Page 11 of Wild for the Mountain Man
“I love you too so much. My big grumpy teddy bear.”
I kissed her again and again until Gracie cleared her throat and broke us apart. Good thing she did, or I might’ve had to take Elora to the back room to finish some business.
The day passed by quickly, the store overrun with customers getting ready for the holiday. The next day, Elora opened the shop on Halloween only for a couple hours in the morning.The rest of the day we spent together doing all of her favorite Halloween activities. From watching scaring movies, to carving pumpkins and baking pumpkin seeds, to giving out candy, and ending the day with a bonfire.
My life filled out in ways I never expected.
All because of the love of my life, forever and always, Elora.
EPILOGUE
Ayra
One year later
We got marriedon Halloween of the following year, inside my shop, a small and intimate ceremony with only close friends and family, right in the exact location we fell in love.
The holiday I’d always been obsessed with was the same holiday that brought me my true love.
“How did you convince the man who hates Halloween to love it so much?” Ed, Walker’s father and my previous landlord, said after congratulating me. “I think it’s great. You’re an amazing woman and just what my son needed. But I never thought I’d see the day that boy would celebrate a holiday again, never mind Halloween.”
I laughed and hugged him close. “I missed you, Ed. You could always make me laugh even on the worst of days.”
“No, that was all you, sweetie. You’ve got some magic in that love of yours. I truly believe that. Which reminds me. When are you going to read my tarot cards?”
“You still want a reading?”
“You’re damn skippy I do. I gotta see if my wife is looking down on me. She better be. She promised she would.”
“Aw, Ed. I’m sure she is. You two had a rare love.”
“Thank you, Elora. I see the same love in you two.”
“Is my pops giving my wife a hard time?” Walker came up next to me and put his arm around my shoulder. He kissed my lips softly.
“Never, son. Just happy to see you two together and in love. I hope they’ll be a grandbaby or two soon.”
My mouth went dry as Walker’s eyes widened, both of us caught sideways by the statement.
“Thanks, Dad. Not so sure about the grandbabies yet.” walker hugged his dad close. “Elora and I have a lot of plans first.”
“I’m sure you do. Take your time, but also remember, no one is getting any younger.”
I bit my lip and stood back slightly as they spoke, my secret burning inside me. I hadn’t told anyone yet, not even Gracie.
A couple of weeks ago, amid planning the wedding, running the shop, and October being the busiest time of year for me, I hadn’t noticed my period was late.
My boobs became sore and the next thing I knew, I was peeing on a stick and watching as two very dark lines popped up. I was pregnant. I was really, really pregnant.
I freaked out to myself and have continued to freak out to myself the past couple of weeks but have yet to tell a single soul.
Thankfully, it was easy to hide. I wasn’t showing, and I kept crackers handy for any morning sickness.
“Congrats, my two favorite lovebirds!” Gracie said as she pulled us both in for a hug, Ed having moved on to the buffettable setup. “I love seeing you two so happy.” She batted her eyelashes at me, and I hugged her tight. I loved her like a sister. And now that we planned on keeping the shop open longer, she was covering for me for when Walker and I leave for our honeymoon in Bali.
“Thanks, Gracie. I love you.”
As she squeezed me close, she whispered in my ear, “I know you’re pregnant. Just tell him. He’s going to be so happy.”
