Ford reaches for my hand, tugging me gently towards him. He doesn’t say anything, just holds me close. We don’t dance, not really. But we sway. My forehead rests against his chest, and his chin brushes my wet hair. His arms wrap around me.
I’ve always thought love was about finding someone who stays through the storm. Someone solid and safe. But maybe it’s more than that. Maybe it’s about finding someone who dances with me in the rain. Who doesn’t just hold me together but reminds me how to fall apart and still feel joy.
I look up at him, and smile. “Thanks for ruining my outfit,” I whisper.
He smirks.
“It’s a shame it wasn’t white.”
I elbow him, and he pulls me closer.
And just like that, the storm doesn’t feel so heavy anymore.
Because this … this messy, imperfect, rain-soaked life … I’m not facing it alone.
He doesn’t just stay.
He dances.
And maybe love isn’t as sudden as a boom of thunder or a streak of lightning. Maybe it’s this slow, steady thing that sneaks up on you in the middle of a downpour. The kind of thing that finds you when you’re soaked and laughing and not looking for it at all.
I don’t say it. Not yet.
But I think about it.
I think about it as we stand there, soaked and swaying.
I think about it as I let myself fall just a little more.
54
Epilogue
Stormy
?? Photo: The shop front, bathed in golden sunlight. String lights twinkle from the pergola to the side, casting a soft glow over the cosy seating area below. Wildflowers spill across every surface. A chalkboard sign reads: “Grand Opening - Come in, get cosy, find your next favourite story.”
@stormyreads
Welcome to Chapter One.
Today, the bookshop officially opens.
The shelves are full, the kettle’s on, and somehow, so is my heart.
This space is more than bricks and mortar. It’s a haven built from hope, stitched together with stories and second chances. I didn’t just survive the storm; I grew through it. And now, I’ve built something from it. Something that feels like home.
To my new-found family: thank you. I couldn’t have done this without your love, your laughter, your late-night painting sessions, and early morning pep talks. You held me up when I couldn’t see the finish line, and now we’re here, together.
Chapter One is for anyone who’s ever needed a soft place to land.
Come in. Get cosy. Find your next favourite story.
Stay for a while. Share your own.
Let’s build something beautiful—one page, one cup of tea, one connection at a time.
This is only the beginning.
