Epilogue
Holden
It was hard to believe it was Christmas Day.
I’d spent so many years pretending I didn’t care about holidays or about family. But, sitting in Belle’s family home, surrounded by the laughter of people who actually wanted me here, I couldn’t help but feel like I’d been missing something for a long time.
We were sitting around the big oak table, the room glowing with soft light from the fireplace, and Belle’s parents were smiling at me like I was a part of the family already.
Her brother, Ethan, was cracking jokes, and Claire was laughing along, her eyes twinkling like she had a secret.
Even the dog was curled up by my feet, as if he’d claimed me as his new favorite person.
Belle and I exchanged a smile as her dad told yet another Christmas story about her childhood, and I was content. Truly content. It felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be.
Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I glanced at the screen and saw a name that made me smile. The Zeke Man.
I shook my head at the ridiculous nickname he’d given himself. I still hadn’t changed his name in my contacts, and I probably never would.
“Mind if I take this?” I asked Belle, my voice barely above a whisper.
She nodded, squeezing my hand under the table. “No, of course not.”
I stepped away from the table and walked into the next room, picking up the phone. “The Zeke Man.”
His laugh boomed through the speaker. “Man, it’s about time. I knew you’d finally give in one day.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Merry Christmas.” Zeke’s voice was warm and familiar, the kind of call I used to dread on Christmas—only now, I realized I was actually glad to hear it. “Are you surviving meeting the fam?”
I laughed, running a hand through my hair. “Yeah, I’m good. They’re all great. Definitely not the Christmas I’m used to, but in a good way.”
“Yeah, you and me both,” he said, his voice growing serious, and I realized this was also his first Christmas not alone. “I’m in a house full of people who care about me, and it’s weird but also in a good way. You know what I mean?”
I glanced over at the doorway, catching Belle’s eye through the open crack. She gave me a little smile, and I felt the weight of everything—my past, my present, and the future I was starting to see with her.
“I think I’m starting to,” I said softly.
“I’m really happy for you, Holden,” he said. “When you first told me about Belle, I hoped she would be the one to change things for you, to be the person Piper was for me.”
After the ski day with Belle, I’d called Zeke and told him everything, from meeting Belle, to finding out she was my cousin’s girlfriend, to spending time with her, to not being able to stop thinking about her.
He’d been a little too excited and wanted to prove the whole “there’s something about her that’s different” theory—the one I’d tried to disagree with when he had wanted to pursue something with Piper—and I’d tried to discourage it.
As much as I hated to be wrong, he had definitely been right.
I’d just had to meet the right woman for me.
“Well, I just wanted to check in and see how you’re doing,” he said. “We miss you around here.”
“I miss you guys too,” I replied, feeling a warmth settle in my chest. “Thanks for being there, Zeke.”
It wasn’t like us to get all mushy with each other, but maybe it was the newfound feeling of belonging, or maybe it was the Christmas spirit in the air, but it felt right to share what I was feeling.
“Anytime, my friend. Enjoy the day, okay? And don’t forget to take a picture with Belle’s family and send it to me. I have a feeling this will be a Christmas we talk about for years.”
“Will do. Merry Christmas, Zeke.”
“Merry Christmas, Holden. Talk soon.”
I hung up, feeling a little lighter after the call. It felt good knowing that even though I was starting something new with Belle, I was still connected to people like Zeke and Piper. And more recently Ryder and Quinn. That my circle of family was now growing.
Which made me think I should make a phone call. I pulled up the number and pressed the call button before I could talk myself out of it.
The line rang twice before I heard Maggie’s voice.
“Holden?” she answered, surprise threading through her voice. “Is everything all right?”
“Yeah,” I said quickly. “Yeah, everything’s good. I just…I wanted to call and wish you a Merry Christmas.”
“Oh.” Her voice softened. “Merry Christmas, sweetheart.”
I swallowed, suddenly unsure how to say what had been sitting in my chest for far too long. “I know I should’ve called earlier. And more often. I’ve been a crappy nephew.”
“Holden—”
“No, let me say this,” I interrupted gently. “I was so caught up in trying to stay distant, in protecting myself from getting too close to anyone, I think I forgot that you were always there. Even when no one else was.”
There was a quiet pause on the other end. Then she spoke, voice thick with emotion. “I never needed you to be anything more than yourself. I knew you were hurting, and I never stopped being proud of you.”
“Thank you,” I said, my throat tight. “For everything. For showing up when I needed someone—even when I didn’t know I did. I’m sorry I didn’t say it sooner.”
“You just did,” she said softly. “That’s more than enough.”
Tears stung my eyes at her constant kindness, and I hurried to blink them away.
“I’m glad you called,” she said. “Truly. You don’t know how much it means.”
It was the first time I’d ever called her on Christmas, and she didn’t hold it against me.
“I’ll call more often. I mean it.” It would take some getting used to, but I wanted to work on it.
“I’ll hold you to that,” she teased gently.
We exchanged goodbyes and hung up, and I stood there for a second, just breathing. The weight I’d carried for years—of being alone, of keeping my distance—felt a little lighter now.
