Cora’s heart filled, the emotions she’d been so afraid of suddenly fueled the next chapter of her hopes and dreams. “Take me back to Haven. I’m ready to go home.”
Epilogue
“I learned way more about thread and quilt rings than I ever needed to know,” Sophie stated with a long sigh.
Cora laughed and sank down onto the sofa in Braxton’s living room. Well, their living room now. Sophie had just put Cora’s home on the market the day after Christmas and with the opening of Bella Vous, the Monroe family was quite busy.
“Well, our first set of guests left happy and we’re full of all the quilting knowledge we’ll ever need.” Cora patted Heidi’s head as her dog settled in beside her.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you something,” Sophie said. “Actually, Braxton was supposed to—”
“What was I supposed to do?”
Cora smiled as Braxton entered the room. He and Zach had been making dinner. Cora and Sophie didn’t care what it was, they were too exhausted to care and the guys said they’d handle it. Maybe they should’ve called Liam in for this, but the poor guy was even more exhausted after dealing with a weekend of very eager eaters.
“You were supposed to ask Cora about that position,” Sophie muttered.
Cora groaned. “Position?”
The couch dipped beside her as Braxton’s arm extended behind her back. “We were wondering if you could help with the bookkeeping if we got the proper voice-activated program.”
Cora thought for a moment, how she’d only gone to college for her accounting degree to appease her family. The last thing she’d wanted to do was use it, but that had been a different time in her life.
“You don’t have to,” Braxton went on to say.
“We completely understand if you don’t want to take that on,” Sophie added.
Cora shook her head. “No, no. I don’t mind doing it. I mean, we’re all in this together now, right?”
“Oh, thank God,” Zach stated, his heavy footsteps drawing nearer. “Because I’m pretty sure I messed something up already.”
Cora laughed. Poor Zach. “I’ll fix it. Don’t touch anything until I can get in there.”
“I’m glad to hear that because I ordered the voice program already and installed it,” Zach told her. “I
researched and this was supposed to be the best one and simple to use.”
Cora’s heart melted. This family had taken her in as one of their own, pulling her inside their circle to a place where so much love lived.
“I’m happy to look at it, but can it wait a couple days?” she asked. “I may need a day to recover from those ladies.”
Sophie’s sweet laughter filled the room. “Absolutely. I’ll make sure Zach keeps his hands out of the books. But you need to be warned, we have another large group coming in next weekend.”
Cora nodded. “They can’t be as exhausting as the quilters.”
“Don’t bet on it. It’s a writing group,” Sophie stated. “I’ve already been told they all plan on taking full advantage of the masseuse because their backs are cramped. They’re coming for five days and plan on plotting and relaxing. I’ve already warned Liam of all the chocolate he’ll need to order.”
Cora waved a hand. “I’ll order the chocolate. I have connections and it won’t cost the resort a thing.”
Braxton stiffened beside her. “No. You don’t need to do that.”
“I want to.” Cora shifted to face him better. “After everything you all have done for me, let me do this. It will be nice to do something with my family’s company that joins both of our worlds.”
Even though she didn’t want to run Buchanan Chocolates, that didn’t mean she couldn’t support them. Now that Eric was in charge, and she was still keeping in touch with all the comings and goings, she could easily keep Bella Vous stocked with only the best.
Braxton kissed her temple. “I love you.”
She never tired of hearing those words, of feeling that warmth spread through her at his certainty.