A week and a half later, Katie and Asher threw a big wedding reception/Christmas party in the ballroom at the lodge of the Dawson Family Guest Ranch. The place was decked out for the holiday, lights twinkling everywhere, an enormous tree by the huge arched windows. All the Dawson cousins were there, including cousins Asher rarely saw—Colt Dawson, his wife, Allie, and their baby son, Ryder. They lived on an alpaca farm a few hours away, and Katie’s eyes had lit up at the invitation to visit. And then there was Gavin Dawson and his wife, Lily, and their baby, Micah, who owned the huge Wild Canyon Ranch about fifteen minutes away. Katie had made plans to have them over to dinner, thrilled that their family got bigger and bigger.
Two Dawsons who weren’t here? Mandy and John. Asher was happy to know that they were actually back in Las Vegas, renewing their vows at the same Elvis Presley chapel by the same impersonator and taking a mini honeymoon.
There was a theme for this daytime party—goofiest Christmas sweater—so everyone had tried to outdo one another. Asher wore the one Katie had bought him as a wedding present, “North Pole Daddy” across the front with the earnest Santa and cartoon reindeer and elves around the neckline and hem. Katie, holding Dylan, was chatting with her mom, who held Declan, both in matching bright sweaters with candy canes all over them. Goofy, but certainly not going to win their annual contest. Asher had that in the bag, and it had been Katie who’d won it for him.
Katie had spent a lot of time with her mom these past days, and Celia had looked very happy to be invited over for Christmas Eve dinner tomorrow night and to spend Christmas Day with them. Katie had mentioned that her mom had been chatting a lot today with Chief Harringer, who’d been widowed for years. They’d been seen dancing together twice, and Katie said maybe they’d both be joining them for Christmas this year.
“Great party,” his cousin Ford said, coming to stand on one side of him while his cousin Rex stood on the other.
“I’ve had way too much eggnog,” Rex said, patting his stomach over his Christmas sweater, which featured the Grinch, red hearts shooting out of his chest getting bigger and bigger as he held his little dog wearing tiny antlers instead of the huge ones.
“Oh, the Grinch’s dog just reminded me,” Asher said. “Want to see the newest member of the Crosby-Dawson household?” He held up his phone, a photo of their new Australian shepherd mix, Noelle, wearing her red-and-green collar. The adorable brown-and-white dog, a stray the animal shelter had found in Brewster, had joined their family just days ago. Noelle always looked like she was smiling, and Asher and Katie were having fun spoiling her rotten.
“Merry Christmas, Asher,” Ford said with a smile at the photo and then at Asher. “I don’t think I’ve ever meant that more.”
His cousins gave him a clap on the back and were pulled away by colleagues to the dancing area, which was packed with little kids shaking their hips to “Frosty the Snowman.”
Katie danced her way over to Asher with each baby on a hip. Asher took Declan, snuggling the boy close.
“My every Christmas wish has come true,” Katie said, reaching up to kiss Asher on the lips. She touched the locket he’d given her, which held a tiny photo of the twins. She and Asher were now sharing a bedroom, truly sharing a life.
“Mine too,” he said. “Ones I didn’t even know I had.” That was the truth.
And then the song “Merry Christmas Baby” came on, and they headed to the dance floor with their twins, Asher’s own heart ten times bigger.