their mother.
Penny gave Hope a sad, expectant smile. “Please, darling, know I’ve always loved you.”
Those words meant the world to Hope. “Yes. I know.”
Her sister walked closer and cocked her head, as if ready to impart some final wisdom. “Mom and I think you can handle it from here.”
It was true. Hope was coping better than she had her whole adult life. “But my wedding’s tonight—”
“Mom and I will be right beside you when you walk down the aisle.” The little imp glowed.
The thought of them being there filled Hope with peace, love, and tranquility.
“Even when we don’t see each other,” Izzie said, “you know that I’m always with you, right?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Right here.” Izzie laid a hand over her heart, just as Hope did the same.
Epilogue
ELLA AND HOPE walked back to the SUV while Donovan watched from the back seat. His leg prevented him from driving, forcing Ella to be the chauffeur.
He’d given his two girls time alone to add things to Izzie’s tree at the edge of the forest. Besides, there was no way he was making it up the hill on his crutches. He scratched Boomer behind the ears as the dog stretched out on Hope’s side of the back seat. “Next stop’s the cemetery.”
He and Hope had been married a week, the best week of his life. He still couldn’t believe that Ella wanted to add his last name to hers—Ella McKnight-Stone. They’d forgone the honeymoon for now, because Ella needed them. He only had a year and a half left with her before she’d be off to college, probably art school. His daughter had so much talent.
For the millionth time since returning to Sweet Home, he wondered what it would have been like to have had this all these years. But then it occurred to him that the separate journeys he and Hope had been on—concerning Beau, Izzie, and the accident—was part of their story. Maybe if they hadn’t gone through the things they had, this moment wouldn’t have been so sweet. What if he’d stayed in Alaska and hadn’t had the military to help him get sober? Would his drinking have driven him and Hope apart? The answer was unequivocally yes. She would’ve been smart enough to dump him and never look back. For the first time, he was grateful for it all—the good, the bad, the time away from each other. Moving forward, he’d never take his family for granted; he’d only appreciate his one great love, Hope, and his wonderful daughter, and how good life could be with them in it.
The ladies opened their car doors and got in.
“Boomer,” Hope scolded. “Get back up front with your sister.”
He did as he was told, especially with Ella’s coaxing, “Come on, good boy. Come on.”
Ella got Boomer situated and herself buckled in. “Are you ready back there?”
“Wake me when we get there.” Hope laid her head on his shoulder.
“It’ll have to be a short nap,” he told Hope. “We’re only a few miles away.”
Hope sighed. “I’m exhausted from the wedding reception last night.”
They all were spent—in a good way—from their crazy, wonderful New Year’s Eve soirée.
“Best party ever!” Hope reached over and took his hand.
“It was,” piped up the peanut gallery in the front.
Donovan kissed Hope’s hair. “We couldn’t have asked for better.” He caressed Hope’s shoulder, so grateful to have her near. “The town was in rare form, and many of the visitors announced they were coming back every year for Sweet Home’s New Year’s Eve party.”
“A new tradition?” Hope asked.
“Sounds good to me.”
Piney had been right about having their reception on New Year’s Eve. Their perceptions of the past had changed.
Five minutes later Ella pulled into the cemetery. “Dad, are you sure you want to get out of the car?”
“I’ll be fine.” He might not be . . . but he had gotten marginally better on the crutches, especially on flat ground.
Ella and Boomer got out and raced each other across the snow.
Hope slid out and hurried to the other side to help him.
“We’re quite the pair, aren’t we?” he said.
She pulled out the crutches and held them with her uncasted arm. “I think we’re perfect,” she said, smiling.
Ella ran back toward them with Boomer on her heels. “Hurry up, slowpokes. We have to get back in time. Mom, you’re the one who said you were eager to put together Izzie’s Memory Tree quilt today.”
“I know.”
They’d reached Beau’s grave.
“Take all the time you need,” Hope said, kissing him on the cheek.
He reached