Epilogue
Noah could still smell the sugary sweet frosting. Earlier, he and Lindsey had teamed up to create a gingerbread house while Casey and PJ and Jilly had each created their own. It'd been a sugar-overload, and either he'd missed a spot while washing up or there was frosting ground into his clothes somewhere.
Jilly had claimed making gingerbread houses was their new Christmas tradition, but to him everything today had been a new tradition.
Coming over first thing in the morning to open gifts with the kids. Their wide-eyed delight at each gift had made his heart hurt.
A kiss under the mistletoe with the woman he loved. Okay, maybe he'd snuck more than one.
And in a few minutes, he’d have Christmas lunch with Iris and Callum and their kids. Cord and his family were coming too. It would be the first time Noah had spoken to his old friend. The air needed to be cleared between them. For once, he was looking forward to it.
Mom had called earlier. She hadn't been surprised enough to find him at Jilly's house on Christmas morning. She was already planning a visit after the new year.
Jilly had sent the kids upstairs to put away their new toys, and she was in the kitchen taking rolls out of the oven. Her baking had scented the entire house with yeasty goodness.
A knock sounded on the front door.
"We're here!" Iris called out.
There was a flurry of voices, and the kids tramped down the stairs. Noah accepted a back-slapping hug from Callum as the twins brushed past his legs. Iris unobtrusively slipped a package into Noah's hand.
"I'll bring in the rest of the grub," Callum said.
"I'll help," Casey said.
While they went back outside, Noah pulled Jilly into the little alcove between the Christmas tree and the big picture window at the front of the house.
"Your Christmas gift arrived." He pressed the square box into her hand. He was shaking with restless energy coursing through him. He'd wracked his brain for weeks trying to figure out the perfect gift. He only hoped this was it.
He heard the sound of ripping paper and then the soft catch of her breath. "It's the angel ornament. Mama's ornament. Oh, Noah."
He heard the emotion in her voice. Was she upset?
"Iris found it in the attic."
Jilly pressed her hand to his chest and reached up to kiss him. Softly, just a brush of her lips against his.
"Mmm." She huffed a tiny giggle against his lips. "How much of that frosting did youtest?"
He grinned. "Enough."
"I love my present. I can't believe you remembered. Thank you."
She liked it. Relief flowed.
"I have something for you, too." She shifted, her arm bumping him. Like she was reaching into the pocket of her jeans. "It's not wrapped."
She pressed something small and metal into his hand. A cool, smooth line of metal hung over the edge of his palm. He fingered the item, trying to figure it out.
"It's my class ring," she said softly. "I strung it on a silver chain. I thought... maybe since we knew each other back then, it could be a memento so you could remember the good times."
He found himself choked up. "Help me put it on?" he murmured.
Her hands at his neck sent sparks down his spine.
"There." She smoothed his shirt across his shoulders.
He rested his hands at her waist. "This is the best Christmas I've had in a long time."
