Epilogue
One year later . . .
It was the night before Christmas and Cal was dreaming contently.
Not about dancing sugarplums, but about dancing Oompa Loompas.
He was nudged awake to find Jolene lying next to him with soft smile on her face and a loving look in her eyes.
The last thing he remembered before he fell asleep was her reading to him from the book he’d given her for Christmas the previous year.
Or maybe it was the one she had given him.
Their identical gift-giving had become a private joke and they decided to read from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory every Christmas Eve.
He blinked the sleep from his eyes. “Sorry, honey. I didn’t mean to fall asleep while you were reading.”
“It’s time.”
He glanced at the window, surprised to see the sun peeking its head into the new day.
Christmas Day. He looked back at Jolene and lifted his eyebrows.
“Don’t tell me that you want to go downstairs and see what Santa left you.
” He smiled suggestively. “Or did you wake me up to give me my gift early?”
She laughed. “You have sex on the brain, Mr. Daily.”
He drew her into his arms and kissed her. He never grew tired of kissing Jolene. “It’s hard not to when I’m married to the sexiest woman in the entire state of Texas.”
Her cheeks turned as pink as the sunrise. He loved that compliments always made her blush—of course, he loved everything about his woman. He went to kiss her again, but she drew back.
“I didn’t wake you to make love, Cal. Or to see what Santa brought. His gift isn’t going to be under the tree this year. It’s going to be delivered at the hospital in Abilene—at least, it’s going to if we don’t waste anymore time.”
It took his sleep-drugged mind a second to understand what she was saying.
When her words finally clicked, he stared at her in disbelief.
“But you’re not due for another two weeks.
And most first babies are late. Cheyenne was ten days late.
Dixie and Lincoln’s daughter, Clementine, was an entire two weeks late.
And Emma and Boone’s son, Michael Dean, was four days late.
It’s probably just something you ate at the party last night.
You did eat quite a few of Hanna’s molasses cookies, honey. ”
She laughed. “It was a wonderful Christmas Eve, wasn’t it? Once again, Nathan and Cheyenne did a great job of being Joseph and Mary.”
Cal had to admit that they’d done an excellent job.
Although he could’ve done without the ad-libbed kiss at the end.
He’d come to accept Nathan as Cheyenne’s boyfriend.
He was a good kid who treated Cheyenne like she deserved to be treated.
But Cal still didn’t want them getting too attached before they went off to college.
“And everyone in town seemed to have fun at the after party at my father’s house,” Jolene continued. “I can’t believe Dad agreed to the party. Or that he bought such a big tree for the library. It was bigger than the one he bought for the bank lobby. I think the Grinch’s heart has finally grown.”
Otis Applegate had changed. He wasn’t nearly as gruff as he’d once been.
In the last year, he’d started to spend more time away from the bank.
He came to the pink house for dinner every Tuesday and Thursday night and drove out to the Double Diamond Ranch on Saturday nights to play checkers with Lucas and Chester Diamond.
On Sunday, he attended church with Cal, Jolene, and Cheyenne.
While he and Cal were still working on their relationship, Cheyenne had charmed her way into Otis’s heart.
The two were almost as close as Cheyenne and Miss Gertie.
A soft gasp pulled Cal from his thoughts. Jolene’s face was tightened in pain and her stomach felt hard against his. He came fully awake and sat up.
“Holy shit! It’s time!”
She spoke through gritted teeth. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you, dear.”
He took her hand and held it. “Are you okay? What can I do?” He tried to remember what he’d learned in the birthing classes they’d taken, but his mind drew a blank. It was a relief when her face relaxed and she released her breath.
“I’m fine, but I think we need to go.”
He jumped out of bed and raced to the closet to get the suitcase Jolene had insisted on packing—even though he’d told her that they had plenty of time.
But they didn’t have plenty of time. It was happening. It was happening now.
He grabbed the suitcase and headed for the door. “You just sit tight, Jolie, and I’ll pull the truck out of the garage and come back for you.”
