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I smirk. “Nah-uh. You have to say it.”
“Maybe I enjoy watching you kneel in the snow, huh?”
I laugh. “I’d kneel here all day long for you.”
“Yes, Logan,” she says, her voice breaking, quaking with a happy sob. “Yes, oh, Logan. Yes!”
I slide the ring onto her finger, stand up, and pull her into my arms. I spin her around, then kiss her, holding her so tightly. I feel the life growing inside of her, the love beaming out.
“Oh, and I’ve got a surprise,” I tell her, kissing her on the cheek.
She’s always glowing, but this is even more intense than usual. She’s captivating. “What could make this even better?”
“Well, look over there.”
I gesture into the trees. She turns and then lets out the cutest gasp. I smile into the forest at Angela, Michael, and Eric, bundled up in winter coats.
“We’re going to spend Christmas together,” I say. “All of us as a family.”
EPILOGUE
FIVE DAYS LATER
Eric
I skate along the rink’s edge, holding my hands out in case Mom falls. She has all the pads: elbows, knees, thighs, wrist guards, and a helmet. That’s smart because she’s scared asheck,as Emma would say. I’m just glad they’re still cool with me after I snooped. I really, really shouldn’t have done that.
“You got this, Mom!” Emma cheers from the sidelines, hands wrapped around a mug of hot cocoa. Her big rock is glinting in the overhead lights. It’s ahugediamond.
Mom laughs, then puts her arms at her sides. “That’s it, Mom. Small, easy strides in a V shape.”
On the other side of the nearly empty rink—it’s so cool, we get the whole place to ourselves after closing—Dad and Logan are racing up and down. Dad is moving way quicker than I thought he would. He was nervous the first day on the ice, but now he’s getting back into it.
Mom sees me looking. “Join in, Eric.”
“I’m helping you.”
“Helpingme?” She lowers her head and makes a few determined strides. “Does itlooklike I need help?”
I grin. “Uh, Mom, I’m not sure you want me to answer that.”
She laughs and waves a hand, which sends her into a spinning circle. I quickly rush forward, helping her to the barrier before she falls. She grabs hold of it, shaking her head and raising her voice. “Emma, I’m stealing your hot cocoa!”
Emma laughs. “Oh,really?”
“Yep. I’m coming up there right now and taking it if I can get these things off.”
I grin, clapping my hands. Everything has a Christmassy feel. Not long now. Dad says we might go skiing with Logan. That’s going to be awesome.
“Hey, kiddo,” Dad calls over, making the iceswishwhen he comes to a stop. He puts his hands out on his sides. “You ready for a race?”
“Dad…”
“Hey, come on now,” Dad beams, skating over. “I know you think you’ve got youth on your side.”
“Dad, I’ve got thunder thighs. Legs of steel. You’d never keep up.”
Logan chuckles as he skates over. It’s easy to see how Logan and Dad were best friends when they’re on the ice together. I found it weird before, picturing them being buddies, but they’re like two big kids on the ice. “Those are fighting words,Michel. Eric is a very skilled skater.”
