Epilogue
EVA
One year later . . .
“Since we’re early, can we swing by a project site real quick?” Tobias asked as I drove us toward town. “I want to see how the exterior lights look at night.”
“Sure. Which way?”
“At the stop sign, head north.”
“Whoa.” I shot him a scowl. “Watch your language.”
“What?”
“You said north.”
He chuckled, shaking his head. “Take a left at the stop sign.”
“Better.” I smirked, then cast my eyes to the rearview.
Isabella was asleep in her car seat, her tiny lips in a perfect pout. This would be a long night for her, considering it was already past her bedtime.
Tonight was the annual Holiday family Christmas party and she was dressed for the occasion. Her red velvet dress was trimmed with white. Her slippers wouldn’t last because she hated shoes but I’d put them on over her tights regardless .
“Did you grab the earmuffs?” Tobias asked.
“Yes,” I muttered. Those freaking earmuffs. “They’re in the diaper bag.”
His parents had hired a live band, like they did most years, and it was going to get loud at the venue. So Tobias had found a pair of baby-sized earmuffs. Except instead of finding a cute pink or purple pair, heaven forbid something that would coordinate with her dress, he’d found orange.
Hunter’s orange.
When I’d asked him why he’d picked such a heinous color, he’d told me they’d been the only ones with adjustments so she could wear them as she grew older.
My husband was nothing if not practical.
Tobias had proposed to me outside a women’s restroom in the Seattle airport. The charmer. In all fairness, I’d botched his plans for something romantic. I’d leaned my head against his chest, and when my cheek had hit something hard in his coat pocket, I’d pestered him to tell me what he was carrying until he’d finally caved.
The same ring he’d bought years ago had been on my finger ever since. And as of last week, there was a wedding band to keep it company.
We’d gotten married the day after we’d finally moved home to Montana. The two of us had gone to the courthouse over lunch and made it official.
No dress. No tux. Just Tobias, our daughter and me.
It hadn’t taken me long into the London project to realize I wasn’t up for another move. By my third trimester, when my ankles had been swollen and my back had ached and the heartburn had been unbearable, all I’d wanted was to go home.
To Montana.
Dad had been right. I’d needed to run and run. But when I’d been ready to stop, we’d stopped. We’d waited for Isabella to join the world, then when she was old enough, we’d moved out of our London flat and flown home.
Hannah and Keith were overjoyed to have us close. They’d kept watch over our house while we’d been gone, keeping it clean and fresh for our visits home this past year. They’d even flown to see us once. And Keith had made sure that Tobias had been able to continue his work, hiring another architect for Holiday Homes. So while Tobias had drafted plans from afar, there’d been someone in Bozeman to act as boots on the ground and help see the projects through.
“Okay, left here.” He pointed out the windshield, directing us through a maze of roads until we pulled up to a house that stood proudly in a snow-covered field.
“Wow.”
“Turned out well.”
“That’s an understatement, baby.” I took his hand, smiling as I stared at the home.
The owners had wanted a barn-style house with a gable roof and sliding front door. When he’d told me about it, I’d been skeptical, but leave it to Tobias to create something enchanting and unique.
A small whimper from the backseat meant we needed to keep driving, so I took my foot off the brake of my new SUV and headed into town.
The Baxter Hotel was like a golden beacon, standing tall on Main Street. The moment we stepped into the ballroom on the second floor, we were mobbed by friends and family here to welcome us home.
Then the band started and Tobias instantly retrieved the earmuffs.
“Could you have picked a different color?” Hannah asked as he fit them over Isabella’s head .
“What’s wrong with orange?” he asked.
I rolled my eyes. “It doesn’t go.”
“She’s a baby. She doesn’t care.” He lifted Isabella from my arms, kissing her cheek, then set her in her favorite place in the world—the crook of his arm.
I’d fallen in love with Tobias years ago, but watching him with our daughter was like falling all over again.
“Let’s dance.” He clasped my hand, dropping a chaste kiss to my mouth, then steered us through the crowd to the dance floor. With the baby in one arm, he swept me into the other.
“I’m glad we could be here for this.” I rested my head against his shoulder as we swayed. “And for Christmas.”
“Me too,” he murmured. “No regrets?”
“None.”
My boss hadn’t been happy when I’d told him that London would be my last project. He’d offered me a huge raise to stay on but I’d turned him down. Because I’d already found another job.
After New Year’s, I’d be joining the crew at Holiday Homes as their newest project manager. I’d be working for the family business.
There was a chance that Tobias and I would kill each other, working in the same office. Or there was a chance we’d have quickies on the regular after hours.
We’d figure it out. Together.
“How about a holiday classic?” the band’s lead singer asked into the microphone as they rounded out a song. “We’ve been doing this sing-a-long all year and it’s a blast. What do you say?”
The room erupted into cheers of agreement.
And then the lead guitarist began to play. “On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me. ”
I glanced at Tobias.
He threw his head back and laughed.
Then we sang along. And at the end, when we got to our version, we both changed the lyrics.
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge and a pregnancy.