Christmas on Main Collection

Bonus Epilogue

Bonus Epilogue

TEN YEARS LATER

PAZ

Everything changed the moment she walked into my life. But even with nearly a decade of marriage under our belts, I’m still just as much in love with Aurora as I was that first Christmas we shared together.

“Daddy!” Peter runs full speed towards me on the sidewalk outside our shops.

I scoop him up in my arms and sprinkle his cheek with kisses, making him giggle. Lily is squirming in Aurora's arms, her little arms outstretched for me. She hates to let her brother get all the attention.

“Da—da—da,” she says.

I shift Peter in my arms so Aurora can hand her over to me. I'm well aware of the fact that one day they will be too big for me to carry like this, but holding each of my children in my arms is such a gift.

“Hey, babe.” Aurora pushes up on her toes for a kiss.

“I missed you.”

She smiles brightly, sending my heart racing. “It’s only been a few hours.”

“I know.”

“You are the sweetest man.” Aurora reaches into her pocket and pulls out her phone. She holds it up for us to take a selfie. “For the Christmas card.”

I've long since learned not to fight my wife about her love of documenting every moment in our lives and not just living it. She explained that one day, we will look back on these moments between us and our children and be so grateful it was captured.

Aurora holds up the phone to show me. We are all smiling—for the most part. The look on Lily’s face could pass as a smile, but to Aurora and me, we will know it’s the face she makes when she’s passing gas.

My family.

They are the best gift I could have ever asked for in this life.

It took me a while to work past my concerns about being a father. I didn't want to do to my children what my parents did to me. But the moment that Aurora handed me the positive pregnancy test, I knew that the generational curse was going to end with me. My children would never know a time that they weren't loved with my whole heart.

“Who’s ready to see Santa?” I ask.

“Me!” Peter throws his arms in the air in excitement.

Lily giggles in response to Aurora tickling her belly.

We walk together down Main Street towards the town's gazebo, where Dr. Hastings is reprising his role of Santa this year.

Lights and Christmas garlands hang on nearly every surface. Central Coast loves to outdo itself with decorations—especially since Christmas on Main was named the number one year-round Christmas shop destination on the West Coast. The number of tourists coming to town has jumped during the holiday season since Aurora and Allegra took over.

As we reach the town square, Peter runs off to get in line to see Santa. And some of the older ladies in town all fight over who gets to hold Lily first.

When it’s only the two of us, I wrap my arms around Aurora and pull her close to me. The familiar scent of vanilla and gingerbread fills my nose.

“We are in public,” Aurora laughs, looking down between us and then back up at my eager face.

She can feel how much I've missed her since heading off to work this morning.

"I can think of a few places no one would see us," I joke, but I'm surprised when Aurora looks around.

“Where?”

“Seriously?”

“No.” She pokes me in the side. “But Allegra and Van invited the kids over for a sleepover tonight. After the kids are gone, you can show me all the ways you love me.”

I lean down and press my lips against hers. It’s almost as amazing as the first kiss we shared. But this one is filled with so much more love and a decade of memories.

“What did I ever do in this life to deserve you?” I ask.

She chuckles. “You fell off a roof.”