The day she hiked with Serena had awakened a new passion within her. There was something meditative about walking in the woods, something magical about the moment she emerged from the treeline to the alpine meadows filled with wildflowers.

  “One step in front of the other,” she said to herself as she made her way along the pathway. She was disappointed that Jenni wasn’t interested in joining her on the hike, but at the same time was enjoying the solitude. She paused at the bench at the fork in the trail and traced her fingertips over all the initials that had been carved in it over the years. She took her water bottle from her backpack, sipping at the cold water while she watched the meadow come alive as the sun rose higher in the sky. She shoved the water bottle back into her bag beside the canister of bear spray that she bought after the night Charlie walked her home. She checked her phone, there was no service on the trail, but she brought it for photos and more importantly, a clock. She shoved the phone in the pocket on her yoga pants, disappointed that she didn’t have time to continue up the trail, it was time to turn around and get back to town.

  As she started her descent, she heard a rustle in the trees and the hair went up on the back of her neck. “Hello?” she felt ridiculous, shouting into the bushes. She paused and listened, and when she didn’t hear the rustling continue, she walked away slowly, on high alert for any strange sounds. She gasped as a squirrel chattered. She held her hand to her chest, trying to calm herself down. “It was just a squirrel, Emma.” Her words were calm, but her voice was shaking. She shook her hands and then picked up the pace. Maybe she wasn’t ready for solo hiking just yet, but for the next few minutes, the only sound she heard was her boots crunching on the dirt path beneath her.

  Then she heard it again. The rustle.

  She froze. She wasn’t a naturalist or an experienced outdoors person, but she knew that whatever was crashing through the woods was bigger than a squirrel. A lot bigger. “Oh no. Oh no. Oh no,” she repeated as she stepped backward, her eyes trained on the woods. She wanted to look away, to pretend she hadn’t heard the cracking of small trees as something big stepped on them, but she was transfixed.

  “Emma.”

  A voice snapped her out of her frozen state, and she wondered if fear made people hear things, or hallucinate as they did in the desert. She didn’t know whether to turn and look or keep her eyes trained on whatever was hiding in the woods, clearly stalking her.

  “Emma.”

  It was louder this time. Real. She turned and saw a figure approaching.

  “Charlie,” she screamed. There was no mistaking his silhouette, even though he was hundreds of feet down the trail.

  “I have to talk to you,” he shouted.

  The rustling resumed and Emma’s terror returned. “Charlie. There’s something in the woods.” She pointed.

  He was already jogging, but after she shouted, he picked up his pace. “Don’t run.” He waved his hands wildly as he approached.

  “I won’t,” she whispered. Unsure if Charlie could hear her, worried that whatever was in the woods was listening.

  “Walk backward, slowly. Get out your bear spray,” Charlie yelled. Emma started taking steps backward, the gap between her and Charlie slowly closing until he was right behind her. He grabbed her shoulders. “You’re okay,” he whispered.

  Emma whimpered. “Charlie, I’m scared.”

  “Where’s your bear spray?” he asked.

  “In my pack.” She held still while Charlie unzipped the backpack and pulled out the canister. He stepped in front of her and held the bear spray in his right hand while maneuvering her out of the wind with his left. They both stiffened when the crashing and cracking resumed, getting louder.

  “He’s coming closer,” she whispered.

  “They’re more scared of us.”

  “Then why is he coming closer?” Emma could feel the tears rolling uncontrollably down her cheeks. She was shaking all over, her body tensed and ready for flight or fight – or freeze – which is what she was currently doing.

  “Walk away, slowly,” Charlie whispered. He took a step back, still staring into the woods. Emma stayed behind him, mirroring his slow and purposeful steps.

  The leaves on the trees at the edge of the clearing starting to shake and Emma screamed as a flash of brown and gray leaped from the trees. She squeezed her eyes shut and grabbed onto Charlie’s shoulders, waiting for teeth to sink into her neck, or a paw of claws to swipe at her. She felt Charlie shaking, but opened her eyes when she realized that he was laughing. She stood on her toes and peered over his shoulder. Sitting on the path in front of Charlie was a dog. She would’ve thought it was a wolf, but the bright blue collar gave him away.

