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“You okay?” Zach asked, bringing Cassidy back to the present.
“Yes. I was just remembering something.”
“Your family?”
“Yes." And other things. "I’ve never had a Christmas without them.”
Before she could continue, Josh Granger stood up. “Time for the gift exchange, everyone,” he announced.
It took close to an hour for him to pass out the presents. As it was, he barely gave the recipient time to open the gift before he went on to the next one. Before all of them were doled out, Trevor made some excuse as to why he needed to leave.
“Where’s he going?” she whispered to Zach.
“Beats me. I heard Seth mention that one of the horses is about to give birth.”
“Ah.”
Once all the presents were opened, Kathy Granger called them to the dining room where she and several of the other Granger women had prepared a huge feast.
“Maybe next year, I can help,” Cassidy said.
He grinned. “I know Aunt Kathy would welcome it.”
Cassidy should be the happiest person in the world. Technically she was, since she was mated to the two most amazing men she’d ever met, but not returning to Thomas Ridge for Christmas was a bit of a downer.
Everyone lined up at the kitchen island, picked up a plate, and then filled it with amazing looking food. She, Zach, and Mike returned to the living room and grabbed a seat on the sofa to enjoy the Christmas feast.
The front door opened, and Zach stood. “Be right back.”
“Where are you going?”
“To get your Christmas present from me and Mike.”
She squeezed Mike's hand. “I don’t need anything,” she said. “Not having Doug breathe down my back is my Christmas present.”
He smiled. “We wanted to get you a little something extra.”
When Cassidy looked up, she stopped breathing. She had to blink a few times to make sure what she saw wasn’t her imagination. She jumped up. “Mom? Dad? Mindy? Mr. & Mrs. Everwood? I don’t understand.”
Zach stepped next to them. “Since we didn’t think it was wise for you to go home to Thomas Ridge, we brought Thomas Ridge to you.”
She hugged Zach, Mike, and then the others. “I can’t believe this.”
“I’ll get their luggage,” Mike said.
“You’re staying here?” she asked her parents.
“Zach’s aunt and uncle said they have plenty of room," her mom said. "We’ll be here for a few days.”
“This is too good to be true.” She had so much to tell her mom and Mindy. “This is the best Christmas ever.”
Josh Granger came over, and she introduced her parents to him, and then Mindy introduced her parents. He faced her. “I have a Christmas present to give you myself, Cassidy. Andrew Morrison is the fire chief in town. Turns out, he would welcome a competent firefighter into his fold.”
Cassidy raised her arms, let out a rather loud shout, and hugged Zach’s uncle. “For real?”
“For real. I imagine he’ll need you to go through some training, but I’m sure you’ll pass with flying colors.”
Her eyes watered, and she brushed the impending tears of joy away. “I think today is the best day of my life.”
