Epilogue - Nora
November
It’s cold. I’m hungry. I miss my best friend.
But a certain ex-boyfriend has taken over my favorite spot inside Baked & Brewed, so a hot flakey chocolate croissant is not in the cards today.
He’s lucky I’m late for my meeting, otherwise, I might just go in there, drag him out by his ear, and make him go home.
I pass by Baked & Brewed, drooling over the croissant I can see from here, and then make my way to Preening Pages.
The front of the bookstore is decorated with such care.
Clementine lends to the charm of that place.
Whoever owns it should pay her double. I pause to take a few pictures of the adorable pumpkins, pretty mums, and fall garland that decorates the front of the building. Naturally, I send it to my best friend.
Me: The Hallmark movie is starting without you.
Her response is immediate.
Kayla: Why is my life the opposite of yours right now? I should run away.
Me: Or you could finish your book and get down here already.
She sends me laughing crying emojis, but she doesn’t have a comeback. It’s starting to grate on me. Something’s going on with my best friend. I’m a million miles away from her and can’t help. Maybe I should leave Budgie Bay and check on her.
Me: I can come kidnap you. I miss you that much. I can be the crazy friend for once.
Kayla: I love you but for once I have to be the responsible one. This deadline is looming. Give me until the new year. Then the kidnapping can commence.
It’s something. I’ll take it.
Me: Started a countdown on my phone. Eat lots of turkey next week. Love your face.
After I shove my phone in my purse, I climb the steps and walk inside Preening Pages.
I’m met with the delectable scent of cinnamon and apples.
I hope she has the cider I like and not another candle.
It’s such a letdown when I smell food only for it to be made of wax.
Clementine thinks it’s so funny she keeps sending me videos from a social media account where a lady makes food out of wax to trick people.
I’m starting to understand why Elias doesn’t like her.
“Hey, girl,” Clementine says from behind the register area. “Got you something hot to drink.”
Okay, so just kidding. I do like her.
“I love you,” I murmur as I accept my cider. “Is everyone here already?”
“Caroline is chompin’ at the bit to get started. Be ready.”
I thank her for the warning and then make my way to the back of the store where there’s a big room that can be rented out for meetings. The Budgie Bay Tourism Board meets here twice a month. Caroline, a lady in her late seventies and a thorn in my side, is chairman of this particular board.
If it weren’t for my need to protect the budgies, I’d have bailed months ago.
“Ms. Caroline,” I say as I enter the room, voice sugary sweet. “How are you, hon?”
She doesn’t respond with words. Just her usual glare. This woman is as crabby as they come. It’s no wonder my grandma had beef with her. That was a little nugget I found out when reading through her mountains of journals. It went in the book, too.
I shed my coat and take my seat at the table next to my newest friend, Isabel Romero, who I’ve learned owns Wild Petal. She always smells like flowers and she’s a nice woman not too much older than me. She winks at me and pats my hand when I sit.
“Now that everyone’s here,” Caroline says coolly, “we need to start discussing BudgieFest.”
“I’m still working on the new permit requirements for breeders,” I say in an equally chilly tone. “Should have something for us to vote on soon. It’ll likely come via email.”
I take my new city job and my position on this board very seriously.
Caroline hates my guts because I rock her precious boat.
“It’s long overdue,” Carl Sutton, a local bait store owner, states. “Everyone’s tired of them.”
“They are the backbone of our festival,” Caroline says tersely. “Their booth rent and the traffic they draw in are necessary to the success of our event.”
Same argument, different day.
“They’re abusive in my opinion,” I toss back, throwing my hands in the air. “They get away with it because our town lets them. It’s time to lay down the law.”
Caroline sighs but most everyone nods their head in agreement.
“Fine,” Caroline says, flicking her wrinkled hand at me. “Do your thing. But when we lose revenue, you’ll have your answer as to why.”
Prepared for her negativity, I sit up straighter and beam at her. “Which is why I’m proposing a new festival.”
“We already have a Christmas one,” Caroline snaps. “Sorry.”
Isabel stifles a groan beside me. Carl rolls his eyes.
“Okay, so hear me out,” I say, grinning at everyone.
“Budgie Love Adoption Event. We do it on Valentine’s Day.
Keep it local. Our focus is matching rescues to legitimate pet owners who already live in our community.
There are a few certified rescue non-profits, including mine, Everhart Cove Budgie Rescue. No breeders.”
Caroline shakes her head. “Too expensive. We need to bring in money. Not just spend it.”
She’s an Asbury. Apparently, they’re the loaded ones in town who own all of the new development. Makes sense why she wants BudgieFest to keep growing. Keeps her family rich.
“It’ll make money,” I assure her. “Not as much as BudgieFest, but it won’t be in the red. I’ll make sure of it.”
Sometimes watching Caroline’s eye twitch brings me more joy than I’d like to admit. Mom gets onto me for goading her, but Elias always supports me.
The rest of the meeting goes on without a hitch. After it’s over, I buy a couple of books for Grandpa and then leave with Isabel.
“She’s such a witch,” Isabel complains when we’re out of earshot. “I think you enjoy going toe to toe with her.”
“I do it in my grandma’s honor.”
“Do I want to know?” She chuckles. “Doubtful. I’m starving. You headed to The Icehouse?”
I nod as we cross the street. “Elias is hanging out with Monroe and Silas while I had my meeting. We’re probably going to eat dinner there. You should come too.”