  “It’s a frickin’ dog.” She felt all the fear drain from her body, along with it all of her energy. “I need to sit down.”

  “Here.” Charlie rested his hand on her lower back and guided her to the bench.

  The dog followed and when Emma sat down, he licked her hand. She sighed and patted its head. He rested his head on her knee, staring at her with one green and one blue eye. “You scared the crap out of me, dog.” She scratched his ear.

  “His name is Timber,” Charlie said. “He’s one of the best escape artists in town. He probably followed you the entire way.”

  With the imminent danger gone, Emma let out a sob. “I’m so embarrassed. I was so scared.”

  Charlie put his arm over Emma’s shoulder. “You’re safe now.”

  She continued to play with the dog’s soft ears, then she realized that she was sitting on a bench with the man who dumped her, and his arm grew heavy on her shoulders. She shrugged it off and shifted away from him. “What are you doing here, Charlie?”

  “Hiking?”

  She pursed her lips and rolled her eyes.

  “I was looking for you.” He leaned against the bench. “Jenni told me where to find you.”

  Emma crossed her arms over her chest. “Why would she do that?” Anger was filling that space that only moments earlier had been filled with fear.

  “I owe you an apology,” Charlie said.

  “Oh?” Emma didn’t move to uncross her arms. She actually tightened them across her chest.

  “Emma…” Charlie stroked the back of the husky. “Someone told me lies about you – and I believed them.”

  “Jason.”

  “Yeah, Jason. My brother. He was only looking out for me. I think.” Charlie rubbed his beard and seemed to be struggling to find his words.

  “Why did you take his word for it? Why didn’t you ask me?”

  “I kind of did, but you evaded my question. And Adam told Jason that you were a compulsive liar – and a cheater…”

  “A liar?” Emma shook her head. “Adam’s the—”

  “Liar.” Charlie finished her sentence. “I know that now.” He cleared his throat and turned to face her. “Emma, if I could go back in time, I would do things so differently. I’m so sorry. You deserve so much better than that.”

  “I do.” Emma uncrossed her arms and rested her hands on her knees. “My ex cheated on me with my best friend.”

  “I know,” Charlie whispered.

  Her throat constricted as she tried to get the words to come out. “But losing you. That was a million times worse, Charlie. I…” She had lost all reservations. “I loved you.”

  Charlie rested his hands on hers, as if he were testing the waters. When she didn’t rip them from his, he slipped his fingers over the blades of her hands. “I loved you too.” His blue eyes shimmered and Emma’s breath caught in her throat as she realized he was going to cry. He blinked the tears away and rubbed the back of her hands with his thumbs. “That’s not actually true,” he said. He took a breath and squeezed her hands. “I still love you. Please don’t leave.” He wasn’t able to blink them away and tears fell from Charlie’s blue eyes. “I’ll always love you,” he continued. “I promise I will never be reckless with your heart; I will never hurt you again. Will you give me…will you give us, another chance?” Emma looked down at their hands. She slipped hers from beneath his and rubbed them on her jeans. “I totally understand if you never want to see me again.” He removed his hands from her legs, but the warmth from his palms remained.

  “Charlie,” Emma whispered. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “But the for lease sign…”

  “I love Chance Rapids. I need to move somewhere permanent.” Emma had been looking at some of the small downtown houses with Charlotte. “Charlie, I fell in love with you the night we built that wall. I’ve never felt like that with anyone.” She paused. “I don’t think that I can ever feel like that with anyone else, ever again.” She reached out to hold his hands. “I’d be crazy if I didn’t give us another chance.” She squeezed his hands. “Charlie Jones, I love you.”

  She leaned in and so did Charlie. Timber, the husky, witnessed the moment that Charlie and Emma promised themselves to each other, but even he knew to look away the moment that their lips touched. The sanctity of that moment, on that bench, meant more to Emma than any ring ever could, more than any wedding she had ever planned. She knew from that moment on, even before they carved their initials into the bench, that she was Charlie’s and Charlie was hers. Forever.

