Epilogue

Holly looked up from her computer screen in her newly completed, third-floor home office. It had been decorated with her favorite black and white toile wallpaper. Quinn had installed the white wainscoting and window seat. There was a play area for Ella, complete with the adorable green dollhouse Quinn had bought her. She smiled, a smile that, before Quinn and Ella came into her life, she wouldn’t have been capable of. She stared for a moment at the view of the snowy landscape surrounding the house as she heard Ella’s peel of laughter, followed by Quinn’s deep chuckle.

Her grandparents would have been proud. The sad, old house had been once again made into a joyous family home. Their great-granddaughter was alive and blossoming. Their granddaughter had found love, a love as powerful, strong, and complete as the one they had shared. Jennifer and Rick would have been so happy to see their daughter. And day by day, Holly was able to think of Jennifer again. She saw her sister in Ella’s laugh, in Ella’s eyes. And every night when they put Ella to bed, Holly said good night to her sister, too.

She took a deep breath, admiring the glorious, platinum, antique diamond ring Quinn had given her, and let her eyes wander over the wall filled with photographs of the people they loved. Holly had decided that since she’d be spending lots of time up here, they needed to embrace the people who were in their lives now as well as those who were no longer with them. Pictures of Jennifer and Holly as girls, pictures of Jennifer and Rick, their grandparents, and Quinn’s parents hung with pride. One day, when Ella was old enough, Holly would tell her everything about them. For now, they were a reminder to Holly, something she’d learned on her darkest days, that even though she loved people and lost them, as long as she was open to love, she would never be alone.

Quinn’s footsteps traveled up the third-floor staircase and Holly smiled, flipping the lid closed on her laptop. The antique drafting table sat by the window, her red bag with the “Holly and Quinn” embroidery sitting atop it. Her heart swelled as the sight of the two most precious people in the world to her appeared in the doorway.

Quinn was holding a babbling, pink pajama-wearing Ella in his arms. She looked warm and cozy, while he, as he usually did after bath time, looked drenched and exhausted.

“Hi there,” Quinn said, giving her a smile that still gave her goose bumps.

“Hi, you two. Ready for bed?” she asked, coming around from her desk to pick up Ella.

“You bet,” Quinn said with a mischievous grin.

Holly laughed as the three of them made their way to Ella’s bedroom. Holly and Quinn gave Ella a good-night kiss and placed their eighteen-month-old daughter in her crib. Holly wound the music box and Quinn turned off the light. Once the door was shut, Quinn tugged on Holly’s hand and pulled her into their bedroom, closing the door behind them.

“Holly?” he asked, his tone serious but his eyes sparkling, as he drew her against him.

“Yeah?” she said, looking into his eyes, her heart racing as his strong arms held her close.

“Would this be a good time for a little confession?”

Holly’s eyes narrowed, trying to decipher the expression on his handsome face. “As good as any.”

“That attic was filled with mice. Like, an entire city block worth of mice.”

Holly stared into his eyes, trying to keep a straight face. “I’m not scared of the mice anymore.”

Quinn’s eyes glittered. “You’ve made all my fantasies come true,” he said, bending down and kissing her neck.

“Fantasies?” Holly whispered as he continued his sweet torment up to her lips, his words reminding her of the first kiss that had started everything.

“Oh, yeah, real hot fantasies.” Quinn smiled as he carried her into his fantasy.