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EPILOGUE

Red was my new favorite color. I always thought it was blue before, but seeing Katherine step up on that stage and receive her Oscar wearing that red dress, I knew that red would be my favorite color to my dying day.

Her smile had been radiant. Genuine. Not the practiced Hollywood smile she'd worn for years, but real joy as she'd thanked her director, her co-stars, and then—voice breaking—"my husband, Code, who reminded me what it means to be brave."

I'd watched from my seat, uncomfortable in my tuxedo, surrounded by people who made more in a month than I'd earned in a year in the Army, and felt my chest tighten with pride.

That was my wife. My Katherine. And she'd just won a fucking Oscar.

Now we were at some after-party in a venue that looked like it had been the backdrop to hundreds of movies. Everything was gold and crystal and excessive. Servers floated by with champagne and tiny portions of food that looked like art installations.

Katherine's hand found mine, squeezing. "You okay?"

"I'm fine."

"You have your 'tactical assessment' face on."

"I always have that face on."

"Not when we're home." She leaned into me, and I caught the scent of her perfume—something floral and expensive that Angelica had insisted she needed for tonight. "Thank you for being here."

"Where else would I be?"

"In Jasper Creek, hiding in your office, complaining about having to wear a tux."

She wasn't wrong.

"Katherine!" A man's voice boomed across the room. Marcus Laughton, her co-star, headed our way with his own Oscar in hand. Best Actor.

"Marcus!" Katherine hugged him, both of them laughing, and I stepped back to give them space. This was her world, her moment. I was just the guy who got to take her home at the end of it.

"Can you believe it?" Marcus grinned at both of us. "We actually did it. Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress. The sweep."

"The film deserved it," Katherine said.

"You deserved it." He turned to me, extending his hand. "Code, good to see you again, man. Thanks for keeping this one grounded during the insanity."

I shook his hand. "She doesn't need me for that. She's tougher than both of us."

"Truth." He raised his Oscar. "I'm going to go show this to my mom. She's losing her mind somewhere over by the dessert table. Kit, save me a dance later?"

"Always."

He disappeared into the crowd. Katherine turned to me, eyes sparkling. "See? That wasn't so bad."

"The night's still young."

She laughed and pulled me toward a quieter corner. "Come on, Grumpy. Let's find somewhere you can breathe."

We'd made it halfway across the room when a woman's voice stopped us.

"Kit!"

We both turned and smiled as Sophie Tremaine rushed over to us. She gave Katherine a huge hug. She still hadn’t made it out to Tennessee to see the new house, but she promised that after this next movie of hers wrapped up, she’d be on the next flight.

"Congratulations! I’m so happy for you. You deserved this win."

"Thank you,” Katherine smiled big.