Page 100 of Fake It Till We Fall
“I’m sure I’ll keep the lasagna on the menu.”
“Phew!”
Everyone laughed.
There were more cheers, clinking and celebrating as we toasted to family and the promise of an exciting new year. I slipped my arm around Harper and pulled her close.
For the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel like I was simply surviving in this town—I was building a future in it.
With the love of my life by my side.
Finally.
Epilouge
VALENTINE’S DAY
Harper
The last of the dishes had just gone out. The special chocolate lava cakes with a raspberry coulis and a dusting of powdered sugar had been the perfect touch of simple and elegant. It was only after Erin walked through the swinging doors to deliver the final cakes that I could exhale properly.
“We did it, boss.” Kevin came to lean against the counter next to me. “Again.”
“Again.” I laughed a little. “These special dinners are starting to be a bit of a trend. That’s two in two months.”
“The customers love them,” Kevin said with a satisfied smirk. “You sold out in minutes. I think word is going to get out that Wander & Whisk is the place to be for a special occasion.”
Wander & Whisk.
Hearing the new name of the restaurant—myrestaurant—still made my heart skip a little. Of course, the rebrand was still pretty new. The special Valentine’s Day meal had been the official launch of the new brand. The custom-made wooden signReid made for me had been hung outside less than twenty-four hours earlier.
“That sounds pretty good.”
“That you were sold out in minutes?” Kevin teased, with a gentle elbow to my ribs.
“The name.” I grinned at him. “This place is really mine.”
“It sure is.” He pulled the towel from the string in his apron and wiped his hands before shoving up from the counter and moving to the stove to start to clean up. “And I couldn’t be happier to be part of it, Harper. You’ve got something pretty special going here.”
I sat in the glow of his praise and soaked in the moment, knowing he was right. Ididhave something very special here. And it wasn’t just the restaurant. It was all of it.
Trickle Creek.
Grayson.
There was no doubt in my mind that I’d made the right choice in staying. The last six weeks had been a whirlwind as I put into practice all the ideas for the restaurant I’d been thinking and dreaming of. And Grayson had been full-on as well. The sale of the hardware shop was finally official, and soon the doors would open for the grand opening of Lyons Hardware. But as busy as we’d been, every minute of it had felt exactly right.
Tears pricked at my eyes as I looked around the room, taking it all in, when the kitchen door swung open and Grayson walked in.
“Knock, knock.” His eyes scanned the kitchen, lighting up when they landed on me. “Is this a good time?”
“It’s the perfect time.” I crossed the room and greeted him with a kiss. “Happy Valentine’s Day. I’m sorry we didn’t get to spend the day together.”
He dismissed my apology with a wave. “Are you kidding? You had kind of a lot going on.” He turned to take in the state of thekitchen. The part-time staff had already started on the cleanup, but there was no hiding the chaos Kevin and I had created. “How did it go?”
“Great,” I answered honestly. “I can’t wait to hear what the customers thought.”
“I can tell you that,” Erin said, joining us in the kitchen. “All rave reviews,” she continued. “And every single plate was practically licked clean. You did it again.”
