Beanful Wishes Bonus Epilogue
This is a bonus Epilogue for readers of Beanful Wishes. It is best read after you’ve finished the entire novel.
Wilmington, NC. Eight Years Later…
Sophia
The early morning sun streams through the windows of The Coffee Loft, casting a warm glow over the polished countertops and well-worn wooden floors. I pause at the entrance, my hand resting on the door handle, taking a moment to absorb the familiar sights and sounds. Even after all these years, the gentle chime of the bell above the door still brings a smile to my face. It’s a sound that has marked countless beginnings – of days, of conversations, of dreams shared and realized.
“Mommy, hurry!” Mia tugs at my hand, her dark curls bouncing with excitement. At six years old, our daughter is a perfect blend of Jake and me – my curious nature and Jake’s warm heart shining through in equal measure.
“Alright, sweetheart,” I laugh, allowing myself to be pulled into the café. Behind us, Jake follows, our two-year-old son Alex perched on his hip.
“Cake! Cake!” Alex chants, pointing eagerly at the display case filled with an array of colorful pastries.
Jake chuckles, adjusting his hold on the squirming toddler. “Maybe later, buddy. Let’s get settled first, okay?”
As we make our way through the busy café, I marvel at how much The Coffee Loft has grown. What was once a cozy coffee shop has expanded to include a small but vibrant children’s reading nook, its walls adorned with whimsical murals of storybook characters. Comfortable bean bags and child-sized bookshelves create an inviting space that’s always bustling with activity.
“Good morning, Harrisons!” Kathryn calls from behind the counter, her smile as warm and welcoming as ever. “The usual?”
Jake nods, setting Alex down and ruffling his hair. “You know us too well, Kathryn. Thanks!”
As Jake moves to help Kathryn with the morning rush, I guide the children towards the reading nook. “Come on, Mia. Let’s get set up for storytime.”
Mia’s face lights up. “Can I pick the books today, Mom? Please?”
“Of course you can,” I smile, watching as our daughter carefully selects a stack of picture books from the shelves. Mia’s love for reading had blossomed early, nurtured by countless bedtime stories and afternoons spent in this very nook.
As I arrange cushions in a circle, my eyes are drawn to the Wishing Wall. It’s grown over the years, now occupying an entire section of the café. Colorful notes cover its surface, each one a testament to the dreams and hopes of our community.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Jake’s voice breaks through my reverie. He hands me a steaming mug of my favorite spiced vanilla latte, the rich aroma instantly comforting.
I take a sip, savoring the familiar taste. “Just thinking about how far we’ve come. Did you ever imagine, back when you first put up that Wishing Wall, that we’d end up here?”
Jake’s eyes crinkle at the corners as he smiles, that same boyish charm that had first captured my heart still very much present. “Honestly? No. But I’m grateful every day that we did.”
We share a quiet moment, watching as Mia helps a younger child select a book, her patience and kindness a mirror image of her father’s. Alex, not to be left out, toddles over to join them, plopping down on a cushion with a board book clutched in his chubby hands.
“You know,” Jake says softly, “seeing them here, in this place that’s meant so much to us… it feels like everything has come full circle, doesn’t it?”
I nod, leaning into him. “It really does. From that first day I walked in here for a story, to now – watching our own children create their stories in this same space. It’s pretty magical.”
As the morning progresses, The Coffee Loft fills with its usual weekend crowd. Regulars mingle with newcomers, the buzz of conversation punctuated by the hiss of the espresso machine and the occasional peal of children’s laughter from the reading nook.
I find myself at the center of a small group of children, reading aloud from “The Giving Tree.” As I turn the pages, I draw parallels between the story and our own journey. The Coffee Loft, like the tree in the book, has given so much to our community, growing and changing to meet the needs of those it serves.
From my vantage point, I see Jake behind the counter, expertly crafting lattes and engaging in friendly banter with customers. He catches my eye and winks, causing a flutter in my chest that, even after all these years, hasn’t diminished.
