Austin’s arms instantly engulfed her, and their lips came together, the long kiss solidifying everything they’d said―and all the things words could never express.
When they pulled apart, they both had tears on their cheeks, and both were laughing.
“Best Christmas ever,” Austin whispered into her hair.
Epilogue
One Year Later
“Best Christmas ever.” Leah could not stop smiling as she walked down the aisle on her new husband’s arm. Technically, it was three days after Christmas because they hadn’t wanted to take people away from family on Christmas day, but who was counting?
Austin had not stopped smiling once the entire day either.
The moment they exited the sanctuary into the lobby, he swept her up in his arms and brought his lips to hers.
“Eww. Are you guys going to keep doing that all day?” Jackson followed them, dapper in the tux he wore as Austin’s best man and carrying a laptop under his arm. Chad hadn’t been able to make it back for the ceremony, so they’d set up a video call with him so he could watch everything live.
“Not all day.” Austin rumpled the boy’s hair. “Forever.”
Jackson groaned but stepped into their outstretched arms for a family hug.
Leah had a fleeting wish that she could freeze time right at this moment and live it forever. But that wasn’t how life worked. The three of them had a whole life to live together―so many more memories to create. She prayed that the majority of them would be happy, but even on this happiest day of her life, she knew they wouldn’t all be.
But that was okay. Because they would weather them together―with God.
As the rest of the bridal party and then all the well-wishers at church gathered around them, Leah kept a careful watch on Austin. He’d been doing better in crowds lately, but she had promised herself that she’d do everything she could to make this day enjoyable for him. And if that meant escaping the crowds, that’s what they’d do. Besides, that’d give them more opportunities to kiss.
As his eye caught hers, she leaned over for a quick kiss, whispering, “You okay?”
“Never better.”
The rest of the afternoon and evening passed in a whirl of joy. After a delicious dinner prepared by her staff―she made a mental note to give Sam a raise―and a scrumptious cake made by Peyton, Jackson stepped up to the microphone that had been set up for toasts.
Leah gripped Austin’s hand. “What’s he doing?”
Austin grinned at her. “Best man toast.”
Leah pushed down a flutter of nerves. When Austin had suggested Jackson as best man, she’d been so moved, she hadn’t even considered this part of the job duties. He was only a fourteen-year-old kid. What was he supposed to say at a wedding?
But Jackson pulled an index card out of the inside pocket of his tux and cleared his throat, glancing at his wrist, which sported the watch Leah had given him for his birthday last year.
She stilled to listen.
“Uh, hi everyone. My name is Jackson Zelner. I’m Leah’s son.” His gaze flicked her way, and Leah gave an encouraging smile, telling herself that this was not the time to cry. “And, uh, I guess Austin’s son too now―or at least I will be once the adoption paperwork goes through for that.”
Well, it may not be the time to cry, but that didn’t stop the tears that trickled down her cheeks. She was learning that there was definitely something to be said for happy crying.
“Uh, anyway,” Jackson continued. “I just wanted to say that I don’t think I ever really knew what love was growing up. I mean, people would tell me they loved me, but then they would leave me. Sometimes on purpose, sometimes not.”
The wedding guests had stilled, and Leah didn’t think a single person dared to lift a fork.
“Then this woman came along, and for some reason she decided she wanted to be my foster mom. I still have no idea why.” A few people laughed gently. “I tried really hard―” He held out a hand. “I mean, really hard, to push her away. To get her to prove once again that there was no such thing as love. That it was just a word. But she wouldn’t give up.” He turned to Austin. “Just a warning that she’s really stubborn.”
The guests laughed harder this time.
“So anyway―”
Leah could tell Jackson was warming up to having everyone’s attention. She never would have guessed that this was the same young man who’d barely said two words to her when she’d first brought him home last fall.
“Then there was this guy. Austin. Our neighbor. I thought he was pretty cool. But I don’t think my mom liked him very much at first. Especially when he let me keep a squirrel.”
Next to her, Austin laughed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“But I could tell he liked her. And pretty soon she liked him too. And then they were in love. And I watched them. I was waiting again. Since Leah wouldn’t give up on me, I needed different proof that love wasn’t real. But the more I watched them, the more I wondered if maybe it was real after all.” Jackson turned to face the two of them. “I don’t think it was until last Christmas morning, though, that I really believed it. Austin came barging into our house and asked my mom to marry him. And I was sure she was going to say yes―it was pretty obvious she wanted to. And I figured that would leave me on my own again, since she’d found someone else to love. But she didn’t say yes. She said she had to think about it. She wanted to talk with me about it. I think that was when I knew love was real, because she put aside what she wanted to make sure things were okay with me.” Jackson blinked and looked down at his card, then raised a champagne goblet that had been filled with sparkling grape juice. “So what I guess I’m saying is that love is actually pretty great. And congratulations, Mom and Dad.”
