“Sure. I can only live out of a suitcase for so long. It’s time I found somewhere more permanent.”
It’s as if time slows down for just a moment as he registers the weight of my words. His gaze locking onto mine with an intensity that makes my heart race.
“Wait, you mean… you’re staying?” he asks, voice thick with emotion.
“Of course I’m staying,” I reply softly. There was no question, really. Not after I’ve given my heart to him. I try to convey all that in a look. I wish I could say more—there’s so much more I want to say—but it’s not the place, not with his family looking on.
Our emotional moment is interrupted by Uncle Shawn. “I’ll introduce you to Geraldine’s niece. She owns the local real estate.”
As the conversation around us resumes, I look at each person in the room—Uncle Shawn, Susan, and Brian, who already feel like family, and then Felix—and I know I’ve made the right decision. This is where I belong.
A while later, after coffee and Christmas fudge, we make our farewells. Susan kisses my cheek, and Brian pulls me in for a fierce hug, clapping me on the back.
“I’ll drop your gifts around tomorrow,” Uncle Shawn says as we’re putting on our coats, indicating the small pile near the tree.
Susan presses a container of leftovers into Felix’s hands. “Now get going, quickly, before your dad tries to rope Kit into staying for another drink.”
Felix chuckles. “Thanks, Mom.” He turns to me. “Come on, let’s go home.”
Home.
My spirits are high, my heart warm as we step outside into the crisp, snowy night, our breath visible in the cold air. The moon casts a silvery glow on the snow-covered ground, lighting our way as our boots crunch in the snow. As we walk hand in hand toward my cabin, I feel as if we’re walking through a magical wonderland.
Felix leads me along the winding path until we arrive at the cabin. The lights on the small Christmas tree are twinkling, carols still playing softly, and the lamps bathe the room in a soft glow. It doesn’t take long to stoke the fire back to life. We sit on the rug in front of the flames, my back against the couch, Felix between my legs, his back pressed to my front, my arms wrapped around his waist. It’s been a long day, and it’s perfect to end it with just the two of us.
“Kit,” Felix says softly, breaking the silence between us, “do you ever think about… you know, what’s next for us?”
“Of course.” I give him a reassuring squeeze. “I think about it all the time.”
“And that’s why you’re staying in Collier’s Creek?” His voice trembles slightly.
I realize he needs to hear the words, and giving my heart to someone else isn’t something that scares me anymore so the words will come easy. “Hey, look at me.”
He scoots around until we’re face to face.
“I’m staying in Collier’s Creek because that’s where you are. I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather be.”
His smile lights up the room. “It means so much that you’re staying here. With me. Thank you.”
“It’s me who should thank you, Felix, You’ve given me more than you could ever know. I love you.”
“I love you too,” he whispers, his eyes swimming with emotion.
He pulls me into a tight embrace. As I relax into his hold, inhaling his scent, feeling his heart beating against mine, I’m filled with a sense of hope and excitement for the future. I’m looking forward to whatever comes our way.
Epilogue
Eight months later
Kit
The sun filters through the canopy above as Felix and I hike up the winding trail to Sweetwater Falls. My muscles burn, but the sight of Felix in front of me—the sunlight reflecting off his blond hair, his shoulders stretching the fabric of his T-shirt—spurs me on.
We’ve had a busy few months, and I’m glad Felix is taking the day off. He works hard and deserves some time for himself. The cabin renovation is complete, but Felix is already on to stage two of the development. Plans are underway for glamping tents that will showcase the absolute beauty of the property in the foothills of the mountains and be perfect in the summer months. I couldn’t be prouder of what he’s achieved.
We round the corner and there they are—Sweetwater Falls—the first place I opened my heart to Felix.
He turns to me, eyes shining. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