“In your underwear?”
He stopped short and glanced down at his boxers.
“Right.” He headed for the dresser. Getting dressed seemed to take forever.
And it didn’t help that Jolene got her clothes on in record time and then sat on the bed rubbing her stomach and breathing while he struggled to zip his jeans and pull on his socks.
When he couldn’t find his boots, he completely lost it.
“Dammit!”
“So I guess Daddy is freaking out.” Cheyenne walked into the room.
She was dressed in sweats and looked much calmer than he felt.
His daughter had matured so much in the last year.
He knew Jolene had helped her with that.
And so had Clarissa. Cheyenne had forgiven her mother and spent a weekend a month with her mom and new family in Abilene.
“I’m not freaking out,” he said as he searched the closet. “I just can’t find my boots.”
“You mean these boots?”
He pulled his head out of the closet to see Cheyenne holding up his cowboy boots. He rolled his eyes as he took them, then sat down on the bed next to Jolene and quickly tugged them on. He was about to get up and go get the car when Jolene rested a hand on his arm.
“I think Cheyenne should drive.”
Cal was about to argue when Cheyenne grabbed his truck keys from the dresser and headed for the door. “Don’t worry, Daddy. I got this.” She sent him a smug look over her shoulder. “But you might want to turn your shirt right side out.”
He had to admit that his daughter did a fine job of getting them to the hospital.
At three-thirty-three that very day, Olivia Grace was born.
She didn’t have red hair. Her thick stock of hair was as dark as Cheyenne’s had been when she was born.
She had chubby cheeks and deep blue eyes and a loud scream that made Cal smile.
It seemed she was going to be as vocal as her big sister.
“It’s pretty awesome, isn’t it?” Cheyenne moved up next to him to watch the nurses finish weighting and measuring Olivia.
Cal had thought Cheyenne was too young to be in the birthing room.
But when they’d arrived at the hospital, she’d refused to leave.
And he was glad she was here to share this moment.
He put his arm around her and pulled her close, kissing her head. “Birth is definitely a miracle.”
“Especially when I never thought you’d get married again. Let alone give me a baby sister.”
Cal hadn’t thought it either. But he was learning that things didn’t always turn out the way you thought they would. He had never thought he’d get remarried again or have more children. But here he stood in a room with his beautiful wife and two beautiful daughters. God knew what he was doing.
“It might be a miracle,” Cheyenne continued. “But it looks pretty painful. I think I’ll wait a while to have kids.”
Cal patted her arm. “I think that’s a good idea.”
“Here you go, Mr. Daily.” A nurse held out a blanket-wrapped Olivia. Since he had already gotten to hold her right after she was born, he nodded at Cheyenne. “I think big sis should get a turn.”
Cheyenne looked at him with wide eyes before she held out her arms and let the nurse place her little sister in them.
Yes, Cal thought as he looked at his two girls, God knew what he was doing. Cal glanced up at the ceiling and said a prayer of thanks before he moved over to the bed to thank someone else.
Jolene looked tired, but radiant. She smiled as he sat down beside her and took her hand. He placed a kiss on her knuckles, then looked into her eyes. In them, he saw love. The kind of love he’d always hoped for.
“Thank you, Jolie,” he said. “Not just for Olivia, but for choosing me for your secret affair.”
Jolene glanced over at Cheyenne. “Lower your voice. Do you want our daughter to hear?” Our daughter. Ever since they had gotten married, Jolene had always referred to Cheyenne as theirs.
“Cheyenne’s too wrapped up in her new sister to pay us any attention.” He lowered his voice. “But you’re probably right. We shouldn’t let her overhear us talking about you seducing me.”
Jolene released his hand and swatted his arm. “I did not seduce you, Cal Daily. You were the one who propositioned me.”
“Only because you showed up at my garage and started talking about sex—using the pretense of a flat tire.”
“I did have a flat tire!”
He shrugged. “True, but it would’ve been quite easy to hammer a nail into your tire just to get your hands on this hot mechanic.”
