Epilogue
(A few weeks later)
Iwish the place wasn’t such a mess,” my bride-to-be pouts when she steps back into the kitchen to check on the ham.
“Relax. Everyone knows we’re renovating,” I assure her, adding cinnamon to my pitcher of homemade eggnog.
We were going to celebrate Christmas Eve at Levi’s this year. He’s got the space, the festive decor and probably the biggest tree in Hideaway Springs. But I wanted everything perfect for Pepper tonight. And the risk of Charlie refusing to come was a lot smaller if I told her Pepper was hosting and cooking.
“At least we’re not starting the kitchen until after the new year.” Pepper slips off the oven mitt and closes the door.
“You need to relax. Drink more eggnog.”
She bites on her fingernail and glances around the kitchen for the fourth time today. “Right. Yeah. Relax.” She twists and pulls on the junk drawer, scanning through mindless items.
“What are you looking for?”
“Hmm?” She shuts the drawer. “Nothing. What?”
I taste the new batch of the cocktail, mostly to cover the smirk.
Pepper rubs her fingers nervously, avoiding my eyes. “I’d better go check on our guests.
“What’s wrong with your wife?” Noah asks, coming in after Pepper hurries out.
My wife.
I can’t wait to call her that. I haven’t been taking the word for granted the way everyone else in my family seems to have the last few weeks.
“Oh she just lost her engagement ring.”
“What? Are you serious?”
I smirk and whip it out of my pocket.
Noah perks a brow. “How long has she been looking for it?”
I tuck it away. “Three days.”
“What’s going on?” Levi asks entering the kitchen. “Jackson’s getting hungry. When are we eating?”
“Waiting for a delivery,” I answer dryly.
“Who delivers on Christmas Eve?”
“Why would you take her ring? Are you unproposing?” Noah stammers.
“Will you keep your voice down?”
Levi gasps. ”Wait, are you doing it tonight? Where?”
My oldest brother knows about my plan to officially pop the question to Pepper. The way she deserves.
On one knee, I”ll remind her how incredible she is. How brave and strong she”s been. How she”s changed me. Tell her how ironic it is that she came back here looking for a place to stay but ended being home to me.
We haven’t made any progress on finding her parents. But the search will go on. For as long as it takes. Pepper asked if we could do it quietly to keep them safe in case they are out there somewhere. Noah reluctantly agreed, stating that could prolongate the search. But Pepper and I both agreed that if it means they’ll be prosecuted once found or…something worse, then we’d rather not know.
“Backyard,” I say.
Noah scoffs, catching on. “That’s going to be a big fat no when she finds out you stole her ring.”
And they used to call me the least romantic brother.
The doorbell rings as Pepper races back into the kitchen. “Babe, will you get that? I need to check the oven again.”
I pick up the pitcher and nudge Levi. “I ordered dessert for later. Can you get that?”
“Dessert? I like dessert. Jackson, go wash your hands.”
I set the pitcher on the coffee table as Levi pulls the front door open.
Tessa is in pajamas and an oversized wool coat. She holds up a large paper bag. “Someone order blueberry pie?”
“Tess, come on in,” I call. When I asked Dad about the blueberry pie he’d sent over that night I went looking for Pepper, he said that was something Tessa added to the menu and she’s the only one who makes it.
Her eyes widen. “Oh, no. This is a family thing, I don’t want to—”
“Oh hey, Tess,” Dad calls, stepping in from the backyard. “Come on in. Do I smell your blueberry pie?”
Tessa smiles. “Yep.”
“Nice PJs,” Levi comments dryly.
There’s no quick-witted comeback, like ‘least I look good in plaid, cowboy.’ Tessa just hands the bag to Levi and steps back. “I was just getting ready to call it a night. Enjoy.” She calls to everyone inside.
Levi checks his watch. “It’s six o’clock.”
Jesus.
“Come in, Tess,” I insist, stepping up to the door and pulling it open all the way.
“I’m not really dressed.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Pepper calls behind me. “I’ll change too, we’ll make it a PJ party. Come on in.”
Tess hesitates then steps in glancing at Levi. “Maybe for a little.”
”I”ll take your coat,” Levi practically grits. Then shoots me a look that says, why don”t we just invite all the outlaws in town?
Pepper gives our guests a five-minute warning for dinner and to stop filling up on eggnog.
Pepper, Dad, and Jackson did ninety percent of the talking during dinner. During dessert, Tessa chimed in with other baked goods of hers we need to try since we love her pies so much.
It took Jackson all of six seconds to convince Grandpa to add them to the menu at the Inn so he could try them all.
I step onto our newly extended backyard. Dad was out here earlier hanging tree lights with Jackson. It”s simple, yet perfect for tonight.
”House is looking good,” Noah says, stepping out behind me. ”And don”t worry. She”ll say yes…again.”
I slip my hands in my pockets and glare at my brother. I wasn”t going to do this on Christmas, but after watching him with Charlie for the past two hours, feeling the endless tension simmering between the two of them, I can”t hold back. “I thought we were doing it together.”
“You…want me to help propose to your wife—I mean Pepper? Not much I can—”
“I called the bank that bought Sara Whitley’s debt from the hospital. They told me it was paid off just last week.”
He swallows. ”Hmm—that”s odd.”
“Noah. The three of us agreed we’d settle it together.”
”It wasn”t your problem,” he mutters.
”Charlie gave up the money to bring Pepper home. I owe that girl my life.”
”That”s a bit dramatic.”
I shake my head, relenting. ”What are they going to tell her?”
He shrugs. ”Probably that…she”d…made enough payments and it”s settled. Anyway, I”m going inside. Want me to tell your wife you”re looking for her?”
”You”re looking for me?” Pepper”s soft voice comes from the sliding door. Her eyes gleam with what I can only read as fulfillment and joy. A sense of belonging she hadn”t felt in years.
Noah grins. ”That depends, are you his wife?”
Pepper tosses me a flirtatious smirk before her face falls and she rubs her naked finger.
Noah takes his cue and steps back in the house while I reach for the blanket on the bench and wrap it around her.
She hums, leaning into me. ”Are we planning on staying here a while?”
Through the glass doors, I catch my father herding our guests, hushing them as they gather into one cherished bunch.
I reach into my pocket. ”I”m planning on forever.” With that, I lower onto one knee, for the woman who challenged me, lit up my world, and filled my heart.