Twelve Dates Of Christmas Bonus
This is a two-chapter Bonus Epilogue for readers of The Twelve Dates Of Christmas. It is best read after you’ve finished the entire novel.
Chapter 1
Elena stood in front of the full-length mirror in her aunt’s house, adjusting the delicate straps of her wedding dress one last time. The flowing ivory chiffon caught the late afternoon breeze from the open window, and she’d chosen to go barefoot, just as she’d dreamed. Her mother bustled around behind her, fussing with the simple flower crown of white roses and baby’s breath that held Elena’s loose curls back from her face.
“You look absolutely radiant, sweetheart,” her mother said, tears already threatening to spill. “Your father’s going to cry the moment he sees you.”
Elena smiled, her heart full as she looked at her reflection. She’d never felt more beautiful, more herself, more ready for anything. The simple beach wedding was everything she and Jesse had wanted. Intimate, meaningful, and surrounded by the people who mattered most.
“Is everyone here?” Elena asked, smoothing her hands over the soft fabric of her dress.
“Your sister’s helping Miss Doris with the cake,” her aunt Meredith said from the doorway, beaming with pride. “Your brother’s outside with your father, probably giving Jesse a hard time. And half the island is already gathered on the beach.”
Elena laughed, picturing her protective older brother interrogating Jesse one last time. Her family had fallen back in love with Palmar Island almost as quickly as they’d fallen in love with Jesse. Seeing Elena truly happy had been all the convincing they’d needed.
A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts, and Miss Doris peeked her head inside, her eyes bright with excitement.
“Elena, dear, you look like an absolute dream,” Miss Doris said, clasping her hands together. “The cake is perfect, the flowers are gorgeous, and that young man of yours looks like he might faint from nerves and happiness.”
Elena’s heart fluttered with anticipation. “How does everything look on the beach?”
“Like something out of a fairy tale,” Miss Doris assured her. “The chairs are arranged just right, the flower petals are scattered down your aisle, and the sunset is going to be absolutely perfect. I’ve been watching the sky all day.”
Elena’s sister appeared behind Miss Doris, gorgeous in her soft blue bridesmaid dress. “Ready, sis? Dad’s getting antsy.”
Elena took a deep breath, looking around at the women who had helped shape this perfect day. Her mother, her aunt who had given her a place to heal and find love again, her sister who had flown across the country to be here, and Miss Doris, the woman who had orchestrated this entire love story from the very beginning.
“I’m ready,” Elena said, meaning it completely.
The walk to the beach felt like floating. Elena’s father waited for her at the garden gate, handsome in his navy suit and looking like he was trying very hard not to cry. When he saw her, his face crumpled slightly before he gathered himself.
“My beautiful girl,” he said, offering her his arm. “You look just like your mother did on our wedding day.”
“Don’t make me cry before I even get to the beach,” Elena warned, though she was already blinking back tears.
The short walk down to the beach gave Elena a moment to collect herself. She could hear the gentle music drifting from the ceremony site. A local guitarist was playing the same song Jesse had hummed to her on their boat ride under the stars. As they crested the small dune, Elena’s breath caught.
The beach had been transformed into something magical. White chairs arranged in small, intimate rows faced the ocean, with an aisle of scattered rose petals leading down to where Jesse stood waiting under an arch of driftwood and white flowers. String lights were already beginning to twinkle in the dusky light, and the sun was painting the sky in shades of pink and gold.
But Elena only had eyes for Jesse.
He stood at the water’s edge in a crisp white shirt and khaki pants, his dark blond hair slightly tousled by the ocean breeze. When he saw her, his face broke into the most beautiful smile she’d ever seen, and Elena could see him take a shaky breath. Behind him, his sister Kara stood as his best woman, radiant in a soft yellow dress, with her husband Dan beside her, both of them beaming with joy.
As she walked down the petal-strewn aisle on her father’s arm, Elena felt like she was walking toward her entire future. The familiar faces of their island community smiled at her from the chairs. Mary from the diner, the owner of The Roasted Bean, the librarian, Jesse’s coworkers from the ambulance station. It was a perfect gathering of everyone who had become part of their love story.
When they reached Jesse, Elena’s father kissed her cheek and placed her hand in Jesse’s. “Take care of her.”
“Always,” Jesse promised, his voice rough with emotion.
