Page 71 of Second Chances
Epilogue
Megan woke up and staredat the freshly taped drywall ceiling. She still felt like she had to pinch herself every time she woke up. She rolled over and snuggled up to Josh’s broad back. She wrapped her arms around his muscular waist and pulled him in tightly to her. He stirred and rolled over to face her like he did every morning since she had moved into 88 Bristlecone St. Gone were the luxury trappings of Charlotte’s mountain home, replaced with the modest half-finished bungalow and Megan had never felt more at home.
“Merry Christmas, Beautiful,” he smiled and kissed her.
“Merry Christmas, Josh,” she kissed him again and inhaled him, a musky cedar aroma that sent her pulse racing. Megan stretched her arms up above her head. Josh kissed the sensitive and soft underside of her arm sending goosebumps down her body.
Megan had been waking up at five in the morning to get up and ensure that the daily baked goods were rising in the ovens. “It feels so decadent to sleep in, I can’t believe how tired I’ve been these last few weeks.”
“Well, we were up pretty late last night,” Josh said and nipped at her collarbone.
Megan blushed at the memory of their Christmas eve lovemaking session. She had become more and more sensitive to Josh’s touch, and they had grown to know exactly what a nip here, or a kiss there would do to each other. Megan was luxuriating in the glow of being in a younger man’s bed, a younger man capable of back to back, toe-curling, sheet gripping orgasms. She ran her fingertips to his boxer briefs and saw that he was ready for action, she bit her bottom lip trying to decide what she wanted to do with him.
Josh pulled her hands away, “Easy now Tigress. It’s Christmas. We have all day and it’s time for someone to make you breakfast for a change.”
Megan groaned playfully as Josh rolled out of bed. She relaxed back into the flannel sheets and listened to him clanking around in the kitchen. Timber was still snoring in his wicker basket on the floor. She pulled on a pair of flannel pants, a loose-knit sweater, some hand knit socks and padded into the kitchen.
One of the suppliers for the café had given her a deal and she and Josh now had a fully functioning restaurant quality kitchen, complete with cupboards that even had doors. But her favorite part of the kitchen was the live edge butcher block countertop that Josh had made in his workshop. It was the kitchen of her dreams, and her dream man was standing shirtless mixing pancake batter. She tip-toed into the spare bedroom where she had hidden his gifts and gathered them up into her arms to put them under the tree. They had gone out to the woods in search of the perfect tree but had come home with the spindliest Charlie Brown tree she had ever seen. Even though the ornaments hung heavily on its branches, the white lights weighing down the boughs, it was the prettiest tree she had ever seen. One of her gifts was a small rectangular box that while it weighed next to nothing, felt like a lead weight in her hand. She debated on whether to leave it under the tree next to the wrapped scarf she had bought for him or to stuff it into one of the stockings they had hung on the river rock fireplace. Either place seemed wrong for such a significant gift.
“Did Santa find us?”
Megan jumped and turned to see Josh standing in the doorway with a plate full of pancakes. “Don’t let these get cold,” he flipped one in the air for dramatic effect, catching it with the plate.
“I’ll be right there,” Megan said and stuffed the box into the pocket in her sweater.
Megan sat down at the picnic table, Josh was still building their harvest table, and Josh set down the plate in front of her. Blueberry pancakes, bacon, and sliced oranges.
“You’ve outdone yourself.”
Josh set down his plate and tossed the tea towel onto the table. As they ate breakfast Megan felt her stomach start to churn like it was about to betray her. She knew that it was either her nerves about the gift she had hidden in her sweater, or the gift itself, hidden inside her belly.
She heard the creaking of wicker as Timber got out of his bed and the clicking sound of his claws as he crossed the floor to beg for some table scraps.
“Sorry, Pal none for you,” she said and forced down the last of the pancakes. She gathered up the plates and started to run the water for the dishes.
Josh came up behind her and wrapped his hands around her waist, her breath hitched as his fingers bumped the box hidden in her shirt. “Dishes can wait, it’s time for presents.” He kissed her neck and then bounded into the living room. “Here’s one for you,” he shouted from the other room.
Megan turned off the water, took a deep breath and walked into the living room. She sat down on the leather ottoman and Josh handed her a box.
She peeled away the paper and opened to box to reveal a teal green Gore-Tex ski coat.
“It’s beautiful Josh.”
Megan wasn’t lying, the coat was a gorgeous color of green, and after spending the last few months in Chance Rapids, Megan had really started to understand the value of waterproof breathable fabric.
“I figured that Charlotte would want hers back if she ever comes back to town.”
Megan didn’t know if Charlotte was going to come back after what happened at the Cafe.
“Thank you, Josh. I love it.” Megan stood up and pulled the jacket on over her sweater. She zipped it up and held out her arms, it fit perfectly. She went over to the tree, selected a gift for Josh and handed it to him. He opened it and pulled out a new climbing harness. He raised his eyebrows at her.
“If you want to get back into climbing, I thought you could use a new harness.” Freddie had gone shopping with her and helped her pick out the gift.
“I have been thinking about getting back into some of my old hobbies. Thanks, Meg.” Josh kissed her. “I will need a partner for belaying though.”
“I think that Freddie’s free.” Megan laughed and then nudged him. “There’s more in the box.”
Josh picked up the box and shook out another, smaller harness. “I’m not actually afraid of heights, Josh. I’ll be your climbing partner if you’ll have me.”
