Sadie’s Epilogue
SADIE’S EPILOGUE
Sadie
One year later
“Oh, will you look at that?” Mrs. Thorne says to Larry over the microphone. “I think we have a winner. My, my, congratulations, Jo-Beth Kingsley!”
This year for Christmas, the town decided to do a bake-off with Mrs. Thorne being the judge. Each contestant had to come up with something unique and new, and Mrs. Thorne didn’t know which person baked what.
Bailey hollers louder than anyone as we both clap with grins on our faces. We’ve been the unsuspecting guinea pigs of her wild creations, not that I’m complaining.
Jo-Beth flushes, never one to be the center of attention, and blows kisses to me and Bails. It’s been a wild ride of tears and tantrums in the kitchen until she perfected her coconut and jam fairy sponge with triple vanilla chantilly cream, layered with chocolate. It’s a masterpiece.
“I don’t know what to say!” she giggles into the mic. “I just hope you all enjoy this Christmas Eve feast. And to Mrs. T; you’ve been an inspiration to all of us. We're happy and also sad to hear of your retirement, but the show must go on, one chocolate layer at a time!”
Everyone claps and cheers as Jo-Beth takes her trophy, along with a gift voucher from Lonely Star Outfitters. The majority of the money raised is for the kids’ school camp for the underprivileged, as well as serving a hot meal to the needy this Christmas time.
The one thing I love about this small town is how everyone looks out for each other.
They celebrate all of life’s milestones. The merriment on the kids’ faces when Santa comes around on the tractor is so sweet. Zane lucked out this year because he and the boys in town take it in turns; George stepped in when Mr. Mackie got the flu at the last minute.
Jo-Beth doesn’t know it yet, but Mrs. T is going to offer her the bakery before anyone else hears about it. Her Christmas wish was to hand over the reins to her beloved namesake. I’m happy for JB, she’s become one of my closest friends.
This year has flown by. After the whole Duncan Stanley thing last year, I think we’re due a reprieve.
The entire town was talking about it. I don’t know how he had the nerve to think that he could come crawling into town to try to woo me back, not knowing that I was now the girlfriend of his ex-best friend, who he cheated on with Zane’s bitch ex!
The man certainly has some balls, I’ll give him that.
And I clearly didn’t know much about him during the time we were together.
I never knew anything about his being an Alpine Falls native. The twist of fate is unbelievable.
The even crazier thing was later in the new year, Bailey tracked down Kelto.
She somehow found out where she moved to, had one of her friends send a lawyer’s letter demanding damages and breach of contract.
They retrieved the rest of the missing rent money that she owed, plus fees on top.
I don’t know how the woman did it, but I swear she could rule the world.
Remembering the conversation makes me smile:
“It just wasn’t right,” Bailey said. “She never should have done that to you. You upturned your whole life because of her. I know you came through the other end, but she got off scot-free.”
“I’d be so scared of crossing you.” I’d hugged her tight. “You’re the best.”
“It helped that we mentioned you were going to sue her for financial penalties as well as a damaged credit score and eviction.”
The damaged credit didn’t happen because I fixed everything up, but Kelto didn’t need to know that.
“You speak my love language.”
“Hey, what are best friends for?”
“Just the idea she thought she got away with it bugged me,” I admitted.
“Well, she won’t be trying that again in a hurry.”
“Thank you. This money will mean I’ll be able to get you an extra huge Christmas present this year.”
“You know you don’t have to do that,” she said. “But there is a new set of chaps I’ve seen in the outfitters.”
“Done!”
“That is so delicious,” Viola says, licking her fingers when the cake is passed around. I shake off the reverie.
“Tell me about it,” Jane agrees. The two of them are spending their first Christmas with us at the farm, and I couldn’t be happier.
“I put on at least five pounds just looking at that,” I sigh, taking another slice.
I feel hands at my waist as Zane mutters in my ear. “I’d love you no matter what size you were.”
I smile, turning my head as he pecks me on the lips. “Hello, you.”
“You done here?”
I give him wide eyes, knowing exactly what that means by the way he’s staring at me.
“We have dinner with both our parents tonight,” I remind him. “Remember?”
He frowns. “Do I have to go?”
“Zane! Yes, you have to go, it’s at your parents’ place.” I straighten out his shirt, adoring how good he looks and smells tonight. “Then we’ll get to the frosting.”
“That frosting is my favorite,” he mutters in a low, sexy voice.
My friends love Zane. They’re used to him by now, and by-pass all his grumbles and grunts. My parents too, they see how happy we make one another. I love being closer to my parents, and since they moved to Silver Pines in the fall, the commute is even shorter.
Later at dinner, Zane taps the side of his glass to make an impromptu speech.
Everyone is here; all of Zane’s family, my parents, Bailey and her parents, George, Jed, JB and Rich and his wife.
Maisie, Mindy and Harry are here too, they’re all the best of pals, and it’s so adorable to see.
Mindy has gotten used to Harry and doesn’t mind him so much.
I think the feeling is mutual. Mindy and Maisie are a match made in Heaven, and have been inseparable.
It seems Maisie really is a hit with everyone.
