Epilogue
Lizzie
“Grammy! Grandpa! What are you doing here?”
“Well, Elizabeth, it is our cabin,” Grammy said as she pushed her way past me standing in the open door, my mouth hanging open in disbelief. They’d come home for Christmas? To see me?
Van and I had spent our Christmas Eve day tangled up in sheets on the floor beneath the glow from the lights on our tree. Thank God we’d taken a break to eat and wash up, or else my grandparents might’ve walked in on something they really didn’t want to see.
“I know that,” I said, “but you’re supposed to be in Costa Rica. How did you even get here?”
“We flew. And then we flew some more. And then we drove.”
“Your grandma is tired from our journey, Lizzie,” Grandpa said, apology dripping from his voice.
He dropped two old suitcases next to the door, stomped his boots on the welcome rug, and then reached forward to hug me.
“But we couldn’t stand to be somewhere you weren’t.
It’s about damn time we put our foot down. ”
“But my dad—”
“Can suck an egg!” Grammy called from the kitchen. “Now, Lizzie, you know I’m not one to cause a commotion, but he’s actin’ dumb as a box of rocks. It hasn’t been Christmas without you these last few years. Plain and simple.”
“But what about Jason and Mya?” I asked Grandpa. “I don’t want to ruin their holiday.”
He patted my cheek. “They told us to come. Jason booked all our travel arrangements, and he said he’d have a conversation with your dad about making some changes for next year. I have a feeling that if he doesn’t come around, Jason and Mya might not let him see his grandchild.”
“They’re pregnant? Oh my God!”
Grandpa beamed.
“I didn’t even know they were trying for kids.”
His face was so proud and radiant, it put tears in my eyes. “I don’t think they were. They were just as surprised as you are, and they said we could give you the good n—” Grandpa froze, and I could guess what he was seeing behind me as I heard the bathroom door squeak open.
I turned slowly as Grammy shuffled out of the kitchen with an onion in one hand and a green pepper in the other. When she saw Van, fully dressed but with wet hair, she gasped.
“Um, Grammy, Grandpa, well, you know Van. I mean Evan.”
“We certainly do,” Grammy said, smirking.
“Uh, well, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you but he… Well, Evan and I…” I winced. “We—”
“Are in love,” Grandpa finished for me as he looked back and forth between Van and me. “It’s about damn time.”
Grammy tsked her tongue. “William Whitley, what have I told you about cursing at Christmas?”
I laughed at the familiar scolding Grammy was giving Grandpa, but I was confused. “What do you mean ‘it’s about time’?”
Van was red from head to toe, and it made me want to strip off all his clothes so I could see the blush rushing over his skin.
Grammy looked back and forth between the two of us, and she chuckled quietly as she went back to ransacking the kitchen.
“So Evan, I s’pose the fact that you’re comfortable enough with Lizzie to shower in our house means you’ll be stayin’ for Christmas dinner? ”
Van crossed the room in three long strides and lifted me into his arms. The pride I saw in his eyes as he claimed me again in front of my family filled me with love and honor.
“Yes, ma’am, if that’s alright with you, but you couldn’t run me off if you tried.
Put me to work, if it pleases you.” When he kissed me, I got lost in him.
I almost forgot my grandparents were there.
Grandpa cleared his throat. “Wisper’s a small town, Lizzie.
Manny told me years ago the night you two met.
I remember you playing together as kids, and then Manny said there was a storm brewing between you that night.
I can’t believe it took you this long. That’s why I suggested you come to the cabin when you called us last week.
We knew Evan would be up here alone. I just had a feelin’. ”
“Grandpa! You ol’ dog.” I laughed. “But back then I asked you if you knew anyone named Van. You said no.”
“Well, Lizzie, his name is Evan.” Grandpa smirked at Van, and Van chuckled in my ear. “I just didn’t put two and two together. If you’d asked right after that Christmas, I might have, but you waited too long.”
Van lowered me to my feet, and Grandpa reached out to shake his hand, but Van never let go of mine. They embraced, and I saw affection between them. It took Van a minute to give into the hug, but he finally did.
Grandpa had known the whole time? I had to admit, I was grateful for his interference, but he could’ve clued me in.
“I can’t believe you,” I said. “You’re a sly old man, Grandpa, you know that?”
“Well, I learned from the best,” he said.
Grammy muttered from the kitchen, “That you did.”
What was she doing in there? I could already hear the telltale scrape of a potato peeler.
This was turning out to be the best Christmas of my life.
The gifts I’d already received were abundant and grand, and I could hardly wait for Grammy’s Christmas dinner.
But to have this time with my family and Van?
Words failed me, and tears of joy and relief filled my eyes. I tried to blink them away.
Grandpa smiled and reached for my free hand.
He patted it as he said, “I’m glad you found each other again.
I hope you’ll forgive this ol’ coot his indulgences.
Besides, if I’d waited for the two of you to get out of your own way, I likely would’ve died in limbo.
Now, Lizzie, get your galoshes on. I need help carrying in more groceries for tomorrow. ”
Grammy came to my side. She slipped her arm around my waist and laid her head on my shoulder for a second. When she let go, she grabbed Van’s hand, and then he was being hauled into the kitchen.
“C’mon, young man. You can help me finish these potatoes, and then we’ll need to get started on the puddin’ pie. Can’t have a proper Christmas without a puddin’ pie.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said to Grammy, but he was looking over his shoulder at me. He winked and blew me a kiss, and I blushed as Grammy said, “Now, Evan, I’ve never asked you this, but you want kids?”
I stopped dead in the doorway and shrieked, “Grammy!”
“What?” she yelled back. “Think how beautiful those babies would be. And talented too. I’m just sayin’.”