Epilogue
While the storm raged outside, Ally stood at the window holding a ridiculously large Santa mug in her hands and sipped the overly sweet hot chocolate. She shivered at the thought of all the sugar already flowing through her system but she knew she’d need it to keep up with her daughter today.
She never thought she’d enjoy just watching a snowstorm. But knowing that she didn’t have to go out in it warmed her. She would never again have to do anything she didn’t want to do. No more jumping at shadows. No more lawyers.
She was done with all that.
Ted was gone for good. When the story had broken on the news, she’d turned them off and tuned them out.
It was the biggest news to hit in years.
The corruption. The lies. The coverup. The missing money.
She didn’t care. It didn’t affect her any longer.
The Feds had found everything they’d needed to take Ted down.
Including hundreds of thousands he’d stashed in accounts with Charlotte and her information.
There were no offshore accounts just a man desperate enough to go into hiding and lose his mind in the process.
The agents had locked everything down days before and had only needed to capture Ted.
Before they could snag him, he’d escaped into the tunnels that Peterson had told him about while secretly giving the Feds details about Ted’s shady dealings he’d uncovered.
When Peterson had ended up dead, the Feds had made their move.
It was assumed that Ted had been hiding out in the hidden storeroom until that night, when he’d finally broken through the basement door and snatched Charlotte while she slept.
Her name was initially dragged into a story on television, but it was quickly squashed once Joe and his friend Clay leaked the sealed files from every court case Ted had ever fought her on.
She was a free woman. She and Charlotte would no longer have to hide or be afraid.
When strong arms wrapped around her from behind, she didn’t jump or pull away. Instead, she leaned back against Joe’s chest and sighed.
“Merry Christmas,” he whispered as he brushed a kiss by her ear.
“Merry Christmas.” She smiled and set her mug down before turning in his arms.
The twinkle of the Christmas tree lights reflected in his eyes, soft and warm. Outside, the snowflakes drifted past the window like slow-falling feathers. Somewhere in the house she heard Charlotte’s laughter. It was pure and bright, the best sound she’d ever heard. Olaf barked happily in reply.
Joe’s grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Sounds like someone found her stocking.”
Ally laughed. “If there’s chocolate involved, she’s already halfway through it.”
There was a quick knock on the front door, and a second later it opened and Faye burst through with her arms full of wrapped gifts.
“Santa went a little crazy this year,” she announced.
Charlotte rushed over and hugged Faye’s legs just as Nate stepped in, carrying a tray piled high with cinnamon rolls.
“Don’t blame Santa,” Nate said, grinning. “Blame your mom.” He shrugged. “She’s the one who said every kid needs at least one gift that makes noise.”
“That’s because I can leave when the noise starts,” her mother said from behind him, laughing as she brushed snow from her coat and stepped inside.
Ally rushed over to hug each of them. Her mother had arrived in Pride two days before and was staying with Faye and Nate for the week.
In the next hour, the house filled with warmth and chatter, the scent of cinnamon and pine mingling in the air. She sat for a moment just soaking it in—the people she loved most, all under one roof. Safe. Home.
Then Joe handed her a small, velvet box and her breath caught. “Joe…”
“Open it,” he said softly. His smile grew as everyone in the room quieted.
Her fingers trembled as she lifted the lid. Inside, nestled on a bed of cream satin, was a delicate vintage diamond ring. It was breathtaking and perfect. The filigree setting shimmered in the Christmas lights.
“It was my grandmother’s,” Joe said in a low rough voice.
“I’d been holding onto it for years. My grandmother gave it to me to give to Lisa.
” He shook his head. “I never got a chance to give it to her.” His eyes met hers.
“But now I have this chance, and I know in my heart that it’s you it was always meant for. ”
Tears blurred her vision as he knelt before her. “Ally, I love you. You and Charlotte.” Olaf barked, and he laughed. “And Olaf. You’re my family. You’re all I ever wanted. Will you marry me?”
For a moment, she couldn’t speak. All the pain, all the fear, all the nights spent praying for peace, it had all led her here. To this moment. To him. To this Christmas.
“Yes,” she whispered. Then she said it louder, smiling through her tears as her family cheered around them. “Yes!”
Joe slipped the ring onto her finger and stood, pulling her into a kiss that tasted of hot chocolate and forever.
When they finally broke apart, she reached behind the sofa and handed him a large white envelope tied with a red ribbon.
“Now, it’s your turn,” she said. “It’s not as fancy and I didn’t have time to wrap it.”
He raised an eyebrow, playful but curious. “Should I be nervous?”
“Maybe a little.” She grinned and pulled Charlotte into her arms. “It’s from the both of us.” Charlotte nodded.
He opened the envelope, and his breath hitched when he saw the documents inside. It was official, stamped, and signed already. All it needed was his signature, and then it would be filed when the court opened again after the new year.
“Adoption papers,” she said softly, grinning at Charlotte. “She asked if you could be her daddy for Christmas and, well, I don’t think we should disappoint her.”
For the first time since she’d known him, tears filled his eyes. His throat worked as he blinked rapidly, then he looked up at her, at them, and with his eyes shining, he said, “You sure this isn’t a dream?”
She smiled and placed her and Charlotte’s hands together over his heart. “This feels real to me. What do you say?”
He pulled them close, holding them tight.
“Does this mean we’re getting married too?” Charlotte whispered.
Joe laughed and scooped her up in his arms. “Yes, it looks like Santa brought me exactly what I wanted this year, too.” He kissed her cheek. Then he pulled Ally into his arms and kissed her.
Outside, the storm eased into a gentle snowfall, blanketing the world in white. Inside, laughter and love filled every corner of the house.
For the first time in years, Ally’s heart was completely at peace.
She had her family. She had her future.
And this Christmas, she was finally home.