Inheritance for Christmas (Holly Ridge Christmas #1)

Epilogue

AVERY

Eleven Months Later

The Weekend Before Thanksgiving

I breathe out as Blake’s truck pulls into the lot, but his lateness makes parking impossible now. Pursing my lips, I pace the storefront, waiting for him to circle around the back and head inside.

“Sorry, sorry,” he says, kissing my cheek when he catches my mildly panicked expression. “I know I’m late. I can’t believe there’s nowhere to park. Didn’t we just add ten new spaces out there for the farmer’s market?”

“It’s obviously not enough,” I reply, almost unable to hide the glee from my voice. It’s a nervous happiness, though, the overwhelming response to our first tree-lighting ceremony surprising me. Cars are parked illegally on Maple Lane, and I’m mildly concerned that the sheriff might come by to complain. I say as much to Blake, who laughs aloud.

“I’m pretty sure I just saw him out there, too, waiting in the crowd,” he replies nonchalantly. “Don’t worry about people getting tickets.”

Relieved, I exhale.

He drops the crate of beeswax on the counter and glances toward the group gathered around the bull pine out front. “Wow, it’s full out there already, huh?”

My anxiety dissipates as I take in the turnout of onlookers. “I know,” I agree, nodding happily, opening the crate to stock up the shelves. “And we advertised for seven. We still have half an hour, so you’re not even late.”

He flashes me a smile. “I know. But I told you I’d be back with these by six. I got sidetracked at the honey farm. You know how they love to talk over there.”

“It’s fine.”

Blake casts me a sidelong look, and I flash him a warm smile. “I don’t want to jinx us or anything, but it looks like we’re doing something right around here.”

He returns my grin as the door opens and Sadie Brennan enters, stomping snow off her faux fur boots.

“Brr, it’s a cold one tonight,” she shivers, rubbing her oversized mittens. “Those heating lamps outside were a great idea. You guys thought of everything.” She gives me a brilliant white smile. “Do you have a minute to talk about the schedule before the tree-lighting ceremony?” She glances at Blake. “Do you mind, Blake? Can I borrow her for a minute?”

“Hm? Oh, go ahead. I have to check on the crane, anyway,” he replies. My eyes narrow slightly at his tone, something off about the way he spoke. But as I turn to look at him, he’s already heading out the door, and Sadie pulls a crumpled piece of paper from her coat pocket.

“I hate to be a pain, Avery, but you see how you have the Mommy and Me classes booked directly after my meditation workshop on Thursdays…”

Sadie and I pore over her complaints, and I promise to rework the schedule so her sessions won’t be interrupted by shrieking toddlers.

“I really hate to bring this to you,” she apologizes again, and I hold up my hand with a laugh.

“I’m glad you’re telling me this, Sadie,” I tell her honestly. “I want everyone to be happy at Holly Forest. That’s what we stand for. Harmony.”

A pleased grin touches her face. “Yes! Harmony!” she concedes excitedly. “That’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? Especially at this time of the year.”

Her words dampen my good mood as my eyes fall on the maple-leaf shaped clock behind the counter. “Oh, no!” I gasp. “I have to get out there for the ceremony. It’s almost seven!”

“Oops!” she murmurs. “I kept you!”

Together, we hurry toward the door, and I’m relieved to find Blake gathering the healthy crowd of onlookers around the bull pine as he stands next to the basket crane.

“…history and Holly Ridge’s heritage. Mr. and Mrs. Dawson started this farm when they were first married, almost sixty years ago. When they first—oh, here’s Avery. She can tell the story better than I can,” Blake cuts himself off, extending his hand toward me. “Come on up here, partner.”

I crunch through the snow as the crowd parts, a burst of applause making me laugh.

“Oh, stop,” I titter. “You all know me. I’m Avery Dawson, granddaughter of the original owners, as Blake just said. And like he just said, my grandparents owned this place from conception, focusing exclusively on raising coniferous trees of all kinds and providing Holly Ridge with the best Christmas trees in the area—possibly in all of Montana.”

Someone hoots and whistles.

“I’ll accept applause for that,” I call out, and the group snickers and claps loudly.

“But Blake and I got thinking last year,” I continue. “That, like the trees, Holly Ridge has so many other hidden gems. There are the craftsmen like Blake himself, like my grandfather, who were whittlers and furniture makers. They never had stores, but they made gorgeous pieces that definitely deserved to be seen. There are beekeepers who have too much honey and beeswax that just goes to waste, and candle makers. This entire town is filled with talent that deserves to be seen and acknowledged. We hunted down all of that talent and brought it here, to Holly Forest. It can all be found under one roof now, here at the Holly Forest Store. Over the past year, we’ve done our best to provide a space for those artisans and vendors, along with the service providers who want to use our beautiful barn for their workshops and programs. Now, I can’t claim we’ve found everyone, but we have done our best. So if you know of anyone else hiding out, you make sure to send them our way, and we will make room for them.”

