Epilogue
Willow Kingsley
Three months later
“Your dad and Jason seem to be getting along,” my mom says from where we’re working on flower arrangements with Miles’ fiancée, Ellie, who insisted on helping us out. Actually, she wanted to do them herself as a gift, but I told her that ever since I was a little girl I’d dreamed of making my centerpieces with my mom. So Ellie’s now lending her expertise.
I look out Granny’s kitchen window, smiling at the guys laughing while stringing lights in the tree branches. Miles is helping too, another thing Ellie insisted on. Besides these arrangements and the twinkle lights, there’s not much more going into our big wedding reception. We’ve hired a caterer to bring delicious food all centered around a warm and cozy theme. There will be heaters in the old barn, ensuring that all of us stay warm in the frigid January air. I wanted everything to be simple, with a focus on the people more than anything.
“They do,” I agree with my mom.
I don’t take my dad and Jason’s good relationship for granted either. I’d always hoped my husband would get along well with my family, and I’m grateful that Jason fits right in. Granny Mae dotes on him, and my mom is always making not-so-subtle comments about how he’d make a great dad. My dad tells her not to be so pushy, but he’s told Jason when we FaceTime them that our son or daughter will be a prodigy with our gene combination. I’m not sure what he means by that. Jason is the world-class athlete, not me. I think he’s just excited that I’m settled down with a good man.
“I think they could use some more eucalyptus,” Ellie says, clearly focused more on the work at hand than what the guys are doing outside. It’s inspiring to see how passionate she is, though she’s likely taking our simple centerpieces far too seriously.
I tie a white silk bow around the vase, adjusting it to my liking. “I think they’re beautiful, but you’re the expert.”
Ellie frowns. “It’s your day. If you love them, then they’re perfect.”
“All right, then they’re perfect,” I announce. “I’m going to check on the guys’ progress and see if they need anything. Are y’all okay finishing up here?” I ask, glancing around. There should be just some finishing touches left.
“I’ll take your place, sweetie,” Granny Mae says from behind me, coming in with the help of her new cane.
“You’re supposed to be resting,” I admonish, leaning down to kiss her cheek.
“You know better than to think I’m going to lounge about all day when there are things to be done. Now go kiss that beautiful man of yours.”
I laugh along with my mom and Ellie. “Yes, ma’am.”
I tuck my hands in the pockets of my hoodie as I step outside. An icy winter breeze bites at my face and I breathe it in with a grin. I love the colder months. There’s nothing better than a lungful of crisp air.
“How’s it going out here?” I ask as I approach the guys.
Jason is climbing down a ladder my dad is holding steady while Miles untangles a pile of lights nearby.
“It’s getting there,” Jason answers before pressing a cold kiss to my cheek. “How are the arrangements?”
“Almost done if Ellie leaves them alone while I’m gone,” I say.
Miles laughs. “She’s a perfectionist when it comes to her work, but if you tell her to stop she will.”
“It’s been amazing to have her help,” I say. “I just don’t want her to work herself too hard over simple bouquets.”
“I’ll go check on her. She’s been in her head about making sure things are perfect since Jason is one of my closest friends. Be right back.” Miles jogs toward the house.
“I should go see how your mom is doing. I know she’s been having some back pain lately,” my dad says before heading to the house too.
My brow furrows. “I don’t remember Mom mentioning back pain.”
“I think your dad was giving us some time alone,” Jason says with a smile. “Want to go check out the barn? Everything is finished in there except for the flowers.”
I nod. “I’d love to see it.”
We walk hand in hand, our shoes crunching on the blanket of dried fallen leaves. A peaceful feeling overcomes me the closer we get to the barn. I thought I wouldn’t be able to come out here after my granddaddy passed away, but when Granny suggested we have our reception here, it just felt right. I know he would have loved it being used for such a special moment.
Upon entering the barn, it looks about the same as always, except much cleaner. There are tables set up, with a space in the center to act as a dance floor. Jason closes the doors behind us, closing out most of the light except from the small windows at the very top of the walls. He bends down and plugs in a cord. Suddenly, the barn is transformed. The lights cast a soft glow over everything, making it romantic instead of plain.
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper in astonishment.
Music begins to play and before I can process what’s happening, Jason sweeps me into his arms and onto the makeshift dance floor. We don’t dance once we’re there, instead opting to sway in place. I lay my head on his chest and breathe in his smokey sweet scent I’ve become so familiar with. Tonight, we’ll dance in front of our friends and family. But for now, it’s just us. A moment I didn’t realize I needed.
“I’m happy I married you,” I say, letting my eyes fall shut.
He kisses the crown of my head. “I’m happy I married you, too.”
I smile. We didn’t start out in a traditional way. It was nothing close to how I pictured it, but somehow I ended up with a perfect man my family loves, living on a farm with horses like I dreamt of as a little girl. So even if I could, I wouldn’t change a thing.
