Epilogue
JULIETTE
One year later…
Ilove days like this, when it’s easy and everything flows. Theo went to school without drama, my hair looks incredible, and I can’t complain about anything.
Leaf & Letter has been a busy little shop for a while now, and it doesn’t seem like that will slow down anytime soon. The shiny sparkle of Sawyer being here everyday may be over, but the store has made its impact and now we’re up for Small Business of the Year. Will wonders never cease.
Grinning, I listen to Charlie, who’s near the register explaining—very earnestly—why classical music helps the fiddle-leaf figs thrive.
“It’s the vibration,” he says, adjusting his soil-smudged apron. “Plants respond to intention.”
The customer nods like he’s explaining quantum physics.
I smile and lean back against the counter, glancing up at the wall behind me. Of course when he saw this particular photo in the local paper, he framed it.
What is it? A full-page feature from the Alexandria Gazette—right there between the seasonal wreath display and the vintage postcard rack. Its title: From Kiss Cam to Championship: Second Chances Reign on the Big Screen.
The photo takes up half the page. Me. On the Jumbotron, of all things! Except this time, I won’t need therapy after.
This time I’m kissing Sawyer.
The Dominion had just won the conference trophy. The arena was a blur of navy blue and gold. Theo was screaming somewhere behind us. And when the camera swung our way, I didn’t flinch. I don’t really do that much anymore.
The caption reads: Local business owner Juliette Gianelli celebrates the Dominion’s conference victory with defenseman, and game VIP, Sawyer Stockton.
Charlie added a tiny gold cardinal sticker to the corner of the frame. Subtle.
I’m still in la-la land, reminiscing about that day when my phone buzzes against the counter.
Sawyer:
Change of plans. My oven just made a noise that sounded expensive and then died. I was going to cook. I promise I tried to be domestic.
I grin.
RIP oven. Where am I meeting you?
Sawyer:
…
Then:
Sawyer:
Sending address. Don’t panic.
Don’t panic? Suspicious.
The address comes through. It’s not his place. It’s somewhere downtown, not too far from here actually.
I narrow my eyes at my phone like it might confess something. I smell a rat, or at least a plan deflection of some sort.
Before I can spiral, the shop door bursts open and Theo barrels in, backpack swinging.
“Mom! Coach said I need to work on my crossovers before Thursday. Can we go to the rink after dinner?”
He’s taller now. Still gangly. Still mine, and yet somehow hockey has become the center of his universe. Huh. Wonder how that happened?
I glance at the time. At the address on my screen. At the framed newspaper.
“I can’t tonight,” I tell him gently. “I’ve got plans.”
His face falls for half a second, but then Charlie appears beside him like a well-dressed fairy godfather.
“I’ll take him,” he says smoothly. “I’m babysitting tonight anyway. We’ll run drills. I have a whistle somewhere that has been waiting for this moment. I’ve always wanted to use a whistle.”
Theo lights up. “Really?”
“Really. But I refuse to shout unless absolutely necessary.”
Theo pumps a fist and disappears toward the back to dump his bag.
I look at Charlie.
“You don’t have to—”
“I know,” he says softly. “But I want to.”
Then, lower, so only I can hear: “You go be in love, darling. I’ve got this.”
My phone buzzes again.
Sawyer:
Wear something warm.
Warm?
My pulse does a small, ridiculous thing in my chest. I glance at the framed newspaper one more time. I trust him. If he tells me to wear something warm, then I should listen.
“Well, if you guys don’t mind, I’m going to run home to change before I meet Sawyer. Lock up in twenty?” I ask Charlie.
He smiles. “Already ahead of you.”
I grab my purse, kiss Theo’s head and head out the door. For the first time in a very long time, walking toward the unknown doesn’t feel like falling.
It feels like an adventure.
The address Sawyer sent me steers me to an old practice rink that the Washington Capitals used years ago that’s a community rink these days.
It’s a place where Sawyer takes Theo when he needs extra time on the ice, because “real players practice anywhere.” It’s tucked behind the Alexandria Rec Center, and the other thing I can remember about it is that it’s draped inside with the string lights that only work when they feel like it.
When I pull into the lot, I notice it’s practically empty, and my pulse starts doing that fast-slow thing again.
