Epilogue
Three Months Later
Joy
Graham stopped the truck and turned to me. His hazel eyes went wide and heated as they traveled from my face down to my boots and back up again.
“Damn, doll. You look incredible in that dress.”
Heat crept up my neck and into my cheeks.
It was the fourth time he’d complimented me since he’d seen me in my outfit, but the look in his eyes still made me blush.
I smoothed the soft fabric of my tight sweater dress where it hugged my curves.
The burgundy color brought out the blue in my eyes, according to Ava and Emmie when they’d helped me shop for it last week.
The over-the-knee boots Graham had bought me made my legs look miles long.
“You don’t think I'm overdressed for a party at the diner?”
Little Grandma had opened the diner for the evening, we were going to have a big blast. She wanted to thank everybody who had anything to do with rescuing me.
I was all for it, but then it turned into more of a formal affair.
All the ladies had talked about dressing up.
There was something about tonight that felt important somehow, but Graham wouldn’t tell me why.
“Sweetheart, you're going to be the belle of the ball.”
His rough voice made my stomach flutter. After all our time together, he could still make me feel like a teenager with her first crush.
Graham leaned across the center console and cupped my face in his big hands. His thumbs traced across my cheekbones as he studied my face like he was memorizing it.
“What are you thinking about?” I asked.
“How lucky I got.”
“I'm the lucky one.”
He kissed me then, soft and sweet at first, then deeper when I opened for him. His tongue traced the seam of my lips before sliding inside to tangle with mine. I melted into him, my hands fisting in his black button-down shirt.
When he pulled back, we were both breathing hard.
“If you keep kissing me like that, we're never going to make it inside.”
Graham chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest. “Trust me, we need to get in there. This party won't wait, and you’re the guest of honor.”
He climbed out of the truck and jogged around to open my door. His hands spanned my waist as he lifted me down from the high seat, letting my body slide against his until my boots touched the gravel.
“Ready?”
I nodded, though nervous butterflies danced in my stomach. Something was up. Graham had been acting strange all week, secretive phone calls and mysterious errands. Even Miss Laverne had given me a knowing look when I’d gone to her house to help with her roses.
We walked hand in hand down the sidewalk of the town square. We had to park over a block because so many cars were clustered around the diner. As we got close, I could hear laughter and music from inside.
Graham opened the door, and the bell jingled like normal, letting everyone know that someone had arrived. I stepped inside and stopped so abruptly that Graham bumped into my back.
The diner had been transformed. White lights were strung along the walls, casting everything in a warm glow. Someone had brought in the jukebox from Maverick’s Bar and Grill, and every table was covered in white linens. But none of that was what made my breath catch.
It was the people.
Roxie stood near the bar with Hart, both of them grinning at me like they knew a secret.
Ava and her husband Brent were seated near the window, but Ava was practically bouncing in her seat with excitement.
Miss Laverne sat at a table with the Sheriff, both of them beaming in my direction.
Simon and Trenda waved from across the room where they stood with Roan and Lisa.
Of course, Little Grandma and Miss Gladiola were seated in the middle of the room, so that everyone could spend time with them. I saw my parents at another coveted table. My mom’s face was filled with love, while my dad was in deep conversation with Graham’s dad. That made my heart swell.
Seth stood near the back wall, his arm wrapped around a gorgeous redhead. When he spotted me, his familiar grin spread across his face.
Randy leaned against the lunch counter, looking uncomfortable in his dress shirt but smiling nonetheless.
Emmie was right near the hostess stand, practically bouncing with excitement. I wanted a hug from her, but I was too filled with emotion. I pressed my face against Graham's chest, breathing in his familiar scent while I tried to process what I was seeing.
“How?” I looked up at him with tears already spilling down my cheeks. “Why? When?”
Graham's hands trembled as he cupped my face, wiping away the tears with his thumbs. The confident, unshakeable Navy SEAL looked nervous for the first time since I'd known him.
“Joy Magill.”
His voice carried across the suddenly quiet room as he slowly dropped to one knee in front of me. Every conversation stopped. Every eye in the place focused on us.
My hands flew to my mouth as he pulled out a small velvet box.
“Seven months ago, I walked into Miss Laverne’s kitchen and saw you, and like lightning, my life changed forever.
You taught me the meaning of happiness. You taught me that love wasn't something I had to earn or prove myself worthy of. Instead, it was a gift freely given.” His voice grew stronger with each word.
