The Firefighter Who Found Her Bonus
This is a bonus epilogue for readers of The Firefighter Who Found Her. It is best read after you’ve finished the entire novel.
The Firefighter Who Found Her Bonus Epilogue
Chapter 1
Holden
My hands won’t stop shaking.
I’ve checked my tie three times in the mirror, and it’s still crooked. Or maybe it’s straight and I just can’t tell anymore because my brain has apparently stopped functioning.
“Jones.” Martinez appears behind me in the mirror, already perfectly put together in his groomsman suit. “You’re going to strangle yourself if you keep messing with that.”
“It’s not right.”
“It’s fine.” He bats my hands away and loosens the tie, redoing it with efficient movements. “There. Perfect. Now stop touching it.”
I force my hands to my sides, but they immediately start fidgeting with my cufflinks instead.
“You know what’s funny?” Martinez steps back, examining me. “Last week you ran into a burning building without flinching. Didn’t even hesitate. But a wedding has you shaking like a leaf.”
“That’s different.”
“How?”
“Because I know what to do in a fire. Follow protocol, trust my training, get everyone out safely.” I turn away from the mirror before I can find something else wrong with my appearance. “This is—there are so many things that could go wrong. What if I trip walking to the altar? What if I forget my vows? What if—”
“Then you’ll improvise. And Carys will probably find it endearing.” Martinez grins. “She’s marrying you, Jones. Not some perfect robot who never makes mistakes.”
The cabin door bursts open and Johnson, Archer, and the Probie tumble in, all of them already dressed and looking far more put-together than I feel.
“Is he panicking yet?” Johnson asks.
“Getting there,” Martinez confirms.
“I’m not panicking.” But my voice cracks slightly, which doesn’t help my case.
Archer grins and claps me on the shoulder. “You look good, man. Ready to do this?”
“I think so?”
“That’s not very convincing,” the Probie observes.
“Give him a break,” Johnson says. “It’s his wedding day. He’s allowed to be nervous.”
“I just want everything to be perfect for her.” The admission comes out quieter than intended. “She deserves perfect.”
“She deserves you,” Martinez says simply. “Which is what she’s getting. Nervous, tie-adjusting, slightly sweaty you.”
“Thanks for that.”
“Anytime.”
“What if I mess up the vows?” I ask. “I’ve been practicing, but what if I get up there and my mind goes blank?”
“Then you tell her you love her and want to spend the rest of your life with her,” Johnson says. “That’s really all she needs to hear anyway.”
“Besides,” Archer adds, “she’s seen you at your worst. Remember that time you got food poisoning from the station chili and—”
“We don’t need to revisit that,” I cut him off quickly.
The door opens again, and Reynolds appears, already in his dress uniform. There’s something about seeing him in full captain mode that steadies me slightly.
“The rest of you, out,” he says. “Give us a minute.”
Martinez herds the others toward the door, but not before shooting me an encouraging look. “We’ll be right outside. Try not to hyperventilate.”
The door closes, and Reynolds crosses to the small table where someone left a water bottle and what looks like a flask.
“Here.” He hands me the flask. “For courage.”
I take a sip and nearly spit it out. “This is water.”
“Yep.” His mouth twitches with amusement. “You don’t need liquid courage. You just need to take a breath.”
I move to the window, looking out at Mountain Laurel Lodge’s grounds. From here, I can see the ceremony space. Rows of white chairs set up facing the gazebo, the mountain vista stretching out behind it. People are starting to arrive, finding their seats.
“What if I mess something up?” The fear I’ve been carrying all morning finally breaks free. “The vows, the timing, walking without tripping. There are so many ways this could go wrong.”
Reynolds pulls up a chair and sits, his expression thoughtful. “You remember the Dawson fire last year? The one where the roof was about to collapse?”
“Of course.”
“You made the call to get everyone out thirty seconds before it came down. Saved three lives with that decision.” He leans back. “You didn’t hesitate. Didn’t second-guess yourself. You trusted your instincts and did what needed to be done.”
“That’s different. That’s my job. I’m trained for that.”
“And you’ve been preparing for this day for months. You know what you want to say to her. You know why you’re doing this. So trust yourself the same way you did in that fire.” His expression softens. “Besides, even if you do trip or forget a word, Carys isn’t going to care. She’s not marrying you because you’re perfect. She’s marrying you because you’re you.”
