EPILOGUE
Marie thanked the doctors and nurses at the hospital who had been taking such good care of her during her stay. Gage had driven her straight to the hospital after he got her out of the forest.
Steve and Lincoln had accompanied them to the hospital. Marie was in the hospital for a week, and Gage had been by her side the whole time. Cherrie, Ray, Huck and Gage’s neighbors and friends had all come to visit her, and Marie had made so many new friends.
“Are you ready to go home?” Gage asked, offering her his arm.
“Yes,” Marie said, looping her arm through his. “I can’t wait to go home!”
Gage kissed her hair and grinned. It was their home now. He was her forever mate, her family, her future.
Marie looked out the window of the truck as Gage drove away from the hospital. Bear Ridge was such a lovely town, she realized. The dappled sunlight danced on the sidewalk and bright, colorful flowers were beginning to bloom on the trees.
Marie rolled down the window and closed her eyes. She felt the wind on her face and smiled.
“Ah, do you smell that?” she asked, taking a deep breath.
“Yeah. There’s nothing like the smell of fresh bread,” Gage agreed as they drove down Magnolia Street.
They were passing a bakery, and Marie admired the freshly baked goods in the shop window.
A child was stepping out of the bakery with his mother. The kid was munching happily on a doughnut and pointing at the cars whizzing by on the street.
Marie waved at him and the child waved back and shouted, “Truck!”
Gage chuckled. “Steve used to name all the vehicles that we passed on the street when he was a toddler. He loved cars even when he was a kid.”
“He’s doing what he loves now. His body shop is doing great,” Marie commented. She turned to Gage. “You closed your shop for a whole week to stay with me in the hospital. Your customers...”
“They’ll understand,” Gage replied with a wave. “They know that I have to be with my mate.”
“I don’t want your business to be affected because of...”
“It’s just a business,” Gage said, squeezing her hand. “You’re my mate. My life,” he said softly.
Marie looked down at their joined hands and smiled. She knew that Gage would still be holding her hand when they were both old and gray.
“We’re home,” Gage announced and killed the engine.
Marie got out of the truck slowly and squinted in the sunlight. She thought she saw the curtains move in the front window but she couldn’t be sure.
“Um...is there someone inside?” she asked, pointing at the house.
Gage shrugged but didn’t reply. She caught him hiding a smile and was about to question him further when he put his hands over her eyes.
“What are you doing, Gage?” Marie asked, giggling.
“Just keep walking,” he said, carefully guiding her up the front steps. “One more step, Marie. That’s right. Okay.”
She heard the door open and Gage removed his hands from her eyes. She gasped as the lights in the living room flicked on.
“Welcome home, Marie!” everyone shouted.
Marie’s mouth fell open.
Balloons floated down from the ceiling and there was a shower of confetti as she stepped into the house. She looked around and saw Steve, Jana, Cherrie, Ray, Huck, the Sheriff and many of Gage’s neighbors, friends and longtime customers. Marie pressed her hand to her mouth and blinked rapidly.
“I...I...”
Jana stepped forward and gave her a big hug.
“Jana,” Marie stammered. “You came all the way from the city?”
Jana grinned. “I just got here. I wanted to come earlier, but Gage assured me that you were recovering well in the hospital. I finally managed to get my leave approved and I rushed here as fast as I could.” She gestured at the brightly decorated living room and the mountain of food on the table. “I wouldn’t miss this party for the world!”
Everyone crowded round and Marie looked at all the warm, caring faces with tears in her eyes. She was moved beyond words. All their friends and family were here.
They were here to welcome her home. They had put in so much effort to plan this lovely surprise party for her, and she didn’t know how she could thank them.
“Thank you,” Marie repeated, hugging everyone back. “Thank you so much!”
“Bears love to party,” Cherrie said with a wink. “And we love good food!”
“Hear, hear!”
“Come on, don’t let all that good food go to waste. Let’s eat!” Steve clapped his hands.
As everyone helped themselves to the sumptuous food, the house filled with excited chatter and laughter.
“The food is amazing!” Marie said in appreciation as she dug in heartily. She didn’t realize how hungry she was.
“You’ve been having hospital food for too long,” Cherrie said. “Eat more. This is a potluck party so everyone cooked something.”
