The Story Of Us

by Teri Wilson

  “So I started writing something new.” Jamie’s voice reached him from somewhere behind him as he flipped through the book’s soft pages.

  He turned around, and there she was, bathed in the pale glow of fairy lights and a sweetheart moon. She wore a pink dress with a pleated ballerina skirt that looked as light as air, and the love in her eyes as she looked at him nearly brought him to his knees.

  “A love story.” She came a few steps closer. “And I would like your opinion on it.”

  His throat grew thick with emotion, but somehow, he managed to form a few words. “What’s it about?”

  “Well, a girl and boy meet. Fall in love. Then they get separated, only for circumstances to bring them back together again.” She closed the remaining distance between them and laid her dainty hand over his heart. “And they realize they never stopped loving each other the entire time. And that’s how you know it’s true love.”

  He reached for her hand, still resting on his chest, and covered it with his. “That’s my favorite kind of story.”

  “Mine too.” She took a deep breath and gave him a tentative smile. “But I’m going to need your help to finish it.”

  It was her way of asking him if he was back in Waterford to stay this time. He knew this as surely as he knew his own name.

  The answer burned deep within him, warming his soul. “And you will have it.”

  He cupped her face in his hands and ran the pad of his thumb over her trembling bottom lip. She gazed up at him through a veil of unshed tears, and it felt as if they were truly seeing each other for the first time.

  His Jamie.

  His home.

  His one true love.

  “Always,” he whispered.

  Then, at long last, an adult Sawyer O’Dell kissed a grown-up Jamie Vaughn, and the moment their lips met, the years they’d spent apart seemed to melt away.

  It was a kiss steeped in fairy tales and history and faded Valentines written long ago. A kiss born of literature and love stories, but better because it was real…true.

  And somewhere beneath the pounding of his heart, Sawyer could have sworn he heard fate whispering in his ear, like the narrator of a story.

  And they lived happily ever after.

  Epilogue

  One year later…

  The only way Valentine’s Day could possibly top the previous year was if the grand re-opening of the Waterford business district happened to fall on February 14, which also happened to be the same exact day as the launch party for Jamie’s first published novel, The Story of Us. By some miracle, all three events perfectly coincided—the book launch, the unveiling of the newly restored business district and Valentine’s Day, which had long been Jamie’s favorite holiday. This year it carried special meaning, of course, because it also marked the one-year anniversary of Sawyer’s official, permanent homecoming.

  So much had happened since that night he’d kissed her in the courtyard of True Love Books & Cafe. Sawyer had purchased a little cottage, just one street over from the house she’d bought from her parents. He’d celebrated the occasion with a housewarming party—catered by Rick, naturally—that had included a backyard bonfire where he’d set his suitcase aflame. The following morning, he’d broken ground on the Ridley project, and life for both of them had been a whirlwind ever since.

  Jamie had been forced to close True Love Books, but only temporarily while the block was under construction. The timing was most convenient, because only a month prior, she’d sold her manuscript to a publisher—a longstanding publishing company in New York City that had put out books she’d adored since childhood. When the call came, she’d had to pinch herself, because the good news had felt more like a dream than real life. Then she’d been buried in line edits and copyedits and proofreading, and the temporary closure of her bookshop had felt like a blessing in disguise.

  She couldn’t wait to open back up again, though. She missed spending her days working side-by-side with Lucy, who’d recently begun rocking a glittering diamond ring on a very important finger. She missed being surrounded by the scents of ink on paper, crystal bowls filled with Anita’s flowers and the sweet aroma of Rick’s buttercream cupcakes in the café. Mostly, she missed the feeling she’d always gotten that True Love was a very real part of the glue that held the community together—the beautiful beating heart of Waterford.

  She hoped it wasn’t weird that the front display table would be piled high with copies of her very own novel for the grand reopening. She couldn’t resist, because in addition to being a love story about two lost soulmates finding their way back to each other, her book was also a tribute to the community. Beyond the romance and the poetic language, she’d written a love letter to Waterford itself, setting her story on the very streets where Mary and Harrison had walked so long ago and where she and Sawyer had fallen in love.

  Twice.

  She had a sneaking suspicion that the unveiling of the Ridley enterprise falling on Valentine’s Day was more than just a coincidence. After all, Sawyer had acted as the lead architect on the project, so the scheduled completion date had definitely been his doing. He was also well aware that Jamie’s book was scheduled to be released that day, “the most romantic day of the year” according to her editor. But restructuring the landscape of a town as old as Waterford hadn’t exactly been an easy task. There had been plenty of surprises along the way, including rusted-out pipes, foundations requiring extensive repair, and permits necessitating the approval of the state’s historical preservation office. Sawyer had navigated it all like a pro, even surprising Jamie with a brand-new plaque for True Love’s front door, proclaiming the bookshop an official Oregon State Historical Landmark.

  Never again would she have to worry about True Love Books & Cafe closing its doors. It was a permanent part of Waterford’s story now—past, present and future.

  “I still can’t believe you did this,” she said, polishing the gilded border of the plaque as Sawyer approached.

