Epilogue
Lydia
“Want to go for a walk by the river?” Everett asks, slipping his hand into Mila’s.
Finally. I’ve been waiting months for this.
It’s a warm late summer night, and they just had dinner on the back patio of Sawbuck Tavern.
Mila smiles, one of those sweet ones she reserves only for him. “Sure.”
They stroll along Main Street, which is less crowded now that the high season—not to mention cherry season—is over. In July and August, Everett worked from before sunup to long after sundown. Now that it’s September, life is easier. They have more time together.
Mila has never been happier.
Lavender Ladybug is thriving. The fall collection she designed for Ivy & Stone is wildly popular, and they’ve already asked her for another collaboration. She loves her role as Art Director of the new Hart’s Landing Community Center, and every Tuesday, she teaches a botanical illustration class.
Recently, she hired a new assistant.
“How’s it going with Felix?” Everett asks as they amble toward the river.
“Great, actually. He’s surprisingly good with kids, and he’s so talented.”
“Good.”
“Tiffany Hart was in class again this week,” she says. “She’s a regular now.”
“Does she have any talent?”
Mila shakes her head. “None whatsoever. But she’s very dedicated, and you should hear her going on about the healing gardens to anyone who will listen. You’d think it was her idea, not yours.”
“Actually, it was yours,” he tells her, taking her arm as they cross the street toward the bank of the White Pine River. “And I’ll be eternally grateful. Did she ever get you that phone number you wanted?”
I listen carefully here.
“She did, but when I texted it, someone replied that I must have the wrong number.”
“Weird.”
“I might reach out to Rachel’s mom. Oh, by the way, I saw your mom today,” she tells him as they walk in the opposite direction of the river’s flow. “She was working at the store and popped over to the house to say hi. She looks great! And you know what she told me?”
“What?”
“She’s been taking my mother’s morning stretch class at the dance studio twice a week.”
“That’s good.” They reach the bridge. “Want to walk across?”
“Sure. It’s like our first date all over again.”
“It wasn’t a date,” he says, nudging her side. “Remember?”
“That’s right. I had a rule in place.”
“Not for long. You gave me permission to kiss you pretty quickly, as I recall.” He lets go of her hand to put an arm around her waist.
“I was weak.”
He chuckles. “I was nervous. You said one kiss, and I felt like everything was riding on it.”
“Babe, I was done for the moment your lips touched mine.”
They reach the center of the bridge and stop to look out. The sun looks like a gold coin in an orange and lavender sky. The river appears almost copper as it flows toward the deep-blue lake.
Mila sighs. “It’s so beautiful.”
“Yes.” Everett is looking at her.
“I’m talking about the sunset, Everett.”
“What sunset?”
Laughing, she turns to face him. Taps his chest. “You’re hopeless.”
“I remember I asked you that night if you’d ever thrown a stone into the water. You said yes, but you didn’t say whose name was on it.”
She rolls her eyes. “You know it was yours. I did it on my way to work the night of the fire. I thought it might bring me good luck.”
“Maybe it did.” His broad shoulders rise. “Look at us now.”
“That’s true,” she says with a nod. “Are we the proof it’s not just a Hart’s Landing legend?”
“Maybe.” He reaches into his pocket. “But we better not leave anything to chance.”
She giggles. “Did you bring a stone with my name on it?”
“No.” He drops to one knee. “But I did bring a rock.”
Now we’re talking.
Mila has gone still, her mouth open.
In Everett’s fingers is a diamond solitaire glinting in the last few rays of daylight. “Mila Ferguson, one year ago tonight, we stood on this bridge.”
Mila’s hands fly to her cheeks. She hadn’t realized the date.
“Since that time, you’ve taught me about loyalty, patience, and forgiveness. You’ve shown me that a heart can love deeper and stronger and more fiercely than I thought possible.”
“You’ve taught me, too,” she says softly.
“I used to struggle to imagine myself settling down—I just couldn’t see it.
I never met anyone who made me want to give up my independence.
But now I can see a life with you so clearly.
Not just the big, important things like marriage and family, but the small, everyday things, too.
I will always eat your pizza crusts, hand you tissues during movies, and squeeze the toothpaste tube from the bottom. ”
Mila laughs through her tears. I wish I could give Everett a high five. He seems to understand something I’ve only really learned since getting to this side of life: whether the moment is bitter or sweet, laughter makes it better.
“Above all, you’ve shown me that what’s meant to be will always find a way. And Mila, you and I are meant to be.” He slips the ring on her finger. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” she squeaks. “Yes.” It’s all she can manage before dissolving to pieces. She drops to her knees and buries her face in his shoulder. He lets her cry for a minute, stroking her hair and her back.
Eventually he brings them both to their feet. “Wow. This is a lot of tears. Even for you.”
She chuckles and steps back to look at the ring on her finger. “Oh, Everett, it’s beautiful! Look at the filigree on the band!”
“I thought you might like that,” he says, sounding proud of himself. “I picked it out myself at the jeweler’s in town, but if you don’t like it, they said I could bring it back and exchange it.”
Ahem. It was me who nudged him in the direction of that ring.
I have my ways.
“I love it.” Mila tucks her left hand against her chest, covering it with her right. “Just try to pry it off me.”
He laughs. “I’m happy to let it stay on your finger.”
Mila places her palms on either side of his face. “I love you. You’re the first and only man I have ever trusted with my whole heart.”
“I’ll be that man forever.”
I sigh, and a breeze whispers over their skin.
Their lips meet in a kiss as soft as a cloud. As warm as the September sun. As deep as the river rushing beneath the bridge.
Mila was right.
Tomorrow does have a way of showing up, and it doesn’t always go as planned. Tomorrows can be messy. Painful. Hard.
But what I hoped my friends would learn from their promise to me is that the best tomorrows come when you live today out loud. When you love with your whole heart. When you show up in the world exactly the way you’re meant to.
Then every tomorrow becomes a gift.
Mila and Everett understand this now.
“Ready to go?” he asks.
“Yes.” She admires her ring again. He can’t stop looking at her face, his adoration plain to see.
Neither of them notices the ladybug flitting above them.
A few seconds later, the happy couple takes their leave, as do I.
My work here is done.
For now.