EPILOGUE
Water sprayed out from the edges of the fountain, droplets landing on her skin as she chattered away to Luke about the three new weddings she’d booked in earlier that day—one in the upcoming November, one in August the following year, and a Christmas-themed wedding the following December.
“I’ve never done holiday bouquets before, so I’ll have to practice this year.”
“I’m sure you’ll nail it,” he said and shivered when a drop of water hit his cheek and rolled down his skin.
“They really need to fix that stray jet. I mean, I’m glad for the cool-down, because I think this July heat is actually a monstrosity, but I have to work later and a soggy suit doesn’t give the best impression. ”
She laughed. “You’ll look great, even in a soggy suit.” But she stood up from her perch on the rim of the fountain and held out her hand for him to take. “Hang on, I just want to make a wish.”
Luke dug in his pockets and handed her a coin. “For luck,” he said, kissing her cheek.
April clutched the coin in her palm and thought back on everything that had happened since she’d come back home nearly five months ago.
All she could really wish was that she would keep growing, keep taking chances on her dreams even when it scared her, and have the courage to try even when things were hard.
A soft wind brushed her face and she smiled as she opened her eyes, throwing the coin into the water with a soft plop as she pushed one last wish out into the universe—that she’d finally found where she was always meant to be.
“Ready?”
She nodded, walking away just as her phone rang. “Oh, one second. It’s the realtor’s office.” Luke tried to hide his smile but she caught it and narrowed her eyes. “Hello?”
“Congratulations,” Luke’s friend Sam said down the phone. “Your offer was accepted. 305 Blossom Lane is yours!”
Her eyes flew wide and she watched Luke’s smile grow, unrestrained, as he mouthed Congrats.
“Thanks so much,” she said to Sam and he rattled off some more information for her before hanging up. “Did you already know?” She immediately rounded on Luke, and when his smile continued to grow, she rushed over to him, semi-frustrated, as she asked, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
He ignored her ire and instead hugged her. “Because I wanted this moment to be all yours, and I wanted to be with you when they told you.”
Any annoyance faded and she melted in his arms when he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “I have a house.”
“You have a house,” Luke confirmed and when she jumped up and down he laughed, his arms still around her. “I guess that means you can finally plant that seed, now you have a garden of your own.”
“I guess so,” she whispered, heart feeling full as she looked up into Luke’s deep-blue eyes and let a soft smile touch her lips. “Fancy getting dirty with me?”
He chuckled. “Always, Jones. Lead the way.”