Mistletoe Magic (Evergreen Lake: Under the Mistletoe)

Epilogue

epilogue

HOLLY

It had been two years since I’d broken down in Evergreen Lake and I’d never looked back. Noelle and I had packed up our lives and made the move permanently. Chris had moved out of his apartment above the garage, and we lived in a small home on the outskirts of town with views overlooking the lake.

“Hurry up, Mom, we'll be late,” Noelle complained.

She was standing by the front door all dressed and ready to go. My eight-year-old daughter who was going on eighteen. She was as feisty as they came, but she was also smart and kind so I was okay with that.

She’d taken the move so well. Her grades had never been better, and she made a good group of friends.

I made it to the mud room and finished getting ready.

“Where’s Dad?” Noelle asked.

“He’s meeting us there,” I assured her.

A few months ago, Noelle asked Chris if she could call him dad. The man cried, and hugged her, and promised he’d be the best dad a girl could ever ask for. I knew it was one promise he’d never break .

“Let’s go then. We don’t want to miss it!”

“I’m coming. I’m coming,” I repeated, patting my pocket to make sure I had my keys and phone.

Tonight was the Christmas tree lighting in the square. It had become a tradition that each year, we went and watched the tree being lit up for the first time before wandering down to the festival. Tonight, though, I had something special planned, a little surprise for my husband.

Last Christmas, Chris and I got married. It was a small ceremony by the lake with just our friends. My father and wife number four, Alicia, were too busy in France or maybe it was Switzerland to make it back, so Noelle and I walked down the aisle together. It was just us, and it was perfect.

I drove into town with Noelle ignoring me every mile. She was definitely up to something, but she wouldn’t spill the beans. But I’d get it out of her. I always did.

I pulled up outside the garage and Noelle jumped out and darted inside. By the time I made it in, she was already tugging Chris’s hand trying to drag him out the door.

“Hold on a second. I need to lock up,” he told her, trying to calm her down. Yeah, good luck with that. All week, we’d promised her if she was good and cleaned her room, she could have hot chocolate and a candy at the tree lighting. What she didn’t know was that after the tree was all lit up, she was heading to her friend Dana’s house for a sleepover, giving Chris and me the house to ourselves.

Chris went and washed up, then pulled on his coat before coming over to greet me.

“Hey, beautiful.” He smiled, dropping a quick kiss on my cheek.

“Hey yourself.” This man still made my heart race. “Did you get everything finished that you wanted to?”

“Yep. All done.” He grinned, taking my hand in his. “You ladies ready?”

“I’ve been waiting forever,” Noelle whined dramatically.

Chris just chuckled. Thankfully he found her adorable. “Well, then let’s do it.”

He locked up and we walked down the street. The sidewalks were filled with families all bundled up and making their way toward the town square. The smell of fresh pine and roasted chestnuts filled the air, and everything looked like it was straight out of a Hallmark movie. Evergreen Lake really was beautiful, and tonight was no different.

As we approached the square, there were twinkling lights overhead. “Mom! I see Dana. Can I go please?” Noelle asked, batting her lashes at me.

I shook my head. “Go on,” I agreed as she scampered off.

Chris and I found a spot on the edge of the crowd. Standing behind me, Chris wrapped his arms around me and rested his head on my shoulder. “I can’t believe it’s just us tonight,” he murmured in my ear, the warmth of his breath tickling my neck.

“It sure is,” I confirmed.

“How’d I get so lucky?”

“Well, you haven’t yet, but play your cards right …” I replied, rubbing my butt against him, earning me a swift swat.

“You’re naughty,” he growled.

Ten minutes later, I was ready for them to flick the switch and get the show on the road. Noelle was happy. She had her hot chocolate and was giggling with Dana. I was cold, horny, and impatient.

After speeches that seemed to drag on forever, the tree was illuminated, and the crowd oohed and aahed appreciatively. It was pretty, even I had to admit that, but I had more exciting plans .

