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“Very happy tears,” she whispered, nodding vigorously. “Yes, Philip. Yes, I’ll marry you.”

“I love you,” he said, sliding the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly, glinting in the soft morning light now breaking through the clouds.

“I love you, too,” she replied, pulling him to his feet and into her arms. “I want to marry you more than anything.”

Philip lifted her off her feet, spinning her around as joy surged through him. His bear rumbled with satisfaction deep within.

She’s ours forever now,his bear said.

“She always was,” Philip corrected aloud. “Just as we are hers.”

“What?” Elsbeth asked, looking up at him with curious eyes.

Philip smiled, setting her gently back on her feet. “My bear and I were just agreeing that we belong to you as much as you belong to us.”

“That’s right,” she said, admiring the ring on her finger before reaching for his hand. “And don’t either of you forget it.”

“Never,” he said, and then he kissed her. His mate. His woman. His fiancée.

Epilogue

“The flowers look wonderful,” Cassia complimented Elsbeth as they made the final preparations for Leanne and Hugo’s anniversary party.

“Thanks,” Elsbeth said as she adjusted a centerpiece, “I was afraid they wouldn’t all be ready in time after the storm, but everything grows so fast on Rose Farm.” She looked around the restaurant, which had been transformed for the evening. Garlands of delicate blooms and trailing vines draped from the ceiling, while each table boasted a unique arrangement that told its own story through color and form.

“It all looks wonderful,” Elsbeth said, “there’s so much love and care that’s been into it all.” Her fingers traced the edge of a blush-pink rose.

“I just hope Stanley’s butterflies don’t come into the restaurant, rather than flying free,” Cassia said, a hint of worry in her voice.

“Are you taking my brother’s name in vain?” Philip said as he came to join them, his hand finding the small of Elsbeth’s back in that familiar way that still sent shivers up her spine.

“Well, you know Stanley,” Cassia said with a knowing smile.

“All my life,” Philip cracked a wide grin, the corners of his eyes crinkling in that way Elsbeth loved.

“The vines look stunning against Elsbeth’s flowers,” Cassia said, but her eyes were not on the floral decorations. Instead, they were fixed on her mate as Kris came to join them.

“They complement each other perfectly,” Kris said as he slipped a hand around his mate’s waist. “Like us,” he added with a wink.

“I just hope the others get the chance to be this happy,” Philip said, glancing over to the table where Alfie, Stanley, Nero, and Finn were gathered. Alfie had chosen a tree for their mom and dad to plant to commemorate their parents’ fiftieth wedding anniversary, while Nero had designed a gold necklace…two halves of a whole heart. Finn had designed and secretly built, with the help of his brothers and cousins, a seating area looking over the vineyard.

“I hope they like the wine,” Kris said, doubt in his voice. He had made a new blend for their anniversary and designed a commemorative label.

“It’s one of your best,” Philip told his brother.

Not that Elsbeth would be drinking any tonight. She glanced at Philip. They were going to save the news until after the party. Even so, she could not help the thrill of excitement that threaded through her veins as Philip looked at her with deep, unconditional love. He took her hand and kissed it. She could not believe she was carrying their child. Rose, if it were a girl, of course.

“They’re coming,” Alfie hissed, although they all knew there was no point in hiding since Hugo would have sensed them a mile off. But as the Thornberg extended family shouted, “Happy Anniversary!” it didn’t matter. This was a night of celebration.

Leanne’s eyes filled with tears as she took in the scene before her, her hand clutching Hugo’s arm. “Oh my goodness,” she whispered, and Elsbeth’s eyes pricked with tears at the pure joy on the older woman’s face.

Hugo, ever stoic, surveyed his family gathered together, his gaze lingering on each of his children, pride evident in every line of his face.

“You did all this?” Leanne asked, her voice trembling slightly as she moved toward the nearest floral arrangement, fingers hovering just above the delicate petals.

“It was a family effort,” Kris said, stepping forward to hug his mother.

Elsbeth watched the family gather around Hugo and Leanne, her hand unconsciously drifting to her still-flat stomach. Someday, she thought, our child will be part of this beautiful chaos. The thought made her dizzy with happiness.

Philip appeared at her side, his arm slipping around her waist. “You okay?” he whispered, his breath warm against her ear.

“Never better,” she replied, leaning into his solid frame. “Just imagining our future.”

His hand covered hers where it rested on her abdomen, a secret gesture that spoke volumes. “It’s going to be beautiful,” he murmured. “Just like you.”

She touched her fingers to the heart charm on her wrist. She would never have believed that she would find such happiness after such heartache. But she had.

She turned to him, and her fingers caressed the bachelor’s button he wore. He swore it was the same one she’d given him the day he left before the storm. She didn’t know if she believed him. But she did believe in him and the love they shared.

And that would last forever.