Final Author's Note: Wow. Fifty chapters, and we've reached the end of this journey. What started as a few scenes saved in email drafts on my phone turned into the most fun quarantine project. Writing has always been a therapeutic creative outlet for me, but until this story, I've never shared my writing with anyone. I so greatly appreciate every reader and everyone that took time to leave a review! Your kind words mean so much to me, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I've had the epilogue written for a couple of months, and then Christmas morning, I woke up and outlined a completely new one in about fifteen minutes. This new one feels like the perfect ending to this story.
Again, please send me your requests/ideas for Sweet Home Chicago: The One-Shots. I hope to have the first one posted in a week or so, and at some point I may post the original epilogue there.
I hope you enjoy this glimpse of post-retirement life for Hank as we say goodbye by jumping into the future.
Thank you again.
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Chapter 50-The Epilogue
A year and a half later…
It was Christmas morning, and Hank was lost in a very fun dream involving himself, his wife, and a kid-free evening, when he was suddenly awakened by Jenna shoving his shoulder.
"Wake up!" Jenna said, her voice muffled by the pillow over her head.
Hank sighed. "Jen, I know it's Christmas morning, but why are you waking me up so early?" he asked.
Jenna briefly moved the pillow away from her face. "Because your daughter has been awake for the last half hour singing Jingle Bells in her bed." She groaned and pulled the pillow back over her head as Emerson loudly began the song's chorus, the only part she knew, for what seemed like the hundredth time.
"Why is she always my kid when she does things like that?" Hank asked, covering his face with his hand.
"Because waking up early in the morning is a trait she clearly didn't inherit from me, so this must be your fault."
Hank chuckled, knowing his wife had never and would never be a morning person. "Yeah, you're probably right."
"I can't believe you slept through it."
Hank pulled the pillow off of Jenna's head, leaning close to whisper in her ear. "Maybe because you kept me up late last night," he said, kissing her cheek. "Merry Christmas, Jen."
Jenna sighed, flipping over on her back, covering her face with her arms. "Merry Christmas," she said softly, attempting to fully wake herself up.
As Emerson restarted Jingle Bells once again, Jenna said, "Oh my goodness, go get your daughter!"
Hank laughed, climbing out of bed and going to get his baby girl, who was standing up in her crib waiting for him. Emerson squealed when she saw her daddy, holding up her hands, asking to be picked up. "Merry Christmas, little one," Hank said, as he scooped her up.
"Daddy Daddy Daddy!" Emerson said, throwing her arms around his neck.
"I think someone might have come to visit while you were asleep last night. Let's go find Momma, and we'll go check it out."
"YAY!" Emerson said.
Before they stepped into Hank and Jenna's bedroom, he softly said, "Emmie, please stop singing or Momma may kick both of us out of this house."
Jenna was sitting up in bed when Hank opened the door. Seeing her mom triggered another excited squeal from Emerson, and Jenna finally cracked a smile as Hank gently tossed their giggling girl on the bed next to her.
"Good morning, baby girl," Jenna said as Emerson crawled over and wiggled her way into her mom's arms. As Jenna climbed out of bed with her, she said, "Let's go see if Santa came to visit us last night."
Hank and Jenna followed a bouncing Emerson into the living room. When Emerson saw the evidence that Santa had visited them, she whipped around to look at her parents and gasped dramatically.
"Momma!" she said, as she put her hands on her cheeks, overwhelmed with surprise.
Jenna imitated her daughter's stance. "I know!"
Emerson rushed back over to Jenna, holding up her arms and dancing around, asking to be picked up. Jenna carried her over to the plate they'd left Santa's cookies on, along with an empty glass of milk.
"Look Emmie! Santa ate the cookies and drank the milk you left him!" Jenna said.
"Oh my!" Emerson exclaimed.
"Maybe next year, we can leave a glass of whiskey for Santa instead of milk," Hank said softly, chuckling when Jenna rolled her eyes. He smiled as he watched Jenna walk Emerson around the room, looking at the packages and things left behind by Santa. His almost-two-year-old's excitement was contagious, and he was overcome with a deep thankfulness for her presence in his life, as well as for Jenna's.
Their last year and a half together had been even better than he could've ever imagined. He'd worried that retirement would get boring for him without having a daily routine and a job that needed him. Instead, every day he was faced with a new adventure as he watched his little girl grow. He'd been incredibly lucky to be present for her all of her firsts; first laugh, first crawl, first word, and first steps. When her first birthday arrived, he'd shed a few tears, so grateful he'd been there for all of the important milestones, as well as for the day-to-day life. Getting to be home with her was truly the greatest gift he'd ever received.
