Epilogue
Despite their mothers’ protests, Daisy and Charles were married on the ocean beach early in June on a warm, breezy day. Daisy wore a beautiful dress she crocheted herself and insisted on not wearing shoes. Charles stood proud and tall, with tears glistening in his eyes. He held Daisy’s hands in his own as they exchanged vows. Daisy wasn’t the only one fighting back emotion.
Hailey struggled to contain her own tears as she stood next to her sister. Daisy beamed with a profound sense of joy as she gave her life to Charles. The wind tousled her sister’s carefully braided hair and the scent of the sea wafted around the young couple. No one could doubt their love for each other.
With her heart full, Hailey’s gaze connected with Jay’s, who stood next to her parents. Julia had been terribly disappointed when Daisy insisted on a beach wedding. Her one hope seemed to rest on Hailey and Jay. Up until this point, they’d both been more involved in building his business and her songwriting career than any future plans.
With her teaching contract filled, Hailey got a small apartment in Seattle and concentrated on what she was born to do, and that was compose music. Most days she was in the studio with Jay. She found it hard to believe how her life could change so dramatically in such a short time. Jay worked hard to promote her music and was approached by Carrie Underwood’s team about the Christmas song. The wildly popular singer was also interested in several of Hailey’s other compositions and agreed to work with Jay’s production company. This was the break Jay had been waiting for that set him on the road to attracting other big-name artists.
Before Hailey realized it, the holidays were upon her again. Her parents invited Thelma to join Hailey and Jay for Christmas with them. Knowing how bustling Podunk was during the holiday season, Hailey was surprised when Thelma agreed. Jay offered to collect her, but Thelma, being fiercely independent, insisted on driving herself. She arrived early Christmas Eve day. Hailey was pleased to see her.
The three drove to her parents’ Tacoma home for dinner that evening. After dinner, they all gathered in the family room before leaving for Christmas Eve service at the church.
“Well,” Thelma said, directing the comment to her son. “Get on with it.”
“On with it?” Hailey asked, unable to understand.
“Mom, all in good time.”
“Seems like a perfectly good time to me. Right, Julia?”
“None better,” Hailey’s mother agreed, grinning from ear to ear. Frowning, Hailey glanced toward Jay. To her amazement, he stood and then knelt down on one knee in front of her.
“I’m not an intuitive man, Hailey. It’s not anything I’ve experienced in my life, and yet the first day I saw you with that guitar in your hand, my heart knew.”
His words warmed her because she’d experienced much the same feeling. Meeting Jay had changed the entire course of her life. He and the work they did together was the dream she’d never dared to hope would come true.
“A chill went through me that day,” he continued, “and for a moment it felt as if my heart had stopped beating. I don’t have the words to explain it. I could write a dozen songs and they would never be able to express how deeply you’ve impacted my life.”
And her life, too, but he didn’t give Hailey a chance to speak before he continued.
“That immediate sense of knowing you were the woman I’d been waiting my entire adult life to meet hit me like running into a brick wall. My heart and my head collided, and in that instant, I realized the woman sitting in that cabin was destined to be my soulmate.” Hailey’s heart was so full she felt it was about to burst.
“I stared at you for the longest moment and was completely and utterly speechless. Then later, when I learned the video had gone viral, I understood every major production company would be seeking you out. I was certain I didn’t stand a chance. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you. Losing you personally. That you chose to sign with me is a gift I will never forget. I thank God every day that you chose to work with me.”
“How could I not, when you already owned my heart?”
“You’ve owned mine for far longer. I want to marry you, Hailey. I’m asking you to be my wife, for us to write music together for the rest of our lives.”
Like Jay, she’d known soon after their meeting that her heart belonged to him and always would.
He removed the diamond ring from his pocket, and even before she could agree, he reached for her hand. “What do you say?”
“Y-e-s,” she’d nearly shouted, too excited to hold back her happiness.
Her mother sobbed and Thelma handed her a tissue before reaching for one herself. “It took you long enough,” she said, and sniffled, pretending it was a winter cold.
Hailey’s mother wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “This is the best Christmas ever.”
Hailey had to agree as she tossed her arms around Jay’s neck and kissed him, letting him know without saying the words that she would be honored to be his wife, his soulmate, his partner, through all the days of their life. They were lost in each other, and it was her mother who brought them back to the present.
“Listen, you two, I’ve been doing some thinking,” her mother said, tossing the tissue aside. “We are going to need all of the next year to properly plan this wedding.”
Hailey should have known her mother would leap on this proposal, ready to tackle every detail. “Mom, I’ve been engaged less than five minutes.”
Her mother ignored her. “A Christmas wedding would be perfect, don’t you agree, Thelma?”
“Whatever they want,” Thelma said, grinning.
“Mom,” Hailey said, wanting to stop her before she went on a tangent. “Jay and I will set the date soon, I promise.”
“Christmas would be perfect.” Not waiting for them to answer, she continued. “Leave it to me,” her mother said. “I know the exact location that would be perfect. We’ll decorate with poinsettias and the wedding colors will be red and white and—”
“Mom,” Hailey protested again. Only this time Jay stopped her. “That sounds perfect, Julia. I can’t think of a better season for Hailey and I to marry than Christmas.”
“See,” her mother chirped. “I always knew you were the perfect husband for our Hailey. Leave everything to me.”
And so they did.