Epilogue

“I think it’s going to snow soon,” Tucker said, pulling Elise closer to his body and slinging an arm around her shoulders.

She looked up at the sky, then back down to the sand beneath their feet, searching for the perfect skipping stone to send out into the waves. The two of them were walking along the beach hand in hand, just in time to catch yet another beautiful sunrise – it may not be Tucker’s daily swim, but Elise treasured their daily physical therapy walks up and down the beach as they continued to build the strength in his now fully recovered leg.

She had said he was welcome to walk along in the nude, as was his wont during his swims, but so far, he had turned her down.

She remembered a time not so long ago when she had favored sunsets over a sunrise, but these days, she couldn’t wait to greet the day and see the sun rise over the horizon of the lake.

As long as she had Tucker Hale by her side.

With him, sunrise always beat sunset.

 “It’ll be my first snow living in the Upper Peninsula,” she said with a small smile, looking forward to the changing landscape, to seeing how Timberline looks in a different season.

“I can’t wait to teach you to snowmobile,” Tucker said with a wry grin. “I’m guessing you’ll be a natural. It’s so much fun – you’ll absolutely love it.”

“Isn’t it sort of dangerous?” Elise asked apprehensively.

“We’ll take it slow,” Tucker replied soothingly. “Unlike everything else we do together.”

Elise grinned happily, one of the diamonds in her wedding ring catching the last of the sunshine. Tucker had proposed that night on the beach, and Elise had happily accepted. They talked about what they wanted – both out of a marriage and out of a wedding - and decided on a small ceremony right on the back lawn of Timberline with Betsy, Jed and Rose as witnesses.

They didn’t need anyone else to witness that they were joined for life – they already knew it to be true.

Betsy had been ecstatic to come home from California to find that Elise was returned, and was going to be a permanent part of the family. Elise was relieved by her excitement, and made sure to include her in all of the wedding planning – though Betsy was left behind for the honeymoon in Venice.

Tucker’s physical therapy continued to progress, and he was able to walk better without a cane now, though the burns on his arms would never improve much beyond the point they were now.

Elise didn’t even notice them anymore.

“We may want to wait until next winter to teach me how to snowmobile,” Elise said slyly, trying to hide a grin and failing miserably.

Tucker stopped and stared at her, trying to discern her meaning. She smiled at him widely, and then stood on tiptoe and whispered in his ear excitedly. “You’re going to be a daddy.”

He burst out laughing then, picked her up and whirled her around before setting her down carefully, his hand immediately going to her lower belly, cupping her soft curves protectively. “In that case,” he said, amending his previous plan on the fly. “I think we’ll just plan on being ‘snowed in’ all winter.”

Elise grinned happily, kissing him. “I don’t think I’ll mind being snowed in with you one bit, sir.”

“Tucker.”

“Tucker. My husband,” she added after a moment. “My love.”

“I love you too, my wife.” Tucker replied, kissing her back.

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