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Gilly awoke to the soft glow of early morning light filtering through the frost-kissed window. The room was still, the quiet hum of the house wrapped in the warmth of Christmas morning. She blinked, feeling the weight of the blankets and the gentle flicker of the fire that had burned low through the night. A smile tugged at her lips as she nestled deeper into the bed, her thoughts drifting to the year behind her.
It had been a year since that stormy Christmas Eve, a year since she and Jacob had pledged their lives to each other in front of the townsfolk, their friends, and family. So much had changed, yet so much had stayed the same. The hotel was thriving, her heart was full, and love had blossomed in ways she hadn’t dared to dream. Nora and Dalton had their own little house just outside of town, but they were still a constant presence in her life. Today, they were coming over for Christmas dinner, but this time, everything felt different. This time, everything was perfect.
Gilly slipped out from under the covers, the wooden floor cool beneath her bare feet as she padded over to the window. She pulled the curtain back and looked out, smiling as she spotted Jacob in the yard, splitting wood. His broad shoulders worked rhythmically, the axe slicing through the air before connecting with a sharp crack against the log. The sound was familiar, comforting, a reminder of the simple, steady life they had built together.
She pulled on a robe and made her way downstairs, the smell of pine and cinnamon filling the air. The tree stood proudly in the corner, adorned with homemade decorations and strings of popcorn that she and Jacob had spent hours putting up the night before. The fire crackled softly in the hearth, warming the room with a soft, golden glow.
Opening the door to the porch, she stepped outside, the crisp winter air biting at her cheeks. “You’re going to wear yourself out before breakfast,” she called out, her voice light with affection.
Jacob looked up, wiping the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. His breath puffed out in little clouds in the cold morning air, and a grin spread across his face when he saw her. “Just getting things ready,” he replied, his voice deep and warm. “You know, we’ll need more firewood once Dalton and Nora get here.”
Gilly laughed, crossing her arms over her chest to keep warm. “They’re not staying overnight, Jacob. I think we’ll survive with what you’ve chopped.”
He raised an eyebrow, setting the axe aside and walking toward her. “I like to be prepared.” His teasing tone made her smile, and when he reached her, he pulled her close, planting a kiss on her forehead. “Merry Christmas, love.”
“Merry Christmas,” she murmured, her heart swelling with happiness. “Come inside soon. Breakfast is almost ready.”
“I’ll be there in a minute,” Jacob said, glancing back at the pile of wood. “Just want to finish this last bit.”
She nodded, kissing his cheek before heading back inside, feeling the warmth of the house envelop her once more. The kitchen was cozy, the smell of coffee and biscuits filling the air. Gilly moved to the stove, stirring the pot of porridge she’d started earlier, adding a sprinkle of cinnamon and a dollop of cream. Everything felt so simple, so right.
Just as she was setting the table, the door opened and Jacob came in, brushing snow from his boots. “Smells good in here,” he said, taking off his coat and hanging it by the door.
“Well, I had to make something special,” Gilly replied, glancing at him over her shoulder. “It is Christmas, after all.”
Jacob came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist as he rested his chin on her shoulder. “I think every day with you is special.” His voice was soft, filled with sincerity, and it made her heart flutter just like it had a year ago.
“You’re such a romantic,” she teased, though her voice was laced with affection. She turned in his arms, facing him as she looked up into his eyes. “I’m so glad we have this, Jacob. I’m so grateful for everything.”
His hand came up to cup her cheek, his thumb brushing lightly against her skin. “So am I, Gilly. So am I.”
Gilly had just finished setting the table when she heard the soft crunch of footsteps approaching from outside. A moment later, there was a light knock on the door, followed by Dalton’s familiar voice. “You two in there, or did the Christmas spirit already carry you off?”
Gilly chuckled and hurried to the door, throwing it open to find Dalton and Nora standing on the porch, wrapped in heavy winter coats and scarves, their breath misting in the cold air. Dalton was grinning broadly, a large burlap sack slung over his shoulder like some sort of makeshift Santa, while Nora sat bundled in her wheelchair, her cheeks flushed from the cold.
“Merry Christmas!” Gilly exclaimed, stepping forward to hug them both. “Come in, come in, before you freeze to death out here.”
Dalton let out a laugh and stepped inside, brushing snow from his boots before wheeling Nora over the threshold. “We couldn’t let a little cold stop us from seeing you today,” he said, his eyes twinkling as he looked around the warm, festive room. “Besides, I’ve got a bag full of goodies that couldn’t wait.”
