Epilogue - Zander
One year later
Sunday dinner at the Blake house is always chaos. From the deck of the family home in Ember Heart Ridge, I watch my brothers goof around in the yard while the smell of Mom’s famous pot roast drifts from the kitchen. The sun sets behind the mountains, painting the peaks in gold and pink.
Axel elbows me. “You're quiet tonight.”
“Just enjoying the view.” I take another sip of beer, hoping I sound casual.
He grins. “Right. Nothing to do with what's in your pocket?”
I nearly choke. “How did you…”
“Please, bro. I've never seen you so jumpy. Plus, Mom's making her VIP chocolate soufflé. She only does that for special occasions.”
Inside, Kyla laughs. She's probably still in the kitchen with Mom and my other brothers, learning the secret family recipe she's been trying to crack for months. She fits here like she was always meant to be part of this chaos.
“Don't tell her,” I warn Axel.
“Your secret's safe with me. Though Ryder's been watching you like a hawk all evening. And you know what Logan’s sixth sense is like.”
“Great. Any other brothers I should worry about?”
He claps my shoulder. “We've got your back. Operation Distract Kyla is in full effect.”
Mom calls everyone in for dinner. Somehow, we all fit around the massive oak table: all six of my huge brothers, Mom at her usual spot at the head. Kyla slides into her place beside me, cheeks flushed from the kitchen's warmth.
Whispering, she squeezes my hand. “Your mom's teaching me her pie crust technique…finally!”
Dinner is the usual wonderful mess of jokes, anecdotes, and good-natured arguing. My brothers swap rescue stories. Mom beams at the packed table in front of her.
After dinner, Mom stands. “Dessert out on the deck. Stop complaining, it’s not that cold. Logan’s lit a fire in the pit and the heat lamps are on. The view's too pretty to waste.”
It's our signal. As everyone moves outside, my brothers subtly position themselves. Ryder keeps the dogs occupied. Axel stands by the door. Even Mom plays her part, asking Kyla about the bakery's latest specialty items.
The mountains glow in the last light of day.
“Remember when you thought your bakery was haunted?” I ask.
Kyla laughs. “That seems like a long time ago.”
I take her hand, turning her to face me. The conversations around us quiet. “I walked into your bakery expecting another routine call. Instead, I found the woman who would change my life.”
Understanding dawns in her eyes as I drop to one knee.
“Kyla, you make every day sweeter just by being in it. Will you marry me?”
For a moment, there's complete silence on the deck.
“Yes!” She pulls me up into a kiss as my family erupts in cheers. Somewhere, a cork pops.
"Congratulations!” Mom exclaims, tears in her eyes. “I've been worrying about the celebratory chocolate soufflé all evening!”
Kyla examines the ring. “It’s beautiful.”
The celebration's barely started when Logan's radio crackles. His face turns serious as he listens.
“Bachelorette party,” he says, already moving. “Some kind of game, they got stranded. Light's fading fast.”
“How bad?” Axel asks, setting down his glass.
“They’re stuck on a ledge. Party decided to take some sunset photos, went off trail.”
Mom's already packing up cake slices for them. This is normal for us Blakes; celebrations interrupted by emergencies, family moments put on hold for rescue calls.
Kyla squeezes my hand as Logan and Axel gear up. Within minutes, the Ember Heart helicopter lifts off, disappearing around the mountain's shoulder.
“Welcome to the family,” Mom says, wrapping an arm around Kyla.
As the remaining family heads inside with the cake, Kyla and I linger on the deck. The stars are coming out now, bright against the dark slopes of the mountains. She holds up her hand, letting her ring sparkle in the firelight.
“Who would've thought a year ago that this would happen?”
I pull her close, breathing in her familiar peachy scent. “I did. The moment you walked into my life.”
Her kiss tastes sweeter than ever. Our story is just beginning and I can’t wait for more.