She slowly turned around when she heard her name above the noise of traffic and pedestrian chatter. It was the deep, rich voice that said her name like no one else could. There he was. Jackson stood tall and straight in the middle of the sidewalk, his black coat covered with snow.
Her eyes left his for a moment and her step faltered, as it had that night she’d found Emily. Jackson wasn’t alone. In his arms, in complete contrast to his black coat, was a pink bundle. The world slowed for a moment, even as Jackson rushed toward her. Through the blur of tears, the haze of disbelief, she knew. Even though she had walked out on him, he was here for her.
“Hannah,” he said roughly.
“Jackson.”
He lifted his free hand to her cheek. He was real.
“I’m sorry I lied to you, and I know you said you needed time, but, hell, I can’t let you go.”
“I was on my way to you,” she said, laughing and crying at the same time. “I’m sorry I walked out on you.”
“I love you. You are the woman I want to spend the rest of my life loving every single day. I don’t want a day to go by that I don’t get to kiss you or hold you. You, Hannah. I want you forever.” He stepped closer to her, wiping the tears that ran down her face. “I want you and Emily. Forever. If you’ll have me, of course,” he said with that smile that echoed his love.
She took a deep breath. “Emily?”
“I know that guy is a sham. You know it too. Emily is ours, but you need to believe it. And if we have to fight for her, we will. And we’ll win,” he said, brushing a kiss on Emily’s forehead.
Jackson held Emily out to her. A love that she couldn’t describe filled her heart and healed her soul as the baby stared, unblinking, at her, before breaking out into a wobbly grin. She couldn’t walk away from this baby. She had fought so hard for her, lost a job for her, battled a blizzard for her. She couldn’t give her up now. Not ever.
She looked up from Emily’s angelic face to Jackson’s. She smiled up at him. “I love you too.”
“I want us to find a home together—whatever you want. If you want to live in Hope’s Crossing then we will. I want you to have a home of your dreams. We’re going to be the family neither one of us never had. The real thing, Hannah. I want to be your husband. God, I want to be that man.”
“Wherever you and Emily are is my home.” When she felt his embrace and breathed in the scent of him, Hannah knew she was home. Jackson was home. Not a house, not a structure, him. She lifted her face to his, seeing love and the flickering of desire as he lowered his head to meet her mouth. She tasted forever on his lips as they stood in the snow, Emily nestled between them. She had found her knight, her kingdom of dreams.
Hannah had found her family for Christmas.
She had found her family forever.
Epilogue
“Daddy, don’t forget the star!”
Jackson looked down at Emily who was staring up at him with wide brown eyes, clutching a sparkling gold star in her hand. He smiled as he leaned down and lifted his three-year-old daughter into his arms. The soft, red velvet fabric of her dress brushed against his forearm as he positioned Emily close to the tree top. He secured the ornament and chuckled as she clapped her hands at the finished product.
He walked over to the window facing the snow-covered front yard, still holding Emily in his arms. The sight outside was something he would never tire of—their front yard at the cabin was lit up like Vegas.
Hannah and Emily had spent all day adding white lights to the evergreens and wreaths and a Santa sleigh on the porch. Every year Hannah insisted that a giant wreath be hung on the front door. She had even managed to coerce him into climbing up a ladder and adding lights along the roof line. But he didn’t complain. This year, he might even admit that he liked it.
“When’s Auntie and Uncle Sampson coming, Daddy?” Emily asked, peering out the window. Jackson sighed. That was another annual tradition Hannah had started—the Sampsons on Christmas Eve. Another thing he didn’t complain about. How could he when the elderly couple doted on his daughter as if they were her grandparents?
“Soon, sweetie. Just listen for bells,” Jackson said, turning as he heard Hannah’s footsteps.
His wife approached them, holding her index finger to her lips. “He’s finally sleeping,” Hannah whispered, snuggling up to his side.
“Baby Christopher sleeps too much!” Emily exclaimed with a frown.
“It just seems like that, Emily. But newborns need a lot more sleep that we do,” Hannah said, tapping Emily’s nose.