CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
The Finest Things
Luke woke to the distant sound of Snoqualmie Falls rushing through the valley below.
He stretched, looked over, and smiled.
Emily was still asleep, wrapped in the blankets with a peaceful smile on her face.
For a moment, he simply watched her.
Vacation had done them both a world of good.
No work.
No bills spread across the kitchen table.
No schedules.
Just time together.
Emily slowly opened one eye.
“Were you watching me sleep?”
Luke grinned.
“I was.”
“That’s a little creepy.”
“I was making sure you hadn’t wandered off.”
Emily laughed.
“I’m pretty sure you’d hear me if I did.”
“I don’t know.”
She smiled.
“I do have a tendency to get distracted.”
“You once spent twenty minutes looking at decorative throw pillows.”
“They were nice pillows.”
Luke laughed.
“I rest my case.”
? ? ?
After getting dressed, they wandered downstairs for breakfast in the lodge’s elegant dining room.
A waiter seated them beside a large window overlooking the falls.
Emily looked out in amazement.
“I don’t think I could ever get tired of this view.”
Luke nodded.
“It almost doesn’t look real.”
They enjoyed fluffy pancakes, fresh fruit, thick-cut bacon, and hot coffee.
Emily took one bite of a cinnamon roll and closed her eyes.
“Oh…”
Luke smiled.
“That good?”
“I may never eat a grocery store cinnamon roll again.”
Luke laughed.
“That’s dangerous.”
“It absolutely is.”
? ? ?
The rest of the morning was spent exploring the grounds.
They browsed little gift shops, watched the mist drift up from the falls, and took dozens of pictures together.
Luke handed his phone to a kind older couple.
“Would you mind taking one for us?”
The woman smiled.
“Of course.”
Luke wrapped an arm around Emily as the picture was taken.
The older gentleman handed the phone back.
“You two look happy.”
Luke smiled.
“We are.”
“Hold on to that,” the man said.
“It makes the hard days easier.”
Luke thanked him, and the couple continued on their walk.
Emily quietly slipped her hand into Luke’s.
“I think that’s the best advice we’ve heard in a long time.”
“I think you’re right.”
? ? ?
That evening, they dressed up for dinner at the lodge’s restaurant.
Luke wore a button-down shirt and a sport coat.
Emily stepped out of the bathroom in a navy-blue dress.
Luke forgot what he was about to say.
Emily smiled.
“What?”
“You look…”
He shook his head.
“I don’t even have the right words.”
She blushed.
“You clean up pretty well yourself.”
Dinner was unlike anything either of them had experienced.
Perfectly cooked steak for Luke.
Fresh salmon for Emily.
Warm bread, sparkling water, and a rich chocolate dessert they decided to share.
Luke looked around the dining room.
“I feel fancy.”
Emily laughed.
“You look nervous.”
“I am.”
“Why?”
“I’m afraid I’ll use the wrong fork.”
Emily burst into laughter.
“I’ll save you if that happens.”
“I appreciate that.”
? ? ?
After dinner, they walked outside beneath a sky full of stars.
The sound of the waterfall echoed through the cool evening air.
Luke stopped on the overlook.
“I’ve been thinking.”
Emily leaned against the railing.
“About?”
“When we finally buy our dream house…”
She smiled.
“I know.”
“I want a place where people feel welcome.”
Emily nodded.
“A place where our families can gather.”
“A place where friends stay too late because they’re having too much fun.”
“And where there’s always coffee brewing.”
Luke laughed.
“And probably gummy bears hidden somewhere.”
Emily looked at him and immediately started laughing again.
“Not the safe!”
Luke shrugged.
“I still think it was a solid plan.”
She laughed so hard she had to lean against him.
“I am never going to let you live that down.”
“I wouldn’t want you to.”
Luke wrapped an arm around her as they looked out toward the moonlit falls.
The trip wasn’t really about luxury.
It wasn’t about expensive meals or beautiful scenery.
It was about remembering why they had fallen in love in the first place.
And standing there together, with the roar of Snoqualmie Falls filling the night, they both realized something.
The greatest part of the vacation wasn’t where they were.
It was who they were with.