epilogue

Hello Readers! I know I said the story was over, but I like to go through and read my stories over again to try and look for spelling errors. And while I was reading, I realized I wasn't happy with how the story ended. I'm decided to write one last chapter. This chapter will take place after Eleanor and Gilbert have finished college, gotten married, and had kids. Although this story is a little cringe (I was 16 when I wrote it), I think it's only fair to give you readers a better ending.

And it's totally up to you to read this chapter! If you liked the way the book ended last chapter then that's totally fine, but I personally feel as if I could've done better. So here we are.

Now, enough talking-

Enjoy the chapter!~

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"See you next time Mrs Washington!" Eleanor waved the elder lady off with a smile.

The little bell above the shop's front door gave a loud and quick ring, making Eleanor turn around to greet her customer.

"Hello! Welcome to Elle's Nook-" she stopped mid sentence as she met eyes with a familiar face.

"Anne?" Eleanor gasped, her hand finding her way to her chest.

Anne let out a loud squeal as she raced towards her childhood friend, the two met in the middle of the store as they hugged.

"Oh my god! It's been years! How have you been?" Anne smiled as the two girls pulled away from the hug.

"I'm great! I-I'm just so shocked! What brings you to Georgia?" Eleanor asked as she led her friend over to a small table in the corner of the store.

"I was actually looking for you! Diana had told me that you opened your own store, but I didn't realize it would be like this!" Anne let out a dreamy sigh as her eyes scanned the store.

After only 4 months at college, Eleanor decided that college wasn't the career choice for her. With the checks her father had given to Gilbert, she bought a little rundown store in a busy part of town. The previous owners, two very kind elderly folk, agreed to sell it to Eleanor with everything in it, she hired an interior designer and architect and got busy.

She had turned the run down book store into a lively book/coffee shop. It was one of the more popular stores in the little town of Blairsville Georgia. With customers showing up before the store even opened, and when it closed at 4pm, Eleanor had her hands full being the owner.

"Well thank you Anne, I put a lot of hard work and effort into this store." Eleanor smiled as she felt a sense of pride swelling in her chest.

"Anyways, I know you didn't come to gawk at my store, so tell me the real reason you're here." Eleanor chuckled.

Anne went quiet as she fiddled her thumbs, her eyes not once meeting Eleanor's as she tried to form the words in her head.

"I've come to tell you I'm leaving." Anne stated.

"What? Where are you going?" Eleanor asked, confusion clouding her face.

"I'm actually moving to Europe, with my girlfriend." Anne blushed.

Eleanor's mouth dropped open as she stared at her blushing friend. She grabbed her friends hand and squealed in excitement, Anne soon joining after her.

"Oh Anne that's amazing! I'm so happy for you!" Eleanor grinned.

"Thank you. I realized how little of the world I've actually seen, and I would hate to die knowing I only lived in one corner my whole life." Anne explained, Eleanor nodded along.

"So we've decided to move to Europe, we leave tomorrow. I thought it only right to come say one last goodbye. I'm not sure I'm going to be coming back." Anne sighed.

Eleanor nodded sadly, although the pair haven't seen each other in a few years, they still considered each other close friends.

"I hate to see you go, but I'm sure you'll have the best time in Europe! I just want you to be happy." Eleanor smiled.

Anne sniffled as the emotions washed in like a wave, the two girls hugged each other very tightly.

"I'm going to miss you Elle, you were a friend to me even when times were rough. I love you." she stated as the two girls pulled away.

"I'll miss you too Anne. But please, don't leave without at least taking a few books. I couldn't stand it if I knew you didn't have ANYTHING to remember me by, I just got in a few I think you'll love." Eleanor said as she led her friend all around the store.

The girls spent the next hour wandering around the store, picking out books, giggling, drinking coffee, and Eleanor running upfront to help customers.

With one last hug and a goodbye, Anne was off.

Eleanor let out a deep sigh and pulled the front door shut and locked it.

She groaned as she bent back and popped her back, her feet and back killing her after a long and busy day.

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"Gilbert! I'm home!" Eleanor yelled as she unlocked her front door and walking in.

"In here!" he yelled, his voice faint as he was near the back of the house.

Eleanor slipped her shoes off and hung her coat up, trudging down the long hallway towards Gilbert's office.

"Hello honey." he smiled and spun around in his chair.

Paper, pencils, drawings, books, notebook, and every kind of item you would find on an office desk was scattered across the top of the wooden desk.

"Hi." she giggled at his mess, he quickly tried to tidy up as his cheeks grew hot.

"I promise I'll clean it up!" he chuckled as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"You said that two months ago." Eleanor chuckled as she walked over and sat on his lap, swinging her feet across the sides of the swivel chair.

"Well hello to you too." Gilbert purred, making Eleanor roll her eyes and laugh.

He placed soft kisses along her cheeks and neck; her head turning slightly as a sigh left her mouth.

"Mommy? Daddy?" the voice of Oliver, their youngest boy, was heard outside the door.

Eleanor sighed as she climbed off her husbands lap, sad that their moment was paused.

"We're in here son." Gilbert chuckled as he watched his wife climb off his lap with a groan.

Oliver came trudging in, his face lit up as he seen his mother, running and jumping in her arms.

"Hello pumpkin, how was your day." she cooed as she soothed his curly hair down.

