Epilogue
OPERATION: NEWLYWED
Hammy
One year later
“ I think everything is ready!” Annette says as she opens the oven.
“ Here , I’ve got this,” I say, making sure not to step on Spark as I take the honey-glazed ham out of the oven. Annette pulls out the dish of scalloped potatoes, and I take out the roasted Brussels sprouts. Then Annette puts in the apple crisp so it’ll be cooked and slightly cooled by the time we eat it.
We’ve all been working together in the kitchen to prepare the meal— Annette and I , along with Reese and Dylan , Dylan’s wife, Jenna , their toddler daughter, Jovie , and their newborn son, Dax .
Well , technically Dax hasn’t been helping unless you count how great he is at “keeping spirits bright.” He’s only a few weeks old, and he’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. This is, hands-down, the best Christmas Eve I’ve ever had.
I put my arms around Annette , drop her into a dip, and give her a kiss. I mean for it to be a peck, but Annette presses her lips into mine like she wants us to stay like this forever, and it’s all I can do to lift her upright and pull away after a couple of seconds.
“ Get a room!” Jovie says in her cute little I -recently-learned-how-to-talk voice. Then she starts laughing uncontrollably, her little hands on her belly. Dylan , who’s setting the table, is trying to look like he’s innocent and didn’t just whisper to Jovie to say that.
Reese turns from where she’s putting buttery rolls into a basket at the counter and points at her brother. “ You guys can’t complain—you’re the ones who gave her the ‘ Kiss the Christmas Bride ’ apron.”
Annette and I got married two days ago, on the one-year anniversary of her seeing the real me. We had the ceremony and celebration at a rustic barn here in Cipher Springs . Everything was decorated in white, silver, and ice blue, with twinkling lights and candle-lit lanterns. We even had several cozy fires burning in outdoor pits where guests could gather with blankets and mugs of hot cocoa and cider as they socialized.
Sure , a snowstorm the morning of the wedding threatened to close roads, one of the songs for the dancing portion of the evening ( The Chicken Dance ) accidentally played as the bridesmaids and groomsmen walked down the aisle, and Jovie decided she was done being the flower girl halfway through sprinkling flower petals and chucked the basket, hitting a guest, but it made a perfect day all the more memorable. Everyone we love celebrated with us. Annette was a vision, and I’ll forever keep in memory the image of her across from me as we said our vows.
Reese , Dylan , Jenna , and the kids stayed here for the wedding and are staying through Christmas . Having everyone under one roof has been unlike anything I’ve experienced, and my life feels infinitely richer having experienced it now.
And the day after Christmas , we’ll be leaving on our honeymoon for a tropical adventure in French Polynesia .
We’re moving the serving platters to the table as Jenna comes in, holding the freshly-changed and awake little bundle of joy. “ I think Dax can tell it’s dinnertime because he’s awake and wanting attention.”
“ Of course he is,” I say. “ How about I hold him while you eat?” Jenna looks like she’s starving and truth be told, I’ve been snitching enough bites as we’ve been cooking that I have no problem waiting. Especially if it means holding Dax .
Jenna looks at the baby in her arms. “ Hey , sweetie. Do you want Grandpa to hold you?”
Grandpa . I’m beaming. I know I’m beaming. Being given that title is the coolest thing in the world.
She places him into my arms, and I cradle him so gently. Annette comes up to my side and we soak in how amazing this tiny person is and how great it is to be together. After we say grace and everyone starts dishing up and eating, I make faces and funny sounds at the little guy and let him wrap his hand around my finger.
“ You know,” I say, “ I saw a plaque once that said something along the lines of ‘ If I’d known that grandkids would be so much fun, I’d have had them first.’ Not that I’ve experienced it both ways, but I have to say this is a pretty great way to go about it.”
I meet Annette’s eyes and we both smile. I know she’s enjoying this day as much as I am. I’m going to snapshot today and keep it forever in memory, too.
I love my life. I wish I had found Annette when I was a young intelligence operative in the field and could tell myself a relationship was possible. My life would’ve been so different if she’d been in it all this time.
Although , maybe I needed to go through everything I did to become the right person for her. So I’ll just be grateful that I have her in my life now and going forward. Because something tells me I’ll be snapshotting in memory every day from here on out.