Epilogue
EPILOGUE
ONE WEEK LATER
Tess
The official opening day was finally here!
We’d chosen a Saturday, because we intended to make an event out of it, and most people shopped on the weekends.
We invited all our existing customers, enticing them with gift cards.
It was going to be a huge party. It started at noon.
We reserved the morning for showing our family around.
During the pre-party, half the furniture had been missing, and we wanted to show them the final version.
“You did such a great job with this space,” Isabelle exclaimed.
“Thanks,” I said. We were in the back office. Josie, Laney, and Heather were also here. My brothers, Mom, Mick, and Ellen were in the front with Skye. We were doing tours in groups; otherwise, we’d barely have space to move about.
“I’m so happy for you girls,” Josie said, patting her belly.
She wasn’t showing yet. Heather was sitting next to her, and her belly was huge in comparison.
They looked very cute, but Heather was a little sad that none of our super-sexy lingerie fit her properly.
Ever since Skye’s pregnancy, I toyed with the idea of developing a line for expecting women, something that would accommodate the body’s changes.
Now I was more convinced than ever that the project needed to happen.
“I’m so proud of you two. You’re such kickass businesswomen,” Isabelle said.
“You’re doing amazing yourself,” I replied.
“The event with the clients went well, and it gave me all sorts of ideas.”
It was so good to see Isabelle happy. As usual, her hair seemed to reflect her mood. It was bright red and fell into a silky curtain around her shoulders.
“Well, if we can help with anything, just let me know,” I said. I felt like I had a lot of free time, though it wasn’t really true. The wedding planner and I wrapped up the most pressing issues for Cole’s wedding, but there was still plenty to do.
Josie and Heather nodded too.
Josie was a shark in all legal things, and Heather’s skills as a reporter came in very handy at writing press releases as well as website texts. Between all of us, we had expertise in all sorts of things.
“Let’s go to the front,” I suggested. Everyone agreed, so we returned to the group.
Rob had the party catered, so we had everything from miniature sandwiches to scones in one corner of the store.
Since we were serving champagne, we thought it was best to also have some food to help soak up the alcohol.
The family was milling around the small buffet, chatting with each other. Even Ian and Dylan had come for the opening, which I really appreciated.
We put a huge Christmas tree in the display window.
It was a snowy mid-December day, and it all looked so magical.
I was pleased with how the decorations turned out inside the store.
We only had Christmas lights in the display window and on the tree.
Keeping it simple prevented guests from tripping over cords— but as soon as the party was over, I planned to unleash myself and really decorate it all up.
I spotted Liam chatting with Rob and Hunter, and my heart just soared. He turned around, as if he felt I was watching him. He held out his hand for me, and I immediately walked over to him. Who could resist those baby-blue eyes? Not this girl.
“Hey, beautiful,” he said, kissing my hand, then pulling me close enough that I thought he’d kiss my lips too. Only he didn’t.
“Ready for the toast?” he asked.
“Yes. Everyone’s had the tour.”
He led me toward the second small table dedicated to drinks. They already poured champagne in all the glasses.
“Attention, everyone. We’d like to make a toast,” I said.
Everyone shuffled around the room, grabbing a glass. Skye came to stand next to me.
“Thank you all for coming here today,” she said. “We couldn’t have done this without all of you. Thank you for all your support, for always being here for us.”
“It’s all been a crazy ride, so thanks for putting up with us,” I added.
I was so happy to be surrounded by everyone I loved.
I turned to Liam. “Also, a huge thanks to this wonderful man I’m lucky enough to call my boyfriend.
He’s the best partner we could wish for.
The best man I could wish for. Thank you for being part of my life. ”
I looked at my mom, a bit surprised at her misty eyes.
“Mom, why are you tearing up?” I asked.
“I’m just so proud of you. All of you. It’s a parent’s biggest wish for their children to do well, to be happy.”
Oh no. Now I was tearing up too.
Liam tapped his fingers against his glass. “I’d like to say a few words too.”
I nodded, happy someone else was taking over, because I was sure my voice would come out a little wobbly. He brought one hand to the side of my waist, pulling me closer.
“When I met Tess, my first thought was ‘I’m in trouble.’ I could barely focus on anything that wasn’t her. Then as I got to know her better, I realized I was in very big trouble.”
Everyone laughed. I felt my cheeks heat up. I loved the way he held me as he spoke.
“Babe, I love your passion and dedication, your determination to fight for what you want.” He paused and took in a deep breath, cocking his head to look at me. “And I’m so damn lucky that you want me.”
