“Oh, thank goodness! He’s there!” Isabella pointed to the dog’s outline in the blowing snow. The concerned cab driver who picked her up outside the New Beginnings Shelter had agreed to drive Isabella around, as long as the weather permitted. But, as they’d gotten closer to Jordan and Emily’s neighborhood, the visibility decreased measurably. He had just told her he’d have to drop her off at home.
“Well, how’s that for a Christmas miracle,” the driver replied.
“So it seems,” Isabella agreed, amazed to find the dog waiting at the front door of Jordan’s house. He must have followed Emily over here, and gone unnoticed in their rush to get to the party. Poor thing.
Isabella wished the cab driver a Merry Christmas and gave him a generous tip before he drove off. The cold wind and the urgency to secure the dog had her running up the sidewalk. The friendly canine stood and greeted her with a whimper and wag of his tail as Isabella reached him.
“So, you couldn’t wait until Christmas morning to come home, hmm? Come on, let’s get you warmed up, sweetie.”
The dog barked and Isabella ushered him into the house. She shut the door behind them quickly, then flipped the light switch. She realized immediately the power was out.
“Damn!”
The dog whined in the darkness and Isabella settled him into a sitting position by the door. She laid her pocketbook on the dining room table and collected a pillar candle, then went in search of a match on the fireplace mantel. She lit the candle, illuminating the living room with a warm glow. She thought about her conversation with Abby before Emily’s phone call.
They were coming over tonight.
The dog whined and she whistled for him to come to her. When he just sat there, staring at the door, she cupped the flame with her hand and walked over to him, setting the candle on the foyer table.
“What is it, boy? You’ve been outside all night!”
The dog stood up happily, wagging his tail and doing an excited circle around her. He scratched at the front door. Isabella assumed he had to relieve himself.
“What am I going to do with you? It’s a blizzard out there.” She’d given Emily the only leash she had. “All right, I’ll just have to hold on to your collar. You better make this quick.”
But first, she’d have to get her snow boots from the guesthouse. She looked down at the whining dog. “I’m not having you pull me around in my heels. Stay here, I’ll be right back.”
She hurried to the guesthouse, slipped on her snow boots, then rushed back through the breezeway, her exposed legs nearly frozen from the short walk. She didn’t anticipate Tyler’s dog being right there when she opened the side door to get in. Before she realized what was happening, he pushed past her. He ran around to the front of the house, toward the road.
“No! Stop, boy! Stop!” Isabella rushed to her pocketbook and opened it. She found her keys nestled beneath the paternity document inside. Grabbing them, she snapped the clutch shut and left it lying on the dining room table. She prayed the dog was in the front yard, and she could simply pull him back into the house. Bracing herself against the blowing snow, she opened the front door and yelled into the stiff wind. “Here, boy! Come back!”
She watched in despair as the dog trotted down the road toward town. Shutting the door and locking it, she blew out the candle and ran through the house, to the garage door. She knew it wasn’t a good idea to drive in the storm, but she was worried for the dog’s safety and was desperate to salvage the only wish that could possibly come true for Tyler’s Christmas.
She pulled the car out of the garage and carefully maneuvered it down the driveway, spotting the dog walking along the road. She pulled up beside him, cracking her window just slightly. “Here, boy! Please, stop.”
He ignored her plea, picking up speed. Isabella had to squint to keep him in sight through the blowing snow as he trotted about twenty feet in front of her vehicle. She followed him blindly, hoping he’d stop and she could get him into the warm SUV. As he continued on his journey, Isabella became more concerned for him, as well as herself, in the bad weather.
“Where are you headed?” She spoke into the darkness as the swirling wind howled. The dog kept looking behind him, as if he knew she was following him. Isabella couldn’t turn back now – she’d already driven several miles, and she couldn’t leave the pooch to freeze to death. So, even when he turned onto the road leading to Reindeer Ridge, Isabella followed him.
As she inched her car up the road toward the Toy Shop, she was struck with déjà vu. Although it was considerably later in the evening than when she’d first come here to deliver the letters to Santa, the weather was remarkably the same, if not worse. She wondered if anyone was around this time, and hoped the dog would stop there so she could grab him. To her relief, he sat down by the side of the road. She put the car in park and left it running as she got out and walked against the wind in his direction. He stood, whining and doing a circle as Isabella reached him.
“Why did you come all the way up here?”
She barely asked the question, then noticed Santa’s mailbox. She turned back to the dog, who was barking now. “What is it, boy?”
He whined and started to paw at the post. Isabella opened the mailbox and peeked inside, finding two letters there. Taking them out, she looked at them closely. To her amazement, they were the ones she and Tyler had written to Santa. She looked at the dog incredulously. Emily had said the dog was good at finding things. Had he seen someone put them there? And if so, who? And why?