I returned to the dining room just in time to hear Belle’s brother, Ethan, ask, “So, Holden, how exactly did you meet our dear sister? Because I’ve heard something about a balcony, a camera, and a near-death experience, but I’d love to hear your side of the story.”
Belle groaned, covering her face with her hands. “I knew you were going to bring that up.”
Claire leaned in, eyes bright with mischief. “Who doesn’t want to hear about a meet-cute that’s practically out of a romance movie?”
I smirked as I took my seat beside Belle. “It was less romance and more ‘accidental acrobatics.’ She was trying to get the perfect photo and nearly swan-dived off a balcony. I just happened to be standing nearby with decent reflexes.”
Ethan grinned. “So you saved her life and then stole her heart? Bold move, Prescott.”
“I don’t know,” I said, shooting Belle a sideways glance. “I’m pretty sure she kissed me first.”
Belle gasped. “You kissed me!”
“I still can’t believe Mistletoe Mystery Man ended up being a professional hockey player,” Claire mused. “Why doesn’t that kind of stuff happen to me?”
Ethan pointed a fork at her. “Because when you meet strange men under the mistletoe, they usually ask if you’ve seen their car keys or want to talk about cryptocurrency.”
Claire rolled her eyes. “One time.”
“Still traumatizing,” Ethan muttered.
Belle shook her head, laughing. “You two are unbelievable.”
“Oh, come on,” Claire said, leaning back in her chair. “You’re the one who ran off to Colorado and came back with a hockey player like he was a limited-edition holiday souvenir.”
“I’m not from Colorado,” I offered, holding up my hands in mock defense. “I was just there for a charity event.”
“Potato, po-tah-to,” Ethan said, waving me off. “Either way she met you, kissed you, and then had to have you.”
“Ethan!” Belle exclaimed, her cheeks flaming.
I reached over and squeezed Belle’s leg, hoping to calm her embarrassment. “I had to have her too.”
“Aww,” Claire mewed. “You’re so much better than stick-in-the-mud Alex.”
“Here, here,” Ethan said, raising up his cider in a toast. “But in all seriousness, man…welcome to the chaos. And thanks for not letting her fall off a balcony. That would’ve really ruined Christmas.”
We laughed and all clinked our glasses together, as Belle’s parents brought dessert to the dining room table. And as I looked around the table at these new faces, which now seemed surprisingly familiar, I realized I’d never felt more at home.
After dinner and dessert, the house hummed with the comforting sounds of Christmas, the distant laughter, the rustle of wrapping paper, and carols playing softly from the living room speakers.
Belle stood in front of me with her hand outstretched, and I didn’t hesitate to let her pull me off the couch and lead me out onto the back porch.
The crisp evening air greeted us, carrying the scent of pine and the quiet hush of falling snow.
Twinkling lights wrapped around the trees that bordered the yard, and as the last light of day faded beyond the horizon, I realized I couldn’t imagine a more perfect Christmas night.
Belle had a blanket around her, but I still saw her shiver.
“Cold?” I asked, opening my arm.
She didn’t hesitate, tucking herself against me. “A little. Are you willing to warm me up?”
“Always.” I smiled, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. Snow flurries danced around us, soft and slow.
As we stood there, wrapped in each other and the hush of snow, my mind wandered to the quiet conversations we’d been having lately about what came next.
About how to make this work beyond the magic of Christmas.
Belle had admitted she didn’t love architectural photography.
That it felt like a job, not a passion. And because she wasn’t tied to New York City, she was thinking about giving Saint Paul a try.
About finding a new direction with her camera, and with me.
The idea of her building a life near mine felt almost too good to be true.
But the idea of her letting me build a life with her?
Yeah, that felt like the answer to a Christmas wish I’d never thought would be mine.
“Thank you,” I said quietly.
She looked up at me, brow furrowing. “For what?”
“For letting me be part of this,” I said. “Your family, your life. For making this the best Christmas I’ve ever had.”
Her expression softened, her hand finding mine.
“I think you were always meant to be a part of it,” she said, her thumb brushing gently over my knuckles.
“I didn’t realize how much I needed you until I finally had the chance to be with someone who celebrates who I am instead of trying to change me. So…thank you.”
Her words hit me like a warm rush to the chest and were somehow exactly what I needed to hear. I’d spent so long feeling like I didn’t quite fit anywhere. But here, with Belle, I didn’t have to try. She saw me, every part of me, and still reached for my hand.
I looked at her—really looked—and felt something settle deep inside me. Something that felt a lot like home.
I lowered my head and softly captured her mouth with mine. With each press of our lips, with each breath, with every heartbeat, I poured out my feelings for her, for this woman who had completely captured my heart and soul. She would forever be the best gift I’d ever received.
When we finally pulled apart, she smiled up at me. “Merry Christmas, Holden.”
“Merry Christmas, Belle,” I murmured, resting my forehead against hers.
I leaned down, brushing my lips against hers once more, slow and sure, as the snow continued to fall around us.
And just like that, the quiet kind of love I’d been waiting for, found me.
Thank you for reading!