Epilogue 1
EPILOGUE 1
BIRDIE
3 months later
In what has become a Saturday night tradition, Will and his brothers have commandeered a table by the Lair's pool tables, no doubt planning to enjoy a couple of beers and Margie's delicious food.
Another tradition we've started is dinner at the Icebox with Dad on Wednesday nights. That's so I can make sure my father is looking after himself in between visits, and also so that Wyatt can come along since he's still not of age to join us at the Lair.
That's not to say I have stopped taking care of my father. I go see him every Sunday afternoon to meal prep for the week. Sometimes Will joins us, sometimes I drag Wyatt or one of the other Coopers down with me. The key thing is to spend time together and make sure we all have things to do outside of work and the ranch. It's all about enjoying our lives and the people in it.
Tonight though, everyone's acting strangely.
It started when they arrived an hour ago. Case nearly tripped over his feet when he saw it was my friend from the restaurant, Isla, who was sitting at the bar chatting with me. Gone was the cocky grin and charming smile that all of the Cooper men are blessed with. In its place was a man who seemed out of sorts, surprised, intrigued–I mean, he couldn't stop watching her–and fidgety, all at the same time.
Isla was her normal chatty, friendly self. Greeting Will and the others, but turning cautious when it came to Case. Whenever he wasn't watching her, she'd be sneaking peeks at him. If I didn't know any better, I'd almost think she was waiting for him to do something… or say something… or maybe just get anything out of him.
Even Will seemed confused by the sudden change in the air between the two of them. But after shooting Case a pointed look, he took control of the situation, sending the brothers away to claim a table and putting in their drink order.
I half expected Isla to say something to me once they'd left. Instead, she just watched Case walk away with a thoughtful expression on her face.
Now it's the middle of my shift and I'm waiting patiently for a chance to go see my ranch family.
As if the thought alone conjured him up, Eric appears beside me. "We're pretty quiet at the moment. How 'bout you can take your break?"
"I would , if I knew where my boyfriend had disappeared off to," I say, a little disgruntled.
Eric chuckles. "Yeah, about that. He's waitin' for you on the roof."
"He is?" My head snaps his way. "When did he sneak up there?"
My boss shrugs. "Dunno. But he told me to tell you he's already seen Margie and to just go on up there."
"Don't have to tell me twice. Dinner with my man, ain't nothin' better."
Eric just laughs and waves me off as I quickly grab a soda bottle for me and a beer for Will and make my way out back to the stairs.
The moment I step out onto the rooftop, I stop dead in my tracks. There are not only fairy lights sparkling overhead but also two lines of candles forming a path that leads straight to where the love of my life is standing.
No longer clad in his city boy turned mountain man best he arrived in, he now wears a moss-green button-down shirt and black slacks, with shiny black shoes. My favorite part is the soft, gentle, loving expression written all over his face and those soulful hazel eyes of his pinned to mine.
Somehow, I turn and put the drinks on the table before walking closer, losing myself in his gaze as I come to a stop in front of him.
"This is…"
A hot as hell knowing grin curls his lips. "A surprise?"
"Absolutely," I breathe, my throat going dry as it hits me what this might–what I hope it might– mean.
I look around, sighing at the two vases full of our Cooper Ridge wildflowers from the hidden meadow we found. A piece of home that he knows I love… though not as much as I'll always love him.
As always, Will doesn't make me wait long, taking my hand and lowering himself down on one knee.
"Honey, there are many things I never have to question when it comes to you and me."
" Will… " I whisper, my heart pounding in my chest.
"My life changed the day I first met you. I've never felt so loved and so in love with anyone, and that's somethin' I know will never stop, it's a truth I'll hold dear and protect with everythin' I have until the end of my days in Timber Falls, and up home on the mountain." His voice is shaky, his hand in mine trembling too.
I lace my fingers with his, silently letting him know he's got this–that we've got this–and we always will.
He takes a deep breath as happy tears touch my cheeks. "Birdie-Lee Walker, will you do me the honor of takin' my name, becomin' my wife, buildin' a future together and always bein' by my side for the rest of our lives and into the next?"
I swallow down hard against the lump in my throat, knowing that this will be the most important one-word answer I will ever give.
"Yes," I say, strong, steady, and with absolute certainty.
Then, Will has to brace himself because I launch forward, slamming my lips against his before he can even try to pull the ring box out of his pocket. I pepper kisses all over his face as his joyous laughter and my peels of happiness fill the night air.
"Yes, yes, yes. Always yes, city boy. A million times yes."
"Did I hear a yes?" I hear Dad say from behind us. Will and I freeze, and I can't help it, I drop my head, burying my face in his shoulder as I start giggling.
"Haven't even put the ring on yet, Pete," Will muses, shifting us both back to our feet and holding me tight against him. It's like he's never going to let me go. Now he never has to.
Looking over to the doorway, I find not only Dad watching and waiting impatiently, but Case, Sutton, Jude, Margie, Isla, and Wyatt, who just grins at me since I know he must've snuck in here just for this moment.
"Well, hurry it up now. There's a bunch of people here waitin' to celebrate and a ring that needs to be put where it belongs," Dad says.
Will chuckles, shooting me a hot-as-Hades look before he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a red velvet box that I'd recognize anywhere.
I gasp, my tears filling my eyes as I look over to Dad who has his own glistening expression. "Really?"
"Ain't nowhere else that ring belongs," he says. "When Will came and asked me for your hand, I said there was only one condition…"
Looking down at Will's hand, I admire my late mother's diamond and ruby engagement ring, the gold shining in the fairy lights. My favorite thing to do when I was sitting in her arms, listening to her read me a bedtime story, was to run my fingers back and forth over the stones. Now I'll be able to do that with my own children.
Holding my arm out between us, I sigh happily when Will slides the ring down to the base of my ring finger, lifting my hand to press his lips against the stones, those intense, love-filled eyes of his on me the entire time.
"Come on, Pete. Pop the champagne. Our girl's gettin' married ," Margie cheers, making me laugh, but not enough to stop me from framing Will's face and pulling him in for a very much-needed kiss, audience be damned.
"Are they always like this?" I hear Dad ask as glasses clink and bottles are popped.
"Yep," Case, Sutton, and Jude all sigh in unison.
"And it won't change. If anythin' it'll get worse," Wyatt adds. "Hey, does this mean I get to have a drink?" There's no missing the hopefulness in his voice.
"No," all the adults in the room say at once.
Later, when the party has moved downstairs, Will and I steal a moment to ourselves on the dancefloor, swaying in each other's arms as the house band plays Big Big Plans by Chris Lane.
"I love you, you know. A whole damn lot," I say, staring up into the same soulful, beautiful eyes I'll get to look at for a lifetime.
"I love you too. More than a whole damn lot. The ring on your finger says so."
"Oh, is that what it means?" I muse. "Thought it just meant you were mine."
"Means you're mine too." His raspy voice and warm breath wash over my skin, making me shiver in the best possible way.
"Good," I reply. "It's all I ever need. You are all I need."
He lifts his head to meet my eyes, his gaze flashing with heat. "You really mean that, don't you?"
In response, I melt against him. "Yep. You and me. That's it."
"And daughters with your bright blue eyes and sass."
I slowly arch a brow, my lips tipping up at the same time. "And sons with your hazel ones and strength."
"Deal."
And wouldn't you know it, ten months to the day after our wedding, one of those wishes came true when our first daughter, Betsy-Belle Cooper, came rushing into the world.