Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 13908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 70(@200wpm)___ 56(@250wpm)___ 46(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 13908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 70(@200wpm)___ 56(@250wpm)___ 46(@300wpm)
EPILOGUE
MACKENNA
The weekend after Christmas is the same as the popup event I've been curating for the past few weeks. Happiness washes over me because, even with the limited room, there are people in line waiting to simply take pictures just to say they were there.
My youngest sister, Mariah, is setting up an ice cream station outside.
"It's freezing out here, Rye," I tell her as I walk toward her station.
The spitting image of our mother, with dark brown curls and eyes, stares at me from under a festive snowman hat. "If you come closer, Kenny, you'll see."
She's right. As soon as I step into her twelve-by-twelve space, white space heaters keep the area comfortable and cozy.
"You are right. So what are we serving today?" I ask her.
"I have fruity rice cereal milkshakes, a marshmallow ice cream with a fruity cereal crispy crumble swirl, and I'm pairing that with a strawberry martini, courtesy of your boy toy," she says with a laugh.
"Nice, I'll get that posted, and if we still have any left after the first two hundred, we'll keep the event going until we're sold out. You have enough, right?"
She rolls her eyes and pops her hand on her hip. "Really? I have an ice cream shop that stays open year-round and rivals those fancy franchises. Of course, I have enough. I'm also giving out coupons for anyone who doesn't get any today to get a free scoop at the shop."
"You make my job easy, Rye." I leave her to finish getting ready for the event to start.
A few steps away is Dean's setup under a canopy that also uses four heaters in every corner to keep the space warm. He has a few tables set up and what looks like a metal cabinet on wheels.
"Good morning, Mr. Rockland." I smile as I get closer to his table.
Dean has three long tables with elegant glass cases to display his confectionary concoctions. A variety of miniature tarts are in one case, and cupcakes are in the case on the second table. The third table holds an assortment of chocolates and candies.
"Good morning, babe," he replies, somewhat distracted and understandably so.
"Are you going to be okay handling everyone?" I ask him.
"No," he laughs. "Evan is going to be here in a few minutes. He'll deal with the crowds. Hank is coming in about an hour or so. He wants to wait until after we start this thing before he brings out the booze."
"What do you have so I can post it along with Rye's menu options?"
"These are strawberry curd tarts with that fruity rice cereal crumble sprinkled on top of a lemonade whipped cream. White chocolate cupcakes with gingerbread flavored buttercream, and Dana whipped up a bunch of fudge and candies for that table. She'll be here too. As a matter of fact, I think I left something at the bakery."
"I can drive you over there once Dana and Evan get here."
"That's perfect, Mackenna. Thank you."
After posting the pop-up’s location again, our town’s mayor says a few words and wishes everyone a happy holiday season. Every customer is bundled up, and I work with Hank to serve boozy hot chocolate until it's time for me to bring Dean back to Sweet Treats.
Once we're inside the bakery, something seems different. There's a soft, luminous glow coming out of the kitchen, which makes my heart pound against my chest.
"Is something on fire back there?" I ask Dean. He holds his hand out to me, and I take it, letting him lead me behind the counter.
Just beyond the swinging doors that separate the kitchen from the front of the bakery is something I never imagined. Candles flicker, but the flames are from tiny, twinkling LED lights that dance around the kitchen.
"What's going on?" I ask Dean.
Those light blue eyes, reminiscent of glass, pull me closer to him as we stand in the center of his immaculately clean kitchen. White and gold rose petals outline a heart on the floor where Dean stands in front of me. He drops to one knee and holds up a leather black ring box.
My heart feels like it’s trying to jump out of my chest.
"Mackenna Monroe, I don't know when I fell in love with you. What I do know is that I can't remember a day when I didn't. It might have been when you pushed me off the swings at the park when we were kids. Or it could have been you stepping up to help me when I needed you most. We've always been there for one another, and I don't want to go another day without you being my wife."
I can hear my breath in my ears. Anxiety, love, affection—all of my emotions are roaring to life until they silence themselves long enough to hear Dean ask me that magical question.