Page 48 of All You Need Is Macchiato

"Then hurry up." She tugs me to my feet. "Some wishes shouldn't wait."

The ring slides perfectly onto her finger, and the shop erupts in cheers. Old Joe wipes his eyes. Sara appears with champagne from somewhere. Aunt Evie looks suspiciously unsurprised.

But all I see is Kathryn, radiant and real and mine.

The lodge dining room glows with celebration. Aunt Evie has outdone herself, filling every surface with flowers from Marie's shop and setting out her best china. The scent of Declan’s pot roast—the same one he made the night Kathryn first joined us for dinner—fills the air with memory and promise.

"To the happy couple!" Connor raises his glass, grinning. "And to Nolan finally getting over himself."

"To Kathryn," Jameson adds, "for being stubborn enough to wait him out."

Kathryn laughs beside me, the sound mixing with the warmth of family and firelight. She's traded my stolen flannel for a soft sweater the color of mountain laurel blooms, but she still looks like she belongs here. Like she's always belonged here.

"If we're done roasting the groom-to-be," Aunt Evie stands, her own glass raised, "I'd like to say something."

The room quiets, respect for our matriarch evident even in celebration.

"When Kathryn first arrived at our lodge," my aunt begins, "I knew she was special. Not because of her business plans or her corporate credentials, but because she saw the magic in this place. In our community." Her eyes grow misty. "And in my stubborn nephew, who needed someone to remind him that some things are worth the risk."

"Aunt Evie..." I start, but she holds up her hand.

"Let me finish, dear. Your mother would be so proud of the man you've become, of the love you've found. She always said the best things in life come when we're brave enough to open our hearts." She turns to Kathryn. "Welcome to the family, sweetheart. Though if I'm honest, you've been part of it since that first dinner."

Kathryn squeezes my hand under the table, and I feel her engagement ring press against my palm.

The evening unfolds in waves of laughter and stories. Declan brings out a cake decorated with coffee beans and mountain laurel flowers. Connor teases me about all the custom furniture I'll be making after the wedding. Through it all, Kathryn glows with happiness, fitting seamlessly into the controlled chaos of Callahan family celebration.

When the noise gets a bit much, I catch her eye and nod toward the porch. She follows without hesitation, another small proof of how well we've learned to read each other.

The mountain air carries the first hint of spring flowers. I wrap a blanket around us both as we settle into our favorite rocking chairs—the ones where we first started falling in love.

"Happy?" I ask, though her smile has already answered.

"Perfect." She leans into me, her head finding its place on my shoulder. "Though I still can't believe you managed to surprise me with the proposal. I usually see right through you."

"I can be sneaky when properly motivated."

"Mmm." She plays with my fingers. "And were you properly motivated?"

"By the thought of forever with you?" I press a kiss to her temple. "What do you think?"

Below us, Elk Ridge twinkles like earthbound stars. The Coffee Loft's lights shine steady and bright, a beacon of community and connection. Of wishes made real.

"Remember your first night here?" I ask softly.

"When you made fun of my shoes?"

"When I tried not to notice how beautiful you were." I pull her closer. "How right you felt in this place."

"And now?"

"Now I notice everything." I turn her face to mine. "How you hum while you make coffee. How your eyes light up when a wish comes true. How you've made every part of my life better just by being in it."

"Smooth talker." But her voice catches.

"Honest talker." I brush away a tear that's escaped. "And I honestly can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you."

Inside, we can hear our family laughing, the sound carrying through the open windows. The mountains stretch endless before us, painted in twilight shades of promise.

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