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  However, as they entered the living room, Mia stopped in surprise. Emmitt was not only awake but appeared to be waiting for them. A Santa hat sat atop his head and he wore a red and white sweatshirt over red sweats. “Merry Christmas you two.”

  “Merry Christmas, Mr. Emmitt,” Carter said as he hobbled forward to hug Emmitt. Mia flashed a smile at Emmitt. They had agreed to wait until Carter was a little older to tell him that Emmitt was his birth father, but she knew it must be hard on him all the same.

  “Merry Christmas, bud. You ready to open some presents?”

  “Yeah!” Carter hollered and pumped his fist in the air.

  “Good. Why don’t you and your mom sit on the couch, and I’ll bring the presents to you?”

  Carter nodded and crawled up on the couch. Mia sat beside him and flashed another warm grin at Emmitt. He had really gone all out this morning. He brought over the first gift and Mia enjoyed watching Carter tear into the stack of books.

  “Will you read these to me later, Mr. Emmitt?” he asked.

  Emmitt laughed—a deep, rich laugh as Mia poked Carter in the shoulder. “And what am I? Chopped liver?”

  “You can read too, Mom.”

  His next present was a stack of the newest kid-friendly movies. “To add to our collection,” Mia said.

  “Thank you, Mom.”

  Then came the clothes. Having always been tight on money, Mia was a big proponent of the four gifts for Christmas—something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read. True, movies weren’t something he needed, but it had been such a hard year that she had relented and allowed two wants. Besides, the one thing he needed—a cancer-free bill of health—she couldn’t supply him anyway.

  Finally, came his final present—a new game for him to play. His eyes lit up as he pulled back the paper. “Wow, thank you Mom, but I don’t have a gaming system. What happens when we have to go home?”

  “Actually, can you hold that question for just a second, buddy?” Emmitt asked. He returned to the tree and grabbed a small box from underneath it. Then he returned and held it out to Mia.

  “For me?” She hadn’t had the money to get Emmitt anything, and she certainly hadn’t expected anything in return.

  He nodded. “Open it.”

  Mia tore off the wrapping paper and sucked in her breath when the black velvet was revealed. Her eyes shot to Emmitt’s, but he said nothing—merely smiled and urged her to continue. With trembling fingers, she pulled back the lid and her hand flew to her mouth.

  Emmitt dropped to his knees and took the box from her. He held the ring out to her. “Mia, I am so glad you came back into my life, and I can’t imagine continuing without you and Carter. Will you marry me?”

  “Momma, say yes. Then my Christmas will be perfect,” Carter said, tugging on her arm.

  Mia smiled as a chuckle escaped her lips. “Yes. I will marry you.”

  Emmitt couldn’t stop smiling as he placed the ring on Mia’s finger. He had never imagined when DJ asked them to deal with their old regrets that he would not only reunite with Mia but find out he was a father as well.

  “I know it’s Christmas, but I’d love to get married before the championship game. I want to introduce you to everyone as my wife, so if you are amenable, Anton could marry us in the next few days, and we could have a traditional wedding later when we have more time to plan.”

  Mia blinked at him, obviously in shock. “You want to get married in the next few days?”

  He took both of her hands in his. “I do. We’ve lost five years. Let’s not lose any more.” He hoped she said yes, because he and Anton had already made plans. Anton had filled out the paperwork for his justice of the peace credentials online.

  “I have nothing to wear. No bouquet. No ring for you.”

  “I’ll take care of all of that. We can go pick out a dress in a few days and a bouquet. All you have to say is yes.”

  “Come on, Mom. Please say yes.”

  Mia looked over at her son, who stuck out his lip for good measure, and Emmitt had to bite his lips together to keep from laughing. “Okay, yes, let’s do it,” Mia said.

  Emmitt couldn’t fight the emotions running through his body. He pulled Mia up to his chest, wrapped his arms around her waist, and kissed her. Even though it wasn’t a married kiss yet, in Emmitt’s heart, he knew he had married her five years ago the night he had spent with her. And he knew that having survived what they had already, nothing was going to keep them apart this time.

  “I’m afraid I didn’t get you anything,” Mia said when she pulled back.

  “Yes, you did. You said yes. That’s the best Christmas gift you could ever give me.”

  “Ever?” she asked with a teasing glint in her eyes.

  He caught her innuendo and pulled her close once again. They would do it right this time, but like her, he wanted more children. And this time, he wanted to be there with her every step of the way.

  The Epilogue

  Emmitt thought his nerves had been on end before the championship game, but that was nothing compared to the fear, hope, and love coursing through him right now. They had won the game in the final two seconds, and that night had been euphoric. Hoisting DJ on his shoulders for the last time with Jett, having Mia and Carter meet him on the field, introducing her to everyone as his wife had all been amazing life-changing memories, but this was so much more.

  He grasped Mia’s hand and squeezed. The eyes she turned on him swam with fear, but she forced a brave smile as she returned his squeeze. Today was the day they would find out the results of Carter’s latest scan.

