18. Epilogue - Willa
10 MONTHS LATER
The gentle rustling of leaves in the trees brings a sense of peace so profound that I worry I might fall asleep right here. The air is warm with the lingering heat of August, but there’s a hint of coolness, a whisper of the coming autumn.
From the moment we arrived in Maple Falls, life has been a whirlwind of activity, yet somehow, time feels like it’s standing still. The golden light of the late summer evening casts a soft glow over everything, and the scent of pine mingles with the sweetness of wildflowers. It’s been exactly what I needed.
What we both needed.
Life since I met, or rather re-met, Noah Beaumont is certainly interesting. A super silly grin makes its way across my face as he pops into my thoughts, again. I sit up from my hiding spot in the trees, brushing off the twigs and leaves clinging to my jeans as I emerge from beneath the sprawling bush where I’ve been crouched. That elusive Blue Rock Thrush is still on my bucket list of photos to capture. With our return to Maple Falls for the skills and training camp, I figured it was the perfect opportunity to try again.
Closing my eyes, I smell the air. Is it weird to think that Maple Falls has a scent? This place is magical, and it’s burrowed a special place in my heart. When I’m here, it feels as if the days are languid and relaxed, lacking stress that daily routines can bring. Being in the Pacific Northwest, there’s a coolness to the air I like––I’m managing to find excuses to wear my long sleeve shirts. Outside of Christmas, this time is, to me, the most wonderful time of the year.
“Hey,” a familiar voice calls out from nearby. “You done for the day?”
“Are you stalking me?” I say in my sassiest and teasing tone when I look over and find Noah on his stomach doing an army crawl toward me.
“I put that GPS locator thing on your phone, so I could find you if you got lost in the mountains looking for that bird,” he teases, his hands grasping my ankles as he gently tugs on my legs like a spoiled child. “I’m done with teaching today, can we hang out now?”
“I’ve got a better idea,” I say, sitting on the ground beside him. “Let’s go look at those houses we saw online last night. That one that’s on the edge of the park, and not too far from the arena, has been on my mind since we saw it.”
I am one girl who loves looking at real estate.
Noah chuckles. “Virtual tour wasn’t enough?”
I shake my head. “Of course not. We need to go see it.”
Noah rolls onto his side and sits up, crossing his legs and places himself in front of me. “So you like the idea of living here, in Maple Falls, part of the year?”
Shrugging, I busy myself putting away my camera. “Why not? We’re both enjoying being here. To the point we’ve extended the trip, plus you’re coming back in a month or so for the second annual Ice Breakers charity game now. And did you see those prices? I can actually afford something here, versus buying a house in New York or even renting there or near where you or my mom live.”
“So, let me get this straight,” Noah’s easy grin slides into place as he takes my hands and pulls me onto his lap. “You’d be happy hanging out in Maple Falls with or without me?”
Throwing my head back, I laugh. “That’s not what I’m saying.”
“Are you saying you’re investing in our future by looking at said house in Maple Falls?” Noah’s eyebrow quirks as he stares at me intently, his eyes hooded. Have I mentioned that I am so in love with this man?
“You added a dark room to your barn for me so I have my own space when I need it,” I manage, smacking his arm playfully while I go back to packing my things. “I guess, yes, if I got a house here it would be an investment. For me. And for us.”
Noah’s silent, cocking his head to the side as he watches me. I busy myself with packing and repacking my things, he makes me giddy and nervous when he stares at me like this. It’s like we’re in high school, and I’m being hit on by the cool jock that everyone loves. He makes me get all fluttery and warm on my insides. I can feel his eyes boring a hole into my body, to the point I’m getting a weird tickle down the back of my neck.
“What?” I almost screech, much to his wicked delight. “You’re staring at me and it’s making me crazy.”
Noah takes my hand. “You know, this is good.”
“The fact you’re making me crazy?”
“Us. I didn’t think last year, when we were here, that this is where we’d end up. You’ve got a great job, you’re happy. I’m an assistant coach for the Renegades, but I get to have a life now.”
“Well,” I say, interrupting him. “You had a life before.”
“I did, but now,” his thumb grazes the top of my hand, “there’s balance. There’s a routine. I can take time off for long chunks and, secretly, I kinda like that I’m not having to train as hard as I was.”
I nudged him in the ribs. “Oh it’s no secret.”
“Ha,” he rolls his eyes. “Look at how you’ve changed. You’re spending more time with your mom. You only have to be in New York, what, once maybe twice a month? I’ve gotten you to ride horses …”
“Which is crazy,” I giggle, pulling my hands out of his as I use them to balance myself and stand up. “And the fact I love it doesn’t escape me.”
The sun is setting and it’s gotten a little cooler, not too much but enough that a tiny shiver makes its way down my spine. Closing my eyes, I inhale deeply, enjoying the park, this place and this moment in time. One thing Noah’s got right is that I am more present now. He is too, and it’s nice. It’s like since we’ve found each other, we know that we have time. Time to enjoy this life and what it has to offer us together.
“Okay, Mr. Beaumont. Where are we going tonight?” Smiling, I clap my hands together and turn around. One of us needs to steer the ship and this ship needs dinner soon.