I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. “I just want her to have the wedding she deserves.”
“She’s getting exactly what she wants. You, standing at that altar, choosing her in front of everyone who matters.” He stands, straightening his uniform. “Now, are you ready to do this? Because that girl is probably upstairs right now, getting ready to marry you, and I guarantee she’s not worried about whether you’ll stumble over your words.”
“You’re probably right.”
“I’m definitely right.” He moves toward the door. “Come on. It’s time.”
I follow him outside, where Martinez and the others are waiting on the cabin’s porch. They all turn when we emerge.
“There he is,” Martinez grins. “Ready to get married, Jones?”
“Ready.”
We make our way toward the ceremony space, and I’m hyperaware of every detail. The spring sunshine warm on my face. The smell of flowers from the arrangements lining the aisle. The soft murmur of guests taking their seats.
I recognize faces as we pass. Mrs. Patterson from the book club, already dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. Emma from the art studio, waving enthusiastically. More book club ladies, Margot’s friends, people from town who’ve become part of our lives.
And there, seated together near the front, I spot Archer and Ivy. Maddox catches my eye and nods once. That universal firefighter gesture of solidarity and support. Ivy beams at me, clearly delighted.
“Good turnout,” Martinez murmurs as we reach the area where we’re supposed to wait before walking out.
“Half the town is here.”
“Because half the town loves you two.” He adjusts his own tie, looking uncharacteristically serious for a moment. “You know, watching you this past year… It’s been good, man. Made me think maybe the whole settling down thing isn’t as terrifying as I thought.”
I look at him sharply. “Martinez—”
“Don’t get any ideas. I’m not ready for all this.” He gestures vaguely at the ceremony setup. “But someday, maybe. If I can find someone who looks at me the way Carys looks at you.”
Before I can respond, Liam Callahan appears. He’s officiating today, and he’s in a sharp suit that somehow manages to look both formal and relaxed.
“You ready, Holden?”
I nod, not trusting my voice.
“Good. Then let’s get you married.” He claps me on the shoulder. “The music’s about to change, and then we’ll walk out. Your groomsmen will follow, and then…” He smiles. “Then you get to see your bride.”
The processional music starts. Something soft and instrumental that Carys picked out. Liam leads the way, and I follow, Martinez close behind me. Johnson, Archer and the Probie find their seats.
Walking out to face all those people should be nerve-wracking, but all I can focus on is the empty aisle. The path Carys will walk down in just a few minutes.
We take our positions at the gazebo. The view stretches out behind us. Rolling mountains, spring-green trees, the valley below. It’s the same view we’ve hiked to a dozen times, but from here, framed by white flowers and ribbon, it looks like something out of a dream.
I glance at the seats and see my crew scattered throughout. Reynolds in the third row, looking proud. Martinez beside me, steady and sure. The younger guys grinning like this is the best entertainment they’ve had all month.
The music shifts, and everyone stands.
My heart stops.
And then I see her.
Carys appears at the top of the lodge’s grand staircase, visible through the open terrace doors. Margot is beside her, one arm linked through hers, and for a second I can’t breathe.
She’s wearing a simple white dress that somehow manages to be both elegant and completely her. Her hair is down in soft waves, flowers tucked into it. She’s carrying a bouquet of wildflowers inspired by our hikes.
But it’s her face that undoes me. The smile. The tears are already shining in her eyes. The way she’s looking at me makes it feel like I’m the only person in the world.
They descend the staircase slowly, then make their way across the terrace and down the path toward the ceremony space. I’m vaguely aware of people turning to watch, of the collective sigh that goes through the crowd. But I can’t look away from her.
She stumbles slightly as they transition from the stone path to the grass—her heel catching—and my instinct is to step forward, to catch her. But she recovers with a small laugh, meeting my eyes, and the smile she gives me says everything. I’m okay. I’m here. I’m coming to you.
The walk feels like it takes forever and no time at all. And then she’s here, right in front of me, and Margot is placing her hand in mine.
“Take care of her,” Margot whispers, but she’s smiling.
“Always,” I manage.
