Epilogue #2
“Me?” Autumn ponders. “Who knows I’m here and would track me down on Christmas Eve of all days?” From the corner of my eye, I watch as she steps in front of the door, and all the color drains from her face. “No. Not today, Myles. In fact, not ever.” Her voice is shaky.
I tip Rhett back into Clementine’s lap and race to the door. Becks joins us, the four of us staring at Autumn’s ex and Shania’s father. He’s older by sixteen years, filled out, and grown into his long limbs. His face is hardened, as if he’s had it rough.
When he left town before Shania’s first birthday, Beck and I wanted to go after him.
I was only a teenager, but I would have tracked him down.
His parents live in the next town over, and we wanted to knock on their door, demand they tell us where he is.
But Autumn begged us not to, that they were better off without him.
I couldn’t understand how she’d think that was a good idea, but now I know better.
“Myles.” I lock my arms defensively across my chest, throwing shade. Not that I’m so intimidating to a guy a few years older than me and practically the same height. But hey, gotta show solidarity for my sister.
“Dax. Beckett. Heidi. The gang’s all here.”
“Why are you here?” Autumn asks. She shrugged off the nerves, her voice steady, filled with ire.
“Can we maybe go somewhere and talk?”
“On Christmas Eve? No, I don’t think so. Why are you here?” she repeats. She’s humming with energy, needing the answer. He broke her heart when he left, and if she’s not careful, it will slice open.
Myles runs a hand through his hair. “Did Mom not tell you Pappy died?”
Autumn’s gasp is loud. “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. I could have sworn he’d live forever.”
“Me too. But yeah. It’s been hard.”
Beck leans in close to me. “Remind me who Pappy is?”
“Not a clue.”
“So you’re in town for the funeral?”
“Yeah. The day after Christmas, but also, I couldn’t come back to Winterberry Junction and not see you. Make amends.”
“I’m not interested. I’m sorry for your loss, but there’s no love lost between us. I’m not interested.” Does she realize she already told him that? By the crestfallen expression on her face, I’d guess not.
“Can I at least see Shania? Mom sends me all the pictures, but I’d like to see her for myself.”
“Dad?” We all turn at Shania’s stunned voice. “What are you doing here?” She stands next to her mother, looping her arm through Autumn’s.
“He was just leaving,” Autumn states dismissively, the fire back in her tone.
“I’m in town for a few more days. I, uh.” He pauses, his gaze drifting over all of us. “Just want to talk. Say I’m sorry. Catch up on Shania’s life.”
“Hard pass,” Shania says with an eye roll. “Too late. I’m all grown, and you missed out.” I’m proud of her for staying strong. She’s the best parts of Autumn.
I step in front of my siblings. “You heard them. You should go.”
For a minute, I think he’s going to put up a fight, but eventually, he concedes. “My number’s still the same. In case you change your mind.” Without waiting for a response, he stomps down the porch steps, his shoulders hunched, defeated.
Good. They don’t need him.
“You okay, Mom?” Shania asks, hugging her mother.
“Yeah, baby. I’m good.” She’s lying through her teeth, but Shania’s face is buried against her cheek. Exasperation swims in her eyes, and I know that look. She’s going to go after him. Maybe not today, but before he leaves. She needs answers.
“We’ve got your back, Autumn. Whatever you decide, we’ll support,” Beck exclaims, seeing the same determination I do.
Heidi squeezes her hand. “I’d want to know, too. Heal the pain your younger self still carries.”
A tear slips from her eye. She swipes it with a thumb and steels her shoulders, the strong badass she is shining through. “Not today or tomorrow. Then I’ll see.”
“Who’s Pappy?” Beck asks the group.
“Papaw’s dad. Why?” Shania wonders. She steps away, terrified. “That’s why he’s here. Something happened to Pappy?” She covers her mouth with her hand and backs down the hallway, spinning about halfway and taking off on a run, Autumn taking after her.
Heidi, Beck, and I share a look, though we won’t get a straight answer out of Autumn until she’s ready to tell us. She’s secretive, that one.
Beck peers over at Willa and Clementine. “And here I thought we’d survive this Christmas unscathed.”
Willa holds up her hands, her son cradled against her in a wrap. “Don’t look at us. We’re all drama’ed out.”
Beck rolls his eyes. “Right. I believe that.”
Clementine comes up to me, biting the skin around her thumbnail. “Someone should check on them, make sure they’re okay.”
“I will in a little while,” Heidi volunteers. “Give them some time to themselves first.”
Clementine crooks her finger toward me, motioning I should lean down. “Protective Dax is hot. My ovaries wanted in on that action.”
I raise a brow. “Real-ly.”
“I’m sticking to my ‘don’t put a baby in me until after the wedding’ plan.”
“I love how you think you’re in control of this, like you have all this say in how this goes.”
“I have my ways,” my vixen declares.
Giving in to her wishes—what’s four more months at this point—I tuck an errant piece of hair off her forehead. “As soon as the ceremony ends, all bets are off.”
“Thank you. And guess what?” She’s alight with joy.
“What?”
“A mid-April conception could give us a Christmas baby. How’s that for timing?”
“I’d say,” I utter, looping my hands around her waist and tugging her closer to me, “same time next Christmas.”
I never expected to be in a place with a woman to be discussing weddings, trying for a baby, and everything else Clementine and her boys have brought into my life. I thought I knew how Christmas was supposed to be celebrated, never imagining it could be better than how it was growing up.
Leave it to a passionate, artistic redhead to school me in the art of being merry.
Find out in this bonus scene if Jace stays the youngest for the long haul!
Want more swoony small town romance? Meet the Murrthams, Clem’s cousins who own the Christmas tree farm in Oregon, in The Magic of Us.