Epilogue #2
Avery nodded and looked out at the lake.
She couldn’t wait to find out if she, a “from away” as Mainers called out-of-staters, could handle the winter here.
It could be harsh or a winter wonderland.
She envisioned drinking hot cocoa in the little red A-frame and finding out if people really ventured into the woods and chopped down their Christmas trees like they did in the movies.
“Pepper, I see wheels turning in your pretty head.” He took both her hands. “Tell me your worries.”
“I’m imagining it all.” She let out a laugh. “Would we chop down our own Christmas tree?”
He smoothed his hands over her knuckles and laughed.
“We don’t have to figure everything out tonight.
There’s plenty of time to make a final decision.
And, yes, we can chop down a tree or buy one in a lot.
Whatever makes you happy. My only request is you wear one of those knitted caps with a pompom on top. ”
“Ooh, I want to see you wearing a flannel and wielding an axe. Maybe don’t shave for a day or two before?” She wiggled in her seat.
“I like this plan.” He rolled his lower lip through his teeth and smiled.
Miles ran his hand through his hair and messed it up.
This time, a piece stuck out to the side.
She reached up and put it back in place.
Miles was so gorgeous, with his dark eyes and tan face.
Some days she couldn’t believe he was her boyfriend.
Over the last year, he’d continued his therapy.
He still had panic attacks but a few weeks ago, he’d told her that he’d come to the realization they were temporary and he knew how to utilize his various tools to manage them until they’d passed.
They’d worked together on his flight instinct.
He now asked for time and space to think instead of running away.
Avery had learned to let him process their issues on his own before they addressed them together.
She now trusted he’d return to the discussion when he was ready.
Giving a problem space to breathe helped them resolve disagreements rationally.
Seeing him struggle and try so hard made loving him easy.
“So the next year is figured out.” He laced his fingers through hers and rocked their hands back and forth. “What about the rest of your life?”
“The rest of my life?”
“Yeah, what are you doing for the rest of your life?” Miles smirked.
Out on the lake, a fish jumped and flipped midair. Avery’s stomach did the same.
“Miles, we just figured out the next year, how far do you expect us to go?”
“The thing is, I’ve lost count of how many dates we’ve been on.
And that feels monumental,” he said. “I love you, Avery. You sit with me in my rain and share your sunshine. I never want to hear your laugh or giggle and know you aren’t mine.
From the day I met you, from that hug on the beach, I knew you possessed the truest heart of anyone I had ever met and would ever meet again.
I can’t imagine a day without you and your lost lip balms and your lists.
I wanted to know if you’d like to maintain this love, this kismet, for the rest of our lives. ”
Avery swallowed and tried to keep her tears at bay. Was this really happening right now? She’d imagined this moment a million ways but never expected it tonight.
“I’d love to spend the rest of my life with you.
” She let the joy burst out of her. A wide smile, followed by a tear or two, wiped away by her perfectly manicured hands.
“You know that, right? I used to think I would never find someone who loved me the way I loved them. It turns out I found him. At nineteen. And again a decade later. I never want to let that go.”
Everything fell very still. Avery caught her breath and sunk into the feeling that this, being with Miles, felt right.
“You’re my kis-mate,” he said with a half-smile. Miles had come so far. He used to think he couldn’t love someone at all. And look at him now, lit in a pinkish haze and getting all gushy.
“And you’ll always be mine.”
Miles cleared his throat. He cupped her jaw with both hands and ran his thumbs along her cheekbones before clasping both of her hands again. His gaze was so intense, he might not have noticed the sunset. Avery sure hadn’t.
“Avery, will you marry me?”
Time, the lake, Miles, Tabasco. They all stood still.
“Miles,” she croaked as another, even wider smile burst out of her. “Yes. Of course I’ll marry you.”
Miles’s shoulders relaxed. She ran her hand along his smooth jaw. Miles had shaved sometime this afternoon. He’d planned this. She leaned forward and kissed him. One of those deep ethereal kisses where she could’ve sworn she and Miles stood still while the sky and lake spun around them.
“Do you want me to get on one knee?” he asked sheepishly. “I will, but I wasn’t sure you’d want that.”
It dawned on Avery why he’d asked her while they were doing something they did all the time, in a place she felt comfortable.
He’d ensured she’d have the freedom to say no if that was what she wanted.
Sweet Miles. He was trying to keep this as unlike her first engagement as he could.
Truth was, she would’ve said yes if he’d asked her on a jumbotron.
“I don’t need a knee,” she said.
“How about a ring?”
“I’ll take one of those.” She giggled.
“It’s a good thing I convinced Lily get you a manicure.” Miles smiled.
“What?” Avery palmed her forehead. “Lily knew? Oh my stars. She was so stealthy. I didn’t have any clue. And I never get manicures.”
He fished inside the zippered side pocket of his pants and pulled something out. He kept his fingers over the top as he slid it onto her finger.
“I can honestly say that this is the best day of my life,” he said. “And I’m looking forward to saying that a lot in the future.”
Avery’s breath hitched. The ring was perfect. Not so big as to get in her way but large enough to look significant. Minimalist in style, to let the emerald cut stone take center stage.
“Oh Miles, it’s gorgeous. I love it.” She tilted her hand back and forth and admired the stone in the light. “But not as much as I love you.”
Tabasco knew something was up. She stood and wiggled her way between their knees, wanting to be part of whatever was happening.
Avery climbed over the dog, over to Miles’s lap and cupped his face in her hands.
Tabasco worked her way bedside Miles, perched her front paws on his armrest and rose to join them. She gave them both kisses.
“Somebody needs to train that dog.” Avery smiled into the space between them and kissed Miles.
His laugh broke the kiss. “Lighten up, dog kisses are basically hand sanitizer.”
Avery snuggled across his lap, her legs hanging over one armrest and her back leaning against the other armrest. Miles placed a hand on her thigh, his thumb playing hide-and-seek with the hem of her sundress.
Neither one of them could stop smiling. Tabasco settled at Miles’s feet.
Somewhere out on the lake, a loon called.
“I think we’re missing the sunset.”
“There’ll be another sunset,” she said. “But not like this one. This is the best sunset ever.”
For the next half hour, they talked about their wedding.
It was easy. They’d get married on the lake, ask Sam to officiate, and get Hayes to do a reading.
Miles admitted that Hazel helped him pick the ring and had already agreed to drop whatever she was doing and come sing at their wedding.
But Anna Catherine also wanted to sing, and they giggled about a potential competing divas situation, especially once Victoria joined the mix.
They’d rent out all of Montressa and have the reception on the granite ledge.
The only question was which dock to get married on.
After some deliberation, they decided to tie the knot on the Red House’s dock.
The A-frame would make a lovely backdrop, and it was their dock now.
Avery patted his chest and let out a happy sigh. She looked at her ring and smiled. What a great day. What a great summer. Their best summer yet.
“Hey Miles.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“I’m so happy. Thank you for making our proposal so perfect.”
“I’m not done yet. Tonight we’ll celebrate by ourselves.
There’s champagne in the fridge and a fire ready to be lit.
” He shifted under her and sat up straighter.
“Tomorrow, I invited everyone to the Lakeside Diner before your parents fly out. It’ll be our parents, our friends, and a whole mess of blueberries and maple syrup. ”
“And will you be having the usual?” She winked.
“Of course.” He winked back. “That chocolate milk costs a fortune.”
Avery rested her head on his shoulder as they watched the last sliver of sun sink in the western sky and waited for the stars to come out. Except one star was already out. And he was the only star in her sky.