Page 27 of Always There For You

“Why, Mr. Buttons! Look at you in that snazzy vest.” Hadley grinned as the giant ball of fluff and gravelly meows padded up to her. He was wearing a dark green corduroy vest with glinting brass buttons and she knew she hadn’t made that one. Hadley leaned down to peer at the garment and saw a few wonky stitches, a few places where the seam had been started and stopped, as if made by a slightly hesitant hand. “Did Amelia make you this?”

Mr. Buttons meowed then turned tail and padded through the open back fence. That’s when Hadley heard it. Music. Strains of soft jazz floating on the cool spring air, followed by the pop of a wine cork. It was a sound Hadley could probably mimic on cue, as much as she heard it day in and day out.

Amelia had left the store early to pick up an order of glassware, leaving Hadley in charge with a swift kiss behind the counter and a wave to the rest of the staff. Yes, Hadley’s birthday wasn’t until the weekend and they had dinner reservations at a French fusion place a few towns over. But leave it to Amelia to do something else, prepare some token of affection unprovoked and as a complete surprise.

Hadley followed Mr. Buttons into the backyard, where early spring greenery popped out of the ground and the lacey leaves of tulips pushed up against already-blossoming crocus. And there on their little patio was Amelia. Her hair was piled into a messy bun, leaving soft tendrils to caress her face. She was wearing a boatneck sweater the color of spun gold with the black jeans Hadley loved so much. And below her collarbone, hanging off a thick silver chain, sat the key Hadley had given her. That sight never failed to make Hadley’s heart beat just a little faster.

“For you.” Amelia handed Hadley a full glass of red wine and then pulled out one of the chairs. The table was set with steaming bowls of rice and chicken stir fry, which Amelia knew was Hadley’s comfort food. Another full bottle of wine sat nearby, as if Amelia anticipated they’d need it. And all around them were flickering candles. Hadley realized most of the candles had come from the cottage, recognizing the various glass and metal holders and hurricane jars. The dancing light made the garden look like something out of a fairy story, and with Mr. Buttons prowling the yard in his new vest, and Amelia looking at her with soft devotion…all of it left her with only one thing to do.

“You’re way too good to me,” Hadley said before setting both their glasses aside and sweeping Amelia into a kiss. “I love you. I love you so much and I’ll never stop saying.”

“Please don’t,” Amelia whispered against her lips. “I love you, too.”

When they finally broke apart, Hadley took the moment to rub her thumbs along Amelia’s cheeks, just to watch them go pink under her attention. “You are perfect,” she said softly, enjoying the way Amelia’s gaze went heavy-lidded and dark. “For me. You are perfect for me. I’d like to think somehow we’ve always known.”

“How we fit together?”

“Yeah.” She swallowed against the lump in her throat.

“Like a romance book.”

That made her laugh delightedly. “Aren’t we the perfect book heroines? The best friends who slowly fall in love? Me, the world traveler who could never be pinned down. And you, the beautiful, compassionate, intelligent one who always lures me back.”

Amelia frowned. “I think you’re downplaying yourself there quite a bit, Hads.”

She grinned. “Oh, then do compliment me. I’m all ears.”

And as she’d hoped, Amelia decided to play along. She leaned in and kissed Hadley on the forehead, then on the tip of her nose. Her chin. Both her cheeks. And just before Amelia kissed Hadley’s lips, she said, “My one and only happily ever after.”

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