Harlequin Heartwarming October 2021 Box Set by Melinda Curtis

Author:Melinda Curtis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

EPILOGUE

THE NIGHT SKY twinkled with stars that were only half as bright as the faces surrounding him. The dipping temperatures meant a fire in Jonathan’s recently constructed stone pit in the backyard and was perfect for Christmas Eve.

“Dad, what happened to hot chocolate by the tree?” Izzy grumbled and settled into a chair closest to the fire.

“It’s our first holiday with Brooke and Colin.” Jonathan assembled a s’more for Izzy, taking care to break it into chunks she could eat with only one hand. “And I built this pit with Colin’s help. Thanks, Colin.”

He handed the teenager the ingredients for him to make a s’more and he did so, using extra chocolate. Brooke smiled. “I think the fire pit is romantic and sweet.”

“I like it, too.” Vanessa licked the chocolate remnants off her fingers. “Can I have another one?”

“No. Too much sugar, and you’ll never go to sleep.” Jonathan hid his smile at the thought of her staying up since he’d planned on proposing to Brooke later tonight by the tree.

Though they’d only known each other two-and-a-half months, tonight was the perfect time. The few short weeks they’d been dating only confirmed what he knew in his heart. The tree lighting in the town square, Vanessa’s holiday pageant, Colin’s playoff game where he scored the winning basket at the buzzer—every day he’d fallen more in love with the woman sitting across from him. He loved how she made every minute count. Besides, anyone who could convert Mr. Whitley and Izzy to her side had to be someone special.

“Then is it too early to unwrap presents?” Vanessa sat on the edge of her seat.

Jonathan shook his head. “Let’s enjoy the beautiful night. Izzy wants to finish her s’more. There’ll be enough time for the two of you to open a gift before you go to sleep.”

“Vanessa, you know we always get the pajamas tonight. Tomorrow’s the good stuff.” Izzy set her paper plate with the rest of her treat on her chair.

Colin scarfed down his s’more. “Mom and I are bringing over our gifts to you guys in the morning. I’ll warn you now, Mom takes pictures of everything.” He licked his fingers.

“But Vanessa and I asked Brooke, and she said we can give these to Daddy tonight.”

She reached under her chair and pulled out two wrapped rectangles.

“You didn’t have to get me anything,” he told them.

“We didn’t get you anything. We made these.” Vanessa jumped up and stood by his side. “Rip off the paper.”

He opened the packages and found two paintings of connected hearts. Brooke came over and joined them. “This was their Heartsgiving project.”

Misty-eyed, he held the canvases close to his heart. “Thank you, Izzy and Vanessa.”

“Look closely at mine, Daddy.” Vanessa plucked out the one that was hers and held it in front of him. The light from the fire was enough for him to make out the details.

“Why are there five hearts?”

“One for each of us, plus one for Brooke and one for Colin.”

“You included Mom and me?” Colin’s throat bobbed as Vanessa nodded and showed him the canvas.

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