Chapter 22

CHAPTER 22

Liam stood on the sidewalk of Main Street, one hand holding Trixie’s leash and the other tucked into the pockets of his jacket. The Santa Parade was in full swing, and the entire town had turned out to celebrate the second to last event before Christmas Day. Beside him, Oscar bounced on his toes, his eyes wide with excitement as he watched the procession of floats make their way down the street.

“Look, Liam! It’s the fairy float!” Oscar pointed at a whimsical display adorned with twinkling lights and children dressed as fairies, their wings shimmering.

Liam smiled, absorbing the festive atmosphere. “They look amazing, don’t they?”

Chloe leaned in closer, her arm brushing against his. “This is Oscar’s favorite part of the holidays,” she said with a smile.

He glanced at her, his heart warming despite the chill. “I can see why. It’s magical.”

The next float came into view, featuring angels with golden halos and robes, followed by one with elves tossing candy into the crowd. Oscar eagerly reached out, catching a piece and grinning triumphantly.

“Nice catch!” Liam laughed.

The local police and fire departments passed by next, their vehicles decorated with colorful lights and banners. Officers and firefighters waved to the crowd, some handing out small toys and ornaments. The dance school followed, students performing a choreographed routine to a cheerful holiday tune. The elementary school and church groups brought up the rear, each adding their own touch to the parade.

As the final float approached, Liam noticed a familiar figure dressed in a classic Santa suit, complete with a fluffy white beard and a twinkle in his eye.

“Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!” Santa called out.

Oscar’s eyes lit up. “It’s Santa!”

Liam squinted, recognizing the man behind the beard. Frank, a fisherman he’d met on a tour he’d done of the lake, was sitting on a red and gold sleigh. Beside him, children dressed as small elves waved to the crowd.

Frank caught Liam’s eye and gave a subtle wink before returning to his role, smiling at the children and tossing candy canes into the crowd.

After the parade finished, Liam felt a tug on his sleeve.

“Can we go see the big Christmas tree?” Oscar asked eagerly.

“Of course we can,” Liam said, exchanging a smile with Chloe.

They walked together, the festive atmosphere wrapping around them like a warm blanket. As they reached the square, the towering evergreen stood adorned with ornaments and lights. Whether it was the latest dusting of snow, or the excitement from the Santa Parade, the tree looked even more stunning than when Liam had last seen it.

Liam studied Chloe’s face as she looked at the tree. A surge of affection made his heart pound. This week had been a whirlwind of discussions with Paul and decisions that would hopefully rebuild Oscar’s relationship with him.

“How are the travel plans coming along?” he asked her.

She sighed. “They’re almost sorted. I’ve booked our flights to Washington, D.C. and I’m finalizing the schedule with Paul for our visits next year. It’s been a little crazy, but we’re getting there.”

“If there’s anything I can do to help, just say the word,” he offered.

She smiled appreciatively. “Thanks. You’ve already been a big help just by being here.”

Liam wanted to tell her how he felt, to ask her the question that had been on his mind since he’d returned from San Francisco. But this wasn’t the right time.

Oscar tugged on Chloe’s jacket. “Tommy has a cup of hot chocolate. Can I get one?”

Chloe nodded. “Sure, sweetheart. I think there’s a stall on the other side of the tree.”

They made their way through the crowd, following the rich scent of chocolate. After buying three steaming cups, they found a bench to sit on. Oscar was sitting beside Trixie, happily sipping his drink while he listened to a group of carolers.

Chloe wrapped her hands around her cup. “It’s moments like these that make moving here worthwhile,” she said softly.

Liam nodded. “I couldn’t agree more. I forgot to tell you that I got some good news today.”

“Oh?” Chloe turned to face him. “What was it?”

“My agent called this morning. He loved the outline I sent for Eleanor’s book,” Liam said, unable to keep the excitement out of his voice. “He thinks it’ll appeal to a lot of publishing houses. But if that doesn’t work out, I’ll publish it myself.”

Chloe grinned. “I knew he’d see how special it is.”

Liam took a sip of hot chocolate. “I was a bit nervous about what he’d say. It’s one thing for us to be excited about it, but Mark’s a little harder to impress.”

“You shouldn’t have been worried,” Chloe told him. “You’re a talented writer, and Eleanor’s story is amazing. And since we’re speaking about Eleanor, Sacha and Mary called me earlier today.”

“Really? How are they?”

“Doing well. They called to wish us a Merry Christmas, but that’s not the best part.” Chloe’s face lit with excitement. “They asked their family to look through their belongings for anything related to Eleanor and Clara. They’ve already seen things they didn’t know existed.”

“That’s incredible,” Liam said. “Would they be happy for us to visit them once they’ve collected everything from their family?”

Chloe nodded. “They’d love that. Sacha said she’ll photograph each item and email it through to us. But seeing each piece ourselves will be so much better.”

When Oscar had finished his hot chocolate, he turned to Chloe. “Can we build a snowman when we get home?”

