Finding Me in the Storm (Sweet Christmas Kisses)

Epilogue

Elaina

A Year Later

“You need to get out right here,” the man in the shared ride service replies.

“The cabin I’m headed for is still about a mile up the road,” I tell him, getting frustrated.

“No. Right here,” he demands. “Snow is falling fast, and I need to get home. You know it is the holidays, and my children will never forgive me should I get stuck out here.”

“I know it is the holidays. That is why I need to get to the cabin, which is still a short distance up the road. I must get it ready for all my family coming in later today for the holiday,” I plead with him.

“I am not risking it,” he says as he stops and points at the door. “You go. Or I will return you to the house in town where I picked you up.”

My truck had died today. No idea why, as the vehicle hasn’t given me a lick of trouble in years, but of course, on this day when everyone is due in for Christmas—it wouldn’t even turn over. Now, this lunatic driver is trying to dump me in the wilderness with fresh snow falling. I’m going to need to hike to the cabin and risk that I’m not there to greet everyone, or worse, dinner isn’t ready. Hangry, sleep-deprived travelers are not a good start to this holiday.

“Out now,” the man demands.

“Fine,” I grumble. “I know this area well enough; I should be able to hike to the cabin,” I tell myself, bolstering my spirits for the hike ahead.

I miscalculated, I realize, the second I sink into the fresh snow. The man spins his tires, trying to leave me behind, as I mutter angrily and hit at the snow, swallowing me to above the knees.

I pull my phone from my pocket and realize it’s dead. “That’s crazy. I charged it,” I mumble angrily.

Not again! I don’t have much time until Nate is here with his parents. Mine will also be at the resort within a few hours, and I was trying to get the cabin ready. I have dinner planned for everyone. The last thing I need is a grueling hike to the cabin, but a series of unfortunate events makes that look like my only option.

I put one foot in front of the other. At least I’m used to dressing for the weather now and won’t freeze to death, I tell myself silently. I put my foot into the snow, and it goes so deep, I yank it back with a force I didn’t measure out well and plop! Onto my backside, I go, right in the cold, damp snow.

“Come on.” I hit the ground next to me with my hands.

“I will not lose it,” I order myself as I rise from the ground. “You have all the survival skills needed for this short walk. Now, don’t you cry or let this break you,” I give a small pep talk as I pull the coat up under my chin.

The white flakes are falling so hard that I can barely see my hand in front of my face when I lift it up. The tiniest bit of fear creeps into my midsection as I command my feet to move. I’m definitely worried now that I might not make it in time to the cabin to greet everyone.

“What do you think you are doing?” A man’s voice booms as I startle at the intrusion.

I turn with a giggle to find Nate, Luna, my parents, and his mother next to his father, all staring at me with the biggest grins. I’m pretty sure they might have seen the start of my tantrum. I stand, trying to act normal, and hope no one says a word. Then it dawns on me that something is off as they aren’t even supposed to be here yet, and this seems fishy to me that they are all together.

“What in the world is going on?” I ask as I notice Luna laughing behind her mittens.

“You did it again. You sent me out here as a joke?” I demand, as I finally have a few mental puzzle pieces fall into place.

“Maybe.” She shrugs. “I mean, killing the phone battery by coming in last night when you let me stay and unplugging it was easy. Then I had to pay Juan to abandon you right at that spot in the snow was perfection—you have to admit I got you.”

I just shake my head with a growl, “How did you manage my truck?”

“Well, Dr. Hawthorne, if you had climbed under the hood, you would notice the battery was not connected,” Luna adds as I roll my eyes at her.

“Were you all in on this?” I ask Nate, as I also encompass my parents with a confused look.

“I thought it would be fun to get you in a little prank.” My mother grins widely at me.

“Wow, I’m not even sure how to react to that,” I mutter.

My mother and Luna have become best of friends in the last year with both of them living in Chicago. My mother is relaxing and taking more time away from her practice, and I think that is great. We still make an effort to talk every week, and the conversations have become much deeper now that I have time to devote to our relationship.

