Epilogue
EPILOGUE
LOTTIE
One Year Later
“ G oodnight, you two!” I say to the couple as they exit the bakery.
I follow behind them, locking the door and turning the welcome sign to the CLOSED side.
It’s been a long day, but it’s only about to get better.
After stacking the chairs on the tables and giving the hardwood floor a quick sweep, I rush behind the counter to lock up the cabinets and take the register into the back office.
As I pass through the kitchen, I pause to pre-heat the oven. Sure, we’re closed for the day, but I still have a little baking to do tonight.
After securing the safe, I hear the entrance bell chime.
A cold chill rolls down my spine.
I swear I locked that door.
“Hello?” I shout from the kitchen.
No answer.
I grab the nearest broom and hold it close as I peek around the doorway and...
“Scott!” I scold.
He smiles at me, standing at the counter in an adorable suit and tie. “Hi, there,” he says, glancing at the menu over my head. “I’m in the mood for some muffins.”
“You scared the crap outta me!” I say, putting the broom away. “Why aren’t you with the kids? Where are the kids?”
“They’re with Summer at my house,” he answers.
“Oh. Good.” I squint. “Why are you here?”
“We have a date,” he says, as if that were obvious.
“Right,” I say. “But we were supposed to meet at my house in an hour.”
Scott steps around the counter to meet me. “And I thought... I’d surprise you here instead.” He kisses me. “Hi.”
I smile. “Hi.”
“Long day?”
“The longest.”
“Yeah. Me, too.”
We kiss again and I tremble, fully submitting myself to his embrace as his arms curl around me. “Well, it’s over now and you’re just in time,” I say.
“For what?” he asks.
“For mini muffins.”
His eyes widen. “Mini muffins?”
I peck his cheek and step back. “I was about to make you a batch for date night.”
“Well, go!” He gives me a little shove toward the back. “Let’s get baking!”
I head toward the kitchen as Scott excitedly follows. Gathering the ingredients, I get to work, happy for his company. “So, what was long about your day?” I ask him.
“Oh, you know. People got hair. I chop it off.”
I laugh. “Don’t tell me you’re jaded already.”
“Nah,” Scott says, his voice a little closer behind me. “There’s just something far more interesting in front of me now.”
His arms snake around my waist, and he kisses my neck. I hum with delight as I place the liners in the muffin pan. “Careful,” I warn playfully. “You’re gonna make me make a mess.”
“That’s the idea,” he whispers, chuckling.
I turn my head to kiss him, hoping to soothe him, but he holds me closer, kisses me harder.
“Two minutes,” I say, inching him back. “And I’m all yours.”
“Or I can have you now,” he says.
“Two minutes,” I repeat, bobbing my head at the container by the door, “and you can have a leftover muffin while you wait.”
Scott sighs reluctantly, then releases me. “Blast,” he says. ”You know I can’t resist your baked goods.”
I laugh as he goes, grabbing my muffin mix and filling the cups while I still can.
“Mmm!” Scott hums deliciously.
I grin, always happy to hear that.
“Uh... Lottie?”
“Yeah?”
“You made these?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Because there’s something metal in it.”
“What?”
I drop what I’m holding as I spin around, my stomach falling. Dread fills my chest; the end of my career as I know. The end of my dream, before it even really began. In the span of a second, I think over my day, wondering when it happened, trying to picture what I could have possibly dropped into the batter. How many others were contaminated? And how many of them did I sell?
“Let me see!” I ask, lurching toward him.
Scott offers me the half-eaten muffin. I snatch it from him, finding the missing chunk and looking for... the...
There is something inside of it. Something golden and shiny sticking out of the fluffy center.
A ring.
A diamond ring.
Scott lowers to one knee.
“Scott,” I whisper.
He licks his lips and smiles. “Lottie, I?—”
“Yes,” I answer.
“I haven’t asked you yet.”
“You don’t have to,” I say. “My answer is yes.”
“Hold on,” he says, grinning. “I’ve got a whole speech.”
“Yes.”
“Lottie…”
I press my lips together, my entire body buzzing with happiness.
“Lottie, I love you,” Scott says. “This past year has been the best of my life. And I’ve known this for a while now, but I want the rest of my life to be just as good. I want you and Liam, and me and Sonya, to be a family. The family you always wanted.”
He gently reaches out and takes the ring from me. Holding it up, he looks me in the eye and says, “Lottie, will you marry me?”
My heart leaps in my chest. “Yes!” I finally get to say.
He slides the ring on my finger and I squeal, the moment so perfect; my life so perfect.
He rises and I kiss him, his lips tasting of muffins.
“I love you,” I say. “So much.”
“I love you, too.” Scott smiles. “And we have all night.”
“We do?”
“Summer’s staying with the kids.” He kisses me again. “She sends her congratulations.”
I smile, thankful for her, too. Her kindness and friendship have been another highlight of this year. I’m happy for her to be a part of our family, too.
Scott kisses my forehead. My nose and cheeks. He wraps his arms around me, his kisses wilder as he lifts me up and sets me down on the counter.
“I love you,” he says again and again. “I love you. I love you. I love you.”
My heart sings for him. My body does, too; a spark of heat brewing in my core as I wrap my legs around him. “I need you,” I say, full of yearning as I reach for his belt.
Scott chuckles. “I’m here,” he whispers. “Always will be.”
I tingle with happiness, my skin alight with fire, as we undress each other.
Scott Smolders. My lover. My neighbor and business partner.
Now, my fiancé. The husband I’ve always wanted. The father my son always deserved.
It’s gonna be a good life.
I can feel it.
Everything is coming up Lottie.