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“How are you feelin’, sweetheart?” asked Sven solicitously, as, carrying a stack of white wicker baskets, he passed by the Confectionary’s counter where Melinda was busy.
She looked up with a smile. “I’m just fine, thank you.”
“You make sure you sit down once in a while. Don’t go standin’ too long, either, you hear me? You know what your ma said.”
Giving him her practiced eye roll, she nodded. “Yes, Sven, I remember.”
“And don’t get too cold. You got an extra shawl here to wrap up in if you need it?”
“Oh, please, Sven. Now you’ve taken up the nagging mother role when Mama isn’t around?”
He set down the baskets in a corner to join her for a quick embrace, since no one was around. “Whatever it takes. I just want the best care possible for that baby.”
“And he’s getting it, dear.” Significantly, she placed her hand, palm down, with his, across the tiny mound of her middle. “Now stop worrying and get me more baskets.”
Their wedding had taken place in early October, when the weather was still mild, the skies were a clear blue, and the trees with their multi-colored leaves of red and gold and orange provided a beautiful backdrop for the festivities. The Confectionary actually closed its doors for nearly a week to accommodate various events leading up to the important day.
Libby, with her husband, David, and adorable son, David, arrived to spend several busy and detail-filled days at the Northfield home to participate in and help with everything that was going on. Interestingly enough, Sven’s estranged brother, Corey, returned from Chicago to serve as best man at the same time. The two former sweethearts had neither seen nor spoken to each other since the painful breakup nearly two years ago, and Melinda feared fireworks might erupt when both came into contact again at the nuptials.
To the great relief of the extended families, however, Corey had clearly gained some wisdom while living on his own. In an aside, he had officially apologized to the girl he had betrayed; and Libby, too happy with her new life to carry old grudges, had offered him the forgiveness he sought.
For all the ceremony’s waves of love and fulfillment rippling out toward and through those attending, and all the positive feelings engendered by the devotion shown between bride and groom repeating their vows, this burying of the hatchet was one of the most satisfying.
Sven had managed to rent a small cottage halfway between his parents’ and hers, and the couple spent their honeymoon there. Not a month, certainly; barely a week shut away from the world and its demands. But those were uninterrupted days of bliss, of getting to know one another, of hugging and kissing like the turtle doves cooing in their back yard. And making love. Melinda thought she could never get enough of lazy, exploratory hours lounging in her new husband’s arms.
Her news in early February, after the rush of several holidays right in a row at the shop, of her pregnancy, drew both families even closer. If Caroline weren’t fussing over her daughter’s health and comfort, then Martha was. Although Melinda did occasionally lose a little patience at such smothering attention, deep down she really did luxuriate in the cosseting.
As for Sven, he was simply over the moon with delight and couldn’t do enough to show it. Which was how Melinda managed to persuade him to return to the Confectionary, on a part-time basis, just to help out when he wasn’t busy at the forge.
The fact that Arthur and Amina were also expecting their first baby within a few months only made the whole voyage of life that much more exciting.
Exciting, and as sweet with promise as the rich dark chocolate so continually being created at Northfield’s.
“Hey, Melinda, look what I found!” Sven’s voice broke through the pleasant chatter of the Confectionary one sunny afternoon as he bounded into the shop, a dusty old treasure chest clutched in his hand.
Melinda looked up from arranging a display of chocolates, curiosity piqued. “What’s that, Sven?”
“It’s an old chest I stumbled upon in the attic while I was looking for some tools,” he explained, setting it down on the counter with a thud. “Thought you might like to see what’s inside.”
Melinda’s eyes widened with excitement as Sven lifted the lid, revealing an assortment of vintage trinkets and keepsakes. “Oh, Sven, how marvelous!” she exclaimed, leaning in for a closer look. “It’s like uncovering buried treasure!”
“Yeah, it sure feels like it,” Sven agreed, a grin spreading across his face. “Looks like someone in my family was quite the collector back in the day.”
Their conversation was interrupted by the jingle of the shop door as a customer entered, but as they went back to their respective tasks, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of wonder and nostalgia for the treasures of the past that had brought them to this moment.
As the days turned into weeks and then months, life continued on its merry way for the residents of Northfield. The Goodman family remained incarcerated, their reign of terror finally brought to an end by the relentless pursuit of justice. With their illegal activities halted, Sven and his family’s debt was erased, and the Confectionary flourished under his skilled hands and Melinda’s creative vision.
The couple welcomed their first child—a bouncing baby boy named Henry—into the world on a crisp spring morning, surrounded by the love and support of their families. His arrival brought even more joy and laughter to their already bustling household, and Melinda and Sven couldn’t imagine life without him.
Meanwhile, Arthur and Amina celebrated the birth of their own little bundle of joy—a precious daughter named Clara—who arrived just in time for Easter. The young family was filled with gratitude for the new life they had brought into the world, and they cherished each moment spent together.
***
The midday sun blazed mercilessly over the dusty streets of Northfield, casting long shadows as Sven and Melinda strolled toward the outskirts of town where the park lay nestled among rugged hills and scrubby trees. Their fingers intertwined, they savored the rare freedom from their daily toils at the Confectionary.
As they approached the park, the sounds of children’s laughter drifted to them on the warm breeze. Henry and Clara, their own offspring, frolicked in the open space, a vibrant kite dancing above them, its tail trailing like a rainbow.
