EPILOGUE
TWO MONTHS LATER
GEMMA
Again, I have butterflies flapping around in my belly because of a tasting. I’ve spent the last two months perfecting my brew and I think this time it’s the one. I’ve been so excited about it being ready. Now, I’m looking forward to the tasting tonight.
Which is why my eyebrows furrow together when I hear voices coming from the event space. I’m not in there to set anything up which means no one should be in there right now.
The moment I step into the room, my eyes widen.
Not because of the people in the space—which is surprising enough—but because everything is already done.
The room is decorated; I wasn’t planning to do nearly as much.
There are flowers everywhere and not the fake ones I normally use and reuse in this room.
And everyone is dressed up much fancier than I was expecting for one of my beer tastings.
My eyes find Keaton and my jaw drops because he’s not supposed to be here yet. We were going to meet up later after he finished grading a test he gave the kids. We talked about it only an hour ago.
We had a plan.
Now, he’s standing right in front of me and it’s obvious that our plan has flown out the window.
Or maybe it wasn’t ever really the plan and was only a smokescreen.
Tears well up in my eyes even though I have no idea why. Keaton crosses the room until he’s standing in front of me and blocking out everyone else.
“What is going on?” I whisper the question while my eyes try to dart around and take everything in.
My brain is not processing what I’m seeing very well. I know this. I’m just not sure how to speed it up. I look up at Keaton expectantly because I have a feeling he’s the only one who can tell me what is happening.
“I got everyone here and decorated the room for one very important reason,” Keaton’s voice is a low murmur.
“It’s just a beer tasting,” I try to brush off his words.
He shakes his head slowly. “We’ll be tasting your beer,” he assures me, “but that’s not the only reason I wanted everyone here.”
My heart starts to pound in my chest because this feels big. There’s something in Keaton’s eyes that I can’t put my finger on.
Before I can question him further, Keaton lowers himself down to one knee. A loud gasp fills the room, and it takes me a moment to realize it came from me.
His touch is gentle when he takes my hand. I find myself gripping his fingers far tighter than is probably comfortable for him. I’m unable to stop myself.
“Gemma,” Keaton’s voice is deep and husky, “I love you with everything I am. I’m sorry it took us so long to get over ourselves and be together.” I look up and find Gary with a sheepish smile on his face.
He’s gotten over whatever brotherly protectiveness had him uneasy and slightly angry when he found out about us. After the first month, he stopped glaring and pretending to gag whenever we touched. It felt like a milestone at the time.
That’s also when the teasing began.
Keaton’s voice pulls my attention back to him just as he pulls a ring out of his pocket and holds it up in front of me.
“Now that we are together, I want it all with you. A future. A home. A family. I can’t imagine spending a single day without you in my life.
Even after I’m gone, I want to find you again. Please, marry me.”
The first tears slip past my lash line and then I can’t stop them. I’m sure I look like a mess, but I don’t care. Not when he’s looking up at me with eyes filled with love and forever.
“Of course I’ll marry you,” my words are a vow, one which settles around me with just as much importance as the vows we’ll eventually make to seal our marriage.
Keaton stands and kisses me hard. I melt into him, not caring about who is watching. Not when his ring is going on my finger and his arms are wrapped around me.
Gary makes a distressed sound, but its not loud and Mayer gripes, “Shut it, Gary. No one asked you.”
I bark out a laugh at her words, but I don’t take my eyes off Keaton. When he slips the ring on my finger, everyone filling the room starts to cheer. I’m enveloped in love, hugs, well wishes, and celebration.
My heart is full, and when my new beer is passed around and everyone praises me, the feeling only grows. I must admit, when I taste it myself, that it’s perfect.
Finally.
Now, I can contribute even more to GMH. Still, I find this accomplishment pales in comparison to getting engaged.
I’m looking forward to what happens next.