Chapter Twenty
Autumn stood in front of The Blackberry Patch B&B with Joel by her side. Every single detail had been attended to, down to the yellow and white chrysanthemums that lined the walkway from the new white picket fence all the way to the wraparound porch. With winter well on its way, Autumn stuck to cold weather flowers that would hang on until the first frost, which wasn’t scheduled to hit for another week, but the place looked spectacular.
Yellow and white streamers hung across the arbor in front of the walkway for the ribbon cutting ceremony that was set to begin any second.
She looked behind her at the gathering crowd and couldn’t believe her eyes. Hundreds of people had shown up to tour the property and enjoy the celebration.
“I’m so proud of you,” Joel whispered, his lips hovering near her ear. A delightful shiver ran down her spine and she squeezed his hand.
“And people said it couldn’t be done.” She laughed and Joel smiled wider.
“Just so you know, I was never one of those people. I knew anything you set your mind to would happen.” He laughed and glanced over at his brothers, mom, and grandmother, who were all watching him closely.
Joel had a pretty good idea his family knew something more than a ribbon-cutting ceremony was about to take place, but he had no plans to tell them exactly what he was up to. His family wasn’t known for keeping a tight lid on certain things.
“And that’s why I love you,” she said, laughing. “You’re willing to believe in the impossible right along with me.”
Oscar walked under the ribbons in front of them, and Joel laughed as they watched their dog wander up the stairs to the front door. He nosed open the front door and walked right in to a crowd full of laughter.
“I guess that means it’s time,” Joel said, turning to face the crowd.
Dina and Tami had both flown up for the big event and were standing in the front of the crowd, cheering her on. Dina waved at Autumn, and she waved back and whispered, “Can you believe it?” and Dina whispered back, “No.”
And she meant it.
Grandma Martha came over to Joel and Autumn and handed Autumn a wireless microphone.
Autumn tapped it against her hand and the crowd quieted as she drew in a breath. She saw many friendly, familiar faces in the crowd and several new people she didn’t recognize.
When Autumn drove into town in her Fiat convertible, she never imagined all of her life’s wishes and dreams would come to fruition so quickly. She glanced up at Joel, who squeezed her hand before stepping behind her as she raised the microphone.
“I never imagined that a place like Silver Ridge existed. This town has welcomed me with open arms and made me realize that what I’d been looking for was always close to my heart. Your kindness and willingness to root for an outsider—”
“You’re not an outsider,” a woman she didn’t recognize hollered from the back of the crowd, and Autumn waved.
“Thank you for that.” She smiled. “Nonetheless, you’ve made me feel like I belong here, and I can’t imagine a place I’d rather be. I look forward to getting to know the town even better, and my hope is that I can treat the guests who stay here with the same level of love and hospitality that I’ve received since I’ve arrived.”
Autumn glanced at Grandma Martha. “And if that fails, I’ll just make sure to stock up on plenty of Grandma Martha’s pecan pie.”
The crowd laughed and Autumn felt even more at ease. “Anyway, thank you for coming out to support me tonight, and I hope you enjoy what you see and what you taste, again, courtesy of Grandma Martha because I didn’t have time to bake. And I welcome you all to view the Tiffany Floor. If anyone you know or you, yourselves, need a place to stay that is away from it all where you might need a little extra help or a place to regroup, it will always be open to you, day or night.”
Joel squeezed Autumn’s shoulder and she felt a rush of tears surface. “We all have something to give to this world, and I really hope we can hear each other a little better and love each other a little more as our town continues to grow. There’s information about the Tiffany Floor in the foyer, so please take a brochure. In the meantime, let’s enjoy the food and drink and the grand opening of The Blackberry Patch Bed and Breakfast.”
Joel’s mom handed Autumn the scissors, which she eagerly took, and right before she was about to cut the ribbon, Kyle hollered for her to look in his direction and he took a picture as she sliced through the ribbon.
The B&B was officially open.
Tears of joy filled Autumn, and Joel linked his fingers through hers as they made their way up the front walkway. The bright green lawn and brilliant yellow and red roses along the porch were the perfect backdrop for her new yellow, white, and blue B&B.
She honestly couldn’t believe this place was hers or that she’d already been booked out through January. As they climbed the stairs, Joel held her hand tightly, and she felt like she could conquer the world, and with him by her side, she knew she could.
The brochures for the Tiffany Floor were laid out just where she’d left them. Oscar was the official greeter, lying down on a rug near the foyer table, and she spotted several of the caterers all set up in the dining room.
She thought fondly back to the wallpaper project Joel and she had conquered in the dining room. She should have known he was in it for the long haul when he helped scrape the goopy strips from the wall.
