Epilogue
2 years later
“Mom, they’re here!” I hear my sister yell all the way from outside the house. It’s already dark at five o’clock and warm yellow light shines through the windows, casting long shadows across the driveway.
I shoot Jack a look. “I can’t believe you wanted to cut our trip short for this. We could still be in Edinburgh, having hotel sex.”
“As much as I love hotel sex, you know I’d never miss Thanksgiving with your family,” he says, pulling a hastily purchased bag of dinner rolls out of the back seat of the car. “Besides, aren’t you excited to tell them the news?”
A jittery smile spins its way across my face. “You think they’ll be happy?”
Jack leans over and plants a delicate kiss on my forehead before whispering, “Are you happy?”
“Deliriously.”
“Then they’ll have no choice but to be happy too.”
He’s probably right. But a flurry of nerves whips up inside me nonetheless.
“Do you think your mom made her berry cobbler again this year?” Jack asks, excitement dancing in his eyes as we ascend the front steps of Collin and Allison’s house.
A smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. “Of course she did. You only told her you hoped she would make it thirty-seven times. And you know she can’t resist you.”
“Few women can,” he says, giving me a rueful look.
I roll my eyes, trying—and failing—to pretend like even now, three years later, that look still doesn’t come with a whoosh of heat and an increased heart rate.
Jack lifts his hand to knock on the front door and a second later Allison appears with Francesca in her arms and Collin behind her, grinning ear to ear.
“You made it!” Allison cries. “We didn’t think your flight would land in time.”
Collin and Jack exchange one of those bro-y slap-on-the-back hugs and I lean in to give Francesca a sloppy kiss on the cheek.
“How’s my favorite girl?” I coo, taking hold of her chubby little wrists. She giggles, making me instantly forget what was so great about Scotland and hotel sex anyway. “How’s it possible she got even more cute than when I last saw her?”
“That’s because she takes after my wife,” Collin says, kissing the top of Francesca’s head. We all give an obligatory aww except Allison, who rolls her eyes, pretending to be embarrassed by her husband’s flattery.
Mom and Bill come in and give us both hugs.
“We’re so glad you could make it,” Mom says. “I made two cobblers, just in case.”
Bill wraps his arm around my mom’s shoulders. “She’s been baking all day.”
Jack beams. “Thank you, Mrs. Gallman. That’s really kind.”
My mom shakes her head. “How many times have I told you, it’s Christine.”
“So? How was Scotland?” Allison asks, ushering us inside and out of the cold. “I can’t believe you two wanted to go back there, especially this time of year. Wasn’t it freezing?”
“We managed to stay warm,” Jack says, catching my eye.
“We sure did.” I lean against Jack, placing my left hand on his chest like it’s on display.
Allison’s gaze narrows in alert, like she’s a police dog ready to sniff out a bomb. Her eyes dart suspiciously between us before landing on my left hand. As soon as she sees it, she screams.
“Oh my God! Shut up! Shut up!” Allison hands Francesca to her husband before snatching up my hand to examine the diamond on my ring finger. “You got engaged! I knew it!” She looks at Collin, hopping excitedly from foot to foot. “See? I told you Jack would propose in Scotland!”
“Well, not exactly,” Jack says, fighting back a grin.
Allison frowns. “What do you mean not exactly ?”
Jack takes my hand in his and gives it a squeeze. “We didn’t get engaged.”
Allison’s frown deepens. “I don’t get it. So that’s not an engagement ring?”
I shake my head, heart thumping wildly inside my chest. “It’s actually”—I pause, eyes dancing to Jack—“a wedding ring!”
“Surprise!” Jack yells as he and I burst into excited laughter.
Mom’s, Allison’s, Collin’s, and Bill’s mouths all fall open.
“You got married? In Scotland? Without telling us?” Mom asks at the same time Allison cries, “You eloped ?”
“Well, you know Jack and me,” I say, eyes finding Jack’s. “We’re not really into big weddings.”