Epilogue
Hollis
Christmas morning
“Guys, wake up! Santa came.” Poppy’s excitement jolts me awake, banishing the remnants of sleep.
A deep groan resonates behind me, the vibration a gentle caress against my back, as I find myself enveloped in my favorite warmth.
Smiling, I roll over to see Mike’s eyes still peacefully closed, granting me a rare moment to admire his sheer perfection this early in the morning. Tousled brown hair drapes softly over his forehead, lending a tender touch to his typically sharp features, while a day’s worth of stubble traces his chiseled jawline.
His well-defined chest and sculpted abs are on full display, the sight a vivid reminder of how they felt against me during our passionate moments throughout the night.
As if sensing my gaze, he cracks an eye open, peeking up at me. A lazy grin tugs at his lips. “Merry Christmas, California,” he croaks, his voice low and throaty with sleep.
“Merry Christmas,” I whisper, dropping a kiss on his chest.
His fingers thread into my hair, the tender gesture warming my heart. “What time is it?” he murmurs.
Lifting my head, I glance at the bedside clock over his shoulder. “Quarter to six,” I reveal.
“Jesus.”
I chuckle at his gruff response. “She can’t help herself. She’s excited to open her gifts.”
If I’m being honest, I am too. I can’t wait for her to see what Mike and I got her.
“Yeah, well, I’m excited for you to unwrap mine.” He rolls me beneath him, making his intention more than clear.
Laughter escapes me, but it fades into a hushed moan at the feel of his hard length pressing between my thighs.
It was only a few hours ago that this man was inside of me, and yet I crave to feel him again, to experience the connection that completes me, body and soul. His lips trail along the delicate skin of my neck, further amplifying that need.
Before we can get too carried away, Poppy charges through the door, jumping onto the bed with boundless energy. “Come on, you two. The day’s wasting, and I’ve got some presents down there with my name on them.”
Mike yanks her foot out from beneath her, eliciting a laugh. “And I had a perfectly good pillow with my name on it, before you ruined it,” he mocks, teasingly.
“You have your whole life to sleep,” she counters. “Christmas only comes once a year.”
I arch a brow, locking eyes with him. “She has a point.”
He grunts his disagreement but accepts defeat. “All right, let’s go.”
“Yes!” she cheers.
After throwing on some sweats, he hoists Poppy onto his back, and carries her downstairs, giving me time to freshen up. I make it quick, not wanting to keep her waiting longer than necessary.
A steaming cup of coffee awaits me as I join them in the living room, a cozy haven adorned with colorful wrapping paper and white twinkling lights.
An eager Poppy has her presents already neatly stacked in front of her, ready to go. Mike pats the spot next to him on the floor, a sexy grin on his face as he leans against the sofa. “Saved you a seat.”
Smiling, I settle next to him. He curls an arm around my waist, pulling me close and I decide this is, hands down, the best Christmas morning I’ve ever had.
I wait for Poppy to dive into her mountain of presents, but she surprises me by handing over a small wrapped box first. “Here, this is from me.”
Surprise washes over me as I accept the gift. “You didn’t have to get me anything, Poppy.”
“I know, but I wanted to. Mike helped me pay for some of it because I didn’t have enough, but I used my own money.”
Touched by the sweet gesture, I unwrap the gift and gasp at the rose gold bracelet that’s engraved with the words “sisters forever.”
“I got one too,” Poppy reveals, lifting her arm to show me her bracelet. “This is why I needed Mike. He bought mine, but I paid for yours.”
My heart warms at the thoughtful gift. “It’s beautiful. I love it. Thank you.” I pull her into a tight hug, hoping she feels every bit of my appreciation.
“You’re welcome.” She pulls back, flashing me an eager smile. “My turn!”
A soft laugh escapes me. “Yes. Your turn, and you might want to get a move on. You have a lot to open.”
“I know.” She rubs her palms together, brimming with glee. “Mountie Mike went all out this year.”
She has no idea…
The first present she opens is the pink dollhouse she really wanted, and a family to go with it. Next, is a record player with every Taylor Swift album. She also opens craft projects, a sled that we will be using later today, and a few other items she had on her wish list.
Mike and I watch her excitement as she opens every single one and know the best has yet to come.
“I can’t believe you guys got me all this,” she beams, already trying to unbox the new dollhouse. “Thank you so much.”
Mike clears his throat, drawing her attention. “Actually, Hollis and I have one more present for you.”
It might be from both of us, but the truth is, he paid for most of it because he refused to split it equally.
Stubborn bugger.
“Another one?” Poppy gapes in surprise.
Nodding, he hands her the white envelope. “This is the clue to find it,” he adds.
She tears into it and reads the riddle out loud: “In a space where clothes find their repose, is a hiding spot where mystery grows. Behind closed doors, your quest begins; seek the clue to where your adventure begins.”
A frown creases her small face as she struggles to decipher the cryptic message.
I decide to break it down for her. “What’s a place where clothes rest behind closed doors?”
Her attention immediately strays towards the front closet.
“Very good,” I confirm with a smile.
