shoes.” He cleared his throat and shook his head. “It was pretty heavy and you started to cry. I remember holding you, feeling you tremble against me, and I knew right then that I loved you and that it was awkward because Rick was like family to me and you were his girl, but I didn’t know until the whole Samantha thing that I…”
“That you what?”
“I knew then something had changed, because I picked a side that morning. I told Rick I was going to tell you everything if he didn’t come clean himself. I told him I chose you over him and that I’d be there for you in a way he never could, because I…”
Ethan was about to bare his very soul.
“I loved you more than myself. I loved you more than my parents or any other person on this planet. I still do.” He shrugged. “I love you, Em.”
She made a sound, a cry or a wail, and the next thing he knew, she was in his arms and they were kissing, and then his towel fell off or was yanked off, and her clothes joined that wet towel and there were whispered words of love, and frantic touches and then he was inside her, rocking into Emily with all the passion and love that he had.
And later, when their lovemaking cooled and he held her close and listened to her heart beat against his chest, Ethan knew a complete kind of peace. One he’d never felt before.
He kissed the top of her head and glanced at the clock. “It’s nearly noon.”
“Yes, it is,” Emily whispered, looking up at him. “We need to leave in thirty minutes.”
For two seconds, he was confused, but then the lightbulb went off, and he grinned. He dropped one last kiss to her nose, and the two of them got dressed. He locked up his house and followed her back to town, dropping off her car at her place before the two of them drove to the other side of the lake.
Less than twenty minutes after checking in with her doctor, he held Emily’s hand as they stared at a 3D screen in wonder. “There he is,” Emily said softly. “Your early Christmas present. Say hello to your son.”
Ethan couldn’t speak. He could only nod and squeeze her hand. He was going to have a son with the woman he loved.
Life, such as it is, has a habit of throwing punches now and again. It takes and hurts and punishes, but it also brings joy and surprise and love. A guy had to take the bad with the good. You couldn’t have one without the other. And Ethan had to believe that wherever Rick was, he was happy for him and Emily.
And that was the mystery behind everything. Finding the joy in darkness.
Ethan had finally found his joy, and as he gazed onto the face of the woman who’d given him everything, he knew he’d never let go.
Epilogue
Christmas Eve brought with it a gentle snowfall that made Crystal Lake and the surrounding area look like a scene out of a Norman Rockwell painting. The entire town got into the holiday spirit, save for the odd Scrooge, and as the last remnants of sunlight disappeared, decorated houses twinkled to life. The great tree downtown was like a beacon and families gathered for hot chocolate from Mr. O’Dell’s food truck before he closed it down at seven and went home to his family.
Emily had met up with Georgianna at the downtown square around five-thirty, and the two of them planned on heading over to the Caldwells, where they’d meet Ethan for dinner. He had a last minute delivery and couldn’t make it until then.
Emily took a hot sip of cocoa and paused, a smile spreading across her face as she rested her free hand over her stomach.
“Is he moving? Can I feel?” Georgie didn’t wait for permission, but held her hand over Emily’s stomach and grinned. “Wow. I think he’s going to be a D1 soccer player like his auntie.”
“You might be right. The little guy never stops.” Emily took another sip of cocoa as they wandered from O’Dell’s food truck to the big tree.
“I heard you and Ethan stopped by Helen and Charlie’s last night.”
Emily nodded. “We did. They came home a few days ago and asked to see us.”
“Eth said they were good about everything.”
“They were,” Emily replied. “Helen was distant at first but she came around. I think it helps that