  Epilogue - Charlie

  “Are you ready?” Emma shouted from the kitchen.

  “Remember, you don’t have to yell,” he laughed and leaned over the railing from the loft. Emma had moved into the tiny home three weeks earlier when Jimmy returned from his trip to Alaska.

  “Are you ready?” she mouthed.

  “Smartass.” Charlie came down the spiral staircase and jumped the last couple of steps to meet Emma. “What do you think?”

  Emma adjusted his bowtie. “I think you look like a hipster.” She kissed him and then patted the front of his shirt.

  Charlie stretched out his suspenders, letting them snap to his chest and then grabbed Emma from behind, pulling her in close. He still smelled her pillow when she got out of bed in the morning, but the real thing, the source, her neck was even better. He nipped at her shoulder, her silk sheath dress was the same pale yellow as the peonies she’d planted in their garden. “You look beautiful,” he whispered in her ear.

  She blushed and turned to nuzzle into his chest. Charlie didn’t think he’d ever get tired of feeling her in his arms. He looked at his watch over her shoulder, “We should go,” he said. He crooked his arm. “M’lady.”

  “M’man,” she laughed and slipped her hand into his arm.

  “Wait just a minute.” Charlie patted her hand and removed it from his arm. “I have something for you.”

  Emma tilted her head. “What? Charlie, we’re going to be late for your grand opening.”

  He smiled; he’d been excited about this surprise for Emma since the night before when he’d set it up. He held onto both sides of the plywood that had served as the door to his tiny home since he moved in and shifted it to the side. Behind the plywood was a hand-carved solid oak Josh Johnson original door complete with a handmade wrought iron handle. “We can’t be late when we’re leaving through a bonafide real door,” he grinned and his cheeks felt so full they might pop. One of Emma’s conditions for moving in was the installation of a proper door. She was capable of sliding the plywood back and forth, and screwing it shut or open with the screwdriver anytime they came or went, but she hated it.

  “Oh, Charlie. It’s beautiful,” she gushed. She ran her fingertips over the carving on the door, a bear and a husky sitting side by side looking up at the moon.

  “Josh is making more for the brewpub.” He admired the handiwork over Emma’s shoulder.

  Emma flicked the locking mechanism back and forth. “It even locks,” she smiled wryly.

  “Only the best for my flower girl,” he growled and slipped his hand behind her neck, pulling her lips to his. She moaned into his mouth and pressed herself against him.

  When she pulled out of his embrace, she stroked the side of his face. “When are you going to stop calling it the Brewpub? You finally decided on a name, you should use it.”

  “Habit,” Charlie hooked his thumbs under his suspenders, also another habit.

  He opened the door with a flourish. “The Beardog Brewery Grand Opening awaits.”

  Emma traced her fingers along the door and Charlie grabbed her hand to help her as she stepped down the rickety temporary stairs in her high heels. “Those are next.” He jumped out of their home and pulled the door shut behind him.

  “I thought that Jason was here.” Emma looked down the laneway.

  “He said that he was only a minute away.” Charlie held his hand over his brow, looking for any sign of his brother. “He’ll be here soon.”

  While they waited, the two of them walked through the garden that Emma had planted. He had surprised her with the door, and she had surprised him with the garden. In addition to the hops he had planted, she sowed tomato, cucumber, peas, and a bunch of flowers. She told him what they were, but other than the daisies, and the peonies, which he knew were her favorite, he just referred to them by their color.

  A plume of dust appeared in the field. “There he is,” Charlie pointed and then waved. Jason brought the car to a stop and Charlie opened the passenger door for Emma. Back when they first got together, there was no way that the two could’ve been in the same room together – now they were as tight as a brother and sister. “Hi, Jason,” Emma kissed him on the cheek. “Hi, Em.” He smiled.

  “Nice bowtie, Chuck.” Jason glanced in the rearview mirror.

  “Nice face you jerk.” It was immature, but it was the best that Charlie could come up with. In reality, his brother looked great. He had quit drinking the day after the bachelor party. It turns out the asshole part of his brother only showed up when alcohol was involved. He came to visit every couple of weeks, and every time he showed up, he looked healthier, and happier – and tonight had even offered to be their designated driver.

