Epilogue
ZOE - EIGHTEEN MONTHS LATER
Zoe pressed send and sat back in her desk chair, smiling. She’d just agreed on a contract with a young influencer from LA, who she’d work with remotely on expanding her following. She went to click on the next email, but paused, her hand poised above the keyboard.
From the next room, she heard the soft sound of giggles, then a deep chuckle. Her heart softened, and she shut her laptop and followed the laughter.
Nathan was sitting on the living-room floor with their ten-month-old son, Alex, lying in front of them.
Nathan would tickle the little boy’s belly, and the baby would shriek with laughter and wiggle.
Zoe paused in the doorway to watch the heartwarming scene.
Baby Alex, named after Nathan’s father, had Nathan’s bright blue eyes and Zoe’s curly blond hair.
His cheeks were still round with baby fat, and his tiny fingers splayed and closed as he laughed.
“Hey there, beautiful.” Nathan had spotted her.
“Hey,” Zoe smiled.
“I thought you had a little more work to do,” he said. “I hope we weren’t too loud.”
“No, not at all. And I was planning to do a little more work, but how can I when you guys are so adorable? That’s the beauty of working for myself.
I can just stop for the day." After struggling a little career-wise after the cancelation of the show, Zoe had taken a little time off to be home with her newborn son. Now that Alex was a little older, she was starting to get back into work with a few hand-picked clients she worked with remotely. The slower pace was exactly what she’d needed.
"Are we adorable?” Nathan asked Alex. The baby cooed, and Nathan scooped him into his arms and stood, turning back to Zoe. “Should we start our walk, then?”
The family had a Friday evening tradition — they went up to the viewpoint that Nathan had visited with his father and with Zoe, and walked around. They’d been doing so ever since Zoe moved to Islingburn almost eighteen months ago.
“I’m ready.” Zoe grinned and held out her arms for Alex, who beamed as he reached for her. She settled his warm weight on her hip and grinned at Nathan. “It’ll definitely be easier than hiking nine months pregnant.”
“We didn’t go when you were nine months pregnant,” Nathan protested. “Eight months, maybe.”
“I’m not so sure. I definitely remember waddling up that hill, as round as a beach ball.”
Nathan chuckled and came to kiss her on the cheek. “You always looked beautiful, and not at all like a beach ball.”
Zoe took Alex upstairs to get him changed.
It was February and cold in Islingburn. The path to the viewpoint was well maintained, so it was safe to walk up there, but it could be chilly.
She bundled her baby into his snowsuit, making faces at him all the while to keep him entertained, before handing him over to Nathan so that she could get her own winter gear on.
They all piled into the car and headed to the viewpoint, singing along to the radio.
Since Zoe had finished work early, as had Nathan, it was still light outside.
Nathan parked in the usual spot, and they walked along the familiar path.
Nathan had baby Alex in the carrier, and Zoe walked beside him, holding his hand.
She never tired of seeing Islingburn spread beneath them.
Zoe was deeply proud of her adopted hometown.
She’d never imagined being happy in a small town, but she loved Islingburn.
She loved that she knew almost everyone who lived here, and they knew her.
She loved that Alex would grow up riding bikes and going for hikes.
She loved living in Nathan’s house, which they’d decorated together so that it really felt like home.
And she loved that she truly felt like she belonged.
Nathan, like her, had found professional success after the show’s cancelation.
He’d continued with his clinic, as before, but he’d also started his own social media account, becoming Zoe’s best client.
There, he posted about his experiences, his advice, and his life — and he was very popular.
There was no pressure from producers or anyone else to create a certain kind of content, so he’d been able to find his own niche.
The extra funds from the account helped found a new wing for the clinic and more staff, including a second doctor, which meant that Nathan had more time at home with his young family.
Today, the viewpoint looked lovelier than ever.
Crisp white snow covered the meadow at the top, and Zoe and Nathan crunched through it to reach their bench.
The air was cold, but not so much that it was uncomfortable to be outside.
The sun had just started to set, streaking the sky with wintery, pale pinks and oranges, and lights were coming on far below, making Islingburn look like a fairy town.
“It’s extra beautiful today,” Zoe mused.
