Page 89 of The Friendly Fall

“Oh my gosh,” she groans, poking my chest. “Can wenottell anyone that’s how we met? That’s so embarrassing.”

“Not for me,” I tease her, shooting her a wink. “But really, I think it’s downright romantic.”

“Prince charming saves the damsel in distress … and then she builds him a workbench,” Eliza adds with laughter.

“Yeah, something like that. It would make for a great story to tell one of these days…” My voice trails off, already dreaming of what the future might look like between us.

“I think I might set rules that it can only be told to those in the family,” Eliza says softly, looking up at me. “Like maybe our kids?”

“Whoa,” I stop her, though my heart is flip-flopping with excitement. “You skipped over all the stuff in the middle. You got to at least give me a month to ask you to marry me.”

She bursts into laughter and I hold her even tighter. I won’t be proposing in a month, but if it were acceptable…

I probably would.

Epilogue

Eliza

Eleven Months later…

“You lookstunning.” Amy straightens out my gown.

“This is such a dream,” Vanessa adds.

I nod, taking an unsteady breath. “Do you think he’s as nervous as I am?”

Vanessa laughs. “Uh, my guess is he’s probably about to pass out with nerves. He’s been so thorough with this whole wedding thing—determined to make it a dreamday for you.”

I laugh, thinking of all the things that Nick worked to put together—including handcrafting our wedding archway. He spent nearly six months working on it, making itexactlyhow he thought it should be.

“He loves you more than life,” Amy says in a soft voice, stepping back to take a look at me. “You two have the kind of love that most people only dream of, and I can’t wait to see where it takes you.”

“Thank you.” I smile, my eyes flickering to the door. “Have you seen Granny?”

“I’m sure she’s just making her rounds.” Vanessa giggles. “She keeps telling Martha that she has to catch the bouquet so she can use it at her wedding with Vince.”

“Is that how that works?” I ask, thinking about the fact that she’s already engaged. “I thought that the bouquet toss was reserved for anyone who’snotalready engaged to be married.”

“Who knows, who cares.” Vanessa bursts into laughter.

“I think your granny should have to get out there and catch it herself.” Amy giggles.

“She’d probably tell Frank he has to marry her.”

“Wouldn’t that be something.” Vanessa snickers. “Her wedding dress would most definitely be bedazzled through and through.”

“For sure.”

“If Granny doesn’t try to catch the bouquet, though, I’m going for it,” Amy adds. “I might not be the next in line for marriage—seeing as I’m single as a pringle—but itmightjust bring me enough luck to finally get my first kiss.”

“Now we’re talking!” Vanessa grins mischievously. “You never know, the bouquet has some kind of magical powers.”

We all burst out laughing.

I pause to take a deep breath, glancing outside the window. Nick and I had initially wanted to get married at the creek where we first became a couple, but the spot is too small for the ceremony.

And too special to share with everyone else.

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