Epilogue
When they landed in Milwaukee, Dot felt butterflies stirring in her stomach—a swirl of eagerness for her new chapter, worries she’d live anywhere but New York, and wonderment about how her life had changed so much in a year.
But the emotional thread that made her butterflies fly in formation was because she was deeply in love with Danny Dawson.
And with him, this new adventure felt not only possible but nearly perfect.
She pushed down thoughts of how she’d suddenly rejected her chosen career in high-tech PR and shunned a D.C.
-based job in national politics so that she could be with him.
But, some questions nagged at her. Who was she without the work that helped define her?
What would happen when she let go of her plans and rode the wave of whatever life had in store for her?
Well, she was about to find out.
After landing in a frigid Milwaukee, Dot and Danny held hands as they made their way to his truck. It occurred to her that she’d have to renew her license and get used to driving. She was already dreading the parallel parking test.
As Danny drove them to Cedar Falls, they listened to the country music channel playing softly in the background. “Oh, I love this song,” she said, surprised how even her Spotify algorithm knew her new musical preferences.
So much had changed.
When they drove into town, Danny said, “Mind if we stop at the bookshop for a moment?”
“No, that would be great. I’d love to start the new year off with a bunch of new reads, anyway.”
Danny nodded and took a right onto Main Street.
“It’s truly the cutest town,” she said, looking around, the Christmas decorations still framing the storefronts.
“It is,” he agreed, letting his eyes sweep over Main Street.
Danny parked across the street from the store and saw that Dot hadn’t noticed yet. He hoped she liked surprises.
He got out and came around to her side to open her door.
“Welcome back, Dot.” He used both hands to gesture toward the store.
She looked at him quizzically, not understanding. So, he spun her around. And then she saw it.
A new sign was affixed above the store—it no longer said “Reader Falls Bookshop.”
It was now: “Dot’s Bookshop & Second Cup Café.”
“Wait. What?” She still hadn’t registered what she was seeing.
Then, Ted and Jeanie Jankowski, Grace and Joe Taylor, Mimi and Rose, and several of Danny’s employees came out of the store and started chanting her name. “Dot! Dot! Dot!”
Danny put an arm around her shoulders and squeezed her tightly into his torso.
“Happy New Year, Dot.”
And then it finally sunk in.
“Oh my gosh. Danny. Wait. You didn’t. Wait. You did! You bought the store from the Jankowskis? For me?”
“I did. And it’s in your name, not mine.
I wanted you to have something of your own here in Cedar Falls.
But it’s not just the bookstore. My guys spent the holidays fixing up the empty space next door.
They knocked down a wall and put in a full coffee bar.
And Mimi has signed on to be your pastry partner. ”
“Danny!” she exclaimed and threw her arms around his neck.
“Oh my gosh. I love it! I love it! I love you! I love Cedar Falls!” Adrenaline took over her body and she did a little dance in the street.
“And ‘Second Cup Café’? That’s our thing!
” She recalled when he’d first said that to her the morning after the first night she’d spent at his place.
“All the good stuff happens during the second cup, right?” Danny said.
“Always.” Dot tore her eyes away from Danny for a moment and looked for the Jankowskis. Spotting Ted and Jeanie, she went to them. Ted grabbed both of her hands.
“Dot, we couldn’t have asked for a better outcome.” He was teary. “And we’re not going far. We’ll be here to help. Though you have great instincts and are good at whatever you turn your hand to.”
“I’m so happy for you,” Jeanie said, wrapping Dot in a big hug and then whispering into her ear, “Welcome back to Cedar Falls. I promise that it’s a good place to call home.”
Dot hugged her back. “Thank you for helping me realize what I could have lost.”
“I’ve learned a thing or two over all these years, dear.”
Danny joined them and they basked in the love of their small-town friends and the feeling of a new adventure.
“Ready?” Danny said, gesturing to the front door.
“Ready!”
“Let’s do this the right way.” He carried her across the threshold to cheers.
“Welcome home, Dot,” he said, planting a kiss on her lips.
“I love it. And you,” she said, leaning her head against his chest and letting herself be carried.
A wave of serenity coursed through her body, and she knew in her heart that after all the worry about what she was going to do with her life, she had finally made the right choice.