Page 31 of My Mountain Man Grump
I kiss Carrie softly afterwards and we stay entwined for a long time, whispering to each other as we plan the rest of our lives together.
EPILOGUE
CARRIE
One year later…
“The shoes are too tight.” Kyra screws up her little face, making the curls dance around her shoulders.
It takes me a moment to sweep the satin layers of my skirts out of the way and crouch down before her. I press my thumb down on the toe of the shoe, and as I suspected, there’s at least an inch of space between her toe and the end of the shoe.
Kyra’s complaining not because the shoe is too tight, but because she has to wear shoes at all. She’s usually barefoot or in her soccer cleats, and the pretty satin slippers we chose for the flower girl outfits are never going to feel right on her.
“You can take them off for the reception.”
She tugs at the tulle dress with tiny roses embroidered on it. “And this too?”
“The dress has to stay on, honey.”
She makes a face but doesn’t complain again.
Olivia bounds into the room and pirouettes, her hand running over the fabric of her matching dress as it flares around her. Unlike her sister, Olivia loves her flower girl outfit. She wanted more sparkles and a tiara, but there was no way we’d get Kyra to wear one.
“Can we go yet?” Olivia chirps excitedly.
Joyce follows her into the room looking stately in her two-piece baby blue outfit. Her face still holds the tan from her European summer. She looks younger than she did when I first met her, and I guess love does that to you.
Once I moved into Cole’s place, Joyce and Gus took off for their cruise. They got married as soon as they came back, and Joyce moved in with Gus in his cabin closer to town. They come up every week to visit, and the girls go and stay with them some weekends.
I’m happy for Joyce. After so many years of looking after other people, she finally has a man looking after her.
There’s the sound of voices down the hall, and a moment later Suzie strides into the room. Her round belly stretches the fabric of her lilac satin maid of honor dress. I had to time the wedding around her pregnancy, but judging by the way she waddles, we’re in danger of this turning into a birth, not a wedding.
“Cole’s trying to get in to see you.”
My heart skips a beat at the mention of my man’s name. “Did he leave something here?”
As is tradition, we spent the night before the wedding separately. Cole stayed in the Sunrise Cabin, and Joyce insisted we keep the blinds down on that side of the house all morning to make sure we don’t accidentally see each other.
“Yeah, you.” Suzie raises an eyebrow. “Says he has to see you.”
My heart plummets into my stomach and forms a tight nervous knot. Is he having second thoughts?
I catch Suzie’s eye, and she shakes her head slightly. “I told him no. He has to wait.”
I swallow down my doubts and head down the hall and to the front door of the cabin. I open it a crack, keeping myself hidden.
“Carrie, is that you?” Cole’s voice sounds desperate, and the knot in my stomach tightens.
“Cole, what’s wrong?”
He lets out a long sigh, and I hear him lean against the side of the cabin. “I miss you.”
I let out a long steady breath as the knot unwinds. It’s the first night we’ve spent apart since I moved here almost a year ago, and I missed him like crazy too.
“You’ll see me in an hour at the church.”
He lets out another long sigh. “I know, but I just needed to hear your voice.”
