Epilogue
Four months later…
As it turned out, Caleb’s home was considerably bigger than Ivy’s and Grandma Evie’s. By about twenty rooms. When Grandma Evie came home shortly after Caleb proposed and they told her the good news, things were immediately set in motion.
Caleb got them a cab and took them to his home.
A mansion on Cherryfield Lane. Ivy and Grandma Evie could hardly believe it.
The house was enormous, with expansive gardens, front and back yards, and a carriage house with living quarters above.
Grandma Evie fell in love with the big kitchen and promptly took over cooking meals.
And when Mr. Grimsby arrived with a wagon loaded with their belongings, Ivy thought he might bust a gut or faint on the spot.
Caleb and Ivy continued their work at the Sisters’ Mail-Order Bride Company and had a glorious time planning their wedding with the sisters. Caleb stayed in the carriage house apartment until today… their wedding day.
Augusta, Margaret, and Josie sat in the front pew alongside Grandma Evie and King Alfred.
Ivy wished Teddy were there, but she had left months earlier to marry Mr. Rowan in Apple Blossom.
The other brides they’d helped during their early days at the Sisters’ Mail-Order Bride Company had also gone on to marry.
Since then, they’d prepared more than twenty brides.
Each hoping to find a love like Ivy and Caleb’s.
He’d come to Chicago to take care of his aunt’s will, and because of it, he’d found Ivy. And she couldn’t be happier.
“Do you, Caleb Jacob Hartwell, take Ivy Teresa Goodhart to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
“I do,” Caleb answered.
Ivy smiled up at him throughout their vows, and when he kissed her, she thought she’d died and gone to Heaven.
Grandma Evie was happy, too, and took to running Hartwell Mansion like a duck to water. She taught Ivy along the way, and together they hired staff to help keep the house and garden in good order.
Ivy had no idea how much her life would change the day she walked through the doors of the Sisters’ Mail-Order Bride Company, but she was grateful she had. She’d found the love of her life, was helping young ladies do the same, and had Grandma Evie and King Alfred with her to boot.
“I love you, Mrs. Hartwell,” Caleb whispered into her ear as they left the church.
“I love you too, Mr. Hartwell. I hope Mrs. Evans has everything ready.”
“She’s a fine cook and housekeeper,” Caleb said. “I’m sure the cake and refreshments are in order. I’m glad we decided to have our little reception at the house.”
“Me too.” Ivy looked at him as they headed for the waiting carriage. “We can go west, you know. You can go home, start your own ranch.”
Caleb stopped beside the carriage and turned to her. “Sweetheart, I am home.” He kissed her, long and slow. A promise of more to come. When he broke the kiss, he gazed into her eyes. “Wherever you are, Ivy, that’s where I belong.”
She closed her eyes and sighed in contentment. “I feel the same about you, Caleb.”
He smiled, helped her into the carriage, and together they headed into their new life.