Epilogue

Patricia McAlister-Hollister stood in the shadows of the hallway, reveling in the beautiful chaos that was Christmas morning at the Tide Me Over Inn. Her family had more than doubled in the past two years. Watching her children, their significant others, her grandchildren and her found family, laugh, and celebrate together was more satisfying than any Christmas gift she could ever receive.

She brushed her thumb over the nutcracker that was a Scottish bagpiper. The one her late husband had gifted to her when her dream of owning a B & B was just that—a dream. But one he’d made come true before he passed away.

“Thank you, Donald,” she whispered. “Thank you for bringing them all back home again.”

Deep in her heart, she believed her late husband was still looking out for her. And for his family. One by one, he’d guided his children home to Chances Inlet. It was a feat that took some divine guidance since their kids had been determined to leave their small hometown in the dust as soon as they were old enough. Yet here they all were, living their lives and building their families in the coastal hamlet she and Donald had decided to call home when they were still newlyweds.

She swiped away a stray tear of happiness just as two strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind.

“Don’t tell me you’ve had enough of Christmas already?” Lamar asked as he nuzzled her neck. “We haven’t even had brunch yet.”

Patricia relaxed against his broad chest. “Never. I’m savoring the moment.”

She glanced over at Miles, who was rubbing his pregnant wife’s belly, seemingly talking to their unborn child. On the floor in front of them, Ryan was helping his soon-to-be stepson, Henry, sort through some Legos. Across the room, Gavin bounced a laughing Hazel on his knee while Midas lay at his feet happily chewing on a Nylabone. Baby Max toddled around the room with his hands in the air for balance, his laughing father trailing him. Kate, Paige and Donella sat close to the huge tree helping Emily and Whitney dress their American Girl dolls.

“Mm,” Lamar replied. “I’m still pinching myself to make sure this isn’t a dream. I’d given up on knowing my daughter, and now look at Paige. She owns a bookstore in Chances Inlet. And she wants me to walk her down the aisle when she and Tanner marry next month.”

Her normally stoic husband had been at a loss for words when he’d opened that gift earlier. Leaning back, she brushed her lips against his. “That was probably the best Christmas present of the morning.”

Lamar rested his chin on her shoulder. “Are you sure? Because I don’t think I’ve ever seen your smile as bright as it was when Elle announced she was staying in town and working with West.”

She peered over toward the far corner of the salon where Elle stood with West and Kitty. The three of them were laughing at something when Elle’s face lit up. Patricia watched as the reason for her daughter’s glowing smile slipped into the room from the veranda. Still dressed in his uniform, Hayden hurried over to his best friend and pressed a long kiss to Elle’s lips.

Patricia sighed. “Finally. I was beginning to give up hope.”

Her husband chuckled. “I never doubted you and Bernice for a moment. The two of you should offer your services to the government. You are both masters at manipulation. Although, I have to admit, firing the town’s public relations firm right before the holidays was a risk. I’m glad to see it paid off.”

“That was Bernice’s idea. She remembered how much help Elle was last year when Santa’s dog ended up in town.”

“But you’re the one who coerced Helen Keneally to send Elle to babysit West in the first place.”

“And I’m not apologizing for it. I saw an opportunity to get my daughter home for longer than a twenty-four-hour drive-by. Helen wanted to tie up one of my rooms for weeks on end during one of the busiest times of the year. I leveraged my bargaining power to my advantage.” Patricia shrugged. “It all worked out in the end. West finished his book and he’s bringing back the town’s paper. A real win-win.” She smiled at her daughter and Hayden who were now making the rounds within the salon. “And Elle and Hayden got the happily ever after they’d been dancing around for more than a decade.”

“And all your chicks have come home to roost.”

“Mm-hmm. That they have. All grown up and finally behaved.”

“Hey!” Gavin shouted. “We forgot about the pickle ornament. The first one to find it on the tree gets out of cleaning up after brunch!”

The melee that followed nearly brought down the towering Christmas tree. Elle yelled at Gavin for pulling her hair. Kate sucker-punched Miles to gain better access to the back of the tree. Midas raced around the room barking, only to have Kringle and Tessa join in. Hazel let out an ear-piercing scream. Ryan lifted Henry to his shoulders to search the top of the tree while Emily cried about the unfairness of it.

In the end, little Whitney crawled between Gavin’s legs with the pickle ornament securely in her hand. She raced over and handed it to Lamar who promptly scooped her up and kissed her on the cheek. The rest of the room groaned in defeat.

“What were you saying about well-behaved?” Lamar asked with a laugh.

Elle should have been dead on her feet after spending much of the night snuggling with Hayden in the conference room of the sheriff’s office where they planned their future together. Instead, she felt like she was floating. Her life was finally in focus, and she felt freer than she ever had. Hayden loved her. The career she never knew she wanted was gifted to her with no strings attached. Best of all, she was home, where she belonged. With the best people she knew.

“How soon before we can politely leave?” Hayden whispered to her.

