When she opened her eyes, Paul was watching her with such tenderness that fresh tears filled her eyes.
“I don’t need to wish for anything,” she told him. “I already have everything I could ever want.”
Paul kissed her forehead, then her cheeks where tears had left trails, and finally her lips. The snow fell around them, blanketing Sapphire Bay in white, while the Christmas tree glowed like a beacon of hope behind them.
“I hate to be the Christmas grinch,” Kathleen said. “But we should go back to Isabel and Frank’s house before the snow gets any heavier.”
After they’d taken some photos, they walked back along Main Street. Susan kept glancing at her ring, hardly able to believe it was real. Paul kept her close, his arm secure around her shoulders.
“Did you all know?” Susan asked, looking around at her friends.
“Paul told us this morning,” Isabel admitted. “We’ve been bursting with the secret all through lunch.”
“I almost gave it away three times,” Kathleen confessed. “I kept smiling at you for no reason.”
“I noticed,” Susan said, laughing. “I thought you were just happy about the ham.”
As they walked through the gentle snowfall, past decorated houses and twinkling lights, Susan felt something settle deep in her soul—a sense of rightness, of being exactly where she was meant to be.
She’d spent so many years running a business, building a career, defining herself by what she could accomplish. Now, at last, she was learning that the greatest accomplishments were these moments of love. Of choosing to be vulnerable with another person and finding that you were cherished in return.
Paul squeezed her shoulder, and she looked up at him. The snow had dusted his hair with white, making him look distinguished and achingly dear.
“I love you,” she said softly, the words coming easily now.
“I love you too,” he replied. “Always and completely.”
Chapter 38
Two Months Later…
* * *
Susan placed her phone on Paul’s kitchen counter and slowly exhaled. Telling Cole Morrison she wasn’t applying for the executive chef position at his luxury resort had been easier than she thought.
“He understood?” Paul picked up a spoon and stirred the sauce he was making.
“He did.” Susan moved to stand beside Paul, drawn by the rich aroma of caramelizing shallots and wine. “Cole said he won’t be advertising the role for another six months. If I change my mind, I can still put my name forward. But I’ve already found what I’m looking for.”
Paul turned off the burner and faced her, his expression tender. “No regrets?”
“Not even one.” She reached for his hand. “Working with you at your restaurant is better than managing someone else’s vision, no matter how impressive the setting.”
Paul lifted her fingers to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to her knuckles. Before either could speak again, his phone vibrated on the countertop.
Paul glanced at the screen. “It’s Kathleen.” He answered immediately. “Hi, Kathleen. How can I help you?”
Susan watched Paul’s expression shift from relaxed to alert within seconds. He mouthed “Lynda” and tapped the speaker option.
“—wants you both at St. Joseph Medical Center as quickly as possible,” Kathleen said breathlessly. “Matt’s taken his first independent steps. Real ones, Paul. After all those hours of physiotherapy, he just walked across the rehabilitation room without any assistance.”
Susan pressed her hand to her chest, emotion swelling unexpectedly. “That’s incredible.”
“Hi, Susan,” Kathleen said. “Isabel and Frank are already heading to Polson. Can you and Paul leave now?”
“We’ll be there within the hour,” Susan promised.
After ending the call, Paul grabbed their jackets and they headed toward his truck. Matt’s progress had been gradual, each milestone celebrated but never certain. For him to achieve full mobility meant everything—not just for his recovery, but for the future he and Lynda were creating together.
