Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80562 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80562 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
The hardest part was getting Peter to play along. Okay, it wasn’t actually that hard. The man has no shame and was happy to accept a bribe.
36
EPILOGUE - CAROLINE
Epilogue - Caroline
I let out a long breath. Even with Jake’s help, which has been amazing, every day is like a marathon. Now that the pipes have been fully upgraded to the latest and greatest in plumbing, the B&B has moved on to new problems. It appears we’re currently in the “who needs heating in the middle of Winter” phase of building ownership. Cade has been too busy with hockey to come around as much lately, but his dad has been happy to help when his son can’t. Mikey is currently whacking something with a wrench.
“Is that really how you fix heaters?” I ask.
“You don’t know until you try,” he says, scowling like he’s got to aim his whack at a specific spot on. He lands another heavy whack. “See. This is a problem even a good whack can’t fix. Now I know.”
I grin but roll my eyes. “Glad to have you on the case, Mikey.
I find Jake in the lobby, which is bustling with activity today. Edgar and Grams are watching some old Arnold Swartzeneggar movie on the tv, a family with two small girls is warming up by the fire after what looks like a ski-outing, and Jake is sitting with Andi while the kids all play on the bear rug. It’s a cozy, quaint scene. I just hope the heating problems keep themselves contained to a few rooms upstairs and don’t make their way down here to the main floor. For now, I can just avoid booking the cold rooms.
I pause in the doorway, admiring Jake from a distance. Sometimes, I think it’s easiest to appreciate the people you care about from the other side of the room–to see them with fresh eyes, being themselves in a way you can forget to do when you’re up close all the time.
I watch him and think about how selfless he is. He’s probably the most talented and capable man I’ve ever met, but finding out he was a father made him willing to walk away from something he spent his whole life chasing within months. He did it so he could be here having moments like this. So he could be with us. The thought never fails to make my heart swell.
I love him so damn much it hurts.
It already feels like I couldn’t imagine how I’d manage without him. I sometimes wonder if that’s why leaving hockey was so scary to him. If he felt anything like this bond with his team, the possibility of losing them probably felt like losing a limb.
The only thing that doesn’t feel perfect is that I still have his engagement band in my pocket instead of on his finger. I decided I wasn’t going to rush him the day we had our divorce party. When he told me to keep the ring, I took it as a promise that he planned to marry me someday. But I also felt like it was his choice to make. I know he would say “yes” if I asked him. He’d take my asking as a sign that I needed confirmation he’d stick it out with me and Walker. He’d do it just because he’s that kind of man and he would make the sacrifice for us. I know that now. He would’ve done it even before the Peter Ralmadue incident if I’d just asked him.
So, I decided to wait for him to make the move. If he really wants to marry me, he’ll ask.
Eventually.
It’s okay, though. I’m not in a rush. Our life is so perfect right now I really couldn’t complain if it never changes. So what if there’s not a ring on my finger anymore? I’ve got everything I could possibly want with him.
I take one step toward him and pause as the door opens. I see a familiar person–one I never expected to see again.
Peter Ralmadue slips sunglasses off, looking around the room. There’s a hush at the sight of him. Jake and Andi are glaring daggers at him. Peter is holding a briefcase, just like that day almost a year and a half ago when he showed up the first time. He meets my eyes and approaches me with a kind of grim determination.
My breath catches. Oh, God. I was just thinking how perfect things were. Did he find some loophole? Is he coming to tell me I’ve lost the B&B for good now?
“Caroline,” he says stiffly. “You may want to sit for this.”
I feel like I want to lie down, actually. I take a steadying breath, nod, and follow him to the kitchen. I’m a little surprised Jake isn’t yelling or punching Peter, but maybe he’s just trying to control himself in front of Walker. I sense him following after us. Distantly, I hear an odd amount of footsteps and movement from the rooms upstairs, too, as if every single guest room is emptying at once. But it sounds like way too many people to account for my booked rooms.