Chris, who’d transformed from the town Grinch to little mister joiner, waved good night to everyone, stopping to shake hands and accept thanks for all he’d done to make this year’s festival the best yet. It hadn’t opened yet, but he’d spent every night for the last two weeks working on it, determined to make it even bigger and better than last year.

Finally, when he’d managed to extract himself, he turned to me. “You ready to head home, Mrs. Douglas?”

“More than ready, Mr. Douglas” I replied with a smile.

“Let’s get out of here then.” Chris started guiding me toward the exit and to his workshop where our cars were waiting.

“Can we go this way? I want to see what you’ve been working on,” I asked.

Chris hadn’t once said no to me, and I knew tonight would be no different. Changing directions, we took the long way and made it to the festival. Standing outside the fenced area it looked sad and dark. Tomorrow, it would be bright and festive and filled with laughter, but tonight it was quiet. Perfect.

“Let’s go in,” I suggested, but Chris stood firm.

“Wait until tomorrow. We’ll come back when it’s open. Bring Noelle,” Chris countered.

“Or … we could go now just for us and come back tomorrow.”

“You’re up to something,” Chris called me out and I felt like I’d been busted.

For the last two weeks while he’d been busily assembling train tracks that wrapped around the festival, the newest addition, I’d been scheming myself. I’d recruited friends and neighbors, this had to come off now.

“Trust me,” I told him, tugging on his hand.

As we approached the arch that stood over the entry I felt the smile tug at my cheeks. Chris’s grip on my hand tightened .

“I wonder if there’s mistletoe there this year?” I asked, remembering our first kiss. It was one I’d never forget.

Chris led me under the arch and stopped. “Look up.”

As always, a bunch of mistletoe dangled from the arch, tied with a red ribbon.

“Guess you better kiss me then,” I told him, shifting into his arms. “It’s the rule.”

“You know I don’t like breaking the rules,” Chris replied with a grin before crushing his lips down on mine.

Even after all this time, Chris’s kisses had the ability to scramble my brain, curl my toes, and make my knees weak.

I opened my eyes, the festival was no longer dark. Fairy lights covered the whole place making it look magical. “Wow!” I whispered.

“Was that wow for my kiss or how good it looks?” Chris asked, his arm wrapped around my shoulder, holding me to him.

“Both.” I smiled, nuzzling into the crook of his neck. “Come on.”

Chris looked at me like he knew I was causing trouble, but played along. As we approached the sleigh, he saw it was filled with blankets and pillows. This year, the sleigh had undergone major improvements including the addition of a cushioned seat. I dropped his hand and climbed in.

“Holly, what are you doing?”

“Come on. Get in.”

“I don't think …”

“Good. Don’t think just get in.”

Chris looked around but there was no one in sight. I had no doubt our friends were lurking in the shadows, but for now, they were sticking to their side of the bargain.

Once he was in, I spread the blanket over us and snuggled against him. “This is nice,” I commented dreamily. I loved being in Chris’s arms. He was my home and my haven.

“It would be nicer at home in front of the fire with a lot less clothes,” Chris added.

“It would,” I agreed.

We sat there for a few moments, snuggled in silence, surrounded by everything that was good about the holidays.

After a while, Chris tightened his grip. “It’s nice. Just the two of us. I mean, I love Noelle, but the quiet is nice, too.”

Now was my moment. “The three of us.”

“Huh? Noelle’s with Dana.” Chris looked confused.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out a grainy image. “The three of us, Chris. You’re going to be a daddy,” I confirmed, the words clogging my throat.

“What? You’re? We’re?”

Watching him fall over himself was the sexiest thing ever. “Fuck, I love you so much. You, Holly Douglas, are my mistletoe miracle.”

The End

**********

The final book in the Evergreen Lake: Under the Mistletoe series is Jingle Balls by Rhian Cahill, be sure to check it out!