girls. Not in the same way that they were.”
His hold on her tightened. “Iris. You’re my girl. And you are more than enough. Don’t ever doubt that I was just waiting for any old person to come up that hill. It had to be you. With your cookies and your determination. With your innocence and your fire. With everything you are. I have been in love before, Iris. But it wasn’t the same journey. It wasn’t the same at all. It was easy. Everything fell into place. This has been hard. Brutal. And it means more to me than anything ever has. Because I know the cost of losing something. And now I know what it feels like to lose you, and I just... But my dad reminded me that it wasn’t final. That you were still here. Do you believe in fate?”
“I try not to,” she said. “Because it seems kind of impossibly cruel when you’ve lost things the way that we have.”
“I have to believe there’s something bigger. I just do. Otherwise I don’t think there’s any way to go on. So fate, the hand of God, whatever you want to call it, it led you to me. I know it did. But fate can’t do everything on its own. We have to do the rest. We have to be brave. Our hope has to be stronger than fear. Our light has to be brighter than the darkness.”
“I love you,” Iris said, her voice small. “I love you with everything that I am. Do you think that will be enough? Because I’m really scared. I’m going to have to learn a different way to think about myself. I need you to be patient with me. You have given me nothing but goodness and honesty. You have given to me. In ways no one else ever has. It’s not more work you have to do. It’s just... Work I have to do.”
“No,” he said. And her heart stuttered. “It’s not work you have to do. It’s work we’ll do. Together. Because neither of us are alone, not anymore. You are singular, and you are special. And my love for you is second to nothing. And I will tell you that and show you that every day for the rest of my life.”
“Thank you,” she said. “For not giving up on me.”
“You’re the one who had to march up the mountain every day and deal with me. You’re the one who didn’t give up on me. Iris, you’re the one.”
Her heart expanded, so full she thought it would burst. She believed him.
“You’re the one, sweetheart,” he repeated. “The only one who could have ever pulled me out of my exile. The only one I want. The only one I love. Everything I am, everything I’ve become, wants this life. This life with you.” He slid his thumb across her cheek. “Iris, my love for you is like nothing else I’ve ever experienced. It is singular, and you are special. It’s true, I was married before. But when I make you my wife, you will be my only wife. I’m not holding on to anything but you.”
“I want that life you told me about. When you walked me around the house. I want that. With you.”
“And we’ll have it. I’m ready. I’m not holding anything back.”
“Me either.”
“Just let me know what you need from me.”
She looked at his face, his stunning, handsome face. “I’m just going to love you. And you just have to accept it. So long as I can do the same.”
That simple. That hard.
Iris Daniels had wondered if there was a formula just changing her life. Maybe not a formula. Maybe a recipe.
For chocolate chip cookies. And love.
“It’s a deal.”
And then he kissed her, and she forgot about everything else but how much she loved him.
EPILOGUE
SHE DID WORRY when she found out she was pregnant. She worried that it would be hard for him. But when their son was born, and Griffin held him, tears pouring down his face, Iris knew that she didn’t have to worry at all.
Griffin was a wonderful father. Protective, but in a reasonable way. And seeing him with their son only made her love him more.
She pulled out the little photo album that they’d put together of Emma. Because they had vowed that they would tell Jack about his sister in heaven someday. Because they were going to share all the love between them. And that included the love and loss that had