Epilogue

 

Christmas Eve dawned with a blanket of downy snow and the promise of more to come. Brynn wrapped the last of Janie’s gifts as a pickup turned into the drive.

Dillon.

A flurry of red caught her eye as he exited the driver’s side dressed in the Santa costume he’d borrowed from Wyatt. With a plump pillow firmly secured at his waist, the disguise was picture-perfect. A smile tickled the fringe of Brynn’s lips—Janie was sure to be delighted by her special visitor.

Dillon bounded two stairs at a time, and she rushed to the door to let him in. Though the supply of mistletoe berries had been exhausted more than a week ago, she planted a kiss firmly on his lips. The pillow made contact difficult, and his snowy-white beard tickled, causing her to giggle like a school girl.

“Wow.” Dillon gathered her in as best he could manage. “That’s quite the greeting. Let me head back down the stairs and make my entrance again.”

“Merry Christmas Eve.” Brynn tweaked his beard. “You look fantastic.”

“Thanks.” He patted his midsection. “All those oatmeal cookies of yours have taken effect.”

“Really, I—” Brynn’s cell phone rang and she paused long enough to pull it from her pocket. Perhaps Sarah needed something last-minute. She didn’t recognize the number, but she engaged the call just in case. “Hello?”

“Brynn Jansen, this is Amelia Everett over at St. Mary’s Hospital.”

“Is everything OK?” Brynn’s heart leapt into her throat as her pulse kicked up. “It’s not Janie, is it?”

“Janie? Oh, no. I’m calling about your interview. The advisory board has reached a decision. I’d like to offer you the job. You indicated a starting date of January fifteenth. Does that still stand?”

“Yes. Oh…thank you.”

“I’ll touch base with you after the holidays to firm up plans, OK?”

“That sounds fine.”

“Merry Christmas, Brynn. Talk to you soon.”

“Merry Christmas.”

As Brynn disengaged the call, it was clear she needn’t reiterate to Dillon what had just transpired. The grin on his face spoke volumes.

“You’re staying?”

“I’m staying.” Brynn slipped the phone back into her pocket as her gaze latched onto his and held tight. “But the job’s simply icing on the cake. I’d already made up my mind, Dillon, and not for the job but because…I love you. I can’t imagine being back in Jacksonville, apart from you. It’s not what I want because…I want you. I want us.”

“In that case, I’m not going to allow another moment to slip by without asking…” He delved into the pocket of the Santa suit and drew out a shimmer of gold. He’d dropped to one knee before Brynn realized that what glittered beneath the light was a diamond. “My Christmas wish, forever an always, is to share each holiday—and every day in between—with you. I’ve waited a dozen years for you, Brynn, and I don’t want to wait any longer. So, will you be my wife?”

Choked with tears, she could merely nod as Dillon slipped the ring on her finger and rose to claim a sweet kiss—one of countless he promised in the coming years together.

“My Christmas wish came early.” He nodded, twining his fingers with hers. “Janie’s has, as well.”

“How’s that?”

“Remember that day in her room, when we made the list to Santa?” He patted his left pocket where she assumed he’d tucked the letter. “She sent a wish for you to stay. She loves you, Brynn. I love you.”

“Well, as long as we’re talking Christmas wishes, we’d better get to the hospital soon. Sarah phoned this morning to say there’s a good chance Janie will be released today. She might be home for Christmas, Dillon.”

“Now that’s the best news yet.” He squeezed Brynn’s hand. “Rally the troops, Mrs. Claus. We’ve got places to go, people to see, and…” He paused long enough to kiss her once more. “…memories to make.”