Epilogue
ELIZABETH
A little girl shyly steps up to the counter.
She’s probably six or seven—I can never tell—and completely adorable in her puffy pink dress, tiara, and oversized opera gloves that practically reach her shoulders. She exchanges a look with her dad, who nods, and opens her mouth.
Nothing comes out.
My stomach twists in sympathy. Poor girl. While I’ve never been shy or quiet—just ask my sister—I can totally relate to how hard it is to step outside of your comfort zone. And this little sweet pea is doing her best.
“Your highness,” Tyler’s voice booms as he enters from the kitchen. “Thank you for gracing us with your presence.”
And, as if that wasn’t adorable enough, he gives a sweeping bow that would put Prince Charming to shame.
Is it any wonder I’m totally obsessed with this man?
The little girl’s eyes go wide.
Then she giggles.
“I…” She takes a deep before squaring her tiny shoulders. “I wanted to know…”
Tyler leans so they’re eye level.
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“...which donut is fit for a princess?”
He gasps dramatically.
“The most important question I’ve been asked all week.”
She nods solemnly.
“It is.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
He leads her over to the display case like he’s giving a royal tour.
“Now, this one is excellent if your kingdom enjoys chocolate.”
She nods thoughtfully.
“This one has raspberry filling, which is clearly magical.”
Another serious nod.
“But...”
He leans closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially.
“...my professional opinion?”
She leans in too.
“The strawberry vanilla sprinkle.”
“Why?”
“Because every princess deserves sprinkles.”
She beams.
“I like sprinkles.”
“I had a feeling.”
He carefully boxes the donut himself before placing a tiny gold crown sticker on top.
“There.” He slides it across the counter. “For the birthday princess.”
Her dad reaches for his wallet. Tyler waves him off.
“This one’s on the royal treasury.”
The man’s eyes widen. “You don’t have to—“
“I know.” He smiles. “But I want to.”
The little girl throws her arms around Tyler’s waist before anyone can stop her.
He freezes for half a second. Then gently hugs her back.
“Thank you!” She practically skips out of the bakery clutching her pink box like she’d just been handed the crown jewels.
Her dad mouths thank you over his shoulder.
Tyler simply nods. Then he turns around and catches me watching him. “What?”
I shake my head. “Nothing.”
It would be inappropriate to tell him how badly I want to take him into the supply closet and show him how much I love him.
His eyes narrow.
I walk around the counter and slip my arms around his waist. “You know...”
“What?”
“I was just thinking.”
“Oh?”
“You’ve gotten much less grumpy over the past year.”
He frowns. “I have not.”
I raise an eyebrow. “The birthday princess might disagree.”
“That was customer service.”
“The free donut?”
“Marketing.”
“The hug?”
He hesitates just long enough for me to catch his lips twitch. “...Public relations.”
I laugh so hard I have to wipe tears from my eyes. “You are the worst liar.”
“I’m an excellent liar.”
“That’s the only lie you’re good at.”
He rolls his eyes before stealing a quick kiss. “You’re impossible.”
“So I’ve been told.”
A bell chimes from the kitchen. The latest batch is ready.
Business has changed so much over the last year.
The line still stretches out the door most mornings, but we ship nationwide now.
Rachel somehow convinced Tyler to host baking classes every Tuesday. He still grumbles before every single one.
He still secretly loves teaching.
Frank’s daughter’s wedding dessert wall became legendary. We’ve done thirty-eight more since then. Not that anyone’s counting.
Well... Rachel is.
As for me... Somehow, the girl who thought the safe corporate job was the responsible choice now spends her days elbow-deep in dough, arguing with suppliers, balancing payroll, creating seasonal flavors, and occasionally reminding my boyfriend that sleep is, in fact, a biological necessity.
I finally found my place.
Tyler bumps my shoulder. “Hey.”
“Hmm?”
“I’ve been working on something.”
Excitement flutters inside of me. “Oh?”
“I was thinking...” He suddenly looks almost nervous. “...I’d like to add something new to the menu.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “You? Adding something new?”
“What can I say?” He shrugs. “I’ve experienced personal growth.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it.”
He smiles. “Come with me.”
He takes my hand. We weave through the kitchen. Toward the decorating station.
The lights are off.
I frown. “Tyler?”
“One second.”
He flips a switch. Soft golden light floods the room. Candles. Dozens of them, come alive.
My heart immediately starts racing. In the center worktable sits one white bakery box. Tied with a pale pink ribbon.
I look back at him. “What is this?”
He smiles nervously. “Open it.”
My hands are suddenly shaking as I untie the ribbon. Lift the lid.
Inside are four donuts in my favorite brown butter maple.
Each one has a single word piped across the top: WILL YOU MARRY ME?
My brain completely forgets how words work.
Very quietly, Tyler says, “I thought about writing it on one donut.”
I look up. He gives a tiny shrug.
“But we’ve established I’m better with more.”
A laugh escapes me. Immediately followed by tears.
“Oh no.” He reaches for me. “I made you cry.”
“They’re happy tears.” I look back down at the donuts. “You made these?”
“Started at three this morning.”
“You didn’t have to.”
He frowns. “Of course, I did.”
“You could’ve slept in because...” I turn to cradle his cheeks in my palm. “All you had to do was ask. And my answer would have been the same.”
A slow smile spreads across his lips. Removing my hands, he grips them tightly and drops to one knee.
“Elizabeth.” His voice is steady. “I spent years believing this bakery was the best thing I’d ever build.”
He smiles. “I was wrong.”
My vision blurs.
“The best thing that ever happened here...” He squeezes my hand.
“...walked in to pick up her sister after a terrible date.” I laugh through my tears.
“You made my recipes better My business better. My life better.”
He looks up at me with the same warm brown eyes that stole my heart a year ago.
“I promise I’ll keep choosing you over strangers on the internet.”
Another watery laugh.
“I promise I’ll keep listening. I promise I’ll never stop making your favorite donuts.”
He smiles. “And I promise to love you whether you’re covered in flour...or maple filling... or stealing one of my aprons.”
He takes a shaky breath.
“So...” He releases one of my hands to remove a ring box from the pocket of his apron. “Elizabeth. What do you say?”
I don’t think I’ve ever answered anything faster. “Yes.”
His entire face lights up. “Yes?”
“Yes.” I throw my arms around him before he even has a chance to stand. He laughs into my hair as he slips the ring onto my finger.
It fits perfectly.
I kiss him again. Long enough that neither of us notices the kitchen door swing open.
A chorus of cheers erupts behind us.
I turn to find Rachel, Kathryn, Frank, half the bakery staff, the birthday princess still wearing her tiara, and her bewildered but delighted dad filling the doorway.
Rachel is openly crying.
“I told you they’d get engaged!” she sobs. “I won twenty dollars!”
Tyler groans. “You were taking bets?”
“Proceeds went to charity!”
I laugh so hard I can barely breathe.
Then I look down at the ring sparkling on my finger.
Up at the man I love. Standing in the bakery that somehow became my home, too.
This really is the sweetest life. And it’s all ours.