"It was amazing! Daddy let us go to work with him today!" Oliver smiled brightly.

Eleanor turned back to Gilbert, his eyes not meeting hers as he shot Oliver a glare.

"I told you that was our little secret." Gilbert grumbled.

Eleanor laughed as Oliver shrugged.

"Why on Earth didn't you take them to school Gilbert?" Eleanor asked as she handed their son to Gilbert.

"I figured it would be a better learning experience for them." Gilbert shrugged.

Eleanor rolled her eyes as she laughed at her husband, he really did not like the school that the kids were going too.

"Gilbert, we talked about this. We're paying a lot of money to send the boys to that school." Eleanor rubbed her temples.

He grumbled in response and sat the boy down.

"Daddy taught us about the human body!" Oliver beamed.

"Oh? What did daddy teach you?"

"He taught us about all the parts of a human, teeth, bones, eyes, nerves, and the parts we can't say in school!" Oliver listed off the items, making sure to count them on his fingers.

"I'm glad you and your brother had fun today, but you have to start going to real school. Tell mommy whenever daddy doesn't make you go to school and I'll let you have a cookie before dinner." Eleanor whispered as she squatted down and pinched Oliver's cheek, to which he giggled and ran out of the room.

She smiled as she watched her son's figure disappear into the hallway before turning back to her husband. Who was staring at her with a dorky smile and innocence written on his face.

"Don't give me that look Gilbert, you're in trouble." she warned as she turned to walk to the kitchen.

He followed her and whined about how the school was "sheltering" the kids from learning correct terminology and how the world works.

"Gilbert, they're six. I'm sure they don't need to know how to do taxes and what job to pick. Their only duty is to read and write, which the school has taught them well at." Eleanor stated as she pulled out a few ingredients to begin making dinner.

"I know I know." Gilbert whined as he slumped into one of the dining room chairs.

Eleanor smiled and rolled her eyes at her nagging husband, although they didn't always agree on everything, they were sure to talk it out.

She was so grateful she was able to marry the man of her dreams, even with all of the ups and down from their adolescents.

Oliver and Weston, the couples twins, came running down the stairs at full speed.

"Mommy! Mommy! Can we play outside?" they asked in unison.

"Why does no one ever ask me?" Gilbert huffed, the two boys eyed him for a minute then turned their attention back to their mother.

"Only a little while, dinner will be ready in an hour." she stated.

The two boys nodded before hurrying out the back door.

She smiled at her boys before returning to grabbing a few items out of the ice box.

"Gilbert-" before she could finish her sentence he had gotten to his feet, placed a vinyl record onto the record player, and begin chopping vegetables.

(I'm not sure if record players were invented yet in the 1920's, but we're gonna say they are for the sake of the story teehee)

"You always know what I'm thinking before I even ask it." she smiled and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

The couple spent the next hour swaying to the music, cooking, dancing, stealing quick kisses, and preparing for an evening dinner.

"Boys! Wash up, it's time for dinner." Gilbert yelled, the boys trudged into the house covered in mud and out of breath.

"Good lord." Eleanor sighed and started towards them, but Gilbert lead her to the dining table and sat her down.

"You sit, I'll get them washed up." he stated.

She sent him a thankful look before closing her eyes and letting out a deep sigh.

As the sound of jazz music and bellowing birds filled their home, she couldn't help but smile.

Her life hadn't always gone to plan, she had many ups and downs along the way. But she got to where she was today by hard work and patience. Without Gilbert she's not sure where she would be right now. He was her rock throughout her late teens and to her late 30's now. Their love had only grown stronger with the birth of their children, buying their first home, and each owning their own successful businesses.

Gilbert had graduated college as valedictorian, he spent a few years studying at a local clinic before the couple decided to move to America.

After Eleanor's parents died, their wealth was split among their three children. Alvin decided to take over their fathers company instead of receiving a dividend of the money. Harvey had moved to Europe after he attended college and didn't have much contact with his family. So the lawyers sent a check to his last known address, which was sent back a week later.

Which left all of the money to Eleanor, she tried to give Alvin at least half of the money but he refused. After taking over the company, he had put enough money aside to publish a few books. He soon realized that being an author was his calling, so he sold the company, took the money he had and opened his own publishing company.

He soon lost contact with Eleanor as she moved back to America, but from the many books she received shipments for her store with Alvin as the author, she could tell he was successful.

So she decided to put the money into her and Gilbert's businesses, making sure to put a healthy amount back in separate accounts for the twins that they'll inherit when they're older.

As many thoughts tumbled through her brain, she hadn't notice the return of her husband and kids.

She jumped slightly whenever Gilbert placed his hand atop of hers, giving it a small squeeze.

"You alright love?" he asked.

"Yes. Yes I am." she smiled as she stared at the people infront of her.

Although this was not the life she had imagined when she was younger (it was a lot less pink), she wouldn't change it for the world.

Gilbert gave her a soft smile before helping serve the food to the boys, both dug into the food and began telling their parents about their days.

Her heart swelled with joy as she was surrounded by the people she loves the most.

"True contentment is not having everything, but in being satisfied with everything you have"

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Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart

It's truly been a pleasure writing this story and I still receive so much love from y'all everyday

For the last and final time,

Happy Reading!

-Emma