“I can’t imagine anyone else running this place,” Joel told her as they walked through the mansion as if it were for the first time.
The rooms were as grand as they once were, and now they overlooked the manicured gardens.
The home was a dream come true as they wandered down the hallways and heard the visitors in the background ogling the details and décor right down to the trim work.
The atrium was one of the scariest projects, but it turned out to be one of the most satisfying with the glass walls overlooking a rose garden and an herb garden.
She marveled at the beauty of the room that somehow managed to merge indoor and outdoor living while keeping the guests warm and dry. Bright blue accent pillows tossed on the white sectional and an oversized matching rug centered the room. The room also had hanging plants and trees, which made the entire room feel fresh and bright. Autumn couldn’t imagine how beautiful it was going to be once there was snow on the ground.
She turned around to see the guests circulating throughout the home and pointing out different features. A sense of great pride filled her as she glanced at Joel.
Autumn had somehow managed to pull this off. There were many times when she doubted herself or her timeline, but she was grateful she’d never given up. Finding out about her sister gave her a sense of purpose she didn’t think possible. It was her job to help people. She wanted to brighten people’s days and fill their evenings with laughter.
She also wanted to help people who felt like they needed to escape, even if just for a little bit.
“This place is going to be impossible to book soon.” Joel squeezed her hand. “I can tell already.”
“And I have you to thank for that. What you guys did for me—”
Joel cut her off and shook his head. “You’re the one who poured your heart and soul into this place. All we did was put a link on our website.”
Her brow arched and both hands found her hips. “You put the B&B on your main page. I’d say that’s more than just a link.”
“But if the place didn’t look this fantastic, it wouldn’t have done a bit of good.”
Autumn didn’t know how she’d lucked out with Joel North, but she honestly felt like the luckiest woman in the world and she hoped with all of her heart that the answer was yes to her sister’s only question.
Autumn looked at Joel with hungry eyes, and he reminded himself of the messy complications that had almost made him abandon his heart’s desire. He’d wanted Autumn from the moment he saw her, and he couldn’t imagine his life without her in it.
“Should we head upstairs for a second?” she whispered.
“It will be a lot longer than a second,” he said, his voice low.
She giggled and shook her head. “Are you sure about that?”
He cornered her next to a bookcase and his mouth found hers. He didn’t care that the room was full of people. She knew what she was doing, and she got her wish. Feeling her body up against his was all the fuel he needed to get through this event.
His brother cleared his throat behind them, and Joel smiled, setting Autumn free.
“Yeah?” Joel asked, spinning around as Autumn’s cheeks flushed.
“Who’s that firecracker over there?” Sam pointed over his shoulder, and Autumn’s eyes followed.
“That’s one of my best friends, Dina.” Autumn hid a smile. “She lives in California.”
Sam’s expression fell slightly.
“But I know she’s single.” Autumn’s brows wiggled. “Very single.”
“Interesting.” Sam’s bright blue eyes flashed in Dina’s direction, and Joel squeezed Autumn’s hand.
“I know she’s really fond of men with blue eyes. She also loves to ski. I actually met her in Lake Tahoe. I spilled a drink on her.”
Sam laughed and turned back to face Joel and Autumn. “I’m not much for the long-distance thing.”
Joel cracked a smile and shook his head. “What are you talking about? You’re up for all kinds of things. That’s your problem.”
“Touché.” Sam smiled and glanced around the atrium. “I have to tell you. This is my favorite room.”
“Really?” Autumn loved hearing what rooms people liked the best. It was probably going to become an obsession once guests started arriving. “I love it too.”
“You did such an amazing job with everything, despite having this guy lurking at all hours.” Sam pointed at Joel, who rolled his eyes.
“I got used to him pretty quickly.” Autumn’s smile deepened, and she noticed Sam glanced again in Dina’s direction.
“Why don’t you go chat with her?” Autumn suggested.
“I wouldn’t be good for her. I’d probably break her heart.”
Autumn nearly snorted. “You have no idea what you’d be getting into, and it’s not her heart I’d be worried about.”
Sam whipped his gaze back to Autumn’s. “Really?”
“Oh, yeah.” Autumn nodded, and Sam looked a little too intrigued with that bit of information as he wandered off in Dina’s direction.
Joel leaned over and whispered, “Is that true?”
“You betcha.” Autumn spotted Kyle and Brooke coming over with a redhead right next to them. “I wouldn’t encourage that if I didn’t think they both could handle each other.”
“You certainly know my brother well.” Joel grinned.
“I do, and I’m not sure how you two are even related.”
“I was young once.”