The dog barked and she shook her head at him. “I wish you could talk, boy.”
She clutched the letters in her gloved hand as she started to push the dog to her car. Despite the heavy snow boots, her feet slipped out from under her and her hands flailed in the air. First, the dog started running, then Isabella watched the Dear Santa letters blowing away in the wind. She made a fast choice, shoving to her feet and nearly tackling Tyler’s pooch.
“You’re not getting away this time.” To her surprise, he went willingly to the car and jumped inside as she opened the door. “Huh,” Isabella muttered, astounded. She shut the door tightly, making sure he couldn’t escape again.
Because of a large snowdrift in the middle of the parking area, Isabella decided to walk the few hundred feet to the Toy Shop, hoping someone was there to let her in to use the phone. She didn’t see the sign on the door until she was standing right in front of it.
CLOSED DUE TO WEATHER – AND MULTIPLE DELIVERIES!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Isabella knocked anyway, but no one answered. Just like last time. Trudging back to the car, she got in the driver’s side and looked at the dog. “Well, no purse, no phone. So…here goes nothing.”
She put the car in drive and eased on the gas pedal. She was able to pull forward and turn the wheel to her left. She felt the tires spin a bit, and hit the gas harder. It worked – they were headed down the road! But her delight was short-lived as, half a mile later, the back of the car fishtailed and slid sideways, stopping on the opposite side of the road, next to a guard rail. Safe from going over, Isabella tried to pull forward – but the car remained stuck.
“Not again,” she whispered, as the tires spun on the ice. The yellow dog sat up and licked her face. She chuckled despite their bad luck. “See what you’ve gotten us into, boy?” He licked her again, and lay down next to her. “Okay. All we can do is pray someone finds us before we freeze to death.” She checked the gas gauge. There was nearly a quarter tank. “We should have heat for a little while. But if no one comes soon, we’ll either have to break into the Toy Shop, or walk to town.”
The dog barked in response. She patted his head and thought about the letters that blew away. Tyler wished for his parents this Christmas. Though Kim and Derek were gone, it was within her power to give him a ‘daddy’, at least. She peered through the window at the blizzard. No matter how hard it might be for Jordan to hear that he might or might not be Tyler’s father, she was more resolved than ever to tell him of the possibility – for Tyler’s sake.
She snuggled into the warmth of the dog’s fur, her exhausted mind going back to the day when her rescuer had saved her in the storm. Jordan. The man she now loved.
Had the elements conspired to put her in this precarious position? Would he come for her again?
The wind howled outside the stranded car and Isabella struggled to stay awake. But strangely, she wasn’t frightened this time. “Only good can come of it, when it’s done out of love…” Mary’s voice whispered in her mind.
Maybe it’s magic, Isabella thought with a sleepy smile.
***
“Thank heavens we’re home!” Emily ushered Tyler through the doorway as Jordan pushed it open and stepped aside for everyone to enter. Abby and Zach followed behind them, with Jordan entering last. The power was still out and Jordan bumped into the foyer tab, knocking the candle Isabella had left there onto the floor. He picked it up and carried it to the dining room table, then went to the kitchen in search of a lighter. When he returned and lit the candle, Emily and Tyler had already found their way to the couch, while Zach and Abby remained near the door.
“I’m going to check Isabella’s house. Come in, have a seat,” Jordan said, motioning them to dining room table. “She must be here somewhere; she left her purse,” Jordan said. Abby watched him grab the clutch and take it with him, dread etching her features.
“Abigail, what’s the matter?” Zach asked, alarmed.
Abby shot him a guarded look. “Just worried about…Isabella,” she lied.
“No sign of her.” Jordan entered from the side door, concern shadowing his features. “Emily, do you know specifically where she went?”
“No,” Emily said. “She said a ‘friend’ needed her.” She motioned with her eyes to Tyler, a gesture meant for Jordan, to let him know it involved the dog. But Abby misread her and immediately went to them. Tyler hugged Emily close, shaking his head vigorously as she got closer. “My daddy doesn’t like you – I want Miss Stevens.”
Abby stopped, stepping back a bit. “Of course your daddy likes me, darling – I’m your mommy’s best friend. You’re just tired and grumpy.” She covered her embarrassment with a fake smile. “Zach, would you help Emily tuck Tyler into bed?” Abby turned to Emily, adding, “The practice will do him good.”
Emily hesitated, a look of surprise on her face, then nodded and took the candle from Jordan, leading Zach to Tyler’s room.
Abby followed Jordan to the kitchen in search of a flashlight or another candle. “Thank you for including me and Zach in your holiday celebration, Jordan,” she said into the darkness.
“I thought it was a good idea, since the party was going to be late. And now, with the weather, it’s for the best.” Jordan found a candlestick in the cupboard, lit it, and carried it to the dining table.
