As I dried my eyes on my sleeve, John made his way to me. I looked up into his eyes as he approached.
“Are you okay, sweetheart? Can I get you anything?” He squatted down in front of me and wiped away the remaining tears I'd missed.
“No. I’ve got everything I need right here.”
He pulled me up and wrapped me in his arms. And I knew without a doubt I was where I was meant to be.
When we boarded the plane back to Portland, John took Winston up the stairs to get him settled. I was the last to board. Turning, I took one last look over the mountains and the place I’d grown up. I'd loved it here as a kid, exploring with my brother.
As difficult as it had been, I was finally getting the unexpected closure I needed. I never imagined that I would leave here with more than I came with.
I could leave behind the pain and hurt.
And I was moving on with the man I loved and more friends than I ever thought I'd have.
I smiled and looked up, hoping my dad and brother were together. At least there was comfort in knowing Matt wasn't alone any longer.
"Ready to go, sweetheart?" John called.
I nodded, wiping my eyes.
"Yeah, let's go."
I couldn’t be happier about what was to come with John by my side.
EPILOGUE
JOHN
CHRISTMAS EVE
The riverfront cabinI’d rented for the Christmas holidays was decorated with warm white lights and smelled like pine and cinnamon mixed with cranberries. The fresh balsam fir we’d bought was decorated with colored lights and ornaments I’d picked up at the store. This was our first Christmas together and I intended to make it special for him.
Brent had stepped outside onto the deck to call his Uncle Pete to wish them a merry Christmas. Since his father’s funeral six months ago, Pete had stepped into the role of Brent’s father. They talked at least once a week if not more, and my husband’s wounds were beginning to heal.
I also kept in contact with Pete like he’d asked. Brent was my first priority, and making him happy was all I wanted because he sure as fuck did it for me.
I’d just removed a tray of his favorite ginger cookies from the oven, making the huge house smell even more like Christmas. And as if he could smell them from outside, he and Winston came through the sliding door that overlooked the river below and headed straight for me.
“I’m starting to think maybe I know why we chose that Santa Claus drive-thru.”
“We? You meanyou.Youchose the Santa Claus option. I wanted the Star Trek wedding with Spock marrying us.”
Brent threw back his head and laughed as he stuffed hot cookies into his mouth, then slipped one to Winston.
“Well,” he said around a swallow of milk I’d poured him, “Thank you for giving me a choice.”
I glanced at him as I added to the massive pile of baked goods I’d been creating all day. He stared back at me with his head tilted to the side.
“Are you planning on us eating all these things? We’re gonna have to run twice a day to burn all these calories off.”
“Or we could fuck them off.”
He smiled and pointed his cookie at me. “Now you’re talking. Let’s start now!”
He whipped his long-sleeved henley over his head before I could get a word out.
“Not yet, big boy,” I said. “Later.”
