Silver Linings (Collier’s Creek Christmas)

19. EPILOGUE

2 years later

Cam

I lock up for the night, a smile already tugging at my lips. Turning up the collar of my coat against the crisp December breeze, I head down Main Street. Colorful lights twinkle from the shop windows and wreaths adorn every lamppost. The few locals I pass offer their hands in a wave, but I’m focused on one thing only—getting home.

A few snowflakes drift in the air, and I pick up the pace. The buildings thin out, stores replaced by houses. Another few blocks and I pass the school, then another block and our small cottage appears in view. We’ve been slowly fixing up the house over the past few years. We prioritized the kitchen and bathroom, but now, with Dad’s help, we’ve added a glass enclosed sunroom at the back and an extra bedroom. The fence and gate at the front is new, and I can’t wait for spring to see our carefully planned garden come into bloom.

The warm glow from the windows beckons me inside and I bound up the steps. As soon as I open the front door, I’m hit with the scent of the pine Christmas tree and the fragrance of a casserole. The sound of Greg singing greets me, and I smile, so glad to be home. After shedding my coat and scarf in the entryway, and toeing off my boots, I pad down the hall, drawn to the happy sounds coming from the kitchen. Peeking around the corner, I see Greg gently swaying back and forth singing “Count on Me” by Bruno Mars.

Our daughter Gemma is cradled in his arms.

He looks up and sees me, blue eyes crinkling as a radiant smile spreads across his face. In that moment, all the worries and stresses of the day melt away. Crossing the kitchen, I slide my arms around his waist from behind, pressing a tender kiss to his cheek before resting my chin on his shoulder. Together, we look down at Gemma, her rosebud lips parted, her blue eyes drooping as she nestles against Greg’s chest.

“How’s my favorite girl doing?” I ask, gently stroking Gemma’s silky cheek with the pad of my thumb. She’s an angel, and my heart melts just looking at her.

“Someone was missing her daddy,” Greg replies softly, turning his head to brush a kiss against my temple. “But I think she’s happy now that you’re home.”

I hum in contentment, feeling like my heart might burst with the sheer depth of my love for them. Moving in front of Greg, and mindful not to jostle the now sleeping Gemma, I lean in to capture his lips in a slow, deep kiss. He sighs, shifting Gemma to one arm, freeing the other to slide around my neck and melting against me.

Eventually we part. “That was one hell of a hello,” he says a little breathlessly.

I chuckle as we break apart, glad I still have that effect on him. “There’s more where that came from. After dinner—”

“Daddy!”

We turn toward the doorway just as Tommy comes barreling into the kitchen, his cheeks flushed and his eyes sparkling as he holds out a drawing.

“Daddy, Papa, guess what?” He’s practically vibrating with energy. “I finished my Christmas present for Aunt Madi!”

“Did you now?” I say, grinning at our son’s excitement. “I bet she’s going to love it, buddy.”

Tommy beams, bouncing on his toes. “Can we go give it to her now? Please, please, please?”

Greg chuckles, shaking his head. “How about we wait until Christmas morning? It’s only one more sleep.”

Tommy’s face falls for a moment, but then he perks up again, his attention caught by Gemma whose little fists are now waving in the air. “Can I hold her?” he asks, holding out his arms eagerly.

“Sure thing. Let’s sit down first,” Greg says.

Tommy thrusts his drawing at me, then races into the living room and launches himself onto the couch.

I laugh and use a magnet to attach the childish artwork to the fridge before following them.

In the living room, Greg sits beside Tommy and carefully transfers Gemma into his waiting arms, helping him to support her properly. “There you go, buddy. Gentle now, okay?”

Tommy nods, his big brown eyes solemn. He cradles his baby sister with a tenderness that makes my heart ache in the best way. “Hi, baby Gemma,” he says, pressing a kiss to her head. “I’m your big brother, Tommy. I’m gonna take care of you forever and ever.”

Greg looks up at me with shining eyes. My throat grows tight with emotion. In moments like these, surrounded by the three most important people in my world, remind me of just how lucky I am.

After a few moments, Tommy looks up at me, his brow furrowed. “Daddy, when will Gemma be big enough to play with me?”

I chuckle, ruffling his hair affectionately. “It’ll be a little while yet, buddy. She’s still really tiny right now.”

Tommy nods, considering this. “That’s okay. I can wait.” He grins suddenly, his face lighting up. “When she’s bigger, she can help decorate the Christmas tree.”

I glance over at the tree covered with strands of popcorn and crayon-colored paper chains, crafted by Tommy’s little hands—so different to our coordinated decorations of previous years. This one is so much better. I nod at Tommy. “We can all do it together.”

“And I’ll teach her all sorts of stuff, like how to build the best Lego towers and how to climb the big tree in the backyard.”

“I’m sure she’ll love that.” I exchange an amused glance with Greg over Tommy’s head. “But for now, why don’t we focus on getting you ready for your bath, hmm? It’s getting close to bedtime.”

Tommy sighs dramatically. “Okay, Daddy. But can we read two stories tonight? Pretty please?”

I pretend to consider his request, tapping my chin thoughtfully. “Hmm, I don’t know. What do you think, Papa? Should Tommy get two stories?”