  Emma’s phone chimed and she checked her messages. “Jenni said that everything is all ready to go.” She turned, the seatbelt straining at her shoulder. “Are you excited?”

  “I’m a little nervous,” he said. He wiped his sweaty palms on the front of his dark jeans.

  “Don’t you worry, Jenni is on top of everything.” When Jenni found out that Charlie didn’t have his grand opening party planned, she stepped in and completely took over. When Charlie saw Jenni’s spreadsheets and mood boards, he knew the grand opening was in good hands.

  As they pulled up to the front of the Beardog Brewery he could see shadows of people already inside. His heart started to race. “People aren’t supposed to be here yet.” He clicked out of his seatbelt, panic starting to rise, and hopped out of the car. He opened the door for Emma and offered her his hand.

  “It’s okay,” Emma smiled. “I invited our friends to come early, so you could talk to them before all the reporters and dignitaries arrive.” By reporters, she meant the local newspaper, and their eighty-something-year-old mayor was the dignitary, but he appreciated the surprise. “You’re amazing,” he whispered as they walked to the front door hand in hand. Jason opened the door to the Beardog and Charlie fought to hold in tears as they stepped inside and his close friends were waiting, champagne glasses in hand.

  Jenni handed Charlie and Emma a glass of amber champagne.

  “I’ve got a special one for you, Jason,” she smiled and handed him a very clear sparkling liquid, which Charlie assumed was club soda.

  “To Charlie,” Freddie stepped out of the crowd. “For creating the best brewpub in the county, and a place for all of his rowdy friends to drink.”

  “To Charlie,” the group echoed.

  Charlie wiped away a tear and took a sip of his champagne. It was beer.

  Jenni elbowed him. “You didn’t think I’d supply champagne at the opening of a brewpub did you?”

  Charlie smiled, took another sip, and then raised his glass, grabbing Emma’s hand with the other. “I’d like to make a toast.” The tittering in the room stopped and everyone turned to look at Charlie. “To my friends. To Freddie, who gave up his weekends to give us these lights.” Freddie winked and raised his glass. “To Charlotte, who helped me buy this building.” The dark-haired Realtor leaned into Logan and smiled. “To Josh, who brought the Beardog idea to life through his woodwork.” Josh was holding his champagne flute in one hand and rubbing the back of the bulging baby sling across his body with the other. Megan kissed his cheek and raised her glass. “To Ethan, Aidan, and Baxter, for staying late to help me with all the stuff I couldn’t get done on my own. And to their significant others, for not killing them for it.” There was collective laughter from the group, Serena’s was the loudest.

  He turned to face Emma. “And to Emma, for her fear of bears. Without it, the Beardog concept would not have been born.” She smiled at him, her cheeks growing pink. He squeezed her hand in his. “And for showing me the meaning of true love.”

  Charlie stepped back and a flute and guitar duo that had been hidden from view started playing. Jenni stepped to his side and took the champagne flute from his hand. Charlie knelt on one knee and pulled a black velvet box from his pocket.

  “Oh, my god,” he heard Serena gasp from the crowd.

  “Will you marry me?” He let go of her hand so he could open up the box. The late afternoon sun filtered in through the front window of the Beardog and the canary yellow diamond ring sparkled in its beams. He looked up at Emma. Her hands were over her mouth and her crystal blue eyes shone brightly as they welled up with tears. She nodded and held out her hand.

  “Yes, Charlie. Yes.” Even though her voice was quiet and shook through the tears, her words were strong.

  The crowd cheered and the band started playing One Love, the Bob Marley song that was playing when they shared their first kiss at the bonfire that night. Emma held her hand out, her face pink and radiant as she admired her ring and then threw her arms around Charlie’s neck. He whispered in her ear. “You thought I didn’t know about the surprise party.” Charlie hadn’t told Emma the whole story. When he confided to Jenni that he wanted to propose to Emma, she had orchestrated the whole thing, and that included the brewery opening.