“Congratulations,” the rest of the guests cried as both Austin and Leah flew out of their seats and trapped Jackson in a long hug.
When they finally pulled apart, Jackson looked from one to the other. “I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but you two should kiss now.”
He grabbed a spoon off the table and clinked it against his glass. The sound was echoed by people throughout the hall.
“What do you say Mrs. Hart, should we kiss?” Austin’s hands were already around her waist, and he pulled her closer, his breath tickling her cheek and sending a warm shiver down her back.
She’d never thought she’d be Mrs. Anyone. And now here she was, married to a man God had created to be her perfect match.
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Yes, Mr. Hart, I think we should.”
As Leah’s lips met her husband’s, her heart welled with joy. She hadn’t fixed Austin, and he hadn’t fixed her. But God had taken the broken pieces of both of their lives and transformed them into something beautiful.
For Christmas and for always.
The End
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A sample of Not Until Forever (Hope Springs Book 1)
Five Years Earlier
Spencer paced behind the park bench, tipping his head toward the gray clouds swirling above him. His nerves swirled faster. He patted at the pocket of his hoodie for the eighth time, letting the solidity of the little box there reassure him. Even if some parts of his life were falling apart right now, this was the one thing he was sure of.
He squinted toward the parking lot, watching for the flash of Sophie’s bright red Camaro. But the lot was empty, aside from his battered pickup truck, already packed with the few things he needed from his apartment. It was hard to believe he was going to walk away without his degree with less than a semester to go. But this was what he had to do. His family needed him.
He scrubbed a hand over his face and made himself sit down. He should be on his way already. But he couldn’t leave without doing this. Without telling Sophie what he wanted for the future. Their future.
Finally, the rumble of the Camaro’s engine caught his ears. Spencer fumbled at his pocket again as Sophie whipped into the parking lot. The wind unfurled her golden hair behind her as she stepped out of the car. Spencer shoved a hand roughly through his own hair and swallowed hard. What had he been thinking, doing this here?
He should have picked somewhere more romantic. More elegant. More Sophie. But this park had been their place since their first date three years ago. It was where they came to talk, to laugh, to share everything. Doing this here, now, felt right. Spencer forced himself to take a slow breath as Sophie hurried toward him, her strides long and sure in her heels and slim black skirt.
Just the sight of her lightened his heart. He had no idea what a woman like her saw in a man like him, but he’d learned not to question it. For whatever reason, they worked. And for that, he thanked God.
Spencer sank his face into her hair as his arms tugged her closer. This was what he’d needed. Whatever he was facing, holding Sophie made everything right in the world.
She pulled back a few inches and slid her fingers over his unshaven cheek. “You look tired. You sure you want to make the drive back to Hope Springs yet tonight?”
Not now that he was with her, he didn’t. But he nodded. “I have to, Soph.”
He’d only been home a couple of days―just long enough to sit with Mom through the worst of the waiting at the hospital. Through the hours of not knowing if Dad would make it.
Sophie looked away, but not before he caught the flash of disappointment in her eyes. “How’s your dad?”
Spencer disentangled from her embrace and grabbed her hand, leading her around the muddy patches toward their favorite spot at the edge of the park’s little pond. A family of ducks quacked at them and shuffled out of the way.
“He’s stable. Should be out of the hospital in a few days, but he’s not going to be back in the orchard anytime soon.” He couldn’t push away the image of Dad’s gray face. His slow movements. How could a heart attack have transformed his powerhouse of a dad so drastically?
Sophie bit her lip in that way that made it almost impossible to resist kissing her. “It’s just so close to graduation. It seems like a waste to throw away everything you’ve worked for.”
Spencer sighed. He’d had this argument with himself all the way here. But he couldn’t see any way around it.
“The work won’t wait, Soph. The seasons keep changing, no matter what’s going on in our lives.” He squeezed her hand. “Anyway, it’s not like if I don’t finish my degree now I can’t ever do it. I have my whole life.” Our whole life. But he was getting ahead of himself.
“I know.” Sophie offered a halfhearted smile. “I just hate the idea of saying goodbye sooner than we planned.”
He pulled her to a stop next to the bench they’d spent so many hours on. “Me too. That’s actually why I asked you to come here.”
He gestured for her to sit, and she did, giving him a curious look as he remained on his feet. He drew in a shaky breath. He’d been so busy thinking about everything else that he hadn’t prepared what to say.
“There’s something I have to ask you.”