“You’ve made every single day better than the day before. ”
The ring inside the box was perfect. A simple solitaire diamond on a white gold band, classic and elegant without being flashy. Exactly what I would have chosen for myself.
“Joy, I've spent the last month asking everyone in your family for permission to marry you. Your dad threatened to shoot me if I ever hurt you. Your mom made me promise to give you babies. And Little Grandma told me I better treat you like the treasure you are.”
Laughter rang out through the room to combine with my own as I continued to cry.
“Oh, and Randy said he'd run me down with his truck if I made you cry.”
“Only unhappy tears,” Randy called out from across the room. “Happy tears are fine.”
More laughter rippled through the crowd.
“So, Joy. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Will you let me love you for the rest of our lives?”
The words came out through my sobs. “Yes! Oh my God, yes!”
The room erupted in cheers and applause as Graham slipped the ring onto my finger with shaking hands. He stood and kissed me while our families and friends whooped and hollered around us.
When we finally broke apart, I was laughing and crying at the same time.
“I can’t believe you went to this much trouble.”
“You deserved this. You deserved to have everyone who loves you here to celebrate.”
I looked around the room at all the faces beaming back at us. My found family and my blood family, all gathered in one place to witness this moment.
“I love you, Graham Wallace.”
“I love you too, future Mrs. Wallace.”
Graham
Two hours later, I stood near the lunch counter nursing an iced tea and watching Joy make the rounds, showing off her ring to anyone who hadn't gotten a close look yet. The woman was glowing, her happiness so bright it lit up the whole room.
Emmie bounced over to where Joy was standing with Trenda, Roxie, and Lisa all four women talking over each other in the way that women do when they're planning something.
“So when's the wedding?” Emmie demanded. “Please tell me it's soon. I've been dying to plan a wedding.”
“We haven't even talked about it yet,” Joy laughed. “I've been engaged for exactly two hours.”
“That's plenty of time to pick a date,” Ava chimed in as she joined the group. “Spring weddings are beautiful. Or maybe summer. Everyone knows a June wedding is perfect.”
I shook my head and smiled, then spotted Little Grandma sitting alone in the corner. The centenarian looked tiny, but her sharp blue eyes missed nothing.
I made my way over and sat down beside her.
“Can I get you anything to drink, ma'am? Something to eat?”
“I'm fine, dear. But I'm glad of the company.”
Little Grandma's voice carried the soft drawl of someone who'd lived her whole life in the South.
“I see that you’ve had a chance to speak to everyone here tonight.”
She chuckled, the sound reverberating through me like sunshine. Almost as kind and warm as Joy’s laughter. “I do what I can.” Her eyes cut over to where Emmie was standing, and I saw a sly smile flash across her face.
“What are you thinking?”
“Nothing important.”
“How come I’m thinking that Emmie better duck and take cover?”
“Are you saying you regret your situation?” the woman laughed.
I joined in. “I can’t say that at all. My life is perfect.”
“You’ve done well by my Joy. You've given her roots and wings both, son. That's the secret to a happy marriage. Roots to keep you grounded, wings to let you soar together.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
“Besides happiness, I see peace in your eyes. Am I right?”
I smiled slowly. “You’re right. Joy gave me that.”
“That’s good to hear. I see the same thing in Joy’s eyes now. What you have together is rare. I told you to treasure Joy.”
“Yes ma’am, you did.”
“I want you to know, I told Joy to treasure you as well.”
That had me sitting up straighter. “You did?”
“I did,” she nodded. “You are two of the lucky ones who have found your home in the arms of each other.” Then she looked behind me, and I turned around. There was Joy. She put her hand on my shoulder and kissed Little Grandma’s cheek.
“You going now, sugar?”
“Yes,” Joy answered. “I’ll see you at brunch tomorrow.”
I stood up and took Joy’s hand, and we waved to everybody as we made our way back to my truck. I pressed her up against the passenger side door.
“Happy?” I asked as I looked into her eyes.
“Happier than I've ever been in my life.”
“I love you, Joy Magill.”
She looked up at me with tears in her eyes.
“I love you, too. And I can't wait to be your wife.”
As we stood together under the stars outside of the Broken Eagles compound, having been surrounded by everyone who mattered to us, I knew Little Grandma was right. We'd found our home in each other’s arms. And that was worth more than all the gold in the world.
Don’t forget to read the next book in the Jasper Creek series, Her Unending Horizon, which is coming out in January 2026.