Page 87 of Candy Canes & Caroling

I kissed her forehead, leaving my lips there to inhale the scent of her and remind myself that she was safe. “Marissa is in custody?”

“Yes. Cliff came up to get her and transported her back to Florida. She’ll remain in jail as they try to sort this out.”

My arms tightened on her in reflex. “I’m so glad you’re safe,” I whispered. “I won’t lie. I was angry with you. All I could see were the lies you told me when I should have focused on the truth I knew.”

“That I’m a terrible person?” she asked but I shook my head.

“You’re not a terrible person, but you were in a terrible position. The truth is, Hazel, I can’t live without you. I’ve tried the last few days and it’s quite literally impossible for me to do anything but lay here in this bed and think about you. When Dawson came over to talk to me, I felt like it was an invitation for a second chance.”

She leaned back and held my gaze. “A second chance?” I nodded, and she fisted my shirt in her hand. “With me?”

“There is no one else, Hazel Cane, which is what I’ll always call you, no matter your real name. You’re my Hazel Cane, and I hope to God I’m yours, too.”

“You are,” she said, leaning in for a hungry kiss until our lips connected, and she hissed, pulling back at the painful contact.

I brushed my thumb over the bruise on her cheek and smiled. “You’re going to have to be careful with that for a few more days, but I’m not going anywhere, and neither are you. You do have to promise me one thing.”

“Anything,” she said, nodding, but I could see she was starting to fade as the adrenaline flowed from her and the relief flooded in.

“No more secrets between us, okay? You can trust me with anything and know I’ll always have your back.”

“No more secrets,” she said with a nod and half a smile. “I love you, Irving.”

Slowly, her eyes closed, and I kissed her forehead. “I love you more, Hazel Cane. Always will.”

Epilogue

Christmas Eve

The hall was filled with people talking, laughing, and singing as they ate cookies and drank eggnog after a successful caroling event. Despite Hazel’s injuries, she insisted we go on with the event as it gave her something to look forward to. Despite the pain and trauma Marissa had inflicted on her, she was determined to be well enough to go out and carol with her group. I had to admit that it was a beautiful way to end the holiday season, and as I gazed out at the room before me, I realized all of these people had become family in one way or the other over the last year.

Indigo and Lance stood in the corner eating cookies and laughing with Stephan, who had come caroling to spend the evening with Cameron. It’s a tradition at the farm that the employees and their families spend Christmas Eve with Cameron and Becca since it’s also Cameron’s birthday, and this year, they chose the caroling event to participate in.

In light of Hazel’s injuries and inability to work, Indigo and Lance pushed their reception back until January. It was a kind thing for them to do, but in the end, that summed up Bells Pass. Indigo loved Hazel and would rather postpone their reception than have Hazel miss it. The people in this town always thought about others first and themselves second. After being here for a year, it was easy to see that was the reason the town kept growing.

A tiny wail reached my ears and I turned my head to the left to see Heather jiggling a tiny pink bundle in her arms. “Forward, Star,” I said, rolling the chair over to where she stood with Becca while they waited for Cameron and Gabe to return from singing. Since Becca is an amputee and pregnant, she decided against walking on the sidewalks that might be snow-covered and slippery and opted to stay with Heather instead.

“Is our little one unhappy?” I asked, coming to a stop by the two women.

“Hi, Irving,” Heather said as she patted the baby’s back. “She’s getting sleepy but Gabe is better at getting her to sleep than I am.”

I motioned for her to give me the baby, and she placed her in my arms, fixing the blanket around her to keep her warm. “Hello, little Joy,” I whispered as I swung her gently from side-to-side. “Aren’t you just the sweetest thing to come to Bells Pass?”

“I can’t even tell you,” Heather said as Becca put an arm around her. “When the hospital told us we got to name her, Gabe just looked at me and said, Joy. When I asked him why, he said you told him where there is love, there is hope and joy. I’ve been through a lot in life, and it required holding onto hope to get through it. Now comes the joy. I still get goosebumps when I think about it. I want to give you something if that’s okay,” she said, holding up a finger as she dug into the diaper bag.

Joy had fallen asleep with her little pink pacifier in her mouth as her long lashes fanned her cheeks. She was honestly the sweetest and most gorgeous baby I’d had the pleasure to hold in a long time. I handed her off to Becca, who was ever the proud auntie, and accepted a box from Heather.

“What’s this?”

“Just a little something to remind you of this Christmas.”

Once I had the lid off the box, I gasped in surprise. Inside was an ornament. It was a candy cane, but when I took it out, the hanger was at the bottom so when you held it up, it was a J.

“Hazel says you always claim her candy canes are actually just a sucker in the shape of a J,” Heather explained.

Laughter escaped my lips as I nodded. “At least once a day.” The ornament twisted, and I noticed the painted words on the back. “Where there is love, there is hope and Joy,” I read. I noticed that Joy was capped on purpose. “You painted this.”

“I did,” Heather said with a smile. She was known for her artwork all over the area and I was pleased as punch to receive a piece of it.

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