As the story concludes, I help the children choose their next books, answering questions and offering suggestions. Mia, ever the helper, assists a younger girl in sounding out words, her face a picture of concentration.
“Mrs. Harrison?” A tentative voice draws my attention. I turn to see Emma, a shy teenager who’s become a regular at our youth writing workshops.
“Emma! How are you? How’s that short story coming along?”
The girl’s face lights up. “I finished it! And… I was wondering if maybe you could read it? When you have time, of course.”
I smile warmly. “I’d be honored, Emma. Why don’t you bring it by next week during our workshop? We can go over it together.”
As Emma nods enthusiastically and hurries off to share the news with her waiting friends, I feel a familiar sense of fulfillment wash over me. This – nurturing dreams, fostering creativity, building connections – this is what The Coffee Loft has become. So much more than just a café, it’s a haven for dreamers and doers alike.
The morning flies by in a whirl of storytime sessions, coffee orders, and friendly chats. Before I know it, it’s nearly noon, and The Coffee Loft is abuzz with a different kind of energy.
“Alright, everyone!” Jake’s voice carries over the crowd. “It’s time for a very special celebration. Could I have your attention, please?”
As the chatter dies down, Jake makes his way to the center of the café, Mia’s hand clasped in his. I join them, scooping up Alex who’s been eyeing the cake display with increasing interest.
“Today,” Jake continues, his voice warm with pride, “we’re not just celebrating another bustling day at The Coffee Loft. We’re celebrating a very important birthday.” He looks down at Mia, who’s practically vibrating with excitement. “Our wonderful daughter, Mia, is turning six years old!”
A chorus of “Happy Birthday” rings out, led enthusiastically by Kathryn. Mia’s face glows with happiness as Jake lifts her onto a chair, allowing her to see over the crowd.
“Mia,” Jake says, his voice softening, “your mom and I want you to know how proud we are of you. You’re kind, smart, and always ready to help others. You embody everything we’ve tried to build here at The Coffee Loft and with the Wishing Wall Foundation.”
I feel tears prick at my eyes as I watch our daughter beam under her father’s praise. I think back to all the milestones that have led to this moment – our wedding day, filled with laughter and promises of a future built on love and shared dreams; the day we found out we were expecting Mia, our joy tinged with nervous excitement; Alex’s arrival, completing our family in ways we hadn’t even known were missing.
As Jake continues his speech, thanking the community for their ongoing support and love, my mind wanders to the journey that brought us here. I remember the day I left for New York, chasing a dream that I thought would fulfill me. How different my life would have been if I hadn’t realized that my true dream – of love, family, and community – was right here in Wilmington.
“And of course,” Jake’s voice brings me back to the present, “none of this would be possible without my amazing wife, Sophia.”
All eyes turn to me, and I feel a blush creep up my cheeks. Jake reaches out, taking my free hand in his.
“Sophia, your vision and your love have guided us every step of the way. From that first day you walked into The Coffee Loft, asking about a story, to now – where we’re writing our own story together – you’ve been the heart of everything we do. Thank you for choosing this life, for believing in our dreams, and for being the most incredible partner, mother, and friend I could ever ask for.”
Overwhelmed with emotion, I can only nod, squeezing Jake’s hand tightly. I look around at the faces surrounding us – friends, family, community members who have become an integral part of our lives. This, I realize, is the true magic of the Wishing Wall. It’s not just about granting individual wishes, but about weaving together the hopes and dreams of an entire community into a tapestry of support, love, and shared purpose.
As Kathryn brings out a beautiful birthday cake, its candles flickering merrily, I help Mia blow them out. The café erupts in cheers and applause, the joy in the room palpable.
Later, as the celebration winds down and the last of the cake is being shared, I find a quiet moment with Jake near the Wishing Wall. Alex has fallen asleep in my arms, his little face peaceful, while Mia chatters excitedly with her friends nearby.
“Do you ever wonder,” I ask softly, “what our lives would be like if we hadn’t started the Wishing Wall?”