She runs over and swings open the doors to find a pink suitcase adorned with a neatly tied bow.
“A suitcase?” she muses out loud, confused.
“Open it,” Mike tells her.
She drags it over to her designated spot on the floor, her movements quick with anticipation, as she kneels down to open it.
Lifting the lid, a gasp of pure delight escapes her as she pulls out sparkly Minnie Mouse ears that glitter under the lights, a character autograph book with glossy pages waiting to be filled, and a princess T-shirt paired with a fluffy pink tutu.
“What the heck is all this for?” By the hope trembling in her voice, I think she has a pretty good idea, but Mike plays along.
“Where might one use these things?”
Her mouth drops open, eyes bugging out of her head. “Tell me you’re joking!”
I chuckle, amused by the sheer disbelief on her face.
“Are we seriously going to Disneyland?” she bursts out, practically vibrating out of her skin. “All of us?”
Mike nods. “During spring break. I managed to secure a week off, and—”
His words are abruptly cut off by Poppy’s loud squeal as she launches herself over the open suitcase and into his lap.
Mike grunts at the impact but recovers quickly.
“I can’t believe you did this!” she cries. “Thank you both so much.” She wraps her arms around us. “This is the best Christmas ever.”
Mike and I reciprocate the hug, cherishing the moment together.
Eventually, we fill her in on the plan, presenting her with the brochure that Mike grabbed. It fuels her imagination, helping her eagerly map out our adventures in the happiest place on earth.
“I have to call Annemarie and share the news.” She leaps off Mike’s lap and gathers as many opened gifts as she can, putting them in the suitcase before dragging it to her room.
I glance over at Mike, unable to contain my smile. “You know, we might not be her parents, but if we were, we’d be the coolest ones out there.”
“Definitely,” he agrees, giving me a fist bump.
A giggle escapes my lips as I clamber onto his lap, straddling his hips. Our bodies meld together as I press my lips to his. His hands instinctively settle on my bottom, drawing me closer as he deepens the kiss.
Leaning back slightly, I rest my forehead on his, our rapid breaths mingling in the small space between us. “I’m so glad I get to share this with you both, and I can’t wait for you to meet my family,” I whisper, my heart swelling with anticipation.
I have no doubt that helped sway him when it came to making this decision. That it could be time spent to see my family.
“Me too,” he murmurs, his voice a soft caress as he gently brushes a strand of hair away from my face.
Reaching into the pocket of my hoodie, I pull out a small, wrapped present. “This is for you.”
His gaze narrows in mock sternness as he takes the gift from my hand. “I thought we agreed that Disneyland was our present to each other?”
I shrug. “It was supposed to be, but you only let me pay for Poppy’s ticket to the park. So, this is your gift from me.”
I expect a bit of grumbling, but instead, I’m greeted with a sly grin. “Guess it’s a good thing I got you this then.” He retrieves a square-wrapped present from behind him.
“Mike!” I scold playfully, swatting his chest.
He chuckles, unrepentant. “In my defense, I ordered this before we even decided on the trip.”
I find myself intrigued by that response but manage to restrain my excitement. “You open yours first.”
Scooting back slightly, I give him space but remain perched comfortably on his lap.
Carefully, he unwraps the gift, revealing a sleek compass adorned with the RCMP crest and his badge number.
“I met your Sergeant,” I explain with a smile. “Nice fella. Claimed he couldn’t give me your badge number but conveniently left your file on his desk for me to stumble upon.”
He grunts but there’s affection in the sound.
Taking the compass from him, I open it to reveal the delicate inscription inside: Your heart is my guide, and I’ll follow wherever it leads.
“Do you like it?” I ask, his prolonged silence making me nervous.
“Yeah, California,” he replies, his tone gruff. “I love it. Thank you.” He pulls me in for a soul-stirring kiss, his lips conveying more gratitude and love than words ever could.
After a moment, he gently pulls away and gestures for me to open my gift.
With eager anticipation, I unwrap the gift and gasp at the beautiful snow globe that’s revealed. Encased within the glass sphere is a replica of Heart Mountain, enveloped in a swirling flurry of snow and white twinkling lights. I marvel at the intricate scene, laughing through tears at the tiny car crashed into the back of the RCMP SUV. The attention to detail is incredible, even down to the miniature figures of the man and woman, dressed exactly as we were on the day we first met.
My favorite part though is the words inscribed on the base that I once whispered to him: All legends hold fragments of the truth.
Tears tumble down my cheeks as I look up at him through blurry vision. “I thought you didn’t believe in magic?”
“I didn’t.” His hand tenderly brushes away my tears. “Until you.”
My heart swells with an overwhelming rush of love. A sob bubbles up in my throat but before it can escape, he curls that same hand around my neck and pulls me in for a kiss that leaves an everlasting imprint on my soul. His lips a testament to the profound connection we share because of that fateful day, proving that somewhere beyond the legend lies fragments of the truth.
*
Want more Heart Mountain? Turn the page to read the Prologue for The Legend of Heart Mountain, Ellie and Gunnar’s story, releasing July2024.