The Amendment (The Contract 2)

She smiled my favorite smile—the one she had for me alone.

I kissed her again. “I think you’re incredible,” I said against her lips.

She winked and tugged on my hand.

“Come say hello to your guests.”

I followed her, trying to take it all in.

I had come full circle from the last time I found signs on my lawn. My life had changed—I had changed. And despite the pain we went through, the struggles, and the way it happened, I wouldn’t trade now for anything.

My future was brighter than ever.

And I would never take it for granted again.EpilogueChristmasRICHARD* * *The house was quiet. The girls were finally asleep, and once they were down, Katy and I had finished getting out the gifts and arranging them all under the tree. We sat, admiring the way the lights glimmered off the shiny paper and the way I had hidden the rocking horse Gracie had wanted so much behind the tree, its nose sticking out of the branches. I knew once she saw it, nothing else would matter.

I could hardly wait to see the look on her face, hear her excited squeals, and feel the kisses she would rain all over my face when I dragged it out for her. Heather was still too young to understand what the day was about, but she would love the colors and sounds. I already predicted the big stuffed teddy bear would be her favorite. She loved soft things she could hold.

I drank a scotch while Katy sipped a cup of hot cocoa. She looked sleepy, her eyes fluttering shut more than once.

I chuckled. “Go to bed, sweetheart. I’ll do the stockings and be up soon.”

The stockings were my favorite part. Katy did most of the shopping for the girls, and she handled my stocking, but I did the rest. I loved shopping for little things to fill up the festive socks. I always bought something extra for each girl, and all of Katy’s gifts, but the stockings were my “thing.”

Before Katy came into my life, Christmas had simply been another day of the year. I had no one to celebrate with, no concept of the meaning of the season, other than a boom for the advertising world. She changed all that for me and showed me what the season meant. How special it was. When Gracie came along, the meaning became clearer than ever.

Christmas was about family.

And this year, it was more special than ever. I had come so close to losing all of it, and my gratitude knew no bounds.

Katy smiled at my urging and ran a hand through her hair, looking sleepy and sexy all at the same time.

“I might have a bath.”

“Are you sure you won’t fall asleep in the tub?” I smirked. She did that a lot. I often went upstairs to find her dozing in the tub. It was a good thing the new Kindle I gave her last year was waterproof since it ended up in the bath with her on occasion.

“No, I’ll keep it short.” She stood and stopped by my chair, leaning down and kissing my mouth. I lifted my hand to her thighs, stroking the backs of her legs, kissing her back. It was a soft kiss—one filled with love and sweetness.

“I’ll be up soon.”

She drifted her fingers over my cheek. “Okay, Santa.”

I captured her hand in mine, pressing a kiss to her palm. “Love you.”

Her eyes widened, the vivid blue still as captivating as it had been when I first fell in love with her. The warmth and love that filled her eyes had melted my soul, warmed my cold heart, and could still ignite a fire within me with one glance.

“I love you, Richard. Come to bed soon.”

I nodded, feeling overcome. “I will.”

I watched her walk out of the room, memories filling my head. From our rocky start, to our fledging love, the challenges of the past year, to the tower of strength we now were, she was a miracle to me. One that saved my life and changed me completely.

Before her, I was nothing. With her, because of her, I had the world.

One I had come precariously close to losing this past year.

I shook my head and stood. I knew if I allowed it, the past would swamp me, and there was no room for that in my life anymore. My life was Katy and my girls.

And I had stockings to fill.

I walked to the den, my gait steady, my legs strong. I no longer needed the cane, although there was a slight drag to one leg; it was still getting better. Katy assured me it was barely perceptible, and I worked with Colin regularly to make sure it vanished completely.

In the den, I found all the bags I had hidden away from prying eyes. Katy was worse than the girls, and she loved to snoop. Luckily, she was too short to find the bags I hid in the upper cabinets of the closet. Back in the family room, I added Katy’s gifts under the tree and the extra surprises I got for the girls, including the huge teddy bear for Heather. I knew Katy would sneak down in the night to add some gifts for me. She had already taken my stocking, and I knew she would fill it before she had her bath and bring it down later. She always wanted the day to be special for me as well as the girls. It was one of the reasons I loved her so much. She knew my past and what Christmas had been for me as a child. She tried every year to wipe away more of those terrible memories with good ones.