Margot steps back, taking her seat, and suddenly it’s just us. Me and Carys and Liam and the mountains and the future stretching out before us.
“Hi,” she whispers.
“Hi.” My voice is rough with emotion. “You’re beautiful.”
“You’re not so bad yourself.” But her eyes are shining with tears, happy ones.
“Dearly beloved,” Liam begins, and his voice carries across the ceremony space. “We’re gathered here today to witness the marriage of Holden Jones and Carys Marlowe. Two people who found each other in the most unexpected way and built something beautiful together.”
He talks about love and commitment and partnership, but I’m only half-listening. I’m too busy looking at Carys. At the way the afternoon light catches in her hair and the way a small smile plays on her lips.
“Holden and Carys have chosen to write their own vows,” Liam says. “Holden, whenever you’re ready.”
This is it. The moment I’ve been practicing for weeks. But now, looking at her, all the words I rehearsed vanish. What comes out instead is just the truth.
“Carys.” My voice cracks slightly, and I clear my throat. “A year and a half ago, I found you lost on a trail. You were scared and trying so hard not to be a burden. And I remember thinking that you were the bravest person I’d ever met. Not because you weren’t afraid, but because you kept going anyway.”
She’s crying now, tears slipping down her cheeks, but she’s smiling.
“What I didn’t know then was that finding you would mean finding myself. That your bravery would teach me to be brave too. Brave enough to be seen. Brave enough to be loved. Brave enough to believe I was enough exactly as I am.”
I squeeze her hands, grounding myself.
“You changed everything, Carys. You made Elk Ridge feel like home. You made me want to read books and sit still and talk about my feelings. You made me want to build a life that’s bigger than just me.” I take a shaky breath. “So today, I’m promising you this. I will choose you every single day. I will be your partner in every adventure. I will catch you when you stumble and celebrate you when you soar. I will love you in the quiet moments and the loud ones, in the easy times and the hard ones. I will be brave enough to love you the way you deserve, for the rest of my life.”
Carys is fully crying now, and I’m not far behind. But she’s also laughing, that beautiful combination of joy and tears that I’ve come to know so well.
Liam turns to her. “Carys?”
She takes a shaky breath, her hands trembling in mine.
“Holden, I came to Elk Ridge to hide. To disappear. To be small and safe and invisible.” Her voice wavers but doesn’t break. “And then you found me on that trail, and you saw me. Really saw me. Not the person I was trying to be, but the person I actually was. And you didn’t look away.”
Someone in the audience sniffles. Probably Mrs. Patterson.
“You made me feel brave enough to take up space. To build something that matters. To let people in instead of keeping them at arm’s length.” She smiles through her tears. “You taught me that being seen isn’t scary. It’s beautiful. It’s home.”
My vision blurs.
“So I’m promising you this: I will choose you every single day. I will be your partner in every adventure, your teammate in every challenge. I will support your dreams and celebrate your victories and hold you through the hard times. I will love every version of you. The serious one and the silly one, the confident one and the uncertain one. And I will be brave enough to let you love me, exactly as I am, for the rest of my life.”
There’s a beat of silence, heavy with emotion.
“The rings?” Liam prompts gently.
Martinez steps forward, producing the rings from his pocket with a flourish. He winks at me as he hands them over.
“These rings are a symbol of the promises you’ve made today,” Liam says. “Holden, take Carys’s ring and repeat after me…”
I slip the band onto her finger, my hands steadier now. “With this ring, I thee wed.”
“Carys?”
She takes my ring, her hands shaking slightly as she slides it onto my finger. “With this ring, I thee wed.”
Liam’s smile is warm. “By the power vested in me by the state and by the love that brought us all here today, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” He pauses, grinning. “Holden, you may kiss your bride.”
I don’t need to be told twice.
I cup her face gently, thumbs wiping away her tears, and kiss her. It’s soft and sweet and full of promise. She kisses me back, her hands gripping my lapels, and for a moment the whole world falls away.
When we finally break apart, the applause is deafening.
And then—impossibly loud even over the clapping—a bell starts ringing. The unmistakable sound of a fire bell.
I look past Carys to see my entire crew on their feet, and Martinez is holding up an actual fire bell, ringing it enthusiastically. The rest of the crew is whistling and cheering, and even Reynolds is grinning widely.
