Page 123 of Cole

“The juice is fine,” Cole assured her. “I don’t drink.”

“We don’t much either,” Elizabeth said.

“Except for Julian,” Benji added.

“Yes. Except for Julian.”

Duncan dimmed the lights slightly and unmuted the television, letting the excited countdown commentary fill the room. It must have been a replay of the ball drop from three hours earlier, since it was well past midnight in New York City.

“Penny for your thoughts?” he murmured, leaning close to Annie.

Annie lifted her head, meeting his eyes. “I’m thinking about how life can change so quickly. Yesterday, I was just me. Now I’m… half of something again. Something I don’t remember.” Her voice trembled slightly. “And I’m thinking about how glad I am that you’re the one here with me through it.”

“There’s no place I’d rather be,” Cole said.

Benji approached with two champagne flutes, handing them each one. “You guys look cozy,” he said with a teasing smile.

“Thanks, Benji,” Cole said, accepting the glass.

“Thirty seconds!” Elizabeth announced, joining her husband by the fireplace.

Cole and Annie stood up from the couch, though Cole kept his arm around her, tucking her close along his side.

As the countdown began on the screen, Cole found himself not watching the celebration but studying Annie’s profile, illuminated by the dancing firelight. The events of the day had clearly exhausted her, yet there was something resilient in the set of her jaw, the quiet determination in her eyes.

“Ten! Nine! Eight!” the family joined in counting.

Annie turned to face him fully, a small smile playing at her lips.

“Seven! Six! Five!”

“Cole,” she whispered, barely audible above the counting.

“Four! Three! Two!”

“Happy New Year,” he said softly. “I love you.”

“One! Happy New Year!”

“I love you too.”

As cheers erupted from the television, Annie leaned up and pressed her lips to his. The kiss was gentle, but it held a certainty that made Cole’s heart race.

He was vaguely aware of champagne glasses clinking around them, of Benji’s good-natured whistle, but all that truly existed was Annie—her warmth, her touch, the faint floral scent that seemed to cling to her hair.

When they finally parted, Cole saw Duncan and Elizabeth embracing nearby, Benji covering his eyes.

“Here’s to finding what was lost,” Duncan said, raising his glass in a toast once he and Elizabeth separated.

“And to new beginnings,” Elizabeth added, her eyes moving meaningfully between Cole and Annie.

Cole felt something stir within him. It took him a moment to realize it was a shifting of his heart. As he said goodbye to one year and greeted the next, he was filled with the desire to be a man worthy of Annie’s love and affection.

She made him want to be a better man. A caring man. And if he wanted to have a future with Annie… a godly man. She deserved a man who would lead their family spiritually.

It was a stunning moment as he realized he wanted all of that. Her. A family. A spiritual leadership role.

That could only happen if he turned his heart to God once again. He’d let his faith lapse for far too long already.

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