  After ten weeks of treatment and countless nights with no sleep as one of them sat up with him or both of them prayed over him, he had undergone surgery to remove the tumor from his bone. Not the way he had wanted to celebrate his birthday, but the doctors had insisted they got it all. They even added that it had been a relatively small piece of his bone, which meant that while he would never play professional football like Emmitt, he might be able to walk without a limp, maybe even run.

  But then there had been four more weeks of treatment. Those had been even harder because not only was Carter’s body tired of the toxic chemicals coursing through him, but his young brain couldn’t process the why. To him, the tumor had been removed, so why did he have to keep doing the thing that made him sick? Getting him to the hospital had been a constant battle, and nerves in the house had run high.

  Dr. Goodwin closed the file and folded her hands together. She took a deep breath and then lifted her eyes to meet theirs. “Mr. and Mrs. Brown—”

  Emmitt felt the invisible cord around his heart squeeze. He didn’t think Mia and Carter could handle it if the news was bad, and not having a solution for them would tax him as well.

  “I’m pleased to say that Carter’s scans came back negative.”

  Negative? Did she say negative? Emmitt glanced over at Mia. Tears ran down her face and her shoulders bowed forward as if bearing a heavy burden. Was she happy? Sad?

  “We will want to monitor him and re-scan every six months, but for now I can say that Carter’s cancer is in remission.”

  “Remission.” The word felt like honey on his tongue. “He’s cancer-free?”

  Dr. Goodwin smiled and nodded. “He is.”

  “Praise God!”

  “So no more treatments? No more chemo?” Mia’s voice was quiet and small next to him.

  “Not for now, and as long as his scans come back clean, he won’t have to undergo them again.”

  “Thank you, Dr. Goodwin.”

  “You’re very welcome. These appointments are my favorite by far. I’ll give you a few minutes to process your emotions and then I’ll be back with Carter.”

  As she left the room, an enormous sob escaped Mia’s lips. Emmitt pulled her to his chest. He knew the emotions were of joy and not sadness, but he also knew she needed to let the tears fall.

  He held her until the tears ceased, and then he w
iped the traces from her cheek. “Are you ready to give Carter a hug?”

  “Almost,” she sniffed. “I just have to tell you one thing first.”

  Emmitt held his breath as the cord around his heart squeezed again. Did she have her own bad news? Had he misread her tears? “What is it?”

  “We’re pregnant.”

  With a cheerful laugh, Emmitt pulled her to her feet. Yes, winning the championship game had been amazing, but this day definitely took the cake.

  “Momma, Daddy, I’m cancer free,” Carter said as the door opened and he limped across the room to them.

  “We know, buddy,” Emmitt said, lifting him into the air. “What a glorious day!”

  “It’s the best day ever!” Carter said with a wide smile, and Emmitt couldn’t agree more.

  The End!

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  Afterword

  Author’s Note

  First off, let me say how glad I am that you read this book. I so enjoyed working with the other authors to create this series. So much so that I have three more football books planned. I hope you’ll continue the journey by following Tucker Jackson to the Texas Tornados.

  I’ve been a football fan since the age of four. I’m from Texas so football is king down there. I used to watch every Sunday with my father, and when I was in college, I actually got to attend a game at the old Cowboy stadium. I haven’t made it to the new one yet, but it’s on my bucket list.

  I grew up watching football when the Dallas Cowboys were a powerhouse – Troy Aikman, Michael Irving, and of course my favorite Emmitt Smith. As I said in the note at the beginning, I loved Emmitt’s drive and the fact that he earned a degree and didn’t just rely on his football talent. Turns out he’s not a bad dancer either if you watched him win Dancing With the Stars.

  So, if you’ve enjoyed reading this author’s note so far (and really, how could you not?) I am offering, for today only, a page where you can sign up for my weekly newsletter for the low, low price of absolutely nothing.

  Included in this weekly newsletter is many wonderful things like pictures of my adorable children, chances to win awesome prizes, new releases and sales I might be holding, great books from other authors, and anything else that strikes my fancy and that I think you would enjoy.

  Also by Lorana Hoopes

  The Story Doesn’t End

  You’ve met a few people and fallen in love…. I bet you’re wondering how you can meet everyone else.

  Star Lake Series:

  When Love Returns: The first in the Star Lake series. Presley Hays and Brandon Scott were best friends in High School until Morgan entered their town and stole Brandon’s heart. Devastated, Presley takes a scholarship to Le Cordon Bleu, but five years later, she is back in Star Lake after a tough breakup. Brandon thought he’d never return to Star Lake after Morgan left him and his daughter Joy, but when his father needs help, he returns home and finds more than he bargained for. Can Presley and Brandon forget past hurts or will their stubborn natures keep them apart forever?

  Once Upon a Star: The second book in the Star Lake series. Audrey left Star Lake to pursue acting, but after an unplanned pregnancy her jobs and her money dwindled, leaving her no option except to return home and start over. Blake was the quintessential nerd in high school and was never able to tell Audrey how he felt. Now that he’s gained confidence and some muscle, will he finally be able to reveal his feelings? Once Upon a Star will take you back to Christmas in Star Lake. Revisit your favorite characters and meet a few ones in this sweet Christmas read.

