Page 40 of One Last Storm
The elevator dinged and they stepped into it.
“By the way,” Tillie said. “Flynn and Axel stopped by the room to bring Hazel back. They said they’ll be over to the house tomorrow morning.”
The elevator opened onto the main lobby. A large tree stood in the corner, strung with lights and paper snowflake ornaments that looked handmade. Probably contributions from the pediatric ward.
“There’s Uncle Axel!” Hazel pointed across the lobby toward the small coffee shop tucked into the corner. “What’s he doing?”
Moose followed her gesture and his breath caught.
Axel was indeed there, on one knee beside a small table, a ring box open in his hands. Flynn sat across from him, both hands pressed to her mouth, tears streaming down her face.
Even from across the lobby, Moose could see her nodding. Vigorous, enthusiastic nodding.
Bam. And that’s how it was done.
“Oh my, he’s proposing.” Tillie said.
Axel stood, sliding the ring onto Flynn’s finger and she threw herself into his arms with enough force to make him stagger backward, and the few other people in the coffee shop burst into spontaneous applause.
“Attaboy,” Moose murmured.
“Are Uncle Axel and Flynn getting married?” Hazel’s voice carried clearly across the lobby, making several people turn and smile.
“Looks like it, sweetheart.”
“Good. I like Flynn. She laughs at my jokes.”
“High praise indeed,” Tillie said. She took Hazel’s hand.
Moose took the other.
They pushed through the lobby doors into the Alaska morning.
Beautiful.
The parking lot sparkled under brilliant sunshine, fresh snow creating a landscape so pristine it looked like a Hallmark movie. Icicles hung from the building’s edges like crystal ornaments, dripping steadily as the sun worked its warming magic.
The sky stretched blue and endless, the kind of profound clarity that only came after nature had exhausted itself with fury and settled into peace.
The kind of day that made you believe in new beginnings and second chances. The kind of day that whispered promises about hope and healing and the faithfulness of a God who never abandoned His children in the darkness.
Into our stormy world, He sent a great light.
“Come on, family.” Moose opened his arms wide, gathering his wife and daughter close. “We have a Christmas Day to prepare for.”
Yes, they’d made it through the storm.
All of them.
Together.
And it was going to be a glorious day to welcome the Savior.
EPILOGUE
DAWSON
They’d brought him home this morning, home to Moose’s place where he was supposed to be part of this Christmas celebration, part of the family chaos and joy. And he was part of it—sitting here on the couch with his inflatable cast propped up, surrounded by people who cared about him.
