CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Homeward Bound
The final morning arrived much sooner than either of them wanted.
Luke stood on the balcony with a mug of coffee, listening to the steady roar of Snoqualmie Falls.
Emily stepped outside a few moments later, wrapping a light sweater around herself.
“I was hoping I’d find you out here.”
Luke smiled.
“I wanted one last look.”
She leaned against the railing beside him.
“It’s hard to believe a week went by so fast.”
“It always does.”
They stood together in comfortable silence, watching the morning mist rise from the falls.
Finally, Emily spoke.
“We’ll come back someday.”
Luke nodded.
“We definitely will.”
? ? ?
After breakfast, they packed their bags and checked out of the lodge.
As Luke carried the last suitcase to the truck, Emily looked back at the beautiful building.
“I already miss it.”
Luke laughed.
“We’ve only been checked out for five minutes.”
“I know.”
“I’m going to miss the view.”
“And the food.”
Emily grinned.
“And the cinnamon rolls.”
“I knew that would make the list.”
She smiled.
“They were unforgettable.”
Luke reached into the truck and held up the now half-empty bag of gummy bears.
“Most importantly…”
Emily immediately started laughing.
“No.”
“They made it home safely.”
She shook her head.
“I still can’t believe you wanted to lock them in the safe.”
“They survived the trip.”
“They survived because nobody wanted them except you.”
Luke put a hand over his heart.
“That hurts.”
? ? ?
The drive home was relaxed.
They stopped at a small roadside café for lunch and wandered through a little antique store afterward.
Emily picked up an old horseshoe.
“What do you think?”
Luke smiled.
“For the barn we don’t own yet?”
She nodded.
“It’ll happen.”
Luke bought it without another word.
As they walked back to the truck, he handed it to her.
Emily looked surprised.
“You bought it?”
Luke shrugged.
“It’s our first decoration for our future barn.”
Emily hugged him tightly.
“I love it.”
“One day we’ll hang it over the barn door.”
“And tell everyone we bought it on our vacation.”
Luke smiled.
“Exactly.”
? ? ?
Crossing back into Oregon felt comforting.
The familiar landscape stretched before them.
Rolling hills.
Wide-open fields.
The Columbia River sparkling in the afternoon sun.
Emily looked out the window.
“You know something?”
Luke glanced over.
“What?”
“I had an amazing vacation.”
“So did I.”
“But…”
She smiled.
“…I’m kind of excited to sleep in our own bed tonight.”
Luke laughed.
“I was hoping you were going to say that.”
She reached over and held his hand.
“As nice as vacations are…”
Luke finished her sentence.
“…there’s no place like home.”
? ? ?
That evening they pulled into their driveway just before sunset.
Luke shut off the truck.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Emily smiled.
“We’re home.”
Luke nodded.
“Yep.”
She looked at the little house they rented.
“It may not be our dream house.”
“Not yet.”
“But it’s ours.”
Luke smiled.
“And every dream starts somewhere.”
He climbed out, walked around the truck, and opened Emily’s door.
She took his hand.
As they walked toward the front porch, Luke looked back at the pickup.
The vacation had given them more than beautiful views and great food.
It had reminded them to slow down.
To laugh.
To dream.
To enjoy the life they were building together.
Inside the truck, tucked safely in the center console, was one last handful of gummy bears.
Luke smiled to himself.
Some memories were too good to let go.
And some adventures were only the beginning of the miles still waiting ahead.