Epilogue
The Camp Firefly Falls bus was pulling out of the gravel lot as Hudson turned into it. People were milling everywhere, cheerfully greeting old friends and bouncing between the stack of luggage that had been offloaded and the registration table.
Rachel took one look at the chaos and said, “Maybe this was a bad idea.”
What a difference a year makes, Hudson mused as he climbed out of the Jeep. “It’s a great idea. You need some time away, just like I did.”
His cousin turned fretful eyes toward Audrey. “But I hate to leave you with the group all by yourself.”
Audrey smiled and took Rachel by the arms. “The group will be fine. All the new guys are doing great. They’re taking to the baking like ducks to water.”
Who knew that a bunch of taciturn, struggling, ex-military men would find new purpose as bakers, of all things? Well, Audrey had. She’d co-opted Rachel’s commercial baking expertise and pioneered a new reintegration program involving a combination of skills training and therapy. The pilot study had shown great promise—enough that Audrey had landed a five-year grant to evaluate the program more in depth.
“But—” Rachel began.
“No buts. I’ve got this,” Audrey told her firmly. “You’ve been pulling the workaholic routine for a year. It’s time for a break and Camp Firefly Falls is the perfect opportunity. You’re going to love it.”
To settle the issue, Hudson hauled Rachel’s massive duffel to the registration table, where Heather Tully sat with her clipboard and a mile-wide smile.
“Hudson! I didn’t know you were joining us again this summer.”
“I’m not. My cousin is. Rachel McCleary. We’re dropping her off.”
“We?” Heather asked.
Audrey ducked under his arm and snuggled close. “We.”
“Audrey! How good to see you. I’d ask how you’re doing, but it’s obvious you’re happy. You’re glowing.”
“They’re disgustingly happy,” Rachel put in with a smile. “It’s adorable.”
It had taken Hudson a while to get accustomed to her enthusiastic support of his relationship with Audrey. He’d worried that being openly in love around her would make John’s absence that much more apparent. But while she’d grieved hard and long, she’d made it abundantly clear that seeing him happy was helping her heal. It hadn’t hurt that she and Audrey had become fast friends.
Hudson made introductions. “I trust you’ll take good care of her while she’s here.”
“Of course, we will.” Heather handed over the welcome packet and began giving the spiel. “One of our staff will take you to your cabin.” She waved and a familiar blond guy trotted over.
“Charlie!” Audrey broke away to give Charlie a big hug.
Charlie grinned as he hugged her back. “Well, I’ll be damned. Y’all worked it out.”
“We did, indeed.”
Hudson chuckled to himself. Greet old friends at camp. She was getting to cross something else off her list. There weren’t too many things left. It had been one of his greatest pleasures to make sure of that as she’d settled into her new life in Syracuse. Sometime around Christmas he’d started his own list of things he wanted to see and do with her. He was hoping he’d be crossing the first one off today.
“What are you doing as staff?” he asked.
“I have left the book business.” Charlie said it in a tone that clearly implied, It’s complicated. “Since I was at loose ends for the summer, I thought being a counselor here was a good chance to re-evaluate my life and figure out what’s next.”
“Seems like that’s going around,” Rachel muttered.
“Camp is good for that,” Audrey declared.
And thank God for it. He didn’t really want to think where he’d be if Audrey hadn’t come back into his life.
“I wish you two were going to be here with me,” Rachel pouted.
Audrey squeezed her tight. “I know. Me, too. We’ll schedule far enough out for next summer that we can all get time off. Meanwhile, you have a great time! Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“You did everything while you were here,” Hudson reminded her.
Audrey grinned. “Exactly.”
Hudson hugged Rachel himself, hoping Camp Firefly Falls was as good an experience for her as it had been for him. “Have fun. We’ll see you in two weeks.”
Charlie hefted Rachel’s bag and made a sweeping gesture toward the trail. “After you, madam.”
They said their goodbyes. Audrey looked at the trails leading up to camp proper, her expression full of nostalgia. “I really do wish we’d been able to come this summer.”
Hudson laced his hands behind her back. “Want to take a walk around the lake before we get back on the road? Stretch your legs?”
“Oh, that sounds good. And maybe we can stop at Boone’s for a slice of pie on the way home?” She turned those big, baby blues on him, and he was a goner.
“Anything you want.”
They took the trail up to camp, around the lodge, on past the boat house to the pier. It looked exactly the same as last summer, but he felt so totally different. All because of this woman.
Hudson tugged her back against him, pressing a kiss to the top of her head as they looked out over the sparkling water of Lake Waawaatesi. “You know, I was standing right here the first time I saw you last summer.”
“When I followed you out from the dance.”
“No. I saw you from across the lake. Right over there.” He pointed to the trail, where a trio of women walked and talked, their laughter floating on the breeze. “You were taking a walk, probably stretching your legs like today, and I envied you.”
“Why?”
“You looked so contented and peaceful. And I was so…not.” He turned her to face him. “But you gave me that. You pulled me out of myself and taught me that living isn’t just the best way to honor my friends, it’s the brave choice. You always make the brave choice. And that makes you my hero.”
Her eyes were already glimmering with emotion. “Hudson. All I did was love you.”
“It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. The past year with you has been the best of my life. That’s why I brought you back up here today. It felt like it had to be here.”
“What does?”
“The beginning of everything.” Hudson took a step back, dropping to one knee and pulling the ring box from his cargo shorts. “I love you, Audrey. I want to make a life, a family with you. To grow old with you. Say you’ll marry me. Be my wife, my everything.”
Audrey pressed a hand to her mouth. The tears spilled over and Hudson’s stomach bottomed out. Maybe it was too soon. Maybe doing it here was a mistake. Maybe—
“Yes.” She dropped her hands and reached for him, her smile beaming like the sun. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Relief burst through him, and he surged to his feet, scooping her off hers with a celebratory whoop. Applause and cheers broke out from somewhere behind them. Hudson stopped spinning to see that several dozen people lined the bank. Charlie and Rachel were at the head of the pack.
Charlie cupped a hand around his mouth. “Kiss!”
Rachel picked up the cry, until the entire pack was chanting it.
Audrey laughed and lifted her face to his. “Better give the people what they want.”
“You already gave me what I wanted,” he said, and closed the distance.