Chapter 57 #2
He sets me back down and pulls me flush to his chest, his hands framing my face, his expression one of complete adoration.
The laughter fades from his face, replaced by a much deeper, more reverent sentiment. “I am in awe of you, Amy Beckett.”
The warmth of his words expands in my chest, a love so fierce it could swallow me whole.
I thread my fingers through his thick hair and pull his mouth down to mine.
A kiss of victory.
Of celebration.
Of two people who have found the light in each other.
“Let’s get out of here,” Matthew murmurs against my lips, wrapping an arm securely around my shoulder as we walk to his car.
Every couple of steps, he flexes his arm, pulling me closer to press a kiss to my temple, making me laugh all over again as I snuggle into his side.
Our hands remain joined, fingers interlaced, and resting on the center console the entire drive to Maddy’s Place. When Matthew pulls up in front of the café, he turns to me, his eyes emanating a happy light. “What time am I picking you up tonight?”
“Seven, please,” I reply, my heart fluttering.
“Seven it is,” he confirms. Then he hesitates, a playful smile spreading across his lips. “Just don’t go disappearing on me this time,” he says, his eyes dancing with mirth.
A warm laugh bubbles out of me. “Oh, believe me. I’m not going anywhere,” I say, leaning over to kiss him.
“Perfect,” he whispers, kissing me one more time.
With one last smile, I get out of the car and practically float to my café, feeling lighter than I have in years.
A happy, productive energy carries me through the day. Every latte I make, every customer I laugh with, every task I complete is underscored by a quiet, joyful hum of anticipation for seven o’clock.
After our closing duties are complete, Helen shrugs into her coat and grabs her purse, giving me a sly, knowing grin. “So,” she says, her eyes twinkling. “When’s Prince Charming getting here to whisk you away?”
A happy blush warms my cheeks. “Any minute now.”
“Ames, the man looks like he stepped out of a fairytale, and he treats you like a queen.” She shrugs with that mischievous smile of hers. “If the shoe fits, mija… porque no?”
“You’re unbelievable.” I giggle.
“I’m right,” she corrects with a wink.
She walks to the door, then turns back, her expression softening into one of genuine affection. “Have a good night, Ames. It’s really good to see you happy again.”
“Thank you, Helen,” I reply, my heart full.
She gives me one last beaming smile, and then she’s out the door.
I turn the lock, flipping the sign to ‘Closed’, and lean against the cool glass. My heart beats an excited rhythm, waiting for the man I adore to arrive.
A light knock on the glass makes me jump. I turn, and my heart seems to skip a beat.
Matthew is standing on the other side of the door, with a beautiful smile on his face. In one hand, he’s holding a thick manila envelope. In the other, a bottle of Veuve Clicquot.
A laugh of confused delight escapes me as I make fast work of unlocking the door and pulling it open.
“I come bearing gifts,” he announces, with a playful twinkle in his eye.
“You shouldn’t have!” I beam, my gaze dancing between the champagne and his handsome face.
“Of course I had to.” He steps inside. “Plastic cups will do, if you don’t mind grabbing a couple,” he requests, raising the dark green glass bottle with a teasing grin.
“It would be my pleasure.” I retreat behind the counter, reaching for the plastic cups we normally use for iced coffees.
When I return, Matthew is standing on the other side, the thick envelope resting on the surface between us. “I’ll just hide over here while you pop that,” I joke, stepping back.
He chuckles.
With a practiced twist, the cork flies across the café with a resounding pop. He expertly pours the bubbly golden liquid into both cups. “So,” he begins, his eyes meeting mine as he places one of the cups in front of me. “Remember I said you should consider a career in law?”
My heart sinks to the floor. “I knew it,” I say, trying to keep my voice light despite the sudden knot of anxiety tightening in my stomach. “I knew I said too much. Why are we even celebrating this?”
“On the contrary,” he says, with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “We are celebrating because you said all the right things.”
He reaches into the manila envelope and pulls out a document.
My breath hitches.
“This,” he continues, presenting the papers to me, “is your new lease. Five years. At the exact same rent.”
My mind goes blank. “What…?” I breathe out, my eyes wide with disbelief. “But Bancroft…”
“Was quite taken by you,” Matthew informs me, his grin widening into a full-blown, triumphant smile. “And he realized that a PR issue of this magnitude would be bad for business.”
Tears well up in my eyes, blurring the words on the page. “Oh my God,” I whisper, the reality crashing down on me.
I round the counter at lightning speed and throw myself into his arms. “We did it,” I sob, a mixture of relief and pure joy shaking my body.
He tightens his arms around me, his voice thick with pride. “No, love. You did it.”
Lost between sobs and bouts of laughter, I pull back, wiping at my wet cheeks. He hands me my champagne and raises his own. “To Maddy’s Place.”
I clink my cup against his. “To Maddy’s Place. And to Mary’s legacy.” My voice chokes up. “I can’t wait to tell Helen and Lou tomorrow.”
“Congratulations, love,” he says, his tone sincere. “You earned it.”
“Thank you,” I smile, biting my lower lip.
We enjoy a few sips of champagne, a celebratory atmosphere settling around us.
I catch Matthew staring at me with an adoring smile, shaking his head in disbelief.
“What?” I ask, my curiosity piqued by his expression.
“For the longest time,” he begins, reaching out to tenderly tuck a stray strand behind my ear, “I was so paralyzed by the fear of history repeating itself that I swore off love.” He takes a deep breath, his gaze searching mine.
“But then you came along, threw up on my front lawn, and here we are.” He shakes his head again, a disbelieving smile playing on his lips.
“I won’t lie to you, Amy. I am scared shitless. ”
My heart swells. A sympathetic smile dances on my lips.
“But,” his eyes lock onto mine with an intensity that makes my breath catch, “what scares me most is not having you in my life.”
I’m rendered speechless.
“I love you, Amy,” he says, the words a quiet, absolute truth that settles in every fiber of my being. “I am completely and utterly in love with you.”
The final missing piece of my heart clicks into place.
Before I can find the words to respond, he sets down his champagne cup. He takes a step back and kneels before me.
My heart stops for a terrifying, dizzying moment.
Is he…?
He reaches into the inside pocket of his suit jacket and pulls out a silver key. It gleams in the soft light of the café.
He holds it up as if it were a ring. “Would you move in with me, Amy Beckett?” he asks, his voice earnest and full of hope. “And I mean fully. No more guest room.”
A watery laugh bursts from me. I cover my mouth, tears of pure joy streaming down my face.
He continues, his eyes never leaving mine. “Move in with me. Let’s navigate this unfamiliar territory together.”
I nod, tears blurring my vision as I sink to my knees to join him.
I take the key, fingers trembling. “Yes.” I nod over and over, beaming through the tears as my hand rises to cup the side of his face. “Yes.”
We meet in the middle, pulling each other into a tight embrace.
“I love you so much, Matthew Warren.” The confession rises from the depths of my heart.
He smiles. A beautiful smile full of a thousand promises. He leans in to kiss me, pulling me up with him as we stand.
It is a kiss that holds the memory of every struggle.
The sweetness of every victory.
And the shared promise to face every tomorrow together.
Here, in the quiet of my café, wrapped in the arms of the man I love, holding the key to our future…
I am.
Finally.
Truly.
Home.