Page 74 of Wrapped in You

She wasn't afraid of saying her name. Derek liked that, too.

The final night of the Christmas Festival—a full year after she and Derek had gotten together—Sophie found herself with her mother, father, Cindy, Vic, Annie, and Peter at the chili stand, eating buckets of five-bean chili and watching Randy's band from a distance. Everyone knew that Derek was on his way; he'd texted from the airport to say he'd landed. It meant that everyone was jittery with expectation.

They weren't used to him yet. But Sophie knew they would be. He wasn't going anywhere.

Joe was overly chatty about his recent trip to LA, where he'd met up with Mike, Isaac, and Beck. "They showed me this crazy-cool karaoke spot in West Hollywood," he explained as he swiped through photos. "Mike is so funny. He sang Madonna at the top of his lungs and brought down the house."

Sophie laughed, peering down at the faces of her favorite sound guys, who'd adopted her father as their dear friend. Sometimes they still texted Sophie, teasing her about Derek and asking her how she was. It meant a lot to Sophie. It meant their connection was just as strong as she'd thought.

Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice. "Hi, Masters family!" Jeremy was coming through the crowd with Stacy Rogers on his arm. The rumor was they'd started dating in early summer and gotten serious quickly. Sophie had always liked Stacy. They'd gone to high school together, and she'd played tennis and remembered everyone's birthdays. Now, Stacy carried a big bucket of popcorn and smiled dreamily at Jeremy. When she realized who Jeremy was talking to, she waved, too. Her smile didn't waver.

Sophie had a hunch that Jeremy had told her about their failed romance. He'd wanted to start again; he'd wanted to do better.

It pleased Sophie that he was.

Jeremy and Stacy wandered away and got onto the Ferris wheel. Peter was begging to go on, but Vic told him he was still too little. "Next year, buddy," he said, picking him up.

Sophie's heart swelled.

"Where is that handsome director of yours?" Joe asked, looking at his watch.

Sophie looked at her phone for some sign of him. Instead, she had a message from Cara, Derek's assistant.

CARA: Derek told me he's staying in Willow Creek till summer? Can you confirm?

Sophie winced. Cara wouldn't be happy about that.

But Cara still didn't understand. Not fully.

She would soon. Maybe she wouldn't be thrilled about it. But Derek had worked almost tirelessly for over a year. Didn't he deserve a break?

"I'm here! I'm here!" Derek's voice came through the crowd, and the Masters family twisted around to see him coming. He wore a dark green winter coat, dark brown boots, jeans, and a Christmas sweater—a far cry from the blacks he'd adorned almost exclusively last year. Sophie wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. Again, she heard that familiar, sturdy heartbeat. Again, she smelled his unique scent of sandalwood and cologne.

When she pulled back, Derek reached out to shake Vic's and her father's hands and hug her mother and Cindy. His eyes glinted with tears.

"I'm back at the Willow Creek Christmas Festival!" he cried. "It's the festival that started it all!"

Cindy laughed gently and looked from Sophie back to Derek.

Suddenly, she looked stricken. Her jaw dropped. "Wait a minute."

Sophie's smile burst. It was like Cindy just figured it out.

"There's something up," Cindy blurted.

Mary and Joe gaped at Cindy and then at one another.

"Seriously," Cindy said, snapping her fingers. "I've known my sister forever. And I know she's keeping a secret. They both are!" Her eyes were illuminated with Christmas lights, and all around them was the sound of carnival games and laughter.

Suddenly, Derek burst into laughter. Sophie joined a second later. Their laughter felt uproarious and free and beautiful.

"How do you know?" Sophie asked Cindy, shaking her head as tears came down her cheeks. "How can you possibly tell?"

"Tell what?" Mary cried out.

Sophie took Derek's hand. "Should you tell them? Or should I?"

Derek winked. "You do the honors."

Sophie turned to her parents and sister. She felt on the brink of the rest of her life.

"I'm pregnant," she said. "Derek and I are staying in Willow Creek next year to have the baby."

Suddenly, her entire family swarmed around her and Derek, drawing them close. Sophie's eyes spilled tears, and Cindy was weeping, too. Joe was crying out to everyone, "My daughter's having a baby!"

But there, beneath the group hug, Sophie and Derek continued to hold hands tightly. She knew Derek would never let go. Not for anything.