EPILOGUE
Mae
Christmas Eve dawned clear and icy cold. Sunny days in Alaska in the winter tend to be the coldest. The sun cast bright shards of light across the landscape, and icy stalks of dead grass glittered. I wrapped a scarf around my neck and tugged my hat on before I stepped outside.
Rowan had to go into the station this morning, and he'd already warmed up my car. I smiled to myself. When I stopped in at Firehouse Café, Phoebe was sitting at a coffee table with a man I didn't recognize. She waved me over.
“Hey, do you remember Archer?” she asked when I stopped beside the table.
I looked over at the man in question. “Archer Cannon?” This man was something all right. He had burnished gold hair and almost silver eyes. The only way to describe his face was chiseled, which felt ridiculous, but it was the only word that came to mind.
He smiled. I was deeply in love with another man, but I knew that smile did something to plenty of women. “You don't look anything like little Archie in fifth grade, although you do have the same hair and same eyes,” I offered.
He chuckled. “Good to see you, Mae.”
When I glanced toward Phoebe, her cheeks were tinged pink.
“What brings you back to Willow Brook?” I asked. “Do you have any family still here?” I didn’t think his parents were around, but I didn’t know if he had other family nearby.
“You remember the Cannon Mine?”
“I do. It closed, like forever ago. Aren’t they trying to re-open it?” I replied.
Archer dipped his chin in acknowledgment, and even that was kind of sexy. I flicked my eyes to Phoebe, thinking she would have one hell of a time resisting this guy.
“It did close, but my family owns it. I’m here to take over management.”
“Isn’t there a big thing about the environment with that? I’ve only been back a month or so and am getting caught up on all the local issues, but unless I’m confused, there’s a ton of opposition to re-opening it.”
Archer nodded slowly. “Don't worry, we're not going to ruin the environment. That’s why I’m here.”
Phoebe cast him an assessing look. “Here’s to hoping.”
“Well, it’s good to see you. I’ve got a few errands to run after getting coffee. Welcome back to Willow Brook.”
Archer smiled again. “Good to see you, Mae.”
“Are you bringing him to the fire station tonight?” That question slipped out without me thinking.
Phoebe looked a little flustered, which was definitely not a Phoebe thing. She was a badass hotshot firefighter. She didn’t do flustered.
“She didn't mention it,” Archer offered with a sly grin. “But I'd love to go.”
Feeling mischievous, I replied, “Oh, you should totally go. I'll be there with Rowan.”
I was certain Phoebe would have glared at me if it weren't for Archer sitting right there. I grinned and patted her lightly on the shoulder. “See you tonight.”
As planned, we went to my parents’ house for an early dinner. I was returning from the bathroom and found my father with his hand on Rowan’s shoulder. Their heads were bent close together as they conferred. My mother sat beside my father, smiling almost giddily.
“What's going on?” I asked when I reached the table.
“Nothing,” my mother said quickly, too quickly.
I knew she was hedging, but whatever. “You two enjoy the staff holiday party at the fire station,” my father said a few minutes later.
“We will. Good to see you both,” Rowan replied as he reached for my hand.
“What was that about?” I asked once we stepped out into the freezing cold night.
“Nothing, just chatting with your parents,” he replied casually.
“That wasn't nothing,” I retorted.
“Wasn't that a double negative?” Rowan teased.
I rolled my eyes. “Fess up.”
“You're going to have to wait.”
“What if I don't want to wait?”
All I got was a low chuckle in return. I contemplated badgering him on the drive to the fire station, but it was only about three minutes. When we arrived, we were swept into the back area. I glanced around. “Wow, it’s festive.”
Maisie appeared at my side. “Isn't it, though? I even made the guys help me decorate,” she said solemnly.
Beck arrived at her side, adding, “And we did a great job.”
Susannah strode over, pulling me into a quick hug. “Hey, you! Glad you two could make it.”
“Wouldn't miss it. This place is bigger than I expected.” The utilitarian space was decorated with some small wreaths, and glittering lights hung from the ceilings with large red bows in the corners of the room. There was a table with plenty of alcohol and a collection of food.
“You didn't tell me it was a potluck,” I said, nudging Rowan in the side.
