Epilogue
LAUREL
New Year’s Eve
I had always loved that feeling that New Year’s Eve brought with it, that sense that the next twelve months were ours for the taking. Twelve new chapters of which the pages were gloriously blank and the words completely unwritten.
There was a certain magic to it I could never fully explain, and yet, every New Year’s Eve, I felt it with such certainty I almost couldn’t contain it. This New Year’s Eve, it was even better.
For the last twelve months, I had been living my best life with the man I’d always loved by my side, and while I couldn’t imagine that next year could be any better, it would also be the year in which I became a Mrs.
A thrill of excitement shot through me and I glanced down at my sparkly ring, a permanent fixture on my finger since last Christmas. Yet, regardless of the time that had passed since I’d first seen the delicate platinum band with two rectangular diamonds placed side by side to resemble the pages of a book, I still felt myself melt every time I looked at it.
My heart became a puddle of goo and my stomach fluttered with excitement. In just a few short months, I would marry my best friend and become Mrs. Leif McIntosh.
We were right in the middle of planning our wedding, our venue confirmed and our invitations sent out. As I stared at my ring, I heard a ringing from my computer and looked up, smiling when I saw Gemma was the first to call in for our yearly New Year’s Eve chat.
“Hey, you,” I said excitedly as I accepted her call, shaking myself out of my head and focusing on my friend. “Did you get it?”
“You mean the gorgeous, official invitation to the celebration of the marriage between Laurel Guntry and Leif McIntosh? I got it, alright. Nearly started crying at seeing those words in black and white.”
I chuckled. “So did I, if I’m being honest. Where’s Mariam?”
“She said she’d be a few minutes late for our call. I just got a text from her a few minutes ago that she’d gotten caught up in something, but that she’d be online as soon as possible.”
“Awesome,” I said, grinning as I looked at my friend. “How are you doing?”
“Oh, you know me,” she said, waving me off. “I’m always good. How’s Franklin treating Leif? Is he all settled in yet?”
“As if he’s been here forever,” I said honestly. “The Tennessee branch of their firm is officially open for business and it’s already doing really well. It turns out that their reputation preceded them in ways they weren’t necessarily expecting.”
“That’s amazing.” Gemma grinned. “I knew it was all going to work out for you guys. Is he happy there?”
Mariam joined our conversation then, smiling wide as she rolled her chair closer to her webcam. “Hello, ladies. What did I miss?”
“Only that Leif’s business is a smashing success in Franklin and that he’s all settled. Also, did you get their invitation?”
“What invitation?” Mariam said blankly.
I felt the blood draining from my cheeks, but then she laughed. “Of course, I got it. Relax, Laurel. I have it right here, and I would be honored to join you for the extravaganza under the stars.”
“I looked up the venue.” Gemma made her eyes wide at me. “Waterfalls, wildflowers, and a glass-sided barn for the ceremony? You’ve hit the jackpot, girl. It looks amazing. It must’ve taken you ages to find it.”
I giggled. “ I didn’t find it. Leif did, actually. When we were in Austin for Thanksgiving. Do you remember that daytrip he took with Jack? It turns out they were shortlisting potential venues. He took me out to go look at their favorites and we picked this one because it’s got the most gorgeous grounds and views, but it’s also pretty close to the mill.”
Mariam instantly teared up. “That’s so special, babe. I love that for you guys.”
I felt tears prickling the backs of my own eyes as I lowered my chin in a nod. “We’re going to go over there after the ceremony to go take some pictures.”
“That sounds perfect,” Gemma said, her voice hushed. “Wow. You guys certainly know how to make a girl emotional on the eve of a new year. Who’s ready to do vision boards? I’ll go first. Someone has to kick this party up a notch. It might as well be me.”
I chuckled. “Go ahead. Mine is pretty different this year.”
Every December thirty-first, the girls and I made a point of squeezing in a call before we headed out to our respective parties or plans for the evening. Part of what we discussed during our chats was reflecting on the year that we would be greeting. We’d already reflected on my year, and after Gemma showed us her vision board, we reflected on hers.
Mariam was up next, showing off what she saw for herself in the year ahead and chatting a bit about all the changes she’d been through in the year that had passed. Overall, it’d been a busy couple years for all of us, especially after Gemma had pulled out our naughty list in Bar Harbor last year.
A lot of things had changed, and little had remained the same since that fateful day when she’d announced that she’d found it sitting untouched in her drawer at her parents’ house. In my case, all the changes had definitely been for the better.