I take in the appreciative smiles and nods. “Thank you all for being here tonight for our first annual tree-lighting ceremony. Blake and I will go up in the basket crane and place the star at the top together now.”

Blake opens the door to the crane and takes my hand, helping me inside. The lift operator gives us the thumbs up, and we’re slowly rising upward, waving to the group below.

“Should we give them a queenly wave?” I joke, turning to Blake. But he’s not standing beside me anymore. Frowning, I look down, not immediately cluing into what he’s doing. I gasp aloud. On one knee, he peers up at me, holding a red velvet ring box in his hand, arms extended. My heart stops, and I gape at him, but he speaks before I can compose myself.

“Avery, this past year has been the best of my life,” he tells me huskily. “I didn’t realize just how much I needed to let go of my insecurities about the future until I met you, but you showed me how exciting it could be to take chances.”

“Oh, Blake…”

His smile broadens, and he leans forward. “You have to let me finish or I’m going to forget it all,” he begs. I clamp my mouth closed, swallowing the lump forming in my throat.

“You also taught me a lot about trees,” he muses, and I laugh, choking slightly. “I’m already over the moon happy, but do you think you could make me just a little bit happier by becoming my wife?” he asks. Tears of joy blur my vision, and I nod vehemently, unable to speak the words aloud as I reach down to pull him up, embracing him tightly.

“Oh, thank goodness,” he whispers in my ear, his arms encircling me as he pulls the ring from the box. “I was worried I was going to humiliate myself in front of all of Holly Ridge.”

“No, you weren’t,” I snicker, sniffling as we draw back. He pulls my leather glove from my finger, and he slips the ring onto my finger. The diamond sparkles in the darkness. “You know I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

Our eyes meld together, and someone yells from below. “Did she say yes?”

Blake wrenches his eyes away. “She said yes!”

The crowd hollers, and the bull pine explodes with light, illuminating the front of Holly Forest in a brilliant array of colors. Blake places the glittering silver star at the top and signals the operator to bring us down, our fingers twining as we descend.

“Is this why you were acting so weird in the store?” I ask.

“You could tell, huh? I asked Sadie to distract you for a minute. I wanted to make sure I got everything in order.”

I kiss his cheek and smile. “It was perfect.”

We’re immediately surrounded by well-wishers, the women admiring over my sparkling diamond, but I can’t stop looking at Blake across the lot, his eyes locked on me, too. I’m so happy, nothing can ruin the moment.

“Avery!”

The cheerful chatter around me fades, replaced by the familiar sharpness of my mom’s voice cutting through the crowd. My smile falters, and my stomach knots instantly.

“Mom?” I croak, spinning around to see her approaching with a look of determination on her face. “W-what are you doing here?”

She walks toward me, her expression softened by something I can’t quite place. There’s a hesitance as she reaches me, her gaze flicking briefly to my hand. “You’re engaged?” she asks, gently taking my hand to study the ring. “Is that what happened?”

“Uh… yes,” I say, swallowing hard. “If I’d known you were coming, I would have introduced you. His name is Blake Markham. He’s…” My eyes scan the sea of faces, but Blake has vanished into the group of well-wishers, leaving me standing in front of her. “He’s a good man.”

I brace myself for her usual critical comment, but instead, she smiles softly. “He better be. No one’s ever going to be good enough for my only daughter, you know.”

Her words catch me off guard, and I blink in surprise, staring at her. “Wait… what? You’re not going to say something… you know, harsh?”

She chuckles softly, her gaze meeting mine for a long moment. “I might not say everything right, Avery, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care. I love you, kid. What, you thought I was going to ruin your moment?”

“I-I don’t know, Mom,” I admit quietly, my voice faltering. “We haven’t really talked much lately. You’ve been so distant, and when we do talk, it’s like you’re always rushing to hang up.”

She looks down, her voice softening. “I know. I haven’t been the best about that. I wasn’t thrilled about you staying out here, on this farm, but… I miss you, Avery. Last Christmas without you? It felt empty. I don’t want another holiday like that. So I’m here now. I rented out a house for the month. Let’s just enjoy it.”

Her words break something loose inside me, and before I can stop myself, I throw my arms around her, hugging her tightly. She grunts in surprise but lets out a small laugh, wrapping her arms around me in return, albeit awkwardly. “Okay, okay, this is definitely making a big deal out of it,” she teases, her tone much lighter now.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” I whisper against her shoulder, my heart swelling with emotion. “And you’re going to love Blake, I promise.”

“I’m sure I will,” she says, though her gaze wanders back toward the farm. “This place… it looks incredible, so much better than the last time I saw it. Is this all you?”

I shrug modestly, a small smile tugging at my lips. “I had some help. My business partner’s pretty amazing.”

Looping my arm through hers, I guide her toward the store, pointing out the upgrades and changes as we walk. My heart feels lighter, like it’s been pieced back together. For the first time in a long time, it finally feels like Christmas—warm, whole, and filled with love.

Keep Reading the Holly Ridge Christmas Series