Epilogue
“ You make a beautiful bride.” Irene clasped her hands to her chest.
“Mrs. Swenson, uh, Grandma. Are there going to be turtle doves?” It had been one year since Nick publicly declared his love for Michelle and Ava was still getting used to calling Michelle’s mom grandma.
“God, I hope not.” Michelle glared at her sisters.
Ava’s little face fell.
“How about we go check out the ice sculpture?” Michelle’s mom held out her hand. Ava slipped her little hand into it.
Michelle had been Officer Michelle for the first couple of months. Then Ava started calling her Mickey. But then the mom word slipped out a time or two, Michelle’s insides lit up. She loved the idea of Nick’s daughter being hers as well. Especially now that she’d be a big sister.
Her secret was still hidden, but she silently prayed it wouldn’t sneak out before the wedding. It was Christmas Eve and the last thing she wanted was to upstage the wedding her mom and sisters had worked so hard to plan.
Michelle and Nick would have tied the knot last May in a small backyard affair, but Renae and Julie insisted on a big Christmas wedding, and surprisingly, Nick agreed. He had fully embraced the holiday spirit, but not as over the top as his father .
Michelle threatened to tase them when they brought up ice sculptures. But the look on Ava’s little face had her caving.
She had to give them credit. The decorations were gorgeous. A mountain of evergreens and candles lined the altar. Hopefully, they wouldn’t be ablaze by the time the vows were exchanged.
Fortunately, most of the fire department was in attendance, as well as the police officers. The Chief called in backup from a town over to cover so the criminals didn’t have a heyday.
A knock on the door told her it was time.
Her father took her arm at the end of the aisle. He gave her a soft smile. This was really happening. If she hadn’t believed it, the man in his Army dress uniform at the end of the white runner waiting solidified it. Nick’s gaze locked with hers and something clicked in her chest. The missing pieces of her heart. The music changed and everyone turned. She caught the wave of movement in her peripheral, but her focus was on the man at the altar.
The ceremony flew by. The next thing she knew, he kissed her. A sweet touch of lips—a promise of more to come. The minister pronounced them husband and wife to the crowd and they turned.
Wow. What a crowd it was. For the first time since she locked eyes with Nick thirty minutes ago, she looked at the attendees. Half of Ashwood must be there. She hadn’t even noticed Abe at Nick’s side. She’d met him and a couple other of Nick’s Army buddies last night when they arrived for the wedding.
Michelle smiled at everyone as they glided down the aisle. Her fellow law enforcement officers and their spouses lined her side, some spilling over into Nick’s friends and family.
In the truck, Nick kissed her again. This time, passion sparked through every cell of her body at his touch. He pulled back, his face lit with satisfaction. “Finally, I thought this day would never come. ”
“You and me both.” Her gaze dropped to their linked fingers. Her facial muscles locked in a smile, she didn’t ever want to stop.
“Think at the reception we should tell them that we tied the knot last Christmas, and this was just for them?”
A few days after she sat on Santa Nick’s lap, they exchanged vows in his living room with Ava and the minister. Michelle didn’t think this big, fancy ordeal would be as special to her as their private words last year. But it was.
While the one last year was their legal ceremony, this one felt as much like their real wedding as the last. Michelle couldn’t believe the secret hadn’t slipped out. They bribed Ava with a dog and it had worked.
“Nah. That one was just for us.”
Big, fat flakes fell as he pulled out of the church parking lot. The perfection of the day settled over Michelle as Nick placed their joined hands on her waist. He rubbed light circles over their growing family.
Warmth filled her at his touch. Yup, this one was just as special.
She stared out the window at the falling snow and grinned.
Christmas wishes do come true.
***