  Instead of his ever-present messenger bag, Eliot’s purple cat carrier swung from his shoulder. Since Jamie had been up with the dawn getting the store ready for her book party, he’d volunteered to stop by Jamie’s house to feed the kitty breakfast at his preferred wake-up time and then bring the furry beast to True Love in time for the action. Eliot and Sawyer had become as thick as thieves in the past few months. In fact, as of Christmas morning, Sawyer had become the proud owner of a coffee mug that said Cat Dad…much to Rick’s amusement.

  Sawyer gave Jamie a gentle kiss when he reached the threshold of the store, and then tilted his head. “Can’t believe I did what?”

  She’d been talking about the plaque—and the store’s designation as a landmark—but looking at him standing there in the center of the business district that he’d worked so hard to save, she realized she meant something else. Something bigger.

  “All of this,” she said, her voice dropping to aching whisper. “Waterford owes you so much. So do I.”

  “Hey, now. You don’t owe me a thing.” He reached for her hand, lifted it to his lips and covered it with a tender kiss. “I adore you. You know that, but can we go inside? Your cat has gotten significantly heavier recently. Someone must be feeding him too many treats.”

  Jamie rolled her eyes as she pushed the door open. “Gee, I wonder who that could be.”

  “No idea,” Sawyer deadpanned as he deposited the cat carrier on the countertop by the register.

  “Seriously, Hometown Boy.” It had become a term of endearment that Jamie had no intention of retiring anytime soon. “You’ve set a new bar for Valentine’s Day. This day couldn’t possibly get any better.”

  She unzipped Eliot’s carrier, and he popped out of the opening in a flurry of ginger fur and an unmistakable flash of sparkle.

  “You sure about that?” Sawyer murmured, brushing Jamie’s hair aside to press his li
ps to the curve of her neck.

  It was then that Jamie saw it—the source of the glittering light coming from Eliot’s collar. Alongside his heart-shaped pet tag, an antique engagement ring had been tied to his collar with pink satin ribbon, the same kind she’d used to affix the old Valentines from The Story of Us box to True Love’s cherry tree for the second year in a row, a tradition in the making.

  She gasped, not quite believing what she was seeing.

  “I searched high and low for a ring that matched the one Harrison gave to Mary after he came back from the war. Remember, from the picture of Mary you found in the attic when we were getting ready for the renovation?” Sawyer said in a voice raw with emotion as he untied the ribbon from around Eliot’s collar.

  Of course she remembered. She’d just never imagined Sawyer would one day slip a similar ring on her finger.

  She nodded, too afraid to speak lest she start crying and spoil the moment. Then Sawyer dropped down on one knee and before he could say another word, a loud, resounding “Yes!” came flying out of her mouth.

  He laughed and slid the vintage ring onto her finger. Jamie was pretty sure he officially popped the question, but she couldn’t make out the words because she was crying in earnest now. And she didn’t care, because she realized there was no spoiling a moment like this one. It had been over a decade and a half in the making.

  Jamie brushed the tears from her face and threw herself into Sawyer’s arms, and he held her onto her so tightly that it felt like he’d never let go. Eliot meowed loudly, rubbing against their entwined legs, and somewhere over Sawyer’s shoulder, Jamie caught sight of Persuasion by Jane Austen, lined up neatly on the top shelf.

  Jamie’s favorite lines from the novel wove their way into her thoughts, just as they had on the day she’d nearly dropped the very same book on Sawyer’s head.

  You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me that I am not too late…

  She squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her face into the solid warmth of Sawyer’s chest.

  You’re not too late, my love. You’re right on time.

  The End

  Wild Mushroom and Asparagus Risotto

  A Hallmark Original Recipe

  In The Story of Us, Jamie and Sawyer’s friend Rick can’t seem to tell his crush how he feels about her. More than once, he retreats to the kitchen to make risotto instead. Jamie and Sawyer aren’t especially good at putting their feelings for each other into words, either…and it doesn’t help that Sawyer’s retail development plan will mean the end of Jamie’s beloved bookstore! Our Wild Mushroom and Asparagus Risotto is as easy as it is elegant. It would be perfect to serve to friends or as part of a romantic meal.

  Yield: 6 servings

  Prep Time: 15 minutes

  Cook Time: 45 minutes

  Total Time: 1 hour

  INGREDIENTS

  4 tablespoons butter, divided

  8 ounces wild mushroom blend (such as cremini, portobello, shitake), trimmed, sliced

  1 pound asparagus, trimmed, cut into 1-inch pieces

  6 cups chicken broth

  2 tablespoons olive oil

  1 small yellow onion, finely chopped

  1 garlic clove, minced

  1½ cups arborio rice

  1 cup dry white wine

  ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

  ½ teaspoon grated nutmeg

  Kosher salt and black pepper, as needed

  2 tablespoons shaved Parmesan

  Fresh Italian parsley, as needed

  DIRECTIONS

  Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a sauté pan; add mushrooms and cook over medium heat until all moisture has evaporated and mushrooms are golden brown. Season to taste with salt and black pepper and set aside.

  Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a sauté pan; add asparagus and cook over medium-low heat for 3 to 5 minutes or until tender. Season to taste with salt and black pepper and set aside.

  In a saucepan, heat chicken broth to a low simmer. Keep warm.

  Heat olive oil in a heavy 4-quart saucepan; add onions and garlic; cook over low heat for 5 minutes, or until translucent. Add arborio rice and cook for 3 minutes or until grains are evenly coated and translucent around outer edges, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to low. Add white wine and cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, until all liquid is absorbed.

  Ladle 1 cup hot chicken broth over rice and stir until liquid is absorbed. Continue adding broth, one ladle at a time, stirring frequently, until rice is tender yet firm to the bite and has a creamy appearance, about 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from heat.

  Add grated Parmesan, nutmeg, remaining butter, reserved asparagus and mushrooms; gently toss to blend. Taste and adjust seasoning, if needed.

  Serve risotto immediately garnished with shaved Parmesan and parsley.

  Thanks so much for reading The Story of Us. We hope you enjoyed it!

  You might like these other books

  from Hallmark Publishing:

  Love at the Shore

  Country Hearts

  Love By Chance

  Love Locks

  A Dash of Love

  Love on Location

  Beach Wedding Weekend

  Sunrise Cabin

  For information about our new releases and

  exclusive offers, sign up for our free newsletter at

  hallmarkchannel.com/hallmark-publishing-newsletter

  You can also connect with us here:

  Facebook.com/HallmarkPublishing

  Twitter.com/HallmarkPublish

  About the Author

  Teri Wilson is the Publishers Weekly bestselling author/creator of the Hallmark Channel Original Movies Unleashing Mr. Darcy, Marrying Mr. Darcy, The Art of Us, and Northern Lights of Christmas, based on her book Sleigh Bell Sweethearts. She is also a recipient of the prestigious RITA Award for excellence in romantic fiction. Teri has a major weakness for cute animals, pretty dresses and Audrey Hepburn films, and she loves following the British royal family. Visit her at www.teriwilson.net or on Twitter @TeriWilsonauthr.

  Sneak Peek of Country Hearts

  Turn the page for a sneak peek of

  Chapter One

  This is what I get for saying I wanted an adventure.

  “Wanted” sounded much better than “no other alternatives.”

  When whisperings of budget cuts became a reality, the principal of the school Jemma had worked at for three years had called her into his office. He told her that the administration was sorry, but they had to lay her off. Considering her limited options, she’d had to smother her panic, roll with the punches, and take a risk.

  As she sat in the living room of the cottage she’d been renting for all of a day, she experienced a pinch of loneliness. Add her worries about the raging storm outside, and she struggled to maintain the optimism she’d kept a tight grip on since taking the temporary teaching position. In a tiny Colorado town she’d never heard of before finding the job posting, no less.

  The truth was, she did need something new. A bit of a shakeup to get her out of her funk. While she could handle a classroom full of kids like nobody’s business—partially because she understood occasionally losing focus and the importance of making learning fun—she was working on taking control and being less of a hot mess in her personal life. On being bolder and having the courage to meet new people and take more chances.

  Surely seizing the opportunity to live somewhere besides the city where she’d grown up would help with that, even if it was a forced sort of help.

  A crack of thunder vibrated the window panes, and a little shriek escaped. Since she’d nearly spilled her tea, Jemma set her favorite extra-large mug on the coffee table and tightened her fuzzy fleece blanket around herself. It’s an adventure. It’s an adventu
re.

  When people said they wanted an adventure, usually exotic locations or rollercoasters came to mind. Bungee jumping. That kind of thing. Whereas she shuddered at the idea of trusting a rickety man-made machine or flinging herself off a bridge. What if something went wrong? Did people really trust a cord to catch them? Because she certainly didn’t.

  It wasn’t that she was the type of person to need her entire life mapped out or for everything to go according to plan. No, as a third-grade teacher, she’d forever be disappointed if she let curve balls get to her. If there was one thing you couldn’t plan for, it was what would pop out of a kid’s mouth next. But she needed to be more organized and less idealistic, and the next time she was in a relationship, she wouldn’t be the only one aware it was happening.

  How could I have been so clueless? Why didn’t I confirm we were dating instead of hanging out?

  It definitely would’ve saved her a lot of frustration and sorrow. It made her feel delusional to mourn the loss of a boyfriend who’d turned out to only be a friend. Especially since in the beginning, she’d passed up a more-secure position to stay at the school where Simon worked so they could grow that friendship into more.

  Maybe I should just give up on guys altogether and embrace the idea of being single forever.

  The wind outside picked up speed, rattling the shutters on the window, and her heart rate kicked up a few notches. She glanced at the large black-and-white bunny at her side. “You’ll protect me, won’t you, Señor Fluffypants?”

  Her former students had helped her name him, settling on Señor Fluffypants because of the black patch of fur over his nose that looked like a moustache. She’d had him since he could fit in her palm, but he’d grown into a four-pound snuggly floofball.

  At the next grumbling burp of thunder, he jumped off the cushion next to her and rushed under the couch. So much for her knight in fluffy armor.