Page 170 of Purple State
Danny put an arm around her shoulders and squeezed her tightly into his torso.
“Happy New Year, Dot.”
And then it finally sunk in.
“Oh my gosh. Danny. Wait. You didn’t. Wait. You did! You bought the store from the Jankowskis? For me?”
“I did. And it’s in your name, not mine. I wanted you to have something of your own here in Cedar Falls. But it’s not just the bookstore. My guys spent the holidays fixing up the empty space next door. They knocked down a wall and put in a full coffee bar. And Mimi has signed on to be your pastry partner.”
“Danny!” she exclaimed and threw her arms around his neck. “Oh my gosh. I love it! I love it! I love you! I love Cedar Falls!” Adrenaline took over her body and she did a little dance in the street. “And ‘Second Cup Café’? That’s our thing!” She recalled when he’d first said that to her the morning after the first night she’d spent at his place.
“All the good stuff happens during the second cup, right?” Danny said.
“Always.” Dot tore her eyes away from Danny for a moment and looked for the Jankowskis. Spotting Ted and Jeanie, she went to them. Ted grabbed both of her hands.
“Dot, we couldn’t have asked for a better outcome.” He was teary. “And we’re not going far. We’ll be here to help. Though you have great instincts and are good at whatever you turn your hand to.”
“I’m so happy for you,” Jeanie said, wrapping Dot in a big hug and then whispering into her ear, “Welcome back to Cedar Falls. I promise that it’s a good place to call home.”
Dot hugged her back. “Thank you for helping me realize what I could have lost.”
“I’ve learned a thing or two over all these years, dear.”
Danny joined them and they basked in the love of their small-town friends and the feeling of a new adventure.
“Ready?” Danny said, gesturing to the front door.
“Ready!”
“Let’s do this the right way.” He carried her across the threshold to cheers.
“Welcome home, Dot,” he said, planting a kiss on her lips.
“I love it. And you,” she said, leaning her head against his chest and letting herself be carried.
A wave of serenity coursed through her body, and she knew in her heart that after all the worry about what she was going to do with her life, she had finally made the right choice.
