Epilogue
HOLLY CARRIED A BOWL OF SALAD TO THE DINING TABLE OF Doug and Diane’s house by the lake. Looking around their warmly lit home, she was filled with a mixture of gratitude and sheer happiness.
A year ago, she could never have imagined this scene.
Lydia was sitting on the floor by the tree while Audrey read to her from a Christmas book and Lydia pointed out the words she could read herself.
Kim and Diane were in the kitchen laughing together as they worked on other preparations for the meal.
And Ryan was out on the deck with his father, the two of them engaged in the very serious business of grilling while a light snow fell around them.
The changes in their lives over the past twelve months were nothing short of extraordinary. Some had been challenging, others had been joyful, but all of them had brought her to this moment, where she was surrounded by love.
She set down the bowl and returned to the kitchen to help the two other women.
“Any idea how long on the steaks?” Kim asked. “I’m starving.”
“How would Holly know? She’s been in here helping us,” Diane said with a laugh.
“You’re right, I have no idea. But I’m happy to go ask.”
She grabbed her coat and walked out to the deck, enjoying the cold night air and the moonlight gleaming on the lake.
Ryan smiled in welcome and held a hand out. She went to him, thinking she would never get tired of the way he always acted as if she and Lydia were the very best Christmas gifts he had ever received.
He put an arm around her and she settled against him. “Your sister is wondering how long on the steaks. She’s apparently starving.”
“Not long. Maybe seven or eight more minutes,” her father-in-law said. “The grilled vegetables are done, though. Do you mind carrying them inside?”
“Not at all.”
“I’ll help you,” Ryan said.
She suspected he wanted to steal a kiss more than he wanted to help her carry in a tray of veggies, but she wasn’t about to complain.
As she suspected, the moment they were out of his father’s view and inside the house, he captured her mouth with his and she glowed with happiness.
She loved being with him, probably because these moments felt rare and precious.
Since their lovely lakeside wedding in September and the incredible honeymoon they had taken to Tahiti—where else?
—she and Ryan had only been together for stretches of three or four days at a time every few weeks, when she and Lydia could fly to San Diego for a long weekend or he could travel to Idaho on leave.
It hadn’t been the best arrangement, but he had to serve another six months before fulfilling his military obligation. Neither of them had wanted to wait that long before marrying and starting their life together, as complicated as it made things.
In six months, he would be moving to Shelter Springs permanently. She didn’t know who was more excited at the prospect—her, Lydia or Doug.
Making plans to leave the military career he loved had been tough for Ryan, but after two more surgeries on his knee and another infection in the past year, he knew he would never be able to meet the navy’s stringent physical requirements.
He could, however, meet every requirement to fly commercial.
That was his plan, though he had decided working with his father wasn’t the right fit for now, much to Doug’s disappointment.
Ryan already had a position lined up flying air rescue helicopters in the region.
It would allow him to still serve, only in a different capacity.
After setting the vegetables on the table, Ryan tugged her into the hallway, out of sight of everyone. He kissed her again, his mouth warm and delicious and now dearly familiar to her.
“You okay?” he asked. “I know you’re missing your family party this year.”
“More than okay,” she murmured. “We’ll see them tomorrow when they come for breakfast and to watch Lydia unwrap presents. And next year, we can swap and spend Christmas Eve with them.”
“But Lydia won’t be there next year. She’ll be with Troy.”
That thought actually didn’t bother her as much as she might have expected a year earlier.
Troy was working hard to build a stronger relationship with Lydia.
He flew out to visit her every few months and Lydia had gone to stay with him and Brittany for a week after the wedding so that Holly and Ryan could enjoy their honeymoon.
Her daughter had come home bubbling over with how much fun she had and how cute her brother was and how her daddy was teaching her how to ride a bike.
Somehow they were all making it work.
“I’m fine with that. For now, we have this Christmas. Every moment has been wonderful. Not because everything has been perfect but because we’re together.”
Ryan smiled against her mouth. “Here’s to many more Christmases together.”
Holly’s gaze drifting to the other room, where Lydia and Audrey were laughing about something and Diane and Kim bustled in and out.
“To many more,” she echoed, knowing with absolute certainty that their best days were still ahead.
*****