Epilogue – Aurora
Aurora
Ten Years Later
Trivia night at The Muddled Moose had turned into something entirely different from what it had been ten years ago.
Oh, there was still the fun trivia night for those folks who were single and ready to shoot back shots like they were water.
But there was now also a family trivia night.
Something Liam and I had thought up a few years back, when we saw the need for families to join in on the fun as well.
It had become a tradition in Moose Village every Sunday evening for The Muddled Moose to host a family night, which included endless pizzas from Slice, Slice, Baby, and desserts from Batter Up Bakery.
Families all competed against one another for the grand prize, which was a trophy of Perry the Moose. Inscribed on the trophy was the family’s name and the date they had kicked everyone else’s ass in their Disney, Paw Patrol, and Bluey knowledge. Among other subjects as well.
Sitting at one table was our large group of kids.
Winnie, who was now nearly thirteen and the mother hen of the group, was setting up everything for trivia night while Lily, Brystol and Gavin’s oldest, who was ten, was placing bottled water in front of everyone while trying not to argue with Rose, Cadie and Kian’s oldest, who was just a year younger than Lily.
The two of them were more like sisters than best friends.
They adored one another and fought like cats and dogs.
Both stubborn to the core in their ways.
Huddled with their heads together were Sam, Brystol and Gavin’s son, and Michael, Harper and Declan’s son, along with Chase, Cadie and Kian’s son. Sam and Chase hung on Michael’s every word, and in the two younger boys’ eyes, the older Michael could do no wrong.
Sitting off to the side with a book in her hands was Amelia.
She was mine and Liam’s and had just turned eight.
Oh, she would put the book down long enough to play trivia and pretty much carry the entire team.
Well, she and Winnie. The two of them were ferocious readers, and nothing made me happier than to see them tucked away in a corner of the library at our house with their noses in a book.
They were adventurous kids as well, though, and if their father mentioned camping, going for a hike, or taking a canoe ride on the lake, they would toss their books aside and follow their father anywhere.
“How are you feeling?” a deep voice from behind me said.
I smiled and leaned my body back against Liam. “I’m exhausted.”
His hands came around my swollen belly. “It was your idea to have a Christmas Eve trivia night.”
Groaning, I closed my eyes. “Don’t remind me.”
Turning in his arms, I reached up and kissed him. “I’ll be surprised if this baby isn’t born in the next few days.”
He grinned. “I still can’t believe we’re having a boy. He is going to be spoiled rotten by Winnie and Amelia.”
I laughed. “Have you seen the collection of books they have set aside to start reading to him?”
“Yes. I have. Did you talk to Amelia about what she did the other day after UPS showed up?”
I closed my eyes and nodded. “She knows she is not allowed to take a credit card ever again and order toys. No matter how cute they are.”
“I blame Lou for that, you know!”
I laughed.
“We need to get things going so we’re not here too late,” Liam stated as he headed over to the stage and tapped the mic. The rooftop bar was closed since it was currently twenty degrees outside and snowing. “Trivia time is about to start!”
In true fashion, trivia night was filled with chaos, some crying, but more laughter than anything. It was cut short tonight so that everyone could get home and start their Christmas Eve traditions.
Liam, the girls, and I would all head to The Book Nook so that the girls could pick out a new book for themselves.
Then, we would head home. Liam would build a fire in the living room so we could watch a movie, then we would call it a night and wake up early the next morning to open presents.
I loved the little tradition, and I knew the girls did as well.
“Have you picked out a book yet, Winnie?” I called out when I saw her standing at the front window looking out.
“I have!” Amelia replied, holding up a new book that Lou had just put out the other day.
I smiled at my younger daughter and focused back on Winnie. Liam had walked over to her, and now he was staring out the window.
“What are you guys looking at? Is it snowing?”
Amelia jumped with excitement. “Oh, I hope it snows tonight! It would be so beautiful to see fresh snow on the ground tomorrow morning!”
I squeezed her shoulder and made my way over to the front of the store. “What are you two…”
My voice trailed off, and I drew in a sharp breath.
“What? What is it?” Amelia asked, coming to a stop next to me.
“Don’t anyone move,” Liam softly said.
The most enormous moose I had ever seen in my entire life stood outside facing the bookstore.
“It’s Perry the Moose,” Winnie whispered. “Dad, it’s Perry!”
Amelia reached up and took my hand in hers. “Mommy, is that Perry?”
Tears pricked at the back of my eyes as I fought to find my voice. The majestic, large bull moose simply stood there and stared at us.
“He really is real!” Amelia said with pure awe in her voice.
“I’ve never seen anything so beautiful in my life,” I whispered as I moved closer to the front of the store. The desire to go out and touch him was almost overwhelming. I would never do something so silly, of course.
Liam let out a breath. “He’s stunning.”
“Wait until I tell everyone we saw Perry the Moose—and on Christmas Eve!” Winnie exclaimed. “This is the best day of my life!”
I laughed, then froze. The feeling of water running down my leg caused me to slowly look down. When I glanced back up, the moose was watching me.
“Mom, he’s looking directly at you!” Winnie said.
“He knows a beautiful woman when he sees one,” Liam said.
My eyes met the moose, and something I will never be able to put into words happened.
I felt so completely at ease. I wasn’t worried about the baby, who had chosen Christmas Eve to decide to come early.
I wasn’t even afraid of the pain I knew I would be experiencing soon when labor would start.
Instead, I was filled with a sense of peace I had never experienced before in my life.
I smiled and the moose bobbed its head before turning and walking up Main Street as a soft shower of white fell over him.
“It’s snowing,” Amelia said, moving to the door and pressing herself against it to get one last look at Perry.
“That was…the coolest thing I’ve ever experienced!” Liam said as Winnie and Amelia giggled.
He turned and faced me and smiled. “Should we head on home?”
I slowly shook my head and placed my hand on the side of my belly. “I think we need to call my parents.”
Confused, Liam asked, “Why?”
I wasn’t due until January tenth, so I wasn’t surprised Liam wouldn’t think I might be in labor.
“My water broke.”
His head tilted to the side. “Your water broke?”
A laugh slipped free. “Yes! The baby is coming.”
“What!” Winnie cried out. “But he’s early!”
Amelia started jumping around and doing twirls as Liam quickly made his way over to me.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
I laughed. “Yes! But he’s early.”
Liam, trying not to look stunned, replied, “I’ll say!”
Still twirling and chanting. “The baby is coming! The baby is coming!” She suddenly stopped and faced her father and me.
“You should name the baby Perry!”
Winnie clapped her hands. “Oh my gosh, yes! We have to name the baby Perry! He can even borrow my stuffed Perry!”
“And mine too!” Amelia added.
My eyes moved from our two beautiful girls to Liam. I had to give him credit; he wasn’t freaking out like the first time I went into labor with Amelia. Or he was better at hiding it this time.
He smiled at me, and I knew in that moment this heart of mine couldn’t grow any bigger. I nodded. “I can’t think of a better name!”
Laughing, Liam cupped my face and kissed me as our two girls cheered behind him.
Only a few hours later, Perry Nathan Turner was born at exactly 11:59 p.m. on Christmas Eve.