Epilogue
EPILOGUE
ONE YEAR LATER
MILLIE
“ O kay, Mills, you have to keep the blindfold on if you want your surprise,” Brian says as he leads me out of the truck.
“Ugh, fine, but I don’t understand why you can’t just wrap it and put it under a tree like a normal person,” I grumble.
It’s Christmas morning, and usually I would be feeling holly and jolly, but Brian woke me up before six and told me to get ready for wherever he’s taking me. He’s well aware by now that waking me before the sun on a day I don’t have to go to work would make me a little extra grouchy, but here we are. After getting dressed, he told me to get in the car and he blindfolded me while we drove for a few minutes.
“You know, if you’ve been a serial killer this whole time and you’re just deciding to act on it, I’m gonna be really freaking pissed,” I tease as we walk for a few minutes longer.
“Nope, not a serial killer, just a guy trying to surprise his girlfriend for Christmas,” he replies.
“Ugh okay, I’m sure whatever it is, is incredible, but in case you forgot, we didn’t get home until almost one this morning. What do ya know, apparently the gala lasts way longer if you don’t sneak off an hour in to have sex,” I joke, and I hear Brian chuckle.
“Okay, okay, I admit that the few hours of sleep is less than ideal, but I promise, I think this surprise is worth it,” he says, before slowing me to a stop. “All right, we’re here. Are you ready?”
“Yeah, can I take the blindfold off?” I ask, reaching up and touching the silk on my face.
“Almost, give me just one second… Okay, whenever you’re ready,” he says, and I tear the tie off my face, anxious to see what he’s made such a big deal over.
“Oh,” I say, as soon as I open my eyes, and immediately I pause, unable to make any sense of what I’m seeing.
We’re at Coopers’ Tree Farm, but the maze looks completely different than it did last week when we left after the Mistletoe Maze. The lights and trees are the same, but the clearing is covered with fake snow and there’s tons of pink and green ornaments all over the closest trees. Mixed in with the ornaments are pictures of Brian and I over the last year, and the sun is rising just above the tops of the trees, casting everything in a pinkish-orange light. I look over to say something to Brian, and it finally registers that he’s down on one knee.
“Millie Pouncey, it’s been over a year since that freak snowstorm all but dumped you on my doorstep and woke me up to everything I was missing. I was basically sleepwalking through life, but you made me realize that it’s not selfish to want someone who makes me as happy as you make me. And, while we probably won’t have snow like that for another decade or two, I’m hoping this time, instead of bringing us together, this snow will help keep us together. That it’ll make you decide to take my last name and be mine forever. Because in case you haven’t noticed, I’m madly in love with you, and nothing would make me happier than you agreeing to be my wife.”
I stare at him in shock for a few more seconds before pulling him up and kissing him hard. “Oh my God, are you serious?” I ask between kisses.
“Uhh, yeah,” he says nervously. “I mean, if you need to think about it I totally under—” he starts, and I realize I never actually answered him out loud.
“Oh, God, yes, Brian, absolutely. You really want me to be your wife?” I ask, feeling some of my old insecurities starting to sneak in.
“Uhh, duh,” he says, like that’s the silliest question he’s ever heard.
“You know I’m kinda 0-1 in that area, right?” I tease, trying to disguise how nervous I’m feeling. I haven’t given a single thought to my ex-husband in several months, but Brian’s proposal has a lot of those old feelings floating to the surface.
“Bullshit, Mills. I’m sorry, but you and I both know that isn’t true. I’ve never been as happy as I am with you,” he admits, and I can’t resist the urge to kiss him.
“Me either,” I tell him honestly. It’s true. The last year has been nothing short of incredible. I’ve organized over thirty weddings along with countless birthday parties, office dinners, and other various functions. Brian swears he’s never seen Deer Valley as busy as it has been, and I feel a little swell of pride every time he makes that statement. On top of that, Bridget and I have become great friends, and Brian and I have continued to live together. I offered to get an apartment after I got my settlement from the divorce, but he refused to hear a word of it. Some days he comes to Deer Valley with me, and others he goes to City Hall for the day and meets me back at the inn when he’s finished. But either way, we spend each night at home, cuddling under the covers, kissing, and learning more about each other.
“Oh my God, we’re getting married,” I squeal, as it hits me that he actually wants to spend the rest of his life with me.
“Damn right, we are,” he says before adding, “Good thing I know a pretty incredible wedding planner, huh?”
