Page 49 of Wintering with George

“Yeah,” I said, leaning in to kiss him.

“How do you feel about March?”

“Do you want a kiss or not?”

“Yes. But I also want to marry you in the spring.”

I smiled at him. “I will marry you in the spring.”

“For beginnings,” he said with a deep sigh.

“For beginnings,” I agreed and was still smiling when he launched himself at me and everyone started clapping.

Once he let me up, I announced to everyone that they were safe and we could all go back home.

“That’s my gift to all of you,” I said, chuckling.

They were all looking at me, and then the questions came fast and furious. Brad was concerned about Vladek and where he’d gone, and when I told him he was in Moscow, he was stunned.

“Really?”

I nodded.

“He was that scared of your friend?”

“He was.”

He seemed hesitant to ask me the obvious next question.

“We won’t ever speak about your loan again,” I told him. “It’s not something that bears repeating.”

“But, George, it⁠—”

“Really,” I insisted. “It’s a dead issue.”

His eyes searched mine. “Okay.”

“Good,” I said with a nod.

To make sure everyone could feel just as certain as I did, and could have the same closure, I called Detective Tunney, put him on speaker, and wished him a merry Christmas.

“Oh yes, merry Christmas to you as well, Hunt. Are you and the family on your way back now that Vladek and his entire organization have disappeared?”

“Probably tomorrow,” I told him.

“Well, not that we’re not all pleased to have Vladek and his syndicate out of Portland, but making some arrests other than those we already have in custody would have been nice.”

“I had no control over that, Detective,” I said honestly. “My family’s safety was my only priority.”

“Of course,” he agreed. “And if you’re ever looking to go into law enforcement, consider how great it would be being near that family of yours.”

“Yessir, I will.”

“Merry Christmas again, son.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Once he hung up, I looked around at all the faces.