Jake considers this for a moment, his arm wrapping around my shoulders. “Honestly? I can’t even imagine it. The Wishing Wall… it’s been like a roadmap for our lives. Every wish granted, every story shared – they’ve all led us here.”
I nod, leaning into him. “I was thinking about that wish I made, way back when we first started dating. Do you remember? I wished for clarity, for understanding what I truly wanted in life.”
“I remember,” Jake smiles. “You pinned it right there.” He points to a spot on the wall, now covered with layers of newer wishes.
“Looking back,” I continue, “I realize that wish came true in ways I never could have imagined. It led me back here, to you, to our family, to this amazing community we’ve built together.”
Jake presses a kiss to my temple. “I’d say that’s a pretty powerful wish.”
We stand in comfortable silence for a moment, watching as Mia shows her friends how to pin wishes to the wall. The sight fills me with a profound sense of continuity – the legacy we’ve built, being carried forward by the next generation.
“You know,” Jake says thoughtfully, “I think it’s time we put a new wish on the wall.”
I look up at him, curious. “Oh? What did you have in mind?”
Jake grins, that mischievous twinkle in his eye that I love so much. “How about… a wish for our next big adventure?”
I laugh, the sound full of joy and anticipation. “I like the sound of that. Any ideas what that adventure might be?”
Jake shrugs, his smile widening. “Who knows? Maybe we’ll expand the foundation to other cities. Or write a book about the Wishing Wall stories. Or maybe…” he pauses, his voice softening, “maybe we’ll just keep doing what we’re doing – raising our kids, serving our community, and loving each other. That sounds like a pretty great adventure to me.”
I feel my heart swell with love and gratitude. “It sounds perfect,” I whisper, standing on my tiptoes to kiss him softly.
As we break apart, Mia runs up to us, her eyes shining with excitement. “Mom, Dad! Can I put up a new wish? Please?”
Jake chuckles, lifting her up so she can reach the upper part of the wall. “Of course, sweetheart. What are you wishing for?”
Mia scrunches up her face in concentration as she carefully pins her note to the wall. “I wish… I wish for more stories. Not just in books, but real stories. Stories about people and their wishes coming true.”
I feel tears prick at my eyes once more. “Oh, Mia,” I say softly, “that’s a beautiful wish.”
As we stand there, a family united in front of the wall that has shaped our lives in so many ways, I’m struck by a profound sense of rightness. This is where we belong – in this coffee shop that has become so much more than just a business, surrounded by a community that has become family, continuing to build a legacy of love, hope, and wishes granted.
The Coffee Loft buzzes with life around us – the hiss of the espresso machine, the chatter of friends catching up, the rustle of pages turning in the reading nook. It’s the sound of dreams being shared, of connections being forged, of a community coming together.
And at the heart of it all stands the Wishing Wall, a testament to the power of dreams and the magic that happens when people come together to make those dreams come true. As I look at the colorful notes covering its surface, each one representing a hope, a dream, a wish waiting to be granted, I know that our story – my story with Jake, our children’s stories, and the stories of everyone whose lives have been touched by the Wishing Wall – is far from over.
In fact, I think with a smile, as I watch Jake help another child pin a wish to the wall, our greatest adventure may be just beginning. And whatever that adventure may be, I know that we’ll face it together – with love, with courage, and with the unwavering belief that sometimes, the most beautiful wishes are the ones we didn’t even know we were making.
As The Coffee Loft continues to buzz with life around us, I take a moment to close my eyes and make a silent wish of my own – a wish for many more years of love, laughter, and dreams coming true, not just for our family, but for the entire community that has become such an integral part of our lives.
And as I open my eyes, meeting Jake’s loving gaze, I know without a doubt that this wish, like so many others pinned to the wall behind us, is already coming true.
*** The End ***
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading Beanful Wishes and this little bonus Epilogue. Ready for more? Check out my other Sweet Southern Romantic Comedies.
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