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After a beat, JC grinned because the young man was right. “That’s true,” she agreed. “And it’s not like I haven’t left you in charge of things before.”

Blake nodded. “Exactly,” he said. “I promise not to hurt myself while you’re gone this time, either.”

“Good strategy,” JC said as she moved toward the exit. She glanced at her watch and realized that if she didn’t hurry, Bella and Gracie would be waiting on her. “But don’t hesitate to call if anything comes up.”

“I promise,” Blake called after her as JC left the building and jogged toward her jeep.

She shot off a quick text to Bella. “Leaving now.”

“We will be waiting. Drive safe,” came back the answer with a red heart. After sending a heart back, JC started the jeep to head home to pick up Bella and Gracie. Even though they were packed and ready to fly to Oregon early the next morning, there was one more thing that needed to be done. Smiling as she thought of it, JC quickly made her way to the house. As soon as she pulled into the driveway, the front door opened, and Bella came out with Gracie at her side. Watching the two walking toward her, JC’s heart was full of happiness.

Apparently, it showed on her face because as soon as Bella and Gracie settled in the jeep, Bella leaned in to kiss JC on the cheek. “It makes me happy to see you happy,” the woman whispered against her skin.

JC turned to kiss her gently on the lips. “Same,” she said softly, and for a moment, their eyes lingered before she remembered they had an appointment to keep. “But we have to get going.”

As JC backed out of the driveway to head to the nearby park, Bella settled into her seat. “How did it go at work? Is Blake all set?” she asked, and JC nodded.

“He is,” she said. “I might have driven him crazy the last few days with all my double-checking things.”

Bella laughed. “I’m sure he understood,” she said. “It’s a big deal.”

“But it’s not like he hasn’t run things before,” JC said.

“Not as a co-owner of the business though,” Bella said, holding up a finger. “Plus, you’ll be away for three months. This is different.” JC considered Bella’s comments. What she said was true—Blake was her new business partner and owned half of Oahu Paddle Adventures. After JC and Bella’s co-proposal on the little island’s overlook three months before, they had agreed to get married at some future date. For the moment they would live together, splitting time between Hawaii and Oregon. To make that possible, JC let Blake take over a big part of the kayaking company, which freed up JC to be away for extended periods of time.

As they pulled into the parking lot of the small city park, JC smiled. “You’re right,” she said. “And I’ve never been more excited about the future.”

“Me too,” Bella said as they parked. They had barely climbed out of the vehicle and unloaded Gracie when a van pulled up a few spaces over. ‘Tropical Oasis Retirement’ was discreetly lettered on the side with a pair of palm trees. JC glanced at Gracie to see if she would have a reaction and saw her tail had started to wag. It was the third time JC and Bella had met with Gracie’s original owner at the park for a visit, and clearly the dog had learned to recognize the shuttle.

JC rubbed Gracie behind the ear. “Smart girl,” she said, never getting used to how intelligent her canine companion was. “Let’s go say hi to Frank.”

Watching the television,Bella sat curled up under a quilt with JC on the couch in her house in Portland. Gracie was at their feet, and if Bella didn’t know better, the dog’s eyes were fixed on the television screen too. The opening credits were playing, and Bella held her breath. Then, the words she waited for filled the screen—the title of her first book, “Catching the Moment.” A new Hallmark movie. Another shot followed it, and Bella’s name appeared along with the author’s credit. It was all enough to bring tears to her eyes, and clearly sensing her emotion, JC hugged her closer. “I still can’t believe it,” Bella whispered, and JC kissed her temple.

“Believe it,” JC said against her ear. “Lots of people are about to learn what I already know.”

Bella furrowed her brow. “What is that?”

“How amazingly talented you are,” JC answered, and Bella smiled as warmth filled her. She could not remember ever being happier. The last few weeks had held one incredible milestone after another. First, she and JC, along with Gracie, relocated from Hawaii to Oregon for an extended stay. Then, her new book was released to rave reviews and, just as her editor promised, made it to number one on the bestsellers list. The topper though was the movie based on her first novel actually got scheduled to air. Tonight, was the release at last, and her body tingled as they prepared to watch it.

As the story that came from inside her heart unfolded on the screen, Bella had trouble remembering the characters were her own creation. Throughout the show, her cell phone chimed as friends and family, and especially her editor sent her congratulatory texts. “I told you it would be special!” Joanie sent halfway through the show with a dozen smiling and celebrating emojis, making Bella laugh. Once again, the woman was able to say she was right.

When the happy ending finally unfolded between the two women in the movie, JC kissed Bella’s cheek. “I’ll be right back,” she said, slipping from under the blanket. “Don’t go anywhere.”

Bella raised an eyebrow with curiosity. “What are you up to?”

With a chuckle, JC shook her head. “Be patient. You’ll know in a minute,” she said, disappearing around the corner into the kitchen. Less than thirty seconds later, she was back and carried a pair of champagne flutes in one hand and a chilled bottle of bubbly in the other. “I thought we needed to celebrate this special event properly.”

“Oh, JC,” Bella said, unable to keep the emotion out of her voice. Of everything amazing that had happened, being able to spend all her time with JC was the greatest blessing of them all. “You always think of everything.” With a smile, JC opened the bottle with a pop and poured them each a glass of the shimmering liquid.

Once she had settled on the couch beside Bella again, she held up her drink. “I’d like to propose a toast,” she said, intriguing Bella even further.

“All right,” she said. “What exactly are we going to drink to?”

JC’s eyes held Bella’s. “To you and all your success,” she said, but that wasn’t good enough for Bella.

“No,” she said, pulling her glass back. “Not only to me. If we are going to toast, I want it to be to both of us.”

A smile crept across JC’s face. “I like that even more,” she said. “The future has never looked brighter.” She lifted her glass again. “To us.”

Bella raised hers too and tapped it against JC’s. “To us,” she said with a smile. “And all that lies ahead.”

THE END