Starting Over in Maple Bay by Brittney Joy
EPILOGUE
Snow fell outside the carriage house, twinkling though the windows and covering Maple Bay in a fresh, white blanket. Flakes glittered against the dark New Year’s Eve sky, but Jesse’s gaze was ripped from the windows as Hazel started down the carriage house stairs.
He clutched his chest.
Hazel wore a glossy emerald green dress—his absolute favorite color on her. The dress hugged her curves and was topped off with a white faux fur shawl and dangling gold earrings. Her red hair fell in waves that reminded Jesse of a fifty’s pinup girl.
“You look like an angel.” He met her at the bottom of the stairs and took her hand, leading her down the last few steps and twirling her toward him. Her laugh made him high.
“You look mighty handsome yourself.” Hazel took hold of the lapels of his black blazer, her eyes sparkling like jewels. “Do you think anyone would notice if we were late to dinner?”
He grinned and ran his hands up her arms and under her shawl. “I’d gladly miss out on dinner just to stay here and kiss you senseless, but I don’t think the girls will feel the same, and they’ll be here any minute.” Frankie had taken Charlie and Grace, keeping them busy while Hazel finished getting dressed for dinner.
Over the last half of the summer, Hazel had gone into overdrive, finishing the carriage house remodel. She had lots of help from Jesse, Frankie, and her Maple Bay family—as she lovingly referred to Jesse’s parents, siblings, and cousins—and The Carriage House Bed-and-Breakfast was officially opened for business by the end of August. As soon as Hazel started taking reservations, bookings filled the calendar. Most all the rooms were rented every weekend through the fall and winter so Hazel and Jesse stayed busy, spending their weekends in Maple Bay. Their weekdays were spent in Haven Hills, where Grace attended school and spent time with her father. Frankie, Joyce, and Myra all pitched in to clean and cook for guests when Hazel and Jesse couldn’t, but they wouldn’t have to juggle back and forth between two towns any longer. After Christmas break, Hazel and Grace would make their permanent home in Maple Bay.
When Bill was in Maple Bay for his first impromptu visit, he did quite a bit of research on the local housing market. By the time Hazel told Bill she wouldn’t be selling the carriage house, he’d already picked up another listing in the area. It sold in a few days, and he landed another listing quickly. Word of mouth was a strong marketing tool in Maple Bay, and Bill quickly built a reputation for his strong negotiation skills. Over the fall, Bill traveled back and forth to Maple Bay as much as Hazel did and he was able to spend a lot of time with Grace. By Thanksgiving, Bill decided to move his real estate business to Maple Bay and buy a house in the small town. His girlfriend, Cynthia moved with him. In a few short months, she’d become enamored with the quaint, small town as well. After that, Hazel had no reason to keep roots in Haven Hills.
“Everyone else already left for dinner?” Hazel asked as she looked around the carriage house’s lower level, which had been transformed into a living and dining area for guests. A long wooden table sat along the backside of the building, bordering the windows and view of the lake. An overstuffed couch and chairs circled the stone fireplace. Hazel had everything decorated beautifully for the holidays. Garland, holly, candles and bows were strung along tables, mantles, windows and doors. A twelve foot Christmas tree filled the corner, decked out with white lights and shiny bulbs. Jesse smiled as he remembered just a few days ago when the girls had opened their Christmas gifts, sitting cross-legged in matching plaid pajamas at the base of the sprawling fir.
“Everyone is meeting us at the restaurant. Your parents left just a few minutes ago.” Hazel’s parents, Sandy and Peter, were staying in the carriage house for the holidays and wouldn’t be headed back to Haven Hills until next week. It was wonderful to have the space to allow them to visit whenever they wanted to, and Jesse knew they’d be here often. The other rooms were full of family as well—Jesse’s aunts, uncles, and cousins that had traveled home for the holidays.
“We should get going, then,” Hazel said, but tipped her head like she might’ve heard something out of place. Jesse caught the faint jingle-jangle as well. “Do I hear jingle bells?” she asked, quirking her brow. “Is Santa coming for a second visit?”
