Epilogue
May was a perfect month for a New Hampshire wedding. Fresh green leaves clothed the trees, colorful tulips dotted the property,
the town was not yet teeming with tourists, and business was slow.
Three months wasn’t much time to plan a wedding. But when you knew what you wanted and your dream venue was at your disposal,
the prospect wasn’t too daunting. Lauren found her perfect gown on a trip to Portland with Sydney, Meg, and Tammy. The satin
A-line dress featured off-the-shoulder sleeves with a fitted waistline. She felt like a princess in the elegant gown. It would
be a smallish wedding anyway, with only seventy or so guests. Sydney and Meg would serve as her bridal party, and Javi and
Tom would stand with Jonah.
Lauren swept her gaze over the barn’s interior. Tomorrow this place would be filled with friends and family here to witness
her union with Jonah. It was still afternoon, so she couldn’t gauge the effects of the twinkle lights just yet. But sunlight
would stream through the windows during the ceremony, making it perfect for photography. And by the time the reception was
underway, the festive fairy lights would set a celebratory tone.
At the spot where they would exchange their vows, a beautiful archway stood, draped with blush tulle. Tomorrow peonies in
blush, white, and ivory would be added. At the thought of exchanging vows with Jonah, Lauren smiled.
She’d only grown to love him more in the weeks since her return. He was everything she’d ever wanted in a man, in a husband, and she couldn’t imagine her life without him.
After Jonah’s proposal she’d given her two weeks’ notice at Glitter, then spent her remaining time there helping her replacement
acclimate—it was the same woman Olivia had originally been considering. After some initial frustration, her boss eventually
came around—especially once Tammy called and told her how happy they were to be welcoming Lauren into their family.
Lauren had settled into her new role quickly and with a passion she’d never had for her so-called dream job in Boston. The
Landrys had been clear from the beginning: the venue was hers to run as she pleased. And run it she had. The summer schedule
was quickly filling up. Lauren had scouted out competent caterers, photographers, linen services, and three amazing florists.
She’d scoured the area for talented DJs and bands. It seemed only right that the first wedding she’d planned start to finish
was Jonah’s and hers.
And then, in the middle of a snowy March, a memory from last summer surfaced from the recesses of her brain. It had been the
day she overbooked a cabin and Jonah took her on a bike ride on the rail trail. It was a lovely memory, and after telling
Jonah about its emergence, she held it close to her heart.
In the following weeks a few more memories, seemingly random, trickled in. Their time at Flume Gorge, Lauren tossing a pine
cone at Jonah, a girls’ night out with Meg and Tammy. They were precious pieces to a puzzle that might never be complete.
But those memories were a bonus, not a necessity. She loved Jonah fully even if her memory was incomplete. Speaking of Jonah...
He’d been very accommodating about the wedding plans. His only stipulations were a particular local band and the honeymoon locale. So Lauren chose the color scheme, invitations, and virtually everything else—though he did assist her with all of it.
He and the Landrys had helped set up for tomorrow, and the space had turned out perfectly. White chairs were lined up with
perfect precision on each side of the aisle. After the ceremony they would be swept away and replaced by tables while the
wedding party posed for photos lakeside.
Arms slipped around her from behind as the familiar scent of Jonah’s soap filled her lungs. “Just one more day until you’re
Lauren Landry.”
“I can’t wait.” She folded her arms over his. “Do you like how the barn turned out?”
“It’s beautiful. You’re amazing at this—I knew you would be.”
“Well, a girl envisions her wedding day. All I had to do was bring it to life.”
“It’s perfect. But truth be told, I’d marry you in a muddy pigpen as long as you promised to be mine forever.”
She turned and slid her hands up his shoulders. “Well, let’s do the beautiful barn wedding—and I’ll still be yours forever.”
“Deal.” He gave her a quick peck. Then another, his lips lingering on hers for an extra beat. “It’s been a busy week.”
“Crazy busy.”