“And be a third wheel? Pass. I’ll catch you next time. There’s a frozen dinner calling my name.”
“Isabel!” I cry out. “Don’t say that ever again. I’ll tell your brother.”
She groans. “I do not need Mateo pulling up with his food truck. Just leave me with my sad, solitary life, okay?”
I make a note to do more things just the two of us. Sounds like she needs it.
After we hug, I make my way down Wing Whirr Way until I reach The Icehouse. I can smell the onion rings cooking from here and my stomach grumbles happily. At least Denver doesn’t post his command center here.
I open the door and it’s steady for a weeknight. The Flock, including Isabel’s brother, Mateo, are already in their reserved spots. When Elias’s brother, Corbin, sees me, he raises his glass in greeting. I give them a wave and then search for my husband.
It’s so strange to call him that.
We finally tied the knot in a simple ceremony at the courthouse last week.
It was just the two of us. The reception will be sometime after Thanksgiving and before Christmas.
All of our friends and family can attend that one.
Jessi and Maggie have taken over the planning.
At this point, all me and Elias need to do is show up.
I spy Elias and Monroe sitting at the bar, chatting it up with Silas. They’re both nursing their beers. It’s funny to me how they pretend to drink. Honestly, I think they do it just to give Silas the sale.
“Hello, handsome,” I say, hugging Elias from behind. “Meet me upstairs. Don’t tell your wife.”
Monroe snorts in amusement.
Elias hauls me up into his lap and I snuggle against him. He’s warm and smells good. I relax in his arms, happy to finally relax.
“How did Caroline take your suggestion?” he asks against my hair.
“As long as it makes money, she’s in. If it doesn’t…” I turn my head up and make a slicing motion with my finger. “Off with my head.”
He pecks my lips and smirks. “You have way too much fun pushing that woman’s buttons, don’t you?”
Silas drops a basket of piping-hot onion rings in front of me, and I groan as I lean forward to snatch one.
“I love you, Silas Calder. If I weren’t a married woman, I’d hitch my wagon to yours.”
Elias grumbles, “Over my dead body.”
We stay for another hour or so, eat our fill in greasy food, and play a few rounds of darts before heading home. Once there, I peek in next door while Elias checks on the budgies.
“Brought you some leftovers,” I say to Mom as I let myself in. “How’s Grandpa?”
“Well, Janey’s still here if that tells you anything.” She sighs. “Some days are hard, sweetheart.”
I give her a hug. “I can take off work tomorrow. Give you a break if you want.”
She kisses my hair. “I’ve missed being with my daddy for forty-seven years. I’m not giving up a second with him.”
I sneak down the hallway and peek my head in Grandpa’s room. Janey smiles but the look in her eyes says, “Not today.” He still gets confused and calls me Goldie, so if he’s having a bad day, I don’t want to make it worse.
Once back outside, I find my husband—yeah, I’m actually really loving that new title—sitting on the back patio, poking at his fire pit. He’s already made up some decaf coffee for us and brought out my favorite cozy blanket.
“Come here,” he says, patting his lap. “Let me warm you up.”
I crawl into his arms and use his body for warmth as he covers us up. The air smells crisp like we might get snow one day soon. I’m eager to see Budgie Bay blanketed in white.
“I love this life,” I tell Elias. It’s something I say often.
“Me too, honey. Me too.”
This small-town life is a dream come true. Now I get why Kayla is always smitten and romanticizing it whenever we talk. It truly is a Hallmark movie come to life and I’m the star of it.
My heart aches as I think about Grandma. She would have loved seeing me here, marrying Elias, and becoming a part of the community she loved so dearly. Tears prickle at my eyes and I sniffle. Elias hugs me tighter.
It took Grandma dying for me to truly live.
I’m sad that’s how life works out sometimes. Just like it’s tragic that Grandpa came home, but Grandma was gone. All I can do is carry on her memory and love every second of my life.
“Hey, Elias?”
“Hmm?”
I sit up so I can see his handsome face.
The firelight bounces off his face and makes his eyes glimmer.
His beard has grown longer, and I have to fight both his mother and his sister from chasing after him with clippers.
I run my fingers through his hair, taking a long while to appreciate what a wonderful man he is.
“What’s on your mind, honey?”
I run my nose over his and then peck his lips. “How do you feel about kids?”
He stiffens which makes my heart race. It’s not something we’ve really talked about. Budgies, family, friends, and work keeps us busy. I’m suddenly nervous.
“I think Maxton and Mallory are pretty great.”
A rush of air escapes me. “Good answer.”
“Why?”
My lips curl into a grin. “I took a test this morning at work. Turns out you haven’t been poisoning my morning coffee.”
He grunts. That joke didn’t go over well this morning when I puked after coffee.
“So, apparently, I’m pregnant.” I hold my breath, worried about his response.
Seconds tick by. Minutes. Maybe even months or an eternity. Elias’s face remains hardened in stone.
Obviously, I have to breathe because we’re going to be here for a while. I suck in more air and plead with my eyes for him to hurry up.
Then, his lips curl into a grin that turns into a full faced one. “You’re serious?”
“I wouldn’t tease you. Not about this.”
He cups my cheek and runs his thumb over my bottom lip. “You’re so beautiful.”
“Elias,” I say with a huff.
His kiss is sweet and then he pulls away. He cups his hand around his mouth, bellowing into the night.
“Holy schnitzel! We’re having a baby!”
The budgies holler back from the aviary.
I guess they’re excited too.
The End