Jacob appeared from the kitchen, his smile widening as he saw them. “Well, look who finally made it,” he teased, clapping Dalton on the back before leaning down to greet Nora. “Merry Christmas, you two.”
Nora smiled up at him, her eyes bright despite the lingering shadows of the past year. “Merry Christmas, Jacob. It’s so good to see you both.”
Gilly bent down to hug Nora, her heart swelling with affection for the woman who had become like a sister to her. “You look wonderful, Nora. How are you feeling?”
“Better than ever,” Nora said, her voice soft but filled with warmth. “It’s a perfect day for a celebration, don’t you think?”
“Absolutely,” Gilly agreed, stepping back to let them settle in. “Now, what’s all this about a sack full of goodies?” She shot Dalton a curious glance, eyeing the burlap bag he had dropped by the door.
“Oh, you know me,” Dalton said with a wink, pulling the sack open and revealing a stack of carefully wrapped gifts. “Nora insisted we bring something, and I couldn’t say no. She’s got a stubborn streak, this one.”
Nora rolled her eyes good-naturedly, giving Dalton a playful nudge with her elbow. “It’s Christmas, Dalton. You don’t show up to someone’s house empty-handed.”
“Well, let’s see what we’ve got here,” Jacob said, stepping forward to help Dalton with the gifts. “I hope you didn’t go overboard.”
“Just a little something for everyone,” Dalton said, placing the presents on the table. “After all, it’s our first Christmas with you all, and we wanted to make it special.”
Gilly’s heart warmed as she looked at the simple but thoughtful gifts, each one wrapped with care. She reached for one of the smaller packages, lifting it to read the label. “To Gilly, from Nora and Dalton,” she said with a smile. “You didn’t have to get us anything.”
“We wanted to,” Nora insisted, her smile gentle. “You’ve done so much for us. This is just a small way to say thank you.”
Gilly’s throat tightened with emotion as she met Nora’s gaze. She knew what Nora meant. It wasn’t just about the hotel or the past year—they had all been through so much together, and their bond had only grown stronger because of it. “Thank you,” Gilly whispered, her voice thick with gratitude.
Dalton clapped his hands together, breaking the moment with his usual infectious energy. “Well, don’t just stand there! Open them up! We want to see your faces when you do.”
Gilly laughed, carefully tearing the wrapping paper away to reveal a beautifully carved wooden box. She opened it, gasping softly at the sight of the delicate embroidered handkerchiefs inside. Each one was stitched with a tiny flower in the corner, perfectly dainty and detailed. “Oh, Nora, these are beautiful.”
“I made them,” Nora said softly, her eyes shining with pride. “I thought you might like something pretty and useful.”
“They’re perfect,” Gilly said, hugging her again. “I’ll treasure them.”
Jacob unwrapped his own gift, a leather-bound journal with his initials engraved on the cover. “You know me too well,” he said with a grin, running his fingers over the smooth leather. “I’ve been meaning to start writing down some thoughts, and now I don’t have an excuse not to.”
Dalton grinned. “Well, I figured you could use it to record all the things you want to build around here. You’re always tinkering with something.”
“Speaking of which,” Gilly chimed in, “I hope you’re all hungry. I’ve been cooking up a storm in the kitchen, and it’s time to eat.”
With laughter in the air and hearts full of joy, the small group moved toward the table, ready to celebrate the Christmas that brought them together.
The soft glow of the fire flickered in the hearth, casting a warm light across the room. The last of the Christmas meal had been cleared away, and now the small gathering sat together in peaceful contentment. Nora and Dalton were nestled on the couch, sharing quiet conversation, while Gilly sat beside Jacob, leaning into his solid warmth.
Gilly looked down at the envelope in her hand, her heart racing with anticipation. She’d been waiting for this moment all day, but now that it was here, nerves fluttered in her stomach. She had never imagined her life turning out like this — full of love, surrounded by family, and about to embark on a new journey she had only ever dreamed of.
“Jacob,” she said softly, turning toward him and placing the envelope in his hands. “I have something for you. A little Christmas gift.”
Jacob looked at her with surprise, raising an eyebrow. “Another gift? Gilly, you didn’t have to get me anything else.”
“I wanted to,” she replied, her voice filled with emotion. “This one’s special.”
