Epilogue
Tilly nursed a glass of champagne and watched her family laughing together, getting excited for the fireworks, which would be starting at the stroke of midnight.
They were all bundled into their winter coats on Tilly’s front porch.
From there, they would be able to see the display from the town square.
Newlyweds Chrissy and Ryder were wrapped in each other’s arms, and Tilly didn’t think they’d be looking at the fireworks. They were so engrossed in each other, and she loved seeing her sister so happy.
Sunny stood in the far corner of Tilly’s small porch.
Her hands were tucked into her jacket pockets, and from the look on her sister’s face, Tilly knew she was calculating how soon after midnight she could disappear.
She wished Sunny would break out of her shell.
She was beautiful and deserved to be as happy as she and Chrissy were.
But as much as she wanted that for her sister, Sunny had to be the one who took the first steps, and if she wanted to stay single all her life, then Tilly would support her in that decision.
Her gaze drifted over to Zach, who was chatting with her mom.
For the first time in many years, she had someone she could welcome the New Year with.
Warmth stole over her every time she thought about him or looked at him, unable to believe that someone as wonderful as Zach loved her as much as she loved him.
“I don’t think I’ve seen my son look so happy. Thank you for making him smile and laugh, Tilly.” Kathryn stood beside Tilly. She had a glass of sparkling water in her hand. She had an early-morning charter flight back to Los Angeles.
“Trust me when I say it’s mutual.” She took hold of Kathryn’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “You know he means the world to me, and I love him with my whole heart.”
Tilly didn’t know why it was important to say that, but she wanted to reassure Kathryn that her son’s heart was safe in her hands.
“I know. This is where he’s meant to be. With you.” Kathryn tapped her glass to Tilly’s. “I expect a wedding invitation soon.”
Tilly laughed. “We’ve only just gotten together. Marriage is a little way off yet.”
“It may be closer than you think.” After delivering that cryptic line, she wandered off to go stand with Tilly’s mom. The two women had hit it off, and the way they’d laughed together on Christmas morning, anyone would’ve thought they’d been friends for years instead of hours.
After the events on Christmas Eve, the whole town now knew Zach’s connection to Kathryn Lancaster, and they didn’t treat him differently. Something she knew he was glad about.
“You good, Tulip?”
A shiver ran down her spine, and it had nothing to do with the cold winter weather and everything to do with the man standing behind her. She turned and placed her hands on his chest. “Better than good. I love you.”
Zach brushed his knuckles down her cheek. “I love you too.”
Behind them, everyone started the countdown to midnight, but Tilly didn’t join in. She and Zach were caught up in their own little world. A world she wasn’t sure she’d ever have. The first boom of a firework being released broke their trance.
“Happy New Year,” she whispered.
“Happy New Year.” Zach lowered his head again, and she sighed when his lips met hers.
Life was pretty damn good.
*
Sunny gazed at her sisters wrapped in the love of their lives’ arms, as a lonely ache settled in the region of her heart.
She’d been content to be around the flowers, digging her fingers into the cool soil and watching her hard work come to fruition with a bountiful stock of roses. Now, though, after seeing how happy Chrissy and Tilly were, she wanted something more in her life than just flowers.
Sunny’s mind drifted to the poster she’d seen in the hotel in Bozeman when she’d been there to deliver some flowers for an event.
Could she do it?
Before she could talk herself out of it, she pulled out her phone and went to the hotel’s website. When she found what she wanted, she clicked on the link to register.
There was a lot of time between now and Valentine’s Day to regret her decision, but maybe it was time to take a leap.
The End