But, when I look, Noah’s changed position. He’s on one knee, holding out a very teeny tiny little blue box, smiling at me.
“Hopefully we’ll be going forever,” his voice is deep, gravelly, as he locks his eyes on mine. “At least that’s my plan.”
Ever so slowly, he lifts the lid and plucks the most beautiful engagement ring I’ve ever seen out of a cloud of fabric.
“I’ve never wanted to give this kind of present to anyone else but you. Since the day we met, as horrific as it was, part of you seeped into me and stayed there. Seeing you last year was like a sense memory––nothing was going to keep me from you once I saw you were here, in front of me again.”
I feel my jaw go slack as a storm of emotions swirls inside me. There’s an electric charge in the air, a frenzied rush that fights for control. Our gaze remains steady as he grasps my left hand, holding it close to his heart.
“If you’re looking at a house here, in Maple Falls,” Noah whispers, “I want to be a part of that future with you.”
“Noah––” I begin, but he raises a finger to my lips, only to remove it and press his lips there instead.
“I’m not done.” He steps back, hands intertwined with mine once more. “I love you. I’m in love with you and I want to wake up beside you every morning, to see the world through your eyes … or your lens,” he says with a wink. “I’m not perfect, but I can promise you that I will be the best version of a husband you could ever ask for, deserve, want, or need. You give me strength because you are love, kindness, hope, and all the sweeter things in life I’d been missing all rolled up into one powerful strong force of nature.”
Wet hits my cheeks as the tears that have been building up begin to fall. I can’t speak, so I slowly nod.
Noah holds the ring in the palm of his hand. “Willa, will you please marry me so I can kiss you all day every day, for the rest of our lives?”
The shock that washes through me is real, and intense. In this oh so sweet moment, I freeze: I don’t even answer him, I just thrust my left hand out.
“I feel like you need to at least answer me,” he chuckles.
“Oh, my gosh,” I say, springing into the air and wrapping my arms around his neck as I throw myself against his hard body. “Yes! Of course I want to marry you.”
Still laughing, Noah takes my hand and slips the ring on my finger. It’s all I can do to not crawl up his body like a ladder. In a matter of seconds, I’m in his arms with my legs wrapped around his waist, my lips pressed on his as he spins us in a circle.
In a matter of seconds, we’re dizzy enough that the world around me resembles a Monet––everything is blurred and around us the colors are blending together. There’s a moment where I feel the equilibrium shift; it’s Noah’s knees as they buckle underneath us. Somehow Noah manages to pad our fall, with me landing on top of him, now straddling him as he lays on his back, grinning up at me.
“So,” he says as one of his hands sneaks out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “You’re gonna be Mrs. Beaumont, huh?”
I hold my hand up, looking at the shiny bauble sparkling in the last rays of light. “I am. And I can’t wait. ”
“Maybe we can make it a fast engagement then?” he says, winking.
“We could elope,” I suggest.
“Well, we’ve got plenty of time to decide.” Noah peeks at his watch. “Not trying to hurry us along, but I made a reservation at The Glass Olive for us. You know, to celebrate you saying yes.”
“Well that was presumptuous,” I tease, jumping up and holding my hands out to him. “How did you know I’d be a sure thing?”
Noah stands beside me and wraps his arms around me again. “I didn’t, but I hoped you were. A man can dream, right?”
As I nod, I take one last look at the grassy park behind me––only this time, movement of something small and blue catches my eye.
“Noah!” I whisper, nodding my head in the direction of the small bird. “Look. There it is!”
Noah turns, squinting his eyes and focuses on the tiny creature. “Is that it?”
Smiling, I nod slowly. “It’s a Blue Rock Thrush.”
I’m scared to move, I don’t want the little guy to spook and fly away but I know there’s no way I can get my gear back out now. Plus, I’m engaged. ENGAGED! I really don’t need to worry about this bird.
“Here,” Noah shoves something small and firm into my hand. When I look down it’s his cell phone. “Use this to take the photo. It’s not your camera, but it’ll do for now, right?”
Touched, I take his phone and snap a few photos before that bird who has evaded me for far too long finally flies away, leaving us alone again.
I look at this man who stands beside me, and sigh. This brute who has the soul of the most gentle of giants. This person who has come into my life and shown me unconditional love, the man I’m going to make a family and a home with.
“Thank you,” I say, handing the phone back. “You were one step ahead of me. ”
“I figure it’s what a good husband does,” he says with a wink. He holds out his hand to me, nodding at the path leading out of the park. “Now, come on. We’ve got an engagement to celebrate.”
Looking down at his hand, I drag my eyes slowly back up to meet his and I take a second to click on the shutter of the camera in my own mind: I want to take a photo of this moment to come back to in the days ahead. I want to always remember this feeling of being so madly in love that I know we can do anything, and we can conquer everything. Together.
I slip my hand into his, feeling his strength as he wraps his fingers around mine tightly, and I smile.
Because if this is what forever is going to be like, I can’t wait for it to start.
Thank you so much for reading Willa and Noah’s story!