Epilogue
Rowan
The brewery was buzzing every night with locals and tourists who were curious about the new brews and the bathhouse.
A large part of our clientele was guests from the inn, so that kept us busy most nights of the week. Eventually, we needed to discuss one day we could be closed to give everyone a break.
We'd hired additional employees to maintain the equipment and even a brewmaster to lead the brew making process. I was still in charge of new recipes, and I worked with Beck to plan seasonal options.
We served Hattie's hot chocolate at the brewery now. There was a stand set up outside for those who wanted to hang out by the fire pits we'd created. Music played over the speakers, and visitors could sample the brews or sip hot chocolate.
Her hot chocolate was also served in the afternoons at the inn. It was a self-serve option where guests could choose between flavored iced water and hot chocolate.
The added business allowed her to work less in the truck. Months ago, I'd promised Hattie I'd look for a storefront for her, and Beck found the perfect space. I couldn't wait to share it with her.
Her truck was convenient to attend festivals and events, but I wanted her to have her dream of a storefront. A space where she could create an experience for her guests. Once she had a store, she would probably be more motivated to create physical products to sell, like mugs and hot-cocoa kits.
Tonight, Hattie's truck was parked at the town square. A temporary ice rink had been set up to draw crowds after the holiday season, so Hattie's hot cocoa truck was busy.
She'd hired another employee, Stevie, to work evenings so that she could take time off. We had to be diligent about time off so that we could spend time together. It was our promise to one another once we decided that we wanted to pursue a relationship.
Tonight, Beck was managing the brewery so I could show Hattie the space for her store. I hoped she wouldn't think I'd overstepped.
Hattie's business had expanded in the last few months, and she was consumed with trying to maintain her supplies and manage her time, along with the added stress of hiring a new employee.
I had a feeling this period of expansion was in the beginning stages.
She had much more exciting things in her future.
Hattie's dream was about to come true, and she had no idea.
I rapped on the side door because the line was long, and Hattie opened it with a smile. "Hey, you."
I stepped up so that I was level with her and kissed her softly. "Are you ready to go?"
We'd planned to go out to dinner, so Stevie was supposed to handle the truck for the rest of the night.
Hattie glanced over at Stevie, who was handing a tray of cups out the window. "I don't know. We're pretty busy."
Stevie flashed Hattie a smile. "Go. I've got this."
Her forehead wrinkled. "If you need help—"
Stevie rolled her eyes. "I won't. Now get out of here."
Stevie was a little rough around the edges, but she was great for Hattie. She forced her to take time off and was capable of handling the truck by herself. She was the best thing that could have happened to us.
Hattie grabbed her jacket, and I helped her put it on. "Where are we going?"
I took her hand. "I want to show you something before we eat dinner."
"Are we going ice skating again?" she asked hopefully.
"Not tonight." But I'd have to remember that for next time. She loved doing the holiday events and not being stuck in her truck the entire time.
I put my arm around her, and we walked in the direction of the new space. It was just off the square, and even though it was smaller than a lot of the other shops, it was perfect for access to the busiest section of town.
We paused at the side of the building where there was a window so that people could order while standing outside. There was a large picture window to the left that Hattie could decorate for the holiday season.
"This space has been empty for so long. It would be perfect for an ice-cream shop."
I hunched against a cold gust of wind, pulling her closer to me. "In this weather?"
She laughed. "Good point. Maybe it could be a seasonal thing."
I raised a brow, suddenly nervous. "You want to see what it looks like inside?"
She frowned. "Why would I want to do that? I'm not looking for a storefront right now."
"Isn't it your dream to own one?" I asked as I pulled a key out of my pocket.
She sighed. "Well, yeah. But that's not going to happen any time soon."
I unlocked the door. "Why not?"
"How do you have a key?"
"Eve gave it to me so I could show you this." I pushed open the door and turned on the light switch. There was a counter along one side that allowed the shop owner to serve customers inside the store and through the window.
On the other side was an open space perfect for a few small tables with chairs. I'd hung strings of lights on the ceiling so she could get a feel for how it would look once she was moved in.
"What's all this?" Hattie asked.
In the center of the dining room, there were pillows, blankets, and a picnic basket. "I thought we could have dinner here."
Hattie shifted on her feet. "This is sweet. But I don't understand why we're eating dinner here."
I moved around the shop. "Can you see yourself selling hot chocolate here?”
Hattie sucked in a breath as she looked at the space again, and maybe for the first time.
"I mean, yeah. This is a little smaller than I was thinking, but it's a perfect location with the square right there.
" She pointed at the window. "The ice skaters and people in line for Santa could easily come to the window and order. "
"You could create an experience in here for your guests. You can paint it however you want and add decorations."
Hattie spun in a circle, her eyes shining in the twinkling lights. "Are you sure I'm ready for this?"
I moved closer to her, pressing Play on a playlist on my phone, and drew her into my arms. "This is what you've always wanted."
"I'm scared."
I tipped her chin up slightly so she was looking at me. "Beck looked at your financials recently, remember?"
She bit her lip. "Yeah, he said he wanted to help."
"He said your business can expand. You've already increased your streams of income with the inn and the brewery."
She tipped her head to the side. "Yeah, but that was all you. You're doing me a favor."
I shook my head. "Hattie, people want your hot chocolate, and they don't just want it from a truck.
They want it anywhere they're gathering, in and out of town.
They don't want a substitute when they can have the real thing.
You can keep your truck for out-of-town festivals if you want, or you can sell it if you want more money in the bank. "
"We don't even know what the rent would be on a place like this. In this location, I'm sure it will be pricey."
I pulled up the lease on my phone. "Beck told Eve your vision for a store, and she was excited that you wanted to expand. She thought you would want to stay with the truck."
Hattie's nose wrinkled. "No."
I chuckled, scrolling to the pertinent line about the amount of the lease. "Here's the monthly payment."
Hattie's eyes rounded. "That's doable."
"Eve said she wants to support small-business owners, and it's a mutually beneficial arrangement for the town to have a permanent hot-chocolate store."
Hattie blinked away her tears. "I can put shelves on that wall and sell cute mugs. Can you see ones with Hattie's Hot Cocoa on them? Maybe even a hot-cocoa kit that people can buy as presents."
"You can do anything you want. We'll build shelves and paint the walls so that it looks exactly how you imagined."
She hugged me. "I can't believe you did all this for me."
"I wanted you to see what's possible. I didn't expect that Eve would be on board and that she was willing to negotiate a reasonable rate. Originally, I thought I'd show you a space so you could see that it was possible. But everything fell into place for you to have it now."
She let out a breath. "Are you saying this place is mine if I want it?"
"You just have to sign the lease. Eve's holding it for you."
Hattie closed her eyes briefly, then opened them. "I have everything I've ever wanted. First you and now this. I can't believe all I had to do was let you in."
I grinned. "I mean, you could have done that a long time ago."
She smiled up at me. "But I'm here now."
"And I wouldn't have it any other way."
She went up on tiptoes to kiss me, and I pulled her against me. There was nowhere else I'd rather be than here in her arms.
Our dreams had come true. We had each other, and I knew when the time was right, I'd ask her to marry me again.
I hope you loved Hattie and Rowan’s story!