Epilogue - Savannah
EPILOGUE - SAVANNAH
Two years later
My office is buzzing. Serena carefully hands out the testers to our little team and then makes the rounds again handing out paper cups filled with champagne.
“Boss, you have to make a speech. This is a special occasion.” My assistant is beaming as she returns to her seat.
I stand up and walk to the front of the room. This clean, scrubbed space is a converted barn on the mountain road out of Snowflake Falls. What my team calls ‘The Lab’ is at the back, in a small side room. We experiment with new herbs, test out new products, and act like crazy scientists, hence the name. The main room is painted white, with high beams and our desks in rows. Plants and flowers are everywhere.
“I love this space. It represents all our hard work and the dedication we’ve put into the business from day one.” I smile. “It was only an idea to start with, one I held in my heart while I was running all over town cleaning for a living. Now, seeing what we’ve grown from a small seed makes me excited for the future.”
The team is quiet as I hold up the tester.
“Our new fragrance line is the result of all our research and collaboration. All those hours we put in at ‘The Lab’ have paid off. All our experiments. Even when Terence nearly made us pass out with that dandelion and sulfur concoction.”
Everyone laughs and Terence takes a small bow.
“Seriously, team. We did this together. What we’ve created isn’t just another perfume. It’s a connection to nature and the herbs on this mountain. And now we get to share it with the world. So, here’s to Snowflake Botanicals and to every single one of you. I can’t wait for the next chapter. I couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve achieved.”
I raise my glass as the room erupts in cheers and applause.
An hour later, I’m driving home with a broad smile on my face. Selling my products to the hotel was the first step in building the business I’m so proud of. When I was cleaning from dawn until dusk, I couldn’t ever have imagined my life could be like this.
Weston wanted to help me out, but I insisted on doing this on my own. He’s given me invaluable business advice and I love talking my ideas through with him. I drive up to the front of our home, park my BMW, and sit still for a second..
Even better than my successful business is my relationship with Weston. We get each other in a way I could only have dreamed of before I met him. He’s working as hard as I am to make his foundation a success.
I get out of the car and open the front door. Patch runs down the stairs meowing, followed by the three other cats we adopted from the shelter. Weston jokes that we should get a parrot, but I think a rescue dog is our next fur baby. I give each kitty a pet, looking around for my boyfriend.
I walk around, peering into every room.
“Weston?” I call.
“Down here, gorgeous!” His voice comes from downstairs. He must be in the gym. I squeeze my thighs together. The deep bass of his voice does something to me. It’s like security and excitement rolled into one irresistible package.
I run down the stairs. He’s not in the gym, or the kitchen. We have dinner with Grandma and Weston’s brother’s family tonight at the fancy new restaurant in town, so we need to start getting ready.
“In here!”
I follow the sound of his voice down to the end of the package, grinning as I swing open the bookcase door.
Kneeling in the middle of the safe room, my handsome boyfriend beams as he holds up a small velvet box. He opens it, revealing a sparkling diamond and emerald ring in the shape of intertwined leaves.
“Savannah. Will you marry me? I love you so much.”
I step forward, tears in my eyes. “Yes! I love you too. And I love that you chose the safe room to propose. Did the ring cost so much that we have to stay here every time I wear it?”
He laughs, sliding the ring onto my finger and then standing to gather me into his arms. “You’re priceless, not the ring. I thought since we started it all down here, it was the right place to propose.”
I smile up at him, stroking his stubbled jaw. “I like your style. And I can’t wait to be Mrs. Bennett.”
He inclines his head to kiss me and I reach my hands around the back of his neck. Somewhere, an alarm starts ringing and a light begins to flash.
“Shit. I should have got this thing fixed. I can press the override button.” Weston breaks the kiss.
I laugh, pulling him closer. “Let’s ignore it. Kiss me again.”
My fiancé presses his lips to mine and the world slips away. I relax into his strong arms. This is where I’m meant to be. Now and forever.