He let go of my waist, and I immediately felt cold and wanted him to touch me, but my man seemed to have a plan. I tilted my head toward him, and a strand of hair came loose from my braid. He pushed it behind my ear before taking a step back.
Someone in the group started whispering something, but my ears became fuzzy the second I realized Liam was lowering himself to one knee.
My heart started beating so fast that I couldn’t even breathe.
I pressed a palm to my stomach when he pulled a ring from his back pocket.
No box, just the most beautiful ring I’d ever seen.
The band was a mix of platinum and gold, and there were three stones in the center: a ruby, a sapphire, and an emerald.
“Tess Winchester, after today, I no longer want to be your boyfriend. I want to be your fiancé.”
His hand was shaking a little, so I took a step forward, cupping his outstretched hand with both of mine.
“I want you to be my partner in all things, the mother of my children, my wife. You’re an amazing human being.”
His voice was strong, his eyes determined, and all I could do was nod.
My hands were shaking now, and he was the one steadying me as he slid the ring on my finger.
I jumped in his arms before he even finished rising to his feet, but my strong man didn’t even wobble.
My ears started working again, and I heard everyone cheering and clapping.
I hugged him tightly, hiding my face in his neck and breathing him in for a few moments.
I couldn’t believe this was real, that he loved me so much.
He lowered me to the floor carefully. I gave him one hell of a smooch, trying—and failing—to keep it from being too hot.
He was grinning from ear to ear when we pulled apart.
“I love you,” I whispered.
“You’re my whole life, Tess.”
He kissed both of my hands right before I felt a bear hug from behind.
I didn’t even have to turn around to know it was Cole.
Everyone hugged and congratulated us, and I was looking for Mom in the crowd, because I thought she might need a hug right now too.
I couldn’t see her though, not until everyone but her, Mick, and Ellen had congratulated us.
They waited in the back. Mick just wordlessly hugged me, then shook Liam’s hand.
Mom was even more misty-eyed than before.
“Liam, take good care of my girl,” Mom said.
“Every day of my life. I promise.”
“You have a good man there, Tess. Love him always just as you do now,” Mom added.
“I will,” I promised her, nodding in excitement.
Ellen smiled at me. “I’m biased, of course, but I agree with your mom. You’re perfect for him.”
“Thank you, Ellen.”
“And don’t keep us waiting too long for those grandkids,” she told Liam.
“Gran, don’t start.”
“If I can’t start on the day you propose, then when can I? You know what, don’t answer that. I’m eighty. I’m at the age where I can officially not care about permission anymore.”
Liam and I both started laughing, but I was pretty sure Ellen wasn’t joking. She’d lobby for grandkids even more openly than before.
But that was okay, because I was completely on board with that plan.
I glanced at Liam, trying to read his expression. He was looking at me with a very smug smile.
“I know what you’re thinking about,” Liam whispered in my ear as we went back to the buffet table.
“Oh?”
He winked. “We’re going to start working on that very soon.”
I felt the tips of my ears heat up and then my cheeks. Isabelle, Ian, and Dylan were currently at the buffet, arguing in a brotherly and sisterly way I knew only too well.
“What are you bickering about?” I inquired.
Isabelle waved her hand in the air, pointing from Ian to Dylan to herself.
“Well, with all the Winchesters now officially off the market, I was just wondering which of the three of us will make it out of the bachelor club next.”
“And let me guess, these two are firmly insisting they like being in the club?’
“We’re right here,” Dylan said with a smile. “We can hear you.”
“If anyone asks us, we think—” Cole started, but Ian interrupted him.
“No one is asking,” he said loudly, and I cracked up.
“I am,” Dylan said.
Ian stared at him. “Man, don’t do this. It’s like a jinx.”
Cole cocked a brow, looking between the brothers. “I don’t want to start a war between you two, so I’m withholding my opinion.”
“I think it’ll be me,” Isabelle declared loudly, swinging her fiery red hair to one side and winking at her brothers.
We all burst out laughing, but then Skye groaned.
“Oh no, we’re supposed to open now. It’s already eleven o’clock.”
I glanced out the window. It was snowing in earnest now, and SoHo looked even more magical than usual. The day was so dark and cloudy that the lampposts were already glowing, as were the Christmas lights hanging up and down the street.
I headed to the door, still chuckling at Isabelle’s proclamation that she was going to be next as I turned the sign from Closed to Open. I totally believed it, though who knew? Maybe her brother would be next. Someone may steal Dylan’s heart.
Finding love in New York wasn’t always easy, but with a little luck, anything was possible.