Tonight, Mindy has been doing her own thing this evening, curled up on the edge of Sylvia and Frank’s couch by the fire like she owns the place, but wanders in while dinner is being served.
“Not one for speeches,” Zane begins. I blink up at him in surprise. “But it’s our one-year anniversary, and while we’re all together, I put together a little speech.”
“Oh my god, are you burning up?” Izzy looks genuinely concerned.
“Shhh!” Their mom says, shaking her head. “We may never hear this if you two start bickering.”
Zane rolls his eyes. “I just want to say that I’m glad you all could make it tonight. I know I’m not the chattiest of people—”
“Can say that again,” George mutters loud enough for us to hear, chuckles circulate around the table.
“But this year wouldn’t have been the best our family has seen professionally and personally without all of you.” He raises his glass. “To family and friends.”
My heart melts just a little bit more.
“To family and friends!” Everyone chimes.
Zane bends down to pick up Mindy. “We’d also like to ask you somethin’.” My eyes widen as he tickles Mindy under the chin. I glance down at her little bow and I see the little sign, it reads: Mom, will you marry Dad?
Everyone gasps as tears spring to my eyes as we look at one another. Zane leaves his seat to round the table, when he gets to me, he passes me Mindy, dropping to one knee. He springs a box out of nowhere. “Will you marry me, Sadie?”
“Oh my god, Z, yes!” I fling myself into his arms, trying to hold on to Mindy, tears rolling down my face.
Everyone is clapping and cheering as I bury my face in his neck. I pull back and we kiss. “You didn’t even see the ring properly,” he laughs.
“I don’t need to, it’ll be perfect, just like you.” I glance down and see the absolutely beautiful Princess cut diamond in a huge setting with rose gold. It glimmers in the light, and I gasp. “Zane!”
He slides it onto my finger. “You’ve just made me the happiest man in the world.”
“I love you.”
He pulls me into his arms as we squash Mindy, whispering, “I love you, too.”
“Hip, hip, hooray!” Frank yells, and everyone joins in.
It looks like all of my Christmas wishes came true after all.
Zeus neighs as we ride him together on the trail.
I haven’t gotten the courage to ride alone yet, though I am mastering my fear.
It’s not even the horse, it’s me and my energy.
I’d never want the horse to bolt with me on the back, so playing it safe until I’m used to it is fine by me.
Plus, I love it when Zane sits behind and wraps his arms around me. This feels like heaven.
“You okay?” he asks.
“How do you always know when I’m thinking about something deep and meaningful?”
He chuckles. “Call it a sixth sense.”
“It’s such a different Christmas to the one we had last year, in a good way.” I add that last part quickly.
“For one, I didn’t punch anyone out this year, that’s a record.”
“Wait, we’re not quite at New Year’s Day yet,” I remind him.
“Oh, that’s right.” A few seconds pass. “So, what is on your mind then, Princess?”
“I got everything I wanted,” I say. “Everything I’ve ever wanted.”
“And that’s a bad thing?”
“No, it’s just, I don’t know, am I a pessimist?”
“No, you’re sunshine, but you sometimes don’t live in the now. You need to kick back a little more, enjoy things as they’re happenin’, and not worry about the future.”
“Wow, a philosopher and a hot rancher, I like your attitude.” I grip his hands over mine, loving how warm and safe he feels. I also love how my beautiful ring feels on my finger and flashes in the light. To become Zane’s wife is going to be nothing short of amazing.
“You make me a better man,” he says. “And I’d do anythin’ for you, Sadie Summers.”
He’s right, of course. I don’t need to sit back and wait for the bubble to burst. The bubble is everything happening right now. I’m so used to things falling apart around me, it’s hard to relax when things are going so well. And things have been very right for a year now.
“I love you, Z. I can’t imagine my life without you.”
He kisses my neck. “Pretty soon, you’re gonna be my wife, Mrs. Lawless.”
“Does that mean I’m allowed to make TikToks of you for the farm?”
“Absolutely not.”
I pout. “You’re no fun.”
“I may not be any fun, but I’m gonna rock your world every single night of your life.”
“I’m getting that in writing.”
He bumps me with his hips. “You can count on it.”
Zeus shakes his head and I reach down to pat his head. “Zeus agrees; he wants it in writing, too.”
“I don’t know, I think that was Zeus sayin’ we need to pick up the pace.”
“Zane, you wouldn’t?”
“A trot at least, we’re gonna be ridin’ until midnight.”
Before I can protest, Zeus begins to speed up. It’s not crazy fast, but faster than I’m used to. “Zane,” I breathe warily.
“You’re safe with me,” he says. “You’re doin’ it.”
I exhale and smile to myself as he lets go of the reins. He’s right, I really am doing it myself. “I am!”
Pride sweeps through me. Zane knows what I’m capable of, and it is time we upped the ante. Plus, Zeus is an amazing horse.
His hands find my waist as we ride off toward the sunset. “That’s my girl.”
Life couldn’t be sweeter, and I’ve never been so happy for those three catastrophes to happen all at once. If they hadn’t, who knows where I’d be. Definitely not in Zane Lawless’ arms, about to become his wife.
“I love you, husband to be,” I whisper.
“Right back at ya, Manhattan.”
THE END