Chapter 31
31
“Go, honey. Go find him. I’ll take care of these,” Gloria said, gathering up Frankie’s things as they entered the lodge, bustling with joy.
Frankie smiled, kissing her grandmother on the cheek. “Thank you, Gram.”
Without wasting a second, she darted into the crowd, her heart racing with excitement. The lodge was packed, the townspeople mingling and enjoying the festivities, making it hard to spot anyone. Frankie paused at the base of the staircase, rising on her toes to get a better view over the sea of people. Her eyes finally landed on Abe, standing near the enormous Christmas tree that lit up the room. A wide grin spread across her face as she hurried over to him.
“Abe!” she called out, but her gaze quickly darted around, searching for the one person she was hoping to see. Chris and Nick were nearby, but there was no sign of Joe. Her smile faltered slightly. “Joe?”
Abe gave her a knowing look. “Well, he’s off looking for you, dear.”
Her grin returned even wider this time. “He is?”
Devyn and Sam joined them, slipping through the crowd with easy smiles, their presence adding a fresh wave of excitement to the gathering.
“You’re looking for Joe?” Devyn asked. “We just passed him. He was headed for the exit.”
Frankie’s brow furrowed. “I just came from there.”
Sam nudged her. “You must’ve just passed each other. Go, you’ll catch him if you hurry.”
Without missing a beat, Frankie spun on her heel, heart pounding in her chest, ready to sprint toward the exit. But as if by some unseen force, the crowd shifted and parted, revealing Joe standing there, Gloria on his arm. Gloria gave him a soft smile, patted his hand, and quietly walked away, leaving him standing alone, waiting.
Their eyes locked instantly, and as if pulled by an invisible thread, they began moving toward each other. The festive buzz of the party melted away, leaving only the two of them in the moment.
“Hi,” Frankie said softly.
“Hi,” Joe replied, his voice just as gentle.
“I was looking for you,” she admitted, the excitement still bubbling beneath her calm exterior.
“Funny,” Joe smiled, “I was looking for you.”
Frankie tilted her head. “Go ahead.”
Joe hesitated, glancing down before finally looking back at her. “I heard... what you said. On your porch.”
“You did?” Frankie’s brow furrowed. “I didn’t see you.”
“That’s because I left. I... I have a tendency to get in my own way, and, well, I got in my own way.”
She blinked, confused. “I don’t follow.”
Joe took a breath, his tone more serious. “I didn’t fight hard enough before. I never asked you to stay, or come back, or save a place for me in the city.”
“Joe...”
“But this time, I’m fighting for it. For us. I heard what you said — just memories, and you left for a reason.”
Frankie’s face softened as she realized the misunderstanding. “Left the city, Joe. I left... the city.”
Joe blinked, confused now himself. “Okay, now I don’t follow.”
“I’m coming home,” Frankie said, her voice filled with emotion. “I didn’t fight for us before either, but this time...”
“Wait.” Joe’s eyes widened. “You’re coming home? To Bethlehem Falls?”
She nodded, her smile bright.
“I really did get it wrong, didn’t I?” Joe let out a breath, shaking his head in disbelief.
“You deserve your big adventure, to see the world and experience life away from here like we all did. I won’t get in the way of that, but...”
“I’m staying,” Joe interrupted, his voice steady.
Frankie went on. “We can find a way to make it work and... What?”
“I’m staying. Here. Bethlehem Falls. The Ranch.” Joe smiled, the decision clear in his voice. “This is my big adventure. Always has been. It was just missing... joy.”
As if on cue, Abe and Gloria appeared arm in arm, followed by Chris and Devyn and Nick and Sam. They circled around Joe and Frankie, their presence a reminder of the family they had become.
“Yes,” Frankie whispered, her laugh light. “Joy.”
Chris grinned, looking at the group. “I think we were all missing something, and we found it right here.”
Frankie’s eyes widened as she turned to face the others. “You’re all staying?”
Chris nodded proudly. “I’m going to publish my Christmas children’s books.”
Nick joined in, his smile infectious. “It’s time I put down roots — or reestablish them. I just signed a deal with Chris to publish a series of cookbooks.”
Sam chimed in, her voice excited. “I’ll be relocating to assist with both projects. If anyone needs a roommate...”
Joe chuckled, glancing at Frankie. “We have plenty of room for everyone.”
Frankie’s heart swelled as she looked around the group. “We all came here for different reasons, yet here we are, staying for the same thing.”
Joe took her hand, his gaze never leaving hers. “It was meant to be. We were meant to be.”
With that, Joe leaned down, pressing his lips to hers in a soft, tender kiss. The others leaned into each other, sharing the moment, the joy palpable among them all.
Joe’s phone pinged, interrupting the quiet bliss. He pulled it from his pocket, glancing down at the alert.
Chris raised an eyebrow. “This guy... always on his phone.”
Joe grinned, tucking it back away. “Oh, this coming from you?”
Chris smirked. “I’m a changed man, big brother. From fast-paced publisher to laid-back writer.”
The group chuckled as Joe turned to Frankie. “Come with me.”
He led her through the crowd, stopping only to grab their jackets at the exit. The rest of the group followed closely behind, all united in their new adventure.
They stepped outside to find the horse-drawn sleigh waiting patiently in front of the Christmas Inn, its bells jingling softly as snowflakes gently floated down from the night sky. The whole scene was picture-perfect, like something straight out of a holiday card, with the warm glow of the lodge casting a golden hue over the snow-covered ground.
Joe extended his hand to Frankie, who stood at his side, both bundled up against the cold. Their family and friends stood gathered on the steps, watching with smiles as Joe helped Frankie step up into the sleigh.
Once they were settled, Joe reached for the thick, cozy blanket behind them, tucking it snugly around their laps to ward off the chill. His movements were tender and assured, the quiet bond between them as natural as the snowfall around them.
"Driver," he called with a grin as he tapped the driver’s seat, signaling for them to start.
The sleigh jolted into motion, the horse trotting forward gracefully as the sleigh began its journey. Joe and Frankie waved back at the group, the lodge growing smaller in the background as they rode off into the night.
The snow continued to fall, dusting the ranch in a soft white glow. The moonlight shining down illuminated the path ahead. The only sounds were the rhythmic jingle of the sleigh bells and the crunch of snow beneath the horse’s hooves. Frankie gazed around her, the magic of the moment reflecting in her eyes.
"This is magical," she said, her voice full of awe. "My new favorite Christmas excursion."
Joe turned toward her, his expression soft. "Then let’s make it our new tradition. Every year, from here on out."
Frankie’s face lit up, a smile spreading across her face. "I’d love that."
Joe’s heart swelled at her response, and without hesitation, he leaned in, his voice barely above a whisper. "And I... love you."
The words hung in the air, warm and sincere, just like the first time. Frankie’s breath caught, but only for a moment, before she closed the distance between them. Their lips met in a kiss as soft and sweet as the snow falling around them.
He drew her close, her head naturally finding its place on his shoulder as he pressed a tender kiss to the top of her head.
“I love you, too, Joe King.”