I looked down at the hand he held out to me and took it with my left, the engagement ring glittering even on a cloudy day like today.

“Bobby,” Roane called over his shoulder.

“Aye?” I heard him shout from one of the hoop houses.

“I’m taking the rest of the day off.”

I could hear laughter in Bobby’s voice as he called back, “Aye, tell me something I didn’t already know!”

Giggling a little hysterically with the biggest relief I’d ever felt in my life, I followed Roane into the house and upstairs. As he reached for me, I complained I smelled like I’d traveled all day and didn’t want him enduring that.

In answer he changed direction and guided me to the bathroom. Minutes later I found myself naked in the shower with my fiancé as he moved inside me, not caring that our reunion was hampered by a slippery bathtub or that our kisses were interrupted with muffled curses as we tried to steady ourselves.

All I cared about was that I was home.

And it was real.

Epilogue

Four months later . . .

Christmas songs played softly in the background, barely heard over the noise of our chatter as we sat in groups around The Anchor. Milly and Dex were hosting a Christmas pub quiz for the locals, and the atmosphere was relaxed and spirited as we competed in tabled groups to win the huge hamper of Christmas goodies they were giving away.

I sat with my chair pressed to Roane’s, huddled into his side, his arm around me, fingers caressing the skin below the short sleeve of my blouse as we considered the latest quiz question.

Joining us at our table were Caro, Viola, and Lucas. As they discussed with Roane whether or not the Oasis single that hit number one in 1996 was “Some Might Say” or “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” I considered my youthful friends and how far we’d come in such a short period of time.

I’d love to say Roane and I fell back into our relationship with ease, but we’d both burned each other’s trust, and there had been moments over the past few months when we’d been a little unsure of each other.

In those first few months I’d questioned him about where he’d been, what he was doing, not realizing that over time those questions began to feel like an interrogation. Finally Roane demanded I stop, and I discovered Roane didn’t “do” loud arguing. He just walked out, thus putting an end to my raised voice.

I did apologize, and more self-aware than before, I promised him and myself that I’d let it go, that I’d do better.

And I did.