Epilogue
Spring – First Week of A New Life
Fall might not be her favorite season anymore.
Spring was definitely giving it a run for its money. The air of newness seemed to cover everything in her life. New apartment. New boyfriend. New start.
Lilian reflected on all of this while sitting in the car next to Hawk. Her fingers tapped against the inseam of her jeans until he reached over and laced them together.
“Nervous?” he asked.
“What gave you that idea?”
He shrugged. “Don’t be. You’ve worked hard for this. It will be great.”
“It’s… I keep thinking of that first day when I opened the shop at the faire. How excited I was. How amazing everything seemed before reality set in.”
“It wasn’t a complete flop.” Hawk sipped his coffee to hide his smile.
“No, that came around week two.” Lilian sighed, feeling her chest constrict at the memory. “I want this to be different. I want this to work out so bad.”
“It will be different,” he assured. His words were like a soothing balm against the knot in her stomach.
It was strange that she’d ever considered this man her enemy. He still had a curtness to him that might be seen as rude or snobby. But she couldn’t remember the last time he’d spoken to her in such a way. He’d been nothing but supportive since they’d started dating.
It had been terrifying at first, like she was stepping out of the practice ring of the Ren Faire and into the real world. Both in their relationship and her business. But with Hawk at her side, she knew she could do it.
“Besides,” he continued, “I think everything worked out pretty well that first time.”
She scoffed. “You call all that well? I barely made a profit.”
“But you did make a profit,” he pointed out, helpful as always.
Lilian gritted her teeth and looked out the window. They were almost there. “This just feels more real.”
“Because it is.”
He squeezed her hand, and the double meaning of the words settled between them. She brought his hand up to her lips and kissed the knuckles.
The new shop wasn’t far from their Manhattan apartment.
Just ten minutes away on the west side of town, where a major city expansion was happening.
Houses were going up, businesses were moving in, including Lilian’s.
Before she knew it, they were pulling into the tall brick structure that housed three business suites.
A cake and coffee shop, a boutique, and Lilian’s bookshop.
A large, fancy, official sign hung above the space that spelled out Bodice and Brawn Bookstore.
It was a big step up from the smaller version Margo had made, but the connection to the faire was still there.
Her friend had made a beautiful logo that featured a sword over a bodice.
The sign’s bright blue color was clear from the road, but it was the overwhelming shine to it that nearly brought Lilian to tears.
It was real.
She and Hawk had purposefully arrived early to make sure everything was in place for their opening day.
After long nights of putting together bookshelves, painting while listening to sports podcasts (for Hawk mostly), and setting up their stock, there wasn’t too much left to be done.
But she had been looking forward to a few quiet moments with her boyfriend before the craziness of the day started.
But they weren’t alone.
A line had already formed outside the door.
Lilian blinked in surprise. She quickly recognized some of the people standing out front.
There was David, Alex, and Margo, who had taken an entire day off from work and school to be the first in her shop.
They were talking to Emily, who had helped Lilian throughout the entire process.
She’d been nervous the other bookseller would see her as competition, but instead, the woman embraced her like a business big sister.
Her parents and Janelle were also there, her mom wearing a bright pink bandanna and Janelle wearing a matching pink ascot.
Hawk’s mother had become a constant in Lilian’s life just as much as her son.
Mostly, her mom and Janelle had become the best of friends.
Whenever Lilian called to check on things, the two of them were together.
The absence of his father was poignant. The two were separated according to Janelle, with no additional information on the matter.
She didn’t elaborate on whether divorce papers had been signed or what would happen with the faire.
Marcus’s sudden disappearance from their life made that easier, but she knew Janelle and Hawk worried about the future of the faire.
Auditions for the next season were already underway, and divorces could be messy in more ways than one.
After their discussion at the ball, Hawk agreed to stay on with the faire to help his mother transition into fully ownership.
They didn't know if there would ever be a day when he would fully step away, but for now, he was busy dividing his time between supportive boyfriend and full-time faire manager.
But today she wasn’t going to think about it. Marcus Carlisle did not deserve any space in her brain. Today was about her accomplishments and the people she loved.
“Did you—”
“It’s a big day,” Hawk said, looking exceptionally pleased with himself.
“We don’t open for another hour.”
“They all wanted to be the first in the shop. I wasn’t going to be the one to tell them no.”
She smiled at the thought. None of their friends would have taken no for an answer. The nerves abated as an overwhelming fullness expanded through her chest. Love. She realized she was so loved. By her family, her friends, and the man beside her.
“Thank you.”
Hawk turned toward her, his arm bracing behind the passenger seat. His body somehow encased hers, blocking out the smiling faces of their friends and family and creating a cocoon that was just the two of them. “Don’t thank me. This was all your doing. Your hard work. I merely played support.”
“Well,” she said, cupping his cheek. He leaned into the touch and followed as she guided him close. “I still couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Of course you could have,” he assured. “But you have to admit. It was more fun with me.”