Page 68 of Cakewalk

“Pretty sure they feel the same way,” he said with a laugh. “And we can figure out Thanksgiving. I think Hannah would want us to. Besides, we can’t have our kids being those weirdos who don’t celebrate Thanksgiving.”

“You’re still open to that?” she said, her heart racing at the thought. When she’d woken up this morning, she’d wanted nothing more than to start a family with him. But that was before everything had fallen down around them. To hear him even bring up the idea made her want to melt into him even more.

“Only if you are, sweetheart,” he said, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. “Gigi, you are my world. I don’t want you to ever doubt for a single second where I stand. I know that finding yourself and standing on your own two feet is important to you, especially after everything you’ve been through. But I need you to know that I will be by your side, no matter what. Marriage, kids, your own bakery, whatever crazy idea pops into your head, I’m here for it. We’re in this together.”

Gigi let out a long breath, trying not to start crying again. Only Holden would have the perfect words ready and waiting for her. He was everything she had always hoped for and so much more.

“As long as I’m with you, then I’ll have everything I ever need, Holden.”

“I like the sound of that, sweetheart.”

They were silent for a moment, letting everything they’d just said soak in. Bradley was dead and gone from her life, and she was free to do whatever she wanted. And what she wanted was a life with Holden, here in Vermont. Colebury had become home these last few months, and she hated the idea of leaving. She loved the idea of opening her own bakery, a space of her own where she could experiment with all sorts of different flavors and ideas. She loved that idea almost as much as she loved the idea of a family with Holden.

“I kinda need to get out of jail first though…” she said, hating to bring back the weight of the situation. “They know I didn’t kill him, but I guess whether I faked my death is still questionable.”

“I already have the officers working on your bail. It should be posted here shortly.”

“Holden, I can’t let you do that! I’ll pay you back. I have the money from my trust fund.”

“Nope. It’s not up for discussion. It’s the least I could do after I failed you this morning. You’re also not touching that money until we prove that you had nothing to do with the insurance fraud.”

“We?”

“Yes, we. I told you, we’re in this together. I am going to help you fight this and prove your innocence every step of the way. I called Rita Kaplan on my way over and—”

“Who?”

“Rita. The intense brunette who won’t let anyone else sit on the peach couch at the Busy Bean. She’s a lawyer and business partner with May Shipley, who is Audrey’s and Zara’s sister-in-law. She agreed to help us with whatever you need. She said she has a huge network, so we can ask her to help find a lawyer who specializes in fraud. I don’t want to step on your toes, so if you want to do this on your own, just let me know. It’s your battle and I’ll respect that. But you don’t have to do anything all by yourself ever again, Gigi, if you don’t want.”

Gigi’s insides went to mush all over again, hearing him tell her this. He called her a lawyer. He was prepared to fight this with her, without a second thought. She had no idea what she had done to deserve him, but she wasn’t going to argue or take it for granted for another second. He was her future, and she was going to enjoy every last little bit of it.

“I love you so much, Holden.”

“I love you too, sweetheart. You have no idea.”

He captured her lips in his, his kiss just as tender as before. She moaned softly, letting him know just how much she loved this too. She wasn’t sure she would ever get enough of him or his touch.

“Ah-hem,” Officer Nelligan cleared his throat. Gigi and Holden parted just enough to turn to look at him, standing back in the door frame. “Sorry to, uh, interrupt. But you’re free to go now, Miss Gigi.”

“Thank you, Officer Nelligan,” she said sweetly, watching as he swiftly dipped away from them. Turning back to Holden, she let a large smile take over as she looked at his piercing blue eyes. I could gladly get lost in these for the rest of my life…

“Sweetheart, I think it’s time we got you home. Because as sexy as you look in my sweats—”

“Even in jail?”

“Even in jail,” he continued. “You look even sexier out of them. And after the day you’ve had, I think you deserve to be shown exactly how much I love you.”

Epilogue

Five months later

Gigi

Gigi stood inside the old Crumbs bakery, taking it all in. The place was dusty and needed a fresh coat of paint, but that didn’t stop the excitement from rushing through her veins. This place was hers.

The last couple of months had been a whirlwind, but standing here now, she felt like she could finally breathe again. Rita Kaplan had hooked her up with a fraud lawyer out of Montpelier that she had graduated law school with. He wasted no time in proving that Gigi had no part in obtaining the false death certificate. Gigi had no idea how he’d done it from a small office in northern Vermont, but he had managed to hunt down the person who had forged the document and gotten their statement that it was Ayla Hatchette who had requested it, as well as additional testimony about her and Bradley’s behavior immediately after Gigi had taken off. Within two weeks, the police had dropped the charges against her altogether.

As far as Gigi was concerned, Rita had just earned herself free cupcakes for the rest of her life.