“The paramedics have Willy, and we’ve got your uncle,” Kyle said as he straightened.
“Oh,” Kara said, pulling out her cell phone. Nick heard a quick woosh sound as a file was sent to Kyle’s phone.
“Wilbert’s confession. Sorry if it’s a little muffled. My phone was in my pocket,” she said with a smile.
“Damn.” Kyle shook his head as he hit play on the file. They listened as Wilbert clearly confessed to knowing everything that went on in his town. “Well, this will help. Not sure if the courts will like it, but…” He smiled. “It helps. We’ll get out of your way. I just wanted you to know that they won’t be bothering you again. Not for a long time.” Kyle shook Nick’s hand. “Congratulations on the engagement.” He motioned to Kara. “We all were rooting for you two.”
Nick laughed and wrapped his arm around Kara. “Thanks.”
“Merry Christmas.” Kyle nodded.
“You, too,” Kara and he said at the same time.
They stood on the front porch and watched the police cruisers disappear in the distance.
“Well? What are we going to do now?” Kara asked him as she wrapped her arms around him a little tighter. “It’s going to be boring around here without being shot at, hit over the head, burned, and… well, shot at again.” She sighed.
He smiled down at her. “I can think of a couple things that can keep us busy and entertained. If you like living dangerously.”
“Oh?” she asked, her eyebrows going up.
He chuckled. “Sure. How do you feel about kids?”
Epilogue
With the logs crackling in the fireplace, Nick and Kara opened their individual letters from his father later that night.
After reading each of them quietly to themselves, they read them out loud to one another.
“Son,
I’m so proud of the man you’ve become. I wish your mother and I could be around to see you continue to grow. To enjoy seeing you start your own family. I know you always hated my antics, but I hope this last one proves to be worth it. From the day you came back home complaining about the new girl that moved in next door, your mother and I knew that, someday, Kara would be part of our family. I’m just happy you didn’t wait forever like I did.
With all my heart,
Your father”
Nick’s eyes were so wet it was almost impossible to see his father’s signature at the bottom. Then Kara read her note.
“Kara, my dear, hopefully my soon-to-be daughter,
You may not have seen Nick’s mother and I watching you from the moment you moved in next door, but we were there, watching you bloom into the amazing, kind woman you are today. I wish Florence could be here to see your joy when Nick slipped her ring onto your finger. Just know that she always thought of you as the daughter we never could have.
When your folks and I came up with the plan to get the two of you together, I never imagined it would work out so well. Seeing my son’s face each day when he returned from your ranch, I knew he was long gone in love with you long before he did.
Welcome to the family,
Nicholas.
P.S. Feel free to name your first born after me. It’s sort of a tradition.”
“I can’t believe that our parents did this together. That they had been planning it all along,” Kara said after reading the note. “A Secret Santa gift.” She chuckled remembering her mother’s words.
“Secret Santas. All three of them.” He smiled. “I think Liz was right,” Nick said, pulling her close to his side again. “I think the entire town knew about us long before we did.”
She smiled. “So, the last question I have is…” She looked up at him. “Just how many kids were you thinking of having?”
“Well, we have four empty bedrooms.” He brushed his lips across hers. “But I could always add more to the house.”
She laughed. “When do you want to get started on that family?” she purred as he pulled her over him.
He kissed her. “How about right now?”