Sven’s heart swelled with pride as he watched his son darting across the grass, his movements mirroring the graceful flight of the kite. “Looks like Henry’s inherited your spirit of adventure,” he remarked, casting a fond glance at Melinda.
A soft smile graced Melinda’s lips as she returned his gaze. “He gets that from his pa,” she replied, her eyes sparkling with affection. “You’ve always had a way of finding joy in the simplest of things.”
They found respite beneath the shade of a towering cottonwood tree, spreading out a worn quilt upon the parched earth. From their vantage point, they observed the children’s antics with delight, the laughter of youth mingling with the rustle of leaves overhead.
As the day waned, painting the sky with hues of amber and rose, Henry and Clara returned to their parents, breathless with excitement. “We had the grandest time, Mama, Papa!” Clara exclaimed, her cheeks flushed with exertion.
Sven enveloped Henry in a hearty embrace, his voice tinged with pride. “You did splendidly, son,” he said, tousling Henry’s tousled hair affectionately.
With hearts brimming with contentment, Sven and Melinda escorted their children home, the vibrant hues of twilight casting a warm glow over the landscape. As they nestled their weary children into bed that evening, they knew that in each other’s arms, they had found their greatest treasure—the enduring love of family in the vast expanse of the Wild West.
As the years passed, the bonds of friendship and family grew ever stronger in the town of Northfield. With each passing season, new faces joined the community, and old friends welcomed them with open arms.
Through it all, Melinda and Sven remained at the heart of it all, their love enduring through the trials and triumphs of life on the frontier. Together, they built a life filled with love, laughter, and plenty of delicious chocolate.
As their children grew, Henry and Clara became fixtures in the shop, their youthful energy infusing the space with an infectious enthusiasm. Under Sven and Melinda’s guidance, they learned the art of candy making, their nimble fingers deftly shaping chocolates and candies with all the skill of their parents.
On warm summer days, Sven and Melinda would steal away to the outskirts of town, where the gentle sway of wildflowers danced in the breeze. There, amid the tranquil beauty of the countryside, they would share stories and relax.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow across the landscape, Sven and Melinda would walk back home, their hearts overflowing with gratitude for the life they had built together.
In the embrace of their family, surrounded by love and laughter, Sven and Melinda knew that their journey was only beginning. And as they looked to the horizon, where the promise of tomorrow awaited, they knew that together, they could conquer anything that lay ahead.
For in the vast expanse of the Wild West, where dreams were forged and destinies shaped, Sven and Melinda had found their happily ever after. And in each other’s arms, they knew they had found home. Their love was as timeless and enduring as the land itself. And that, they knew, was the greatest treasure of all.
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I really hope you enjoyed the Extended Epilogue. Your comments are the finishing touch to this shared journey. 🌟 Let the conversation begin below! 💬
Lots of story packed into the EE. The time span was confusing.
Flying kites while the parents watched was a little far fetched.
Suddenly Clara was their daughter not their best friends?
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I appreciate your feedback and will consider how to clarify the timeline and character dynamics in future editions.
Enjoyed this story very much. Dreams really can come true. Sven and Melinda did finally get their chance to be together though the odds were against them.They had to contend with her parents plan to marry her to an unsavory character and to overcome a social barrier as well. There were ups and downs but the truth was revealed in the end.
What a lovely review! I’m thrilled you enjoyed Sven and Melinda’s journey. Dreams indeed have a funny way of finding a path. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Thanks for the extended epilogue Mia. It tied up the story well. Just wondering… did Melinda and Sven name their daughter after Amina’s daughter Clara? Just curious.
Thank you for your kind words! I deliberately left that open to interpretation, leaving it to the readers’ imagination. 😊
My second time reading it. I read it some time ago. It is a great story but I agree with another reader that Clara was Art & Amina’s daughter. I little more proofreading would be good. It had a good plot and great characters. I did like the EE even though it misnamed Clara’s parents.
Oh my… I gave the actual book a 5 out of5 it was well written. It had very little fluff, as it was loaded with descriptive information important to the characters and the storyline. There were hardly any typos at all. There was no cussing, and no use of the Lord’s name in vain. The romance level would have been considered “clean”. As a devout christian, I appreciate the above two points immensely. It also means that I could have read this book with my 9-year-old without fear of being inappropriate. No, sadly on to the extended epilogue:
The extended epilogue starts strong.
We learn a little more about the lives of Sven and Melinda (with baby Henry), Arthur and Amina (with baby Clara), Libby and David (with toddler David), Sven’s brother Corey (who finally matures), and each set of parents; Adam and Caroline Northfield, Peter and Martha Lexington, and Sheriff Woodson Turner, including the villainous Goodman’s, who remain incarcerated.
Partway through, however, the extended epilogue begins to take a nose dive.
Even though they are living in Denver, you mention the dusty streets of Northfield.
Northfield is the last name of the family who owns the confectionary.
Then, later they go to the park to fly a kite, and now they have two children. Henry, being the firstborn, and Clara (who is supposed to be the daughter of Amina and Arthur).
It’s as if you wrote the book, and then months and months later decided to get around to writing an extended epilogue, but forgot what you wrote in the book, and then didn’t proofread it.
I am sorry that I had to give the extended epilogue a bad review. But, in the interest of you growing and bettering your writing skills, I thought it best to tell you how it is. The extended epilogue is confusing.