Autumn giggled and rolled her eyes. “Oscar has told me all about your Saturday nights before I arrived, and let me just tell you he was very tired of sharing popcorn without butter.”
“You know too many of my secrets.” Joel laughed.
“And that’s how I plan on keeping it.”
Kyle came over and gave Autumn a huge hug, and so did Brooke.
“This is Tori Rhodes, Mason’s fiancée,” Kyle told us.
“I can’t thank you enough for lending out your guy.” Autumn gave a quick hug to Tori. “None of this could have happened without his expertise. I was so overwhelmed.”
“Absolutely. He loves what he does.” The redhead smiled and looked in awe at the atrium, spinning slightly to take it all in. “He couldn’t say enough kind things about working with you. He said he wished all of his clients were as sweet and kind as you are.”
“It probably only appeared that way because I was so grateful.” Autumn laughed.
“I’d believe her on that one.” Joel snickered. “She pushed me off a dock when I—”
Autumn playfully punched him and Tori laughed.
“See what I mean?” Joel teased.
“Have you thought about renting out the B&B for weddings?” Tori asked, her eyes wide with hope.
“I hadn’t given it much thought, but I can’t see why not. Do you know of someone who might be interested?”
Tori smiled and nodded. “I do.” Her cheeks blushed as Mason came over, giving a strong handshake to Joel.
“You did a fabulous job on this renovation,” Joel said, nodding in admiration. “Really incredible.”
“I have to admit, I was a little nervous when Autumn came to me with the idea for the basement. I didn’t have the same vision she did for under there, but it came out beautifully.” Mason smiled at Autumn, who felt like she was on top of the world.
“It seemed like the most logical thing to do with the space. It’s a perfect retreat.” Autumn slid her hand into Joel’s.
Without his support, she would have talked herself right out of the idea.
She’d been able to set up The Blackberry Patch as a nonprofit with all proceeds going to support the Tiffany Floor, which was a place for recovering addicts to go if they felt like they needed a little extra support or time away from the everyday stresses of life.
There were three bedrooms, a small kitchenette, and a spacious family room downstairs with a separate entrance. The pocket windows added ample light, but the décor was what really made the space soothing and peaceful. She hoped it would provide the optimum retreat for those who sought it out.
In fact, she had to find Sophie Hill, who was the designer who helped put all of the final design choices together. Sophie was married to Anthony Hill, who was a pretty huge rock star. She was surprised Sophie even worked and was even more shocked that they lived on one of the small islands off the coast of Washington. She’d met Sophie through Mason Rhodes and they’d instantly hit it off.
“Do you mind if I take Tori on a tour of the Tiffany Floor?” Mason asked, holding Tori’s hand.
“Not at all, and don’t forget to grab some food on your way down there.” Autumn watched the couple walk away and held in a wistful sigh. She wished her sister were here to see it.
“Have you decided if you’re going to rent out the master suite yet?” Kyle asked, and Brooke elbowed him in his side.
Autumn blushed and laughed simultaneously as she glanced at Joel. “I’ve been leaning toward renting it out since I spend so much time at Joel’s.”
Joel wrapped his arm around her shoulders and brought her in.
“It’s taken a lot of begging on my part, but I’m getting good at it.”
“Or I’m just getting exhausted,” Autumn teased, standing on her tippy toes to give him a kiss on the cheek.
Abigail and Grandma Martha walked over to the group and gave Autumn a huge hug before they finally let go.
“I’m so proud of you.” Grandma Martha shook her head as she eyed Joel and Kyle. “I knew we raised strong men who would need even stronger women, but I’ll be damned that you two finally found some.” She glanced at Brooke and Autumn, who broke into laughter. “You can’t let these ones loose. Your mother and I have grown far too fond of them.”
Brooke smiled up at Kyle, and Autumn noticed a special glance they traded between themselves that made her wonder. Grandma Martha seemed to pick up on it too because she smiled even wider.
“I probably sound absurd,” Brooke began, “But I’m craving cream cheese and peanut butter.”
“Together?” Joel’s brow shot up.
“How else would I eat it?” Brooke laughed.
“Well, I’ve got both in the fridge in the kitchen.” Autumn motioned for Brooke to follow her into one of her favorite rooms.
Joel and Autumn had only finished the kitchen about two weeks ago. With bright white walls and matching white cabinets, the kitchen was fresh and updated. The center island cupboard was a soft grey and the quartz counter was white and silver.
“How are you feeling?” Autumn asked Brooke.
“Exhausted. Blissfully exhausted.” Brooke had a dreamy look on her face and Autumn had to hide her smile. “How are you doing after all of this? Have you come crashing down yet?” Brooke asked.