Her mom had arrived this afternoon and was staying in Birch. They’d met up several times since their reunion in February and
kept in touch via texting. Lauren didn’t know if they’d ever share the kind of relationship Tammy had with her children—they’d
been separated so long. But she was willing to build a relationship, and her mother seemed grateful for the opportunity.
Jonah nuzzled her neck. “I’m so looking forward to having you all to myself for seven sunny days in Bermuda.”
“Ahhhh, I can’t wait to lounge on the beach with an umbrella drink and soak up all that sunshine with my new husband.”
“Are you in a bikini in this scenario?”
“I am. And it’s red.”
He groaned. “You’re killing me. Tell me more.”
She chuckled. “You’ll see it soon enough, my love. Maybe we should go over a few details instead as we do have a wedding tomorrow.
Did you pick up the tuxes?”
“For the record I’d rather think about the bikini. But yes, I picked them up this morning. And I took Graham to get groomed
this afternoon. He smells like a spa.”
“Perfect.” Because, yes, Graham would be their ring bearer. Lauren had been working with him for weeks, and their sweet little
mutt had his part down pat.
“Can I at least see the bikini?”
She snorted. “Let’s see, what else? The rehearsal starts at five, followed by dinner at The Landing, but that’s all set. The
flowers will be delivered in the morning. Do you think we should start boxing up my things?” Jonah’s parents had bought a
little Craftsman near town, and Jonah and Lauren would be moving into their old place above the lodge when they returned from
their honeymoon. It would be a new start for them all.
“I’ve already boxed up my stuff. I think yours can wait till we’re home.”
Home. Such a nice word—and never more fitting. After years of searching she had finally found the place where she belonged. And
the people with whom she belonged. Joy welled up inside her until she nearly burst with it.
“I have something for you.” He reached down and lifted a manila envelope with a white bow from a chair.
“What’s this?”
He handed it to her. “It’s your wedding present.”
“But I haven’t even wrapped yours yet.” She’d gotten him a watch he’d been eyeing online. She loved the idea—the gift of time.
“I can open yours later. I wanted you to have this a little early.”
“It’s a—a document ?”
“Open it up.”
She slid her finger under the flap. The envelope was about half an inch thick. “If this is a prenup, I should inform you that’s
not an appropriate wedding gift. Also, you have a very thorough lawyer.”
“Funny. Stop stalling.”
She reached inside and pulled out a sheaf of papers secured with a clip. There was only one line centered on the front page:
Before We Were Us .
Her gaze darted to him.
“Remember that writers group we hosted back in October? I’ve been working with one of them—Donna—since you came back. She
wrote our story.”
Her eyes stung with tears. “Oh, Jonah. Thank you.”
“It includes scenes from every date we went on and every interaction I could remember. I recorded it all—how we fell in love—and
she wrote it all out in story form. I hope you like how it turned out.”
She hugged the pages to her chest. “I haven’t even read it and I already love it.”
“Maybe you’ll get all your memories back. But if you don’t... I figured this was the next best thing.”
“I can’t wait to read it.” She couldn’t believe this man. Had never known there was someone so wonderful meant just for her.
She was in awe of him.
“What’s that look for?” Jonah smiled down at her, his expression full of love and affection.
How to describe the overwhelming, exquisite feelings flooding through her right now? “I’m just so happy. I can’t wait to be
your wife, Jonah Landry.”
He leaned his forehead against hers. “I’m happy, too, honey. We’ve been through a lot already—and it’s only made me love you more. Just imagine how much I’ll love you fifty years from now.”
Fifty years of Jonah. She grinned at the thought of their life together. “Imagine the story we’ll be able to tell our children
and grandchildren. Once upon a time, before we were us... we were just two lonely people in search of one another.”
“I like the way our story begins.”
She palmed his face. “I like the way it ends.”
Jonah pressed a soft kiss to her lips, then smiled into her eyes. “And all the parts in between.”