Epilogue
Noah
The following spring
I set a mug of coffee on my wife’s nightstand, kiss her temple, and walk to our bedroom window.
It’s already open on our gardens and the village beyond—Willow likes to sleep to the sounds of nature.
As the sky turns from mauve to baby pink, mist rises from the river, shrouding the morning beauty in mystery.
Calla trots through the gardens, now dashing to the barn as it opens on Maple and Beck.
The dogs horse around while my brother admires his work.
He truly outdid himself, turning Lilyvale into a fantasy that would put any botanical garden to shame. He’s been planning this since last fall, when he moved shrubs and planted hundreds of bulbs. Then he resumed his work after the thaw, adding perennials and annuals in strategic places.
Now Willow is getting her fairytale wedding (or vow renewal, to be exact) in the spectacular setting of Lilyvale.
Meanwhile I worked with our friends to plan a party for the whole town where Willow wouldn’t have to worry about anything. She kept saying she didn’t need that, but she’s a Callaway, dammit, and she’s getting her fairytale “wedding” at Lilyvale.
Even the ghosts are excited. Last night the women were in their best attire, giggling amongst themselves. And some of the men appeared to me—a first—nodding with respect. I felt a burst of pride.
And peace.
Willow wraps her arm around my middle and leans against me. “Hey you.”
I pull her closer to me as she takes a sip of her coffee.
“I don’t know what to say,” she says, emotion raw in her voice. “Look, even the roses are blooming.”
“’Course they are.” It’s as if I can sense Mom’s presence today, and I know she’s here with us.
“It’s even more beautiful than in my wildest dreams,” she whispers. “See, it’s perfect. We’ll be saying our vows looking at the river and the mountains and with Lilyvale at our back.”
“Lilyvale will always have our back,” I say, smiling into her hair.
We’re having the ceremony on the patio, with guests overflowing in the garden, and the party will spill down onto our riverbanks. Tents are already up, tables set. An archway of flowers intermingled with fairy lights leads from the house to the water.
Throughout the garden, Beck built out small garden nooks that we’re using for beer and cider stands, creemee stations, s’mores nooks, and even a tiny cheese-and-charcuterie cabin.
“We should get ready, Mr. Callaway. The ceremony’s at three, but you know how it is…”
“Yup.” Half the town is already trickling in to help, and the pre-party is already started.
Beck’s voice wafts up to us. “What are these little burlap bags?”
“Don’t touch!” Ms. Angela answers him. “They’re maple candy favors, and you’ll ruin your appetite.”
“Yo! I’m making breakfast,” Griff barks, his voice sounding through the garden and inside the house.
Lane’s baby, Wren, lets out a piercing shriek. “Better get used to it,” Lane says from somewhere down the hall. “No sleeping with the uncles around.”
I hold Willow’s hand in mine as we walk up the aisle to our spot next to Ms. Angela and turn to face our assembled friends and family.
“We weren’t sure how a vow renewal is supposed to work,” I say, “so we’re going to do this our way.
” I look at Willow, and she encourages me with a smile.
We discussed what we were going to say, and she wanted me to be the one to deliver the message.
“It didn’t feel right for us to have Willow walk down the aisle. Or for me to be waiting for her up here. After all, this isn’t a wedding. This is just an excuse you all wanted to throw us a party.”
Laughter ripples through the garden. “And thank you for that. Thank you to all of you for making this happen.” Willow smiles and nods, and Ms. Angela straightens, ready to take over with her part of the ceremony.
But I signal for her to wait, and with a tightening throat, deliver a part of the message that Willow isn’t aware of.
“But as we all know, Willow is who made us happen. It wouldn’t be right for me to be waiting for her up here.
She’s who loved me all along. Silently. Quietly.
” I slide a finger under my glasses to wipe a tear. “Too quietly.”
The assembly has gone eerily silent, and it feels like even nature is holding her breath.
“Luckily for me, she decided to claim what was meant to be hers—my heart. And Lilyvale.”
A chorus of awws echo throughout the crowd. “Hey, that’s my part,” Ms. Angela jokes, taking our hands in hers. “Look at them,” she says to the audience. “Aren’t they just perfect for each other?”
“Woot! Woot!”
“We know these two were meant for each other. We just want to hear it from them.” She turns to Willow.
My wife’s deep brown eyes set on mine, and she’s all I can see now.
“Noah, ever since I can remember, you’ve been my rock and my protector, even when you didn’t know it.
I think I’ve always loved you, as long as I’ve known you.
” She pauses, and I can hear my heart pounding.
