Epilogue. Christmas Day.
I haven’t felt this excited waking up on Christmas morning since I was a kid. I get ready as fast as I can. Both Aunt Mariah and Jimmy smirk as they watch me shovel down my breakfast. It was good catching up with Jimmy last night after I got home. We are only a year apart in age and were close whenever my family came to the farm to visit.
My aunt and uncle don’t like to exchange presents until after church, so I’m free to head straight to Ashlyn’s.
With Aunt Mariah’s permission, I pick some red geraniums out of her garden to give to Ashlyn. She gives me a ribbon to tie around them.
Nerves assault me the whole drive next door. Ashlyn meets me on the veranda, Belle sitting by her feet. I couldn’t bring Rusty this morning as we are heading straight to church from here, and Belle whines her displeasure as I give her a quick pat.
Frost is snuggled around Ashlyn’s chest once more. I greet her with a kiss, and hand her the flowers.
“Thank you.” She lifts them to her nose. “From Aunt Mariah’s garden?”
“I asked permission.”
She laughs. “I’m glad she gave it.”
We go into the kitchen, and she places the flowers in a vase. I’m already starting to sweat—nothing like it was on the other world. Thankfully, Ashlyn has the air con going.
“How did he go last night?” I ask, inclining my head towards Frost.
“Once I let him sleep with me, he slept all night and didn’t stir. I just fed him so he’s asleep again.” She gazes down at him, love shining over her face. “The care manual said that after about six weeks, he’ll fully wake and be active, so I should enjoy this time while it lasts.”
“He won’t be too much trouble, though, when he wakes up, will he?”
“No worse than a puppy. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to be pets.”
I nod, relief washing over me.
“Do you want a coffee?”
“I’m good.”
Ashlyn nods and indicates the lounge room with her head. “Let’s go to the tree, your present is underneath there.”
When she hadn’t given me one at Lyndaria’s, I had mildly wondered if I was getting one, but the fact she wanted to be with me was present enough.
She grabs a present from beneath the tree and hands it to me. “I didn’t want to give you this in front of everyone. Sorry you had to wait.”
She sits on the lounge and I sit beside her.
“You didn’t have to get me anything.” I lean towards her. “You are gift enough.” I kiss her.
“Jesus is gift enough.”
“True.”
“And of course I wanted to get you something. I bought it at the market before you told me you loved me but…well, you’ll see.”
Curiosity piqued, I rip open the paper. I’m floored as I stare at the painting in my hand. It’s of us, perfect as a photograph, looking at each other like two people in love.
“How?” Is all I can ask.
“There was a memory artist at the market. With a touch of my hand, the artist could see what I wanted them to paint. He was an enhanced artist too, and had it delivered to me the morning of the wedding.”
“Are there lots of different abilities on Eroania? I mean, do people have superpowers?”
She cracks a smile. “Not superpowers, but there are some gifted. Like the artist. There are prophets and people who can lull animals to sleep with their singing, things like that.”
“Do you have any of those gifts?”
“I was a princess,” is all she says, and a part of me wishes I read her biography, but she’ll tell me more when she is ready. I look down at the painting. “I might be wrong, but, Ashlyn Sorrows, in this picture, this picture painted before the wedding, it looks like you’re in love with me.” I look up to see a shy smile spread across her lips.
“Of course I am, Sam. And I was then. I just wasn’t sure if you’d ever want to be more than friends with someone like me.”
“As if I wouldn’t. You’re smart, beautiful, kind…”
“I mean, from another world.” Her eyes drop to Frost.
I take her hand. “I was never sure that you’d want a simple farmer like me.”
Her eyes meet mine. “There is nothing simple about you, Samuel Evans.”
“Well, it looks like both of us accept each other the way we are, and praise God, because I couldn’t go another minute without doing this.” I lean in and kiss her and she sinks into me.
She is the first to pull away. “We need to get to church.”
I clear my throat. “Right.” As much as I just want to stay here kissing Ashlyn, today is all about celebrating Christ, and I can’t lose sight of that.
Ashlyn stands. “Thistle is going to watch Frost for me again.”
I follow Ashlyn out to the stable. She might be from two different worlds, but there’s no other woman for me than Ashlyn Sorrows on either of them. My heart is hers and I’m willing to go wherever she wants to take it.
(And that’s a wrap! Thank you to everyone who has followed along. I hope you enjoyed Sam and Ashlyn’s story.)
© Rochelle L. Sharpe, 2026.