Moments later, Erin and Jay walked through the front door. Emerson wiggled out of her mother's arms and rushed over to Jay, her current favorite person. She grabbed his hand, dragging him over to show what Santa did, starting with the empty cookie plate. "Wook Jay!"
Hank put his arm around Erin, pulling her into a hug. "Merry Christmas, kiddo."
"Merry Christmas, Hank. How on earth does your child have so much energy this early?" Erin asked.
"I'm sure you would have just as much energy if you weren't carrying around another person," Hank said, gesturing toward Erin's 35-week baby bump.
Erin cradled her bump. "Maybe. I think this little guy is bummed he's missing the fun this year, because he kept me up alllllll night."
"I'm sorry baby," Jenna said, hugging Erin. "I know how difficult those last few weeks can be. But we're glad you're here."
"Thank you for insisting that we wear comfortable pajama pants today," Erin said. "I think pajamas are all I'm going to be able to wear until this baby comes."
Jenna laughed. "You're welcome, Sweetie."
Erin playfully elbowed Hank. "I'm surprised she got you into these matching pajamas," she said with a smirk.
"I can live with red and black plaid. I'll draw the line if she gets too carried away," Hank said.
"Yeah yeah," Erin said, elbowing him again. "Next year if she tells you to wear a hooded onesie, I'm sure you will."
Hank's face turned very serious. "Never."
"We'll see about that," Jenna said, walking past them into the kitchen.
Erin moved to sit on the couch, and Emerson rushed over, throwing her arms around Erin's neck. "Hi Ewin!" She released Erin before gently wrapping her arms around Erin's stomach, laying her head on the baby. "Hi Baby," Emerson said before planting a kiss on Erin's bump.
Erin took Emerson's hand, holding it against her stomach until they both felt the baby kick. Emerson gasped, looking up at Erin.
"Did you feel that?" Erin asked. When Emerson nodded, Erin said, "I think it was Baby Parker telling you Merry Christmas, and that he can't wait to come out and play with you soon!"
Emerson giggled as she felt another kick from the baby, and Hank, who'd been watching the exchange from across the room, fought back tears. Even though it was early in the morning, this was already turning out to be the best Christmas of his entire life.
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Hank was unable to wipe the smile off of his face all day, truly enjoying Christmas through the eyes of his daughter. Emerson was genuinely excited for every gift she opened, as well as every gift opened by the rest of the family, cheering as each package was opened. After every bite of her Christmas lunch, Emerson would let out a big "yummmmm", as if it was the best meal she'd ever eaten.
In the afternoon, when Erin and Jay had returned home, and Emerson had worn herself out from all of the Christmas excitement, Hank found himself in bed with his wife asleep on his shoulder and his baby asleep on his chest. He cradled them both against him, relishing the quiet moments with his family after the busyness of the holiday.
A couple of hours later, Jenna started stirring. He gently rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head, easing her back into consciousness.
"Hey," Jenna mumbled sleepily.
"Hey," Hank whispered. "Sleep good?"
Jenna nodded against his chest. "Em still asleep?"
"For now," Hank said, kissing the top of her head again. "So has it been a good Christmas for you?"
Jenna looked up at him. "The best," she said, smiling at him.
"For me too. This has been a pretty incredible day."
"Can you believe there will be another baby in the family next Christmas? Another grandson?" Jenna asked.
Hank shook his head. "Our family is growing so fast. I can't wait to see Erin and Jay as parents, and I'm sure Em is going to be thrilled to have a new playmate."
"They'll be great parents."
After a few minutes of silence, Hank said, "Do you realize that in about three months, it will be five years since we met?"
"It's crazy how fast the time has gone, but at the same time, it's hard to remember life without you," Jenna said, her eyes filling with tears.
"Any regrets about uprooting your life and moving halfway across the country?"
Jenna rose up to look at him. "Not a single one. Do you ever regret coming into my bakery?"
Hank pulled her close and kissed her deeply. "It's one of the best decisions I've ever made. I wouldn't trade what we have for anything in the world."
"I love you," Jenna said as a tear rolled down her face.
Hank kissed her again. "And I love you, and I love our family, and I love our life."
As Jenna snuggled back up against him, drifting off to sleep again, Hank closed his eyes as the last five years played out like a movie in his mind. Before he met Jenna, his life had been stuck in a never-ending cycle of work and sleep. In those days, he was existing, but he wasn't living. Then, with one call over the radio, Jenna's path collided with his, knocking him off course, and starting him on a journey he'd never expected. Now, almost five years after that fateful day, thanks to Jenna, Hank had a child, a family, and a life.
While he didn't know what the future held for his little family, as long as they faced life together, clinging to each other, there was no challenge they couldn't overcome. No matter where life took them, Hank knew his home would always be with Jenna.
For him, that would always be enough.
The End.