“Well, yes. And Tyler needs to get to know us a little better.” Abby took a seat at the table, her eyes fixed on Isabella’s clutch, still in Jordan’s hand. “Spending the day with Tyler tomorrow will make it easier for him to go with us.”
Jordan looked up quickly, the candlelight casting shadows on his face. “About that – what did Tyler mean about Derek not liking you?”
“Of course he liked me. Tyler’s mistaken.” She lowered her voice, looking down the hall. “I just haven’t spent much time with Tyler in the last few years.”
“Why not? I thought you and Kim were close.” Jordan’s voice was sharp and Abby stood up.
“Of course we were close! As close as sisters, in fact,” she insisted. “I knew all of her secrets…”
Jordan’s cell rang, cutting her off. He quickly removed it from his pocket. “Isabella! Where are you?”
Emily and Zach joined them in the dining room, as Jordan tried to make sense of what Isabella was saying. He ended the call and turned to his company. “I’ve got to go. Isabella sounded okay, but we got cut off. I’m going to find her. She said something about following the dog up to Reindeer Ridge.” He looked at Emily. “You’ll stay here with Tyler until we get back?”
“Oh, that’s not necessary!” Abby chimed in. “Zach and I are here.”
“Of course I’m staying, dear,” Emily assured him, ignoring Abby. “You couldn’t pry me away.” She walked Jordan to the door. “Are you sure you can get through? The roads were barely passable on our way here.”
“If the truck can’t get through, I’ll walk. But I’m bringing Isabella home, Emily.”
And with that, he went out into the snowstorm.
***
Isabella slowly opened her eyes as a muffled voice urgently called her name, accompanied by a loud thudding noise.
“Isabella! Are you in there?”
She blinked and sat up, momentarily disoriented. The yellow dog yelped and Isabella rubbed her eyes, remembering the suite she’d all but abandoned a month ago. Thank God she’d kept it, since the weather had filled the hotel up with stranded holiday travelers. And the police officer who’d given her a ride convinced the super to let her keep the dog here through the night, due to the emergency.
She squinted at the illuminated dial on her watch. It was just after midnight – Christmas morning. Jumping out of the bed, she nearly tripped over the dog as she ran for the door, opening it to Jordan’s green-eyed glare. She fumbled with her hair, mussed from the storm and the deep sleep she’d fallen into when she’d arrived a few hours ago.
“Jordan! I fell asleep – I look like a mess…”
“You’re lucky to be alive,” he said, pushing his way into the room. “What the hell do you think you’re doing, going out in a storm – alone – chasing after a runaway dog?!” Jordan looked as if he were waging an inner battle to either shake her – or kiss her. But he wasn’t finished with his lecture just yet. “I went to Reindeer Ridge,” he started.
“Oh no!” Isabella cut in. “I tried to call again after we got cut off. The storm is interfering with the land lines here – and I don’t have my cell phone with me…”
“You could have been killed, Isabella! When I found your car stranded by the embankment…empty…I searched everywhere for you on that damned mountain! I’ve never been so terrified in my life…I thought I’d lost you…”
Jordan closed the short distance between them, yanking her into his arms and taking her lips with a bruising hunger. Breathless, Isabella didn’t have time to think – only feel. Was she dreaming, she wondered, as the warmth of Jordan’s body and the voracious punishment of his kiss awakened every cell in her body until it hummed with unabashed need? She pressed herself against him, wound her fingers in his hair, opened her mouth – her body – to his assault. Then she was being lowered onto the bed, and Jordan was next to her, pulling up the black dress she still wore, to reveal the long length of her thighs. His hand moved further north…tugging at her panties with an impatience that rivaled her own burning need. She reached between their bodies, unzipping Jordan’s jeans, freeing him from the boxers he wore beneath, then wrapping her legs around him as he entered her with a force that burned his claim in her.
And, in her heart, she was his. Now, tomorrow, forever.
Afterwards, Jordan rolled onto his back, lying silent for such a long time that Isabella thought he’d fallen asleep. “Jordan? Are you awake?” She moved to get up and he put his hand on her arm, easing her back down beside him. “It’s Christmas,” she said. “We have to get back to Tyler and…we have to talk.”
“It’s barely one in the morning…I’d say we have at least six hours but, if Tyler wakes early, Emily’s there with him.” He hesitated briefly. “And the Forresters.”
Jordan’s eyes remained closed and Isabella gently brushed his cheek with her fingers. “You must be exhausted. I’m so sorry to drag you out in this… You need sleep…”
Jordan opened his eyes, pulling her hand to his lips and kissing each fingertip, one by one. “I feel like I’ve been sleepwalking for years, Isabella. But you woke me up. Having you in my life has been enlightening…terrifying…thrilling…” He pushed himself up on his elbow, his eyes searching her face. “I’ve been blind in the past, but not anymore. Thanks to you.”