His eyes caught mine as he smiled sheepishly. “I told them that we had to go to dinner with your parents, and I didn't have time. I didn't want to make it your responsibility.”
I sighed. “Ugh. We’re that couple now.”
“What couple?” Graham asked as he approached with Madison's hand in his.
“The couple who didn't bring anything to the potluck because Rowan didn't tell me,” I explained.
“He said you had to have dinner with your parents tonight,” Graham replied.
“Well, we did, but I would’ve made cookies or something. Anything.”
Madison shrugged. “It's okay. You can bring something next time.”
There were enough friends here that I forgot to wonder about Rowan's conversation with my parents until the following morning.
The clear cold from Christmas Eve was chased away by clouds that rolled in during the night.
We woke to over six inches of snow on the ground with plump snowflakes still falling from the sky.
My mother had gifted us a Christmas tree from a local artist who made decorative trees out of reclaimed crab pots.
I pulled it out of the box, set it up on the table, and plugged in the lights just as Rowan came in from the bedroom.
His hair was rumpled, and he looked sleepy. And sooo sexy.
“Good morning,” I murmured as I crossed over and leaned up for a kiss.
He palmed my cheek, turning what I meant to be a brief kiss into a lingering one. I was flushed all over by the time he lifted his head. Sassafras bumped against our calves, and he peered down with a chuckle. “Well, good morning. She touches me now,” Rowan offered as he looked back at me.
I laughed. “I know.” I abruptly remembered my question last night and pressed my palm to his chest. “No more kisses until you tell me what you were talking about with my parents last night.”
“Mae,” he protested. “Can I please surprise you?”
“Fine, don’t tell me,” I muttered, turning and crossing into the kitchen. I was on the way to start coffee when he called my name.
When I turned back around, he was standing under the mistletoe that I'd jokingly hung a few nights ago. “What is it?” I asked. He looked rather serious.
“Well, you know…” Suddenly, he seemed nervous and shifted on his feet.
“Are you okay?” I crossed over to him.
He was wearing a pair of worn sweatpants. I was partial to how they hung low on his hips because I could take a gander at his sculpted abs. He slipped his hand into the pocket, pulling something out. “All right, I won't wait,” he said, almost to himself.
“Wait for what?”
He opened his palm, and my pulse rocketed. “Rowan? Is that what I think it is?”
He nodded slowly. “You said you loved opals, that it was your favorite stone. Remember?”
I blinked at the tears threatening to spill over. “Uh-huh,” I whispered.
Years back, before we even went on our first actual date, Rowan had been present for a conversation in my dorm room.
I didn't even remember which friend it was, but she was all giddy because she wanted to get engaged. That led to a conversation about rings, and I’d said my favorite stone was an opal even though it wasn't traditional.
“So, I talked to your parents about it last night. Not because I thought I needed anyone’s permission, but because I know how much they mean to you. I'm trying to get things right this time. You know?”
I swallowed through the emotion thick in my throat, and a single tear slipped down my cheek.
“Mae, please don’t cry. If this is too soon—”
“No, they’re good tears,” I said hurriedly.
Then he was stepping closer and sliding one arm around my waist. We looked down together at the simple ring he held in his hand. The iridescent opal shone under a ray of the early morning sun that broke through the clouds and fell in a hazy shaft through the windows.
“I can't believe you remembered that,” I whispered.
“There's not much I forgot about you, Mae. I told your parents that I loved you. I wanted them to know that, for me, you're the real deal. And, well, that's it.” He took in a gulp of air.
“You're the real deal for me too. I'm sorry it took us so long.”
“It's okay. You have nothing to apologize for. I'm just really glad I took the chance to come out here when I heard about the job. It was only ever us. You know that, right?”
It was only ever us. Then he was kissing me, and the ring fit perfectly.
I squealed and held it out for him. “I’m not the kind to freak out about jewelry, but it's pretty incredible you remembered that conversation.”
His eyes were warm, and when he smiled, it felt as if a ray of the sun cast over my heart.
It was the best Christmas I'd ever had. After a relaxed morning, we went over to my parents for gifts and had lunch. All I wanted was time with Rowan. And that night in front of the fire, without the shag carpet, was everything I wanted.