The Sweet Spot

Epilogue 2

The days after Oliver's proposal passed in a blur of excitement and celebration. Word spread quickly through Willow Creek, and before we knew it, our little bakery had become the center of attention in town. Friends, customers, and even people I barely knew stopped by to congratulate us, to marvel at the ring on my finger, and to offer their well wishes. It was overwhelming, but in the best possible way.

Sweet Dreams Bakery, once just a small dream of mine, had become more than I ever thought it could be. It wasn't just a place to bake delicious treats; it was a symbol of everything I had built—both for myself and for Elliot. And now, with Oliver by my side, it felt like a new chapter was beginning, one filled with possibilities I had never imagined.

One afternoon, a few weeks after the proposal, I found myself standing in the center of the bakery, surveying the hustle and bustle around me. The new staff had settled in nicely, the renovations were complete, and the bakery was thriving. But even with all the success, I knew there was still more to come. The future felt wide open, and I couldn't wait to dive in.

Elliot burst into the bakery with his usual boundless energy, waving a piece of paper in the air. "Mommy! Look! I drew something for you and Mr. Steele!"

I smiled, crouching down as he handed me the paper. It was a crayon drawing of the three of us standing in front of Sweet Dreams, holding hands. In the background, the sun was shining, and there were giant cinnamon rolls and cupcakes lining the street, almost as if they were part of the landscape.

"This is amazing, sweetie," I said, my heart swelling with pride. "I love it."

Elliot grinned, clearly pleased with himself. "I wanted to make a picture of our family."

The word family hit me with a rush of emotion. It had been just Elliot and me for so long, and now, with Oliver in our lives, everything felt complete. We had become a family, one that I hadn't even known I was missing until now.

"Speaking of family," Oliver said as he walked in from the back, wiping his hands on a towel. He leaned down to look at Elliot's drawing, his smile warm and genuine. "This is incredible, buddy. You've got some serious talent."

Elliot beamed, practically glowing from the praise. "Thanks, Mr. Steele! Maybe I'll make it into a real painting one day!"

Oliver glanced at me, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Looks like we might have a future artist on our hands. Or maybe an architect, with all those giant cupcakes."

I laughed, glancing at the drawing again. "He's definitely got an imagination."

Oliver placed a hand on my shoulder, and I felt the familiar warmth of his touch. "You've got a wedding to plan, too," he said softly, his voice filled with a mix of excitement and tenderness.

My heart skipped a beat. The proposal had been perfect, but we hadn't even started talking about the wedding. With everything going on at the bakery, I had barely had time to think about it. But now, with Oliver standing next to me, it all felt real. We were getting married. I was going to spend the rest of my life with this man, and the thought filled me with both joy and a hint of nervous excitement.

"I guess we do," I said, looking up at him. "Where do we even start?"

Oliver smiled, leaning in to kiss the top of my head. "We've got time. There's no rush."

But even as he said that, I could see the excitement in his eyes. I knew he was just as eager as I was to start this next chapter of our lives.

That evening, after the bakery had closed and Elliot was upstairs playing, Oliver and I sat together at the small table in the kitchen, a pot of tea between us. The day had been long, but in the quiet of the night, it was nice to sit together, to talk about the future without the usual distractions of work and life.

"So," Oliver said, pouring us both cups of tea. "What kind of wedding are you thinking about? Big and fancy? Or something small and intimate?"

I smiled, wrapping my hands around the warm cup. "I've never really thought about it, to be honest. I always imagined something small. Just close family and friends. Something simple, but meaningful."

Oliver nodded, his eyes thoughtful. "That sounds perfect."

"What about you?" I asked, curious. "Did you ever think about what your wedding would look like?"

He leaned back in his chair, his expression serious for a moment. "I didn't really think I'd get married," he admitted. "Not after everything that happened in New York. I wasn't exactly in a place where I thought I deserved happiness."

I reached out, taking his hand in mine. "You deserve all the happiness in the world, Oliver. Don't ever doubt that."

His eyes softened, and he gave my hand a gentle squeeze. "I know that now. Thanks to you."

I felt a warmth spread through me, the kind of warmth that came from knowing I had found someone who understood me, someone who saw me for who I was and loved me anyway. And I knew, without a doubt, that I had found my forever in Oliver Steele.

"Where do you think we should get married?" I asked, changing the subject to something lighter.

Oliver grinned, his mischievous side returning. "How about right here in the bakery?"

I laughed, shaking my head. "Can you imagine? We'd be surrounded by trays of cupcakes and cinnamon rolls."

"Sounds perfect to me," Oliver teased, his grin widening. "Maybe we could make the wedding cake ourselves. A little competition, just like the food fair."

I rolled my eyes, though the idea did make me smile. "I don't think I want to be stressed about baking on my wedding day."

Oliver raised an eyebrow. "Who said anything about stress? We'd have fun with it. Besides, we both know you'd win."

I laughed, leaning in to kiss him softly. "You're impossible."

"And you love me for it," he said, his voice low and warm.

I did. I loved him more than I ever thought possible.

The following weeks flew by in a whirlwind of wedding plans and bakery business. We decided to keep the wedding small, just as I had always imagined. Close friends, family, and a simple ceremony at a beautiful spot by Willow Creek. It wasn't grand or extravagant, but it was perfect for us. A reflection of the life we had built together, one filled with love, laughter, and the people who meant the most to us.

Sweet Dreams continued to thrive, and as the wedding date approached, I couldn't help but feel like everything was finally falling into place. The bakery had become a true community space, a place where people came not just for the pastries but for the warmth and love that filled the air. It was more than a business—it was a home.

One afternoon, about a month before the wedding, I found myself standing in the bakery, watching Oliver teach a new class of kids how to make pastries. His patience and care with each child amazed me, and I knew that he had found something here that he hadn't known he was looking for.

Elliot was, of course, at the center of it all, grinning up at Oliver as he helped with the dough. Watching them together filled me with a sense of peace I had never known before. This was my family. This was my life.

And it was perfect.

As I stood there, soaking in the moment, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turning, I saw one of the regular customers, an older woman named Mrs. Prescott, smiling warmly at me.

"Charlotte," she said, her voice kind. "I just wanted to say how happy I am for you. You and Oliver—you two are something special."

I smiled, feeling a rush of gratitude. "Thank you, Mrs. Prescott. That means a lot."

She nodded, her eyes twinkling. "I've been coming to this bakery since the day you opened. And I've seen how much love you put into everything you do here. It's no wonder you've found love in return."

Her words touched me deeply, and I found myself blinking back tears. "Thank you."

As Mrs. Prescott left, I turned back to the kitchen, watching as Oliver and Elliot worked side by side, laughter filling the air. This was what I had always dreamed of. A life filled with love, laughter, and family.