Page 62 of Christmas at the Guest House

“Are you gonna tell me what it is yet?” she asked as she leaned in close.

He shook his head. “You will know here in just a second.”

He shot her a loving smile, which she quickly returned before they turned their attention back toward the people at the other side of the room. Just then, Lacy ripped off the final bit of wrapping paper, and a gasp wrenched itself out of both her and Derek.

“Zach,” she breathed, her hand fluttering to her heart as she stared at the canvas that she still held. “This is…”

Her words failed her, and even at a distance Zach could see the tears dancing along her lashes.

“It’s perfect,” Derek finished for his wife, looking at Zach and giving him a warm, grateful smile.

“Show us already,” called a voice from farther back in the room, one that Zach suspected belonged to Louise.

Everyone chuckled, but it quickly died out as Lacy held the painting aloft and turned it to face them. He heard Colette’s own quick intake of breath as she took it in, and pride unfurled in Zach’s belly at everyone’s reaction.

It was a portrait of Piper, swaddled in a fluffy, red blanket, and superimposed on an impressionist rendition of the town. From the way it had been painted, it looked like the town was folding in around her, cradling her and keeping her safe as she slept.

It was the first painting he’d done that blended the impressionism of his old style, and the realism that he’d been playing around with. A beautiful mix of the person that he was, and the one that he was becoming.

He glanced at Colette, and her gaze was no longer on the painting, but on him instead. She didn’t need to say anything, since it was all written clearly on her face: the love, the pride, the promise of the future.

With a smile, Zach bent his face to hers and kissed her sweetly, glad to meet that future of theirs head on. As long as it meant that she would be by his side, he couldn’t think of anything better.

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