A Town Called Valentine(116)

“People know you here—I know you,” he continued quietly. “You could have a life here.”

She took a deep breath. “With you?”

Nate was the biggest risk of all, standing there patiently waiting for her to make the move. There was a new openness to him, as if he was finally ready to take chances, if she would let him. He had discovered long ago what he was meant to do with his life. He had a quiet confidence, a belief in himself and his town, and mostly in his family.

Did he want her to be part of his family?

He thought he had everything together—but he needed her, she knew. She saw things about him he’d never known about himself. And he was part of Valentine Valley, too. She’d been fighting being a part of it from the beginning.

“I love you, Emily,” he whispered, cupping her face, kissing her gently. “I’ll never hurt you.”

She stared up into his eyes, and everything fell into place, as if her journey here had taught her, brought her to this moment. “I love you, too.”

And then she was crying and smiling and kissing him. He let out a whoop and twirled her around.

“Okay, okay,” she said, when at last she was safely on the ground. “I’ll stay and give this place a try.”

“So you’ll open this mysterious bakery you’ve never mentioned to me?”

“I guess you’ll have to get over the loss of Leather and Lace.”

“But what will you bring on our honeymoon?”

She stared up into his beloved face, no longer the lonely, sad woman she’d been on her first rainy night in Valentine. She’d found a new strength inside her, and she would use it to love Nate as he deserved.

“On the honeymoon? Why, I don’t plan to wear anything at all.”

They shared a grin.





Epilogue



In autumn, colorful leaves swirling through brisk air, Emily’s bakery, Sugar and Spice, had its opening day. A long glass display case ran the length of the room, and a second glass cooler for her cheesecakes and other refrigerated goodies stood perpendicular to it. She already had orders to bake for two engagements and a baby shower.

Now she stood behind the glass counter where the bar had once been, staring with quiet joy at all the people who’d come to wish her well. Monica and Brooke were still arranging the flowers that bloomed at every little table in the coffee corner, while Josh set out the leather key rings he’d tooled with her cupcake logo for the first day’s customers. The widows had asked to help out, and they were her new part-time employees, wearing matching aprons they’d designed themselves with the logo ASK US WHY WE’RE SUGAR AND SPICE. They kept “forgetting” to take them off whenever they went to lunch or dinner.

Nate was the first one to see that she’d come out of the kitchen, and the smile he gave her made tears spring to her eyes.

“Em, come show them!” he called.

There was a general cry of delight when Nate dragged her forward by the hand so they could all see her lovely pear-cut diamond engagement ring.

Her sister Stephanie gaped at it, then at her. “Oh my God, it’s beautiful!”

Emily smiled at her little sister. “You better get used to it. Your job as maid of honor will be to polish it every time you see me.”

Stephanie blushed and laughed, glancing at her parents, who beamed back at her. After a slow start, Emily was making progress becoming friends with her teenage sister. Joe wiped his eyes with a hankie when he thought no one was looking, and his mom, Eileen, covered her trembling smile.

Emily slipped her arm through her father’s. “Dad, you’ll walk me down the aisle, won’t you?” It was the first time she’d called him that, and it felt right.

That set up another chorus of “awws” until Grandma Thalberg pulled her away.

“Emily, you’ll never guess! The Valentine Valley Preservation Fund committee has agreed to set aside some money to help Leather and Lace open their store after all—but don’t tell Nate!”

Emily laughed. “Oh, Grandma, he already knows. Don’t breathe a word, but he’s become a long-distance customer. Aren’t I the luckiest woman in the world?”