Chapter Thirty-One
Ivy
Okay, it’s just Emmy.” Jace looks as if he is about to be sick. “We can do this.” His mood has taken a sharp turn from how it was at Sparrow’s Beret just a bit ago, where we told our overjoyed friends the news that Jace is staying for good, and he drank two more coffees.
“Jace . . .” I laugh. “Are you seriously concerned that Emmy isn’t going to be happy about this?” I motion between us. We’re on our way to Angie’s apartment to officially tell Emmy about our relationship, and Jace’s nerves have fully set in.
My words seem to reset his frame of mind. Instantly, he relaxes with a sigh, reaching up to tug on his hair. I want to touch it, but he’s too tall for me to reach the top when standing, so I wait, turning my attention back to the task at hand.
“No, of course not. I know she’ll be thrilled. I just . . .” He lets out a breath like he’s blowing out imaginary candles. “It took everything in me to care for Emmy after Jenna. I don’t know what I’d do if—”
“Bear, look at me.” He does, and the boyish way he grins at my term of endearment radiates warmth. “We can’t control the future, but I’m yours. You’re mine. We have to choose not to let fear or regret lead us. We must keep choosing love.”
Jace nods. “You’re right. All right, let’s get my little bear cub and tell her.” Kicking off his shoes at the entryway, he steps into the hallway. “Emmy Bear!”
“Daddy!” her little voice chimes through the air with happiness.
“I’ve got Miss Ivy with me!”
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” She’s already jumping up and down when she appears. Her Christmas performance outfit has been put on again, and makeup leftover from dress-up lingers on her face. Angie appears after her with an affectionate smile and a shake of her head.
“She won’t take it off.” She looks at me with a laugh.
“I remember those days.”
Emmy has already jumped into Jace’s arms, and he holds her close then sets her back on the floor a moment later.
She turns to me next, running toward me and nearly knocking me over.
She’s used to throwing herself into her dad’s arms, but I’m clearly not built like that mountain of a man.
We topple over, my shock and her laughter causing me to start laughing too.
“Oof! You got me.”
She giggles and attempts to help me up, but it’s really Jace who pulls us both up together with one tug.
“Angie, you can join us for this too,” he says to his sister. “We have something to share.” Jace wraps his hand around mine before kneeling on the floor to get to Emmy’s level. “Emmy,” he says with a smile, using his free hand to hold hers.
Her fingers are so tiny in his and bring up memories of my own dad’s kindness, guiding me through life and encouraging me to follow my dreams. Jace is so different from my dad, yet he has so many of his good qualities that I know I’ve found the best sort of man to give my trust and love.
“Ivy—Miss Ivy—and I care about each other very much. And I really want her to be a part of our lives as more than your dance teacher.” He pauses to let her process his words.
Emmy’s brow furrows, and my heart rate escalates. “Would you two get married?” Her voice is only curious.
“I would like to marry her one day.” He steals a glance at me, and I know my smile is radiant.
Emmy hums and nods, and her tulle skirt swishes. “And would you two kiss and stuff like that?”
I hold back a laugh, but Jace’s mouth just hitches up in a maddeningly attractive way. “We would. And stuff like that.” At the last words, he looks my way with a wink.
Oh. My. Stars. Thankfully, he faces Emmy again and misses my face turning the same shade as my red lipstick.
“And would she live here?”
“Well, not here.” Jace glances up at his sister, who has tears in her eyes as she watches us silently. “But, one day, we’ll plan to live together. When we don’t live with Auntie A anymore.”
Emmy looks from Angie and back to Jace, and then her eyes slide to mine, her brow still furrowed. “And you’d want me too, Miss Ivy?”
“Of course I’d want you,” I whisper as my voice catches.
“Not just my dad. You want me to live with you?” She points to herself, and I nod quickly, the fact that she feels the need to ask breaking my heart.
“I’d want you, Emmy girl.”
“Like a mommy?”
Sharply, Jace inhales, looking at the floor, his throat working to swallow.
I nod again. “If your dad and I get married, and if you ever want me to be your mommy, I’d love to be.”
Emmy’s eyes fill just before she launches herself at me again, and this time, I’m ready for it. I wrap my arms around her and let her sniffles match mine. Jace is wiping the edges of his eyes, and Angie is a blubbering mess in the kitchen.
Leaning back to hold my face in her hands, Emmy closes the distance between us as only kids without concern for personal space can do. I can see her freckles, the glitter of her eyeshadow, and the cheek stain she put on. She smells like sugar cookies, which I happen to love.
“Do I still have to call you Miss Ivy?” At this, our laughs mingle throughout the room.
“Just in class.”
“Okay, I guess I can do that.” Her arms wrap around me once more, and I hold on tight until Jace joins in. I knew he couldn’t stay away for long.
“My girls.” His strong arms wrap around us both, and I snuggle in, resting my head against his chest.
“Will I get a brother or sister now?” Emmy squeals, and Jace coughs.
“One thing at a time, Emmy Bear. One thing at a time.”
I bury my face in his chest once more to hide my laughter, but the feeling of his hand wrapping around my hip and the gentle pressure he adds to it tells me there’s more to our future if we want it.
Because just when we thought time could be running out, it turned out it was just catching up.
Emmy is the added bonus—a gift that’s better than I could’ve imagined.
My smile stretches wide, letting the joy of the moment and the fact that we’ve finally made our way back to each other sink in.
A part of my soul recognized his soul from the beginning.
Somehow—someway—we’re each other’s. In the changing of seasons, in the heartache and the disappointment, in the missed connections and the choices, and in the strangers and the loved ones, we’ve passed each other, and we’ve been brought back together.
Emmy rushes off to her aunt to grab another cookie from Four Leaf Cookies in the kitchen. I think we’ll be revisiting that tradition during the holidays from now on—cookies and hot chocolate—though, of course, coffee for Jace.
I turn to look back at the man I love, the ease in his expression and the openness of his smile warming me from the inside. When I reach for him, he pulls me close, nuzzling into my neck.
“You’re so swoony,” I admit. I feel Jace’s chuckle through my rib cage. He straightens to his full height, one eyebrow perfectly arched.
“I’m not sure a boxer is the type they write love stories about.”
I rise up on my toes, steadying myself by anchoring my hands around his neck. “Jace, you’re my love story. And that’s all that matters to me.”
At my confession, his hands are in my hair, and he’s kissing me, his passion enough to warm me up until next Christmas.
We match each other in every way, and our story is one for the ages.
From a fateful night at an ice rink, to losing touch with each other, then somehow finding our way back, the magic of the season couldn’t be clearer.
There’s enough love between us to build a life we’ll be proud of.
We’ll build a family to hold and a home to grow old in.
As we treasure each other and enjoy what it means to be fully and purely ourselves, all the nights I spent alone were simply the fuel for me to hold on tightly to love if that means they’ve led me here.
After all, it’s because of the chill of winter that we appreciate the warmth from the light.
I’ve been searching but never found. I’ve been lonely, though not alone.
I’ve been dancing while on my own. I’ve wandered in an attempt at finding peace in the dark.
But now, in the winter wonder that is the Christmas season, a light in my heart turns on, and my whole soul knows that I love him like home.