“That’s so wonderful,” Molly said.
“They’ve been busy while we were gone,” Linc said, touched by the efforts the others had gone to in their absence.
“They were busy making sure you’re going to wake up to Christmas morning with your entire family,” Molly said. “How amazing is that?”
“I can’t imagine anything better.”
What should’ve been a twenty-minute ride took two hours in the snow as the bus crept toward home on slick mountain roads. The usually boisterous group was mostly silent as the tension grew. They were used to driving in snow, even blizzards. But they drove four-wheel-drive vehicles designed to navigate mountain roads in the snow. The bus was not equipped for this weather.
“Are you sure we shouldn’t pull off the road?” Molly asked Linc.
“We probably should, but where would we go? Everything is closed, and there’s not a hotel for miles.” Linc wrapped both his hands around hers. “It’ll be okay, honey. Bill’s the best. He’ll get us home safely.” He said what she needed to hear, but his anxiety spiked. Being stranded in a blizzard wasn’t an option, especially with a newborn and two other little ones with them.
Linc didn’t breathe easily until they reached the outer limits of Butler a half hour later. “Home sweet home,” he said to a visibly relieved Molly.
“Thank goodness.”
“Hey, Bill, watch out for a welcoming committee in the form of a very large moose who likes to stand in the middle of the road.”
“On the lookout,” Bill replied.
Linc directed him through town, over the single-lane covered bridge and to the righthand turn that took them onto Hells Peak Road. Finally. Nearly ten hours after they’d left Philly, they were home. Every light was on in the barn, or so it seemed, and the outdoor holiday lights were illuminated.
“I’ve never been so happy to see our formerly falling-down barn where cows used to live,” Molly said.
“Me either.”
Everyone thanked Bill for getting them home safely as they got off the bus and trooped into the warm, welcoming barn where the rest of their loved ones waited.
“Will you be all right getting home, Bill?” Linc asked.
“Sure thing. I only have to go to St. Johnsbury to drop the bus and pick up my car, and then it’s a short way home from there.”
Linc shook his hand. “Thank you again for sacrificing Christmas Eve with your family to drive mine.”
“It was a pleasure, Linc. Merry Christmas to you and yours.”
“Same to you.”
When Linc stepped off the bus, George and Ringo danced around in the driving snow, barking with joy to have him home. As the last one in, Linc noticed coats hanging from every one of the ten hooks in the mudroom, and a feeling of profound peace came over him even as the sound of bedlam echoed through the big barn.
They were used to bedlam around there, so it was only fitting that this Christmas should be a throwback to years past.
In the kitchen, he encountered Hunter in a passionate embrace with Megan and continued past them to the dining room, where Hannah and Nolan were kissing around Callie, who wanted her daddy’s undivided attention after a couple of days without him.
Wade walked by with Mia wrapped around him as he made for the stairs, and Colton had Lucy pressed up against the hallway wall while she giggled madly at something he was saying.
Linc stepped into the family room, where the massive ten-foot Christmas tree they got every year was the focal point, and a huge fire burned in the hearth. Will was on the floor with his arms around Cameron and baby Chase, who was asleep on his mother’s chest. Stella was holding baby Savannah as Lucas reunited with Dani, and Landon hugged Amanda.
Ella was already on the sofa, covered with a blanket as she nursed Sarah with Gavin seated right beside her in case they needed anything.
“You don’t have to stay if this is too much for you,” Linc said to them.
Ella looked up at him, her dark eyes bright with joy. “We wouldn’t miss this for anything. And Sarah needs to get used to the chaos she’s been born into.”
Linc bent to kiss his daughter’s cheek. “It wouldn’t be the same without your little family. Thank you for the gift of baby Sarah. She’s the best Christmas present we could’ve hoped for.”
Charley sat on Tyler’s lap, his arms around her, her head on his chest, seeming relieved to be back with him.
Linc loved them together. Tyler’s low-key personality was perfect for his delightfully complicated daughter.
“We have a ton of food ready,” Cam told Linc. “Are you hungry?”
“I could eat something.”
“We’re ready for you,” his daughter-in-law said with a warm smile. “And we all want to know how you’re doing.”
“I’m good. The trip went well. I made some peace with the past and came home with a new granddaughter to a house full of love. What more could I need?”
“We thought you might like to have everyone here this year,” Cam said.
“You thought exactly right. I can’t imagine anything better than this.”
“They even brought all the cars home from the store,” Will said. “They thought of everything.”
“We didn’t want you to have to think about anything other than enjoying the holiday,” Cam said. “It was the least we could do for the family that’s done so much for us.”
Linc squeezed her shoulder. “Thank you, sweetheart.”
Chapter Nineteen
“Reality leaves a lot to the imagination.”
—John Lennon
Wade carried Mia into the former linen closet that he’d turned into a bedroom for himself so he could escape the madness of life in the barn when he’d still lived at home. He kicked the door closed behind them, put her down on the narrow twin bed and returned to the door to lock it, leaving nothing to chance after being without his love for six endless days.
He stretched out next to her and brought her in for another sweet kiss. “We’re never doing this again.”
“Doing what?”
“Spending six days apart.”
“It was brutal. I wandered around aimlessly from the time I got home until Cameron called to tell me the plan to get Christmas ready here.”
“That was a really nice thing you all did for my dad.”
“It was all her idea, and selfishly, I was glad to have something to do other than go crazy from missing you.”
“I’m secretly glad that you felt as crazy as I did.”
“It was bad. What does that say about us?”
“That we know a good thing when we’ve got it.” He wrapped his arms around her and held on tight. “I can’t believe it’s already been almost a year since you showed up half frozen on my doorstep and asked me to marry you.”
“Best thing I ever did.”
“Best thing I ever did was say yes to you.”
Their kisses became more desperate as they pulled at clothes until they were naked and he hovered above her, dying for her.
She reached for him, wrapped her arms and legs around him and sighed with pleasure as he joined their bodies.