When it was my turn to show them my vision board, I smiled and shared the file I’d created for it, talking them through each of the images on the screen as they appeared. “Obviously, as you can see, the first thing I’m excited about for the new year is the wedding. As it happens, those are pictures of the actual dresses I’m considering, so I’d love some feedback if you have.”
Gemma let out a strangled shriek. “Good lord, woman. You can’t just drop something like that on the co-maid of honor. Let me take a look at these. Where the hell is the zoom button?”
Mariam took it a lot easier—and with a lot less noise. “I like the one in the left-hand corner. It’s so whimsical and romantic.”
“That’s the winner for me too,” Gemma agreed almost immediately. “I love the soft lace and I think a fitted bodice is the way to go for you. Go try it on and send us pictures. Or better yet, make an appointment, let us know when it’s for, and we’ll fly out to be there for it.”
I arched my eyebrows at her. “You’d do that for me?”
“Absolutely,” she said without hesitation. “Mimi?”
“Of course. Just give me enough lead time to be able to get my ducks in a row. Okay, so what’s next? Why are there so many pictures of you and Leif?”
“Oh, that’s meant to be symbolic of our marriage. I took some pictures of key, happy moments in our past to show how I envision we’ll be sharing all the key, happy moments in our future.”
“That’s beautiful,” Mariam said, sighing. “Look at how young you guys were once upon a time. Too bad we’re all so old now.”
“Hey, speak for yourself,” Gemma objected, laughing as she shook her head. “Watch who you call old, Oldie. Some of us remain young at heart.”
“No doubt,” I teased. “Next up, we’ve got pictures of a new home. I love my place, but it’s too small for Leif, Doodle, and me all living here together, so we’re going to be moving early in the new year. There are a few places we’re looking at, but I didn’t put pictures of those in here because I’d prefer to surprise you the next time you come.”
“I love all the bookshelves you’ve put with the pictures of your new home,” Gemma said dreamily. “If I was you, I’d just buy up an old library and live in it. Wouldn’t that be amazing?”
“It’d be the best, but last I checked, there weren’t any gorgeous, historic libraries for sale in Franklin right now. Next life, maybe?”
She giggled. “Fair enough.”
Mariam squinted at something on the screen. “Hey, a lot of these books on the shelves have your name on them. Does that mean your muse has been talking?”
“She’s been screaming,” I said excitedly. “I’ve got so many more ideas and this has already been one of my best years yet. Did I tell you the bookstore is also expanding?”
“What?” Mariam grinned. “That’s amazing. Congratulations.”
“Yeah, old Mrs. Horowitz next door is retiring, so we’re going to be incorporating her space into ours. I promised her it would still be a bakery as well, but it’ll also become part of the bookstore.”
“Grace must be thrilled.” Gemma winked at me. “Did you give her a raise?”
“That girl has gotten more raises in the last twelve months than most people do in twelve years, but she’s worth it, so yes. I also made her a store manager. She couldn’t be any happier than she is right now.”
“Well, she does have the best boss in the world,” Mariam said. “I wish I could’ve worked for you at that age. I would’ve loved it.”
“I would’ve loved to have had you,” I said honestly. Sighing, I flipped to the last page of my board. “Last but not least is the three of us. I’m hoping that this is going to be another good year for us, girls. I loved all the time we spent together this year and all the trips, so let’s keep it up.”
“Let’s,” they agreed in unison. We each lifted our glasses and toasted each other on the screen. After taking a sip of my champagne, I smiled, knowing it was time to let them go. “Alright, then. That’s my board and you guys both have places to be.”
“What are your plans for tonight?” Gemma asked. “Please tell me you’ve got something exciting in mind.”
“We do.” I winked at them. “We’re making a naughty list of our very own to work our way through over the next year or so. It could be interesting, but don’t expect too many details. We’re keeping it to ourselves.”
Both of my friends burst out laughing as my cheeks turned bright pink, but as I got off the phone with them, I smiled at my fiancé waiting behind me. “Good chat?”
I nodded. “Always, but now I’m ready to go ring in another good new year with you, Future Husband. Are you ready to go?”
He took me into his arms and lowered his head to mine. “I’m ready for anything with you, bug. Even as the book that was this year closes, I’m always going to be ready for another with you.”
“This naughty list was the best thing that ever happened to me,” I murmured as I smiled against his lips.
“I always did go for the naughty girls.”
I snorted as I rubbed my nose against his, smiling into those uniquely blue eyes I would be blessed enough to be looking into forever. “Yep. Those band nerds. Pretty naughty. You absolute bad boy, you. Please, Leif McIntosh. You and I both know that you’ve always preferred the good girls. You just so happen to like when they’ve got a little bit of naughty in them.”
***