Epilogue
Haylee
About two years later
“Really, you two?” Haylee posted her hands on her hips when she returned to the living room, discovering her husband and daughter nestled under a pile of blankets on the couch.
Logan she expected to forfeit tree decorating after the garland was hung.
But Melly too? Even Allie and Jasper were piling onto the couch to join them in their laziness.
“But you’re so good at hanging the ornaments, Mom,” Melly said, sharing a conspiratorial look with Logan.
“It’s true,” he said. “No one decorates a Christmas tree better than my wife.”
Melly giggled at the contented way he said my wife.
The butterflies—ones that had never truly stopped tumbling around in her belly since the day Captain Logan Riley showed up at her door—fluttered with approval, too. She would never tire of hearing him call her his wife, even after a year of it being true.
“What do you have there?” Logan asked of the envelope in her hand, a hint of understandable suspicion in his expression.
“A Christmas card.”
“From who?” Melly asked.
“Susan and George Mayweather.”
The couple who accidentally started the rumor two years ago that Logan and Haylee eloped had become like grandparents to them. They visited often, and Dasher—still chaotic as ever where snow was involved—was always excited to play with Allie and Jasper.
“Did Grandma Susan send you another recipe?” Melly asked, a twinkle of excitement in her eyes.
Sadly, Dylan’s parents had never come around to the idea of having a granddaughter.
Perhaps it was just too hard to face after the loss of their own son.
In time, that could change. But if that never happened, Haylee was grateful to have the additional honorary set of grandparents who loved Melly unconditionally.
With Haylee’s own parents included, and Great-Grandma Charlotte as well, Melly had no shortage of grandparent figures in her life.
Nothing was more important than surrounding her two daughters—they’d make the announcement at the Evans family Christmas Eve dinner next week—with love. And here, in this quaint, charming town Haylee was so grateful to call home, there was no shortage of love to go around.
“Maybe,” Haylee said.
“Mom!”
“We’ll try it out, after the tree is decorated,” Haylee said. “So, the sooner that’s done—”
Melly burrowed out from her blanket haven and immediately picked an ornament from the top of the tote to hang.
“I thought that might change your mind.” Haylee chuckled.
As It’s a Wonderful Life played in the background, Haylee and her daughter filled the tree with ornaments one by one. Melly loved hearing the stories of each one, especially the ornament of the moose with a wreath around its neck and mistletoe hanging from its mouth.
“Logan gave you that one for Christmas, right?”
“He did.” Haylee’s gaze snagged on Logan, and they shared a warm smile.
“Because Ed made you two kiss?” Melly giggled.
“Something like that,” Logan said.
“Is that why he’s here now?” Melly asked, glancing at the window behind the tree.
“What do you mean—”
Sure enough, on the other side of their oversized Christmas tree, a giant bull moose head and antlers filled the picture window, head tilted in what Haylee could only describe as canine-like curiosity.
“Shh,” Melly said. “Don’t wake the dogs. They’ll scare Ed away.”
Though Ed sightings were rare since Haylee declared her love for Logan in the backyard of his vacation rental cabin two years ago, the moose did pop up once in a while, as though to check on them.
Or maybe, he was looking out for Melly, now that she thought of it.
Because every time he was spotted now, Melly was with her.
Even a moose can offer love and protection.
“I think he likes the tree.” Melly giggled.
Logan came up behind Haylee, placing a warm hand on her hip. She leaned back against him, that familiar sense of peace filling her.
Ed stared at them for several beats, then he seemed to nod.
Though Haylee probably imagined that part.
It was easy to get carried away when it came to the moose famous for bringing so many couples in Sunset Ridge together.
He was a moose, after all. That he popped up at just the right time, in just the right places .
. . well, maybe that was a little bit of Christmas magic at work.
The bull looked once more to Melly, then swung around. With snow-covered mountains in the distance and the sun quickly sinking behind them, Ed walked away, as though in no hurry to be anywhere at all.
“Is he . . . walking off into the sunset?” Logan said on a light laugh.
“Would you expect anything less?” Haylee said.
“He’ll be back,” Melly said. “I just know it.”