“Yuck, Daddy. Old guys aren’t hot.” Cheyenne stood behind Cal with Olivia tucked protectively in her arms. “I think Ollie’s hungry.
She keeps sucking on her fist. And I know how she feels, I’m starving.
” She moved around the bed and handed the baby to Jolene.
“I’m going to go see if Grandpa Applegate and Aunt Lottie want to go to the cafeteria. ”
Jolene had called her father and sister on the way to Abilene and they had both arrived at the hospital soon after. Charlotte had stayed with Jolene until Olivia was born, then had slipped out to tell their father the news.
Cal took his wallet out so he could give Cheyenne some money for food, but she shook her head. “Grandpa won’t let me pay. He likes spoiling me. He would’ve bought me a Mercedes for my sixteenth birthday if you hadn’t thrown such a fit over it.”
“You don’t need a Mercedes.” He slipped his wallet back into his pocket.
“You didn’t think I needed a boyfriend either.” Cheyenne’s eyes twinkled. “But you came around.”
“No Mercedes,” he repeated.
Cheyenne sighed. “Fine. But if Grandpa wants to get me a car for graduation, there’s not much I can do about it.
” Olivia started fussing and Cheyenne leaned down and kissed her head, whispering just loud enough for Cal to hear.
“Don’t worry, little sis. I’ll get Daddy all broken in before you start to date and drive.
” Before Cal could do more than lift his eyebrows, she sailed out the door.
When she was gone, Jolene laughed. Cal couldn’t help joining in. Olivia didn’t think it was that funny. Her fussing turned to out-and-out cries. Jolene adjusted her hospital gown. Soon Olivia was quiet and suckling contentedly.
The sight of Jolene nursing their daughter filled Cal with contentment too. He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. What felt like only minutes later, he startled awake to the sound of Jolene’s exclamation.
“Oh my goodness! What a surprise.”
Cal opened his eyes to see half the town of Simple crowded into the room.
Boone and Emma Murphy. Reba and Val Sterling.
Dixie Leigh and Lincoln Hayes. Sawyer and Maisy Dawson.
Holden and Devlin Lancaster. Logan and Evie McCord.
Cru and Penny Cassidy. Lucas and Chester Diamond.
Jolene’s father and sister. Raynelle Coffman and Luanne Riddell. And Nathan, Cheyenne, and Miss Gertie.
Of course, it was Miss Gertie who spoke for the group.
“We figured if you couldn’t have Christmas at home in Simple, we’d bring a little Christmas and Simple to you.”
Boone placed a small artificial Christmas tree on a nearby table and plugged it in.
When the multicolored lights were glowing, people surrounded it with gifts for Olivia.
But the best gift wasn’t the presents—it was their presence.
They had interrupted their own holiday gatherings to make the trip all the way from Simple to Abilene.
Cal didn’t know what to say. And even if he had, he wouldn’t have been able to talk past the emotion that clogged his throat. He’d left Simple when he was younger searching for his place in the world. He now knew that his place in the world would always be with these people. His people.
Jolene took his hand and squeezed it, and her strength helped him find his words. “Thank you so much, y’all. We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends. Your kindness has made this a Christmas to remember.”
“I think that baby snoozing in your wife’s arms has done that,” Miss Gertie said. “Now hand over that sweet little buttercup, Jolene, so Aunt Gertie can get a closer look at her.”
Once Miss Gertie was sitting in the rocking chair by the window with Olivia tucked in her arms, Dixie Leigh cut into the two peach pies she’d brought and Evie and Reba opened up containers of cookies and candies.
While everyone dug into the holiday sweets, Cheyenne found some Christmas music on her cellphone.
“Joy to the World” was the perfect choice.
Cal’s heart burst with joy, and that joy only increased when Jolene squeezed his hand and pointed to the window. Outside, white fluffy snowflakes fell from the twilight sky.
She looked at him and smiled. “See? Dreams really do come true.”
THE END
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