Epilogue
MERRICK
It was the Christmas season once again, and in the spirit of new traditions, we went back to the resort where we first rekindled our relationship after all those years apart. Only this time, it was as a family of three.
Traveling with an infant was not for the weak, but there was something I really wanted to do, not only this year, but every year.
That was to go back to the Christmas tree festival and spoil as many people and pets as we could in the allotted time.
It would be easy and very effective to just give random donations to charities, and we did that.
But this, it felt like we were being Santa too, in a way, and it was something I wanted our son to grow up with.
I wanted him to know that we were the lucky ones without having to learn the way that I did…
by being on the end of things where you didn’t know if it was going to be instant noodles for another week.
Everyone who worked at the resort loved having Monty there. They gave us packets of things we could do with him, forgetting that at his age, all he did was sleep, eat, and need diaper changes.
We arrived in the town as the festival was beginning.
I took out Monty and put him in a wrap, then zipped up a coat my mate had found just for us…
one designed for baby wearing. Depending upon which angle you saw me at, I looked like there was a ball growing out of my chest, or the cutest baby ever, and that amused me to no end.
We reached the table of tags, and my mate and I each picked five trees at random and wandered through the town, finding the ideal gifts for each of them.
This year, they had a brand-new children’s store that was filled with a lot of handmade gifts, from car seat blankets to toys to clothing.
We did a lot of damage there, not only for us but for the tree tags. We went back and forth multiple times.
When we overheard someone say, “Oh, it’s always the baby items that get purchased,” we made sure to double down on adult items as well. We had a blast buying gifts, checking out the Christmas trees, and drinking some of the best hot chocolate I’d ever had.
We saved one of my favorite memories for last—the cookie walk.
We thought we left with a lot last year, but fool on past us.
This year made our former selves look like amateurs.
My father-in-law wanted cookies, which surprised me because, frankly, I thought he’d want fancy cookies from fancy bakeries.
He was less down-to-earth than me. I loved him, and we’d definitely grown to have a nice relationship over this past year, but there were still some things I was getting used to with him.
I also had six orders for cookies from people at work and three from my father-of-newborns group I’d recently joined.
The men taking the donations looked at us like we’d lost our minds when they saw all the tins we were buying, but after the people behind us heard we were buying them as gifts, they bought extra as gifts as well. I had a feeling they were going to have one of their best years ever.
“I think it’s time we need to head back,” I said, swaying back and forth. Monty was cooing slightly, his warning that pretty soon he was going to want to eat. “Let’s go, and then maybe we can taste-test some of these cookies in the warmth.”
We got back to the room just in time, before Monty got himself upset and in that sweet spot.
If it hadn’t been so cold, I’d have just fed him where we were, and if he got fussy, I would have 100% gone into a store to do so.
But this was better. I sat on the chair and held him up to my chest as he ate, while he kneaded the skin above where he latched on.
“This was one of the best days I’ve ever had. I’m glad we did it again,” I said.
“I was thinking maybe we wouldn’t do this next year.” My mate’s words surprised me because I thought he was having as much fun as I was.
“Oh, okay. Did you not enjoy today?”
“I had an amazing time, and it got me thinking. Maybe next year we could start an event like this locally. Maybe the idea will catch on.”
I loved the idea of it, but practically speaking, he worked full-time and so did I.
Also, there was the tiny fact that I wasn’t an event planner, and as easily as things seemed to run today and last year, for that matter, I’d be foolish to think there weren’t bucket loads of man hours behind the scenes making it happen.
“I wouldn’t even know where to begin,” I admitted.
“You underestimate yourself. And we wouldn’t have to do it all alone. We’d hire people, maybe start a little foundation. Do you think it’s possible?”
Start a little foundation, as if it was as easy as that. Or maybe it was. I wasn’t sure I actually understood what a foundation was and how it was different from any other kind of charity.
“I absolutely do think it’s possible.”
“Okay. Let’s do that. But we could still come back here, right? Maybe for New Year’s? Start another tradition.” This place would always hold a spot in my heart.
“I like the way you think. We should definitely do that.”
As I glanced out the window, I noticed the snow was falling.
“So beautiful,” I said.
King crossed over to me and gave my shoulder a squeeze. “All of my life is beautiful now that you’re back in it.” He looked down at our son. “And you too, my sweet boy.”
Who would’ve thought the best thing that ever happened to me was getting sucked into work on a day I was meant to be on vacation? Fate sure had a sense of humor, and I was glad for it.
You might also enjoy this Christmas book by Lorelei & Colbie…
Sometimes you ask Santa for one thing and get so much more…
I’d rather go to the dentist than to my work Christmas party.
I’m not a Scrooge who hates the holidays or anything like that.
But I’ve been to everyone in my ten years with my company and they all end up the same way.
Someone drinks too much, and I, as HR, get stuck dealing with it. There’s zero fun in that.
As messed up as it is, when I hit a patch of ice to avoid hitting a kitten and end up in a ditch, my first thought is: Good.
Now I can skip the festivities. Best Christmas present ever.
Only my joy fades away when my phone shows no reception, my leg feels like it’s on fire, and the little kitten is trembling in my arms.
I have two choices: Stay on the side of the road and hope someone passes by and is willing to help or walk through the woods toward what appears to be Christmas lights in the distance. When a reindeer walks in front of me and toward the lights, I take that as a sign I should do the same.
Reindeer in the Headlights is a Christmas M/M mpreg shifter romance featuring a reindeer shifter who’s caught by more than a set of headlights, a human omega whose car ended up in a ditch instead of his holiday work party, true love, fated mates, cookies galore, tinsel-filled festivities, the sweetest kitten, a stocking hung by the chimney with care, Christmas magic, an adorable baby, and a guaranteed happy ever after.