Epilogue
COLTON
“Are you ready?” Missy glances up at me, her hopeful eyes brighter than the rows of Christmas lights that outline every edge of my parents’ vast house.
I let out a pent-up breath, exhaling the nerves I feel from arriving at my childhood home after being silently exiled for nearly a year and a half.
From my spot on the driveway, I take in the house—the steep pitch of the colonial-style gables, the familiar columned entryway that soars two stories high, and the twenty windows that line the front of the home, each with its own evergreen wreath, red bow, and candle.
With the expansive snow-covered lawn and the festive garlands encircling every lamppost lining the driveway, the house could double as a tourist attraction.
Mom and the house staff outdid themselves this year.
But despite the jovial appearance, I can’t stop the anxiety that claws at my insides as we approach it, reminding me that tonight is the first night my entire family will be together in well over a decade.
Missy’s gloved hand squeezes mine. “It’s going to be great.”
I look down at her and a smile breaks through my tense lips. Part of her hair is tucked beneath a light-pink beanie trimmed with wisps of soft fur, while some of her beautiful blonde curls cascade down the pink tweed overcoat that she proudly thrifted just for tonight.
I take both her hands in mine. “Have I ever told you that I have the most breathtakingly beautiful fiancée?”
She squeals with pure glee, and my smile widens.
We’ve been engaged since July, yet every time she hears the word fiancée, it’s like I just popped the question under the stars all over again.
We have just one more month until our wedding day, but if it were up to me, we would have been married long ago.
But Ji was adamant she needed at least six months to plan a proper wedding, so that’s all we’re giving her, down to the day.
“I can’t wait to marry you, Missy Jean,” I say, resting my forehead against hers.
Her glossed lips press the tiniest kiss on the corner of my mouth before she steps back. Her eyes glitter, knowing full well the power she has over me. But before I know it, she heads off toward the front walkway.
“Oh no, Missy Jean. You can’t tease me with a kiss like that and walk away,” I say, reaching for her hand.
But too soon, she scampers onto the shrub-lined walkway in her three-inch heels.
I waste no time chasing after her. The closer I get, the more she laughs until I catch her from behind, wrapping my arms around her waist and spinning her in the opposite direction.
She yelps and giggles in my arms, just as she had so many nights ago on the island when she ran away with my hand sanitizer right before our almost kiss.
But this time, I’m not going for almost.
I let Missy go and she slowly backs away from me with the grin of a temptress. “Colton, no. I just put on lip gloss.”
“Great. I was just thinking my lips felt a little dry,” I say, brushing my lips with my fingers.
“Berry Red is not your shade,” she warns.
I snake an arm around her back until she’s flush up against me. “Try me.”
Missy bites her full bottom lip, baiting me, daring me, but I need no encouragement. My lips are on hers, soft at first, but when her arms circle my neck, pulling me closer, I deepen the kiss and cradle my beautiful, tough, radiant, and fearless Missy Jean in my arms.
“Colton? Missy? Is that you out here?” My mother’s voice sounds from the front porch about five shrubs down. Missy and I quickly break apart, the air from our lungs causing hazy white clouds to billow around us.
Mom’s shoes click-clack against the walkway as she approaches us. Missy’s cheeks brighten to a vibrant red.
“There you two are.” Mom wraps her arms around her torso. “Come inside, it’s freezing out here.”
A blast of warm air encompasses us as we walk past the massive walnut door and into the foyer of my parents’ home.
Mom, in her red blazer with a festive wreath brooch on her lapel, instantly goes into Christmas hostess mode, asking for our coats, hanging them in the front closet, and welcoming us inside.
I give Mom a big hug, my gratitude for her stronger than ever. Where my family is concerned, it’s been a long year and a half full of navigating the delicate nature of wounded prides, crushed hopes, and healing relationships.
After my disagreement with Dad at The Red Curtain last summer, he’d stayed true to his word, pulling my trust fund, apartment, and car. All of which I had expected. But what I hadn’t anticipated was the chill that came from Dad freezing me out, just as he’d done with Will years earlier.
Going from Dad’s prized son to a mere acquaintance within the span of a day was more painful than I’d imagined.
But then there was Mom. She’d always been a staunch supporter of my dad and his opinions, but after my confrontation with Dad at The Red Curtain, she pushed back.
At first, she’d send me texts a few times a week, checking in on me, inquiring about my new job at Parson she was the daughter Mom never had.
“Missy, sweetheart. It’s good to see you.
” Mom gives her one last squeeze. “The Christmas Spectacular you put on was truly wonderful. We loved it so much. We were just sad we had to head out early to beat the snow,” Mom says, referring to the Christmas program Missy put on at The Red Curtain last week.
Since Something to Glow About had officially become a nonprofit organization last month, something Missy had worked tirelessly for over the past year and a half, some of the kids in the program had come up with an idea to throw a festive talent show to celebrate the occasion, which Missy supported wholeheartedly.
Each of the kids in her program had eagerly jumped in, doing anything from manning the lighting booth to making artistic signs for advertisements around Pine Lakes to performing a four-part harmony to “Jingle Bells” using nose kazoos.
I’ve never seen her kids shine as bright as they had that night.
Missy had highlighted each child in a way that brought out their best selves.
Missy was not just changing lives, but transforming our community altogether.
Missy tilts her head, confusion creasing her brows. “We?”
“Yes, we were there,” Mom says, referring to my dad.
Mom links her arm in Missy’s and leans toward both of us, whispering, “James won’t admit it, but he’s coming around.
And between the three of us, he was crying tears watching you sign ‘Silent Night’ with that sweet little girl that lost her hearing last year. That was something else, Missy.”
Missy’s eyes well with tears, and Mom pats her arm as they share a warm smile.
Mom straightens and looks over to me. “Now, your brother and his girlfriend are just in the kitchen. You two head on in, and I’m just going to let your father know you’re all here.”
“Will brought Lexi?” I perk up, eager to meet the artist Will has been telling me about over the phone these past few months.
When we get into the kitchen, I find Will and Lexi snacking on one of the three trays brimming with an assortment of cheeses, jellies, crackers, and fruit.
“Hey, man,” Will says with a smile that lights me to my core, while simultaneously tearing me apart inside.
How had I let so much time pass by since last visiting him?
Determined to look forward and live my life to its fullest, I embrace my brother, and he crushes me in his arms in the best way possible.
“Good to see you,” I say, pulling away.
“Colt, meet my girlfriend, Lexi.” Will moves to put an arm around his girlfriend, but she isn’t there. Instead, the girl with beautiful ebony skin and long blonde-and-black braids stares wide-eyed at the Rembrandt that hangs in the living room, just above the grand piano.
“Lexi? You okay?” Will asks.
Lexi blinks the trance from her eyes and turns away from the painting and toward us.
“Is that … Is that real?” Lexi asks, walking over to us and pointing to the centuries-old painting.
“Uh, yeah,” Will says.
She punches Will in the arm. “You didn’t tell me you grew up in a museum, you jerk.” She suddenly looks down at her jeans and oversized hoodie. “You could have warned a girl to dress a little nicer.”
Will laughs. “I like you just the way you are.”
Lexi tugs at her sweatshirt, looking self-conscious in her surroundings, but Will just smiles at her as if she’s the sun itself, and I instantly crave Missy. Missy must know my thoughts because she comes to stand next to me, lacing her fingers with mine. I give her hand a squeeze.
“Nice to meet you, Lexi,” I say to Will’s girlfriend. “I’m Colton, and this is Missy.”