“Not me.” Jana raised her hand to confess. “I’m not such a great cook. So...I cheated. I stopped by the bakery and got a cake! Let me take it out of the fridge.”
Jana disappeared into the kitchen and reappeared a minute later with an enormous chocolate and honey cake. “Who wants dessert?” she called out.
Gage laughed when everyone made a beeline for the cake. “Chocolate and honey,” he chuckled. “No self-respecting bear will say no to that!”
Marie helped to cut the cake and when all the guests had been served, she cut a slice and brought it to Gage.
Gage fed her first before forking a mouthful of the delicious cake for himself. “This is so good,” Marie moaned. “Did you get this cake from the bakery on Magnolia Street?” she asked Jana.
“Yeah I did!” Jana grinned.
Marie grinned back.
She looked around the noisy, crowded house and sighed happily. She was surrounded by people who loved her and cared for her.
Smiling, Marie gazed at the banner hanging across the wall.
She read the beautiful, heartfelt message on the banner: Welcome home, Marie.
Bear Ridge was her home. This was her town, and these wonderful people were her kin and townsfolk.
Welcome home, Marie.
“Yes, indeed,” she whispered with a joyful laugh. “Welcome home!”
* * * * *
End
Also by Natalie Kristen:
BEAST BEARS
Billionaire Boss Bear
Billionaire Chef Bear
Billionaire Beast Bear
HEARTS ON FIRE
The Werewolf's Baby
The Dragon Tycoon's Bride
The Dragon’s Match
The Wolf’s Mate
STORM DRAGONS (Scifi Alien Weredragon Romance)
VORIK
WOLVES HOLLOW
Alpha Next Door (Book 1)
Beta's Baby (Book 2)
Savage Wolf (Book 3)
DRAGONS IN SHADOW POINT
Skyfire Dragon
Stormfire Dragon
Seafire Dragon
BRIDES fur BEARS
Bad Bear (Book 1)
Brave Bear (Book 2)
Brash Bear (Book 3)
Big Bear (Book 4)
Mail-Order Bear (Book 5)
Dating Agency Bear (Book 6)
Guardian Bear (Book 7)
GRAY BEARS series
Marrying The Bear (Book 1)
Loving The Bear (Book 2)
Mating The Bear(Book3)
Tempting The Bear (Book 4)
Taming The Lion (Book 5)
Embracing The Lion (Book 6)
GRIMM BEARS (Fairytale Shifters)
Red and the Bear (Book 1)
Snow and the Bear (Book 2)
Gretel and the Bear (Book 3)
BEAR HEAT series
Bear's Bride (Book 1)
Bear's Kiss (Book 2)
Bear's Claim (Book 3)
Bear's Ba
by (Book 4)
Bear's Heart (Book 5)
Bear's Match (Book 6)
DRAGON HEAT
Taken by the Billionaire Dragon (Book 1)
Desired by the Billionaire Dragon (Book 2)
BEAR BRIDES
A Bride For The Bear
A Date For The Bear
A Wife For The Bear
A Mate For The Bear
Billionaire Bear Shifters Romance
Taken By The Bear
Owned By The Bear
Saved By The Bear
MISTY VALLEY SHIFTERS
Growl For Me
Fight For Me
Purrfect For Me
MATE series
Alpha Mate
Bear Mate
Vampire Mate
Wolf Mate
Wild Mate
Dark Mate
Blood Mate
BEAR COVE (A Small Town Love Story)
Bear My Heart
NORTH WOLVES
To Kill A Wolf
About the Author
Natalie Kristen is a writer who enjoys mixing the sweet with the spicy, the light with the dark, the possibilities with the unimaginable. She enjoys exploring paranormal and dystopian worlds, deep desires and inspiring romances. She is hopelessly addicted to coffee, chocolate, reading and writing. She loves to hear from readers so please feel free to follow her on Twitter and Facebook, or visit her blog for the latest news and updates.
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/NatalieKristenBooks
Blog:
nataliekristen.blogspot.com
Twitter:
@NatKristenBooks
Amazon:
www.amazon.com/Natalie-Kristen/e/B00B9Q9OSI
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