Carys is laughing against my chest. “Did they bring a fire bell to our wedding?”
“Apparently.”
“That’s so perfectly them.”
“That’s my family.” But I’m grinning too, because it is perfect. All of it.
Liam raises his voice over the celebration. “Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great honor to present to you, for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Holden Jones!”
More applause, more cheering. The recessional music starts. Something upbeat and joyful that Carys picked.
I take her hand, lacing our fingers together, and we turn to face everyone. Our friends, our family, our community. All here to celebrate with us.
“Ready?” I ask.
“Ready,” she says.
And together, hand in hand, we walk back down the aisle. Not as two people finding their way anymore, but as partners. As husband and wife.
The crew is still making noise as we pass. Whistles and cheers and Martinez still ringing that ridiculous bell. I catch Reynolds’s eye, and he nods once, that small gesture of approval that means everything.
Archer and Ivy are on their feet, clapping. Emma is crying happy tears. The book club ladies are dabbing at their eyes. Margot is beaming like a proud mother.
We make it to the end of the aisle, and suddenly we’re past the crowd, past the ceremony space, in that bubble of privacy between the ceremony and the reception.
Carys stops walking and turns to me, her smile so bright it could rival the sun.
“We’re married,” she says, like she can’t quite believe it.
“We’re married,” I confirm.
She laughs and pulls me down for another kiss, and this one is different from the ceremony kiss. This one is just for us. Celebratory and relieved and full of all the joy we’ve been holding in.
When we break apart, she’s still grinning. “Did Martinez really bring a fire bell?”
“He absolutely did. I’m shocked he didn’t bring the whole truck.”
“The day’s not over yet.”
I pull her close, resting my forehead against hers. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For saying yes. For marrying me. For letting me be part of your life.”
“Holden.” She frames my face with her hands. “Thank you for finding me. For seeing me. For loving me.”
We stand there for a moment, just breathing each other in. The sounds of our guests mingling drift over from the ceremony space, but here, it’s just us.
“Come on,” she says finally, tugging at my hand. “Let’s go celebrate with our people.”
Chapter 2
Carys
The terrace of Mountain Laurel Lodge glows with late afternoon sunlight and strings of lights that will look even more magical once the sun sets. Round tables draped in white linen surround a dance floor, and the mountain vista stretches out beyond it all, the same view that’s become so familiar over the past year and a half.
But today, it all feels new. Because today, I’m looking at it as Holden’s wife.
“Mrs. Jones,” my husband murmurs against my ear as we pause at the entrance to the reception space. “How does that sound?”
“Like something I could get used to.” I squeeze his hand, the one wearing his wedding ring. “Though you’re stuck with me now. No take-backs.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
A photographer from town approaches, camera in hand. “A few photos before you go in? The light is perfect right now.”
We spend the next fifteen minutes posing by the terrace railing with the mountains behind us, in front of the flower arrangements, and with our hands showing off the rings. Some formal, some candid. In one, Holden makes me laugh by doing an exaggerated serious face, and the photographer captures me mid-giggle, my hand on his chest.
“That one’s going on the wall,” I tell him.
“Only if we also frame the one where you were crying during my vows.”
“I was not crying. I had something in my eye.”
“You had tears streaming down your face.”
“Allergies.”
He pulls me closer, grinning. “Whatever you say, wife.”
The word sends a thrill through me every time.
Finally, the photographer releases us, and we make our entrance to the reception. The moment we appear, applause erupts. The firehouse crew is on their feet immediately, whistling and cheering.
We make our way to the table that’s decorated with wildflowers matching my bouquet. From here, we can see everything. The dance floor, the other tables, the bar set up in the corner, the mountains beyond.
Holden pulls out my chair, and I sink into it gratefully. My feet are already starting to hurt from the heels, but I don’t care. Everything is perfect.
Margot appears at our table, her eyes still red-rimmed from happy crying. “That was beautiful, dear. Absolutely beautiful.”
“Thank you.” I stand to hug her. “And thank you for walking me down the aisle. It meant everything.”
“It was my honor.” She dabs at her eyes with a handkerchief. “Now, don’t worry about a thing. Declan and his team have everything under control. You just enjoy yourselves.”
