My Mountain Man Rescuer-Bonus Scene

Ten years later…

The smell of freshly baked cookies wafts through the house and has me out of my study and hurrying down the stairs. Not that I need much reason to get out of the study these days.

I’ve fully transitioned out of the tech company I started over two decades ago, and my sole focus for the last ten years has been the Best Life Foundation and my family.

“You can come down now, Daddy,” Lily, our six-year-old, calls from the stairs. I was banished from the kitchen because the girls wanted to bake surprise cookies for me. But Lily is no good at keeping a secret, and before she closed me in my office, she whispered in my ear that they were making may favorite double chocolate chip cookies.

We’ve got family coming over for lunch, and the kitchen is a dusty mess of flour and cocoa powder with the smell of roasting meat and baked cookies competing for attention.

Lily has chocolate all around her mouth, and Emma, our four-year-old is sitting on the kitchen counter with her head in the bowl, taking licking the bowl quite literally.

Chantelle gives me a wide smile as I come in, and my heart lifts. After ten years, her gaze on me still has the power to make me feel alive.

“They need another ten minutes in the oven.”

Alice, our nine-year-old, is on the couch with her head in a book as usual. She’s exactly like her mother, her dark hair falling over her shoulder and one fingernail in her mouth, chewing absentmindedly.

My heart swells as I look at my family. Chantelle scoops Emma off the counter and points her to the sink to wash up.

“When’s Uncle Chris coming?” Lily asks.

“Anytime now.”

It’s an open door policy at out cabin. Family is invited anytime, and Sunday lunch starts whenever everyone arrives.

Chantelle dumps the cooking bowl in the sink and rubs Emma’s little hands, helping her to get the sticky chocolate off.

The doorbell goes and Lily runs to open it, followed by Emma flicking water everywhere.

“Uncle Chris!” she calls excitedly as she bowls into his legs.

Even Alice puts her book down to greet the visitors. They all love their uncle with his smiling wife and boisterous kids.

While they’re busy at the door, gathering around them, I slink around the counter and slip my arms around my wife.

A smudge of chocolate sits on her cheek, and I brush it off with my thumb. “The cookies smell good.”

“Hmmm, you smell good.”

She kisses me, and my body jumps to life. After ten years, Chantelle still has that effect on me.

I kiss her, a deep kiss that only skims the surface of what I want to do to her. I want to worship her for what she’s given me. Three beautiful daughters and a home full of laughter.

I didn’t think I needed anyone. I thought life as a recluse was all I wanted. But she showed me what love could be. And it’s more than this man ever thought he deserved.

Miriam bustles in behind Chris with her son behind her. He’s back on military leave and carrying her bags in. Miriam’s older these days but still as sprightly, an unofficial grandma to the girls.

Our kids call her nanna, and she laps that up. Today she’s here as our guest, but old habits die hard, and she places a container of baba ganoush and fresh bread on the counter.

“I bought a little something.”

She winks at Chantelle and bustles around the side of the counter, checking in on what help is needed to get the food ready.

It’s a tradition in our cabin. Sunday lunch with the family and whoever else needs to be here. The cabin fills with conversation and kids’ laughter as the girls play with their cousins.

As I pour the drinks, the sting of tears comes at the corners of my eyes. I stop and cough to hide the emotion. I never thought I deserved a family, but I got one, right here on the mountain. I’m the luckiest mountain man alive.