Joey came over and hugged each of them. "You two are next, and then the Hales are out of the wedding business."
Vinia sighed. "It's like the end of a dynasty."
"Or the beginning of a new one," Luke added. "The story never ends."
Once the celebratory feast was over, it was all hands on deck for the moving. All that was going to the Sacred Gardens was clothing and small personal items. There was no need for furniture or any of the big stuff.
Vinia looked at Luke. "Thank you for getting our old house back for me."
"Let me tell you the story about that." He sat on the steps. "After your family left, the neighbors didn't feel right about claiming your house. They kept it up, and kept it clean, but no one has lived in it since you left all those years ago. It's just waiting for you."
"I went by it while I was there, and I thought it looked empty, but it was hard to tell." She sniffed and wiped a tear. "I don't know how to thank everyone."
"Have a party. They'll be thrilled."
Luke had also secured houses nearby for the other family members. The family unit would stay intact as much as he could arrange it. He happened to glance at Sarah and saw her beaming at him.
"You're pretty special, you know that?"
He kissed her. "I'm the king. I can pull a few strings here and there."
She grabbed his hand, and he helped her up. "Come on. Let's take a walk."
They wandered back down to the lake and sat at the end of the dock. Sarah dangled her feet while she stared across the water. "I'm going to miss this place. I just want to be honest with you about that."
He rubbed her back. "This has been your home for almost your entire life. It's perfectly understandable."
"I have so many memories here. Fishing. Swimming. My brothers racing around the lake. I wish you could have been a part of those memories."
"I'll be a part of every memory that you have from now on."
Sarah stretched. "And we can always come here to visit."
Luke stared at her with worry in his heart.Will she be happy at the castle? Or am I taking her away from everything she's ever known?
She glanced at him. "What's wrong?"
He should have known that she could read his heart. "I'm just worried that you're going to hate leaving here, which will make you hate me eventually."
"No, Luke," she said as she reached up and cupped the side of his face. "Of course things will be different. But life here hasn't been complete since I met you. I couldn't wait to leave here to spend time with you. My home is with you, not here. Or here if you're with me. I can bake anywhere." She frowned. "Right?"
He snickered. "Of course. Chef will be thrilled to have you in his kitchen." He pulled her against him. "Like I told you before. I'm not going to rule like my father. I don't feel a bit different than those who live in the gardens. If you want to bake for the entire kingdom, go ahead. I'll even get you a bakery of your own in town."
"No, that might be too much with a baby."
He laughed as they walked back toward the cabins. "The offer stands."
The Hales all stood together and took one last look around their ranch. Ezra stood with his siblings, and Wren ran over and gave Sarah a hug. Vinia let out a deep sigh. "It's like the end of a dynasty."
Drake poked her arm. "We've been over this, Ma. It's the beginning of another."
With a final look around at their home, they all took to the sky to return to their roots.
It didn't take long to get everyone settled once they reached the Sacred Gardens. Sarah caught Luke outside of Vinia's house. "Let's go walk around. I haven't really seen much of the town."
Hand in hand, they walked down the street as if they were just two normal, everyday people, not the king and his future queen. People stopped them every so often to give their best wishes or just greet their king, and Luke was kind to each of them.
"The people love you, you know."