True to her word, servers begin bringing out the first course moments later. The food is incredible. Declan Callahan’s team clearly knows what they’re doing. But I’m too happy to eat much, too busy stealing glances at Holden, at the ring on my finger, at the celebration happening around us.
At the firehouse table, Martinez is telling some story that has the whole crew laughing. Reynolds is shaking his head but smiling. Johnson is elbowing the Probie about something.
At another table, the book club ladies are clustered together. Mrs. Patterson keeps dabbing at her eyes. Even Dorothy looks misty, which is saying something.
Emma is at a table with some other friends from town, and she catches my eye and waves enthusiastically, giving me two thumbs up.
And there, at a table near the front, Maddox Archer and Ivy are deep in conversation, their heads close together. Ivy laughs at something Maddox says, and he looks at her with such open affection that it makes my heart squeeze.
“They look happy,” Holden observes, following my gaze.
“They do. I’m glad they could make it.”
“Maddox said wild horses couldn’t keep him away. Apparently firefighter weddings are mandatory attendance.”
“Is that an actual rule?”
“According to Martinez, yes. He claims it’s in the handbook.”
“There’s a handbook?”
“There’s not a handbook.”
I laugh and lean into him, and he wraps an arm around my shoulders, pressing a kiss to my temple.
Dinner passes in a blur of good food and better company. People keep stopping by our table to congratulate us, to share a memory, to tell us how beautiful the ceremony was. I lose count of how many times I tear up, how many times Holden squeezes my hand under the table.
Finally, as dessert is being cleared away, Liam stands and taps his glass with a fork. The room gradually quiets.
“As the person who had the privilege of officiating this wedding, I feel like I should say a few words,” he begins, his smile warm. “But I’m going to keep it short, because I know the best man has a speech prepared, and I don’t want to steal his thunder.”
Laughter ripples through the room.
“Holden, you’ve been a fixture in Elk Ridge for years. A dedicated firefighter, a reliable friend, a man we all knew we could count on. But this past year, we’ve watched you become something more. We’ve watched you fall in love, and in doing so, become even more yourself.” He raises his glass. “Carys, you brought light to our town and to this man’s life. Welcome to the family. To Holden and Carys!”
“To Holden and Carys!” everyone echoes, glasses clinking.
Then Martinez stands, and the firehouse table erupts in cheers and whistles before he’s even said a word.
“Alright, settle down.” But he’s grinning. “So, I’m the best man, which means I’m legally required to embarrass the groom. It’s in the handbook.”
“There’s no handbook!” Holden calls out.
“There’s totally a handbook.” Martinez pulls a folded paper from his pocket with a flourish. “Now, I’ve known Holden for five years. In that time, I’ve seen him run into burning buildings, talk people down from ledges, and rescue cats from trees. The man is brave. Fearless, even.”
He pauses for effect.
“And then Carys walked into his life, and suddenly this fearless firefighter was a nervous wreck. I’m talking sweaty palms, stammering, the works. It was adorable and also hilarious.”
The room laughs, and I feel Holden’s hand tighten around mine.
“I’ll never forget the first time he told us about her. He’d found her lost on a trail—which is very on-brand for a firefighter, by the way, always rescuing people—and he came back to the station acting weird. Cleaning things that didn’t need cleaning. Making way too much food. Generally being suspicious.”
Martinez grins at me. “Turns out, he’d met someone who completely rocked his world. Someone who saw past the uniform and the hero complex to the guy underneath. Someone who made him want to read books—” this gets a big laugh “—and go to book clubs and talk about his feelings.”
His expression softens. “But here’s the thing about Carys. She didn’t just change Holden. She helped him see himself the way the rest of us have always seen him. As someone worthy of being loved exactly as he is. And watching that happen, watching him open up and let himself be happy, has been one of the best things about these past eighteen months.”
My vision blurs with tears.
“So here’s what I want to say to both of you. Holden, you found someone who’s brave enough to match you. Who isn’t intimidated by your intensity or your need to fix everything. Who loves you not in spite of who you are, but because of it.” He turns to me. “And Carys, you found someone who will always show up for you. Who will catch you when you stumble and celebrate you when you soar. Who loves you with the same intensity he brings to everything else in his life.”