“You shouldn’t be thanking me – it was foolish to go out in the blizzard! But the dog ran away and…I went after the furry troublemaker because Tyler needs something tangible to hold on to today. I’m so sorry I worried you.”
She stood quickly, moving to the dog, patting his head. He whined and wagged his tail as Isabella gave him a bowl of water. “Poor boy, you’ve been outside most of the night, in the cold. I just wish I had something to feed you…” Her eyes scanned the empty cabinets.
“Your car is on Reindeer Ridge,” Jordan said incredulously. “Please tell me you didn’t walk here?”
“No! We were safe and warm in my car. A policeman in a four-wheel drive picked us up. He brought us here – said the road to your house was nearly impassable – he didn’t want to chance it.” She looked at Jordan. “How were you able to get through, to look for me…in the storm?” A new concern creased her brow. “What if we can’t get to Tyler? Oh no, Jordan! He’ll be waiting for his parents – he needs you there!”
“Whoa – my truck’s been through worse storms than this. And you’ve worried enough, Isabella.” He patted the bed beside him. “Come back here – we’ve got some time before we have to go home.”
Isabella wished she could be selfish, fall into his arms, let him make love to her again. But she needed to use this time alone to tell him. “Jordan, there’s something you have to know…”
“Don’t say you love him…”
“Who?” Isabella’s question mirrored her confusion. And then she recognized the familiar pain in Jordan’s voice. She went to the bed and covered him with her body, as if to shield him from what she was about to say – then kissed him with enough passion to wipe all the doubt from his mind, and his heart. When she came up for air, she sighed. “I don’t love the man you saw me with. His name is Phillip Monroe, and we were supposed to be married on Thanksgiving Day. He left me, Jordan. And thank God he did.” She brushed her fingers over his cheek. “For too long, I thought I loved him – and then I met you.”
Jordan was quiet for a long moment. There were thousands of questions he could have asked her, but only one that seemed important. “What’s your favorite color, Isabella?”
She smiled, surprised. Her answer was immediate. “Green,” she whispered. “The color of your eyes.”
When he covered her mouth with his, she didn’t resist. She could never resist him. And she let herself get lost in him just one more excruciatingly sweet time – before everything changed.
***
The snowfall had slacked off a bit and Jordan helped Isabella into his truck, then whistled for the dog, who happily jumped in the back seat without protest.
“Looks like he’s had enough adventure for one night,” Jordan commented before shutting the door and walking around to the driver’s side.
Isabella reached back and patted the dog’s head. “He’s a sweetheart – he had good intentions when he led me to Reindeer Ridge.”
Jordan shook his head, muttering, “What could be good about taking you up there, in another storm?”
Isabella remembered the letters she lost in the wind. “He thought he’d found what belonged to me and Tyler – our Dear Santa letters were in the mailbox.”
Jordan gave her a funny look. “Well, now that I’ve found you, it’s time to go home.”
She nodded her head, the sting of tears burning her eyes. Home. But for how long? She snuggled into the heated seat. “Jordan – we have to talk about Tyler. And you. And…Evie.”
She felt Jordan’s quick glance. “What about Evie?”
“You’ve been spending so much time with her – yet, we’ve just made love. I need to know what she means to you.”
“Isabella…is that what’s been bothering you? Evie? I thought you knew about the project for Emily. Evie was just helping with the decorating. And anyway, she’s already spoken for.” He caught Isabella’s surprised look in the glow of the dashboard lights. “If you’d stayed at Emily’s party a while longer, you would have seen her making out with the guy in the Santa hat – aka Matt Drake – right before the lights went out!” His rich warm laughter filled the cab of the truck. “And even if she weren’t taken…” he was serious now “…she’s not my type.”
Despite his words, Isabella didn’t dare hope. “What is? Your type, I mean.”
Jordan was thoughtful for a moment, then took her breath with his answer. “Determined, blonde-haired, blue-eyed teachers…” Isabella’s heart did a stutter, then a flip. He continued, his words spreading heat through her veins. “Who give the best presents first thing on Christmas morning…”
Isabella turned away from his sparkling green eyes, as the memory of their passionate session burned her cheeks. As thrilling as his words were, she wasn’t ready to hear them. Not when there was so much left to be resolved.
“You said the Forresters are at your house,” she said slowly. She saw Jordan’s nod and forced herself to be brave. “Before we get there, before you let Tyler become a part of their lives, there’s something you should know about Abby’s character.” She took a deep breath and hoped Jordan’s heart was healed enough to know the depth of Kim’s betrayal. “And there’s something you need to see.”
As she told him about the paternity test, she prayed his love was strong enough to accept Tyler as his ‘son’ – whether Abby was telling the truth, or not. And she prayed Mary was right –
That love was the closest thing to magic.