  Love Conquers All: Lanie Perkins Hall never imagined being divorced at thirty. Nor did she imagine falling for an old friend, but when she runs into Azarius Jacobson, she can't deny the attraction. As they begin to spend more time together, Lanie struggles with the fact Azarius keeps his past a secret. What is he hiding? And will she ever be able to get him to open up? Azarius Jacobson has loved Lanie Perkins Hall from the moment he saw her, but issues from his past have left him guarded. Now that he has another chance with her, will he find the courage to share his life with her? Or will his emotional walls create a barrier that will leave him alone once more? Find out in this heartfelt, emotional third book (stand alone) in the Star Lake series.

  The Heartbeats Series:

  Where It All Began: Sandra Baker thought her life was on the right track until she ended up pregnant. Her boyfriend, not wanting the baby, pushes her to have an abortion. After the procedure, Sandra's life falls apart, and she turns to alcohol. Her relationship ends, and she struggles to find meaning in her life. When she meets Henry Dobbs, a strong Christian man, she begins to wonder if God would accept her. Will she tell Henry her darkest secret? And will she ever be able to forgive herself and find healing? Find out in this emotional love story.

  The Power of Prayer: Callie Green thought she had her whole life planned out until her fiance left her at the altar. When her carefully laid plans crumble, she begins to make mistakes at work and engage in uncharacteristic activities. After a mistake nearly costs her her job, she cashes in her honeymoon tickets for some time away. There she meets JD, a charming Christian man who, even though she is not a believer, captures her interest. Before their relationship can deepen, Callie’s ex-fiance shows back up in her life and she is forced to choose between Daniel and JD. Who will she choose and how will her choice affect the rest of her life? Find out in this touching novel.

  When Hearts Collide: Amanda Adams has always been a Christian, but she's a novice at relationships. When she meets Caleb, her emotions get the best of her and she ignores the sign that something is amiss. Will she find out before it’s too late? Jared Masterson is still healing from his girlfriend’s strange rejection and disappearance when he meets Amanda. She captivates his heart, but can he save her from making the biggest mistake of her life? A must read for mothers and daughters. Though part of the series and the first of the college spin off series, it is a stand alone book and can be read separately.

  A Past Forgiven: Jess Peterson has lived a life of abuse and lost her self worth, but when she is paired with a Christian roommate, she begins to wonder if there is a loving father looking down on her. Her decisions lead her one way, but when she ends up pregnant, she must make some major changes. Chad Michelson is healing from his own past and uses meaningless relationships to hide his pain, but when Jess becomes pregnant, he begins to wonder about the meaning of life. Can he step up and be there for Jess and the baby?

  Sweet Billionaires Series:

  The Billionaire’s Secret: Maxwell Banks was the ultimate player until he found himself caring for a daughter he didn't know he had. Can he change to become the role model she needs? Alyssa Miller hasn't had the best luck with past relationships, so why is she falling for the one man who is sure to break her heart? Though nearly complete opposites, feelings develop, but can Max really change his philandering ways? Or will one mistake seal his fate forever?

  A Brush with a Billionaire: Brent just wanted to finish his novel in peace, but when his car breaks down in Sweet Grove, he is forced to deal with a female mechanic and try to get along. Sam thought she had given up on city boys, but when Brent shows up in her shop, she finds herself fighting attraction. Will their stubborn natures keep them apart or can a small town festival bring them together?

  The Billionaire’s Christmas Miracle: Drew Devonshire is captivated by the woman he meets at a masquerade ball, but who is she? Gwen Rodgers is a teacher, but when she pretends to be her friend and meets Drew at a masquerade ball, her world gets thrown upside down.

  The Billionaire’s Cowboy Groom: Carrie
Bliss finally found the man she wants to marry but there’s just one little problem. She’s technically still married. Cal Roper hasn’t seen her in years but his heart still belongs to his wife. When she returns to town requesting a divorce, can he convince her they belong together?

  The Cowboy Billionaire: Coming Soon!

  The Lawkeeper Series:

  Lawfully Matched: Kate Whidby doesn't want to impose on her newly married brother after their parents die, so she accepts a mail order bride offer in the paper. Little does she know the man she intends to marry has a dark past, sending her fleeing into a neighboring town and into Jesse Jenning's life. Jesse never wanted to be in law enforcement, but after a band of robbers kills his fiancee, he dons the badge and swears revenge. Will he find his fiancee's killer? And when Kate flies into his life, will he be able to put his painful past behind him in order to love again?

  Lawfully Justified: William Cook turns to bounty hunting after losing his wife. When he suffers a life-threatening injury, he is forced to stay in town with an intriguing woman. Emma Stewart has moved back in with her widowed father, the town doctor, but she still longs for a family of her own, so no one is more surprised than she is when she starts to develop feeling for the bounty hunter, who hides his heart of gold behind a rugged exterior. Can Emma offer William a reason to stay? Can William find a way to heal from his broken past to start a future with Emma? Or will a haunting secret take away all the possibilities of this budding romance?

  The Scarlet Wedding: William and Emma are planning their wedding, but an outbreak and a return from his past force them to change their plans. Is a happily ever after still in their future?