We spend the rest of the afternoon exploring every nook and cranny of our new home. Lincoln insists on giving me a full tour, his enthusiasm infectious as he points out all the little details he knows I'll love. The reading nook is even cozier than I imagined, with a plush window seat and built-in bookshelves.The kitchen is a dream, with gleaming countertops and state-of-the-art appliances.
But it's when we step out onto the back porch that I truly fall in love. The view takes my breath away - rolling hills dotted with wildflowers, a small pond glimmering in the distance. I can already picture lazy Sunday mornings out here, sipping coffee and watching the sunrise.
“So, what do you think?” Lincoln asks, wrapping his arms around me from behind.
I lean back into him, sighing contentedly. “It's more than I ever could have dreamed of. But you know what the best part is?”
“What's that?”
I turn in his arms, looking up into those warm brown eyes I adore. “That I get to share it all with you.”
His smile is soft, tender. “I love you,” he murmurs, leaning down to kiss me.
As the sun begins to set, we sit on the porch swing, my head on his shoulder.
“You know,” I say, breaking the comfortable silence, “I think I could get used to this.”
Lincoln chuckles, pulling me closer. “Good, because you're stuck with me now. No take-backs.”
I laugh, my heart so full it feels like it might burst. “Wouldn't dream of it,” I reply, snuggling deeper into his embrace.
As night falls and the first stars begin to twinkle in the sky, I realize that home isn't just this beautiful house. It's wherever I am with Lincoln, wherever we build our life together. And I can't wait to see what adventures await us.
Epilogue
Heather
Istand there, toes peeking out from under my dress, feeling like I'm perched on the edge of a diving board, looking into the deep end of forever. Lincoln's hand reaches for mine, warm and grounding. His thumb brushes against my skin—a silent promise in a sea of anticipation.
“Deep breaths,” he whispers.
“Is that advice for me or for you?” I tease.
“Both,” he admits with a chuckle, his deep, soulful eyes crinkling at the edges. There's laughter in those eyes.
“Beloved guests, we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of Heather and Lincoln,” the officiant begins. She smiles, and it feels like she's in on the secret—the one where Lincoln Montgomery, the man who could calm a room with just a look, is actually quaking in his shiny, black shoes.
“Love is a force that transcends time and space, an energy that compels us to put another’s happiness before our own,” she continues. I glance at Lincoln, catching the tail end of a nod, an acknowledgment of the words that resonate so deeply with who he is—compassionate to a fault, always the first to lend a hand.
“Today, we witness Heather and Lincoln embark on a journey together—a journey filled with shared dreams,challenges, laughter, and growth.” The officiant's voice lulls me into the story of us. The narrative of a small-town girl and the boy with the heart of gold who grew up to help heal children.
“Through their bond, they demonstrate that while life doesn't always follow the path we plan, it can lead us to a love we never imagined.” My mind flits back to my return to Lawson Ridge. How Lincoln's unexpected presence turned my carefully laid plans upside down and painted them in shades of joy I'd forgotten existed.
“Let us celebrate this beautiful chapter in their story, as they stand before us, ready to weave their lives together.”
I squeeze Lincoln's hand, my heart soaring like the swallows that dance above the fields outside town. Here we are, two people who found each other in the quiet corners of our shared history, ready to laugh through life together.
“Ready to dive in?” Lincoln's voice tickles my ear, his breath a whisper of the promise we're about to make.
“Absolutely,” I reply, my spirit somersaulting. “Together, right?”
“Always,” he assures, his words the final piece of an invisible armor encasing my once-guarded heart.
The officiant takes a moment and then is ready for us to do our vows.
Lincoln's eyes, deep pools of sincerity, lock onto mine. He takes a breath. “From the moment I saw you again, you rekindled something in me that I thought was lost,” Lincoln begins, his voice steady. “You're this incredible force, Heather—intelligent, strong, and so breathtakingly real.”
A chuckle escapes me, because only Lincoln can make a compliment sound like an oath. My cautious heart flutters, daring to embrace every word.