I laugh at his comment, before pulling him to me and kissing him hard. I’m wishing this kiss could go further and that we were back in the privacy of his truck already when I hear some shuffling in the trees. I look over to see Bridget and Lizzie jumping out from wherever they were hiding, and I'm pretty sure the screech I let out can be heard in Saddle Ridge. But really, I can’t help it.
My sister and I have made plans four different times over the last year, but between our busy schedules and everything else we’ve had going on, we’ve had to stick to weekly phone dates and occasional FaceTime calls. I did make it to New York for Fashion Week to see her first show, but she was so slammed with work, I didn’t get to spend any time with her.
“Oh my God, what the hell are you doing here?” I ask, still in shock that she’s actually here.
“I’m sorry, sis, but did you really think I would miss this?” she responds, pulling me into a hug. “Damn, I’m so happy for you. I’ve missed you so much.”
“Wait,” Bridget says, glancing around at the group of us. “I think I’m missing something… Where the hell’s the ring?”
Lizzie and I both freeze, as Brian shakes his head. “Damn it, y’all came in before I could give it to her. I told you to wait until I was done.”
“Umm, first of all, who the hell doesn’t do the ring with the whole down on one knee thing? And second of all, I was pretty sure y’all were about to go at it right here if we didn’t interrupt you, and I love you both, but that’s pretty much the last thing I want to see,” Bridget retorts.
“Shit, I knew I shouldn’t have told you when I was planning to do this. You can be such a—” Brian groans, until Lizzie interrupts him.
“Both of you, shut the heck up. Let’s see the damn ring,” she yells, and I can’t help but laugh.
Some would probably be annoyed at the chaos of this proposal, but I can’t imagine anything more perfect. But Brian proves me wrong when he pulls out the most perfect ring I’ve ever seen in my life. The gold band covered in diamonds that start small get bigger the closer they get to the huge teardrop shaped stone in the center. He slips it on my finger, and I’m not surprised when it fits perfectly.
“How the hell did you pull all this off?” I ask, blinking back the tears of happiness that are currently threatening to run down my face.
“Well, let’s see. I got Lizzie’s number off your phone, and I asked her if she wanted to surprise you,” he starts before my sister interrupts him again.
“Which obviously I did,” she whispers, grabbing my hand and inspecting my new ring.
“Right," Brian says, before continuing. “Then, I asked Huey to get here around four this morning and keep an eye on the snow machines… Speaking of which, he should be…”
“I’m here!” he calls, coming out from another spot in the tree. “I was trying to follow directions and make sure you were actually done before I came out.”
“Hey, that’s not fair,” Bridget starts, but the look Brian sends her makes her fall silent.
“Anyway, I hear congratulations are in order,” Huey says with a smile. “Well, let me see the dang thing.”
“Oh, right,” I say, holding out my hand for him to examine before he pulls me into a tight hug.
“I don’t know what it was about that day you wrecked in front of my house, Miss Millie, but remember how I told you this town might just have what you needed? Well, I think it’s safe to say you found it,” Huey whispers under his breath so that the two of us are the only ones that can hear, and I feel my eyes fill with tears again.
“I think you’re right, Huey,” I tell him, before Brian pulls me back into his arms.
“Anyway, like I was saying,” he says, glaring at the group in front of us, silently threatening them not to interrupt him again. “Huey set up the snow, and Bridget and your sister decorated the trees. I’m sorry it’s still early, but I wanted to be here at sunrise. Plus, I figured you’d want to squeeze in as much time with your sister as you could.”
“God, I love you,” I tell him, leaning in to kiss him.
“All right, you lovebirds, that’s enough of that,” Lizzie teases, snapping a few pictures of us. “All right, I’m freezing. Are y’all ready?”
“To go where?” I ask. “Y’all are welcome at the house, but I don’t think I have much to offer in the form of snacks.”
“Did you really think we’d expect you to feed us to celebrate your engagement? We have a few things at Deer Valley, so we’ll meet you over there,” Bridget says, and the three of them leave so that Brian and I are alone again.
“You know, I can’t wait to marry you. And I should have known after the way you came into my life that the rest of my days would never be boring,” he teases, pulling me to him and wrapping his arms around me before kissing my neck. “God, I’d give anything to take you home and properly celebrate this engagement, but something tells me those three together will not be the most patient.”
I smile at him before looking down at the ring on my finger.
“That’s okay. Good thing we’ve got forever together,” I tell him, before grabbing his hand. “Now, what do you say we go start it?”