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Could she trust him not to walk away again? The first time had devastated her. If he left again, she might not survive it.
But as she stood there, she realized she was more afraid of not having him than of being hurt again. She had built a full, beautiful life here, but having him part of it would make everything so much better.
Without saying a word, she stepped forward and kissed him.
He froze for one breathless instant, then pulled her against him, kissing her deeply.
She wasn’t aware of the snow, of the cold lake beyond them, of the moonlight dancing in and out of the clouds.
Only Wes. This man who had held her heart for most of her life.
The same peace she had felt inside the chapel seemed to wash through her again, cleansing away all the sorrow and pain.
When they finally broke apart, both were breathing hard.
“What happens now?” she whispered against his lips. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can do the long-distance thing again. It was excruciating when we were younger. I think it will be unbearable now.”
His smile sank deep into her heart, into her bones. “I’ve been thinking about trying to find something closer to Shelter Springs. I hear Haven Point might be looking for another cop.”
Hannah couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Joy flooded through her as she threw her arms around him, holding him tight. “Really?”
“I’m done running away from the best thing that ever happened to me.”
As they kissed again under the falling snow, surrounded by the gentle glow of those magical Christmas lights she had sung about, Hannah wasn’t sure she’d ever understood true joy until this moment.
This was her Christmas miracle. Not just Wes coming home, but both of them finally finding the courage and the strength to fight for their love.
The magic of the season wrapped around them and Hannah knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together.
Epilogue
One Year Later
The old chapel next to the Shelter Inn filled with the soft murmur of voices as people walked in and found their seats on the worn wooden pews.
Hannah, fighting her usual nervous excitement before a performance, adjusted her music.
In a short time, she and Morgan would perform the duet they had prepared, a new song Hannah had written herself, about second chances and Christmas miracles. About making the daily choice to believe in wonder, to trust in love and to find the sacred in the ordinary moments that make up a life.
Morgan had a beautiful soprano voice and Hannah loved harmonizing with her.
The song held so much meaning this year, especially with Morgan’s latest report from her doctors. The trial had been astonishingly effective for her, lending hope for others diagnosed with her form of blood cancer.
Morgan would always have myelofibrosis as it was a chronic condition with no guaranteed cure, but her symptoms for now were under control.
She glanced toward the crèche, still in its place of honor near the altar, and remembered standing in this same chapel a year earlier, wrestling with fear and uncertainty. She remembered humming “Let It Be” while trying to find peace about loving Wes again.
Tonight, her heart was full of quiet gratitude for all the unexpected gifts this year had brought.
“Aunt Hannah!” A small voice called her name, and Hannah turned to see seven-year-old Lydia rushing toward her, hair bouncing in pigtails tied with red velvet ribbons. Her twin sister, Holly—pregnant and gorgeous—followed more sedately, shaking her head with fond exasperation.
“What did we say about running in church?” Holly said, but her voice held more laughter than scolding.
Lydia skidded to a stop beside the piano bench, her face glowing with excitement. “I wanted to tell Aunt Hannah that I practiced our song! Listen!”
She burst into an enthusiastic but slightly off-key rendition of “Away in a Manger,” her sweet voice echoing through the chapel and making everyone around them smile.
Hannah’s heart melted. She loved this little girl. “That was beautiful, sweetheart. I know everyone can’t wait to hear you sing it with the children’s choir.”
