Chapter 57: Chapter 57

Opening the book to the page where the feathers were placed, she squinted to see if there was anything particularly important about that entry. Reading by the light of the Christmas decorations behind her, she felt as if she could hear her grandma’s voice echoing in her ear with each word.

I do worry about Memory. We are so close. When I pass away, which hopefully won’t be for many years, I am afraid she will be lonely without me. She is an old soul for someone so young, and she has given up so many opportunities in her life because she is so attached to me and this town. I do hope, one day, she will meet someone who is as generous and caring as she is, who gives so freely of themselves, and who appreciates history and tradition the way my sweet Memory does. I fear she may never give anyone a fair chance to prove himself to her, though. If I am still alive when he comes along, I’ll have to do my best to convince her that she can let her guard down and risk it all. When you find the right one, it’s so worth it.

When I leave this place, and I am reunited with my Joe and our sweet Ann, I hope Memory and the rest of the family will not spend their tears on me. I will be doing a jig in heaven! And knowing that my life insurance policy is tucked away safely in the desk in the ballroom, and that it will cover all of my final expenses, along with the savings I have kept away, I’m at peace. I could go on home any time, if it were up to me. But I do worry about my Memory. I worry about her so. I wonder if God ever lets His angels come back and do a little mediation work. If so, I will be the first in line to volunteer to redirect my beautiful, bold, mule-headed granddaughter when the time comes. Not that the Good Lord needs any help from me. I’m sure He has just the right fellow picked out for her, and everything will come together in His perfect time.

Memory turned the page and saw that her grandmother switched subjects in the next entry, so that was the end of the message she’d been meant to read. All of the answers she’d been searching for were right there. If only she’d opened the journal sooner.

“What does it say?” Dak asked when he saw she was finished reading.

She closed the book and smiled up at him. “It says I shouldn’t be afraid to fall in love, and if I get too stubborn about it, she’ll come down here and kick me in the pants.”

Laughing, he took a step closer to her. “Is that what it really said?”

“Essentially. That—and where the life insurance policy was. In her desk drawer. Where I looked a million times.”

“And not in her chair?”

“Nope.” Memory put the journal in her pocket, more convinced than ever that Ellie really was Grandma Helen in disguise, returned from heaven to make sure Memory and Dak got together. She might not ever know for sure, but as long as he was with her, the end result was the same.

“Why don’t we go inside and warm up for a little while and then head over to your sister’s for the best Christmas Eve either one of us has ever had?” His arms were back around her now, and Memory placed both of her palms on his chest.

“That sounds like a wonderful idea.” She raised up to reach him, and he tilted down and pressed his lips to hers.

Dak leaned up, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I can recall most of my twenty-seven Christmases, and they’ve all been great, but I have to say, I think the best ones are yet to come. Years from now, when I’m old and gray, I want you with me. I want to think back to this night and how this was the beginning, the very first, of many wonderful Christmases to come.”

She slid her hand up to his cheek, caressing him before resting it on his shoulder as they both moved toward each other until their foreheads pressed together. “Me, too. From now on, I’m your Christmas Memory.”

Dak grinned, his eyes dancing in the reflected gleam from the Christmas lights, and Memory lost herself in his kiss, certain they’d be together for all the Christmases yet to come.

***

Epilogue

Helen perched on the windowsill right outside of the ballroom, Ann on one side and Joe on the other. Coming to earth to visit her family disguised as a bird had taken a little bit of getting used to, but she was glad Michael had agreed to let her drop in from time to time since she’d done such a good job of fixing the meet-cute gone wrong. Of course, he didn’t know Helen had actually been on her way back to heaven when Memory and Dak worked out the final conflict themselves, but none of that would’ve happened if Helen hadn’t taken on the assignment to begin with. As long as nothing else went awry, Helen’s great-great-great-granddaughter would discover a way to virtually eliminate cancer. Of course, that wasn’t Helen’s primary focus for now. She chirped happily as she peered in the window, glad to see the house in even better shape now than it had been when she and Joe had bought it right after they got married.