“I already packed us a to-go basket of food,” she replied quietly. Not that anyone was paying attention. Her rowdy family was too busy trying to find a glass pickle ornament among the boughs of the giant Christmas tree. “I say we make a break for it now.”

Hand-in-hand, they hurried to the kitchen, only to find West and Kitty sharing a hot kiss in front of the Sub-Zero refrigerator.

“Hey,” Hayden complained, albeit half-heartedly. “That’s my aunt you’re manhandling.”

“Wife trumps aunt,” West quipped. “And where are you two kids sneaking off to?”

“To feed the cat.” Hayden looked at Kitty. “I don’t suppose you’ve been over to check on Beula?”

His aunt donned a guilty look.

West gestured to the cooler bag Elle was holding. “That must be one hungry cat.”

Elle kissed the older man’s cheek. “Merry Christmas, boss.”

Kitty gave Hayden a hug. “See you later, you two.”

“Don’t count on it,” Hayden promised as they rushed out the door.

Laughing, they raced for Hayden’s cruiser, jumped inside and sped off. Five minutes later, Hayden fumbled with the handle on his kitchen door as he tried to open it without breaking their kiss. Elle let the strap of the insulated bag slip from her shoulder. The bag dropped to the floor when he pressed her against the fridge and his hands began roaming her body. Things were about to get really steamy when Beula decided to let her presence be known.

The cat’s wail echoed off the walls of the small kitchen.

“Oh, you poor thing.” Elle slipped from his embrace to fill the cat’s water bowl. “Daddy is going to feed you.”

“And then Mommy and Daddy are taking a nap,” Hayden said before he began rummaging through the cabinet.

Elle meandered over to the table where the little Christmas tree sat, it’s LED lights blinking red and green. Beneath it was a brightly wrapped package. It was bigger than a shirt box and soft. “It looks like Santa’s been here.”

She heard the sound of the cat food landing in Beula’s ceramic dish before Hayden made his way over to the table. “That wasn’t there when I left for my shift yesterday.”

He lifted the flap of the gift tag. It was addressed to Hayden and Elle. The handwriting belonged to his mother.

Elle sank her teeth into her bottom lip. Why would Claire give her a gift?

Hayden nudged it toward her. “You should do the honors.”

It was some consolation to her that Claire wouldn’t put anything inside the present that could harm her precious son. She gently tore at the paper, revealing a well-loved afghan, crocheted with soft off-white yarn. An envelope fell to the ground when Elle stretched out the beautiful blanket. Hayden picked it up and opened it. He quickly skimmed the page and, with a heavy sigh, handed it to Elle.

“It’s a peace offering,” he explained. “Aunt Kitty made this for her as a wedding gift. She wants us to have it.” He leaned in to kiss her forehead. “My mother is coming around. Aunt Kitty said to leave things to her, but I suspect this is more of a true Christmas miracle.”

In the note, Claire asked them to be patient with her while she unraveled the narrative she’d been holding onto for the past decade. She insisted the most important thing was for Hayden and Elle to be happy together. Elle choked up when Claire ended by saying she would love them both even if they decided to make their life outside of Chances Inlet.

“We need to call her right now and tell her we are staying,” Elle said.

Hayden wrapped his arms around her more tightly. “We’ll tell her in person tomorrow. Right now, I want to unwrap the only Christmas present I ever wanted—you.”

Then he kissed her at the same time as he undressed her. His touch had her heart melting and her hands wandering over his hard body. Hayden was absolutely right. Claire could survive one more day, especially since they had a lifetime of days ahead of them.

I hope you enjoyed spending the holidays with Elle, Hayden, their families, and all the quirky residents of Chances Inlet. And how about West and Kitty? Want to know what they are up to in the New Year? Click here for an exclusive bonus chapter featuring the newlyweds and his “fan club.”

If you want more day to day details about my books, my crazy writing life, and opportunities to name places and characters in future books, come hang out with my reader group, the X’s and O’s , on Facebook.

And please, don’t forget to tell other readers how much you enjoyed Elle and Hayden’s story by leaving a review on the site where you bought it, on Goodreads , and BookBub . It’s the best way to show an author some love and I ALWAYS appreciate it!

Chances Inlet books:

Have you read Gavin and Ginger’s story? Click the title to grab your copy of Back to Before.

You can read Miles and Lori’s story in All They Ever Wanted .

And what’s this story about Santa’s dog, Kringle? Read all about it in Ryan and Jane’s story, Second Chance Christmas

Are you curious about Lamar Hollister’s daughter? Get her story in It Had to Be You .

Then check out these fun sports romance books:

Game On – a grumpy hero romance

Foolish Games – a secret baby story

Risky Game – a fake relationship romance

Sleeping with the Enemy – a second chance romance

Gossip Game — a fake relationship novella

Or hang out with the Milwaukee Growlers in:

Just for Kicks – A marriage of convenience romantic comedy

Double Dog Dare – An enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy

Catch and Release — A second chance romance

How about a little suspense with your romance?

Recipe for Disaster – a mistaken identity Secret Service romance

Shot in the Dark – a forced proximity Secret Service romance

Between Love and Honor – a second chance Secret Service romance