Page 108 of To Catch a Thief

Sage rushed over, pointing at her sisters. “What did you do?” He wrapped his arm around her like he would carry her away. “What did you say? Why is Carolina crying?”

Another flood of tears gushed down her cheeks. How could she not give her heart to Sage?

“It’s good,” she gasped. “I’m fine.”

“What happened?” Sage glared at the Fitzgeralds.

“It’s…these are happy tears.” She pulled his face so he looked her in the eyes. He was the person she wanted to grow old with. She kissed him. “I love you.”

“Get a room!” Kaden called. Courtney elbowed him.

Sage pulled her out of her chair. “Say it again.”

“I love you.” She didn’t care if her sisters heard her.

Sage hugged her so hard, she couldn’t breathe—again.

“Wait,” Abby said. “What are your intentions with our sister?”

Laughter rang out. Kaden warned, “You’re in for it now, Cornell.”

“I intend to make her happy for the rest of her life.” Sage cupped her face. “If she’ll let me.”

“Oh, my God, did he just propose?” Dolley squeaked.

Liam pulled Dolley away. “Let’s give them some privacy, shall we?”

“I want to hear this.” Dolley complained, but Liam tugged her into the sitting area.

The kitchen door swung open and closed, but Carolina didn’t care who was coming or going. She stared into Sage’s eyes, seeing all her dreams come true.

“Did you mean that?” she whispered.

“Louder please,” Dolley called.

“Marry me,” he whispered. “Let me be your family.”

She was overflowing with family. “Yes.”

“What did she say?” Bess asked.

The door swung open again. “What’s going on?” Mamá asked, hanging on Kaden’s arm.

“Mamá,” Carolina called. “Sage asked me to marry him.”

“Of course he did,” her mother said. “Sage knows a gem when he sees one.”

“What was your answer?” Dolley moved to the table, even while Liam tried to hold her back.

“I said yes!” Carolina started to add more, but Sage reeled her back into his arms.

His mouth covered hers. Their kiss had a new sweetness. A promise for the future.

“I love you,” Sage whispered.

Her heart was overflowing. “I love you, too.”

Kaden helped Mamá to their side and she hugged them both. Then her sisters joined in.

More prosecco bottles were opened. Everyone raised their glasses. “To Carolina and Sage.”

Sage grinned. “To my sweet Carolina.”

Groans rolled through the room.

“To my spicy Sage.” She touched her glass to his. And held up her glass to the rest of the room. “And my family.”

Because somehow, through everything, she was no longer alone. She’d found her family.

EPILOGUE

“IS EVERYTHING READY?” Carolina asked Bess and Dolley. “Can I go get her?”

Bess and Dolley looked at the guests gathered in the Fitzgerald House ballroom. Christmas trees twinkled in each corner of the room even though tomorrow was New Year’s Eve. Carolina had even helped decorate some of the dozens of trees in the B and B.

Courtney hung one final banner. Cheryl had sneaked in food and a bright pink cake without the guest of honor knowing.

“Go get her.” Bess pushed her to the door.

She sent a text to Sage. We’re a go.

I’ll round up the guys, Sage answered. They were at Gray’s watching some football bowl game.

Carolina headed down the stairs. She’d spent a lot of time in the ballroom over the last two years. First Dolley’s wedding. Then she and Sage had gotten married here. Her mother had walked her down the aisle, or at least wheeled her down the aisle. But Mamá had witnessed Carolina and Sage’s wedding. That was what mattered. Two months later they’d held her mother’s memorial service in the ballroom, too.

She stopped on the first floor, just to take a breath. She missed Mamá, but she’d been in so much pain at the end. And the seizures had been back. Carolina didn’t know what she would have done without Sage to hold her.

She put a frown on her face and pushed into the kitchen. “Oh, good, I found you.”

“What’s up?” Abby flipped through a recipe book Gray had given her for Christmas.

“There’s a problem with the ballroom grand piano. Can you come up?”

“A problem?” Abby frowned.

“Yes.” She wasn’t sure if she could come up with a different reason to get Abby up to the ballroom, but she didn’t want her sister to think too much about it. “Let me carry Hannah.”

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