“I think I know why.”
“Really?” Zoe turned to Nathan. “Why?”
He smiled at her. “Because this is a special day.”
She smiled back and repeated her question. “Why?”
“Well, I hope it’s a special day, anyway. Alex and I were talking, and there’s something we want to ask you.”
“Really?” Zoe’s heart began to race. Could this be what she hoped it would?
The last eighteen months had been focused around getting to know each other as a couple and as parents, but some small part of Zoe hoped for something else, too — a wedding.
Could it be that Nathan was thinking the same thing?
“Zoe,” Nathan said, and he grinned the warm grin that had first won Zoe over more than a year ago.
“When you came into my life, you turned everything on its head. You made me think differently about my life, about what I wanted, and about what kind of man I wanted to be. Zoe, you are the most amazing person I’ve ever known.
You’re smart, funny, dedicated, not to mention gorgeous, and you gave me our son. I can never repay you for that.”
“There’s nothing to repay,” Zoe said. “We’re doing this together.” Her heart was still fluttering in her chest, and she was more and more certain that this was really happening.
“Good, but please don’t interrupt.” Nathan winked.
“I’ve got a whole thing going here. I can never repay you for that — but I’d like to try.
If you’ll let me, I want to spend every day of the rest of my life by your side.
I want to remind you how wonderful you are.
I want to raise our son together — and maybe more kids, someday.
I want to work, side by side, and go for hikes, and try to stop you from ruining another Christmas tree—”
“Hey!” Zoe protested. She hadn’t ruined the Christmas tree… well, not exactly. She had run it over with the car, though. She wasn’t used to driving, having always lived in New York she’d never needed to.
“Don’t interrupt,” Nathan reminded her with faux sternness. “As I was saying, I want to try not to ruin any more Christmas trees. I want family breakfasts and camping trips and birthday cakes, together. And more than anything, I want a wedding.”
He knelt in the snow, one hand steadying Alex in his carrier while the other pulled a small box from his jacket pocket.
He flicked it open easily, his doctor’s dexterity on full display, and a gorgeous ring glinted up at Zoe from the dark purple velvet.
It had a thin, platinum silver band and a diamond so large and so perfect it took Zoe’s breath away.
“Nathan…” She could barely form words. As much as she’d hoped and dreamed this would happen, it was finally here, and she was worried she’d keel over in the snow from joy.
“Zoe,” Nathan said, and he grinned at her. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes!” Zoe laughed as she held out her hand. “Yes, yes, yes!”
Nathan slipped the ring onto her finger and stood so that he could take her into his arms and kiss her, just once.
“I’m starting to wish I’d left Alex with a babysitter so that I could show you just how happy I am you’re going to be my wife,” Nathan said.
“No.” Zoe smiled down at their baby son, who flapped his arms and babbled mamamamamama.
“I’m glad he’s here. Our whole family is together…
and after he goes to sleep tonight, I’ll show you just how happy I am that you’re going to be my husband.
” She winked, and Nathan’s eyes darkened, as they always did when she mentioned their nights together.
“It’ll be an early night, then,” Nathan said. He held out a hand to her. “Truly, though, I can’t put into words how much I love you. I’m so glad to have met you.”
“I love you, too,” Zoe said. “I love you, and Islingburn, and the family we’ve built here together. Really, nothing could be better.”
“I agree.” Nathan squeezed her hand. “Now, shall we head home? I think our friends have put together a bit of an engagement party for us.”
“You must have been pretty sure I’d say yes,” Zoe said.
“I certainly hoped.” Nathan grinned at her. “Come on, my bride-to-be. Let’s go.”
“I suppose you were right to be confident.” Zoe squeezed his hand and looked up at him, her eyes sparkling. “How could I say no to the ‘Hottest Doctor Alive’?”
“You couldn’t,” Nathan agreed, chuckling at her reminder of the viral video that had brought them together in the first place.
Hand in hand, with their baby in the carrier, they walked back towards the car, talking about wedding plans and their future and everything they’d been through together. As the sun slipped over the horizon and sparkled off the fresh snow, they headed home, towards their party — and their future.
The End
I hope you’ve enjoyed Zoo and Nathan’s story!