Shirley May pops her head out from around the back corner. I hear the loud popping sound before I see the bottle of champagne in her hands. “I told you she was coming home!” Then she hurries toward us and pours our drinks.
I turn to Ashlyn and ask, “Areyou coming home?”
“For now,” she says. “If things work out for us though, maybe you’ll consider moving to LA with me at some point.”
I clink my glass against hers, and tell her, “I’m pretty sure I’d move to the moon with you, Ashlyn.”
And just like that, fate has changed my life, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
EPILOGUE—ASHLYN
This year,Thanksgiving has brought more gratitude than ever before. Jamie and I are officially a couple and our relationship is more amazing than I could have ever dreamed. Even though I spend a lot of time at Town Hall with my dad, I haven’t gotten a real job yet, so I’m able to go to all of Jamie’s games. Even the away ones. As such, our connection has become so strong I can no longer imagine what my life would look like without him.
As expected, the bears went into hibernation in late October and freed Jamie to move back to his cabin. He’s decided not to rush into buying something now that he has a few months of peace in front of him.
My parents’ marriage is better than it’s ever been. My dad has lightened up on his obsession with Maple Falls and has even talked about leaving his term early. Phillip couldn’t be happier—the big doody.
The big news is that Maple Falls has been saved! It was super touch and go with Alexander MacDonald and the town, but things took a turn when a note from Victor MacDonald was found in a time capsule. In it, he conveyed his love for Maple Falls and his hope that his ancestors would live here for generationsto come. That was enough for old Alexander not only to give up his rights to any land, but he now wants to spend part of his year living here.
The truth is that Alexander MacDonald is nothing like his representative, Jeremy, had us believe. He’s a lovely man who had no idea what was being said and done in his name. He’s assured my dad that he is personally going to make sure that Maple Falls stays just the way his ancestor wanted it to.
We are now going to use all the money we had raised to buy the land to help our town in various ways. Things have turned out better than we could have hoped. It’s almost like this was our fate.
I hurried to send out a few texts spreading the good news before sitting down to Thanksgiving supper with my mom, dad, Jamie, Dale Hauser, and Shirley May.
The turkey is huge, and the table is brimming with all the fixings. The flickering candles create dancing shadows that move across the room making everything feel like a really amazing dream.
As is our tradition, my dad stands up first and raises his wine glass. “Gratitude is the key component of happiness,” he says. “And this year, I am full of gratitude.” He turns to my mom, “Alicia, you are the love of my life. You have stood beside me and held me up in times of trouble; you have given me a family; you have made a home for us that has offered incomparable comfort. You are my heart and my life. I would be nothing without you, and I vow to spend every day that I have left on this earth showing you how grateful I am for you.”
A slow smile crosses my mother’s face as she raises her glass to him and says, “I’d like to have that comment notarized, please.” Everyone laughs. Then she continues, “I am also grateful for you, Bill, but I’m most thankful for our beautiful daughter Ashlyn.” She turns her glass to me. “Honey, you are the most kindhearted person I know. You are strong and courageous. You are caring and thoughtful. Had you not come hometo help your father and me, this would have been a very different Thanksgiving. And not for the better.” Leaning over, she taps her glass to mine. “To you, my darling. You have all my thanks.”
Dale and Shirley May both offer their gratitude for the year, as well. I don’t listen to them closely because my eyes are glued to Jamie. When it’s his turn, he stands up and directs his toast to Dale. “I know you’re all expecting me to say I’m most thankful for Ashlyn. And while I truly am awed to have such an amazing woman in my life”—he winks in my direction—“ I would not be here had my old friend Dale Hauser not called and asked me to join his new team. Dale,” Jamie says, “you have always had my back, and I want you to know that I will always have yours.”
When it’s finally my turn, I stand up and move my glass around from person to person. “I’m thankful to you all. This year has been full of lessons and full of blessings, and I couldn’t have gotten through it without every one of you.” With mischievous intent, I turn toward Shirley May. “But my dear friend Shirley May has brought the pecan praline pie, and for that, I am the most grateful!”
The table fills with laughter, and as I sit down, I realize I truly am the most fortunate person I know. I thought my life was going one direction, and I resisted change because I couldn’t see anything else for myself. Yet, nothing is set in stone. Sometimes, the harder things are, the bigger the reward for getting through them. The last couple of months have taught me that in spades.
Jamie reaches under the table and takes my hand in his. Then he leans over and whispers, “I’m so grateful for you, Ashlyn. Being with you feels like home.”
I squeeze his hand. “Home isn’t a place,” I tell him. “Home is where your people are.”
I’ve only been back in Maple Falls for a month. But I’m committed to staying for much longer should that be my fate. I vow to keep my heart open to whatever life’s journey has instore for me, and to the best of my ability, I’ll try to ride the ride with courage and gratitude.
