"Thank you," I tell him, genuinely feeling gratitude. It's not often a man like me gets a second chance, and I damn well know Varen is smart enough to figure out that I'm really Dane Barrett even if I won’t confess to it.
Varen extends his hand, and I shake it, and there's a mutual respect between us now that I've never felt from him before.
"Go home," he says. "Take care of Sloane. She's been through hell, and she's gonna need you."
"I will," I tell him. The town's quiet now, the square mostly empty except for a few workers cleaning up debris from last night. The Christmas decorations are still up, though they look sad and out of place now.
After years of running and hiding, believing I'd never truly find rest, this morning I am proven wrong. Even the most wretched soul can find a second chance and even the vilest of sinners deserves rest.
Today, I get that second chance and that rest, and her name is Sloane Grady, and I can't wait to get home to her where she's waiting for me expectantly.
I'll never take this life for granted again.
32
EPILOGUE
SLOANE
The town square glows with the same festive lights as last year, strung between buildings in loops of white and gold, but this year, the celebration feels exactly as it should. Children race between adult shoppers carrying cookies and cocoa and avoiding the piles of snow and ice that hit last night. And their cheerful voices remind me that life's perfectly ordinary and non-exciting moments can be invigorating and healing.
Dane walks beside me with his hand in mine and I lean on his shoulder as I listen to the cacophony—children's happy shrieks, the chatter of people surrounding us, and the same tinny music on the same outdated PA system. It's perfect and I don't even miss the city this year.
Some habits never die completely.
"This is incredible," Erin says from my other side where she walks in step with me. "I mean, you described it in your emails, but seeing it in person is totally different. It's so cozy and festive. Very Hallmark movie vibes."
I laugh and elbow her in the ribs jokingly. She drove up from the city three days ago to attempt a recreation of our Christmas tradition of Time's Square and Rockefeller Center, but I'm sure Sutter's Gap falls short, even with all the decorations and holiday cheer. But it's nice to see her and I've missed her, heading back to NYC only once in mid-March to move my things out here and terminate my lease.
"Wait until you try Ellie's hot chocolate," I tell her. "Or Mira's holiday mud slide."
"Sheesh," Dane grunts, giving me a wry grin. He knows from last year's New Year's Eve party just how much those mud slides affect me. I wink at him and turn as Erin starts to respond.
"Speaking of Ellie," Erin says, pointing toward the diner's outdoor booth. "Is that her?"
Ellie stands behind the counter, pouring steaming mugs of cocoa and chatting with customers. Her blonde hair is braided over one shoulder, and she's wearing a red sweater with a reindeer stitched across the front, barely visible as her coat flops in the breeze. And beside her stands the second-most handsome man on the mountain. If I weren't smitten with Dane, I'd have given Ellie a run for her money on that man.
"That's her," I confirm. "And the guy with her is Darren. He came up here for a hunting trip back in October and never left."
Erin grins. "Aw… A hunting trip romance? That's adorable." Her sing-songy voice makes me chuckle. But it is quite the story. I'm really happy for Ellie. We thought she was never going to find "The One".
We make our way over to the booth, and Ellie's face lights up when she sees us. "Sloane! Dane!" She sets down the thermosand comes around the counter to pull me into a hug. "I'm so glad you made it. And you must be Erin," she says, opening her arms to embrace her. Seeing my two best friends together at once is magical all on its own, but at Christmas it feels all the more special.
"That's me," Erin says, accepting her own hug with enthusiasm. "Thank you for letting me crash your town's celebration."
"Crash? Please. The more, the merrier." Ellie gestures to the man beside her. "This is Darren."
He extends his hand, first to me, then to Erin, and finally to Dane. His handshake is firm but friendly. He's really settled in around here, and now and then, he comes around to help Dane with work around the cabin.
"Nice to meet you, Erin," Darren says. "Dane, Sloane. Ellie was just talking about you."
"All good things, I hope," I say.
"Mostly." Ellie winks. "I may have mentioned that time you tried to make dinner at the diner and nearly set the stove on fire."
I groan. "That was one time, and the burner was broken." A lot has happened in the past year, and the friendships I've established are ones I know will be lifelong. And Dane's finally managed to come out of his shell a little too.
"Sure it was." Ellie laughs and pours four mugs of hot chocolate, handing them out. "Here. This'll warm you up. It's freezing tonight."
