Chapter 31
FIVE MONTHS LATER
CHELSEY STOOD IN the doorway of her office a little longer than necessary, her fingers curled around the edge of a cardboard box that held the small, quiet pieces of her life here—framed photos, color-coded pens, the chipped mug she refused to throw away.
Heather leaned against the desk, arms crossed but smiling. “You know, if you hover any longer, I’m going to start charging rent.”
Chelsey huffed a laugh. “You’re already stealing my job. What more do you want?”
“Guidance,” Heather shot back. “And maybe your color-coding system. It’s aggressive.”
Wendy stepped in beside her, warm and steady as ever. “You built something incredible here, Chelsey. We’re not replacing you—we’re continuing what you started.”
That did it.
Chelsey blinked fast, emotion catching her off guard. “Take care of it,” she said quietly.
“We will,” Wendy promised.
“And take care of you,” Heather added, nudging her shoulder. “Because from what I hear, your life’s about to get very interesting.”
Chelsey rolled her eyes, but her smile gave her away.
Right on cue, Taylor appeared in the doorway like he’d been summoned by her thoughts alone.
“Ready?” he asked, already reaching for the box in her hands.
She hesitated just a second—then let him take it.
“Don’t be strangers,” Chelsey said, pulling both Heather and Wendy into a quick hug.
“Not a chance,” Wendy said.
Heather grinned. “We expect postcards. And gossip.”
Taylor gave the women a polite nod. “I’ll make sure she delivers both.”
“Oh, we know you will,” Heather said, narrowing her eyes playfully. “Take care of her.”
His answer was simple. “Always.”
Taylor opened the passenger-side door for Chelsey then put the box in the back of the car.
“I have a stop before we head back to my parents’ house,” he said.
Chelsey nodded as she leaned her head back. She knew leaving Juniper Valley would be hard, but not as hard as what her heart was feeling. Life with Taylor was all she wanted and needed.
She opened her eyes when the car stopped.
They were at the old roller rink, now dubbed the Iron Gate Manor.
The grand opening wouldn’t happen for another six months.
Who knew where she’d be in two months let alone six?
The plan now was to see where Taylor lived and worked in Singapore and go from there.
“The remodel is going as planned.” Taylor took her hand and helped her out of the car.
“The hardest part so far has been condensing all the historic artifacts and relics Mrs. James wants to display. In the end, the committee decided to highlight one or two big event of each decade that built Juniper Valley.”
Taylor led Chelsey around the perimeter, pointing out the minor touches he was proud of, the décor he’d implemented for the history of Juniper Valley—strawberries, lilacs and hummingbirds.
Chelsey stopped in front of one showcase that caught her attention. “You included my great-grandpa.”
Taylor nodded at the next picture.
“And my mother,” Chelsey’s voice rasped as she reached out.
The black-and-white photo showed Rhonda Hooper with her head thrown back in laughter, just like the one Chelsey had. This was how Chelsey always remembered her mom.
Chelsey turned to Taylor and cupped his cheeks in her hands. “Thank you.”
Taylor sighed as her lips pressed gingerly on his own. After a moment, they separated, and Taylor leaned his forehead against hers. “I was hoping you’d like it.”
He took her hand again and led her back to the car. When Taylor turned toward The Gathering Place, Chelsey glanced over. “I thought we were going home.”
“Another quick stop,” he said casually. “I forgot to drop off batteries for the smoke alarms.”
She raised a brow. “Did you forget to replace them in June?”
“Of course not,” he said, far too straight-faced. “I just thought I’d leave some new ones for the next OSHA emergency.”
Chelsey narrowed her eyes. “You’re a terrible liar.”
“Good thing I’m not trying very hard.”
The building greeted them with that familiar hush—the one that always carried a thousand memories in its walls.
Chelsey stepped inside first, her boots echoing softly against the floor.
Then she stopped.
There, in the center of the grand room, sat a picnic basket.
Perfectly placed. Waiting for someone.
For her?
Her breath caught.
“Taylor—” she started. She turned around, but he wasn’t beside her anymore.
Instead, he was a few steps behind her.
Down on one knee.
Her hands flew to her mouth, the world tilting in the most beautiful way.
“Hi,” he said softly, like this was the most natural thing in the world—and also the bravest.
Chelsey laughed through the sudden rush of tears. “Hi.”
He gestured toward the basket. “You remember the first time we planned out our futures when we were in high school? Right down to which rest home we’d be in?”
“Maple Grove,” she whispered automatically.
He smiled. “Yeah. And then I was a bachelor at the auction, but no one asked me—” his eyes narrowed. “—and you didn’t bid on me?”
“I only had three dollars.”
He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small velvet box—but didn’t open it just yet.
“Back then, we were dreaming,” he said. “And somewhere along the way, I let go of that dream because I thought I had to choose.” His voice softened but didn’t falter. “I was wrong.”
Chelsey’s heart felt like it was trying to outrun time itself. This was really happening. A little part of her mourned her mom missing out on this moment.
“I don’t want a life that doesn’t have you in it,” he continued. “Not the big moments, not the small ones. Not the messy, complicated, real ones.”
He opened the box. “And I don’t want to plan it alone anymore.”
Inside, the ring caught the light—simple, perfect, hers.
“Life is a picnic with you, Chelsey Marie Hooper,” he said, a smile tugging at his lips. “So, will you marry me?”
For a second, she couldn’t speak. Couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t do anything but feel the weight of every moment that had led them here—every goodbye, every almost, every second chance.
“Yes.” It came out in a rush, a laugh, a sob all tangled together. “Yes, of course yes!”
Taylor barely had time to slide the ring onto her finger before she pulled him up and kissed him, fully unrestrained. The kind of kiss that celebrated a promise and a future.
She jumped when cheers erupted as the doors burst open.
Heather and Rodney. Wendy. Dan. Mr. and Mrs. Compton. Other voices overlapping each other and teasing.
“Finally!”
“It’s about time!”
Chelsey laughed against Taylor’s lips, pulling back just enough to take it all in.
Full circle.
Taylor rested his forehead against hers, grinning. “So, picnic in France?”
Chelsey wiped at her tears, smiling brighter than she ever had. “Only if we’re planning forever.”
“Already started,” he said.