Epilogue
ABOUT A YEAR LATER
The Copenhagen Cooking Festival was in full swing and Lykke had taken part once again. The café was full as one of their events unfolded, as it had been for all the different activities they’d offered this year. In fact, they’d had people on waiting lists in case there were any cancellations.
Milly had taken some time off from her growing consultancy business to help out.
Online, she’d grown to almost two million followers and the café’s following, while nowhere near as big, was still making headway.
They’d grown from under a thousand to almost five as people were encouraged to share their experiences of the various events they held and Theo posted often about what he was working on, new recipes he was trying and just day-to-day business, which people seemed to love too.
They’d grown a community online and locally and now had regular commentors and visitors.
It had also brought Theo closer with some of the other restaurants on the street, meaning his friendship group was growing.
As Nikoletta had said, they were becoming the go-to place in Copenhagen, though there was still work to do.
‘It’s going well,’ Milly said as Theo wrapped his arm around her waist.
Their focus was on community, as usual, and it was wonderful to see everyone connecting.
The café was beginning to build its own sense of community too with some of the same regulars who’d been to last year’s events coming by on weekends.
It was wonderful to watch and in some ways meant even more to Theo and Milly than the wider recognition they were getting.
After all, the Danish way of life was all about hygge.
She’d enjoyed transforming the café into a comfortable, warm snuggly spot during the colder winter months and now they were back to summer all those trappings had been shed, and the café was how she’d found it last summer.
She couldn’t believe it had been a year already.
Just then Nikoletta arrived, and Milly smiled.
She’d become a regular at the café too, though Milly hadn’t known she was going to cover this event.
Nikoletta had also helped spread the word of Milly’s own business supporting local companies with social media, and Milly had gained a number of clients that way.
Theo darted behind the counter and began to make Nikoletta her favourite coffee. As he handed it over. ‘Everything okay?’ he asked Nikoletta as he passed over her cup and saucer.
‘Ja. You?’
‘Good.’
Milly frowned at their odd behaviour. They were normally both much more chatty but Theo had been a bit odd all day.
She’d put it down to nerves but now she wondered if she was missing something.
Milly pushed her thoughts aside as it was time for Theo to speak.
She stepped forwards and introduced him to the crowd, moving back to then film him so she could add some reels to their Instagram.
‘Welcome everyone,’ he began.
Theo spoke passionately about the food he’d prepared, the ingredients he’d used and gave tips for people to make them at home. The event ended in a giant round of applause, but Milly’s concern rose again when instead of handing back to her to close the event, he looked to Nikoletta.
‘There is one more thing,’ Nikoletta said walking forward.
Not knowing what it was, Milly turned her phone off and slipped it in her pocket.
The journalist smiled widely. ‘Theo?’
In contrast to his confident demeanour of moments before he now looked nervous, pale and Milly was sure beads of sweat were starting to grow at his temples.
What was going on? He edged around the tables to stand in front of her and she was just about to ask him if he was feeling ill when he dropped to one knee, pulling a small ring box out of his pocket.
Milly gasped and pressed her hands to her mouth unable to take in the sight before them.
The crowd awwed, then settled into a quiet hush.
‘Milly,’ Theo said, honestly looking like he was about to pass out at any moment.
‘I was going to say that the day you walked into my café was the best day of my life, but honestly, the best day of my life was the second time you did it – when you came back from England – and told me I was an idiot.’
A chuckle passed around the room. A woman was watching with tears in her eyes and another searched for a tissue. Thankfully, colour had returned to Theo’s cheeks. His eyes were bright as they met Milly’s, filled with love and affection.
‘I was an idiot. A huge one to ever let you go in the first place. But you were braver than me and it’s thanks to you I’ve been the happiest I’ve ever been in my entire life.
I wondered if—’ He opened the box showing a beautiful small, delicate diamond in a gold band.
The most beautiful, understated, gorgeous ring she’d even seen. It was perfect. ‘Would you be my wife?’
‘Yes!’ She cried before he’d barely finished speaking.
Theo stood and she threw herself into his arms before he could remove the ring and place it on her finger. She kissed him and his free hand cupped her cheek. He looked down, took the ring from the box and slipped it onto her finger. It was a perfect fit.
The crowd were cheering and clapping and tears fell from Milly’s eyes. She looked over to see Nikoletta filming. After a moment, she dropped her phone and hugged Milly.
‘I’m so happy for you.’
‘How did you know?’
Theo answered for her. ‘I told Nikoletta what had sent you back to England, that her comments made me scared and I reacted badly. I thought the best way to show you that I mean every word was to ask her to help me surprise you and for her to write about it afterwards.’
‘It’s going to make a great article and a great video. You might go viral!’
Theo winced and Milly giggled, tapping his chest as she added, ‘You could be famous!’
‘Oh no!’ Theo pinched his temples with his thumb and forefinger. ‘This was a bad idea.’
‘It was worth it,’ Milly said, pulling him into a kiss.
Nikoletta cleared her throat. ‘I’ll umm … leave you lovebirds to celebrate. Besides, I want to get this video out there before one of these guys do.’ She motioned to the full café that was now buzzing.
As Nikoletta left, Theo turned to Milly. ‘So, my fiancée, what shall we do to celebrate? Shall we go out for dinner?’
Milly pulled a face, making him chuckle. ‘Can we have a swim and then dinner at home instead?’ After all, that felt the most hygge way of celebrating.
‘That sounds like a great plan.’
‘I’d better go and ring Mum and let her know. She’ll want to know all the details.’
‘We can call her together, if you’d like.’
Wonderfully, her mum loved Theo more than she ever had Tom. He’d won her over with his kindness and how happy he made Milly and now, she’d be even more overjoyed. It would be something to tell her sewing group who she was now friendly with, happily building her own life.
As for Milly, she felt exactly the same way as Theo.
It wasn’t the first day she’d arrived at the café that had been the happiest of her life, it was when she’d come back and called him an idiot.
After all, he had been, but she had been too.
Now they’d both been brave. Her brave enough to start a new life that she actually wanted, pursuing her passions and him opening his heart again and trusting her with it.
As she looked down at the sparkling stone on her finger, she knew his heart was in the safest of hands, as was hers.