Epilogue

New Year’s Eve

“You know I love you and would do anything for you, right?” Drew said to his fiancée as she arranged champagne flutes on a tray in the kitchen.

The sound of laughter and happy voices clung to the air. It hadn’t been his idea to host a New Year’s Eve party, but Addie’s sisters wanted to get together, and then Luke had gotten wind of the gathering so had invited himself and Gwen and their baby over. That had led to the entire Bailey clan attending as well. He was fine with it, especially since it made Addie happy. The bonus was that it seemed like Bella had made a fast friend in Gabby Donovan, Julia, and Chase’s daughter. Really, everyone was having the time of their lives, except him.

Addie looked over at him, her eyes sparkling, as though she already knew what he was thinking. “Drew…”

He put his hand on her waist, on the thin fabric of the bombshell red dress she was wearing, and pulled her into him. Her breath caught as their bodies made contact—he felt the same way. “So because of that, I agreed to this hosting all these…people.”

“Family,” she whispered, pressing her hands on the front of his shirt. The diamond on her hand sparkled under the lights, and it made him feel proud and excited to see it on her finger.

“I really think we should have spent the night alone. You could have worn this dress, I could have taken it—”

“Daddy, you’ll never be alone again, remember?”

He shut his eyes and counted his blessings as Addie laughed in his arms and answered Isabella. “You’re right, Bella.”

Bella beamed up at them, and he couldn’t help but return the earnest smile, despite his prior feelings of…frustration. She grabbed a handful of raspberries and then bolted out of the room. “She’s all you,” Addie whispered, reaching up to kiss him.

He kissed her back, making desperate Christmas wishes, despite the holiday already being gone and despite already wishing for these things on Christmas Eve. But he was a desperate man, so he wished for early bedtimes, privacy, and one night with Addie.

“It’s almost midnight!” Melody yelled out.

“Get the tray. I’ll get the champagne,” Addie said, patting him on the chest. “It’ll be fine, Drew. We’ll be alone…at some point,” she said, wincing, knowing it wasn’t true at all.

He followed her into the great room, plastering what he hoped was a friendly smile on his face. When New Year’s came and went, he kissed Addie with the knowledge that another year was starting and a new life was beginning.

Soon they were saying goodbye to guests, and he realized inviting people with kids over was the best way to go since they all left early.

“Can Bella come sleep at our house?” Gabby asked, standing with her parents at the door.

Bella was jumping up and down, and the two girls raced to Bella’s room. “I’ll get my stuff!” Bella yelled.

“Oh, no, I know it’s New Year’s. I don’t want to impose,” Drew said.

“Not at all,” Julia answered. “We’d love to have her. She and Gabby get along so well, and it would be nice for her to have someone her own age to play with in the house,” she said, pointing to the baby sleeping in Chase’s arms.

“Really, we’d love to have her. We have a brunch to go to, so we can drop her off around eleven tomorrow if that’s okay with you,” Chase said.

He nodded, trying not to look elated by the prospect of having an empty house. “Okay, that’s great.”

Bella came running out, and he and Addie helped her with her things. “Bella, mind your manners and listen to what the Donovans tell you, okay?”

She nodded and gave them both a big hug. “Of course, Daddy. Don’t say anything else or you’ll embarrass me,” she whispered.

He nodded and straightened up. They waved as they made their way down the walkway. He closed the door and turned to look at Addie. The house was empty. The Christmas tree shone, the trains still zooming beneath the tree on their tracks, glasses and trays of food and empty plates littering the place. It looked like a home that was filled with love. But he could contemplate that and how far he’d come tomorrow. Right now, he had to say some kind of thanks up above for granting his Christmas wishes.

“So are you going to stand there staring at me or make good on some of those promises?” Addie said with a smile that sent blood pumping through his veins with force.

He leaned down to kiss the woman that had taught him the meaning of family and had shown him the true road to success and happiness.

He was starting over with the only woman capable of making him wish again.

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