Greg winks at me, playing along. “He’s been a very good boy today, and he was a big help with Gemma earlier. So yes, I think he deserves two stories.”

Tommy jumps up from the couch. “Yes! Two stories!” He grabs my hand, tugging me towards the bathroom. “Come on, Daddy, let’s go! The faster I take my bath, the faster we can read!”

Laughing, I allow myself to be pulled along, my heart overflowing with love for my little boy. I’m exhausted from a day on my feet, but never too tired to tackle bath time and bedtime stories. Soon Tommy is laughing and giggling in a cloud of bubbles.

A short while later, I see Greg with Gemma, disappearing into her room, the one painted in a soft muted sage green. When he reappears in the doorway, she’s swaddled in a soft blanket, her eyes drooping. “I’m going to put her down for the night, but thought you’d want to say goodnight.”

“You bet.” I drop a kiss to her forehead, breathing in that baby powder scent. When I look up, Greg’s looking at me with a smile that makes my chest flutter. I’m locked in his gaze until the sound of splashing and giggling reminds me that our energetic four-year-old is waiting. “Daddy!”

“Duty calls.” Greg chuckles. “I’ll get this little one settled in her crib, and you can make sure Tommy doesn’t flood the bathroom.”

“On it.” I steal a quick kiss before turning back to Tommy.

Tommy launches into excited chatter as he plays with his rubber bath toys, telling me about his day and all the adventures he’s had. He tells me about taking Gemma for a short walk and how it was so cold outside he could make smoke come out of his mouth like a dragon. He informs me that he did a puzzle with Papa, and they made soup and sandwiches for lunch. I listen with a full heart.

We’re so blessed that Greg can work from home and take care of the kids. Tommy attends preschool once a week and I’ve adjusted my schedule to make sure I have an extra full day at home too.

While Tommy plays and mumbles to himself, I gently wash his hair. I can hear Greg singing softly to Gemma as he puts her to sleep in the nursery. The image fills me with a warmth that radiates from my chest, a love so profound it takes my breath away. I never could have imagined, all those years ago when Greg and I first fell in love in high school, that we would end up here—married, with two beautiful children, living out our dreams in the small town of Collier’s Creek that we’ve always called home. But now, I can’t picture my life any other way.

The water is starting to cool as I rinse the last of the suds from Tommy’s hair and help him from the tub. After drying him off, I wrap him in a fluffy towel and pick him up. He nestles into my arms, his damp hair tickling my chin. I hug him closer, breathing in the familiar scent of bubblegum shampoo as I carry him to his bedroom. It doesn’t take long to help him into his favorite racing car pajamas, then he climbs onto the bed, reaching for the small pile of storybooks on the nightstand.

I sit beside him, back against the headboard and once Tommy is settled against my side I begin reading. The first book isn’t even finished when his eyelids grow heavy and his breathing slows. Closing the book, I stand and tuck him in. I run my fingers through his soft curls and press a gentle kiss to his forehead. “Sweet dreams, little man.”

With a last look at my sleeping son, I quietly pull the door ajar and step into the hallway. I pad softly back to the living room, where Greg is waiting for me on the couch. He looks up as I enter, his blue eyes shining with the same love and contentment that fills my own heart. Wordlessly, I settle beside him, wrapping my arm around his shoulders and pulling him close. It’s a quiet moment, just the two of us, the soft glow of the Christmas tree lights providing a warm ambience, and the only sound, the crackling of the fire burning in the grate behind the childproof barrier.

“We should get some dinner,” he eventually says.

“Yes,” I reply, but neither of us moves.

Greg snuggles closer, and as I sit there, with him next to me and our children sleeping peacefully, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am the luckiest man in the world.

Greg must be thinking the same thing. “Can you believe it, Cam? This is really our life now. Our family.”

I tighten my arm around his shoulders. “It feels like a dream sometimes, a dream come true.”

He moves in my arms to look at me. “I never imagined I could be this happy. You, Tommy, Gemma… you’ve given me everything I’ve ever wanted.”

Emotion clogs my throat, and I have to blink back sudden tears. “You’ve given me the same, babe. I couldn’t ask for a better partner or a more amazing father for our kids.”

Greg smiles, his eyes bright. The crackling fire casts dancing shadows on the walls. The twinkling lights reflect off the gifts under the Christmas tree. Tomorrow is Christmas Day and will be a day filled with family and friends, but right now, it’s just us. I pull him back against me and enjoy the simple warmth of his body and the rhythmic pattern of his breathing.

The peace isn’t to last. A soft cry breaks the silence. We hold our breath, but Gemma’s cries continue.

“I’ll go,” I say, reluctantly removing my arm from his shoulders and standing.

“No rest for the wicked,” he jokes and gets to his feet with a chuckle. “I guess I’ll start dishing up the casserole. Hey, Cam.” His words stop me at the doorway. He holds my gaze with those amazing blue eyes of his. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” I say, a grin on my face. And I mean it from the bottom of my heart.

I love everything about this man and the beautiful, chaotic, wonderful life we have.

Want more of Cam and Greg and their foster son, Tommy? Read on for a bonus chapter to see how Tommy came into their lives.