Epilogue: CADE

"No one buys three Christmas trees, Cade." Hank strokes his hand down his bushy beard, trying to tame it. However, the man will need a pair of hedge clippers to do that. "It's just not done."

"Is there a law that says I can't?"

"Of course not. But you bought two last year. Wasn't that enough for you?"

"Nope. Christmas is now officially my favorite holiday. Besides, the resort slash ranch Maya and I started is doing quite well. I've got money to burn." I wiggle my brows.

"Is that so? Glad to hear it. If my memory is still workin' right, seems to me on Halloween, you were here buyin' what? Twenty pumpkins to carve? Then you got some new-fangled bat lights and a cauldron for your front lawn."

"We like to decorate." I shrug. "And the cauldron wasn't for Halloween. It's for my wife. She cooks up spells to get even with me when I annoy her."

"She does not." Hank chuckles.

"That's what you think." I move over to the counter. "Do you have any more of those pine wreaths?" I point at the display. Maya would love them.

"Maya was here yesterday. She bought six."

"Good." My chest puffs out, knowing I have a good handle on what my woman likes. I chuck boxes of candy canes into my cart. "I'll take six more wreaths."

"Where on earth are you gonna hang ‘em?" Hank starts to ring up my purchases.

"Anywhere there's space. We've got plenty of windows, the garage, the porch, and trees in the yard."

"Trees in your yard? Now I know you've gone and lost your dang mind."

"What can I say? I'm infected with the Christmas spirit." I pick up ten packages of garland. "I'll take these, too."

"You're infected with love."

I think about that for a minute. "You know what? You're right."

"It's not a bad thing, you know. Me and the Mrs. will be celebrating our fiftieth next month. Don't know where I'd be without that woman."

"I hope I'm as lucky as you to get fifty years with Maya." I take out my wallet to hand him my card. "Are you donating half of the proceeds from the sale of trees to support the senior prom again this year?"

"Sure am."

"Alright. Tack on an extra thousand."

"What?" Hank's eyes get big and round. "That's too much."

"Nah. It's not too much at all. I want to contribute." I put my hand on Hank's shoulder. "Buying trees and Christmas decorations is the reason I have my wife. If I hadn't been here shopping to support the seniors of Thunder Ridge last year, I would've gone home, and I missed finding her in that ditch. So, allow me to pay it forward, Hank, will you?"

"Damn it." Hank sniffles. "Now you've gone and made me cry. That's the sweetest damn story I've heard all year."

"You're an old softy." I shoot him a wink. "Merry Christmas, Hank."

"Merry Christmas, Cade."

I push my overflowing wagon with Christmas goodies to the Rover. Snow starts to fall when I finish packing it all in and close the hatch.

With a big, fat smile, I climb inside, start the engine, and hurry home.

"Honey, I'm home!" I call out as I nudge the kitchen door open with my elbow.

"Well, I'm not your honey, but I am happy to see." Deliah wipes her hands on a dish towel. "Sabrina and the boys will be here in a little while. I'm helping Maya get everything ready to build the gingerbread houses tonight. Look at you! Did you empty every store in the whole town?"

"Nah, just Hank's General Store." I carry the bags over to the kitchen table. "I'll be right back with the rest."

"The rest?" Deliah laughs. "This house will look like Santa's Village pretty soon."

"Is it festive?"

"Yes."

"Does it feel homey?"

"Yes."

"Does it feel Christmasy?"

"Yes, yes, it does." Her eyes twinkle.

"Then it's perfect," I reassure her.

"Just like you." She teases.

I give her a quick peck on the cheek, then hustle back to the garage. I still can't believe how my life has changed. A year ago, I thought I would lose everything without having hockey as the mainstay of my life. But now? The cornerstone of my life is family. And Maya is my anchor.

"Please do not tell me my husband bought more Christmas decorations." Maya's fake-stern voice drifts through the garage door.

"Not me!" I call out. "Your mother ordered a bunch online! I'm just bringing the stuff in!" I hoist the rest of the bags out of the car.

When I walk back into the kitchen, my heart skips a beat. Maya is standing next to her mother, dressed in my favorite green flannel shirt, and our daughter, Holly, is on her hip.

"Fssss." Holly's little fists pump in the air.

"My angel." I coo as I drop the bags and scoop her into my arms. "I missed you." She snuggles into my neck. "I think she said dada."

"She did not." Maya giggles and rolls her eyes. "She's only five months old, honey. She's got a few months to go."

"Humph." I kiss Holly's red curls. "I heard dada. Isn't that right, Holly?"

"Fssss."

"See?"

"Whatever you say, dear." Still giggling, Maya rests her head on my shoulder. "How many trees did you buy?"

"Three."

"Three? Why three?"

"Two for the living room and one for Holly's room."

"Honey, Holly does not need her own tree."

"Of course she does. We're starting our family traditions, remember?"

"I remember." She wraps her arm around my waist. "But what if we have more children?"

"Then they'll each get their own tree. Simple." I look over at Deliah. "Would you like to help decorate the trees?"

"You should do that with your family." Deliah dabs her eyes.

"You are family," I say softly.

Suddenly, the kitchen is flooded with bright, twinkling lights. Holly claps her hands and gives me a belly laugh. Maya leans up to kiss my jaw.

"You put the lights on a timer, didn't you?"

"I did."

"They're beautiful."

"Not as beautiful as you, duchess. Wait until you see the outside. Get your coat."

As I turn to hand Holly to Maya, I catch our reflection in the window. This time, my heart doesn't skip a beat— it swells. I have everything I never knew I needed.

A daughter.

A family.

And a wife who makes every day worth living.

There's no faking this. It's forever.

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