Epilogue
SADIE
The holiday lights around my father’s house glittered softly against the backdrop of snow-dusted fir trees.
It had been Patrick’s idea to come here, a retreat from the city during the holidays to spend Christmas with my family.
I could tell it was important to him, not only because he knew how much I loved being up here, but because he wanted to be more than just the occasional guest, someone who only showed up when it was convenient.
He wanted to belong in this world as much as I had started to belong in his.
My father was in the kitchen, chatting with Patrick as they prepared dinner together.
I stood by the fire, watching their easy rapport with a quiet sense of satisfaction.
There had been a time when Patrick would have struggled to converse with my father.
It had apparently been a difficult conversation when he asked for my hand in marriage in advance of proposing to me.
I had been spared the awkwardness, as they hadn’t wanted to tell me how badly it had gone, though I could see hints of it whenever my father mentioned Patrick’s past missteps, something he couldn’t entirely forgive, not that he wanted to.
Now they were joking around, the familiar clinking of pans mixing with laughter that floated through the house.
Patrick was no longer the outsider looking in.
He was a part of the family, just like I was slowly becoming more of a presence at his own family events, though I was taking those a bit slower.
His mother, while never cruel, wasn’t an easy woman to please.
She wanted the best for him and her grandchildren, something that weighed on me, knowing I couldn’t give her either yet.
It made those gatherings more stressful, but Patrick was there every step of the way, helping me navigate the tricky waters of family expectations and my own desires.
And slowly, I felt myself growing more at ease.
The fall had been a time of growth for both of us.
The restoration of the Tin Goose had gone smoothly after its maiden flight.
We had continued to work on other projects at the museum together, slowly expanding our reach, not just for the museum’s legacy but for my career.
I had stepped more fully into my role at Holbrook, no longer feeling like I had to prove myself.
Patrick had handed me more responsibility, letting me take the lead where it mattered.
The Eco-Turbine was reaching the production phase.
It would revolutionize the airline industry with its efficiency.
And I would forever have a hand in that legacy.
As for our marriage, the walls I had built to protect myself had gradually come down.
It wasn’t that all of my insecurities disappeared overnight, but I could look at Patrick and see him, not just the mistakes we’d made.
It was a process, and we were both patient with each other, which was more than I could have asked for.
There was a comfort between us that hadn’t existed before.
It was subtle at times, but it was there, in the way he reached for my hand across the table or how I instinctively turned toward him when something good happened, wanting to share it with him first.
The doorbell disturbed the peaceful evening.
I looked over at the front door, furrowing my brow.
The snow was coming down, and I wasn’t expecting anyone.
Everyone who was supposed to be here was already inside.
Maybe it was just someone from the neighborhood who got lost, or even the local delivery driver coming with a last-minute present for my father, as he was always forgetting to pick something up.
“I’ll get it,” I called out, pushing myself away from the fire. I walked toward the front hall, brushing my hands on the sides of my pants, not giving it much thought until I swung open the door.
Alyssa stood there on the porch, the snow catching in her hair, her expression hard as she held a baby bundled tightly against her chest. My chest tightened, shock and unease twisting in my gut as I processed the sight in front of me. What was she doing here? How had she even known where we were?
“Alyssa.” The name came out flat, almost cold, as I took a step back, my eyes flicking between her and the baby, not wanting to let her into the warmth of the house. “What are you doing here?” At least I knew the baby was real. She really had been pregnant.
“It’s Christmas,” she said, her voice strained as though this was a reasonable explanation for her presence. “I’m here to be with family.”
“You weren’t invited.” I couldn’t believe her nerve, coming here as if nothing had changed. As if the last time I had seen her hadn’t been her taunting me with lies. I kept my distance, blocking the door with my body, making sure she understood this wasn’t welcome.
Before either of us could say more, I sensed Patrick moving up behind me. His hand slid to the small of my back, giving me a comforting squeeze, though his tone when he spoke was anything but soft. “I think you should leave, Alyssa. Now.”
She blinked up at him, her lip curling slightly. “I’m here because I need help, Patrick. You and Sadie have everything, and I have...” Her gaze dropped to the baby. “This. I can’t do it alone. You owe it to me.”
The audacity. I bit my tongue, forcing myself to stay calm when everything inside me wanted to scream at her to leave and never come back.
Patrick, however, was steady at my side, his posture firm, unflinching.
He didn’t rise to the bait, but there was a finality in his voice when he responded, one that I hadn’t heard often but always respected.
