by Tracy Brogan
She nodded. “Milk and cookies. Or something.”
Epilogue
“I SWEAR TO MYSELF EVERY year that I’ll never wear this suit again,” Drew said as I helped him adjust the wide belt around his pillow-stuffed Santa belly.
“I know you do, but your grandfather is so proud you’ve taken over his job,” I replied. “And you’re making all those little kids so happy. Doesn’t that make you feel good? Helping them build Christmas memories to cherish forever?”
Drew looped his long arms around my shoulders as we stood facing each other in the little kitchen of our new house. It was decorated with items I’d bought for my store but just couldn’t part with yet. There were holiday decorations, too. Lots of them. Enough to make Haskell’s quite proud of me.
My husband smiled. “Yes, I guess when you put it that way, it’s not so bad. The kids are pretty cute.”
“You think so?” My heart fluttered.
He nodded and moved his hands to readjust the pillow. “Sure. I just wish I could do the job without this big fake stomach. It’s a nuisance and it just gets in the way.”
I smiled. Love and joy filled me to the brim as I leaned against him. “Well, at least at the end of the night you can take that big fake belly off and be done with it. It’s going to take me nine months to get rid of mine.”
His hazel eyes widened and brightened with surprise. “Nine months? Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
“I am. Merry Christmas, baby.”
Author’s Note
While Haskell’s Holiday Haven is a fictional store, and the owners are more interested in profits than people, there’s a real store in my home state of Michigan called Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland. Considered the largest Christmas store in the world, it’s run by a wonderful, charitable family and was one of my favorite places to visit as a child. I took my family there when doing research for this story and came home full of nostalgic memories and lots of new decorations. If you’re ever nearby, be sure to visit.
About the Author
Photo © 2012 Allie Gadziemski
Tracy Brogan is an award-winning, bestselling novelist who writes fun, funny stories about ordinary people finding extraordinary love, and also lush historical romances full of royal intrigue, damsels causing distress, and the occasional man in a kilt. She has been nominated by Romance Writers of America® for the prestigious RITA Award for her debut novel, Crazy Little Thing, and for The Best Medicine, and was also nominated by RWA for two Golden Heart Awards. She’s a Booksellers Best Award recipient, along with three Golden Quill Awards in both contemporary and historical romance. Unapologetically devoted to romance, Tracy lives in Michigan with her often bemused husband, their gloriously above-average children, and their two intellectually challenged dogs. Tracy loves to hear from readers, so please visit her website at tracybrogan.com or e-mail her at [email protected].
