Epilogue
One year later …
Christmas morning, Mauve woke to soft gray light filtering through their bedroom windows.
She didn’t have to look to know it snowed while they were asleep.
A fresh snowfall had a sound. One of silence and tranquility.
Jason slept beside her, one arm flung across the pillow where her head had been, his face half-buried in the quilt.
She slipped out of bed and padded to the window.
The pasture was blanketed in white. A sheet of ice covered the creek.
Beyond the trees, the mountains remained steady, their long blue line now covered with snow.
As long as she lived, she would never tire of the view Jason had made for her.
She heard him stir behind her.
“It snowed,” she said, turning to see him sitting up, rubbing his eyes.
He’d been home for the entire month of December after weeks in L.A.
working on a new movie. His series had finished in the fall and the movie offers were coming in every day.
But as he’d promised, he was choosy about what he decided to work on.
Especially since there was Oscar buzz for his role in the Prague movie.
For weeks now, his agent and manager had felt sure he would be nominated.
He couldn’t get his head around it, but Mauve could.
She’d seen the movie three times now, and each viewing evoked new respect for his craft.
“Just in time for Christmas,” Jason said.
“Are you ready for coffee?” Mauve asked. “And presents.”
The last minute gift she’d wrapped for him before bed last night called to her from under the tree. She could hardly wait for him to open it.
They put on robes over their pajamas and went downstairs together.
Jason turned on the fire and the Christmas tree lights, making everything immediately festive.
Their kitchen had a bank of windows facing the valley, a long row of pendants over the island and wide walnut cabinets that smelled of cedar oil even now, six months after they'd been installed.
She made them both cappuccinos from their fancy Italian machine and then brought them over to the couch. He'd settled facing their tall tree that stretched up toward the vaulted beams, lights catching in the stones of the fireplace. Gifts from under the tree were now stacked on the coffee table.
He handed her a small box. “Open this one first.”
She tore open the wrapping paper and lifted the lid. Inside, a pair of diamond earrings sparkled at her. “Oh, Jason, they’re exquisite. I’ll wear them to the Oscars.”
He laughed. “If I get nominated, that is.”
“You’re going to.” She grabbed the smallest of the packages for him. “Go ahead and open it.”
He did so, smiling as he lifted the lid of the box until he saw what was inside, resting on a bed of tissue paper.
His smile vanished, replaced by something akin to shock.
He grabbed the pregnancy test from the box, holding it in front of him, staring at the two pink lines as if they were a snake about to strike.
“You okay?” Mauve asked, trying not to laugh at the newly green tint of his face.
“You’re … we’re pregnant?” Jason asked.
“We are.” She smiled, taking his hand. “It’s all right. We have some time to get used to the idea before the baby comes.”
“I can’t believe it. For some reason, I didn’t think it would happen this fast.”
“I’m six weeks. Due date, according to an app I found, is August 20th.
” They’d been trying to get pregnant for six months, but, with his travel schedule, she’d assumed they’d have to spend a lot of time in bed during the days leading up to Christmas.
As it turned out, her last trip to L.A. had sealed the deal.
“How long have you known?” Jason asked.
“Since I took the test last night before bed. I haven’t really been paying attention, with all the Christmas gatherings and shopping, but it occurred to me last night that I was late. So I took the test. And, voila, here we are.”
He pulled her onto his lap, stroking her hair, kissing her. “Are you feeling all right?”
“So far, so good. I’ll make an appointment to see the doctor tomorrow.” She pulled back to look into his eyes. “Are you happy?”
“Mauve, I’m beyond happy. Surprised, but happy. This is what we’ve wanted since we got married.”
“I can’t wait to get started on the nursery,” Mauve said.
“Your mom’s going to be excited,” Jason said. “So is Reese.”
“We should probably wait to tell everyone until the twelfth week, though, even though I’m already bursting to tell everyone.”
“This means the baby will be almost exactly a year younger than Bree.”
“I know, isn’t it exciting?”
Roan and Reese’s precious baby girl had come last August, fat and happy from the first day they’d brought her home. She was now almost six months old, growing cuter by the day. Reese and Roan were madly in love with her, delighting in every milestone.
