She gripped her daughter’s arm and squeezed once, hoping Candice knew how much she loved her. Then she turned and ran for the door. Her daughter slipped through first, and she was close behind, letting the screen door bang shut behind her as she ran. She heard shouting from the kitchen, but couldn’t make out what was being said.
They ran around the side of the house, then skidded to a halt in the snow when they came face-to-face with a police officer. Moira and Candice both put their hands up.
“It’s okay,” Detective Jefferson said, spotting them from his position in the yard. “It’s the Darlings. Get them out of harm’s way, then we’re going in.”
EPILOGUE
* * *
“I’m glad all of you were able to make it. Even though it’s been a crazy couple of days, I couldn’t be happier to spend this evening with everyone here. Merry Christmas!”
“Merry Christmas,” Moira’s friends and family chorused back to her. She was seated at the table in her kitchen, with Candice to her right and David sitting opposite her, at the foot of the table. Denise, Logan, Martha, Karissa, Allison, Thelma, Eli and Reggie were all crowded around the table too. They were an odd patchwork of friends and family, but she loved them all. The little kitchen was crowded with so many people, but they all managed to fit – barely. On the table was a roasted crown of lamb, a huge dish of creamy mashed potatoes, a beautiful salad with candied walnuts, glazed carrots, and a large bowl of broccoli and cheese soup. Waiting on the counter were platter upon platter of Christmas cookies, brownies, and chocolate bark, as well as a seemingly endless supply of drinks; champagne, sparkling juice, and, of course, beer from David and Karissa’s brewery. Everyone had brought a little something.
“Well, we’re already starting an hour late,” Moira said. “There’s no sense in waiting any longer. Go ahead and eat.”
People began to serve themselves, and over the clinking of dishes, Moira glanced across the table to David. He offered her a smile. They still had a lot to talk about, namely his plans for his business, but somehow it didn’t seem like a big deal anymore, not after what had happened the other day. She and Candice were lucky to have gotten away with their lives. She was grateful that both of them were still there, whole and healthy.
All in all, it had been a good year. So many things had changed, but they were all still together, and that was the most important thing. Eli was recovering from his injury, Candice had a new job that she enjoyed, the deli was doing well, and David had something that he was passionate about. Logan had gotten out of prison, and Martha and Denise were both seeing people they cared about. Even Reggie was doing well. He had spent the past hour trying to convince Candice and Eli to take a trip down to Florida with him next year.
Facing down death with her daughter had made Moira realize just how much she loved being alive. There was so much to live for, and so many people that she cared about. She wouldn’t have wanted to spend Christmas anywhere else than where she was at this very moment. All of the people that she cared about the most were here with her, and she didn’t have a single worry in the world. Justice had been served, and the man that had nearly killed them was looking at spending many more Christmases in prison. She just hoped that Tillie would be able to find happiness again. She knew that she owed the older woman her life.
“How is it?” she asked after her guests had had a chance to taste a little bit of everything.
“Good,” a few people managed to mumble around full mouths. She smiled. She brought joy to people every day with the food that she made, but nothing was better than the feeling of seeing her own loved ones enjoy the Christmas dinner that she had made. With good food, a warm house, and her friends and family all around her, she knew that this year there really had been a Christmas miracle.
A SEASON OF MURDER Page 7