The Reverend Matthews, who had married three generations of Palmar Island families, smiled warmly at them both. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today on this beautiful beach to witness the union of Jesse and Elena, two souls who have found their way back to each other and to the place they both call home.”
Elena barely heard the opening words, too caught up in Jesse’s eyes, in the way his thumb traced gentle circles over her knuckles, in the sound of the waves providing the perfect soundtrack to their moment.
When it came time for vows, Jesse went first, his voice steady despite the emotion clearly overwhelming him.
“Elena,” he began, “you came back to Palmar Island looking for a fresh start, and you gave me everything I never knew I was missing. Twelve dates to prove love exists, but the truth is, I’ve known love exists since I was sixteen years old and fell for a girl who collected shells and believed in magic. You are my adventure, my home, my everything. I promise to love you through every season, to support your dreams, and to always remember that the best things in life are worth waiting for.”
Elena’s tears were flowing freely now, but she managed to find her voice for her own vows.
“Jesse, you taught me that home isn’t a place. It’s a person. You’ve been patient when I was scared, steady when I was lost, and brave enough to love me even when I couldn’t love myself. You know me better than anyone ever has, and you love me anyway. I promise to choose you every day, to build a life with you that’s full of laughter and adventure and peanut butter sandwiches cut just right. You are my once in a lifetime, and I’m never letting you go again.”
The ring exchange was a blur of happy tears and shaking hands, but when Reverend Matthews finally said, “You may kiss your bride,” Elena felt like her heart might burst with joy.
Jesse’s kiss was soft and sweet and full of promise, and when the small crowd erupted in cheers and applause, Elena felt like she was exactly where she belonged.
The reception in the town square was everything Elena had dreamed of and more. The same space that had hosted the Christmas Market where they’d shared so many dates was now transformed with summer flowers and twinkling lights. Miss Doris’s three-layer wedding cake sat proudly on the central table, decorated with sugar flowers and what Elena suspected were tiny marzipan sea shells.
Elena’s brother gave a speech that made everyone laugh and cry, her sister sang the song Elena had requested, and Jesse’s coworkers from the EMT station presented them with a custom first aid kit “for all their future adventures.”
But Elena’s favorite moment came near the end of the evening, when she and Jesse were swaying to their first dance as husband and wife. The guitarist was playing softly, most of their guests were chatting quietly around the edges of the square, and Elena felt perfectly, completely content.
“So, Mrs. Winslow,” Jesse said, spinning her gently, “how does it feel?”
Elena grinned up at her husband and felt her heart swell with happiness. “Like coming home,” she said. “Like the best adventure is just beginning.”
“Speaking of adventures,” Jesse said, his eyes twinkling with mischief, “You may want to pack your hiking boots.”
Elena raised an eyebrow. “Hiking boots? For our honeymoon? I thought we were staying on the coast.”
Jesse’s grin widened. “Change of plans, Mrs. Winslow. I hope you’re ready for some mountain air.”
Elena laughed, letting him spin her again under the string lights as their island community celebrated around them. Whatever Jesse had planned, she was ready for it. Ready for all of it. The adventures, the quiet moments, the life they would build together.
After all, the best love stories were just beginning.
Chapter 2
Jesse checked his rearview mirror for the third time, watching Elena doze peacefully in the passenger seat as they wound their way up the mountain roads toward Elk Ridge, North Carolina. The drive from Palmar Island had taken them from sea level to elevations that made his ears pop, and Elena had been a good sport about his mysterious “mountain adventure” even when he’d refused to give her any details beyond “pack layers and hiking boots.”
Now, as they climbed higher into the Blue Ridge Mountains, Jesse felt a familiar excitement building in his chest. He hadn’t seen Connor Callahan in almost two years, not since his old friend had made one of his rare trips back to the coast. But their friendship had endured despite the distance, built on those two summers when Connor had worked as a seasonal guide on Palmar Island and they’d spent countless hours on the water together.
“Where are we?” Elena asked sleepily, stretching and looking out at the dense forest of mountain laurel and rhododendron that lined the winding road.
“Almost there,” Jesse said, reaching over to squeeze her hand. “About ten more minutes to Mountain Laurel Lodge.”
Elena sat up straighter, fully awake now. “A lodge? Jesse, this sounds expensive. We talked about keeping the honeymoon simple.”
