Page 20 of One Golden Ring

It’s been one year since that magical night at the library when I got down on one knee in front of the entire town and asked Wynter to marry me. A lot has changed since then. We’re not just Drake and Wynter anymore. We’re the Hudson family—officially, legally, and most importantly, for always.

The adoption papers came through two months ago, and I’ve never felt prouder in my life than when we stood before the judge with those four boys by our side. They weren’t just foster kids anymore—they were ours.

And this Christmas? This is the first of many to come.

“You know,” Wynter says softly, resting her head on my shoulder, “I used to think Christmas couldn’t get any more magical. But this…” She gestures to the boys, to the tree, to the lights that are starting to twinkle all around the room. “This is better than anything I ever dreamed.”

I squeeze her waist, pressing a kiss to her temple. “You’re my magic, sunshine. You’ve given me all of this.”

We stand there for a moment, watching our boys, soaking in the sound of their giggles and the sight of our home—filled with love and family. Wynter changed all of that. She changed everything.

“Hey, Dad!” Evan calls out from across the room, holding up the angel for the top of the tree. “Can you help me put this up? I can’t reach!”

“Coming, buddy.” I chuckle, kissing Wynter again before heading over to help Evan with the tree topper.

As I lift him up onto my shoulders, his little arms stretching toward the top of the tree, I catch Wynter’s eye. She’sstanding by the fireplace, watching us with a glow surrounding her face, her hand resting protectively over her stomach.

A secret smile plays on her lips—one we’ve shared for the last few months but haven’t told the boys yet.

Because next Christmas? There’ll be one more Hudson around the tree.

Bonus Epilogue

Wynter

Five Years Later

The smell of cinnamon rolls baking in the oven fills the house, and I can hear the sound of giggles and excited whispers coming from the living room. It’s Christmas morning, and the magic of the holiday has wrapped itself around every corner of our home.

I pause in the kitchen, leaning against the counter for a moment, just listening. The soft crinkle of wrapping paper, the faint sound of a Christmas movie playing in the background, and the unmistakable laughter of my children.

My heart squeezes as I glance at the stack of presents under the tree, but it’s not the gifts that matter. It’s the love that fills the room. The family that Drake and I have built.

It’s been five years.

Five years since that magical night in the library when Drake got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. So much has changed since then. We’ve grownand added to our family, and somehow, the lovejust keeps multiplying.

“Mom! Dad! Can we open presents yet?” Jamie shouts from the living room, his voice full of excitement. He’s thirteen now and nearly as tall as Drake, but his Christmas enthusiasm hasn’t faded.

“Not yet, Jamie,” I call back, laughing. “We’re still waiting for your father and your siblings to wake up!”

He groans dramatically, and I hear the other kids laugh. I shake my head, smiling. It’s a full house this Christmas. All four of our boys, now growing into young men, are here—Jamie, Noah, Evan, and Riley. Then there are the two new additions,Kayla and Max, who we adopted two years ago. And, of course, our own little miracles—two-year-old Ella and baby Theo, who’s just six months old.

I can’t believe how full my life is. How full my heart is.

Just as I’m about to head back into the living room, Drake appears in the doorway, holding a sleepy-eyed Ella in his arms. Her curly red hair is a wild mess, but her little face lights up when she sees me.

“Mommy!” she squeals, reaching out her arms.

I smile, taking her from Drake and snuggling her close. “Good morning, my sweet girl.”

Drake steps behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist as he kisses the top of my head. “Merry Christmas, sunshine.”

“Merry Christmas, my love,” I whisper, leaning back against him. “Are the boys up?”

“Already tearing through the presents with their eyes,” he chuckles. “We’d better get in there before they start without us.”

I laugh, pulling Ella closer as we head into the living room. The sight that greets us is pure chaos—and pure joy.

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