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A long-distance relationship would work for a while. They could phone, message, and video chat in between visiting each other. But how long would that be enough for them?

The next thing she knew, they were pulling up to a barn that was decorated with white twinkle lights. “What are we doing here?”

“Didn’t anyone tell you the reception was being held in a barn?”

Her gaze moved from him to the barn and then back again. “Really? In the winter?”

“It’ll be warm. I promise. This is the Wagner farm, and they renovated this old barn. It’s where a lot of weddings and other events take place.”

Then she turned a questioning look in his direction. “How do you know?”

“After I…uh, left. I ran into Michael. He gave me a place to stay. When it came time to set up for the wedding, I volunteered to help. It was the least I could do after his generosity.”

She nodded in understanding. “That was nice of you.”

“Come on. You’re going to love it.”

She squeezed his hand, not ready to get out of the car just yet. “Aren’t you worried?”

He looked at her with concern showing in his gray eyes. “What’s wrong? Are you having second thoughts about us?”

She shook her head. “It’s not that. I love you, and I meant it. But how are we going to make this work?”

He leaned back in the seat. “How would you like to make this work?”

“Well, I can’t leave Kringle Falls right now. I’m just getting to know my new family. And I have a grandmother that I’d very much like to have a relationship with.” Tears welled up in her eyes. She blinked, and they ran down her cheeks. “But that doesn’t mean I want to give up on what we have together.” When he went to say something, she rushed to say, “Wait. There’s more. I was thinking we could do the long-distance thing for a while. I know it won’t be easy, but I promise to come visit you as often as I can.”

He arched a brow. “You’ve given this some thought.”

She nodded. “I didn’t have much else to do while you were gone. And in a year or so, I figure I can move to Kentucky.”

His brows rose high on his forehead. “You’d be willing to move away from your family?”

“But the thing is you’re my family too—or at least I want you to be. And I would definitely make plenty of trips to Kringle Falls to see them all for birthdays and holidays and sometimes just because I miss them.”

“You’d really sacrifice being right here with the family you found to be with me?”

She paused. “I never thought of it that way, but I guess so. I really do love you.”

“And I love you too. That’s why I’ve been doing some thinking of my own.”

Her heart picked up its pace as she waited to hear what he’d come up with. As long as it had them ending up together, she’d hear him out.

“While we were apart, I ran into your father at the Kringle Cup Café, and we got to talking. At first, he wasn’t too happy with me for upsetting you, but after a bit of groveling, I told him my idea for how to try and make it up to you. That’s when he said he had an old trailer I could use to build the float on. Then he offered up his tools and a garage. Anyway, when I wasn’t working on the replica of the inn, I was in town. I saw a lot of Mayor Kringle or as you like to call him, Santa. We got to talking, and he told me more about the construction he had in mind for Kringle Falls. So, I have work here, if I want it.”

Leah could hardly believe her ears. Was he really considering moving to this small town to be with her?

“But what about your business in Kentucky? And what about your father and your sister?”

“Those were concerns I had too. But I talked to my business partner, and though he wasn’t happy about me leaving, he agreed to buy me out. And my father was delighted to have a chance to spend more time in Vermont. He’s already planning to split his time between my sister’s farm and my place here. And there’s one other thing. It’ll put distance between myself and Mandi, so that she’ll forget about me and move on with her life.”

“Wow! You really thought this out. I... I don’t know what to say.”

He looked at her with hope for the future—their future—in his eyes. “Just say yes. Say that you want me here.”

“Yes. Yes, I do.” And then she leaned over and pressed her lips to his.

Tap. Tap. Tap.