Epilogue
“Thanks so much for the repair, Roy,” Hannah said as she took the keys from the mechanic’s outstretched hand. “It’s good to have her running again.”
“No problem at all. I figured since Caleb went to all the trouble of driving to Riverside for the part, I should get her fixed as soon as possible.” Roy wiped his hands on a shop rag. “Never seen anyone so determined to fix a car that wasn’t even his.”
Hannah glanced at Caleb with a smile, remembering his six-hour round trip to Riverside that he’d made just for her. “He’s pretty special that way.”
Caleb slipped his arm around her waist. “Ready to test her out?”
“Absolutely.”
“Does this mean goodbye?” Roy asked, looking from Hannah to Caleb and back again.
“Only for today,” Hannah replied. “I’m sure I’ll be back when she needs more work.”
“So you’re staying?” Roy asked and cracked a smile.
“I am.” Hannah leaned into Caleb.
“I knew it!” Roy thumped Caleb lightly on the shoulder. “I’m so happy for you both.”
“Me too,” Caleb said as he dropped a kiss onto the top of Hannah’s head.
“Ah!” Roy turned toward his office as his phone rang. “Duty calls.”
“Bye, Roy, and thanks again.” Hannah took Caleb’s hand. “Come on. I want you two to meet properly.”
Caleb chuckled. “Can’t wait.”
They walked to her car, which stood freshly washed and gleaming in the late-morning sun. Hannah ran her hand along the hood, feeling a new appreciation for the vehicle that had broken down at exactly the right place and time.
She slid into the driver’s side and started the engine, sitting still for a long moment, listening to the familiar sound that had always brought her such comfort.
“Sound okay?” Caleb asked.
“Perfect.” Hannah put the car in drive and pulled away.
She drove through town, heading toward the back roads. They took their time, as Caleb had the morning off, and Hannah — well, she had a life to plan. A new life in Bear Creek.
“Can we stop at the creek?” she asked suddenly. “I’d love to see it.”
Caleb smiled. “Of course. Take a left just up ahead.”
She followed his directions and parked in the small gravel lot near the trailhead, which led to the creek from which the town took its name.
Hand in hand, they walked along the path until they reached the water’s edge.
The creek sparkled in the early summer sunshine, water bubbling over smooth stones as it had for centuries.
Hannah reached into her pocket and pulled out the small stone she’d collected during their visit to the vineyard. She rolled it between her fingers, feeling its perfect smoothness warmed by her body heat.
“When I picked this up,” she said softly, “I thought of it as a keepsake. Something to remember this place by when I was gone.” She looked up at Caleb, her eyes shining. “Now it’s something else. A reminder of my new life here. And of the life I left behind.”
Caleb wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. “No regrets?”
“None.” She leaned back against his solid chest. “For the first time, I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.”
He turned her in his arms and kissed her, his lips gentle yet insistent against hers. Hannah melted into him, all her defenses long since surrendered. She’d allowed him in — not just into her life, but into the carefully guarded chambers of her heart.
When they broke apart, Caleb’s expression had shifted. There was determination in his eyes, along with something that looked almost like nervousness. He stepped back and, to Hannah’s surprise, lowered himself to one knee on the soft ground beside the creek.
“Caleb?” Her voice caught in her throat.
“Hannah,” he said, reaching into his pocket. “There’s another stone I want to give you.”
Her breath hitched as he produced a small velvet box and opened it to reveal a diamond ring, its facets catching the sunlight and scattering it in tiny rainbows.
“Will you marry me? Be my mate, my everything, forever?”
Hannah’s legs seemed to give way beneath her as she dropped to her knees in front of him, tears spilling down her cheeks.
“Yes,” she whispered, then again, louder, “Yes!”
She threw her arms around his neck, laughing and crying at once. Caleb held her tight, his eyes bright with tears of happiness as he pulled back just enough to slip the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly, as if it had always been meant to be there.
“I love you,” he murmured against her lips before kissing her again, this time with all the promise of their future together.
“I love you too,” Hannah replied when they finally broke apart. “So much.”
She felt weightless, buoyant with happiness. Free to live, free to laugh, free to fall — because she knew with absolute certainty that Caleb would always be there to catch her.
As they stood together, Hannah reached into her pocket and pulled out her car keys. Without hesitation, she pressed them into Caleb’s palm.
He looked up at her, confusion clear in his expression. “You’re going to let me drive?”
Hannah nodded. “Yes. Because I trust you to take care of my car the same way you take care of my heart.”
Caleb pulled her into his arms again, burying his face in her hair. “I’m going to look after your car,” he promised, “because it’s what brought you here.”
“By accident,” Hannah reminded him with a small smile.
Caleb arched an eyebrow, his expression turning playful. “Was it?”
Hannah shrugged, her eyes twinkling. “With a little help from fate.”
Matt’s story is next
The Bear’s Chosen Mate
Bear Creek Forever:Thornberg Restaurant
Book Two