Epilogue
Lena
One month later
“I thought you said you were going to put a ring on her finger!” Graham said from where he leaned against the kitchen counter.
“I will. I’m good on my word. You know that.”
“Then where’s the ring?”
Dammit, does Graham always have to give the third degree? We are happy together. That’s all that mattered.
“I need time to find the perfect one.”
My heart melted. Oh, Shane…
The past month together had been bliss. Pure bliss. I’d stayed at his place mainly because he needed to care for his chickens, bring his eggs into town, and keep his business going. Between his place, the library, and visiting Graham, Dallas, and Brooke, it was exhausting but so worth it.
Yet as soon as Graham asked Shane to follow him to the kitchen during our customary Friday night dinner, I knew something was up. Hence the eavesdropping from the doorway.
“What are you doing, Auntie Lena?” Brooke said from behind me, and I swore it was as if she shouted. I jumped nearly a foot in the air and threw a hand over my mouth to block my scream.
I quickly steered her away from the door and back to the dining room table. “Nothing. What are you doing?”
“I went to the bathroom, remember, silly?”
“That’s right. I am a silly goose!”
Shane and Graham trudged through the door a moment later. Graham looked annoyed. He needed to lighten up. It was only going to sour my mood. But I decided to keep my mouth shut, especially with Brooke right next to me.
“Sorry, I thought I was feeling better,” Dallas said as she walked in. “What’d I miss?”
“Nothing much, love. How’re you feeling?” Graham squeezed her hand as she sat next to him.
“Daddy took Uncle Shane into the kitchen and said why isn’t there a ring on Auntie Lena’s finger yet.” Brooke spilled the tea like it was no big deal. All of us were stunned into silence.
“Well, okay, then,” Dallas said, trying and failing miserably to hold back her laugh.
“Auntie Lena was spying on them.”
“Brooke!” I shot her a look, the one she knows well when I’m not happy with her, and she pouted. She opened her mouth but then closed it again, pouting some more.
“Who wants some dessert?” Dallas stood once again, her face pale, but I could tell she was desperate to change the subject.
“You sit and relax, darling. I’ll get it.” Graham kissed her lips, and she sat back down, the relief evident on her face. Her pregnancy with the triplets zapped her of all her energy, and between being exhausted and throwing up all the time, she looked miserable. But she always had a smile on her face. I admired her for that. I wasn’t sure I’d be so tolerable in her situation.
Shane looked at me from across the table and raised his eyebrows. I pretended I had no clue what Brooke was talking about. I knew Shane would put a ring on my finger when he was ready and the time was right.
The following day, I waited outside the library for Shane to pick me up. He’s taking me to the town diner for dinner, and I’m excited to catch up with the owners’ daughter, Camille. I hadn’t been by the diner in a bit, and I missed our little chats.
Yet when we arrived, there were a lot more cars in the parking lot than usual. A few I seemed to recognize.
“Shane, what’s going on?”
“What do you mean? We’re here for dinner.”
I gave him a side-eye look.
“Just trust me, okay?”
“If you say so…”
Shane parked his truck and came around to open my door and help me out. Snow had begun to fall, and little flakes danced around us.
“I’ve always wanted to kiss you when it was snowing outside.” Shane grinned, his charm winning me over time and time again. Hell, he didn’t even need his charm.
“Now’s your chance.” I kissed the tip of his nose before our mouths found each other.
It was a perfect moment on a majestic snowy evening.
When we walked into the diner, I didn’t even notice it was kind of dark and quiet. I was too focused on my handsome boyfriend.
Suddenly, the place lit up, and all my family and friends popped out of the booth. “Surprise! Happy birthday!”
I stood there in shock, my mouth to the floor.
Brooke wrapped herself around my legs. “Auntie! You’re here finally! Can we have cake now?”
Everyone laughed.
“Wow…I wasn’t expecting…I mean, my birthday isn’t for another week.”
“You’ll see, baby,” Shane said before kissing me again. “Now go enjoy your party.”
“Time for cake! Yay!” Brooke cheered. She followed me as I said hi to everyone from Austin and Ruby, and her grandma, Margaret, Graham and Dallas, Camille, and even a few of the other men from the mountain like Callum and Kai, two men you don’t see much of. Callum raised twin boys on his own now, which kept him very busy, and Kai was more of a keep-to-himself kind of guy.
We had so much fun celebrating.
But what was the best gift of all? Besides being surrounded by those you love?
The following weekend, on my actual birthday, Shane whisked me away to Aruba.
And there, on the white sandy beach, with the blue ocean in the background and the warm breeze, he made me the happiest woman alive.
He asked me to be his wife.
THE END