Epilogue
“Wait, I have to show you the view from the balcony,” Hanna chirped into the phone, holding it out as she ran through the world’s most charming countryside home.
She pushed open a set of creaky glass doors, stepping out into the brisk morning air. The hills of Pitlochry, Scotland unfurled before her, a stunning blend of cobblestone and soft green earth.
“Holy shit, Hanna, that’s stunning!”
Beneath the balcony, an endless sea of lush greens held onto the early morning dew, soaking into her skin.
“You have to promise you’re coming back,” Sara said.
“If I can drag Milo home,” Hanna said. “He’s having the time of his fucking life.”
“Where is he?” Sara asked, her voice dropping into a conspiratorial pitch all women knew.
“Showering.”
Sara wiggled her brows. “And there’s… nothing you wanted to tell me? Or show me? Perhaps a stunning family emerald?”
Hanna threw her head back and giggled, glancing over her shoulder to make sure Milo wasn’t within earshot.
“I think he’s waiting for the last night. He’s been acting a little skittish this morning.”
Sara squealed. “I knew it. I knew it. You look gorgeous, he’d better do it tonight.”
Hanna arched her perfectly sculpted brows and tossed a curl, meticulously styled for a day she knew would change her life forever.
“We’re heading out for another distillery tour, I gotta go!”
“Take a million photos!” Sara pleaded.
“Love you.”
Hanna took a few more breaths, inhaling as much of the crisp air as she could before heading back into the bedroom and staring at the dress lying over the bed they’d shared for the trip.
She ran her hands over the bodice, eyelash lace tickling her fingertips. She took her time pulling the delicate straps over her shoulders, careful not to snag the train on the ancient floorboards.
“Whoa,” Milo sighed, standing in the doorway.
She twisted to face him, the skirt following in a soft swish.
“Yeah?”
Milo moved closer, wrestling with his cufflinks. Two tiny golden sunflowers, peeking out from his burgundy jacket. She ran her fingers over them, instantly back in the DeBrunes’ guest house. A blush crept over her.
She turned to fix her dress in the mirror, smoothing the front while Milo tugged the zipper to the midway point of her back. She admired the sight of them together, so grateful for all the heartache it took for them to carve out space for one another.
She leaned her head back on his shoulder, placing a kiss on his freshly trimmed beard.
“Sara and Matty won’t hate us forever, right?”
Milo laughed. “Not forever, no. Besides, they’re about to be so sleep deprived it won’t matter.”
She touched his hand. “I wish our parents were here.”
She didn’t mean his mom or her dad, though Janet would surely have a few strong opinions for them when they returned.
He dropped a kiss on her shoulder. “Me too. You ready?”
And she was ready. She’d been ready.
Hanna gathered the train of her dress in her hands, folding the white silk and tulle over her arm as they wound their way out of the house, the Scottish breeze sweeping over them in a soft caress.
“Miss!”
Hanna was almost in the passenger seat of the car they’d rented when Mrs. Blairmount, the owner of their cottage, came barrelling out of the main house, her eyes lit up.
“Miss! I was hoping to catch you before you left. I can’t let you two leave without something!”
She disappeared back into her kitchen, the stonework reflecting the sun that peeked out between clouds while they waited. When she reappeared, they both released a heavy breath. Hanna’s throat tightened as the woman bustled across the yard, waving a bright yellow bouquet.
“My sister just arrived from Carnie! She brought me a bouquet, and I just can’t let you two run off and get married without flowers. Look at ‘em!”
She waved the sunflowers into the window, bouncing up and down. Hanna took them and smiled. She felt like she was holding sunshine the entire way to the council chambers.
She knew everyone would flip out when they got home, but there was something to having just one little slice of her life with Milo not on display.
“You alright?” Milo asked, glancing at her as they wound through the rolling hills.
“Fine,” she said.
And she meant it.