Page 60 of My Secret Santa Mason

“I don’t know why you would do that when you’re fine right here in town, but to each their own.”

We all laughed, and Lisa squeezed Jake’s arm.

The night continued on like that, each gift revealing more about the connections and friendships within this tight-knit community. Marty Wilson gifted Mayor Johnson a vintage film projector, and Hank Garrison surprised Dr. Susan Harper with a basket filled with handmade soaps, candles, and a cozy blanket. The smiles, the laughter—it was all so genuine, so full of the spirit of Christmas. It made me emotional.

Betty and Sam Thompson had a special gift for their daughter, Sandra—a personalized cookbook. “We can’t wait to see your creations,” Betty said as she hugged her daughter tightly.

And then, it was my turn.

Betty called my name, and I felt a flutter of nerves in my stomach as I stepped forward. I hadn’t been sure who’d drawn my name, but when I looked up and saw Mason stepping onto the stage, my heart skipped a beat.

“Mason?” I whispered, a smile spreading across my face. “What are the odds?”

“It’s this stupid gift-giving thing that started it all,” Mason grumbled, glancing at Rae, but then his face split into a grin. “Not stupid, though. I thought it was, but this…”

He gave me that slow, heart-melting grin of his as he pulled a small wrapped box from his coat pocket. “I got you something,” he said softly, his voice just for me. “Something I think you might need.”

I unwrapped the gift carefully, my fingers trembling slightly. Inside was a sleek, compact self-defense knife—small enough to fit in my bag but powerful enough to make a difference if I ever needed it.

“Mason,” I whispered. “This is… thank you.”

He smiled, his eyes softening. “I’ll always be here to look after you, but I want you to be safe, Cami. No matter what.”

But there was something else in the box, too—something small and delicate. I reached inside and pulled out a simple silver bracelet engraved with the words,For always.

I looked up at Mason, my heart swelling with love. He’d thought of everything—of keeping me safe, of giving me something to carry with me every day that reminded me of him.

“I love it,” I whispered and pressed my lips against his. “I love you.”

I swear I could hear the whole room let out a collective sigh of happiness for us.

Mason’s smile widened as he reached for my hand, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. “I love you, too.”

As we stepped back into the crowd, my heart felt light, full of the warmth and joy of the evening. I wasn’t alone anymore. I had Mason, and I had a community that cared about me. And I had the future I’d always wanted but never would havedreamedof finding this way. It was a future I was excited to face.

I joined Laken next, handing her a beautifully handmade scarf woven in deep shades of blue and green. Rae had helped me pick that out, but along with it was a set of matching jewelry that I’d spent weeks crafting, knowing it was something that would suit her perfectly.

“Oh my God, Cami!” Laken gasped, holding the scarf up to her neck and the earrings against her cheek. “This is gorgeous! Thank you so much.”

I smiled, feeling a sense of satisfaction settle over me. I’d made something with my own hands, and seeing the joy on Laken’s face was all the thanks I needed. This event had been exciting from the start but it was so much more fun than I’d anticipated.

As the big reveal came to a close, Tanner came over to us, his arm around Rae, and little Hunter nestled happily in his arms. The boy had finally fallen asleep after the weekend’s festivities. “Looks like everything wrapped up nicely,” Mason said, his voice warm. His words held double meaning—he wasn’t only talking about the Christmas event.

Tanner nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “It’s over. Time to enjoy the rest of Christmas, man.”

Mason chuckled softly. “Yeah. Time to start thinking about what’s next.” He glanced at me and I grinned up at him. Whatever was next, I wassoready for a life with him.

The crowd began to thin out, and the lights dimmed. Rae turned to us with bright eyes.

“You guys should come to Christmas lunch tomorrow,” she said. “We’d love to have you.”

Mason looked at me, his eyes asking the question without words. I was so glad it came from him—I would have understood if there had been enough people around him for a while. But he wanted to do Christmas with me, and I nodded, smiling at Rae. “We’d love to.”

Rae grinned, wrapping me in another hug before stepping back. “See you tomorrow, then.”

We watched as Rae and Tanner walked off into the night, little Hunter tossed over Tanner’s shoulder with a blanket over him against the cold. Rae pushed the empty stroller and they held each other’s free hand. The love between them was beautiful.

Mason slipped his arm around my waist, pulling me close. “You okay?” he asked softly.

I leaned into him, resting my head against his shoulder. “Yeah,” I whispered, smiling up at him. “I’m more than okay.”

And as we walked through the snow-covered streets of Silver Ridge, hand in hand, I knew that whatever the future held, I’d face it with Mason by my side.

And that was all I needed.