Jesse acted like he didn’t know what could possibly make that noise. “It sounds like it’s coming from out front. Let’s go see.” He swooped his hand around Hazel’s back and guided her to the front door, excited nerves bundling in his chest.
When Jesse opened the front door and they stepped into the brisk evening air, Hazel gasped. A horse-drawn sleigh was gliding through the snow.
“Oh, my goodness.” Hazel’s hands covered her mouth in astonishment.
The red lacquered sleigh skated toward them, pulled by the beautiful buckskin gelding that had won Jesse’s heart—Indy. After working with Indy for months, Jesse found he couldn’t stand to part with the horse and ended up adopting Indy for himself. Now, Indy trotted down the snowy driveway, gracefully pulling some of the most important people in Jesse’s life—Charlie, Grace, and Frankie.
“I got us a sleigh,” Jesse announced. “I thought your carriage house needed one for the snowy Minnesota winters. And I taught Indy to pull it. We can take guests out for winter sleigh rides.”
Hazel still had her hands over her mouth, her eyes wide. “I can’t believe it. I love it. I simply love it.”
“And I’m going to get you a carriage as well. Because you obviously need one of those.” The glee on Hazel’s face warmed Jesse’s insides.
“Did somebody say they needed a ride?” Frankie called from the front of the sleigh before using the black leather reins to pull Indy and the sled to a sliding stop in front of Jesse and Hazel. The bells on Indy’s harness jingled as he halted. Charlie and Grace waved excitedly from the back seat, warm and smiley in purple velvet cloaks. Frankie wore a matching cloak as well.
Hazel laughed with pure joy. “All you ladies look absolutely beautiful.”
“Your chariot awaits, Sis,” Frankie exclaimed. “We’re sure going to turn some heads on main street.”
“We sure are,” Hazel agreed and turned to Jesse. “Thank you. I love, love, love the sleigh. That was so thoughtful of you.”
Jesse took both Hazel’s hands in his, knowing the horse-drawn sleigh was just the start of his plan for tonight. “I have one more gift for you before we go.” Under the moonlight and snowflakes, Jesse reached inside his jacket and pulled out the little box. Blood pounded in his ears, but as Jesse went onto a knee in the snow, he’d never been more certain of anything in his entire life.
“Oh my—” Hazel’s hands flew back to her face and tears instantly sprang to her eyes.
“Hazel, you bring so much joy and happiness into my life, and I try every day to do the same for you. I know without a doubt that I want to spend the New Year and every single year after that by your side. I want to make you, me, Charlie, and Grace a family. I already asked the girls for their blessing and they both support what I’m about to ask you.”
Hazel glanced over at Grace and Charlie who were now standing at the edge of the sleigh. “You both knew?”
“We kept this secret for a whole week!” Charlie shouted, like she’d been waiting to get that off her chest. Grace laughed and put her arm around Charlie, squeezing her shoulders. In the embrace, both girls tipped their heads toward each other. The sight nearly knocked Jesse from his knees.
“Say yes, Momma,” Grace said, a huge smile on her face.
“May I have your hand?” Jesse asked. Hazel’s red stained lips hung open and she shakily offered Jesse her hand. “Will you make me the happiest man in the entire world and be my wife?”
She was nodding her head before Jesse finished his sentence. “Yes, yes, yes.”
Jesse’s heart felt like it might explode as he slipped the sparkling diamond ring onto Hazel’s finger and stood to kiss her. The girls and Frankie squealed in delight.
“Come on, you two lovebirds,” Frankie said through a smile. “Don’t want to be late for your own party.”
Hazel reluctantly eased back from Jesse’s kiss, though her arms stayed wrapped tightly around his shoulders and neck. “I thought we were going to a New Year’s Eve party.”
Jesse wiped happy tears from her cheeks and then kissed them. “We’re going to our engagement party.”
Then Jesse helped his fiancé into the sleigh, and they jingled off to main street.
THE END