Stella blinked. “I didn’t know you wanted to get into the restaurant business.”
“It won’t just be a restaurant,” Enid said. “It will be a way for us to help teenagers in the community. We plan to start a mentorship program for them. We can employ some of them ourselves, but we also want to match teens with opportunities for jobs and mentorships with other businesses, as well as run evening programs for them. We could arrange visits to colleges in Billings and Bozeman, have local businesspeople come talk to them about their work—and coordinate volunteer projects, too. Whatever it takes to keep them involved and active.”
“That would be wonderful!” Stella embraced her.
When her mother hugged her back, Stella realized this was the first time they’d done so for real in—years. They’d been paying lip service to being mother and daughter. Now she felt a real connection to Mary.
“I’m sorry I ever doubted your ambitions,” Mary said. “I suppose you choosing to be a deputy felt like you were choosing your father’s side. And there never was a side—there were only misunderstandings.”
“You’re okay with me being a deputy?”
“More than okay. I’m proud.” Mary hugged her again. “Now go marry that man of yours and be happy for the rest of your life.”
“Will do.” She couldn’t think of a better way to spend her days than right here with her family—and his—in the place that had always been her home.
Chapter Fourteen
There was a flurry among the guests when a light shower fell during the rest period between the two ceremonies, but it cleared up quickly. When Steel stepped out into the sun, Lance by his side, he was gratified to see a rainbow arcing across the sky.
“Seems like a good omen,” Lance commented.
Steel shrugged. “I’m not worried about omens. I know Stella and I are going to have a happy marriage and a good life, because I’m going to work every damn day to make sure we do.”
Lance grinned at him. “You’re pretty calm for a man on his wedding day.”
Steel was. They weren’t out of the woods yet—far from it—but the constant uncertainty that had plagued him for over a decade was now gone from his life.
Every day would bring a new challenge, but he was ready to face them all.
That sounded like his kind of happily ever after.
The rainbow that arced overhead as Stella ventured down the aisle on her uncle’s arm was just the icing on the cake of a perfect day. The sunlight glittering off the wet grass and trees gave everything a shimmery, otherworldly quality.
Members of her newly expanded family sat on either side of the aisle and stood on either side of the altar, the line between Turner and Cooper meaningless now. When she took her place across from her husband-to-be—who cleaned up very nicely in her opinion—Camila, Olivia, Maya, Tory and Liz stood beside her. Carl, Noah, Lance, Liam and Justin stood beside Steel.
Stella touched the diamond engagement ring on her finger, a reminder of all she and Steel had been through. Diamonds were forged under conditions of extreme pressure, after all.
She and Steel had come together under such conditions. As had Chance Creek. Looking out at the assembled guests, Stella’s happiness knew no bounds, not just for herself and Steel but for her town, which stood strong and united no matter what happened.
And when they’d spoken their vows and bound their hearts together, she went up on tiptoe to meet Steel’s kiss with her own, knowing that everything that mattered was right here—and she’d never let him go again.
“Ready for the rest of our life?” he whispered.
“Ready.”
Chapter Fifteen
New Year’s Eve, four years later
“Where’s Mommy?” Ivy asked sleepily.
Carl Whitfield dropped a kiss on top of his daughter’s head. Three and a half years old, she was a spitfire. Dark-haired and dark-eyed like her mother, sturdy like her father. Living proof that dreams really could come true.
“Mommy’s bringing out the desserts,” he said, pointing across the interior of Elms, the beautiful, modern café and music venue that used to be the Top Spot Café. Its tired old booths and pitted walls had been replaced by sleek furnishings, countertops and light fixtures that wouldn’t have been out of place in a city. Tonight, the venue was closed for their private event. Camila had pitched in to help Mary Turner, Enid Cooper and Leslie Falk put on a New Year’s party for all their friends, and she and her business partner, Fila Matheson, had been cooking all day, along with Camila’s cousin Juana and a bunch of teenagers they were mentoring.
Carl expected Ivy to perk up at the idea of dessert since she loved sweets, but instead she snuggled deeper into his embrace. He had found a quiet corner to sit in, if you could call any place in the restaurant quiet, and was cradling Ivy on his lap. He doubted she’d make it to midnight, even though it wasn’t that far off.
“I think there might be a stampede for that dessert table,” Noah remarked from where he was sitting nearby.
“You going to be the first? Or wait until it’s over?”
“I think I’ll wait.” Noah smiled at the sight of Ivy on Carl’s lap. “Fatherhood sure suits you.”
“It does. Everything about my life here suits me.” He could barely remember the frantic decades out in California when he was starting his business. Moving to Chance Creek was one of the smartest things he’d ever done. Marrying Camila tied for first place, though. He hadn’t known what community meant until he’d come to this tight-knit town. He’d been afraid that waiting to find the perfect ranch might mean he’d lose her, but he’d been right to hold out for what he wanted. Laurel Heights was