A wind gust blew Sophie’s hair in front of her face, and she swept it behind her ear as he dropped to one knee. Hands shaking, he pulled the ring box from his pocket, opened it, and held the small diamond solitaire toward her.
Sophie gasped, lifting a hand to her mouth. “Spencer, don’t―”
“Sophie, will you―” Spencer stopped as her words slammed into him. “What?”
Sophie sprang to her feet and practically leaped over the bench, as if trying to construct a physical barrier between them. “You’re emotional right now. You’re not thinking clearly.”
Spencer pushed slowly to his feet and moved closer to the bench, reaching for Sophie’s hand across its back. “I’m not doing this because I’m emotional. I already had the ring. I was planning to wait until graduation, but with everything going on, I wanted you to know that I want a future with you.”
He squeezed her hand and tried to pull her around the bench so he could try again and this time do it properly. Leave it to him to screw up the proposal the first time.
But Sophie pulled out of his grasp and looked past him, toward the pond.
Spencer’s heart crumbled. She didn’t want to marry him.
“I’m leaving for Chicago in two months, Spencer. You know I can’t pass up this job offer.”
He wanted to tell her it didn’t matter. That he’d go with her. Or he’d find her a job that was just as good closer to home. Anything.
But admitting his need would only lead to more hurt. Would only remind him that he’d never be worthy of her.
“I’m sorry,” Sophie whispered.
And then she turned and walked away.
And he let her.
Keep Reading Not Until Forever — Get it on Amazon (or read free with Kindle Unlimited)
More Hope Springs Books
While the books in the Hope Springs series are linked, each is a complete romance featuring a different couple and can be read in any order. Want to catch up on any books you may have missed? Visit the Hope Springs series page on Amazon to grab any of the books you don’t yet have with one click. Or learn more about each book below:
Not Until Christmas
A fudge shop owner dumped a week before her Christmas wedding. The best friend who has sworn never to risk his heart. A Christmas tragedy that could tie them together or pull them apart.
Christmas isn’t looking so merry and bright for fudge shop owner Ariana when her fiancé walks out of her life only a week before their Christmas wedding. As she turns to her lifelong best friend Ethan to help her pick up the pieces, she’s careful not to let the feelings she once harbored for him surface. He’s made it more than clear that he doesn’t think about her that way.
Volunteer firefighter Ethan has kept his heart in a steel cage for the past ten years―ever since his entire family was killed in a car accident. But when Ariana needs him, he knows he has to be there for her. Even if the thought of risking his heart to her leaves him quaking in his fire boots. He knows what happens when you love someone: they can be snatched from you.
Just as he finally works up the courage to take the leap, the unthinkable happens. Now Ethan has to decide: Can he trust that all things―including his relationship with Ariana―are in God’s hands? Or will he be spending another Christmas alone?
Get it FREE at
www.valeriembodden.com/mybook
Not Until Forever
She chose her career over him. He put his family before her. When they get a second chance, will they choose to put each other first?
As she climbs the corporate ladder, Sophie doesn’t let herself think about what she gave up when she declined Spencer’s proposal five years ago. So when she’s called home to say goodbye to her dying grandmother, she goes out of her way to avoid seeing him. Of course, that means he’s the first person she runs into. Much as she fights against it, being near him stirs up old feelings and makes her question old decisions.
Leaving college to help on the family farm cost Spencer the woman he loved. But he couldn’t turn his back on his family. Now that Sophie’s back in town, Spencer’s determined to protect his heart. Only he senses something new in Sophie―something that makes him think maybe they could have a second chance. But when his family needs him again, he feels lik
e he’s repeating the past.
Only this time, he’s not sure what choice he should make.
Is God giving them a second chance? Or are the heartaches of the past too much to overcome?
Buy Not Until Forever on Amazon (or read free with Kindle Unlimited)
Not Until This Moment
She’s looking for “the one.” He knows it can never be him. Unless God has other plans for them . . .
Peyton has been looking for “the one” forever. She thought she’d finally met him when she started dating Jared. But when he told her he never planned to get married, she had to face the facts: maybe he wasn’t the one God intended for her after all. Now, she’s just trying to survive the annual ski trip with her bones―and her heart―intact.
Jared wishes he could give Peyton everything she desires. But marriage is the one thing he can never offer her. Not that it makes it easy to let her go. Especially when everywhere he turns on this ski trip, he sees her with another man―a man Jared knows can’t be trusted.
Jared may not have any business worrying about Peyton anymore. But he promised himself long ago that he’d never again stand by and watch a woman get hurt. And he’s not about to let anything happen to the woman he still loves. Even if that means losing her forever.
Not Until Christmas Morning (Hope Springs Book 5) Page 23