“You all are the worst,” I say as I turn toward Nate.

He is bent with a hand extended toward me and a perfect diamond in a velvet box. My lungs hurt as I gasp in the cold air, and I finally see all the puzzle pieces fall into place. My hands cup my mouth as tears rise up in my eyes.

“I had to let Luna plan this one last little joke on you,” he teases. “You know she was instrumental in making me see her best friend as the woman I could love when she arranged to strand us in a cabin in a blizzard a year ago now.”

“I did not expect that much snow, but it worked out,” Luna offers with a big laugh from the group.

“This last year has been nothing short of amazing, and I adore the moments we get to spend together. You challenge me to be better, and I continue to get you to step outside your comfort zone. You bring our families together, build memories every day at my side, and make life so much more than I ever dreamed possible,” Nate says. “Right here in front of the people we love most, promise me, you will be my wife.”

“That sounds like an order,” I tell him. “You know how well I take those.”

“Yeah, like us trying to convince her a lucrative job in Chicago was better for her,” my father calls out.

“Or telling my son that maybe he would get burnt out from modeling. Little did I realize a ski resort was his backup plan,” Nate’s father adds.

I love all these amazing souls. Luna for her practical jokes and steady friendship no matter our current locations in the world. My parents for shepherding me to the best career and finally giving me the freedom to use that skillset the way I want to help make the world a better place. Nate’s parents for always encouraging and being the loving extended family I always wished for. Most of all, Nate for being someone I fell in love with one wintery day, and now can’t spend time away from, as he is my better half in all the ways that count.

“I love you too,” I tell him gently. “This has been the most amazing year of my life, and the second-best Christmas ever is just starting. Of course, I will marry you,” I tell him as he launches from the snow to grab me and spin me in circles.

I feel the ring fall into place on my finger as he kisses me soundly.

“Can we go get out of this cold now?” my mother asks. “I might have just started to agree that Nate is the man for you, but I can change my mind if he freezes us all to death.”

“There is a walk right there.” Nate points about ten feet in front of them. “It takes us right to the cabin.”

“That would have been good information to have,” I mutter as I glance at Luna. “You better be done with playing practical jokes on me. You’ve tried to kill me with snow twice now.”

“Nate would never let that happen,” Luna says, putting her arm around my waist. “You have to admit, I had you going today.”

“I thought ‘not again,’ as I began beating the snow.” I laugh.

“Yep. I even called your parents and ensured they made it out here early,” Luna says. “I think your mom is warming up to all this new crazy in your life.”

“Wait until we tell her we intend to get married on a ski slope,” Nate says.

“Maybe hold that one until after the holiday,” Luna says as we all link arms and head for the cabin. “I do love all the upgrades you two managed on the cabin this year. The second little guest bungalow is an amazing touch as well. Your parents love having their own space, but your dad did say he enjoyed how close we all would be for karaoke later.”

“NO—no—no,” I tell her as Luna giggles, and I glance up to find Nate shrugging at me.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my new role with Doctors Without Borders and the concierge service this year. Nate and I rehabbed the little family compound property and all the cabin upgrades to accommodate everyone for dinners. The new bungalow expands how many people can stay close together for these special occasions, and I’m excited about our new round of news this year. I glance down at my finger, where Nate managed to slip the ring.

As we near the cabin, Luna darts ahead of us to join everyone else.

“You know I love you,” Nate tells me as he swings me around, hands on my hips. “I’m going to love you until we are too old to get out in the snow.”

“Never going to happen. I’m always going to follow you into whatever adventure you seek, and this place full of snow is top of your list,” I tell him as he sweetly kisses my lips. “I love you more than I could ever imagine, and I’m certain it will only grow in the coming years.”

“Merry Christmas, my fiancée,” Nate whispers.

“Merry Christmas,” I sigh as he kisses me firmly, sealing our promise of many more amazing years to come.

THE END