Epilogue

They were married in the early summer when it had finally stopped snowing. Colin had suggested the brewery for the ceremony, since it was bigger than the Salty Goat, but Peaches had vetoed it. Much as she loved the brewery and its products, she didn’t particularly want her wedding to smell like yeast. Instead, they used a park down the road from the brewery building. Peaches kept her fingers crossed there wouldn’t be any late snow, and the day was crystal clear. Blue skies, white mountains, and the smell of pines in sunshine. She couldn’t have asked for a better setting.

She’d wanted to keep the wedding small, but her family had to be invited, and all the Guidrys—not to mention the citizens of Antero who wanted to be there—automatically made the wedding a lot bigger than she’d originally planned.

Ruth and Carol were her bridesmaids, after Carol had flatly refused to be the flower girl, arguing she was much too old. Liam was Colin’s best man. Wyatt and Bec were guests, and Bec smiled a lot, so Peaches figured it was okay they weren’t part of the wedding.

She’d baked her own wedding cake, of course. As if I’d let anybody else touch it. The chef at the pub had done everything else. Peaches figured she had enough to do keeping her family in check—she wasn’t going to be responsible for the reception food. Besides, since Alicia had decamped for her new job in Crested Butte, she was back to running the kitchen on her own until she could hire a replacement. Blanca had told her she’d like to switch to cooking, and Peaches figured it would be a lot easier to hire a replacement hostess than a replacement cook.

The reception was held at the brewery, since the party was scheduled to go on for most of the night. They’d shifted all the moveable equipment to the side, leaving the massive brewpots and tuns in place. Silk streamers hung from the ceiling and decorated the barrel racks. A small local combo set up near the windows, playing slightly over-amplified Golden Oldies.

Late in the evening, she stood next to Colin, resting her head on his shoulder. They weren’t going away until the end of the week. The honeymoon wouldn’t be much—a couple of nights in Telluride. But she didn’t want much. She wanted Colin, and she finally had him to herself.

Sort of.

Liam sauntered toward them, towing Ruth by the hand, a champagne bottle under his arm. He grinned. “Great wedding.”

“Yeah, I’d say it worked out.” Colin grinned, too. But then Colin had been grinning all day long. All month long, in fact.

“That cake was fantastic.” Ruth leaned against Liam’s side. “Strawberry filling and buttercream frosting. Absolutely decadent.” She and Liam both looked very…relaxed. Fortunately, they were within walking distance of their house. Otherwise, Peaches would have confiscated their car keys.

Liam nodded toward the steps at the side. “C’mon. Bec told me to bring you two up to the apartment. She’s got something to show us.”

“Show us?” Colin raised an eyebrow. “Like what? I’m not doing any business today.” He gave Peaches a quick squeeze. They had plans, after all. It was their wedding night.

“I don’t think it’s business. And if it is, I give you my permission to tell her to go jump.” Liam turned toward the stairs again, pulling Ruth along behind him.

Colin glanced down at her and shrugged. “Five minutes? I won’t let this take over the evening. I promise.”

She nodded. “I promise, too. We definitely won’t stay long.”

Bec and Wyatt were sitting on the couch in what passed for a living room in the apartment, a growler full of dark beer along with six glasses on the coffee table.

Liam raised an eyebrow. “What’s up?”

Bec gestured toward the growler. “I wanted you all to taste this before we release it. It’s the Zoria.”

The Zoria was Bec’s legendary imperial stout. They’d been aging it in oak for the past year.

Wyatt leaned forward, carefully pouring the beer into the six glasses. Colin took one in his hand, holding it up to the light. “Looks good. Great color.”

Liam nodded, holding up his own glass. “I like the aroma. Reminds me of cocoa.”

All six of them took careful sips. Peaches wasn’t sure what she was supposed to taste, but the flavor was rich and strong, something with age and weight. Really, really nice.

“Wow,” Ruth said quietly.

“Yeah.” Wyatt turned to Bec, smiling. “You did it again.”

Bec nodded slowly. “It’s right, isn’t it? It’s like the one I did before.”

“I’d say so.” Wyatt put his arm around her shoulders. “Congratulations, babe.”

Bec looked up at the four of them. “I wanted you all to taste it. The Zoria brought me Wyatt. And Wyatt got us back on our feet.”

Peaches wasn’t sure if that was a shot at Colin. She squeezed his hand just in case. He gave her a reassuring smile.

“And Wyatt got us the brewpub.” Liam raised his glass. “Here’s to you.”

Wyatt shook his head. “You’re the one who got the brewpub going. And you’re the one who’s made it a success.” He raised his glass at Liam. “Take a bow.”

“I needed the pub so I could stay in Antero.” He gazed down at Ruth. “I definitely had my reasons.”

“And Colin brought us all together again.” Bec looked up at him, still smiling. “I’m glad you came back. You provided a piece we hadn’t known was missing.”

Colin blinked. Peaches had the feeling he was holding himself together. He glanced down at her. “You’re the one who helped me see what was important, Peaches. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you.”

“To Peaches.” Ruth raised her glass, and the others followed suit.

Peaches raised her own glass. “To beer.”

“Hear, hear.” Liam grinned and sipped.

“To Antero,” Colin said quietly. “Long may it endure.”

Peaches leaned against him as she drank. To Antero. And to the future.

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