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“She’s been talking about tonight for weeks,” Holly said.

“Good. She’s one of our best singers.”

Hannah hugged her niece, grateful for her own role in the life of this extraordinary human, who exuded love to the whole world.

“Hannah!” Riley and Carter came racing over to her for more hugs and Hannah felt her throat tighten with emotion. Seeing Morgan’s children healthy and happy never failed to move her.

During those frightening weeks of Morgan’s treatment, the children had split their time between living with their grandfather in Morgan’s rental house and staying with Hannah while Ed returned to wrap up his affairs in Ohio so he could move out permanently to Idaho.

Now that Morgan was only traveling to Salt Lake City for occasional follow-up visits, the children lived with their mother and grandfather in the home they had recently purchased together, just down the street from her. They now happily lived in Stanley’s home, which Wes had been fixing up the previous season.

The children were still frequent visitors to her place down the street and Hannah couldn’t imagine life without their laughter echoing through her home.

“Aunt Hannah, you look like a Christmas angel,” Lydia said.

She laughed and hugged her niece. “Thank you, darling. I was going to say the same thing to you.”

Holly grinned. “Lydia is never wrong. You do have a glow about you.”

Her twin’s features grew serious. “It’s so wonderful to see you happy, Han.”

She was happy. Gloriously, beautifully happy. She thought of the past year, hectic and chaotic and wonderful, culminating in her wedding to Wes in this very chapel three months earlier.

She still sometimes couldn’t quite believe how everything had fallen into place for them. He had found a job not as an officer in Haven Point but as a detective in the Shelter Springs police department.

Kodi, alas, had never quite regained his ability to perform as a K9 patrol officer. Instead, he stayed busy keeping an eye on her cats, patrolling their house and yard and occasionally making visits to area schools and civic groups with Wes to talk about safety procedures.

The church choir that always started out the annual concert made their way to the front. As they prepared to start singing their first number, Hannah saw three more people come inside the space—Wes, with his grandfather, Stanley, on one side and his mother on the other.

He had made it. He wasn’t sure he would be able to around his work commitments, but she had never doubted him.

Wes Kenner was a man who always, always kept his promises.

Susie looked around with excitement, delighted to be on an outing with her tall, handsome son and eager to enjoy the music she loved.

As she watched her husband help his grandfather and his beloved mother into a pew, Hannah felt the ache of tears in her throat.

How could she help but love this man, who could be tough and hard when the world demanded it of him but who could also treat his fragile, childlike mother with such tender care?

And who loved Hannah back with everything inside him.

Their eyes met across the crowded sanctuary. At the warmth and encouragement she saw there, her stomach did that familiar flutter it always did whenever she saw him.

Morgan, seated beside her, followed her gaze and smiled. “You definitely hit the jackpot with that one,” she murmured.

She didn’t need anyone else telling her that. Having Wes at her side for the rest of their lives was the single greatest gift she had ever received.

The congregation settled into expectant silence, and Hannah drew in a breath, her nerves finally settling.

It was time to begin.