Epilogue
They almost didn’t make it to the well.
It was Hiro who remembered, sitting straight up in the bed, dislodging her from where she’d been lounging, and blurting, “It’s almost midnight!”
Amanda, who had been quite happily imagining what their lives would be like together, gave a little grunt and poked him in the side. “So?”
“It’s almost midnight on the Epiphany! The Christmas season ends soon.”
It took her a moment to realize what he was saying, but when it sunk in, Amanda slowly sat up, pulling the blankets to her bare chest to eye him. “Are you…certain?”
“About the date?” He was already swinging his legs over the bed, reaching for the lamp.
Snorting, she smacked him. “I mean…about the…”
He spun about and grabbed her hands, pulling her to him. “About the well?” he asked seriously, peering down at her. “I’ve never been more serious. Marry me, Mandy?”
Oh.
Oh my God.
How long had she waited to hear those words from him?
Her smile must’ve answered him, because he dropped a quick, firm kiss to her lips before he stumbled from the bed to dress. They raced, each laughing and tossing shoes or stockings back and forth, in a routine they’d done a dozen times on their journeys.
But tonight?
Tonight was different.
By the time they reached the well in the center of Hearthwell, they were breathless from running and laughter. They’d forgotten their gloves, but gripped each other’s hand tightly to stay warm.
She’d found a gold coin, and it was pressed between their palms.
The village was still and silent, the Epiphany celebrations long since quieted, and their breaths fogged the still winter’s air. But they smiled at one another, hearts light, as they moved toward the stone columns that framed the little square in the center of the town.
Amanda was anxious to get to the center of the square—they only had a short while till midnight, after all—but Hiro stopped her by tugging on her hand. She followed his gaze to an envelope tacked to the column.
With their names on it.
They exchanged glances, then stepped up to the it. His expression twisted in confusion, Hiro pressed the coin into her hand, then reached for the envelope and pulled out the paper inside.
“Dear Amanda and Hiro,” he began to read, “I figured you would be here at some point today, but by the dinner hour, I decided there was no reason for me to stand out here and freeze off my bollocks.”
He glanced up at Amanda, who twitched a brow. “Alistair?”
“Alistair,” Hiro confirmed, his voice wavering slightly.
He glanced down, continuing to read. “There is no need for me to see you two tonight, I assume you have plans I do not want to know about. So, after you throw your money in the well or whatever, do me the favor of collecting the copies of this letter I left on the other columns, to save me embarrassment if they are found.”
Amanda smirked as she craned her neck. Sure enough, there was an envelope tacked to the northward-facing column as well. Her brother had gone through much trouble to get them this message tonight.
“Hiro, you know—” Hiro began to read, but his voice cracked, and he went silent, his gaze skimming across the paper. Amanda saw him lift the letter closer, as if uncertain he was understanding, his skin paling.
When he finally looked up, there were tears in his eyes.
Heart pounding furiously, Amanda snatched the letter and held it up in the lamplight.
Hiro, you know I have held you in the highest regard, not only as the man who made me who I am today, but as my friend.
I love you, and if you really love my sister the way she insists you do, then I can think of no better man to be shackled to her for the rest of her exasperating life.
You are the best thing to happen to me prior to meeting Olivia, and you will be the best thing to happen to Amanda.
Marry her with my blessing.
And a gigantic dowry.
I know you have been traveling on her allowance, but add this to the nest egg you—if I know you well enough to guess—have stashed away, and you will both be wealthy enough to travel the world indefinitely.
Only, do not forget to come home. To York, to Effinghell, to London, to Hearthwell. To us.
I love you both.
Alistair
Amanda’s smile rivaled the street lamp when she looked up and met Hiro’s gaze.
“Your brother’s still paying me,” he grumbled.
She shoved the note in the pocket of her long coat. “No, I’m paying you.” Laughing, she reached for his hand. “Do you not see, my love? It is my dowry, and I can think of no better use for it than to adventure with you for the rest of our lives!”
His lips twitched, as if there was so much happiness inside him he couldn’t contain his scowl. “I’ll make you a deal, Mandy. You finance our adventures, and I’ll buy the house with my investments. That way we’ll have a nice home to return to.”
Immediately, Amanda nodded. “In Hearthwell,” she whispered, glancing toward the well in the center of the square.
He finally smiled again. “In Hearthwell,” he murmured, tugging her into motion.
Together, they stepped up to the ancient stones that ringed the well. Slowly, reverently, Hiro held his hand, palm up, over the well.
She took a deep breath and stepped up beside him. When her small hand rose to rest in his, his lips curled into a smile.
The gold coin was pressed between their palms.
Without moving his body, he tipped his head to the side so he could grin at her. “Ready, Mandy?”
Could he see the joy, the excitement, the wonder in her expression as her breath fogged the air between them. “Ready, Hiro.”
He nodded and moved their hands further out over the dark nothingness of the well. “Forever.”
“Forever,” she whispered, tipping their palms and spreading them just enough for the coin to slide from between their skin.
Was it her imagination, or did it catch the light as it spun down into the darkness, gleaming up at them as if in approval? The splash of it hitting the water sounded almost…musical.
Still grinning, Hiro turned to her now, and caught her free hand in his, curling his fingers around hers and pulling them against his chest to warm them.
“Mandy, I love you,” he confessed. “I’ve loved you—always, maybe. In your world, I’m not fit for you, and in my world, you would shine too brightly. Let’s make our own world together.”
Smiling broadly, tears in her eyes, Amanda stepped closer, tipping her head back to hold his gaze.
“I love your world, Hiro, and I love that my world—my family—loves you too. But I agree that we were always destined to make our own world. I do not care what Society says about us; as long as we are together, and our families support our union, I know we can meet any challenge together.”
His hold on her hand was crushing, but it was only fair, because she felt otherwise as if she might fall away…from him, from this planet. Her heart was so light, Amanda clung to him to keep from drifting away.
“Honestly…” He winked. “I think my family wanted me to delay going to you, just to see what you would send us next. Seven swans, Mandy? Really?”
“Those were Alistair’s idea! We were getting desperate to convince you.”
“Convince me of what?” he murmured, tugging her even closer.
“Convince you that I loved you. Convince you that what I felt for you wasn’t just some flight of fancy, wasn’t just because of our adventures.
I see you, Hiroshi Fukuyo, and I love you.
You’re the best man in the world. If that took sending twelve drummers to show up at your family’s doorstep, then… ”
His chuckle caused her to trail off. “Personally, I think this is a much better way to spend the twelfth day of Christmas.”
She said in a sing-song voice, “On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…”
“I love you, Amanda Kincaid.”
Yes. The best gift ever.
But then he glanced down at the stones of the well, and up at her once more, his smile blooming. “So how about it? Will you marry me, Mandy? Will you take my name?”
Her heart swelled. The magic of the well did work!
“I love you, Hiroshi.” She smiled, thinking of the long-running joke about her name. “You have no idea how long I’ve dreamed of becoming Amanda Fukuyo.”
“Amanda Fukuyo.” Hiro waggled his brows. “Sounds a bit like a-man-to-fook-you—”
Laughing, she yanked him forward and into her arms.
Where they both belonged.