Epilogue
EPILOGUE
HANNAH
SEVEN MONTHS LATER
“ H an, you’ve gotta keep your eyes closed. I swear if I find out you’re peeking…” Will growls, grabbing my arm and helping me out of the car before leading me in the direction of wherever this surprise is.
“I swear I’m not,” I promise, running a hand down my blue and white sundress and letting him steer me wherever he wants. “God, it’s hot as hell.”
“Well, babe. It’s the middle of July in South Alabama, I’m not sure what you were expecting,” Will teases, and I stick out my tongue at him, despite the fact that I know he probably can’t see it from his position behind me.
“Yeah, you’re right, but still. So are you gonna tell me where the heck we’re going?” I ask, not really caring what the answer is but knowing the question will get him riled up.
“I swear to God, woman. Have you never heard of the word surprise?” he asks, and I can’t help the laugh that spills out of me at the exasperation in his voice.
“Oh, real funny, Han,” he adds, and I can practically feel him rolling his eyes, even with the blindfold he put on me to cover my eyes. “Come on. We’re almost there.”
I continue walking wherever he’s leading me. I have no idea where the heck we are, and I’m both excited and anxious to find out what he has planned.
The last several months with Will have been incredible. A few weeks after the state championship he moved in with me, and every day I fall a little more in love with him. As an added bonus, he’s also taken on some of the farm chores, and I’ve finally stopped feeling like I’m waiting for the rug to be pulled out from under me.
It’s still hard work keeping everything afloat, but I spend a lot less time panicking and a lot more time getting lost in my own world with Will.
“Okay, we’re here. Give me just a second and let me make sure everything’s set up,” he calls out, moving away and leaving me standing alone.
I wait for a few moments and hear the sound of Will struggling with something. “Wait, what’s going on? Are you okay?” I ask, reaching up to pull off my blindfold.
“Damn it, Leroy, this is not what we practiced,” Will groans, and I look up to see the creek where we spent so many hours that summer, hiding out and making promises to each other. But this time, the bank is full of freshly cut wildflowers, some of them looking a little crumpled. Across from me, Ruby and Leroy are standing on the bank where Will’s trying to hold them back. They wiggle in his arms, clearly wanting to run in my direction, and not appreciating the way Will’s gently restraining them.
“Babe, I know you’re strong and all, but I don’t think you’re a match for the two of them,” I point out with a laugh. And it’s true. Leroy’s always been pretty impossible to restrain, and now that Ruby’s about half grown, she’s also a force to be reckoned with.
“Fine. Go on then,” he says, throwing his arms up in defeat as both of my animals scamper my way. “Hey, babies,” I coo, leaning down and patting them both.
After giving them some attention, I stand, gesturing to the flowers and the farm animals around us. “I feel like I’m missing something. What’s going on?”
“This is not how this was supposed to go,” he growls, running a hand over his face in frustration. “The flowers were no match for the wind and these feral farm animals, and Leroy was supposed to let me attach this little collar on him so he could bring you this note.”
I raise my eyebrows in surprise, holding out my hand to take the paper from him. Unfolding it, I smile at the sight of Will’s handwriting before starting to read.
Hannah,
The last few months with you have been some of the happiest of my life. I don’t know what I did to deserve another shot at a life with you, but I’ll never take it for granted.
You always know how to make even the worst days feel magical, and I’ve never met someone who works or loves as hard as you do. I can’t promise you a perfect life, but I can promise you will never find anyone else who loves you as much as I do.
I’ve already told you there’s no getting rid of me this time, but I decided it’s time to make it official. Will you spend the rest of your life with me?
Will you marry me?
I freeze as I realize what he’s asking, before looking up and seeing him down on one knee. “Will, what?” I murmur, trying to catch up. “You want to marry me?”
“Of course I do, Hannah,” he confirms, and I feel a tear run down my face. “I told you a long time ago that all I wanted was a life with you, and I meant it.”
I smile at that, taking in the sight before Will clears his throat. “So, uh, do you need to think about it, or…”
“Oh my gosh, of course I will!” I say, “I didn’t mean to leave you hanging. I just can’t believe this is actually happening.”
He smiles, holding out a ring box before he opens it. I feel a fresh wave of tears at the sight of my Mimi’s ring nestled against the velvet of the box.
“How in the world did you get that?” I sob, rubbing my eyes and trying to convince myself that I’m not imagining this moment.
“Your gramps gave it to me when I told him I wanted to ask you to marry me. He said it was about time we both pulled our heads out of our asses and made it official,” he says, and we both laugh at that.
“Yeah, I guess he’s right,” I say, laughing as he slips the beautiful vintage square cut diamond onto my finger. Standing to kiss me, I sink into him for a moment before pulling back and furrowing my brow. “Wait, so where the heck did you ride me around for the last twenty minutes if we never left the property?”
“Up and down the driveway,” he replies sheepishly. I was trying to give our friends time to set this up and get Leroy and Ruby in position, but you can see how well that went.”
