Epilogue

Jack

This Christmas

How had it been a year already? The time had flown, but I wasn’t complaining, except for wanting more time with my wife.

Speaking of…

Locking the front door of our bookstore, I went looking for her.

“You better not be ordering more decorations for our yard,” I called. Last year, my house had won and the shelter had benefited. When we told Asia, she’d been almost in tears for the first time in the time since I’d known her. She’d gaped at us then run toward us and squeezed us into a three-way hug.

She’s also insisted she be the one to marry us, so on Valentine’s Day, Jill and I had become Jack and Jill Ziglar with Asia as our officiant and a visibly pregnant Beya as Jill’s maid of honor and Zain as my best man.

And when Willow Woods, who’d run the holiday decorating contest, learned what Jill had done, she’d given her a spot in the Cherish Cove visitor’s guide, anyway. She’d also roped Jill into forming a book club for Willow and her softball team. I wasn’t sure the latter was much of a prize, but Jill loved it.

And now it was the Christmas season again.

“I’m not,” Jill called, coming out of the back with her hand behind her back.

“What are you up to?” We might be together now, married, but we still pranked each other regularly. It was a thing; what could I say?

“Nothing. Just an early present for you.”

“Coal?”

She laughed. “No.”

Pulling her hand around and holding it out toward me, she handed me the little shite stick. I knew immediately what it was, and I knew what it said without looking. I took it from her and looked anyway. We’d been trying to get pregnant all year. With both of us in our thirties, we didn’t want to wait.

“Positive,’ I whispered.

“You’re gonna be a dad.”

“You’re gonna be a mom. This is for real?”

“Totally for real, she assured me.”

“Have I told you today how much I love you?” I asked, pulling her into my arms.

“A few times. Tell me again.”

“I love you, Jill Ziglar. I’ll love you forever.”

She leaned into me, snuggling into my chest. “I love you, too, Jack.” She sighed happily. “I love you. Forever.”

I leaned my cheek against her hair. “Forever.”