Jesse grinned, loving how practical his new wife was, even on their honeymoon. “Don’t worry. We’re staying with friends. Well, one friend and his family who happens to run the place.”
“Friends?” Elena asked, curiosity replacing concern. “What friends? You’ve never mentioned friends in North Carolina.”
“Connor Callahan,” Jesse explained, turning onto a gravel road marked with a rustic wooden sign. “He spent a couple of summers on Palmar Island when we were in our early twenties. Worked as a fishing and boat tour guide. We became pretty tight those summers.”
Elena looked intrigued. “And he runs a mountain lodge?”
“His family does. Connor handles all the wilderness guide stuff. Hiking, fishing, camping trips. When I called him about honeymoon ideas, he insisted we come stay with them.”
The lodge came into view as they rounded the final curve, and Jesse heard Elena’s intake of breath. Mountain Laurel Lodge was everything Connor had described and more. The main building was a beautiful log structure with a wraparound porch and flower boxes overflowing with summer blooms. Smaller cabins dotted the hillside beyond, connected by stone pathways that disappeared into the forest. The whole place had a timeless, peaceful quality that made Jesse’s shoulders relax just looking at it.
“Jesse,” Elena breathed, “this is gorgeous.”
“Wait until you meet the family,” Jesse said, parking near the main lodge. “Connor warned me his mom might try to adopt us both before we leave.”
As if summoned by his words, the front door of the lodge opened and Connor Callahan stepped out, looking exactly like Jesse remembered. The man was tall, rugged, with the kind of easy smile that made everyone feel welcome. Behind him came a woman who could only be his mother, her silver-streaked hair pulled back in a practical bun and her face radiating the kind of warmth that immediately made you feel at home.
“Jesse Winslow!” Connor called out, jogging down the front steps. “About time you made it up the mountain!”
Jesse climbed out of the car and found himself pulled into the kind of back-slapping hug that made him remember why he’d missed his old friend so much. “Good to see you, Connor. You haven’t aged a day.”
“Mountain air,” Connor said with a grin, then turned his attention to Elena as Jesse helped her out of the car. “And you must be the woman who finally got this stubborn islander to the altar. I’m Connor.”
Elena smiled, accepting Connor’s offered hand. “Elena. Jesse’s told me so much about you.”
“All lies, I’m sure,” Connor said with a wink, then gestured toward his mother, who had reached them with arms already open for hugs. “Mom, meet Jesse and Elena.”
Evie Callahan was exactly what Jesse had expected from Connor’s stories. She was warm, welcoming, and immediately motherly in the best possible way. She pulled Elena into a hug like they’d known each other for years.
“Welcome to Mountain Laurel Lodge, sweetheart,” Evie said, her voice carrying just a hint of mountain accent. “Connor’s been talking about this visit for weeks. And congratulations on your wedding! How was the ceremony?”
“Perfect,” Elena said, her smile brightening. “Small and intimate, right on the beach at sunset.”
“Sounds absolutely lovely,” Evie said, then turned to Jesse with a knowing look in her eyes. “And you, young man, are even more handsome than Connor described. I can see why Elena fell for you.”
Jesse felt his cheeks warm, but Connor just laughed. “Mom’s been looking forward to meeting you two. Fair warning—she’s already planned out your entire stay.”
“I have not,” Evie protested, though her twinkling eyes suggested otherwise. “I’ve simply made some suggestions. There are so many beautiful places to explore, and this is your honeymoon after all.”
Jesse exchanged a glance with Elena, noting the way her face had lit up at the warm welcome. This was exactly what he’d hoped for. A place where Elena could experience something completely different from their coastal life, surrounded by people who would make her feel like family.
“Why don’t we get you settled in your cabin first,” Evie said, already moving toward their car to help with luggage. “Then we can sit on the porch with some sweet tea and plan out your adventures.”
The cabin Evie led them to was perfect. He loved the cozy log structure with a stone fireplace, a king-sized bed covered in handmade quilts, and a private deck that looked out over the mountains. Wildflowers filled window boxes, and the whole place smelled like pine and wood smoke and something indefinably peaceful.
“This is incredible,” Elena said, spinning slowly to take in the rustic but comfortable furnishings. “Jesse, I can’t believe your friend’s family is letting us stay here.”
