Epilogue

Jen covered Jason’s eyes. “Keep them closed. I’m serious.” She positioned him near the door of the bakery.

She’d closed it for the day, even though it was so close to Christmas. Baked goods could wait. This couldn’t.

While she’d stuffed the bakery with balloons, Amanda had done her the favor of watching Colby. After the birth of Blake, Amanda had been a lot like a deer in headlights, unsure of how to do anything. Jen wasn’t sure Amanda had ever even been around children before. Unlike Jen, who’d spent most of her teenage years babysitting, Amanda had never even changed a diaper.

But like so many things the past year, Amanda had surprised Jen. She’d adjusted to life in Brandywood beautifully and been humble enough to ask for help, and not just from Jen. Mom had helped Amanda a lot, too. Her parents blended families in a way that made Jen proud and had treated Blake’s birth like the birth of a grandson. After all, he was Jen’s stepson now.

Amanda and Blake would even be at the surprise party tonight. She’d gone from here to Bunny’s, where Jen’s parents and family were setting up.

But Bunny’s could wait. This moment with Colby was something Jen had been dreaming about since she’d set eyes on her baby boy. She pushed Jason into the bakery, then flipped on the main light.

Jen winked at Colby, who stood on the counter of the bakery, and released Jason’s eyes. “Surprise!”

Jason did a double take. His eyes flitted from the white and blue balloons to the streamers, to Colby, who held up the sign Jen had given him proudly, a big smile on his face.

I Love You, DADDY!

Jason took an almost involuntary step forward, his jaw dropping open, and looked back at Jen. His eyes looked red-rimmed. “Does this mean . . .?”

Jen’s hand came up to her throat, her own eyes filling with tears. She nodded. “The paperwork all went through. He’s Colby Cavanaugh now.”

Jason leaned over and pressed a swoon-worthy kiss to her lips before releasing her and flying over to Colby. He swung him up into his arms. Jen couldn’t hold the tears back, and she ran toward them, catching them in a hug.

After a year of Jason having to do battle in the courts, first with the Cavanaugh Metals trial and bankruptcy, then with Colby’s inheritance issue, where they’d managed to get Jason named as the trustee, then the sale of his grandfather’s mansion—this was the first time all year that news from the courts wasn’t something that had taken a battle.

Not that the entire year had been tough. With Jason and her father’s help, Jen had secured a loan and spent all spring getting the bakery ready. And thanks to Peter Yardley’s endorsement, her website had crashed from orders the day it went live.

Then on a warm summer’s day shortly after the bakery had opened, Jason had proposed to her at Redding’s Bluff. They’d married in October, and TJ had been Jason’s best man, which was fitting because he’d become his best friend, too.

“Two kids in one year,” Jen teased Jason as he set Colby down. Colby played with the balloons like Jen had promised he could do as soon as Jason came in.

“What can I say? Domestic life suits me.” Jason reached for her hand, interlacing his fingers with hers. “I’m married to the hottest baker in town and proud owner of two rug rats. All I need now is a dog and a white picket fence.”

“We have both of those.” They’d just moved into their new house, just a stone’s throw from Millie Price. She even helped Colby get to preschool a couple of times a week, though Jason had been forced to tell his grandmother that her flipping off other parents in the parking lot had put them on the receiving end of a stern email. Thankfully, she’d reined it in after that.

“Then I don’t need anything at all. Turns out I have it all.” Jason kissed the back of her hand.

Jen wiped her cheeks and slipped her arm around Jason’s waist. “The fun’s not over yet. I wanted this moment to be just for us, but everyone else is waiting for us over at Bunny’s. Including Amanda and Blake.”

Jason pulled her in close and kissed her again. He lowered his lips to her ear. “Sure we don’t have time to sneak away for a few minutes first? I hear there are some excellent spots around Brandywood for a quickie.” He pinched her ass.

Jen swatted him away, although he’d already turned her knees to Jell-O. “Oh, we’ll definitely have our own celebration tonight.”

She let out a contented sigh, kicking away a balloon that Colby punted toward them.

Almost four and a half years earlier, she’d walked the streets of Brandywood, wondering how Kevin’s leaving would ever be anything other than a black hole in her heart. Sometimes she still wondered how things would have turned out if Kevin had stayed.

She’d never have believed his leaving would end up like this—with Jason in her life, her future bright. Kevin may not have intended to, but he’d saved both Jason and her in the end.

The door to the bakery swung open, bells clamoring, and they looked up in surprise as Millie rushed in. She wore a wide grin, a camera that looked ancient in her hands. “I know you wanted a few moments alone, but I’m an old lady who needs a picture.”

Jason rolled his eyes, his smile making it clear that her antics didn’t bother or faze him in the slightest anymore. “All right, Gran.”

“Right over there.” Millie directed toward one long wall filled with local artwork. Framed neatly in the center of it all were the pictures Jason’s mother had painted. She’d brought them framed like that to Jen while the drywall was going up, and it had inspired the idea to put local artwork up for sale.

They posed for a picture. “Say banana hammock,” Millie chirped cheerfully.

“Gran!” Jason and Jen said nearly in unison as she snapped the picture.

“See you at the party.” She left with a smug grin.

“Sometimes I can’t believe I’m related to her,” Jason said, shaking his head.

“I think she does it to see you squirm. And you know you secretly love it.” Jen squeezed Jason’s hand. “Ready?”

Jason lifted Colby onto his shoulders, then drew her close. “With you?” He winked playfully. “I’m ready for anything. By the way, I hear A Christmas Carol is this weekend. We should take Colby.”

She leaned against his arm, her heart lightening at the memory from last year’s play. “It’s a date.”