“But you’d be giving up so much.”
“I’m not giving up anything. Babe, I love you. As much as I know you love me and want me to follow my dream, that’s how much I love you. That’s how much I wantourdream. I love you more than any job. Remember the letter I wrote to you when I said I lived to make you happy? That’s still true. You aren’t going to be happy living in Atlanta, and I’m not going to be happy if you aren’t happy.”
“Trev—”
I put my fingers to her lips. “Listen to me. There will be other jobs, Ava. But there will never be another place like this. There will never be another Calloway Creek. Or Criss Coffee Corner. And there sure as hell will never be another tree like our tree. You and Jordan deserve to be around everyone who loves you. This is where she should grow up. This is the village that’s going to help raise her. I can’t take you away from that. I love you too much.”
Tears stream down her face. “We really are soulmates, you know that, Trevor Criss? I know it for sure now. I know it because we’ve both been willing to give up something we love for the other. But just to be clear, I’m not the one who needs to win here. And you need to be one hundred percent sure.”
I run a thumb across Jordan’s soft cheek. “We’re both winners here, I promise you. I’ve never been so sure about anything in my life.” I laugh, because my life only started seven short months ago, and for the first time, I’m not even upset about it anymore. “At least I don’t think I have.”
I kiss away her tears and snuggle in bed next to my new family knowing this is exactly where we belong. Not only that—it’s whereIbelong.
After a few more moments of bonding, I face her with a broad, wry smile. “I hope you’re not too tired.”
Her brow rises, waiting for an explanation.
I gesture to the door. “There’s a man out there somewhere waiting to marry us.”
Her jaw hangs open. “Here? Now?” She looks down at her hospital gown.
“Babe, you’ve never looked more beautiful. And I can’t think of a better time to do this than right now with you holding our child.” I lean close and lightly brush my lips against hers. “This day is already the best day of my life. Let’s go all in and make it one neither of us will ever forget. Say yes, Ava.”
Her misty eyes and reverent smile are all the answer I need.
Epilogue
Ava
Twenty-two years later…
Jordan yawns behind the counter. It amazes me how she still hasn’t gotten used to the hours after all this time. Sure, she’s only been working here as the full-time assistant manager for a few weeks—having shifted into the role as soon as she graduated from CCU—but you’d think after spending summers and weekends getting up at five-thirty in the morning, she’d be used to it by now.
As tired as she seems sometimes, she never complains about the early hours, the mundane tasks, the managing of schedules. She happily wipes tables, greeting customers by name as she makes her way around the shop.
It’s hard not to watch her and think that someday in the not too distant future,she’llbe the one running things. While I can’t ever see us retiring to Arizona like Trevor’s parents did, splitting their time between there and Calloway Creek, I can for sure see myself slowing down and handing over the reins. Especially when Jordan seems as much at home here as I always have been.
I look around my little coffee shop that I’ve loved for so many years.
Someday.
Not today.
Today I’m going to bask in the glorious feeling of working side-by-side with my daughter. My miracle child. My best friend.
“Mom?”
Jordan is staring at me, clearly confused, as she comes back around the counter.
I raise my brows.
“You’re staring at me.”
“Sorry.” I busy myself preparing another order so she can’t see my watery eyes. “I’m just so darn proud of you.”
She works her way between me and the cappuccino machine. “Are you… crying?”
I sniff back tears. “Of course not.”
