Page 25 of Snowed in with a Grinch

“Yes!” She launches herself at me, knocking us both backwards onto the greenhouse floor. “Yes, yes, yes!”

I laugh as she peppers my face with kisses, both of us sprawled between rows of orchids. “Let me put the ring on you, at least.”

She sits up, straddling my waist as I slide the ring onto her finger. It catches the greenhouse light, throwing rainbow sparkles across her beaming face.

“It's perfect,” she whispers. “You're perfect.”

“I love you.” The words come easily now, after a year of practice. “Even if you do want to torture my plants with musical Christmas lights.”

Her eyes light up. “So that’s a definite yes to the lights?”

“One string. Non-musical. No flashing.”

“Two strings, a tiny twinkle, and I'll make it worth your while.” She rocks her hips suggestively.

“Here? Among my innocent orchids?”

“They're not that innocent. I've seen what some of them look like in bloom.” She leans down to kiss me. “Besides, it's our greenhouse. We can christen it if we want to.”

As I pull her down for another kiss, I marvel at how much has changed in a year. The mountain doesn't feel lonely anymore. The greenhouse has become a place of joy rather than escape. And Christmas... well, let's just say I'm looking forward to many more holiday seasons with my Christmas angel.

Even if she does insist on musical fairy lights.

“I love you,” she murmurs against my lips. “My grumpy mountain man.”

“I love you too.” I sit up, keeping her in my lap. “My Christmas miracle.”

She beams, then a mischievous glint enters her eye. “So about adding some music...”

I silence her with a kiss, and soon we're both too busy to argue about decorations. The orchids, musical lights or not, will have to wait.

We have some celebrating to do.

EPILOGUE 2 - NOELLE

Five Years Later

“Daddy! The orchid is doing the thing!”

Our four-year-old daughter Holly's excited squeal rings out as she presses her nose against the glass partition. Her dark, unruly hair is a mess as she jumps up and down, pointing at Sawyer's prized Shenzhen Nongke Orchid. He was cultivating it for years before he and I got together, and now it’s finally blooming.

“Inside voice, sweet pea,” I remind her, though I can't help but smile at her enthusiasm. She's inherited her father's love of plants and my inability to contain excitement.

“But Mommy, look!” She grabs my hand, tugging me closer to the glass. “It's blooming! Just like Daddy said it would for Christmas!”

She's right. The rare orchid we've had a time-lapse camera on for months in preparation has finally decided to open, its exotic petals slowly unfurling like a gift being unwrapped. The sight still takes my breath away, even after five years of helping Sawyer tend his precious plants.

“Should we go get him?” Holly bounces on her toes. Her Christmas pajamas—decorated with little dancing reindeer—make her look even more precious than she already is.

“I think that’sexactlywhat we need to do,” I say, scooping her up to sit on my hip. At seven months pregnant with our third child, I probably shouldn't be lifting her, but I can't resist. “He’s giving Nick his morning bottle, but he won’t want to miss this.”

As if on cue, Sawyer appears in the greenhouse doorway, our one-year-old son in one arm. The sight of my mountain man holding our baby still makes my heart melt. Especially when he's wearing the Christmas sweater I got him—complete with twinkling lights and a built-in speaker that plays ‘I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus’ whenever I hug him tight.

“I heard the word 'blooming' and rushed in,” he says.

“Daddy! Come see!” Holly wiggles until I set her down, then runs to take his free hand. “Your special flower is opening!”

“Is that so?” He lets her drag him to the glass, and I watch his eyes light up at the sight of the orchid. After all these years, his passion for his plants still amazes me. Though these days, he has room in his heart for so much more.

---