She picked up a paper napkin and wiped off the chocolate from around his mouth. “Maybe tomorrow. It’s getting close to your bedtime.”

“Just a small one?” Oscar pleaded.

Liam smiled at Chloe. “Maybe we can manage a teeny-tiny one?”

She shook her head, smiling. “You two are impossible.”

Liam kissed her. “Impossible but lovable.”

With a sigh, she kissed him again. “You must have read my mind.”

As they made their way to his truck, Liam couldn’t imagine his life without Chloe and Oscar in it. And soon, he hoped they’d feel the same way.

A few days later, Chloe adjusted Oscar’s scarf as they stood outside the old steamboat museum, the crisp winter air nipping at their cheeks. Snowflakes drifted lazily from the gray sky, adding a fresh layer to the already blanketed ground.

“Why are we here?” Oscar asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.

“Liam said Percy found something interesting in the room at the end of the tunnel,” Chloe replied, smiling down at him. “And he thought we’d like to see it before we leave for Washington, D.C., tomorrow.”

Oscar’s face lit up. “I’ve never been inside the tunnel! This is so cool!”

She smiled at his infectious grin. “I thought you’d be excited.”

She opened the wooden door of the museum just as Liam was walking into the entryway.

“Hey, you two,” he said. “Thanks for coming so quickly.”

Chloe’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. “We wouldn’t have missed it,” she said, returning his smile. “Oscar’s super excited to explore the tunnel.”

Liam held out his hand to Oscar. “Well, let’s not keep you waiting then.”

As they walked past the displays, Chloe looked around for Percy. It wasn’t like him not to be here. “Is Percy in the tunnel?”

Liam shook his head. “He had to go home, but Richard’s waiting for us.”

As they made their way to the back of the building, Chloe saw the changes that had happened since she’d last been here. The number of tiny homes being built in the large construction area had doubled, and a metal fence separated the work area from where they were walking.

Liam must have noticed her curiosity. “The tunnel has attracted a lot of interest from tourists coming to Montana. Patrick Devlin, the site foreman, wanted to make doubly sure no one wandered into the construction area. They put up the railing a couple of weeks ago.”

Chloe touched the cold metal bar. “That makes sense. Did they think about using the other entrance closer to Richard’s workshop?”

“They did, but Patrick wanted to make sure he knew exactly who was in the building. If there was a different entrance, they’d have to pay someone to keep a record of who’s in the tunnel.”

There were other changes that Chloe knew about. Richard had moved his workshop to another part of the building. After talking with him the last time she was here, he’d said it hadn’t been as bad as he’d thought it would be—especially when it meant history buffs weren’t asking him where they could find the tunnel.

As Liam led them through a sturdy door marked “Staff Only” he talked to Oscar, telling him what had been happening since the first time he’d been here.

Richard was sitting in the room behind a desk, staring at something on his laptop. Trixie was beside him, snoozing the morning away.

When Richard saw them, he looked up and smiled. “Hi, guys. How are you?”

“We’re going to see inside the tunnel!” Oscar said excitedly as he raced across and gave Trixie a big cuddle. When he saw that the hidden door was open, he smiled. “Can Trixie come with us?”

Chloe shook her head. “It’s too small a space for Trixie.”

Richard glanced at Liam. “I’ll keep her with me while you go exploring. When you’ve finished, I’ll be in my new workshop.”

“Thanks for staying here for us,” Chloe told Richard.

“It’s okay. I have a couple of projects I want to finish, so it worked out fine. But don’t leave without telling me. I need to lock the room after you.”

“Thanks. We won’t be too long.” Liam turned on the temporary lights inside the hidden room. “Watch where you’re walking, Oscar. The floor’s a little uneven.”

Chloe crouched low, following Oscar into the room. A set of framed photos were leaning against the wall. She smiled at the image of Eleanor. “Someone’s been busy framing the photos we found.”

Liam looked at the pictures. “Percy and his team have been working out the best way of displaying them. They’re trying not to disturb the walls.”

“I’ll give him a call,” Chloe said. “We used a special system at the Smithsonian that wasn’t too expensive.”

As they made their way down the steps, Oscar ran his hand along the rough stone walls. Just the fact that he wasn’t talking told Chloe he knew what he was about to see was special.

When they reached the room at the end of the tunnel, the items that were sitting on the old wooden shelves intrigued her. The chipped china plates, a gorgeous fob watch, and a pretty bonnet were lovely, but it was a program from a 1922 masquerade ball in Sapphire Bay that caught her attention.

“Did someone find more things from the Prohibition era and bring them here?”

Liam shook his head. “Percy and his team opened the crates that were already here. A couple of the items aren’t on display, but I’ll show you them another day.”

Oscar walked closer to the shelves and studied an old compass and a telescope that looked like they’d come off one of the steamboats crossing Flathead Lake. “Can I touch them?”

Liam took the compass off the shelf and kneeled beside Oscar. “Someone used this to find their way home.”

Oscar’s eyes widened. “Like Mom’s maps on her phone?”

