Cormac took her hand as he entered the house, his fingers laced with hers.
“Found her,” he announced as they stepped into the kitchen. “And not letting her go. Not now, not ever.”
Cormac’s family surged forward, folding her into many warm hugs. Whitney was grateful but dying to see Daisy.
“Where is she?” Whitney asked. “I need to wish her a Merry Christmas.”
“She’s asleep,” McKenna said. “She passed out during Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”
“I’m about there myself,” Trey said. “I think we need to
get TJ home and in bed.”
The Sheenans filed out, leaving Cormac and Whitney alone on the front steps of the house. “That was fast,” Whitney said.
“They just want to give us some space,” he answered. “But don’t worry, we’ll see them again tomorrow at Brock’s for Christmas dinner.”
He kissed her, and then kissed her again. “You’ve made two people very happy tonight,” he said.
“Have I?”
“And Daisy will be thrilled her Christmas wish came true.”
Snowflakes continued to flutter from the sky. Whitney brushed stray flakes from her cheek. “What was her wish?”
“You.”
“You mean, she wanted a mommy for Christmas?”
“No, baby. She wanted you. She wanted you to be her mommy.” He wrapped her in his arms and brought her against his chest. “Which was actually my Christmas wish, too.” His head dipped, his lips touched hers in the lightest, most fleeting kiss. “Marry me. Be my wife. Make our family complete.”
“Yes,” she breathed.
He kissed her again and the kiss deepened, hot and slow and so very sweet.
“I love you, Cormac.” She reached up to wrap her arms around his neck and hold on tight. “So, so much.”
“Not half as much as I love you, Whitney. Merry Christmas, baby, and welcome home.”
“You have no idea how good it is to be here.”
He was kissing her again when high above there came a jingling sound, kind of like the bells on Santa’s boots. Or was it the harness of eight magic reindeer pulling Santa’s sleigh?
Either way, it was Christmas, and Kris had been right.
Love, faith, and hope had brought her home.
Epilogue
‡
Whitney snuggled closer to Cormac on the couch in the living room, on a very lazy Sunday afternoon. The fire blazed in the big stone hearth, and beyond the huge picture window delicate snowflakes tumbled slowly from the sky.
Daisy was in her room with a friend from school, and now and then their voices carried—lots of laughter and giggles—as they dressed up in the costumes Daisy got her from Aunt McKenna and Uncle Troy for Christmas.
Whitney was so glad Daisy loved her room, and was always inviting a friend or two from her preschool to come to the house to play in her “castle” bedroom. The bedroom had been a hit, but then, the whole house suited them. It was comfortable and most definitely home.
It was hard to believe it was already the end of January. The past month had flown by, the days and weeks absurdly good. Whitney couldn’t remember a happier month in her entire life.
“Do you still feel like a newlywed?” Cormac asked, his arm tightening around her.
She laced her fingers with his. “Yes, but in the best sort of way,” she answered, smiling.
They’d married New Year’s weekend in Las Vegas. It was to have been just the two of them—and Daisy—but the entire Sheenan clan surprised them by flying in for the ceremony and it became a party. Las Vegas might be famous for its nightlife, but the kids loved the heated pool at the hotel, and going for a gondola ride at the Venetian. As a family, they all visited the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay, and then M&M’s World, with a stop to watch the fountains at the Bellagio. Cormac bought everyone tickets for the Tournament of Kings at the Excalibur and then bought Daisy a souvenir sword after, since TJ got one.
It was a great way to ring in the new year, and the festive wedding and family time helped soften Whitney and Cormac’s memories of their last trip to Las Vegas, when everyone’s world turned upside down.
“I’ve been thinking,” Cormac said, dropping a kiss on top of Whitney’s head.
She grinned. “Have you? That’s new.”
He rolled his eyes. “That maybe you and I should talk a bit about the company, and work, and figure out how to make you an even partner at Sheenan, Inc.” He hesitated. “I don’t want you to ever feel as if you had to choose between your career and your family—”
“I haven’t.”
“Or that I chose a path for you.”
“You didn’t.”
For a moment the only sound was the crackle and pop of the fire, and then Whitney added, “This is where I want to be right now. Here at home. With you and Daisy. Maybe one day I’ll want something else, and then we can talk, but I’ve missed out on so much with Daisy that I love being able to be a full-time Mom. I love being able to pick her up from preschool and do fun things, just the two of us. It’s what I needed. It’s what I still need.”
He dropped another kiss on the top of her head and she leaned against his chest, so comfortable, so happy. This was the life she wanted. It still amazed her that they’d found their way back to each other. Daisy had been the glue. Daisy had been their miracle.
The End