He raises his glass. “To Holden and Carys. May your love be as strong as Holden’s coffee, as sweet as Carys’s book recommendations, and as enduring as the mountains behind us. And may you always find your way back to each other, just like that first day on the trail.”
The room erupts in applause and “hear, hear!” I’m crying openly now, and Holden hands me a napkin with a knowing smile.
Martinez sits down, and for a moment I think the toasts are over. But then Margot stands, and the room quiets again.
“I promise to be brief,” she says, her voice carrying despite her small stature. “But I couldn’t let this moment pass without saying something.”
She looks at me, her eyes shining. “Carys, the day you walked into Second Chapter Books, I knew you were special. You had this quiet determination, this love of books that reminded me of myself forty years ago. But more than that, you had this hope. This belief that maybe, just maybe, you could build something meaningful here.”
I’m reaching for another napkin.
“And you did. You built friendships. You built a community through that book club of yours.” She smiles. “But most importantly, you built a life. A real, rooted, beautiful life. And watching you do that has been one of the greatest joys of my later years.”
She turns to Holden. “And you. You saw what she needed before she even knew she needed it. You gave her space to breathe and courage to grow. You loved her patiently and fiercely and exactly right.”
Margot raises her glass. “To Carys and Holden. May your story have as many beautiful chapters as the books we love. And may you write each one together.”
More applause, more tears. I’m going to ruin my makeup at this rate, but I don’t care.
Holden leans over and kisses my temple. “You okay?”
“I’m perfect.” And I mean it.
The speeches wind down, and the DJ announces it’s time for the first dance. Holden stands and offers me his hand, and together we walk to the center of the dance floor.
The opening notes of our song start. A soft, acoustic melody we both loved from the first time we heard it. Holden pulls me close, one hand at my waist, the other holding mine, and we start to move.
“Remember when we practiced this?” I ask softly.
“You mean when I stepped on your feet five times in the bookstore after closing?”
“Four times. And you’ve gotten much better since then.”
“I had good motivation.” He spins me gently, and I laugh. “Had to make sure I didn’t embarrass myself in front of the whole town.”
“You could never embarrass me.”
“I don’t know. Martinez has more stories he’s been threatening to tell.”
“I want to hear all of them.”
We move together easily now, the steps we practiced becoming natural. Around us, I’m aware of people watching, of cameras clicking, but all I can focus on is Holden. The way he’s looking at me. The solid warmth of his hand on my waist. The feeling of rightness that settles over me like a blanket.
“I love you,” he says quietly, just for me.
“I love you too.” I rest my head against his chest, hearing his heartbeat beneath the fabric of his suit.
The song ends too soon, and applause breaks out. The DJ opens the floor to everyone, and suddenly the terrace is full of people dancing. The firehouse crew takes over one section, their moves ranging from surprisingly good to hilariously terrible. The Probie seems to think he’s a professional, which is entertaining to watch.
Holden spins me out and back, and I’m laughing as we continue dancing. A few songs in, Margot taps my shoulder.
“May I steal you for a moment?” she asks.
I glance at Holden, who nods with a smile, and follow Margot to the edge of the terrace where it’s quieter.
“I just wanted a moment with you,” she says, taking my hands. “Before the evening gets away from us entirely.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Everything is perfect.” Her eyes shine with tears. “I wanted to tell you how proud I am. Of the woman you’ve become. Of the life you’ve built and the courage it took to choose yourself and this town and that wonderful man.”
“Margot—” My voice breaks.
“You’ve become like a daughter to me, Carys. And watching you marry someone who loves you the way you deserve? It’s been one of the greatest joys of my life.”
I pull her into a hug, holding tight. “Thank you. For everything. For believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself.”
“Oh, dear child.” She pats my back. “You always had it in you. You just needed the space to see it.”
When we pull apart, we’re both crying happy tears and laughing at ourselves.
“Now go dance with your husband,” she says, shooing me back toward the floor. “You’ve earned every moment of this joy.”
I return to find Holden waiting, and he pulls me back into his arms without a word.
“Everything okay?” he asks.
“Perfect.” I rest my head against his chest. “Absolutely perfect.”
Holden and I dance a few more songs before we need a break, and we slip away to the edge of the terrace where it’s quieter.
