Epilogue
Two Months Later
Caleb
“ That turkey smells delicious, Charlie, I think you’ve outdone yourself this year.” Caleb stood in the doorway of the kitchen and glanced around the crowded space. “I think we’re going to have to move this party somewhere else next year, though. There’s hardly enough room for us to breathe.”
“Yeah? And where would you suggest?” Wade called out from where he sat at the head of one of the two tables they now had set up.
“I don’t know. But we’ve nearly doubled in size. Don’t you think it would be a good idea to figure something out?”
Margot pushed past Caleb with a pan of scalloped potatoes. “I kind of like how crowded it is. Makes it feel homey.”
“Or suffocating,” Carter muttered behind Caleb.
Caleb turned and frowned at his brother. He looked completely exhausted. “Still not sleeping well?”
His twin gave him a dirty look. “What do you think?”
“You want to talk?—”
“Don’t ask me that. I told you. I’m putting all of that in my rearview. I’m not going to talk about what happened or why.” He spun around and headed away from the kitchen toward the stairs. These days it was hit or miss with him. Carter’s poor view of their large family seemed to be lingering. He might be able to understand the importance of a support system, but he still didn’t seem to like it.
Caleb frowned. No one knew better than him how hard it was to rewire his brain and way of thinking. He wished he could help Carter figure it out quicker. Watching his brother struggle was tearing him up in its own way.
Emma materialized from around a corner, holding a casserole dish of what could only be stuffing. She grinned at him like she’d just won the lottery. “Look what I made. Jessica said that it’s even better than my grilled cheese.”
“Well, with that recommendation, who could turn it down?” He reached for her, but she sidestepped him.
“Careful! It’s still hot.” She held up the dish, holding it with two potholders. “Let me put this in the kitchen, and then you can kiss me to your heart’s content.” She winked at him and hurried into the kitchen.
Caleb’s gaze drifted to Jessica, and he offered her a smile. “All done helping Emma move in?”
She nodded. “My mom’s not thrilled that I’m spending Thanksgiving here, but I promised I’d be home for Christmas, so she can’t be too mad.” She glanced into the kitchen and made a comedic grimace. “You weren’t kidding when you said it would be crowded. Maybe you should consider moving this party to Emma’s place next year.”
He gave her a strange look. “A year’s a long way off. What if we’re not even together by that point?”
Jessica’s blank expression made him give her a double take. She ducked her head, a smile spreading across her face. “You’re right. What am I thinking?”
Caleb watched her with confusion. Did she know something he didn’t? He preferred not to count his chickens before they were hatched. While he would like to think that his relationship with Emma would last, there simply was no telling how things would go.
Emma returned to his side and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I can’t wait for you to come visit. I’ve already got lots of plans for my new place.”
“Oh yeah?” he murmured. “Like having my family over for Thanksgiving dinner next year?”
Emma frowned and her eyes darted away. “Did Jessica?—”
“She might have said something.”
“Well, my place is pretty big,” she drawled. “And so is your family.”
Caleb chuckled. “True. I still can’t believe you closed so quickly.”
Emma tilted her head, her eyes dancing. “One of the nice things about having money and fame is that certain things move a little faster.”
“Yeah,” he said. “I guess you have a point.” He had to keep reminding himself that she wasn’t exactly like him. In fact, she was in a completely different universe when it came to finances. Thankfully, she didn’t flaunt it or use it to be manipulative. “I’m sure the folks who sold their place were pretty happy with the price you paid.”
She nodded. “From what I understand, it was a blessing for them as well. Win-Win-Win.”
He lifted a brow. “What’s the third win?”
Emma smirked. “As far as I’m concerned, you won, too.”
“Did I?” he teased.
Emma gasped playfully. “I don’t know of another human being who would just up and move to a place like this because of a boy.”
“And you didn’t,” Caleb bantered back. “I seem to recall that you moved here because you couldn’t get enough of this town and all the people in it.”
Her mouth dropped open, though she still smiled. “Exactly. The people. One in particular.”
He feigned surprise. “Are you talking about me? I’m flattered, really.”
Emma whacked him in the arm with her fingertips. “You better be careful, or…”
“Or what?” He chuckled. “I’m going to regret it?”
She turned serious, and he nearly choked on his amusement. Emma slipped her fingers within his. “Come with me.”
“Emma—I was just joking—I wasn’t?—”
Glancing over her shoulder at him briefly, Emma whispered, “Will you be quiet? I don’t want to draw any attention.”
Caleb snapped his mouth shut, letting her drag him from the house. Crusted snow covered the ground. It was already getting dark outside and he had no idea where she wanted to take him. He shuffled after her, only barely catching up to walk at her side when she all but pushed him into the barn.
