Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23

Eight Months Later…

Chloe carefully balanced a cake box in one hand while using the other to knock on the door of Liam’s new home. Oscar stood beside her, practically bouncing with excitement.

The door swung open and Liam smiled. “Here’s my two favorite people.”

“Surprise!” Oscar shouted, holding up a colorful handmade sign that said, “Congratulations!”

Liam chuckled. “What’s all this?”

Chloe grinned, lifting the cake box slightly. “We thought we’d help you celebrate finishing your book about Eleanor.”

He stepped aside to let them in. “You didn’t have to do that, but I’m glad you did.”

They walked through the spacious living room and into the kitchen. Trixie was snoozing on her favorite blanket, but when she saw them, she leaped to her feet.

Chloe smiled as Oscar gave Trixie a big hug. The two of them were inseparable and the best of friends.

As she set the cake on the kitchen counter, Chloe sighed. The large windows along the back wall offered an unobstructed view of the lake and the gorgeous mountains in the distance.

“Your home still takes my breath away, Liam.”

He wrapped an arm around her waist. “It’s even better now that you’re here.”

Oscar stood beside the counter with Trixie. “Can we cut the cake now?”

Liam ruffled Oscar’s hair. “Tell you what, why don’t you grab some plates and we’ll see what we can do.”

As Oscar busied himself in the kitchen, Chloe studied Liam. There was a contentment in his eyes that hadn’t been there when she’d met him—a peacefulness that matched her own. “I can’t believe we’ve been engaged for eight months.”

He kissed her and smiled. “And every day has been better than the last.”

She leaned into him. “I’m so proud of you. Finishing Eleanor’s story is such an accomplishment. Has your agent told you when it’ll be published?”

“It’s scheduled to be released in another year, but it could be sooner. I couldn’t have done it without you,” Liam admitted. “The research you did with the staff at the Smithsonian made a huge difference.”

Chloe smiled. “I loved every minute. Eleanor was an amazing woman.”

“It’s just a pity that she never married Samuel.”

“He married another woman a couple of years after Eleanor went back to Montana, so he must have been happy. I’m sure his fourteen children kept him busy, too.”

Liam grinned. “I couldn’t imagine having that many children in one house. It must have been crazy. Four would be more than enough.”

Chloe laughed. “Last time we talked about children, you thought two was a great number.”

Liam kissed her cheek. “I’m flexible.”

It was just as well Oscar chose that moment to return with the plates. “Ready!” he said excitedly.

They gathered around the island and Chloe opened the cake box. Chocolate frosting decorated the decadent cake, along with the words, “Congratulations, Liam!”

“Mom let me choose the flavor,” Oscar announced proudly. “It’s chocolate.”

“That’s my favorite,” Liam told him as he picked up a knife. “Who wants the first piece?”

“Me!” Oscar exclaimed.

After everyone had a slice of cake, Liam made each of them a drink. They sat at the kitchen table, laughing and sharing stories as he caught up with what they’d been doing.

Chloe took a sip of her coffee, watching Oscar’s eyes light up as he talked about his day at school.

“And guess what? Mr. Rogers said we might go on a field trip to the museum in Bozeman to see the T-Rex skeleton!”

“That’s fantastic,” Liam told him. “I visited the museum when I first arrived in Montana. The dinosaur is really impressive.”

“Maybe you can come with us,” Oscar said.

Liam grinned. “Count me in. I’d love to see the museum again.”

“Yeah!” Oscar said excitedly. “We could take a photo of the dinosaur and send it to Mom.”

“I’d love that,” Chloe told him. Moments like this made her realize how seamlessly Liam had become a part of their lives. It was almost as though he’d always been there, keeping an eye on them and waiting for their time to be together.

She picked up her cake fork. “I heard from Paul today. He’s moving to Denver next month. It’ll make it so much easier for Oscar and me to see him.” Each trip they’d made to Washington, D.C. had gone better than the last. Paul had made a genuine effort to reconnect with Oscar, and she was grateful for that. He’d even followed through on his promise of paying back some of the money he’d taken from their account.

Oscar looked up from his cake. “Dad said he’s going to take me camping when he moves closer.”

“That sounds exciting,” Liam told him.

“Mom said I can take three dinosaurs,” Oscar whispered. “But don’t tell Trixie. She might want to come, too.”

“I won’t say a word,” Liam whispered back.

After Oscar left the table, Chloe and Liam moved onto the veranda.

“Have you thought about any other venues for our wedding?” Liam asked.

Chloe sighed. Each time they’d visited a venue, it was either booked for another wedding or on hold until someone decided if they wanted to use it. “I still like the idea of getting married beside the lake.”

“I think that’s perfect,” Liam said. “We could get married in June and take Oscar somewhere exciting for our honeymoon.”

They’d been talking about going to Walt Disney World in Florida to see the Animal Kingdom. The dinosaur rides would make it a vacation Oscar wouldn’t forget.

They spent the next hour discussing wedding plans. Luckily, they both wanted a small wedding with their close family and friends.

“I’m so grateful for everything,” Chloe told Liam. “For you, for Oscar, and for the way our lives have come together.”

“Me too,” he replied. “I never imagined I’d find this kind of happiness.”

They shared a tender kiss, and the world around Chloe faded away. When they pulled apart, she rested her head against Liam’s chest. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” he said gently.

As they stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms, Chloe knew this was only the beginning of a wonderful life together. With their wedding on the horizon, Paul’s move to Denver bringing Oscar’s father closer, and the everyday joys of life unfolding before them, the future was filled with promise.

She smiled to herself, thinking about how a touch of Christmas magic had changed their lives forever. And she couldn’t wait to see where that magic would take them next.

The End