A snowflake may melt, but our love never will.
EPILOGUE
Two YearsLater
Brinker
“And this is your great grandson, Archer James.” I lift the tiny bundle into Grandma Victoria’s arms.
I’m in my favorite holiday sweater, complete with a dancing elf, and our house is decorated from top to bottom with Christmas red and green. It’s a wonderland of the holiday and I love it. It makes my wife happy and I’m sure our son will get that bug too.
“He’s…” she sniffles, “He’s perfect.”
Iclyn joins us in the family room. He’s now about two months old and I think his arrival made my heart grow twice what it was with Iclyn in my life. Love is infinite.
But I now know I don’t love what I do. I’ve hired a lot more people to do what I’ve built and I’ve started a new business that sends trained Santas to events all over the world. They’re vetted, they’re trained in how to act like the best Santa they can, and they’re trained in all things North Pole— like how many reindeer there are there.
None.
And it’s important to know that because there’s always one kid in the crowd who knows the truth. That’s when you give them the magic. The reindeer are special reindeer. They’ve been bred over the centuries to not only be able to survive in the cold of the Arctic, but to fly with a little special dust and that’s when you sprinkle on the glitter.
No longer my arch enemy.
But it doesn’t work on humans, only reindeer.
“Iclyn, darling, please sit here.” Grandma motions next to her and Iclyn looks to me with wonder.
Grandma clears her throat. “I hear you’re doing wonderful things at the food bank with promotion these days.”
“Thank you, Victoria. I’m doing my best.”
“Well, I think you should do more,” she says firmly.
Iclyn’s mouth drops open. “Pardon?”
“I’ve decided to start a foundation and I’d like you to run it. I want my money to do the most it can for the most people.”
Iclyn looks to me. “Did you know about this?”
I shake my head. “I didn’t have anything to do with it. But I think it’s great… I mean, if you do.”
Iclyn sits back. “I… I’d love to.”
Grandma’s face lights up. “Wonderful. Then you and I shall talk more after dinner.”
“You’re staying?” I ask.
“Only for a couple of days to get on the same page with Iclyn and enjoy little Archer here, but I’m moving to Charlotte to be closer to you Grandson and your wonderful family. I’ve picked out a home.”
I shove one of my wife’s cookies in my mouth. I think she does make the best cookies, but I also might be a little biased. I slip Archer from her arms while Iclyn and her start talking about all of the wonderful things they’ll do for others.
But I know one thing… everything they’ve done for me.
I’m no longer cold. I’m warm inside and out and as I place our son in his basinet, I realize that snowflakes are there to make a person feel.
To feel the wonder.
To feel the magic.
And to feel the love.
