A smile bright enough to light the state of Montana flashed across his face. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
Slipping from the sofa, Seth dropped to one knee and once again took her hand. “Lauren Van Meveren, will you marry me? Will you be my wife and Ivy’s mother?”
Lauren’s heart pounded so hard she could hear the blood rushing in her ears. If she was dreaming, she never wanted to wake up.
“Yes,” she said, then again more loudly in case he hadn’t heard, “Yes. I’d be honored to be your wife... and Ivy’s mother.”
Before she could take a breath, Seth was on his feet, wrapping his arms round her, holding her as if he’d never let her go. As his lips closed over hers, Lauren realized with a sense of wonder that just like Stacie and Anna, she’d found her true bliss...in the town of Sweet River, in the arms of the cowboy she loved.
Epilogue
One month later
The last quilting class of the evening might have concluded an hour ago, but Sew-fisticated still buzzed with activity. Stacie had supplied the appetizers and Miranda had uncorked a bottle of champagne left over from the holidays to complete the impromptu post-Valentine’s Day party.
“Let me look at that ring, Mrs. Anderssen,” Miranda said.
Lauren held up her left hand. The large emerald-cut diamond with the filigreed roses on the band sent flashes of light scattering. Seth had inherited the ring with the antique setting from his great-grandmother, shortly after Jan passed on. He’d offered to let her pick out a new one, a more modern one, but this ring had seen a lifetime of love and suited her just fine.
Two weeks after Seth had proposed they’d been married by Pastor Barbee in a small ceremony attended by family and friends. Adam and Kim had arrived together, looking very much a “couple.” Lauren’s parents had managed to fit the wedding into their busy schedules and had even gotten along for the brief time they’d been together. It had been a little tense at first, but when Edmund had started in about Lauren “ruining her life,” Seth had made it clear he wasn’t going to allow anything to mar Lauren’s wedding day, and her father had shut up.
When Seth and Lauren had announced they’d be accepting Anna and Mitch’s invitation to join them on their delayed honeymoon in the Caribbean in March— after Lauren defended her dissertation—Stacie and Josh had decided to go along, too. Ivy kept asking when they were leaving. She and Bailey were staying with Miranda, and the little girl couldn’t wait to play hide-and-seek in Grandma Borghild’s big house on Main Street.
There’d been other changes, as well. Seth had contacted Central Montana State, and next fall he’d be resuming his veterinary studies. Though that meant the next year and a half would be extra busy, they both agreed the result would be worth it.
“That is such a gorgeous ring,” Miranda gushed.
“Yours is beautiful, too.” Lauren smiled. Alex Darst had proposed to Miranda on the same day she and Seth had gotten married. Their wedding was scheduled for the end of the month—just in time for the couple to close on Grandma Borghild’s house.
“Loretta Barbee is taking credit for both weddings.” Stacie’s lips lifted in a wry smile.
“Don’t let Ivy hear you say that.” Anna lowered her voice, probably because the child was in the next room with her buddy Brandon, cutting out quilting squares. “She’s convinced she brought her dad and Lauren together. Word is she made a wish in the penny pond the same day Seth proposed to you.”
“As far as I’m concerned, they can both take credit.” Lauren smiled and glanced toward the back room. “Remember the quilt Jan had started for Ivy? Well, I talked to Seth and he thinks it’s a great idea for Ivy and me to finish it together.”
“I’m so happy he approved.” Anna’s gaze met hers. “Don’t worry if you’ve never quilted before. Stacie and Miranda and I will help you.”
“That’s right. Everyone working together is the Sweet River way,” Stacie agreed. “Coming here was the smartest move the three of us could have made.”
“You won’t hear any argument from me,” Lauren said.
“Did you ever think when you developed your survey that we’d all end up finding our perfect matches?” Stacie asked. “Your research project led me straight to Josh.”
“And me back to Mitch.” Anna gave a happy sigh.
“We each found our perfect match.” Miranda lifted a glass of champagne. “Thanks to your dissertation research.”
Anna cast a pointed glance at Lauren. “Don’t forget, you found Seth.”
“Well, I found him,” Lauren agreed. “But I’m not sure we matched...on paper, that is. Regardless of what the results may have shown, my husband is definitely the man for me.”
“I’m confused. You both completed surveys.” Stacie cocked her head. “Don’t you know if you matched?”
“Anna correlated the numbers,” Lauren admitted. “I threw out the results without looking at them.”
“Were they in a manila envelope?” Anna asked.
Lauren nodded.
“Mitch brought the packet home,” Anna said. “You’d put my name on the front when you’d originally given it to me. Seth found it in the trash and returned it to Mitch, thinking it was mine.”
Lauren’s heart skipped a beat. “You have the packet?”
Anna nodded. “It’s in the back room. I’ve been meaning to give it to you, but we were so busy with your wedding that I forgot I’m sorry.”
“It’s not important.” Lauren waved the champagne flute. “I have the man I love. That’s all that matters.”
“You may not be curious, but I sure am.” Anna popped out
