EVER SINCE KIARA had taken decorating to a whole new level the year before, a percentage of Carey Cove residents had been plotting to unseat her as Queen of Christmas. The result was the village being positively awash with elaborate light installations and ornaments of every style, size, and type, from old-fashioned to new wave.
‘I didn’t know the old village could look this good,’ TJ said, as they stood in the foyer, taking off their outer wear, having just come home from a leisurely stroll down to The Dolphin for dinner. ‘Nothing like a little competition to make things go completely over the top, is there?’
Nya laughed, as Theo replied, ‘We almost had a fistfight the other night, at the tree-lighting ceremony, between Keith Platt and Tony Wednesday, both of whom insisted his light display was best.’
‘Silly men,’ Gillian interjected. ‘Anyone with eyes can tell that Kiara has them beat, hands down. Right?’
The last part was addressed to Hope, who nodded, gazing up at Gillian as though the sun rose and set in the young woman.
Everything was almost perfect, Nya thought, as she headed to the kitchen to put on the kettle, while Theo and the young people moved into the living room. Life was exceptionally good.
It had been nine months since Hope had come to live with them in Carey Cove. Her mother, Willow, had tried her best, but ultimately felt the now one-year-old would be better off in permanent foster care.
But only if Nya and Theo would agree to take her.
‘I want to go back to school,’ Willow had told them, when they’d met to discuss the matter. ‘And, to be honest, I just don’t feel like I can manage her, you know? Will you take her?’
She hadn’t had to ask them twice. Making Hope a permanent part of their family had felt so right.
‘We’ll be her surrogate grandparents,’ Nya had told her. ‘You’ll always be her mum.’
‘And always be a part of our family, too,’ Theo had added, the sentiment bringing Willow to tears.
Gillian and TJ had come to visit not long after Hope had come back to Theo and Nya’s, and Hope had taken one look at Gillian and decided she’d met her idol. She’d gone crazy with excitement when she’d seen Gillian arrive to spend Christmas, and the young woman had been so sweet to Hope. It made Nya happy to see them together.
And when Mum was in the mix, it was even more adorable, since both Hope and Gillian loved being with Iona.
‘There you are,’ Theo said, coming into the kitchen to wrap his arms around her waist and dip in for a kiss. ‘You’re taking a long time.’
She laughed. ‘I’ve been in here for two minutes. You’re awfully impatient.’
‘Well, it seemed longer to me.’
Turning fully into his arms, Nya raised her mouth for another kiss, then said, ‘Good thing I bought you a watch for Christmas.’
‘Ha-ha. You’re so funny.’ Theo’s watch collection was already too big. Then he lowered his voice to ask, ‘Have you heard from Willow?’
That was, in Nya’s opinion, the one fly in the Christmas ointment—Willow’s absence. True to her stated aim, the teen had gone back to school, as well as working at a store in Newquay. She called often to ask how Hope was faring, and had visited a couple of times. When Nya had suggested she come and spend whatever time off she could get over the holidays, she’d said she would let them know. She’d seemed to have enjoyed the previous Christmas spent with them, and had forged a sweet bond with Mum too, but neither Nya nor Theo had heard from her since.
‘Not yet,’ she replied, trying to sound upbeat. ‘Just because it’s already Christmas Eve doesn’t mean she might not turn up.’
Dropping a kiss on the top of her head, Theo agreed.
‘You’re right. And your mum should be here any moment.’ Giving her waist another squeeze and then relaxing his arms, he continued, ‘This is turning into an amazing Christmas. The entire family here, my lovely lady on my arm. I don’t know how it could get any better. Except, maybe, if you’d agree to marry me.’
Nya searched his gaze, trying to sense his mood. Last Christmas he’d told her that, as much as he loved her, he didn’t feel ready to get married again, and Nya hadn’t cared. She knew he loved her, and she’d promised herself that she’d never push him for anything he didn’t want to give.
‘Are you sure, Theo? It’s completely fine for us to be going along the way we are.’
Nya had sold her cottage and moved into Theo’s, and she’d never been happier. She didn’t need a ring to tell her they were made for each other.
‘I am sure,’ he replied. ‘You and Hope are my Christmas miracles, and you would make me the proudest, and happiest, man if you’d agree to be my wife.’
And what could she say to that, except a resounding, ‘Yes!’?
As he pulled her close again and kissed her once more, there was the sound of a commotion in the hall. Their lips parted, but as Mum’s voice and Willow’s, Hope’s shrieks of joy and multiple cries of welcome echoed, Nya knew, without a doubt, they’d found all they could ever desire.
Comfort.
Joy.
Home.
Love.