Page 40 of Tee the Season
I turn back, eye to eye with him from the second step, and cup his face, wanting to erase his hesitation. “I’m sure.”
His response is to grab my waist, and I wrap my legs around him. He carries me upstairs as I hold on tight, watching the bookstore behind him disappear from sight.
Seven years of routine. Of handling everything alone. Of not needing anyone. And in three days, he finished the story, provided the ending, with us together.
Epilogue | Tabitha | One Year Later
Rory’s nestled in the reading chair, rocking a new fitted red-velvet suit, white beard in place, holding upThe Polar Express,so both the kids squished on the reading rug and the folks at home can see the illustrations. His deep voice carries through the children’s section, warm and engaging, and I lean against a bookshelf with my arms crossed, watching him work his magic.
I’m so glad I kept the chair. That morning he left, I’d been ready to erase the memories of what happened in it, but now, every time I look at it, I think about how close I came to a different future. One without Rory.
“You’re staring,” Leah murmurs beside me, one hand resting on her very pregnant belly. She’s due in February and glowing, despite claiming she feels like a whale.
“I’m appreciating.”
“That’s one word for it.” She grins. “The way you look at him, it’s almost like you’re honeymooners.”
Heat creeps up my neck. “We’re not even married yet.”
“Close enough.” She shifts, trying to get comfortable. “How does it feel? Being engaged?”
I glance down at my left hand, at the diamond solitaire Rory proposed with on a hiking trail in Scottsdale just last month. It feels like yesterday and forever ago at the same time. Rory, hands shaking slightly, as he told me home isn’t a place; it’s me. The way the ring caught the brilliant desert sun as he slid it onto my finger.
“It feels perfect,” I say simply.
On screen, the virtual attendees—ninety-three families this year from across the region—blow up the chat.Santa’s amazing!andLove this tradition!andAlready donated!
Sophie sits in the front row on the rainbow rug, gap-toothed grin on full display while my future sister-in-law watches from the back. Both of them helped set up the tech this morning with the same focused intensity as Rory. It’s been a joy to get to know all of Rory’s family this past year.
“Sophie’s eating this up,” Leah comments, noticing me watching my soon-to-be-niece.
And Leah’s right. Sophie hangs on Rory’s every word as he does different voices for the characters. But I give my best friend a sidelong glance. “Sophie cornered me this morning.”
Leah perks up. “Oh?”
“After she saw you. She asked when Rory and I are going to have a baby.” I keep my voice low, but I’m smiling. “Well, technically, she asked if we’re going to have babies—plural. Said she wants lots of cousins to play with when she visits.”
Leah laughs, the sound warm and delighted. “What did you tell her?”
“That we haven’t talked about it yet.” I watch Rory turn the page, his eyes crinkling at the corners as a little boy in the front row gasps.
Leah’s watching me carefully now. “What will you say when you do?”
“That…” I start, finding the words come easier than expected. “That I want to have at least a couple of kids. And maybe, sooner rather than later.” I nudge her shoulder. “So our little ones can grow up together.”
Leah’s hand finds mine and squeezes tight. “Look at you. Letting people in. Planning a future. Being vulnerable.”
“Don’t make it weird.”
“Too late. I’m crying.” She swipes at her eyes, laughing. “Damn hormones. But really,” she adds, her voice going soft. “I’m so glad it worked out between the two of you. That you let him in.”
I scoff but with a smile. “It’s not like I had a choice. That storm had us trapped together for days.”
She arches her brow. “Before that, you were convinced you were fine alone.”
“I was fine alone,” I correct. “But this is better.”
Now, watching Rory turn the page and do different voices for the conductor and the boy, I picture it. Him reading bedtime stories upstairs. Teaching a little girl or boy to play golf. Making coffee while a toddler sits in a highchair.
