Life was better than I’d imagined it would be and Noelle was everything I’d hoped a life partner could be. She loved everything about her new life as far as I could tell, from our intracoastal mansion to the hockey team that meant so much to me to my family. She talked to my mother more than I did, and Kingston adored her, which was kind of cool because he didn’t like many people in general.
“Hey, Remy! Hi, Noelle!” Holly Turner waved at us and we waved back as Noelle and I finished lacing up our skates.
“You guys are early!” Noelle called to her, referring to her and her husband Forest. “Wait for me!” She got up and skated onto the ice, hugging Holly as they two of them skated off, whispering to each other.
“How the hell does she do it?” I mused aloud.
“How does Noelle do what?” Jacques Frontier sank down beside me and kicked off his boots as he started putting on his skates. He was now in charge of the hockey program at the rink and striving to make it one of the elite programs in the province. He'd already brought in a few more retired pros to assist with coaching.
“Make friends with everyone, even long distance. She and Holly have only met once before but they’re fast friends.”
“You know how women are—they bond. Not like us crusty old codgers.”
“Speak for yourself!” I laughed, getting to my feet. “Where’s Serenity?”
Jacques shrugged, though he was grinning. “She was right behind me but she probably stopped to talk to everyone.”
“I’m familiar with that concept. See you out there!” I skated off in search of my wife and found her huddled with Holly, Amy, and Serenity. They were giggling like teenagers, and I couldn’t help but smile. Nothing made me happier than seeing Noelle happy, but seeing her here on the ice where we’d gotten married was extra special. Especially with the surprise I had for her.
“Hey, babe.” I smiled at the four ladies. “Would you guys mind if I stole my wife for a few minutes?”
Amy winked since she, Holly, and Serenity knew about my surprise. “Go have fun, you two.”
“What are we doing?” Noelle asked, looking up at me curiously.
“I have one more Christmas present for you,” I said, taking her hand as we glided around the ice.
“A diamond-crusted butt plug?” she asked, blinking innocently. “Oh, wait, no…it’s a gold-plated vibrator.”
I chuckled. “Someone must be horny. But no, smartass, it’s neither of those things. I’ll keep those ideas in mind for your birthday, though.”
She rolled her eyes, playfully nudging me. “What is it? Because I have one more present for you too.”
I pulled an envelope out of the inside pocket of my coat. “Merry Christmas, babe.”
She slowed down as she took it from me and opened it. Her eyes widened and then flew up to meet mine. “Remy! You can’t…I mean, why…” Her voice failed altogether, and she turned, throwing herself in my arms. “Oh, god, I love you so much.”
“I love you too, baby.” I kissed the top of her head.
“But why would you give me your share of the arena?” she whispered. “You’ve already given me so much and…”
“Because I don’t care about it the way you do, and I wanted you to have something that was yours. I mean, you still share it with Ryder, Forest, and Jock, but it felt like a boys’ club so I thought maybe they needed a woman to keep them in line.”
She smiled. “I’m not going to have time to run an arena.”
“You’ve made the time to come out here every other month for the last year,” I protested. “What’s going to change now that you’re part owner?”
She reached into her coat and pulled out what looked like a picture. “This is what’s going to change. Sometime in July.”
I blinked in confusion.
It was an ultrasound photo.
“Babe, what…” Reality dawned and my mouth might have fallen open but I couldn’t be sure because I’d scooped her up and was spinning her around. “We’re having a baby?! You’re pregnant! Holy shit, I’m going to be a dad!”
“Surprise.” She was laughing, her legs wrapped around my waist.
I kissed her as tenderly as I knew how, holding her tightly and imagining what it was going to be like to see her carrying our child. I loved this woman more than life itself. It may have been a cliché, but I meant every word of it.
“This is the best gift ever,” I said when we finally came up for air.
“Your mother is going to be so excited,” she whispered.
“I’m so excited.” I gently set her on her feet. “So…is it a secret?”
“Not anymore.”
“I can tell people?”
“Of course.”
I turned and waved to our friends, pulling her along with me as we approached them. “We’re pregnant!” I announced.
“Right on!” Jock high-fived me.
“Congratulations!” We were immediately surrounded by a group of people I hadn’t even known a year ago. Hell, I barely knew them now, but they’d become family over the last year, albeit long-distance.
Ryder Long had contacted me first, willing to buy me out, but Noelle hadn’t been happy about it so I’d put him off a few days. Then I’d heard from a movie star named Holly Turner, who’d also wanted to buy it. And finally, Jacques had thrown his hat in the ring, and I’d had to make a decision. I truly didn’t have the time to run things, and I’d known Noelle and I would have a full, busy life in Fort Lauderdale.
Ironically, it had been Noelle’s idea to let the three of them buy into it and the four of us had met via videoconference to talk it out. Everyone had been amenable, and our lawyers had drawn up the papers. When I’d gotten the idea to give Noelle my share as a Christmas present this year, I’d discussed it with my co-owners, and none of them had a problem with it, so I’d drawn up the papers.
We’d come up with the plan to meet up here in Garland Grove on Christmas Day to celebrate how we’d all essentially fallen in love here a year ago, and it felt like they were old friends now, instead of people I barely knew.
“I say we do this every year,” I said solemnly.
“I no longer work holidays,” Holly said. “I wouldn't miss being in Garland Grove for Christmas.” Her gaze slid to the children she'd officially adopted with Forest and lowered her voice. “Especially not now when the children still believe in Santa.” She squealed as Forest skated up to pull her against his side. “This one might still believe too, so there's that.”
“If you're talking about Santa, then the answer's yes,” Forest said. “Did you tell them our news?”
She poked him in the ribs. “You're not supposed to tell anyone yet.”
He grinned and placed his hand over Holly's belly. “But I'm so excited and these guys are practically family.”
“We're having a baby,” Holly said. “And it's way too early to talk about it but my husband's terrible at keeping secrets.” She turned to Amy. “Enough about us. What about you two? Can you come for Christmas next year?”