“I didn’t think I’d ever…” her voice breaks a little, and she takes a beat.
“I didn’t think I’d ever become your wife, but…
” Now her chin is wobbly, and I can’t stand to see her like that.
I caress the tremble away. “But?” I whisper to encourage her.
She takes a deep breath. “But it’s…” Tilting her head, she says just for me, tears in her voice, “it’s been the best year of my life.” She shakes with nervous laughter and joy, and I wrap her in my embrace.
“She said he’s on probation, and if he makes it, we’ll have another party next year,” Ms. Angela shouts to the audience.
While everyone’s laughing, Willow whips her head toward Ms. Angela, her mouth rounded in a shocked O.
I lift our joined hands in the air. “Challenge accepted!” I boom.
“You’re supposed to renew your vows,” Ms. Angela quips from behind us. Then in a lower voice, she snaps. “This isn’t a joke, you know.”
It doesn’t matter that she just made a joke at my expense—she’s right. Turning to face Willow, I take both her hands in mine. “It’s been the best year of my life too,” I start, then forget the words I was supposed to say.
“This is when you reaffirm your wedding vows,” Ms. Angela whispers.
Right. “Since we became husband and wife a year ago, my feelings for you have grown immensely. I couldn’t be a happier man, and it would be my honor to cherish you for years to come, be by your side through the seasons of our lives, and help you through whatever trials might come our way.
I truly don’t deserve you, and every morning I have to pinch myself.
” I take a deep breath. “So, this is me. What do you say?”
Willow jumps into my arms, and I swirl her around. “I think we’re good for another year!” I shout to the audience. Half of them are laughing, half seem to be wiping away tears.
“And this concludes the feud between the Callaways and the Fontaines!” Ms. Angela declares.
I set Willow down carefully and turn to her. “The what now?”
She spreads her hands. “The Feud! which started when a Fontaine set fire to the house that used to stand here, then continued when the Callaways stole—”
“Enough!” Willow and I both shout at her.
Ms. Angela rears back at the power of our words. “It’s just like I said. It’s over,” she says quietly, her eyes rounded at us like we’re a pair of lunatics.
And although this is not a wedding, all our friends cheer and clap as we walk between them to get the party started.
Willow stops us on the way to give Beck a long hug. “Thanks so, so much for all your hard work. You’re the best gardener ever. I can’t wait to see what you do with your landscaping business.” She looks him in the eye, and he smiles briefly before letting her go. “Something wrong?” she asks.
“Nothin’.”
He takes me in a bear hug and slaps my back. “Happy for you.”
“You do realize we’ve been married a year, right?”
Another shrug. “But were you really?” he teases before leaving.
“What’s up with him?” Willow asks once he’s out of earshot. “He’s been acting weird all day.”
“You haven’t heard?”
“No!?”
I take my time savoring this little piece of gossip that has my brother’s panties in a tizzy. “You know how the resort heard about the décor he did here for us today?”
“Yeah, their events person was even touring our gardens this morning. Can you believe it?”
I nod. “They want Beck to work on some of their high-end weddings. And guess what?”
Willow smiles at me with amusement. “You’re turning into Ms. Angela, you know that. Keeping all your gossip close to your heart, dripping information in episodes.” Her smile turns into full-on laughter, a sound I will never tire of. It’s the sound of life.
I pretend to ignore how stupidly happy she makes me just by laughing, and focus on delivering the payoff. “He’s been asked to do a winter wedding—think Christmas and wedding all rolled into one—for…. drum roll…other drum roll…oth—”
“Oh come on! I’m growing old here.”
I smile at her words and cup her cheek. “You’ll be a lovely old Willow.”
She rolls her eyes. “And you’ll be sorry if you don’t tell me—”
“Jules,” I say under my breath.
Willow gasps. “No… Jules is getting married?” Her eyes round. “And here? But… why?”
I glance at my brother. “You’re missing the point.”
She gasps. “I haven’t gotten to the point yet.” She looks at Beck and stifles her laughter. “She does know he’s going to ruin it, right? He can’t help himself.”
I look down at my feet, shaking my head.
“Wait. Does Jules not know he’s involved?”
“I doubt it. There’s no way she’s getting anywhere near him after what he… well, after what happened.”
It was back in Beck’s inglorious days. The town had been divided into two unequal parts after what happened: Callaways one side; everyone else: other side. It was the only time the whole town was against us.
And it was all because of Beck and what he did to Jules. You’d think he had hurt her or something.
Not at all.
Ironically, for once he was just trying to help.