“This is incredible,” I say, looking out over everything. “Better than I imagined.”
“It really is.” He wraps his arms around me from behind, and we stand there watching our friends and family celebrate. “Though I keep expecting something to go wrong.”
“Nothing’s going to go wrong.”
“I know.” He laughs softly. “It’s almost too perfect.”
“Well, get used to it. This is our life now.”
We watch Martinez attempt to teach Reynolds some kind of complicated dance move that definitely isn’t working. Johnson and Probie have started a friendly competition to see who can get the most ridiculous photo with guests. The book club ladies are dancing in a circle, and Mrs. Patterson is surprisingly spry.
And then I spot them. Maddox and Ivy on the dance floor, moving together with the ease of a couple who’s been doing this for a while. Ivy says something that makes Maddox laugh, really laugh, and the sight makes me smile.
“Come on,” I tug Holden back toward the party. “Let’s go dance with them.”
We make our way onto the floor, and Ivy spots us immediately. “There you are! We were just talking about you.”
“All good things, I hope,” Holden says.
“Mostly,” Maddox grins. “I was telling Ivy about the time you tried to cook dinner for the whole station and set off the smoke alarm.”
“That was one time. And in my defense, the oven was broken.”
“Sure it was.”
The four of us dance together for a while, the conversation flowing easily. Ivy tells me about the event planning she’s been doing at the lodge, and I promise to have her help with the bookstore’s anniversary party next month. Maddox and Holden trade stories about station life, the kind of easy camaraderie that comes from shared experience.
“You two look happy,” Ivy observes, squeezing my hand.
“We are. Really happy.”
“It suits you. Both of you.” She glances at Maddox. “There’s something about firefighters and the women who love them, isn’t there?”
“They’re brave,” I say. “But also human. It’s a good combination.”
The song changes to something faster, and Maddox spins Ivy out and back with practiced ease. They’re clearly comfortable with each other, clearly in love, and I’m glad they found what Holden and I have.
Eventually, we excuse ourselves to mingle with other guests. I hug Emma, who’s bubbling over with happiness. I thank the book club ladies, even Dorothy, who pulls me aside to apologize.
“I may have said some unkind things early on,” she admits, looking uncomfortable. “About Holden being too… enthusiastic for someone like you. I was wrong.”
“You were,” I agree, but I’m smiling. “But thank you for saying so.”
“He’s clearly devoted to you. And you bring out something wonderful in him.” She pats my hand. “I’m happy for you both.”
The evening continues in a blur of dancing and laughter and joy. At one point, the entire firehouse crew drags Holden onto the floor for some kind of choreographed routine they apparently practiced in secret. It’s ridiculous and wonderful, and I’m laughing so hard my sides hurt.
Martinez catches my eye during the performance and winks, and I make a mental note to thank him later for being such a good friend to Holden.
As the sun sets, the string lights take over, casting everything in a warm glow. The temperature drops slightly, and Holden drapes his jacket over my shoulders without me having to ask.
“Cold?” he murmurs.
“A little. But perfect.”
We’re swaying to a slow song when I see Reynolds standing at the edge of the dance floor, watching everyone with that fatherly expression he gets. For a moment, his gaze lands on someone. I follow his line of sight to see one of the servers, a woman I don’t recognize, and something passes over his face. Interest, maybe. Or recognition.
But then the moment passes, and he’s back to watching the party with his usual calm demeanor.
“Did you see that?” I ask Holden.
“See what?”
“Reynolds. He was looking at someone.”
Holden glances over. “Probably making sure everything’s running smoothly. You know how he is.”
Maybe. But I file the observation away anyway.
The night continues, and eventually the DJ announces the last dance. Holden and I take to the floor one more time, and this time everyone joins us. The firehouse crew, the book club ladies, Margot, Emma, Maddox and Ivy, all the people who matter.
We’re all dancing together, and I feel overwhelmed by the love in this space. By the community we’ve built. By the life I get to live now.
When the song ends, the DJ announces that it’s time for our departure. Holden and I make our way toward the front of the lodge, and I realize everyone is following us out.
“What’s happening?” I ask.
“You’ll see.” Holden’s grinning.
