“It’s freezing out here,” Tim comments and gestures with his chin toward the tent. “Should we go in there?”
Miller shakes his head at the same time Tina turns toward me. “I’m sorry about your family, sweetheart, and I’m sorry that Miller told us when you didn’t want him to. It’s your story to tell, and although his intentions were good, he took that from you. I know he feels terrible.” She glances at him, thenconnects her eyes back with mine. “Now, Tim and I aren’t fond of being deceived, but we understand why this all happened. We’ve already apologized to Lincoln, and now we would like to apologize to you.”
“Apologize to me? For what? I’m the one who lied.” I’m flabbergasted, and confused as to why they think I need an apology.
She gives me a small smile and takes a step closer. “I want to apologize for not following my intuition. When you came to us, I knew something was wrong, but I didn’t press you. How could I when you had just met us? But I wish I could go back to Christmas Eve, and try to get you to open up to me, even just a little. I feel as though your soul needed that, and I ignored my gut and gave you space. If I could do it again, I would give you the comfort that I know you needed on that day.”
There’s no way to avoid the tears that spring back to my eyes with Tina’s words. I begin to sob. “I’m so sorry. I regret everything.”
“Well, I don’t,” Lincoln chimes in. From over his mother's shoulder, I look at him. There’s a small smile on his lips as he says, “How could I when it brought you into the family?”
“He’s right, Zee. I’d have you lie over and over again if that meant I still got to meet you.” Miller pulls me from Tina and into his arms. Kissing me, his hand cups the back of my neck, and he deepens it slightly. When he pulls away, he rests his forehead against mine. “I love you so much.”
Coming up beside me, Tina loops her arm through mine. “Come on, it’s way too cold out here. Let’s go back to the house and have something warm to drink until dinner is ready.”
She doesn’t take no for an answer and begins to lead us back with the men trailing behind. Tina begins to talk about dinner, explaining what she’s made, and gushing over how her best friend gave her the recipe and that she’s been so excited to try it.
She continues on with her story until she’s done and nudges me with her elbow, sneaking a glance at me as we draw closer to her home. “You know, Zee, you’re the gift we all asked Santa for. Some of us were just more silent than others, but we all asked, just the same. I’m so glad you’re now a part of our family. I hope you’ll stick around.”
With tears pricking my eyes, I turn and look over my shoulder at Miller, locking eyes with the man who has stolen my heart quicker than I thought possible. He mouthsI love you, and for the first time since losing my family, I don’t feel so alone.
Epilogue
Christmas, One Year Later
“All right, time for you to open another!” Tim says, passing me a present. The thin box is wrapped in brown paper, tied with a hunter green velvet bow.
This year, the Stokes family decided to try something new, and instead of having a free-for-all when opening gifts, we’re slowing down a little, taking turns to open them one at a time. Plus, it feels different without Lincoln here since he got stuck at work and wasn’t able to make it.
“Me? I just opened one! It’s Miller’s turn.” Placing my gift on the coffee table in front of me, I reach for the one I’ve brought for Miller, handing him the small box. He takes it from me, shaking it with a smile on his face.
“Hmm. What could this be?” he probes, shaking it again.
I shrug, trying to not give anything away with my expression. “Open it.”
Sneaking a glance at Tina, she beams at me, already knowing what’s inside. I told her this morning when I helped her put breakfast in the oven—an egg casserole that we made the most delicious breakfast burritos with.
Keeping up with his family’s tradition, Miller and I came over first thing this morning. We were earlier than the Stokes expected us, thanks to Potato and his hungry belly deciding to beat me up the moment the sun peeked over the horizon.
Unwrapping the box, Miller tosses the paper to the side, and lifts the top. I wait with bated breath, antsy for him to figure out what it is. His brows pull together, confusion etching itself deep in his features, just as I had hoped.
Searching for the perfect gift for him was like finding a needle in a haystack. Anything he wants, he buys. There’s nothing heneeds. But there has been one thing he’s been asking for, and after months of telling him the timing wasn’t right, I finally felt deep in my soul thatnowis the perfect time.
Placing the box on his lap, he reaches inside, grabbing a fistful of the shredded paper. He glances up at me as he holds it in his hand, then lets it go as a smile plays on his lips. The paper floats down into the box, joining the rest of the shreds. “I’m all for creativity, but I’m not quite sure what I’m looking at here.”
“Not even a small clue?” I ask playfully.
“Nope. Kindling is the only thing that comes to mind.”
“That’s my lease agreement.”
“Okay?”
“My landlord let me out of my lease early.”
His eyes widen. “Elizabeth, what are you saying right now?”
Standing, I go to where he’s sitting and drop to my knees, grabbing his hands as I look up at him.I love this man so much. “What I’m saying is I will move in with you.”
