Cabin Fever With My First Flame (Sweet Christmas Kisses)

Epilogue

Bailey -- Six Months Later

“Keep your eyes closed,” my husband, Finn, says as he walks behind me with his hands over my eyes. “Otherwise, you’ll ruin the surprise!”

We’ve been married for two months now, and the wedding was a beautiful, chaotic mess. It was supposed to be a small affair at the park, with just our families standing beside us and becoming one. But the town got wind of it, and then everyone showed up, including my two brothers. They brought lawn chairs, presents, and potluck dishes. A buffet line was set up at the fire station, and no one cared if they ate off paper plates in 60-degree weather.

“It’s the best surprise ever!” Ava shouts. She’s holding my hand so that I don’t trip over Finn’s feet as I shuffle down the sidewalk.

The murmuring of people surrounds me as Finn brings us to a halt. “Are you ready?”

“I’m not sure. Your last surprise ended up with me doing an impromptu polar plunge in the lake,” I tell him. Finn had rented a boat to take me on a romantic picnic to Dome Island, which is a small, forested swath of land in the middle of Lake George. The picnic was fabulous, but falling overboard—not so much.

Finn chuckles. “I promise this one is even better. Do you trust me?”

“I better. I married you.”

“Show her already! The suspense is killing me!” someone shouts. “Do it on three!”

The crowd shouts, “One! Two! Three!”

Finn removes his hands, and my eyes slowly adjust to the light. I bring the tips of my fingers to my lips as my mouth forms a small “O.” Eyes welling with tears, I turn and face the love of my life. “You bought me a bakery? How? When?”

Finn wraps his arms around me and puts his forehead to mine. “It wasn’t just me, Bailey. The whole town pitched in to make this happen. Surprisingly, Daniel helped me order all the equipment you would need while Ella and Amanda helped design the layout. Bryce and a few other firefighters volunteered their time to build the cabinets, counters, and workspace.”

I turn in Finn’s arms and glance around the crowd, finding Daniel standing behind Amanda with his arms wrapped around her. Who knew that the two of them would find love with one another after a New Year’s Eve kiss? “Thank you. Thank you all!”

“Does this mean we get free pastries and coffee?” Bryce asks, hopefully.

I laugh. “Firefighters, Police officers, and Vets will always get a special treat from Baileys and Buttercream!”

I walk over and touch the logo etched in the glass, running my fingers over every inch. “Can I get a tour?”

Finn entwines his fingers with mine and then brings my hand to his lips, kissing every knuckle with reverence. “It would be my absolute pleasure, milady.”

When we enter the bakery, my eyes widen as big as the saucers that my pastries will be served on. Mia points to the corner where two wingback chairs sit and a sign over it that reads Book Nook. “That’s my contribution because people need a special place to read. There’s even a book exchange where people can swap books.”

In between the two chairs is a corner tower full of books. “That’s perfect and a brilliant idea!” I say, kissing the top of Mia’s head.

I walk through the storefront and in the back, noting the top-of-the-line equipment and hand-carved wood counters. Once I'm done, my entire family waits for me as I absorb the magnitude of this gift. Wearing huge smiles, Ella and Micah lean against the counters, with Jonah, Isaac, and Ava standing in front of them. My parents frame the picture-perfect moment as Mia continues to chatter about all the amenities.

I hug my husband and kiss his cheek. “When I saw this storefront had been rented, my heart dropped because it was the perfect place to set up shop. How did you do this without me knowing about it?” I ask. “More importantly, how did you afford it, Finn? I would have seen the withdrawal in our bank account.”

I had planned on renting the space as soon as the check cleared from the sale of the house. I had an offer in hand when the “Space for Rent” sign had been taken down.

Finn holds up a finger, gesturing for me to wait. He walks over to the front and waves someone inside. A few seconds later, Daniel enters with Amanda at his side. Finn slings an arm over Daniel’s shoulder. “I can’t take credit for the rental. It’s all Daniel with that one.”

Amanda beams at Daniel and then kisses his cheek before leaving him alone with us. Daniel swallows hard as he glances around the room. “I wanted to right a wrong,” he says. “I couldn’t buy the restaurant back for you, Bailey, but I could give you this. I used my half from the sale of the house to lease the space for you for the next three years. It was the least I could do, and I owed it to you and the girls.”

Daniel has come a long way in the six months he’s been home, and his relationship with our daughters has become closer than ever. He and Amanda have been coming to church, and it has been a miraculous turnaround for my ex. I hug Daniel. “Thank you. You didn’t have to do this because I already forgave you. But I’m grateful that you did. At Christmas, you told me that you wanted to be a good man and a good father. You’ve succeeded, Daniel. I’m happy to call you a friend.”

He embraces me back. “Thank you for that.”

I step out of Daniel’s hold and slide my arms around Finn’s waist. I tell everyone that we’ll be back in a minute and drag my husband behind me to the kitchen area.

Finn picks me up and sets me on the counter, nestling himself between my legs and caging me in with his arms. I don’t hesitate to lace my fingers in his hair and pull his lips toward mine. As our mouths crash together and our tongues dance in harmony, I know that my place is here in his arms. After a few minutes of showing our appreciation for one another, Finn slows down and nips my lower lip. I always love it when he does that. “Was Ava right?” he asks.

“Right about what?”

He waves his hand around the kitchen and toward the front, where our family is still waiting for us. “Is this the best surprise ever?”

I tilt my head and smile at the enthusiasm in my husband’s eyes. “It’s a very close second.”

Finn scrunches his nose. “What could be better than this?”

I pull out a small, wrapped box and hand it to him. “This.” I watch as he unwraps the gift, and it takes him a moment to register what I’m giving him.

His eyes meet mine, and they’re filled with tears. “You’re right. This is so much better.” He takes off toward the front of the store, waving the gift high above his head like a child who got their most wanted toy at Christmas. It’s all I can do to keep up with him, but I’m too busy laughing as I push through the door that separates the kitchen from the lobby just as he shows off his present.

He whoops and hollers, holding the stick with two lines for everyone to see. “We’re going to have a baby! Best gift ever!”

There is a round of congratulations for us both and a group hug that consists of a dozen people. Once the announcement is made outside, fire engine horns blare and the townies go wild. The mayor shouts, “I guess I’m going to have to change the town sign to read population 3,500 plus 1!”

Finn laughs and kisses me before addressing the crowd. “I’d hold off on that, Mayor, because I plan to make our family even bigger!”

THE END