Epilogue
Clover
Several months later…
“Are you sure you don’t think this is crazy?” I ask.
Heath pulls me into his arms. “I promise.”
“We’ve spent a lot of money getting this all set up and you know me. I might change my mind next week or in six months.”
My husband steps away from me, then picks me up and sets me on the countertop.
“Baby girl, listen to me. First of all, I don’t care if you get a new job every week.
If you go back to school and get seventeen more degrees.
If you decide at some point you don’t want to run this place, we can sell it.
But you took an old broken down house and made it something special. ”
I ignore the tears in my eyes. “It’s a dog spa, Heath. I’m not even sure that’s a thing.”
“Even if it’s not, you’ve made it something.
You did all of this. This is your vision.
No matter what it wasn’t a waste of time or money.
” He swipes his thumbs across my cheeks.
“Besides, I think this is a fucking brilliant idea. Especially with Great Dane’s Dog Sanctuary’s recent success.
People have somewhere to bring their dogs to get them groomed, buy them healthy snacks and get some basic obedience training. You’re a genius.”
I give him a watery smile. “You’re just saying that because you love me.”
“I do love you. More than anything in the world. You are my very heart walking around outside of my body. It’s my job to make sure you’re happy. So what do you want?”
“I want to make this place a success. Pampered Paws was an unrealized dream until I met you and then suddenly I wasn’t afraid to give it a try.
Then everything fell into place and now we’re here, the day before opening and everything is ready and beautiful.
And I don’t know why I’m so emotional.” I sniff.
I wrap my legs around Heath’s waist and pull him closer to me. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too.”
He kisses each cheek, the tip of my nose, my forehead, then brushes a sweet kiss on my lips.
“I nearly forgot,” he says. “I got you a little something.” He digs into his pocket and pulls out a shimmery gauzy pouch. Flipping my hand up, he empties the pouch into my palm.
A gold band falls out. It’s a simple antique ring with etchings in the metal, but no other adornment.
I look up at my love. “Is this the one—”
“The one we saw at that antique store in Wimberley,” he finishes. “Yes, you wanted it, I don’t know why you wouldn’t let me buy it that day. But I called them and they shipped it to me.”
“You gave me a perfectly beautiful wedding ring.” I glance down at the two carats on my left hand.
“Yes, it is beautiful and I know you love it too. But I also know that you don’t want to wear this big ol’ thing every day. This band.” He holds it up to me. “This is what you will wear all the time, isn’t it? Isn’t that why you wanted it?”
“That and I liked the history the man at the shop told us.”
“About the couple that met and married on the same day?” he asks.
I nod. “It felt like us. And with all the tasks I’ll do here, it’s more practical than my diamond.”
“Baby girl, if you don’t want to wear your diamond ever again, that’s okay with me.
I don’t care if you wear a ring at all. Everyone in this town knows you’re mine.
I’m who you come home to every night. The rings are just symbols.
” He pulls my current wedding set off my finger and slides it into his pocket. Then puts on the new band.
It’s thin and light and perfect. “We belong together,” I tell him.
“You and the ring or you and me?”
I roll my eyes. “You and me, silly. But this does look like it belongs on my finger, doesn’t it?”
“It does. Do we need to go hunting in antique shops to see if we can find me a new—old—band?”
“Ohh, that could be fun.” I wrap my arms around his neck and press kisses all over his face. “I love you, Heath West.”
“I love you, Clover West. Now then, let’s go home so I can see what you look like wearing only that wedding band.”
***
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