Sebastian grinned. “The top, hm? Good news. You’re looking at the new CEO of the Glitter Cup Café and Bookstore!” He held up his phone. “My father just sent me a message with the good news. It seems that the news clip your friend at the newspaper captured of me hugging Rollins went viral. My dad saw it, and is now convinced that I’ll be a good leader for the company. He was waiting to see me genuinely help someone, and apparently, he’s satisfied that I did. He’s stepping down, and handing the company over to me!”
Christine’s jaw dropped. “Giovanni Costa is your father?”
“You’re our boss?” Sean said, eyes wide. “No way, man!”
Bridget felt herself beaming. She longed to throw her arms around him and give him a hug, but she held back. She now understood why learning to be helpful was so important to him.
“Congratulations, Sebastian!” she said happily. “To Sebastian!” she said. Another cheer was had, and another round of drinks, plus dessert, was ordered.
Two hours later, the party wrapped up, and this time when Sebastian offered to walk her home, Bridget didn’t deny him. As they walked, he slipped his hand into hers. It fit perfectly, and she felt butterflies in her stomach as they neared her front steps.
“So... if you’re the CEO of the company, does that mean you’re no longer an employee at our little Dayton City store?” she asked.
He nodded. “I don’t think I’ll have time for being a barista,” he said with a grin. “There will be other matters to attend to. I’m hoping my father will mentor me, even though he’s retiring. He’s very knowledgeable about business. I have some ideas I want to run by him—most importantly, new uniform shirts made with a more comfortable fabric.” He winked at Bridget, and she laughed.
“We’re going to miss you,” she said.
“Oh, don’t worry,” he said. “I’ll be coming in to visit. I think I’ll spend a good bit of time in Dayton. There’s a woman here I’d like to continue to see.”
Her heart started beating faster. She looked up into Sebastian’s eyes. He held her gaze. “If she wants to see me, that is,” he said softly.
“I do,” she said. A shiver ran up her spine, and she had the distinct feeling that one day she’d be saying those very words to the man who now stood before her, but in a different capacity. If Sebastian were to ask her to marry him, she had no doubt she’d say yes.
He grinned. “I was hoping you’d say that,” he said. He leaned in slightly. “And the funny thing is, I think you’re the first person to really see me, in a very, very long time.”
She met his lips with hers, and then wrapped her arms around him. Under the lights of her front stoop, she enjoyed the best kiss of her life.
Epilogue
Beauty
Bridget fell into step with Sean, who walked at a brisk pace. The Beechman School Science Fair had started a half an hour ago, and if they didn’t hurry, they’d miss the model rocketship displacement. Each student was to set off a rocketship of their own design, and Adrienne had been going on and on for weeks about how advanced Henry’s model was.
As Bridget took the concrete steps two at a time, she said, “Have you talked to her yet today? I hear Henry’s really excited about his rocket model, but I think there was some kind of issue with it last night. I hope they figured it out.”
Sean laughed. “Yeah, I spoke with her this morning. She said they were up until one getting the glitch figured out, but that it’s all set to go. She’s pretty sure Henry’s going to win!”
They reached the school’s front doors. Sean pulled them open and waited as Bridget stepped inside. “I had no idea Henry was such a bright kid. In all those years of Adrienne talking about him, she never mentioned his gifts.”
“I don't think she knew,” Sean said. “It’s come as a big surprise to her, too.”
“I’m so happy for her,” Bridget said. “Now that she’s living with Jeremiah and has some help with Henry, it really seems like the whole family is flourishing.”
Her heeled sandals clicked against the polished stone floor. The hallway was wide. Glass cases on either side displayed bronze and silver trophies, colorful art, and black and white photographs of writers, actors, singers, and other prominent members of society who had graduated from the school. Bridget could hear the buzz of a crowd in an auditorium down the way.
“Oh, good!” she said. “They haven’t gone out to the field yet. I think we’re going to make it in time for the launch!”
“Is Sebastian meeting us here?” Sean asked.
Bridget smiled at the thought of her fiancé. “He’s wrapping up a few things in Italy,” she said.
It had been a year since Sebastian took over the company, and since then he’d become more and more dedicated to his work. Because the travel time between Italy and Dayton was so significant, he’d made the executive decision to move the Glitter Cup Café headquarters to Dayton City. Bridget was thrilled about this, because it meant no more long weeks apart. She was even more thrilled at the house she and Sebastian had chosen, out in the suburbs.
They reached the auditorium and had to wander through the thick crowd for almost fifteen minutes before Bridget spotted a shock of wild, unruly white hair in the crowd, and knew it was her father. Despite the fact that he’d come into millions, thanks to his biodegradable plastic, and could absolutely afford regular trips to the barber, he refused.
He insisted that there were other things he’d prefer to do with his money, like set up scholarship funds for youngsters passionate about the field. “You never know,” he said to Bridget on occasion. “One of these kids could be the one to solve the biggest puzzles of our times.”
Mary was standing next to Danny, holding his hand. The two had become almost inseparable since that night at Big Bobby’s, and she even joined him in his lab now and again, when she wasn’t stocking books at the library. Henry, perched in his wheelchair, with bright red rimmed glasses and a smile on his face, was positioned behind a folding table.
Adrienne was next to Danny. “Sean!” she shrieked, as Sean and Bridget neared. “Oh my goodness! We miss you!”
Sean had quit Glitter Cup a few weeks after the whole blackmail incident. Luckily, he’d quickly forgiven Adrienne for trying to frame him for the crime. “How is tiny house life?
“Freaking amazing,” said Sean. “I’m thinking about putting a yurt up on my property, too. My friend Timmy thinks he can build the whole thing for under two grand. That way, the next time you guys come out for a ski trip, you won't have to book a hotel nearby.”
“That would be so neat!” Adrienne said. “Bridget, wouldn’t that be fantastic?”
“Sounds like fun,” Bridget said. “I’ll have to tell Sebastian about it... he’ll be excited. He loved our last ski trip.”
“Tell me what?” Sebastian’s deep voice asked.
Bridget whirled around to see her man. He was dressed in a button up and slacks, and his dark hair was cropped short, thanks to the fact that he’d shaved it all off after becoming the CEO. His usually smooth-shaven face had the faintest shadow of stubble, thanks to his recent travel.