“This is perfect,” Nora whispered as they swayed together.
“Yeah. It really is.”
Later, as the reception wound down and guests started to leave, Carson and Nora stood together watching their friends and family mingle.
“We did it,” Nora said. “We’re married.”
“We are. Mrs. Black.”
“I like the sound of that.”
“Me too.”
They said goodbye to the remaining guests, accepting hugs and congratulations and promises to get together soon. Carson’s mother hugged them both and cried happy tears. Holloway shookCarson’s hand and told him he was proud. Finn made another inappropriate joke about their wedding night.
Finally, it was just them. Walking hand in hand to Carson’s truck—decorated with “Just Married” signs and tin cans courtesy of the detective squad.
“Ready to go?” Carson asked, opening her door.
“Where are we going again?”
“It’s a surprise. But I promise you’ll love it.”
“The cabin?”
“Maybe. You’ll have to wait and see.”
They drove out of the city as the sun set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. Nora leaned her head on Carson’s shoulder, watching the scenery pass, feeling utterly content.
“Thank you,” she said after a while.
“For what?”
“For proposing in our kitchen while cooking dinner. For the most un-romantic romantic proposal ever. For being you.”
“Thank you for saying yes. For giving me a second chance. For teaching me how to be a person who deserves you.”
“You’ve always deserved me. You just needed to believe it.”
They drove in comfortable silence for a while, both processing what it meant to be married. To have made promises in front of everyone they loved. To have committed to forever.
“I have something to tell you,” Nora said as they turned onto the familiar road that led to the cabin.
“Yeah?”
“I hired a second assistant for my business. Which means I’ll have more flexibility. More time. And I’ve been thinking…maybe we could talk about what comes next. After this. After the honeymoon.”
“What comes next?”
“Kids. Maybe. If you still want them. If we’re ready.”
Carson pulled over to the side of the road and turned to face her. “Are you saying you want to start trying?”
“I’m saying I want to talk about it. About what our timeline looks like. About when we’d want to start a family.” She took his hand. “Because I can see it now. Us with kids. A house with a yard. Building something bigger than just the two of us.”
“I want that too. So much.” He kissed her softly. “Let’s talk about it. On the honeymoon. About timelines and what we want and how to build the family we both never had growing up.”
“Deal.”
