Epilogue
Five months later
@WisteriaWeekly: Make sure you show up early in Wisteria this weekend, folks. Travis Langston and our very own Lindsay Monroe-Langston may
have tied the knot in a private ceremony back in October when their initial plans had to be redirected due to the storm, but
as so many of you know, they’ve been raising money for the people of Wisteria over the past months. And Friday night they’re
hosting a benefit concert with renowned country music star Beau James. The Rustwood Ramblers are opening for him with some
of their bluegrass classics. Our local favorites Finn Dashwood and Daphne Austen are teaming up at Tea a rotating tap list chalked up on the
right. He handled the savory. She handled the sweet. And in the middle? Magic.
Finn had even given the teapot he’d rescued from the storm its own shelf with a plaque beneath it that read: Still Steeping.
Still Standing.
As the Rustwood Ramblers tuned up their banjos for the opening set, kids ran barefoot between picnic blankets, and the smell
of herbed barbecue chicken mingled with lavender in the breeze. Beau James himself was spotted near the food table—probably
after a second helping of pulled chicken on a cheddar-chive biscuit. And through it all, the donations poured in, every bite
and banjo twang bringing Wisteria one step closer to continued rebuilding.
Sure, some lives in Wisteria would never be the same.
Changed forever.
But maybe that wasn’t the goal.
Maybe the goal was something stronger. Deeper.
New blooms dotted the thinned woods and offered an added sense of new beginnings. Daphne smiled as she slipped from Wisteria General Store wearing a long-sleeved T-shirt specifically designed for her.
She couldn’t wait for Finn to see it.
The past five months had only drawn them closer—through drywall dust and late-night taste testing, through laughter and tears
and Lucy’s endless giggle sessions. Finn and Lucy weren’t just part of Daphne’s life now. They’d become her future.
Both in business and in heart. And, somehow, not only had they made their differences in personalities work together, but
they’d made their foods meld too.
No, Finn hadn’t converted her to coffee.
And she’d not gotten him to love tea . . . yet.
But together they’d crafted something new: a hybrid menu full of charm and flavor, which still held true to classic favorites.
Some with a Southern flair, like taking Victoria sponge and turning it into blackberry and Earl Grey sponge cake, or bangers
and mash . . . with cheese, or smoked pork belly Scotch eggs. And then, of course, corn bread and honey scones, sweet potato
biscuits with maple butter, and crispy hushpuppies with Guinness cheddar dip . . . and so much more.
The ideas never stopped. But that’s what happened when you loved what you did and who you worked with.
She weaved through the crowd back toward the large booth some local carpenters had built for Tea & Tap to house their food,
with a straight shot down Main Street to the restaurant in case they needed something.
Daphne slipped back behind the booth, resuming her role at keeping things organized as Finn charmed everyone waiting in line.
Lucy perched proudly on a stepstool beside him, handing out napkins and declaring her dad’s food “very yummy but not as pretty
as Daphne’s.”
From the corner of her eye, Daphne caught sight of Jack taking photos of the whole thing for the shop owners’ social media feed, while Rosemary coordinated the scone tower and Granny D walked around with a tray of strawberry iced tea samples like a small-town sommelier.
Finn appeared beside Daphne, brushing a crumb from her collarbone with far more attention than necessary. “Your lemon tart
is about to outsell my mini sliders,” he murmured near her ear, sending delightful tingles down her neck. “You know what that
does to my ego.”
She turned toward him. “I’m in your life to keep you humble.”
His grin lit his eyes. “Which takes a feat of great strength and perseverance, I am sure.” And then he looked around. “Where
did you go off to anyway?”
“Jodie at the general store told me to pick up a T-shirt she specifically made for me.” Daphne waved toward her shirt.
Tea & Tap was written on the top left corner of the shirt with a teacup and mug poised together beneath, a heart between them.
“Nice,” Finn said, and then with a grin, Daphne turned around so he could read the back: “Contents may be too hot for the
chef.”
She looked over her shoulder to catch his slack-jawed expression. “You’re walking around in that shirt on purpose.”
“What do you mean?”
“And you know it.” His eyes narrowed and he leaned in. “With a message that is turning my internal temperature into a possible
health code violation.”
“I think you can handle the pressure.”
His gaze dipped to her lips. “I think your increased flirting abilities may cause me to internally combust.” He drew in a
deep breath and shook his head. “Mercy!”