Jason Kingsley
Surely I’m the most blessed man to ever walk the earth. I spin Willow out, then back into my arms to the tune of a faster-paced song. She giggles as she stumbles into me. We’ve only had half a glass of cider each, but I think we’re both drunk on the perfection of this moment.
Friends and family dance, laugh, and eat all around us. We’re surrounded by love. It’s like we’re both fountains in a river that won’t ever run dry. Our love is overflowing.
“I think I need a break,” Willow says into my ear when the song ends.
I look down at her, noticing her cheeks are flushed bright red, and there’s a sheen of perspiration over her forehead. The heaters are keeping everyone warm, but they’re almost too much while dancing.
“Do you want to step outside for a minute?” I ask and she nods with enthusiasm.
We weave through the crowd hand in hand until we slip through the barn door into the frigid night. Willow gasps as the cold air hits us. I abandoned my jacket a while ago, and Willow is wearing the same dress she wore when we eloped, so it shouldn’t take long for either of us to cool down.
“Are you having fun?” I ask and she smiles wide.
“Yes! I’m so glad everyone we invited was able to come. I loved getting to meet Shaw and Sutton. Emmett and little June are so sweet too.”
“Remind me to tell Emmett you called him sweet,” I say with a chuckle. “And you just say the word when you’re ready to go…” I trail off.
She shakes her head, a teasing smile on her berry lips. “You just want to get me home.”
“Can you blame me when you look like this?” I tug her to me, wrapping my arms around her.
“We have guests, Jase,” she says as I lean down.
“They aren’t going anywhere.” I kiss her, half-expecting her to push me away, but when she melts into me instead, I can’t stifle my smirk. I deepen the kiss, tasting the apple cider on her lips. I’m about to push her against the side of the barn when the door flies open.
“Will you two quit making out and come inside? This whole party is for you!” Shaw shouts, loud enough for everyone to hear. Laughter pours out of the barn. Willow hides her face in the crook of my neck.
“I take back what I said about meeting Shaw,” she says.
I laugh. “I don’t blame you at all.”
We walk back inside to whoops and whistles. I shove Shaw like I’m annoyed with him, but in reality I’m glad he’s here. It feels good to know we have so many people rooting for us.
I glance down at Willow. She’s blushing and laughing as a few of our friends tease her some more. Her gaze catches mine, stealing my breath away like always. It’s moments like these that reassure me she’s the one. We might have started out for all the wrong reasons, but we’re going to stay together for all the right ones.
Keep reading for a bonus epilogue from Emmett’s point of view! His book, The Double Play , will be available Spring 2025!
Emmett Foster
“Please dance with me, Daddy, please !” June begs, tugging on my hand with both of hers. At five years old, she’s still quite tiny. She inherited my height but also her mother’s slender build, so trying to pull me to stand isn’t quite working out for her.
“I told you that I don’t like to dance. Why don’t you ask one of your uncles?” It takes considerable effort not to cringe when I say the word uncles. My friends all insisted on being honorary uncles to June. In reality, they all like being the fun uncles and doing things like giving her too much sugar when they visit, or impractical gifts. I question my judgment often when around them.
“They’re all dancing already,” June whines, her bottom lip poking out in a pout.
I look around. Sure enough, each of my friends is currently dancing with a woman. Brock is the only single one besides me, and even he has a dance partner: Willow’s grandmother.
“Okay.” I sigh. “I will dance one dance with you. That’s all.”
“Yay! Thank you, thank you, thank you!” she chirps excitedly as I lead her onto the dance floor.
She steps up onto my shoes. It doesn’t hurt in the slightest, considering how small she is. The only thing that hurts is my chest when I think of how soon she’ll be too big for this. I don’t even like dancing, but I’m happy we are now. She’s growing much too fast.
“Do you think you’ll have a party like this, Daddy?” June asks as I lead her around the floor in a waltz I learned from my mom as a kid.
“What do you mean?” I ask, though I think I already know.
“Will you have a party when you get married?”
I clench my jaw. I hate that these questions always come up. I wish June had a mother who cared, who was present, who was still married to me. But her mother made her choice, and June and I weren’t in the equation. So now I’m here raising June alone–except for the help of my mother–and answering questions like these.
“I don’t plan on getting married, sweetheart.”
“Why not?” She starts pouting again.
My heart sinks. Because love leads to hurt. I can’t bear to fall in love and be left again, and more than that, I can’t afford to put June through that pain. She already lost one mom, she doesn’t need to lose another.
“Excuse me, Your Highness, may I steal the princess away?” Shaw dips into a ridiculous bow. June giggles like she’s been approached by a Disney prince instead of a brute of a hockey player.
“Go ahead,” I say and transfer June to his feet, grateful for the distraction from the topic.
I watch as Shaw spins her away. Sutton watches nearby, her eyes glassy, and smiles big. I don’t doubt that they’ll have a wonderful marriage with lots of beautiful children. I’m not so cynical as to think love doesn’t exist. It just doesn’t work out for me.
And that’s okay. I have June, baseball, and a few friends. That’s all I need.