I shake it off because Sawyer is the kind of man who likes to whip out a huge surprise every couple of weeks to take my breath away.
It’s super cute and sweet, and I’m pretty sure it’s what he’s doing tonight.
Although how he’ll ever top off having a masseuse show up at my place the day after we did end of year inventory at the plant shop is still a mystery to me.
I enter the building to find it oddly quiet. The number of cars in the lot made me think at least one person, maybe two, would be around, but I don’t see any employees. None at all.
But I do see Sawyer.
He’s standing at center ice in a Dominion hoodie, hands shoved in his pockets like that will somehow disguise the fact that he’s visibly nervous. I mean, geez, I can even tell from here he’s looking a little worried.
“Sawyer?” I call out, teasing. “If this is about the oven, I forgive you.”
“You’re funny.” He huffs a laugh as he pushes his fingers through his hair. “No, this is not about the oven.”
“Okay,” I zip up my winter jacket, grateful I’d gone home to get it before coming. “You look freaked out. Are you okay?”
“Yes…and no,” he says, laughing. “Do you remember the first time I brought Theo here?”
I nod. “You nearly broke your ankle trying to impress him.”
“Hey, I was in complete control.”
“Sure you were,” I grin.
His smile fades into something steadier.
“That night he told me he wanted to play hockey because it made him feel strong.” He swallows.
“Brave. He also felt brave and liked the fact that if he joins a team, he automatically gets a ‘whole lot of new friends that will be like my family.’ Which is a great reason, if you ask me, to want to play the sport.”
My chest aches in the best way. “Well, that’s my boy.”
“Being on a team, it teaches you about family. I mean, obviously family taught me a lot—look at my relationship with my own cousin—but the penny dropped for me when I started playing hockey. Loyalty. Camaraderie. Support. A steady, calm heartbeat that’s there making it possible for me to do anything I put my mind to. ”
He skates backward slowly…and that’s when I see it written faintly across the ice in careful skate marks:
Team Gianelli + Team Stockton = Will you marry me?
My hand flies to my mouth, which is parched suddenly. Before I can even process it, the bench door swings open and Theo steps onto the ice.
He’s bundled up, helmet slightly crooked, as he makes his way to Sawyer’s side like this is the most normal thing in the world.
He’s holding something, it’s small. A tiny little box. He skates toward the gate and holds it up to me.
I break. As in, I actually break. These tears won’t stop and I won’t try to make them.
“Oh, Theo…”
He shrugs, suddenly shy. “I mean…we can be Team Stockton. Right?”
And it hits me—the choice in this moment isn’t just mine. It’s Theo’s too.
“Juliette,” Sawyer says softly, eyes locked on mine. “I don’t want to only be part of your life. I want to build one with you. With both of you. I talked to Theo about it, and he’s okay with it. Right buddy?”
“Right.” Theo nods, his tiny hand out slapping five against Sawyer’s giant paw. “And I’m okay with it.”
I try not to giggle as Sawyer continues. “I want to merge our teams, as it were.”
Theo looks up at me. Hopeful. Brave.
“Do you want to marry him Mom?” he asks, like it’s the most logical question in the world.
Tears blur everything. I step onto the ice without thinking, boots slipping slightly before Sawyer steadies me. The world is suddenly moving at a faster pace than I’m prepared for, and I want to savor every second of this special moment.
I crouch in front of Theo first.
“I do,” I whisper, brushing my hand over his cheek. “You’ve had my whole heart since the day you were born. Are you okay with me sharing it with Sawyer now, too.”
He grins, relief flooding his face. “Yes please!”
Then I look at Sawyer, who slowly opens the ring box. The diamond catches the string lights, scattering tiny sparks across the ice, and he slowly kneels down in front of me.
“So, will you marry me?” he asks, voice steady now. “Will you let me be a part of yours and Theo’s lives?”
I laugh through tears. “Yes.”
Theo whoops so loudly it echoes off the boards.
Sawyer stands and pulls me into him, kissing me under the glow of the lights while Theo skates wild, triumphant circles around us like he just scored the winning goal.
And maybe he did.
Because this time, when the world feels big and bright while it’s watching—I’m not afraid of being seen.
I chose this.
And this time, I’m not afraid of the spotlight.
I’m basking in it.