Bonus Epilogue

Wynter

Five Years Later

The smell of cinnamon rolls baking in the oven fills the house, and I can hear the sound of giggles and excited whispers coming from the living room. It’s Christmas morning, and the magic of the holiday has wrapped itself around every corner of our home.

I pause in the kitchen, leaning against the counter for a moment, just listening. The soft crinkle of wrapping paper, the faint sound of a Christmas movie playing in the background, and the unmistakable laughter of my children.

My heart squeezes as I glance at the stack of presents under the tree, but it’s not the gifts that matter. It’s the love that fills the room. The family that Drake and I have built.

It’s been five years.

Five years since that magical night in the library when Drake got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. So much has changed since then. We’ve grownand added to our family, and somehow, the lovejust keeps multiplying.

“Mom! Dad! Can we open presents yet?” Jamie shouts from the living room, his voice full of excitement. He’s thirteen now and nearly as tall as Drake, but his Christmas enthusiasm hasn’t faded.

“Not yet, Jamie,” I call back, laughing. “We’re still waiting for your father and your siblings to wake up!”

He groans dramatically, and I hear the other kids laugh. I shake my head, smiling. It’s a full house this Christmas. All four of our boys, now growing into young men, are here—Jamie, Noah, Evan, and Riley. Then there are the two new additions, Kayla and Max, who we adopted two years ago. And, of course, our own little miracles—two-year-old Ella and baby Theo, who’s just six months old.

I can’t believe how full my life is. How full my heart is.

Just as I’m about to head back into the living room, Drake appears in the doorway, holding a sleepy-eyed Ella in his arms. Her curly red hair is a wild mess, but her little face lights up when she sees me.

“Mommy!” she squeals, reaching out her arms.

I smile, taking her from Drake and snuggling her close. “Good morning, my sweet girl.”

Drake steps behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist as he kisses the top of my head. “Merry Christmas, sunshine.”

“Merry Christmas, my love,” I whisper, leaning back against him. “Are the boys up?”

“Already tearing through the presents with their eyes,” he chuckles. “We’d better get in there before they start without us.”

I laugh, pulling Ella closer as we head into the living room. The sight that greets us is pure chaos—and pure joy.

The boys are huddled around the tree, wide-eyed and buzzing with excitement. Kayla is perched on the couch next to Max, both of them holding stockings bigger than they are. And baby Theo is in his playpen, babbling away, completely oblivious to the excitement around him.

“Mama!” Max calls out, his little face beaming. “Did Santa come?”

I kneel down beside him, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “He sure did, sweetheart. You must have been extra good this year.”

Drake winks at me from across the room, his hands full of presents as he starts passing them out. The kids dive in, the sound of wrapping paper, tearing, and delighted squeals filling the room.

I sit back, watching the scene unfold, my heart bursting with gratitude. This is the life my Gran wanted for me. A house full of love, laughter, and family.

As the kids continue unwrapping gifts, Drake comes over and settles next to me on the couch, pulling me close. “You okay?” he asks softly, brushing a stray curl behind my ear.

I nod, leaning my head on his shoulder. “I’m more than okay. I’m perfect.”

He smiles, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “I never thought I could have this,” he murmurs. “A real Christmas. A real family. And you… you made it all possible.”

Tears prick at my eyes, but they’re happy tears. “We made it possible together. This is our family, Drake. Our forever.”

He nods, his eyes filled with the same wonder I see every time he looks at me. Even after all these years, the love between us hasn’t faded. It’s only grown stronger.

“Mama! Daddy! Look at this!” Ella tugs at my arm, holding up a brand-new baby doll. “She has hair the same color as me. And a pacifier, too, look!”

“It’s beautiful, sweetheart,” I say, pulling her onto my lap.

Drake catches my eye, and I know we’re both thinking the same thing.

This is it. This is everything we’ve ever wanted. And more.