Jonah hides his face in her neck and savors the feel of being in her arms. “I love you too, Mama.” They sit like that for a moment unaware that Victor is watching from the doorway. “Do I get some of that?” He asks quietly.
“Daddy, it’s here!” He says, holding the book up for him to see. Victor leans down and kisses Summer softly on her forehead, before sitting next to Jonah.
“Let me have a look at this.” When he reads the dedication, he is touched. He traces his fingers over the words.
“Mrs. Yates, every day with you seems to be Christmas.” Summer blushes and looks at Jonah.
“Uncle Alex will be here soon, Jonah, and he might have more surprises,” she teases.
“Yes, I'm gonna get him and Seth. I hid snowballs.” His giggles are contagious, and Victor can't help but laugh out loud.
“Go get them, tiger,” he chuckles, “make ‘em scream like girls.”
Summer laughs as Jonah runs screaming from the room for the front door.
“Don’t forget your gloves!” Summer fusses.
“You sound more like a mother, every day,” Victor says, pulling her back against his chest.
She spins in his arms, “Well, Mr. Yates, if we keep up like last night, we will have a house full soon.”
“Ahh, don't tease me, love. You know practice makes perfect.”
“I am a perfectionist, husband. I won’t stop until I get it right.” Summer is laughing as he kisses her deeply.
Outside the sound of screams and laughter explodes as Alex and Seth arrive. “Uh-oh, the snow wars of 1869 have begun.”
“I'm sorry to love you and run, but my son needs me.” She is still laughing as he runs from the room.
Summer walks over to look at her book. Isn’t it odd how the things we think are so important, end up not defining us in the end? Her work with the hospital and immigrants have filled a gap in her soul that she didn't even know existed. Her flyers are going out faster than ever, and the city of Boston is implementing a program similar to hers, in her father's name. Alex has been staying in Boston while he settles their father's estate.
Alex watches Summer from the doorway and waits for her to hear him. “You escaped?” she asks.
“The little monster was waiting for us,” Alex says with a chuckle. “Seth is helping them build a snowman.”
“I wish we had more time together.” Summer turns to look at him.
“I have been thinking about that, and I have decided to stay. I am quite intrigued by this country, and I was offered a job with a law firm in New York.”
Summer squeals and runs to him. “Really, I was praying you would say that!” Tears of joy filled her eyes. “What about Seth?”
“It turns out that Scotland Yard has a use for an agent in the America’s,” he answers with a grin.
Her sniffle alerts him, “What’s all this? My news is supposed to make you happy, not sad.”
“I’m so happy, Alex. All of my dreams are coming true, even the ones I didn’t know I had. How is it possible to be so happy?”
“Don’t question the joy, Summer, and never stop dreaming.”
“I won't Alex, but you better watch out, or I will start dreaming for you!”
Later, after Summer and Victor love each other into exhaustion, they talk about dreams. Dreams for the future. She rests on his chest with her hands tracing circles, his hands are in her hair stroking its softness.
“Are you happy, Summer?”
His question surprises her, and she leans up to look at him, “I'm deliriously happy.”
“What happens now that your dreams are a reality?”
“We dream new dreams, bigger dreams, and we live happily ever after, of course.”
The End
Before you go!
If you enjoyed this title
You might want to check out
Another book by Lynn:
Dust & Dreams
About the Author
Lynn Landes is the author and independent publisher of multiple fantasy books in all age brackets. Her stories span the spectrum of Romantic Fiction from paranormal, romantic suspense to Christian fantasy including the best-selling Covenant Series.
Educated as a teacher Lynn never lost her love for literature and began writing at an early age. Poetry, short stories and fiction. She regularly can be found in the car rider line at her children’s school writing on receipts, napkins or whatever scraps are at the bottom of her purse. A Virginia girl at heart, she lives with her husband and three children in South Carolina, where she is currently studying Dragon Script with her seven year old daughter.
