The next hour passed ridiculously slow. It was filled with constant phone checks, a lot of CNN web browsing since I didn’t want the kids to see the crashed airplane on TV. Susan ate three helping of Marie’s eggs, which she tried to get me and Noelle to eat, but we both just pushed them around on our plates and thanked her for the delicious breakfast.

Our coffees went equally untouched.

Susan was now in the living room watching some show about mermaids living on earth and hiding their true identity, but for the life of me I couldn’t remember the name of it. Marie sat beside her, braiding her hair, and Noelle stared straight ahead without blinking. She’d gotten dressed, and every time there was a noise at the door, she jerked and jumped to her feet.

No one was ever there.

I unlocked my phone for the millionth time, checking for any updates or messages. Still no more news on the plane. Still no texts from my husband. Still nothing.

Aggravated, I tossed the phone onto the couch, glancing down at Cory as he scooted on his butt to my feet and touched my leg. “Hey, buddy.”

He smiled up at me, completely oblivious to the pain piercing through me, and tugged on my pants. As I bent down to pick him up, two things happened simultaneously.

One: Noelle’s phone rang.

And two: The front door opened.

We all froze, staring at one another.

“Is it—?” I started.

“It’s him!” she cried, lurching to her feet.

I stood, too, staring at my own phone, willing it to ring.

It wasn’t until Susan stood up, taking off for the door and yelling “Daddy!” that I remembered the door had opened, too. I’d told her Daddy was coming home today before she went to sleep last night, so it was no surprise she assumed it would be him.

Don’t get your hopes up.

Trembling, I slowly followed her. My heart thudded double my footsteps pace. As I rounded the corner, I stopped mid-step, my eyes glued to the man I loved. He held Susan in a bear hug, swinging her in his arms and laughing as she squealed in delight. He stood in the doorway, the smile on his face easily the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life, and I couldn’t look away.

He was so wrapped up in Susan that he didn’t even see me.

“Hey, Pumpkin! I told you I’d be home soon.”

She pulled back and cupped his cheeks with her tiny hands, like he always did to her. “I missed you.”

“I missed you, too.” He kissed her nose. “And your mom and brother. Where are they?” H scanned the foyer, landing on me, and his smile brightened. “There she is.” He started my way, grinning, and whispered to Susan. “Mommy’s turn for some kisses.”

I choked on a sob, covering my mouth.

He stopped dead in his tracks, his jaw dropping. “Why are you crying—?”

Marie hurried in and practically dragged Susan off Finn’s chest kicking and screaming, as he stared at me like he’d seen a ghost. Funny, I felt the same way.

After we were alone, he took a step toward me, his face ashen. “What’s wrong? Did something happen? Is Cory okay?”

“Cory is fine,” I bit off, torn between screaming at him for not calling me and being so frigging grateful he was here and alive that I didn’t dare to be angry. “Everyone is fine, apparently.”

He blinked. “Are you angry with me?”

“Why didn’t you call me back?”

“I didn’t know you called me,” he said slowly. “Our phones were off for the flight, and I was so excited to get here that I just got in the car and waited to see you in person to let you know I was coming home early.”

I choked on another sob, and took off running for him, hitting his chest. “You stupid, stupid man.”

“I—” He jumped in surprise, catching my arms and blinking at me. “What the hell—?”

I sobbed and threw myself into his arms, hugging him so tight that I hurt my arms.

“Carrie, baby.” He smoothed my hair back, hugging me. “Are you okay? What the hell is happening right now?”

I buried my face in his chest and breathed in tight. “I thought you were dead.”

“Dead?” His forehead wrinkled. “What? Why?”

Riley came in behind him, holding his phone. “Apparently our original plane crashed.”

“What?” Finn cried.

“Our wives apparently spent the first part of Christmas Eve thinking we were dead.” He shoved his phone into his pocket and opened his arms. Noelle came out of nowhere, and he caught her effortlessly. Over her head, he looked at me and Finn. “Good news, we’re not. Merry Christmas.”

Noelle half-laughed, half-sobbed.

I just kept hugging my husband, not letting go.

He came home to me.

Finn dragged me away into the formal sitting room for privacy. As we settled onto the chaise lounge, he put me on his lap and kissed me everywhere he could. My forehead. My cheeks. My lips. My chin. My hair. Everywhere he could reach, he kissed, taking away the tears and the pain with each one. After I settled down, he pulled back and cupped my cheeks, staring down at me with a tender smile and an intent look in his eyes that stole my breath away.

“Ginger…” He’d been calling me that since the day we met. Hearing it now was like music to my ears. “I’m so fucking sorry.”

I nodded, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. “I thought I lost you.”

“I never wanted to scare you like that. I had no idea about that plane…I didn’t have my phone on. We got an earlier flight out, and we left in the middle of the night. I didn’t tell you because I wanted to surprise you with my early arrival as part of a Christmas present.”

I laughed, wiping my cheeks even though they were already dry. “Well, you surprised me, all right.”

“Apparently,” he said, grinning. “I’m sorry.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry for.” I touched his chest, my hands trembling. He was real. He was here. He was solid. He was safe. I rested my forehead on his, breathing deep. “You came home to me.”

“Of course I did,” he whispered, his voice deep. “I always will, Ginger.”

I nodded, closing my eyes.

He took the hint and crushed my mouth under his, his tongue expertly finding mine within seconds of me parting my lips. Someone cleared his throat, and we broke apart, laughing.

My dad stood there, looking sheepish. “Guess it’s too late to say surprise?”

“Yeah, a little bit.” I stood, still trembling but for a different reason. “I’m so happy to see you.”

He looked surprised. “Really?”

“Apparently they thought we were dead,” Finn said dryly.

“What?” Mom exclaimed from behind him. “Why?”

I laughed again, dragging Finn along with me by the hand. “It doesn’t matter. You’re not, and we’re all here, together, safe and sound for Christmas.”

Finn put his arm around me. “Of course we are, because we’re family.”

“Yes, we are,” Dad said, pulling Mom close. We all smiled at one another like a sappy Hallmark movie, but I didn’t care. All that mattered was that we were here. “Who wants some hot chocolate?”

Susan called out from the kitchen, “Me!”

“Already making it,” Marie called out.

Finn laughed, and my parents followed their granddaughter’s voice. We hung back a bit, hand in hand, and he looked down at me with the same heat in his eyes that had stolen my breath all those years ago, and continued to do so daily. “I love you, Ginger.”

“I love you, too.”

Leaning down, he pressed his mouth to my ear. “I can’t wait to give you my present tonight.”

Smirking, I winked at him. “Baby, you have no idea how lucky you’re going to be. Santa is definitely visiting you.”

His eyes widened. “Oh really?”

“Really.”

He whistled through his teeth. “Is it time for him to come yet?”

“Soon, my love.” I patted his arm. “Soon.”

We headed into the kitchen, hand in hand, and I knew, in that moment, that I’d gotten a true Christmas miracle today. Even as I reveled in that fact, I thought of the people who didn’t get so lucky on that plane, and their families. I made a mental note to find a way to help them. As he tightened his grip on mine, we walked into the warmth of our family (Riley, Noelle, Marie, Hernandez, Ben, my parents, Riley’s parents) all huddled around the island with mugs in their hands, and I swore in the distance I heard bells ringing as Finn leaned down and kissed me under the mistletoe. “Merry Christmas, Ginger.”

“Merry Christmas, my love.”