build a great bakery.
What I didn’t realize is that I’d be building an entire life I never imagined was possible.
Yet here I am, looking out at the city’s number one café while leaning on the shoulder of the most perfect man in the world while heading out to see one of my amazing friends.
I dare say, I’m proud of this big life I’ve built.
And I can’t wait to see what comes next.
I hope you enjoyed this story.