Epilogue

 

BY THE TIME the police finished with them it was late evening, and Belle was understandably cranky and upset. Zach knew just the thing to help her forget, even if just for a little while.

“Hey, sweetpea.” He picked Belle up, and sat with her on his lap next to Nat on the couch. The tree was awash in color, the vintage glass and porcelain ornaments reflecting the colorful twinkling lights.

“It’s Christmas Eve. What does that mean?” He glanced at Nat and grinned at her confusion, then back at Belle.

Belle’s eyes lit up, and she actually squealed, tiredness forgotten in a blink. “Pwesents! We get to open one pwesent each!”

She turned to Nat and shook her chubby finger as if scolding her. “Only one. The rest are for tomorrow.”

Zach laughed outright to see Nat’s answering smile. He rose and nestled Belle next to her, then found the two presents he and Belle had bought for her, along with his present to his little girl.

“Not so fast, Santa’s helper,” Nat instructed. “Grab those two in the back with the reindeer prancing on them.”

He cocked a brow at her, wondering when she’d had the time to shop. Although, come to think of it, he remembered her getting a few deliveries the day before. He’d thought they were just things she’d needed personally, or for her work.

“That’s better,” she said with a grin when he had them in hand and was sitting next to them.

He glanced at the tags and saw his and Belle’s names in bold print. He distributed the presents and followed orders when she motioned for them to unwrap their gifts.

Belle clapped her hands and giggled when a Mrs. King stuffed lioness, minus the fluff of a mane, along with a cub, came tumbling from the box. “Oh, Nat-alie! Thank you, thank you! Now Mr. King has a Mrs. King and a baby. Now they’re a family! Just like us!”

Zach grinned at his daughter’s enthusiasm and the tender look on Nat’s face at Belle’s proclamation. He tore into his present, and his breath caught to see a small, framed print of a man, woman, and child building sandcastles on the beach.

“It’s us, isn’t it?” he murmured as he leaned in for a kiss, his eyes never leaving hers as his heart tripped with hope when she nodded.

“Beautiful. I love it. Thank you, sweetheart.”

 

❄ ❄ ❄

 

NAT REVELED in the look of love shining from his eyes. When he said beautiful, she realized he was talking about her, not his gift. She blushed under his scrutiny and kissed him with all the newfound love filling her heart.

“Nat-alie’s turn, daddy.” Belle turned sweet eyes to her. “Open my pwesent next.”

“Okay, sweetie.” Nat tugged the snowman wrapping from her gift, wondering what it was. When she lifted the pretty tea mug and read the inscription, her eyes overflowed and she choked back a sob.

“I adore it,” Nat said on watery sigh. She looked at the sweet little face of the precious child next to her and held out her arms. “I love you, Belle. Come here, sweetie.”

When the little girl climbed into her lap, she wrapped her up tight. Nat’s eyes met Zach’s, and she gave a wobbly smile, then looked at the mug still clutched in her hand. The words blurred but meant the world to her. The most perfect mommy ever, it read.

Zach lifted Belle onto his lap, handing Nat his gift to her. “Now it’s my turn.”

She set about opening the small, rectangular box. After lifting the lid, it took her a moment to realize what it was.

An old-fashioned silver charm bracelet lay snug against black velvet. Dangling from the delicate links were five charms. She fingered the ornate M, trailing her fingers across the other four before turning to Zach with curious eyes.

“M for Matty, sweetheart.” He stroked a finger down her cheek and leaned in for a kiss. “Z for Zach, B for Belle.”

His heart in his eyes, he murmured, “The Victorian house is our house, and the heart is because you own mine.”

Nat looked down to see Belle grinning like a loon at them, then leaned over to brush her lips over his before giving the little sweetie a smacking kiss on the top of her head.

“I’m glad to hear that, Zach, since you own mine, too.”

His eyes darkened with love and passion at her words.

Nat pulled his head down and laid the sweetest kiss on him. “I love you Zach. You and Belle are my everything.”

“I love you so much, Natalie. We both want you, need you, to stay here with us.”

Natalie took their hands in hers and held tight. “I’d love nothing more. You and this little munchkin of yours made my heart whole again. I’m right where I belong.”

At the sound of muffled giggling, a soft feminine laugh, and masculine chuckle, they look towards the Christmas tree to see three ghostly images.

Nat gasped, happiness, relief and sadness swirling through her heart and mind. Her grandma and grandpa were bookending her little Matty, who released the gnarled hand of his loving great-grandma to wave and grin at her. “Love you mama. Grammy and Grampy are babysitting me!”

She was aware of Zach and Belle exclaiming next to her, knowing they could see the ghostly tableau themselves.

Her gram gave a soft, loving smile and reassured her. “We’re taking good care of him until we’re all together again—a long, long time from now. We all want you three to be together and happy. Bye babygirl. We love you.”

The three winked out, like stars in a new sky, and Nat realized instead of her heart breaking, she finally had a modicum of peace, knowing her little guy was happy and in loving arms, until he could be in hers again.

Her glance at Belle, then at Zach revealed worried eyes, and she rushed to reassure them.

“I’m okay. Seeing Gram and Gramps are watching over Matty fills me with so much relief. I’ll always miss him, and wish he was here in our family, but I love you both so much—and can’t wait for us to start our lives together—as a family.”

Loving lips met hers, and a chubby hand patted her cheek clumsily.

“Love you, Nat-alie,” a little voice exclaimed.

“Love you so much, Natalie. Forever and ever,” Zach vowed.

Her mind settled. Her heart filled to overflowing. She smiled at her new family.

“Yes, Zach, and Belle. Forever and ever.”

 

❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