Jesse wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder as they looked out at the mountain view. “Connor’s good people. His whole family is, from what he’s told me.”
“I can tell,” Elena said, leaning back against him. “Evie reminds me of Miss Doris in the best way. Like she’s been waiting her whole life to take care of people.”
They spent the afternoon on the main lodge’s porch with Connor and Evie, sipping sweet tea and listening to Evie’s enthusiastic descriptions of all the hiking trails, swimming holes, and scenic overlooks they absolutely had to visit during their stay. Connor chimed in with his own recommendations, his knowledge of the mountains evident in every suggestion.
“There’s a waterfall about two miles up the Laurel Creek Trail,” Connor said, gesturing toward a path that disappeared into the forest behind the lodge. “Perfect for a honeymoon picnic. The pool at the bottom is deep enough for swimming if you’re brave enough for mountain water.”
“How cold are we talking?” Elena asked, making both Connor and Evie laugh.
“Let’s just say it’s refreshing,” Connor said with a grin. “But the hike is worth it even if you don’t swim. Some of the most beautiful views in the area.”
Jesse watched Elena’s face as she listened, noting the excitement building in her expression. She’d always been game for adventure, but seeing her embrace something so different from their ocean life made his heart swell with pride and love.
“What do you think, Mrs. Winslow?” Jesse asked, loving the way Elena’s face lit up when he used her new name. “Ready for some mountain exploring?”
“Absolutely,” Elena said, reaching for his hand. “This is already the perfect honeymoon.”
As the sun began to set behind the mountains, painting the sky in shades of purple and gold, Jesse felt a deep contentment settle over him. Elena was happy and excited, surrounded by the kind of natural beauty that took your breath away, welcomed by people who felt like instant family.
“Tomorrow we’ll start with the waterfall hike,” Connor said as they prepared to head back to their cabin for the night. “I’ll pack you a lunch from Declan’s kitchen. Fair warning though. Once you taste my brother’s cooking, you might never want to leave.”
“Don’t give them ideas,” Evie warned with a laugh. “I’m already planning ways to convince them to move up here permanently.”
Jesse chuckled, but as he looked at Elena’s delighted expression in the fading light, he couldn’t help thinking that Evie might be onto something. Elena had always been happiest when she was discovering something new, and the mountains seemed to be working their magic on her already.
Later that night, as they lay in bed with the windows open to let in the cool mountain air, Elena curled up against Jesse’s side with a contented sigh.
“This was the perfect surprise,” she said, her voice drowsy with happiness. “I can’t believe you planned all this without me knowing.”
Jesse pressed a kiss to the top of her head, breathing in the scent of her hair mixed with the pine-scented mountain breeze. “Connor made it easy. And I wanted to give you something completely different from our usual ocean adventures.”
“I love our ocean adventures,” Elena said, tilting her head to look at him. “But this place is magical in a completely different way. It’s like the mountains have their own kind of peace.”
Jesse smiled, running his fingers through her hair. “Wait until you see the view tomorrow. Connor says it’s one of the most romantic spots in the mountains.”
“More romantic than our beach picnic under the Christmas lights?” Elena asked teasingly.
“Different romantic,” Jesse said, pulling her closer. “Every adventure with you is the best kind of romantic.”
Elena kissed his jaw softly, then settled back against his chest. “I love you, Jesse Winslow. And I love that our story is still being written.”
“Always,” Jesse murmured, listening to the unfamiliar sounds of the mountain night—owls calling in the distance, the rustle of wind through the trees, the complete absence of ocean waves. It was different from their island home, but with Elena in his arms, it felt like exactly where they were supposed to be.
Tomorrow would bring new adventures, new views, new memories to add to their growing collection. But tonight, in this cozy mountain cabin with his wife beside him and the whole future stretching ahead of them, Jesse felt like the luckiest man alive.
Their twelve dates had proven that love existed. Now they had a lifetime to prove it could last forever.
*** The End ***
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading The Twelve Dates Of Christmas and this bonus epilogue. Ready for more? If you’re looking for another Christmas on Palmar Island romance, you’re in luck. There’s an entire series of them waiting for you.
And when you’re done with those, I recommend you check out the Winter Brothers of Palmar Island.
The Winter Brothers of Palmar Island
Happy Reading!