“I think when I fall asleep tonight, I’ll be out for weeks.” Autumn pulled the cream cheese and peanut butter out of the fridge and set it on the counter.
“I feel awful. You have all this catered food, and I’m digging into your condiments and spreads.”
Autumn laughed and shook her head. “Did you need crackers or bread?”
“Just a spoon.”
Autumn’s eyes widened, but she complied.
A wave of guests started making their way through the kitchen and out the door to explore the gardens.
“This is place is fabulous.” Brooke took a bite of the peanut butter first. “I’ll buy you fresh.”
“Oh, please. Don’t even worry about it. You can eat them on your way home too.”
Brooke smiled and drew in a deep breath as her almost stepdaughter came bounding into the kitchen. She stopped short when she saw Brooke with a spoon in the peanut butter.
“You know there’s all kinds of real food out there.” Abigail smiled wryly.
“I know.” Brooke laughed and scooped another spoonful.
“So I think it’s safe to say that Uncle Joel worships the ground you walk on,” Abigail said, taking a spoon to the peanut butter as well. “I wonder when he’s going to pop the question.”
Autumn gasped, and Abigail scrunched her nose playfully. “You’d say yes, right?”
Brooke’s gaze flew to Autumn’s as if she were waiting for the answer as well.
“I guess everyone will have to wait and see.” Autumn’s brow arched, and she glanced toward the dining room.
“Hmph.” Abigail placed the spoon in the sink, poured herself some cranberry juice, and left the room.
“Teenagers.” Brooke shook her head.
At this particular moment, that idea almost seemed like pure fantasy, but so far, fantasies had treated Autumn well. All she had to do was look around The Blackberry Patch to see what a little fantasizing could do for a person’s life.
“Autumn,” Abigail called out from the hallway. “Can you please help me? I spilled the cranberry juice on the atrium rug.”
Without hesitation, Autumn grabbed the carpet cleaner and a roll of paper towels and dashed down the hall, through the crowds, to make her way into the atrium, which had suddenly been turned into the most romantic setting she’d ever seen.
Her world started going into slow motion as she saw Grandma Martha, Joel’s mom, his brothers, her best friends, and hundreds of white rose petals strewn about on the floor.
How someone had managed to accomplish this while she was in the kitchen with Brooke, she had no idea. Twinkle lights were draped from the glass ceiling, and several vases filled with white roses led her to the center of the room, but there was no Joel.
Autumn’s gaze flicked to Grandma Martha, who nodded and motioned for her to come forward, which she did.
It wasn’t until she was standing in the middle of the room, surrounded by friends and family, that Joel appeared dressed in a tuxedo, walking her way.
Joel was everything and more than she could ever hope for. He made her the happiest woman on the planet.
The happy truth about love was that love made Autumn feel better. She loved to give love and receive it. Love wasn’t meant to be unkind or awkward or forced.
Love wasn’t about sadness and deceit. It was about happiness and light. There was no right or wrong way to love Joel North. She just knew to love Joel North with all of her heart because he’d given his to her long ago.
“Autumn,” Joel began, and her heart fell to her toes as he took a box out of his jacket pocket. “When you came rolling into town in your red Fiat convertible, I knew this town would never be the same. I knew I’d never be the same. From the moment you flashed your smile my way, I was hooked. You’ve brought such light and love into my world, and Oscar doesn’t stop talking about you.”
Tears filled Autumn’s eyes as their friends and family chuckled.
“You’ve made my world fulfilling, and you’ve shown me what it means to dream again. I’d gotten so caught up with running the resort and volunteering that I was actually missing what it meant to fantasize, to dream big. You made me realize that, and I never want to let go of my muse.”
Oscar slowly walked into the middle of the room and sat down next to Joel as Joel got down on one knee.
“Autumn Tucker, will you be my wife? Will you make me the happiest North in the world?”
Tears of happiness streamed down Autumn’s face as she stood frozen, nodding her head up and down and trying to say the word yes as she stuck her hand out just to seal the deal as the crowd of people chuckled.
Joel slid the ring on her finger to loud cheers from their friends and family while Oscar stood barking and jumping. Joel squeezed Autumn’s hand before pulling her into him and picking her up. He brought his mouth close to her ear as tears continued to fall down her cheeks.
“You made your sister’s wish come true,” he whispered.
She nodded, feeling a love that she never thought possible as his lips found hers.
The desire for Joel North flared to life, and she knew their life would never be dull. Love was meant to open doors and create endless possibilities for a happy life. Joel made that possible. Joel showed her what the happy truth about love was meant to be, and she knew she’d found the man of her dreams.