Second Chance Holiday (Spruce Crossing Christmas Book 2)

Epilogue

One Year Later

Rupert jumps up from his pillow by the couch and howls, his fluffy tail swinging as he rushes toward the front door.

“Down, Rupert,” Christian orders the dog as his mother approaches my front door.

Instantly, my Golden sits, his tail flopping wildly as we move to respond to the door before the doorbell can send the animal into another tailspin.

“I don’t know why he listens to you and not me,” I complain.

“I’m the animal whisperer,” Christian replies slyly, opening the door to allow his mother inside. Mason and Mia hurry in behind her, and we usher the trio inside as a frigid gust of wind follows.

“Don’t close the door!” Mia warns, handing me a casserole dish. “Violet’s right behind me.”

True to her word, Violet slips up the walkway, her head bowed down behind the other guests as they shed their boots and coats in my entranceway and squeaks as she slips.

“You made it!” I chuckle, reaching for her arm when she’s within reach.

“Just barely,” Violet complains. “The roads are pure ice!”

“She’s not wrong,” Mason concedes when I finally close the door and take the wine bottle from Violet’s hands. “The salt trucks haven’t been by.”

“They’re probably making sure Main Street is clear first. They will be here soon,” I tell them. It’s the first Friday after Thanksgiving, and the Christmas season has finally begun, so Main Street is filled with people.

Rupert bounces from guest to guest, licking and sniffing until he gets his fill of attention, and all of us settle in the cozy living room.

The fireplace roars when Christian tosses another log on, and Mrs. Hargrove moves to the kitchen to take control. I immediately jump up, and Christian winks at me. “Go easy on her. She wants to keep busy.”

“I hope she lets me help this time,” I snicker. “She usually banishes me from helping when we do get-togethers.”

“I’ll help, too,” Violet offers, heading into the other room with me. I’m glad she’s here, our relationship so much stronger over the past year since I returned to Spruce Crossing.

“Where’s Ethan, dear?” Mrs. Hargrove asks Violet, and I smother a laugh, catching Violet’s murderous gaze at the question. Usually, I’m the one teasing her about her best friend.

“I imagine he’s at the hardware store, Mrs. Hargrove. It is the busiest shopping day of the year, after all,” she answers sweetly, casting me a terrible look.

“He’s a nice boy,” Mrs. Hargrove comments, laying out cheese and crackers on a plate. I tell her I already have a board made up, but she doesn’t seem to hear me as she continues speaking to Violet. “He was so helpful when Christian was rebuilding his office. He’s so handy!”

“Yeah, he is,” Violet sighs.

“Wine, Violet?” I offer brightly, and she nods. I poke my head into the living room. “Wine, everyone?”

“Sure!” comes the collective response.

Christian suggested this last-minute dinner to kick off the holiday season. As I glance at the faces of my loved ones around me, I feel a rush of affection and contentment.

I notice Christian isn’t there, and I turn to grab enough glasses for all of my guests.

“When does your mom’s flight get in?” Mrs. Hargrove asks.

“Tomorrow morning,” I say, reaching for the wine glasses. “She’ll be here by noon.”

The past year has taken some work, but my mom and I are once again on good terms. And this is her third visit this year. She will be coming again for Christmas, too.

“Why don’t you sit down, dear?” Mrs. Hargrove says to me. “You work so hard all day. I’ll handle the snacks and drinks.”

“Oh, no—” I barely finish my sentence when I’m being steered back into the living room by my friend.

To my utter shock, the lights have all been turned out, with only the light of the fireplace and a heart shape of candles laid out over the thick area rug by the hearth.

“What is this?” I ask nervously, looking from one face to another. Violet takes my hand and guides me into the center of the heart as Christian descends the stairs.

My hand falls to my heart as I read his expression. “Ava,” he begins, approaching.

Violet slips back to join the others, but I can see nothing but Christian’s tender face. “I let you go once when we were young, and I spent a decade regretting that decision. Maybe I didn’t consciously realize it every minute of every day, but I know now that you were always the missing puzzle piece of my life.”

Tears flood my eyes as he produces a red velvet box and kneels before me, his eyes never losing connection with mine. “I would be a fool to ever let you go again. That’s why I am asking you, in front of all those we love best, if you will be my wife.”

One tear slips down my cheek as I, too, fall to my knees, my arms wrapping around his neck as I nod, unable to find my voice.

“I think she said yes,” Mason hoots out, and I sniff.

“Yes! I said yes!” I choke as our friends and Christian’s mother cheer happily.

We share a kiss, and Christian slides the magnificent diamond on my finger, my entire body trembling with joy.

Rupert barks and squeezes himself between us, not wanting to be left out.

“Merry Christmas, baby,” Christian whispers, holding the base of my neck, our foreheads pressed together. “I love you.”

Love Christmas romances? Read all about Violet and Ethan in Fake Relationship for Christmas!

Fake Relationship for Christmas

When my best friend, Ethan, proposes a fake engagement to help ease the pressure he’s getting from his family, I eagerly agree. I mean, how hard can it be?

Turns out, really hard.

As we play the perfect couple, I start seeing Ethan differently, and feelings I”ve buried for years begin to surface. But falling for my best friend wasn”t part of the plan, and it could ruin everything.

When secrets come out and new opportunities threaten to tear us apart, we have to decide if our fake relationship is worth fighting for, or if it”s time to call it quits before we lose more than just our pretend engagement.