Outside, guests line the walkway holding sparklers—not flower petals or rice, because “fire safety,” as Martinez loudly announces. The sparklers create a tunnel of light, beautiful and magical.
“Ready?” Holden asks.
“Ready.”
We run through the sparklers, everyone cheering, and I’m laughing the whole way. At the end, Holden’s truck is waiting, decorated with “Just Married” signs and tin cans tied to the bumper.
“Did your crew do this?” I ask.
“Absolutely they did.”
He opens my door, and I climb in, my dress pooling around me. He walks around to the driver’s side and gets in, and suddenly we’re cocooned in the cab of his truck, the sounds of celebration muffled outside.
“We’re married,” I say, the same words from after the ceremony but still just as wonder-filled.
“We’re married,” he confirms, leaning over to kiss me.
Through the windshield, I can see everyone waving. The firehouse crew is being particularly enthusiastic. Margot is dabbing at her eyes again. Emma is taking pictures.
Holden starts the engine, and we pull away slowly, the tin cans clanging behind us. I turn in my seat to wave one more time, watching the lodge grow smaller as we drive down the mountain road.
“Where are we going?” I ask, even though I know.
“I rented a cabin. The one by Shadow Lake.”
“The one with the hiking trails right outside?”
“That’s the one.” He reaches for my hand. “Figured we should start our honeymoon the way we started everything else. On a trail.”
“Perfect.” I lace my fingers through his. “Though I promise not to get lost this time.”
“I don’t know. Finding you lost on a trail worked out pretty well for me.”
I laugh and settle back against the seat, watching the mountains pass by in the darkness. The same mountains I saw when I first came to Elk Ridge, scared and uncertain and hoping for a fresh start.
I got so much more than that.
I got a home. A business. A community. Friends who became family.
And I got Holden. The man who found me when I was lost and stayed even after I found myself.
“What are you thinking about?” he asks softly.
“How different my life is now. How different I am.”
“Better different?”
“The best different.” I squeeze his hand. “I came here to hide. To disappear. To be small and safe.”
“And now?”
“Now I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. With exactly who I’m supposed to be with.” I bring his hand to my lips and kiss his knuckles. “Thank you for seeing me, Holden. For all of it.”
“Thank you for letting me.” He glances at me, his eyes soft in the dashboard light. “For choosing me. For building this life with me.”
“Always.”
We drive in comfortable silence, the kind we’ve perfected over months of hiking and quiet mornings and late-night conversations. The road winds through the mountains, and I’m struck again by how much I love this place. How it’s become home in every sense of the word.
“You know what I realized today?” Holden says as we turn onto the forest road that leads to the cabin.
“What?”
“That I’m not scared anymore.”
“Of what?”
“Of anything.” He pulls into the cabin’s driveway and parks, turning to face me. “Of not being enough. Of disappointing you. Of building a life together. I used to carry all that fear around, and now…” He touches my face gently. “Now I’m just happy. Completely, perfectly, impossibly happy.”
Tears prick my eyes again. “Me too. I spent so long being afraid of being seen, of taking up space, of wanting too much. And now I just get to be. With you.”
“With me,” he agrees. “For the rest of our lives.”
He gets out and comes around to open my door, and I let him help me down, laughing as my dress catches on everything.
“Should I carry you over the threshold?” he asks.
“In this dress? You’ll throw out your back.”
“I’m a firefighter. I carry people for a living.”
“Fine. But if you drop me, the marriage is annulled.”
“Noted.”
He scoops me up easily, and I wrap my arms around his neck as he carries me up the cabin steps. At the door, he pauses.
“I love you, Carys Jones.”
“I love you too, Holden Jones.”
He kisses me there on the threshold, and when we finally break apart, he carries me inside our honeymoon cabin.
Into the next chapter of our story.
Into the rest of our lives.
Together.
*** The End ***
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading The Firefighter Who Found Her and this bonus epilogue. Ready for more? I recommend you check out The Callahans of Elk Ridge. The series is all about the family who owns and runs Mountain Laurel Lodge, the place of Carys and Holden’s wedding.
And if you’re ready to read your way through the alphabet or enjoy short and sweet romances in the neighboring town of Juniper Falls, check out this 26-book series:
Happy Reading!