Inside, her whole family was gathered around the Christmas tree. It was the day after Thanksgiving, and they were hanging the ornaments. Memory had one of her favorites, a red cardinal, and she was laughing as Dak wrapped garland around Lorelei like a boa. The ring on Memory’s finger glinted in the twinkling white lights strung around the tree, and Helen wished birds were capable of smiling because her heart was beaming with love for her granddaughter and the man she’d pledged to live the rest of her life with.

Anson had gone from teetering on wobbly legs this time last year to sprinting around in circles, doing his best to hang silver tinsel from the dog’s ears. Patches barked and leapt around, bouncing back and forth, from side to side, as she allowed the little boy to stroke her head.

“The senior citizens are going to love this tree,” Kirsten said, her hand on her bulging belly. Helen already knew the baby would be another girl, and she couldn’t wait to see the bundle of joy later in the spring. She was hopeful Kirsten would incorporate “Helen” into the baby’s name.

“They really will,” Memory agreed. “Once we’re done with the tree, we can decorate the rest of the room. They’ll be so happy to come back Monday morning and see how beautiful everything is.”

Bryce and Maison shifted the empty decoration containers across the marble floor, and Memory picked up the final box, the one that held the Christmas angel. “Who is doing the honors this year?” Bryce asked, smiling at his daughter.

Memory grinned back at him, lifting the angel out of the box. “I think… Dak should have the honors. If it wasn’t for him, we never would’ve found the insurance policy, restored Grandma’s house, and started the senior citizen center.”

Dak stepped over from where he was playing with Lorelei. “Me? I didn’t do anything. We owe all of that to Ellie.”

“Well, Ellie’s not here,” Memory reminded him. “So… what do you say? Will you put the tree topper on?”

“Yeah, Dak, come on,” Kirsten urged. “The tree looks beautiful. It’s the final touch.”

Dak looked around at the others in the room before he nodded and said, “I’d be honored.”

The rest of the family applauded as he climbed up the ladder, Memory holding the base as she always did when someone was climbing. He stretched to reach the top of the tall spruce and set the angel on the center point, plugging it into a light strand. Cheers and calls of, “Merry Christmas,” filled the home as Dak made sure the angel was straight and then came back down the ladder.

“It looks beautiful,” Kirsten said, wrapping her arm around Maison’s waist as Lorelei and Anson joined them.

“Absolutely gorgeous,” Memory agreed. Dak was back at her side, and she slipped her hand into his.

“Your grandma would be so proud.” Bryce had tears in his eyes, looking at the tree and his beautiful family.

“It’s Ellie!” Lorelei shouted, pointing at the angel. “Look! The angel! It’s her. It’s Ellie!”

“What?” Kirsten asked, but Memory covered her mouth with her free hand, gasping.

“The angel does look like Ellie,” Memory agreed. “Her hair is the same color, and she has the same smile and blue eyes.”

“I told you she was an angel!” Lorelei sang. “We get to spend another Christmas with Ellie!” She giggled, and her daddy picked her up, swinging her around.

“Come on, let’s go get some hot chocolate,” Kirsten suggested. She took Lorelei’s hand and Maison carried Anson out of the room. Bryce followed, Patches running along behind, leaving Dak and Memory alone, save the three birdies on the windowsill they hadn’t noticed.

The sun was setting, and the room was illuminated only by the lights on the Christmas tree and streaks of orange and pink on the horizon, but Helen could plainly see the love in both of their eyes as they turned to face each other, hands intertwined.

“I love you, Memory,” Dak said, drawing closer to her.

“I love you, too. This has been the best year of my life because I got to spend it with you, and I know that this will be the best Christmas, too.”

“I can’t wait to make lots more Christmas memories with you.” He leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. All three birds broke out into a happy song, unable to keep their joy in any longer.

Dak pulled away, and Memory turned her head toward the window. When they realized they had company, both of them laughed. “Hi, Grandma, Grandpa, Mom,” Memory said quietly. “Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas, Memory’s family,” Dak agreed. “Thank you for all of your help.”

The birds tweeted, and flapped their wings. Having seen what they came to, Joe and Ann fluttered away, and Helen lifted up off the sill as well, hanging in the air a moment as Memory turned her face back to the man she loved and the kiss continued. Overjoyed, Helen flew off to join her husband and daughter, satisfied that Memory and Dak would be making happy Christmas memories for decades to come.