He gave her a curious smile and carefully opened the envelope. Inside, he found a single folded piece of paper. He glanced at Gilly, who nodded for him to go on. As he unfolded the paper and began to read, his eyes widened, and the smile slipped from his face, replaced by a look of pure astonishment.
Jacob stared at the words, as if trying to absorb their meaning. “Are you—?” he whispered, his voice catching in his throat.
Gilly nodded, tears brimming in her eyes. “Yes,” she said, her voice soft but steady. “We’re going to have a baby.”
For a moment, the room was utterly silent, save for the crackling of the fire. Jacob’s face lit up with pure, unfiltered joy. He turned to Gilly, his hands trembling as he gently cupped her face. “You’re serious?” he asked, his voice thick with emotion. “We’re really going to have a child?”
“Yes,” she whispered, her heart swelling at the wonder and happiness in his eyes. “We are.”
Jacob laughed then, a deep, joyous sound that filled the entire room. He pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly, as though he couldn’t believe the miracle they had been given. “A baby, Gilly,” he murmured into her hair. “Our baby.”
Tears of joy slid down Gilly’s cheeks as she held onto Jacob, overwhelmed by his reaction. She had been so nervous to tell him, but now, in his arms, she felt nothing but pure happiness.
Across the room, Nora and Dalton were watching the exchange with wide eyes. “Wait a minute,” Dalton said, standing up and pointing at the couple. “Did I hear that right? Are you two going to have a little one?”
Gilly laughed through her tears and nodded. “Yes, we are.”
Nora gasped in delight, her face breaking into a radiant smile. “Oh, Gilly! That’s the most wonderful news!” She clapped her hands together, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “You’re going to be a mother!”
Dalton grinned, coming over to clap Jacob on the back. “Congratulations, you two. This is the best Christmas present anyone could ask for.”
Jacob, still holding Gilly close, couldn’t stop grinning. “It sure is,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “I don’t know how we’re going to top this next Christmas.”
Gilly leaned her head against Jacob’s chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. She looked around at the people she loved most, her little family, and felt overwhelmed with gratitude. The journey that had brought them here had been long and hard, filled with loss, pain, and uncertainty, but through it all, love had prevailed.
OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 2 FREEBIES FOR YOU!
Grab my new series, "Hearts of the Untamed West", and get 2 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!
Hello my dears, I hope you enjoyed the book and the Extended Epilogue! I will be waiting for your comments here. Thank you 🙂
Loved the book
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you loved it! 😊
I loved it, couldn’t put it down
Thank you so much! That means the world to me. I’m so glad you enjoyed it! 😊
This is another of your good stories with inspiring characters and good examples of love
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the story and found the characters inspiring. Your support means a lot to me!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your book. However, I was quite taken aback when I read the sentence. “Gilly bent down to hug Nora, her heart swelling with affection for the woman who had become like a sister to her.” In the book Nora was her true sister. This sentence made no sense to me. Otherwise , I loved the story.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback! I really appreciate you pointing that out. You’re absolutely right—Nora is Gilly’s true sister, and I can see how that sentence might have been confusing. I’ll make sure to clarify that in future edits. I’m so glad you enjoyed the rest of the story!
I love reading all of your books they are very inspiring, and give you the courage to keep on goin
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m so glad my books inspire you and give you that encouragement. It means the world to me to know my stories resonate with you!
This was a great story and characters that completed the plot.
I was confused because in the beginning Gilly lost her parents in an accident but opening up to Jacob she said they died of an illness. Didn’t spoil the story but a little confusing. Good job Grace.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m glad you enjoyed the story and characters. I really appreciate your feedback on the details about Gilly’s parents. I’ll definitely keep that in mind for future revisions. Thanks again for reading!
Such a touching story. I also found the inconsistent areas but am pleased you are aware now.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback! I’m glad you enjoyed the story, and I truly appreciate your understanding about the areas that need improvement. Your support means a lot!
I would have liked to have heard what happened to the young man who left Nora in the barn. But, the story was very enjoyable. Thank you for a very enjoyable story.
Very enjoyable story, as usual. Noticed the word “palpable” was used frequently. Interesting use several times. But other than that, great story! Thanks!
Hi Connie! Yes, sometimes a word gets stuck in my mind and I don’t realize I use it a lot, ha ha! I’m glad you enjoyed the book, and thank you for your kind words!