“I owe you nothing, Alyssa. You lost any right to ask for my help the moment you tried to tear Sadie down. You’ve made your choices. You’re not welcome here.”
I watched her face shift, from frustration to anger, and for a brief moment, I thought she might try to push past me, but she didn’t.
She looked past Patrick and me, probably looking for my father.
He had fallen for her manipulations when we were younger.
But he knew the real story now. I hadn’t even needed to tell him.
Patrick took care of that for me when this trip was first being planned.
“Daddy,” she called out, her voice taking on a desperate tone. “Please. Don’t let them do this. We’re supposed to be a family.”
A sharp, bitter laugh escaped me before I could stop it. “Family?” I repeated, unable to keep the scorn from my voice. “You don’t get to use that word. Not now, not after everything you’ve done.”
Her eyes narrowed, but before she could say anything else, my father appeared beside us.
He didn’t look angry. If anything, his expression was one of profound disappointment, and that was more cutting than any heated argument could’ve been.
“You need to go, Alyssa,” he said quietly, but there was steel behind the words.
“You can’t walk back in here like nothing’s changed.
And you definitely don’t get to come into my home and demand anything.
This isn’t about forgiveness. It’s about accountability. ”
She flinched, her face twisting in disbelief. “I have your grandchild!”
“You do,” my father agreed, stepping out onto the porch. The cold air didn’t seem to bother him as he stood beside Patrick, united in their decision. “And I’ll help the baby, but not you. You made your choices, Alyssa. Don’t expect sympathy for the consequences.”
“But, Daddy...” She had always called him Daddy, even once we reached adulthood. And even knowing he wasn’t her real father.
None of us said anything in return. I saw Patrick glance down at me, and in his eyes was a silent understanding. This was closure, not for her, but for us. I nodded, and with one last look at Alyssa, we slowly stepped back, retreating into the house as my father stayed behind for a moment longer.
I heard her mutter something, probably angry and bitter, but I didn’t catch the words.
The door closed softly behind her as my father came inside, and just like that, she was gone, the silence left behind heavier than before.
The warm light of the house seemed even brighter in comparison, and I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
Patrick wrapped an arm around my shoulder, pulling me close as we moved away from the door. “You okay?” he asked, his voice full of concern.
I nodded, feeling the tension finally drain from my body.
It had been a jarring moment, one I hadn’t anticipated.
But I didn’t feel shaken. If anything, there was a strange sense of peace knowing that, for once, she didn’t hold any power over us.
“Yeah. I’m good.” I tilted my head toward him. “That was better than I expected.”
A small smile touched his lips. “I wasn’t going to let her ruin this. Not for you.” He kissed my temple, his presence grounding me in a way that made all the lingering unease melt away.
As we returned to the living room, the fire was still roaring, casting a warm glow around us.
My father followed a minute later, his expression softening once he saw that the tension had passed.
We exchanged quiet words of comfort, then slowly eased back into the evening like nothing had happened.
Dinner was ready soon enough, and though none of us talked about the interruption, it was clear that this was a line that wouldn’t be crossed again.
We ate together, sharing stories, laughing at jokes that were probably only funny because we were all too relieved.
As the evening wore on, Patrick and I stole a quiet moment by the window, looking out at the snow.
His arm stayed wrapped around me, and I leaned my head against his chest, feeling safe in the warmth and solidness of him.
“You know,” he said softly, his breath tickling the side of my face. “I didn’t think it’d turn out like this. You and me. Here.”
I smiled, my fingers brushing over his. “Neither did I.” I looked up at him, seeing the man I loved standing in front of me, the one who had fought for me, the one who had never given up even when things were hard. “But I’m glad we made it. Together.”
Patrick’s smile grew as he pulled me closer. “Yeah,” he whispered. “Me too.”
Outside, the snow kept falling, soft and quiet, covering the world in a blanket of white that felt peaceful.
The storm from earlier was behind us, and here, wrapped up in each other’s arms, it felt like nothing else could touch us.
Not even the past. But as we sat together, I couldn’t help but wonder if it wasn’t too late to create a bundle of joy of our own.
I sensed we were finally ready. And while I felt no jealousy for my stepsister, I could understand her desire to have a baby.
And while she would forever have to live with the consequences of her actions, the idea of bringing a life into the world to be raised by Patrick and me felt like the ultimate adventure.
But that was a thought for another day. Tonight, we were celebrating everything that was good and right with our world.
I was thankful for it, and I never wanted to forget this feeling.
There were no more secrets between us, no more barriers, just us and the future we were building together. And it was perfect.