“Emma, what?—”
She placed a finger on his lips. “I need to say something, and I want you to listen.”
“Okay…” he mumbled beneath her finger.
“ Really listen,” she insisted.
Caleb nodded. “I’m listening.”
She took a deep breath, her voice shaking slightly when she let out a soft, indiscernible sound. Emma paced a bit in front of him, and his eyes followed her as she moved back and forth. “I can’t believe I’m doing this,” she said under her breath.
“Emma?”
She spun to face him, shooting him a warning look. “You promised.”
He stiffened and pretended to zip his lips.
Emma closed the distance between them to stand directly in front of him. “I don’t normally make rash decisions.”
He chuckled. “Technically, you made a rash decision when you flew to Colora… do.” Caleb ducked his head and pressed his lips together. “Okay, okay.”
Emma took his hands in hers, and then slowly she lowered herself to the ground. His eyes widened, but before he could pull her to her feet, she spoke. “I wouldn’t be kneeling here if I didn’t believe in what I was doing. I wouldn’t have moved here, bought that house, or even come to Thanksgiving dinner if I didn’t know exactly where I wanted to be in ten years—in five years—or even next year.” Her eyes filled with moisture that reflected in the dim light of the barn. “I love you so much, and I want to spend my life with you. I need you to know that.”
“I know, Emma.” He attempted to pull her to her feet, but she resisted.
“If you asked me to marry you, I wouldn’t hesitate for a moment. So that’s why I’m here—kneeling before you. I don’t want to live without you in my life—or without the promise of having you forever. You don’t have to answer me right now. You can take time to think about it if you?—”
Caleb shook his head. “I don’t need to think about it.” He gave her a wry smile. “I would have liked to have been the one doing the asking… but I suppose our relationship has never really been traditional.” He tugged her to her feet, relieved when she allowed him to pull her close. He brushed her hair from her face. “I have never loved anyone more than I love you. Everything you said… I feel the same.” He cocked his head slightly. “I would marry you tomorrow if I could.”
“Then let’s do it.”
His brows lifted. “What?”
“I have a plane. You want to get hitched. Why not?”
He laughed. “Because?—”
Emma held onto him tighter. “Let’s get married tomorrow. Just you and me. Then we can celebrate with our loved ones later. I want to be yours.”
He studied her, a mixture of disbelief and exhilaration washing over him. “Okay.”
Her eyes brightened. “Okay?”
Caleb nodded. “Okay, let’s do it. Tomorrow. We’ll fly to Vegas and get hitched.”
She let out an excited laugh, then threw her arms around his neck. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Caleb’s mouth crushed over hers, stealing a kiss that would only be the start of many.
Shortly after, they walked hand in hand toward the house but slowed as they neared the front porch. There was a car parked out front he didn’t recognize. He glanced over to Emma, who shrugged. “Do you know anyone who might want to visit?”
He shook his head. “I can’t think of anyone.”
There were a couple figures on the porch, and Caleb peered more intently at them. Then recognition flooded Emma’s expression, and she dropped Caleb’s hand. “Bailey! What are you doing here?”
The woman turned in that moment, and that was when Caleb noted Carter standing in the doorway as stoic as ever. Caleb headed up the steps after Emma and motioned that he’d go inside. He glanced at a small girl and flashed her a smile before he went inside with Carter.
Shutting the door behind him, he glanced at his brother, finding him watching him.
“Who was that?” Carter asked.
Caleb shrugged. “I dunno.”
“Emma knew.”
Caleb chuckled. “She’s only been back in Copper Creek for a couple weeks. But maybe she already made a new friend.”
Carter moved to the window and stared outside. “Oh.” He watched for a few moments longer than necessary, then turned toward the kitchen. “I think dinner is ready. You don’t want it to get cold.”
The front room got really quiet and a little cooler without his brother there. Caleb stepped up to the window and watched the two women speaking. Bailey’s name seemed familiar, but he couldn’t place it. He waited until Emma said goodbye and entered the house.
She jumped when she noticed him as she shut the door. “You waited for me?”
He held out his hand toward her. “From this point forward, I’m not going anywhere without you.”
Emma smirked. “How romantic.”
He nodded toward the door. “Who was that?”
“Oh, Bailey? She’s my realtor. Turns out she forgot to give me one of the keys to the barn.”
“Can’t forget that.”
“Nope.” Emma leaned up and kissed him. “That’s where we’re going to put all of our horses. I’m thinking we’ll need six… maybe ten… What do you think?”
He grinned. “I think that sounds like music to my ears.”