“Sort of. This doesn’t tell you how far away something is, but it does tell you the direction to go.” Liam looked at Chloe and gestured to a wooden box sitting on a shelf. “Percy found this while sorting through some old items. He wanted you to open it in case it’s more fragile than the other things we’ve found.”

Chloe knelt on the floor and studied the box. It was about six inches long and four inches wide. “I should have brought a pair of gloves with me. The box is similar to something you could have found in the 1920s. It looks like it’s made from walnut with some kind of lacquer finish. The patina is gorgeous.” Carefully, she lifted the box off the shelf. It was surprisingly light. “Richard would like this. Someone crafted the box with as much care as he makes his furniture. The finger joints are perfect.”

Oscar bounced on his feet beside her. “Open it, Mom.”

She placed her hand on the front of the box and grinned. “Okay, but we’ll do it slowly in case something falls out.” To be doubly sure, she returned the box to the shelf. “Are you ready?”

Oscar nodded and she slowly lifted the lid. Inside the box, sitting on top of a red velvet interior, was a small leather pouch. She looked at Liam and frowned. “I was expecting something bigger.”

He moved closer. “Open it and see what’s inside.”

Chloe was even more confused. Liam seemed nervous, as if he already knew what she’d find. Slowly, she opened the drawstring and peered inside the pouch. Her eyes widened when she saw what it was. “It’s a ring,” she said softly.

She tipped the delicate antique ring into her palm. A small, single diamond sparkled from the center of an intricately designed setting. “It’s so pretty, Liam. It must have been treasured by someone.”

He took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving hers. “It was my great-grandmother’s. Mom’s been looking after it for me.”

Chloe’s heart pounded. “But why...?”

Liam knelt on one knee, taking her free hand in his. “Chloe, ever since I arrived in Sapphire Bay, you’ve shown me what it means to have a home—a real home. You and Oscar have become my family.”

Oscar frowned as he looked at them.

“Liam...” Chloe whispered, her voice trembling.

He gazed up at her, his expression earnest. “I love you, Chloe, and I love Oscar. I want to build a life with you both. Will you marry me?”

Tears welled in her eyes, a mix of joy and disbelief washing over her. She looked down at Oscar. He seemed so confused that she hugged him. “Liam wants to marry me, Oscar. That means he’ll live with us and be part of our lives forever.”

“Like a daddy?”

She nodded. “What do you think? Would you like Liam to live with us?”

He thought about what she’d asked. “Will Trixie come, too?”

Liam stood and turned to Oscar. “She’ll definitely stay with us.”

With a happy smile, Oscar nodded. “Yes, please. I love Trixie.”

With tears in her eyes, Chloe tightened her grip on Liam’s hand. “I never thought I’d feel this way about anyone, let alone get married. But you made me feel safe and loved, and I can’t imagine not spending the rest of my life with you.”

Tears filled Liam’s eyes. “Is that a yes?”

“It’s an enormous yes.” Chloe wrapped her arms around his shoulders and smiled. “I love you and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.” Oscar let out a whoop of excitement. She wasn’t sure whether that was because she was marrying Liam, or because Trixie was coming to live with them.

Liam kissed her, then slipped the ring onto her finger. It fitted perfectly, as if it had been made for her.

“Can we see Trixie now?” Oscar asked.

Liam held his small hand in his. “I think that’s a great idea.”

As they walked into Richard’s workshop, he looked at Liam and then Chloe. “Did everything go well?”

Chloe held up her hand, the ring glinting under the lights. “Better than I could have ever imagined.”

“Congratulations!” Richard exclaimed. “I can’t think of three people more perfect for each other.”

Oscar raced over to Trixie. “Do you want to live with me, girl?” he asked, hugging her tightly. Trixie responded by licking his cheek, her tail wagging happily.

Chloe watched them, her heart overflowing with love. This was her family—something she’d only dreamed of finding again. When she turned to Liam, he was watching Oscar and Trixie with a tender expression on his face. “Thank you,” she whispered.

He looked at her, surprised. “For what?”

“For coming into our lives. For loving us.”

He took her hand, squeezing it gently. “I should be the one thanking you. You’ve given me more than I ever thought possible.”

Richard cleared his throat. “I think this calls for a celebration. I’m meeting Paris at The Starlight Café for lunch. Would you like to join us?”

Oscar jumped to his feet. “Can we, Mom? There’s a place where Trixie can play with her doggy friends and they have yummy hot chocolate.”

Chloe smiled at Liam. “The café will be full of people having their lunch before doing more Christmas shopping. Are you ready for everyone to know we’re engaged?”

He nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. “I want everyone to know how much I love you.”

Tears of happiness filled Chloe’s eyes. “Then let’s go celebrate.”

They gathered their coats, and with Trixie happily trotting beside Oscar, they stepped out into the softly falling snow. While they waited for Richard to lock the building, Chloe gazed up at the sky. “It’s like a winter wonderland.”

Liam slipped his arm around her waist. “A perfect day in every way.”

Chloe sighed. This Christmas was the beginning of their new life together, and she couldn’t wait to share it with the world.