They were all gathering for dinner at their home for Christmas dinner.
David and Cynthia had been in town for a few weeks.
Reese and Roan had both the boys home from college and had promised to come over later that afternoon to help Mauve with dinner.
There would be gifts and food and laughter.
Making memories to pull out and think about for years to come.
“We have so many things to celebrate,” Jason said. “Marcus killing it his first semester.”
She smiled as an image came to mind of Marcus taking his bow for his first college production. “He was wonderful in the play.”
They’d been in L.A. the week Marcus’s play had opened.
He’d been ridiculously good for someone so young.
His Uncle Jason was very proud of him. So was his Aunt Mauve.
She was still getting used to being an auntie to teenagers, but loved every moment of it.
She also loved the whole new relationship with her mother.
In addition, she’d gained a father figure in David, who was as steady and supportive as a man could be.
Cody had just finished up his third semester at University of Vermont, where he continued to run cross-country.
He’d decided to major in business with a minor in exercise science.
He and Roan had big plans for the gym, including opening two more in neighboring towns.
Jason had gladly offered to loan his brother money for the expansion.
So far, however, Roan was content to wait until Cody was through with college.
At the moment, he had his hands full with baby Bree.
Their phones buzzed at the same time. A quick glance showed that it was Ollie texting their group chat.
She picked hers up and opened the message to see Ollie signing Merry Christmas.
And then, to their delight, he said the words.
“Merry Christmas.” He’d made an impressive improvement in the last twelve months.
He still struggled, but with each passing day he became more and more verbal.
Regardless, he’d wanted to continue with his sign language and had started taking classes with a private tutor.
He’d signed to Mauve just last week that he wanted to grow up and perform the national anthem at a football game someday. Adorable.
“I have another gift for you,” Jason said, reaching for a box.
She opened it to see a new Christmas tree ornament—a glass sculpture of a bride and groom, with their wedding date engraved on the bottom. “I love it.” She leaned close to kiss him.
“I’m going to give you one every year. Next year, it’ll be a baby carriage or rattle or something.” He grinned. “Oh my gosh, we’re having a baby.”
“We’re having a baby.”
She knew logically that they weren’t the first couple to ever make a baby together.
Of course she knew that. But at this moment, it felt like something they’d done together that no one else could do.
Perhaps in that way, it was true. No one but the two of them could have made the particular baby now growing inside of her.
“Merry Christmas, my love,” Jason said. “We’re two but soon to be three. If only my mom were here to see it.”
“She’s here. I feel certain of that.” She patted her still flat stomach. “She’s part of this baby too. And you’ll tell her all about her grandmother Caroline.”
“Caroline is a pretty name,” Jason said. “Something to consider, should the baby be a girl.”
Mauve rubbed her hands together. “I love that name. How is it possible that every dream I’ve ever had is coming true? Life with you is just way too much fun.”
They snuggled closer, watching the fire, sipping their coffees until Mauve suddenly sat straight up and set her mug on the table as if it were about to bite her. “I can’t be drinking caffeine. And no soft cheeses. Or wine. Or sushi.”
“Did you look all that up last night?” Jason asked, laughing.
“I couldn’t sleep. I was too excited.”
He tilted his head, watching her. “You’re going to be an incredible mother.”
“And you’re going to an amazing dad.”
Mauve glanced at the windows. “Oh, it’s snowing again.”
Hand in hand, they got up and went to the bank of windows, watching the silent, happy flakes that had come on Christmas morning as if God had sent the snow just for them.
I must remember this, Mauve thought. To tell their baby about the Christmas morning when they first learned that she or he would make them a family of three.
“We’re blessed, you know,” Mauve said.
“Trust me, I know.”
They stood watching the snow fall for a few more minutes, until Mauve’s stomach growled and they both laughed and agreed that the baby needed breakfast. So they went into their kitchen and made pancakes, eggs, and sausage, talking the whole time about the baby and the future and everything they had to look forward to.
Together. There were days and even weeks when they couldn’t be in the same place, but it didn’t matter. They always came home in the end. To Sugarville Grove. To their home. To each other.
Thanks for reading Unscripted Christmas!