“Wait, then where the heck are they?” I ask, expecting Margaret and Caroline to pop up from behind a tree any minute.
“They had plans,” he answers dismissively, and I look at him in confusion.
“My two best friends were just up here setting up for my proposal, and they didn’t stay because they had plans?” I repeat skeptically, and Will nods.
“But anyway, I’m sorry the flowers were a bit of a mess, but they originally spelled out ‘Will you marry me?’ Caroline and Hannah spent all day collecting what they could find from the field over there, so if they ask, don’t tell them that Leroy ruined it,” Will begs, and I laugh.
“We’ll keep it our little secret,” I agree, starting to walk back toward the clearing to head home before Will grabs my hand.
“Wait, before you go I have another surprise,” he murmurs, and I feel my eyes widen at that.
“What on earth?” I ask, as he reaches down into his pocket and pulls out a long black box. I take it from him, and my mouth drops open in shock. Inside the box is the ruby necklace he gave me years ago, and I blink back a fresh wave of tears.
“Oh my God, Will. I can’t believe you still have this,” I cry, lifting the jewel out and smiling as it sparkles in the sunlight.
“Yeah, after you left I told myself I needed to throw it away or get rid of it. But I couldn’t do it. I found a little jewelry bag in my sister’s stuff when I got home and I tucked it in my truck. I told myself if I kept it, you’d find a way back to me. And it looks like I was right.”
I don’t know what to say, so instead I just pull his mouth to mine, kissing him hard before whispering, “You know I really do love you, Will Thompson.”
“And I really do love you, Hannah Scott,” he replies, fastening the necklace around my neck before grabbing my hand and pulling me to the truck. “Now come on, I want to show you something.”
“I think I’m surprised out,” I tease, sitting in the truck while he loads up Leroy and Ruby.
After he has them safely in the little trailer Caroline and Margaret left up here for us, he slides into the driver's seat and heads in the direction of the house.
“So I was thinking about asking Dr. Ava if she thinks—” I start, before noticing the driveway full of cars. “Wait, what the heck are all these people doing here?”
Will just smiles, continuing down the drive until I see a huge white tent full of all our friends and people from around town. He barely has time to stop the truck, before Caroline and Margaret are running in our direction, tearing open the passenger side door and pulling me into a hug.
“Oh my God! You’re engaged!” they scream, and I hold out my left hand to let them see the ring.
“It’s so gorgeous. Caroline told me it belonged to your MiMi, and I think that’s so special. Did you cry when he asked you?” Margaret babbles excitedly, pulling my hand closer to her face to get a better view.
I smile at her excitement before nodding. “There may have been a few tears. It is really special. But what the heck is everyone doing here?”
“Come on, Han. You know we couldn’t have an engagement in Springside without an engagement party,” Caroline says with a laugh. “Your grandfather was talking about it with Gladis at the nursing home earlier this week, and obviously it hit the STS within an hour. Thank God you don’t usually look at that stuff.”
I let out a laugh, shaking my head. “This damn town,” I say with a laugh. “I can’t believe y’all pulled all of this off so quick.”
“We had a little help,” Caroline smirks, pointing over to where Miss Ethel, Brian, and Millie—Brian’s fiancée and the infamous new event planner from Deer Valley—are overseeing the DJ set up. Across the tent, Huey, Seth, Theo, and Kent attempt to set up a row of lawn games. And nearby, Gramps and Gladis direct a group of caterers, carrying trays of food. I blink in surprise when I realize it’s the owners of Maracas.
“I’ll say. Wait, how on earth did you get Maracas to do the food? They don’t offer catering!”
“No, not usually. But they agreed to offer margarita flights and taco platters for us since we’re some of their most loyal customers,” Caroline answers, and we all laugh.
“You all really thought of everything. I just can’t believe this. Pretty sure the entire population of Springside is here,” I admit as Gramps sees me and makes his way over as fast as his walker will allow.
“Gramps, I love the ring,” I say, hugging him hard as soon as he’s close enough. “But are you sure you want me to have it?”
“I’m certain, Hannah Banana. The kind of love that your MiMi and I had doesn’t come around that often, but I have no doubt that it’s the same kind of love that you and Will share. Just promise me you won’t ever give up on each other,” he murmurs.
“I promise,” I say, continuing to hug him as Will walks over.
“Are you ready to start a new life together?” he asks, taking my hand and leading me into the tent.
“Let’s do it,” I tell him, kissing him quickly before muttering, “you know, sometimes it still doesn’t feel real that we could be this happy. I mean some days I feel like I’m waiting for things to go back to the way they were.”
“I know what you mean, but that’s never happening, Han. And I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life proving it to you,” he says, dropping his mouth to mine.
As I look around the tent filled with our friends, I can’t help but wish I could go back and hug the girl that fell in love with Will eight summers ago. I’ve thought about her a lot over the last few months, and I wouldn’t change our story for anything. But I do wish I could tell her we were wrong. The people who really love us don’t always leave, and there really are brighter days ahead.