“Damn right I am.”
Afterwards, tangled in his sheets, he traces patterns on my bare shoulder.
“Move in with us,” he says. “I know it’s fast, but I don’t care. I want you here. Every morning, every night. I want to wake up with you and fall asleep with you and build this life together.”
“Yes,” I say without hesitation. “Yes to all of it, honey.”
He kisses me, slow and deep. “I love you, Willa Monroe.”
“I love you too, Henry Hunter.”
We fall asleep wrapped in each other, and for the first time since leaving Seattle, I feel like I’m finally home.
Epilogue
One Year Later - Valentine’s Day
Willa
The bakery is packedfor this year’s “Heart-to-Heart” event, and I’m behind the counter helping Mark fill orders while Henry sets up for his big surprise.
I know he has a surprise. Ben hasn’t been able to stop giggling all week, and Henry keeps giving me these secret smiles that make my stomach flip.
I moved in with them two months ago. The cottage is rented to a nice young couple now who are expecting a baby in seven months, and they’re not the only ones.
Henry doesn’t know. I thought I just had a little virus but turns out it was more.
A baby…
I don’t know how he’ll feel about it, but no matter what, I’m excited and I’m happy.
I wake up every morning in Henry’s arms with Ben jumping on our bed demanding pancakes.
It’s chaotic and perfect and everything I never knew I needed.
“Dr. Willa!” Ben tugs my sleeve. “It’s time! Daddy’s gonna do the thing!”
“What thing?”
But he just grins and drags me to the center of the bakery where Henry is standing, looking nervous and handsome in his flannel and apron.
The crowd quiets, and Henry takes my hands.
“Willa Monroe,” he says, loud enough for everyone to hear. “You walked into my bakery a year ago and changed my life.”
My heart is pounding. “Henry, I need to?—”
“You taught me that love isn’t about playing it safe.” He’s not going to stop, he’s too nervous. “It’s about being brave enough to try. Brave enough to fight. Brave enough to choose happiness even when you’re scared.” He drops to one knee, and I gasp as he pulls out a ring. “Will you marry me? Will you be Ben’s mom? Will you build this crazy, beautiful life with us?”
“I… I need to tell you something.” I lean down to his ear. “I’m pregnant. Almost three months.”
He stills, but when I pull back, I only see that smile that tells me I have a sweet deal with this man. Forever.
“A baby?” he says more loudly than I expected.
The crowd gasps.
Okay people, it’s not like it’s the 1800s.