“She made you one too.” She reached over behind the counter and tossed it to him. Tea & Tap was on the front, like hers, and
on the back it read: “I came for the brisket. Stayed for the baker.”
A laugh shot from him. He wrapped an arm around her waist, tugging her closer. “I only get distracted by the best.”
From the other side of the counter, Lucy piped up, “Are you guys flirting again?”
“Obviously,” Finn said, scooping her up. “The couple that flirts together stays together.” He shot Daphne a wink.
“I fink forever is a very good word,” Lucy said, kissing Finn’s cheek, then reaching to do the same to Daphne.
“It sure is, sugarplum.” Daphne’s gaze flitted over to Finn, whose quirked grin only broadened.
Just then, the music faded and Mayor Wilson’s voice boomed over the speakers.
“Welcome, everyone. This is our first official town-wide celebration since the flood swept through Wisteria five months ago.
We’ve grown stronger—together. The heart of this town hasn’t just survived . . . I’d argue we’re better than ever.”
Cheers erupted.
So many people. Some from Wisteria. Some from out of town. All for the same reason.
“And now, let’s welcome the hosts of tonight’s benefit concert—Travis and Lindsay Langston!”
Applause swelled as the couple stepped onstage. Lindsay smiled, glowing with hometown pride. Very classy, high-end hometown
pride.
“Thank you for being here tonight and for giving to the restoration of this lovely town and these wonderful people,” Lindsay
said. “This is my hometown. I fell in love with Nancy Drew books at the downtown library.”
Someone whooped in agreement.
“And learned how to make the perfect milkshake while working at Iced-Up at the corner of Maple and Carter Streets.”
Another affirmation from some in the crowd.
And I got my first kiss behind the football bleachers—thanks, Davis Kent.”
The crowd laughed and a few whistled.
Travis took the microphone from her, sending her a playful look. “I’d better take this before I find out too many other childhood secrets I’m not prepared for.”
More laughter.
“I didn’t grow up in this town. However, the warmth and welcome I received here quickly made an impression on me. And when
Wisteria experienced an enormous amount of devastation, we immediately wanted to find ways to help. As of yesterday, our combined
efforts and the generosity of hundreds of people have allowed us to raise over one million dollars.”
Gasps rippled through the crowd. He handed the microphone back to Lindsay.
Lindsay jumped in. “And that money has already helped restock the library, rebuild homes, repair dozens of private and backroads,
and bring businesses back.”
More applause.
“And tonight,” Travis added, “we hope to raise even more to continue the restoration process.”
“Let’s celebrate Wisteria tonight!” Lindsay said, raising a triumphant arm in the air.
As applause rippled through the crowd and the band launched into another song, Daphne leaned into Finn as Lucy wedged between
them. She looked out at the crowd—families dancing, neighbors hugging, volunteers laughing in the glow of lantern light. Her
eyes burned, heart swelling with more gratitude than she thought her chest could hold.
They were rebuilding. Together.
Lucy wriggled down and ran to join a cluster of kids dancing in the grass, her giggles lifting into the night air and wrapping
around Daphne’s heart.
“You know, I never imagined moving to this little town would give me so much more than a pub,” he murmured, voice low and intimate, his arm slipping around her waist. His lips warmed her cheek.
“I want to do this”—he waved his hand as if encompassing the booth, the people, and all of Wisteria—“this life. With you. Every day.”
She leaned into his warmth. “You already have it.”
“And I plan to keep it up for as long as you’ll have me.” His voice dropped, intimate and steady. “In a till death do us part kind of way.”
They’d talked about the future—marriage, a family, forever. But this felt different. Imminent. “I’m game for that sort of
long-term competition.”
“Competition?” His brows raised as she looked up at him, their faces so close. “Oh good, because I have a very specific question
to ask you later this evening.” He gave his brows a shake. “I’ve already hired Lucy to look adorable, so you can’t say no.”
Despite herself, she grinned. “What if I already say yes—with no bribery required?”
His brow creased in a mock frown. “Where’s the fun in that?”
Her laughter caught in her throat as he breached the distance between them to claim her lips.
And as she returned her head to his shoulder and listened to the music, she closed her eyes and embraced the joy, which shone
a whole lot brighter because of all the hurts.
The gratitude, which penetrated so much deeper because of the loss.
The hope, which promised sweeter things ahead, even if they had to work through the hard things to get there.
And in a town still stitching itself back together, that was the real beginning.