Page 75 of Grump Hard
“Well, Santa told me he’s thrilled that I’m adding a Vermont lodge to my portfolio,” Bran chimes in. “He’s a big fan of any excuse to spend more time in Silver Bell Falls.”
Holly’s arm tightens around my waist, her voice warm with affection as she adds, “That Santa is a smart guy.”
“Couldn’t agree more,” I murmur.
We stay up on the roof for nearly an hour, talking about Bran’s plans for the resort renovation and Elliot’s intentions to work remotely from the mansion more in the coming year, and my timeline for moving to Silver Bell Falls full-time.
And then we all make a solemn vow to be right here again next Christmas Eve.
Together. No matter what.
Grandfather would be proud, I think, as we finally head down the steps.
He would be so, so proud.
Christmas Day is spent juggling time between Willow’s cozy home—where Cheeks takes control of her tablet, insisting on choosing the music as we string popcorn to hang on her tree—and the warm, chaotic embrace of Holly’s family gathering. Her aunts and uncles and cousins welcome me without hesitation, folding me into their traditions like I’ve always had a place at the table.
And I am grateful.
On New Year’s Eve, we disco ‘til dawn with the old folks at the senior center with Holly’s friend, Candy, and her lumberjack boyfriend. I allow Candy to glue a giant fake moustache on my upper lip and call me “Mr. Porn Stache” for the duration of the evening, and she agrees to forgive me for being a jerk the first time we met.
And I am grateful.
By Valentine’s Day, Holly and I have closed on a charming farmhouse just down the road from her parents—close enough for easy visits, far enough that there’s no chance of them hearing the noises coming from our bedroom, come summer when we’ll need to leave the windows open. The house is too old for air-conditioning, a thing Cheeks insists is for the best. Air conditioning gives him headaches.
He gives me a headache sometimes—once he has your ear, he’s a chatty thing—but he’s already become something more than a pet.
He’s family.
And I am grateful.
By summer, Holly and I have finally finished the kitchen renovation and celebrate with a trip to the seashore in Maine. I book a suite with a view of the ocean and hire a private chef to make us dinner on the balcony.
A chef who is also a skilled amateur photographer…
The stunning images she captures of my proposal are things I will always cherish. I frame my favorite—Holly beaming down at me with a huge smile as I kneel at her feet—and hang it on the wall leading up the stairs to our bedroom.
And I am grateful.
Summer bleeds into a glorious fall with leaves so dazzling that it breaks my heart a little to look at them. Since Holly came into my life, beauty affects me in ways it never did before. It hurts and heals and inspires me to fight to preserve it for the generations that will come after.
I take steps to reduce the carbon footprints of all my businesses and shut down two arms of the conglomerate completely. I increase my donations to local charities, fund a new wing for the hospital, and invest heavily in several area rescue farms. I will make millions less than I made last year, but I already have more than any man could spend in a lifetime.
More importantly, I have her.
And I am grateful.
December arrives again, bringing with it the day I’ve been looking forward to more than I can express.
Our wedding.
We chose a spot in the woods near the estate, a clearing surrounded by towering pines that feels more holy than any church.
The night before our vows, it snows, just enough to cover the ground in fresh flakes that sparkle like diamonds in the afternoon light. Flaming torches line the aisle, and fire pits are placed strategically throughout the seating area to keep our guests warm. A fifteen-foot decorative pine arch crafted by the same chainsaw artist responsible for the Silver Bell Falls manger scene stands at the front, a work of art I commissioned months ago.
Because I want us to have a permanent reminder of this day and of our love. A place we can hopefully bring our children someday and tell them this is where it happened, where their mother made their father the happiest man in the world.
My brothers stand beside me at the altar, with Cheeks in a tiny tuxedo of his very own, beaming from Elliot’s shoulder.
