Epilogue
Amber
One year later
I t’s one of those perfect fall days when the sun filters through the golden leaves. The air is crisp enough to remind you it’s October but not so chilly that you need more than a light jacket. I breathe it all in as I stand on the front porch of our house—a place I’ve come to think of as home in every sense of the word. Derek and I spent the past year filling it with memories, from family dinners with the kids to quiet nights on the couch, and now, with Eric and Casey staying the night with friends, it’s just us.
Nora and David moved out of town when they realized that they’re bullying would no longer work in Hicks Creek. They are far away from our small town, and we haven’t heard a peep out of them for a while. Derek even went so far as to change the name of the farm to Hicks Creek Family Orchard.
Derek steps up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and pressing a kiss to my neck. “Ready for your surprise?”
I tilt my head back, giving him a curious smile. “You know I hate surprises, right?”
“Oh, I know,” he says, laughing as he pulls me closer. “But you’re going to love this one, trust me.”
I turn in his arms, looking up into those eyes that have been the source of so much happiness for me. “If you insist,” I say with a dramatic sigh. Derek’s been so mysterious all day, dropping hints that made no sense and refusing to let anything slip.
He grins, giving me that look that always makes my heart skip a beat. “Good, because you’re going to need these.” He hands me a pair of riding gloves and nods toward the barn.
“Horseback riding?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes, ma’am.”
The intrigue in his voice makes me even more curious. Together, we head to the barn where our horses are already saddled and waiting. Derek helps me mount my mare, then he gets up on his own horse, Scout, with practiced ease.
We set off along the trail that winds behind our house, the sound of hooves crunching against the fallen leaves filling the air as we ride side by side. The trees are ablaze with color, shades of amber, crimson, and gold that seem almost too vibrant to be real. We talk about little things as we go, laughing about the silly prank Casey played on her brother last week, and Derek teases me about my obsession with pumpkin-spice everything. But I can feel an undercurrent of excitement building as the trail leads us farther up the hillside, into the part of the property we’ve gone to a dozen times to escape reality.
Finally, we crest a hill and are at the bluff where he took me that first night, with a view stretching out for miles. Below us, the trees spread out like a sea of color, and in the distance, the river winds through the valley, catching the sunlight in a way that makes it sparkle like something out of a painting.
“It’s even more beautiful than I remember,” I whisper, taking it all in.
Derek dismounts and comes over to help me down, his hands lingering on my waist as he sets me on the ground. “I thought you might like it here,” he says, his voice soft.
We walk to the edge of the bluff, standing side by side as we take in the view. I can feel his gaze on me, and when I turn, he’s looking at me with an expression I can’t quite read, a mix of warmth and anticipation.
“What is it?” I ask, feeling my cheeks flush under his gaze.
Derek takes my hands in his, his thumbs brushing over my knuckles. “Amber,” he begins, his voice steady but filled with emotion. “This past year has been…everything I could have ever hoped for. You and the kids have made my life fuller than I ever thought possible. Every day with you feels like a new adventure, like coming home. I don’t think I ever truly understood what love was until you showed me.”
My breath catches as I realize where this is going, but I can’t speak. I’m so overcome with emotion that all I can do is squeeze his hands as my heart pounds in my chest.
He drops to one knee, still holding my hands, and pulls a small box from his pocket. His eyes meet mine, and there’s a sparkle there, a hint of the playfulness that’s always been part of who he is, even in this serious moment.
“Amber,” he says, his voice soft and warm. “Will you do me the incredible honor of being my wife? Will you marry me?”
For a split second, I’m so caught off guard by the moment that the words stick in my throat. I finally manage to nod, laughing as tears blur my vision. “Yes! Yes, Derek, of course, I’ll marry you!”
He grins, opening the box to reveal a beautiful ring with a delicate, vintage-style setting. I barely get a chance to admire it before he slips it onto my finger and stands to pull me into his arms. He kisses me deeply, and I feel like I’m floating, like this is all some beautiful dream I never want to wake up from.
When we finally pull back, we’re both laughing, giddy with happiness. I hold up my hand to admire the ring, my heart swelling with love for him.
“Did I surprise you?” he asks, smirking.
“Completely,” I admit, laughing. “You had me thinking we were just going for a nice fall ride, you sneaky man.”
He chuckles, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me close. “Had to keep you on your toes.”
We stand there for a while longer, wrapped up in each other as the sun begins to dip lower in the sky. I lean my head against his chest.
This is perfect. He is home to me.
“You know,” I say, looking up at him with a mischievous smile, “you could’ve at least given me a hint.”
He raises an eyebrow, grinning. “Oh yeah? And miss that look on your face when you figured it out?”
I laugh, swatting his arm lightly. “You’re terrible.”
“Maybe.” He leans down to kiss me again, his lips soft and gentle against mine. “But you love me anyway.”
“That I do,” I murmur, my heart full as I hold him close. “That I do.”
As we make our way back down the trail, hand in hand, I can’t stop glancing at the ring on my finger. This life, this family, this man—it’s everything I never knew I wanted, and now, I can’t imagine my world without it.
We arrive back at the barn, and as Derek helps me off the mare, I catch his eye and give him a playful smile. “You know, this means you’re stuck with me now. Forever.”
He chuckles, pulling me close and pressing a kiss to my forehead. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”