Epilogue
14 months later
ELI LIFTED HER phone, reading the social media post. Thanks to Amarie, he’d not only preserved his father’s legacy, he’d expanded it to include the entire family and the town of Service. Mortgage payments, foreclosure notices, and empty appointment slots no longer plagued his dreams. Last year the house he never lived in had sold. The Calvary Family Trust owned the deed to their land and property. Before long, he would need another staff veterinarian. Now, Eli focused on the happier days ahead of him. He read the post again.
Calvary Clinic is closed for the engagement party of #SexyKittyVet and #PerkyLateBloomer; however, you can still get groomed with Ruth and Phoebe B. The picnic and cat adoption cafe sponsored by #KittyKibbles will be live-streamed via TikTok and the KittyKibbles YouTube account from the Service town pavilion.
“Amarie, get down here, woman. We’re on the clock,” Eli bellowed from the Calvary kitchen table.
“Hold your mule, Eli. I did work a twelve-hour shift last night.” And he had kept her awake most of the morning planting kisses in special places reserved for him.
“You could just work for our company.” He smirked. Seems #SexyKittyVet kept paying dividends. Eli spent more days editing their video clips and fielding public speaking events than Amarie these days. He did enjoy interacting with his TikTok fans. The educational clips that he shared helped pet owners confidently care for their animals. He took pride in the service he provided. The town had benefited from the added publicity as well. A few real estate developers and home improvement chains had volunteered supplies to support their next fundraiser—a local clinic. Seems his momma had known what was best for him and the town when she’d signed them up for the bachelor auction.
Amarie appeared at the top of the steps. “I could, but Ruth handles everything just fine without me.”
Brown eyes met green, and they stayed locked like that for several seconds. Her hair, longer now, cascaded over bare shoulders into a waterfall of thick ringlets. He watched the smile spreading across her lips as she drew near. His heart filled with desire, respect—awe. He loved everything about Amarie Walker.
Eli reached for her. “Maybe your fiancé doesn’t like to be away from you.”
Actually, he couldn’t keep his hands to himself anymore. The primary care practice over in Whynot had been eager to hire a local celebrity. Seems patients made up excuses to meet the city girl who had saved a whole mountain town from being foreclosed on by big business, as the rumors had it.
“Well,” she cooed, taking a seat in his lap, her toenails polished with purple glitter heart emojis, “when we get the fundraiser for the clinic off the ground, we can discuss it.”
Eli pointed to the camera. “I’m working on it, Sparkles. I’m working on it.”
Amarie kissed his cheek. “I know, grumpy pants.”
“Sixty seconds till we’re live, family.”
His momma, Tobias, and Noah strode in from the living room, taking their places behind him and Amarie around the Calvary family table. Bethany and Matt, both red-cheeked and a little disheveled, rushed in from the clinic, Hiccup on their heels, all five cats in a huge basket from their Kitty Kibbles sponsor.
“In three, two, one,” Eli counted. “Go.”
“Happy Holidays, TikTok!” they shouted in unison.
“Amarie and I, and the rest of the Calvarys, want to wish you a very happy holiday season. Words can’t express how much each of you have come to mean to our family and the town of Service.” Eli kissed Amarie on the cheek, proud to show the world how he adored his woman.
“Tell them the rest, Eli.”
She wiggled her bottom in anticipation, and his body responded with need.
“Yes, ma’am.” He cleared his throat. “Following the expansion of Calvary Vet Clinic, our veterinary technician training program will launch under our Calvary–Kitty Kibbles Partnership. Single mothers and the unhoused have priority placement and scholarship assistance with housing and tuition.”
Yep, he and his wife-to-be had dreamed up a way to marry their dreams and follow their passions. The vet training program kept him teaching and working with animals, while Amarie expanded her commitment to working with women and children in need of a helping hand.
Then Noah took over. “TikTok, get ready for some fun ’cause yours truly, @TomCatNoah, is in charge of Eli’s online bachelor party. And don’t worry about work on Monday, @SimplyTobias has a video series coming on oral hydration to get you back on your feet. And P.S. @farmersdaughter, if you don’t come home, the next bachelor party might be mine.” He winked.
“Noah,” Leah chided, “be good.”
“Oh, trust me, Mom, I have been.” He winked.
This was the family Eli had always envisioned. His momma, Tobias, Noah, and his soon-to-be-his wife, on Calvary land. Eli thanked his father for giving him a vision, but he praised heaven for sending his Saint Amarie, to help him find his own way.