Light snow was falling on Christmas Eve. The tangle of lights Charlie had wrestled with the first day was twinkling from the shrubs throughout the churchyard. A floodlight lit up the nativity, and together Charlie and Dave went forward and placed the original Baby Jesus on the straw.
“Back where he belongs,” Dave said quietly, holding Charlie’s hand.
“It seems like so long ago I was sitting here talking to him like he was my best friend. So silly…”
Dave shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe he was listening.”
Charlie laughed a little, leaning against Dave’s arm. “That’s even more embarrassing. I was telling him about this guy I could see from the window at Breeze’s on my lunch hour. How I’d made up this fantasy boyfriend…”
“I hope the reality surpasses your imagination.”
“Oh, definitely.”
The parking lot was filling up and many of the townspeople walked to the church for the Christmas Eve service. It wasn’t generally Charlie’s speed, but lots of things were changing this year, and for the better. As she and Dave stepped inside the vestibule together, with Daniel cradled in Dave’s strong arms, she felt more a part of the community than ever.
“Merry Christmas, Charlene,” called Gloria Henderson, who was bustling her way toward the front of the church to take her place at the organ.
“Merry Christmas,” she called back. The same thing happened a half dozen more times as they hung up their coats and took the baby out of his snowsuit. Robin showed up with her sister; Todd Smith was there in uniform, still on duty but stopping in to take in part of the annual tradition just the same. Josh and his extended family and lots of people she recognized from the businesses around town arrived, smiling and laughing and filled with Christmas spirit. She introduced Dave to several, and a warm glow filled her from head to toe as they finally made it to a pew near the back to enjoy the caroling and service.
A huge pine tree was at the front of the church, decorated in white lights and ornaments and exuding a festive piney smell throughout the sanctuary. But best of all were the candles, thick pillars of them, lit on every windowsill, the stained glass glowing in their light. Once the service was over, there was mingling again in the crowded entry, and a sense of peace and goodwill and happiness that Charlie wished she could bottle and carry with her forever. Meggie appropriated Daniel for a diaper change, and Charlie held on to Dave’s hand feeling like everything was right in the world.
She looked at the door and saw Marissa Longfellow, and to her surprise, Michelle was with her, dressed in a new winter coat, black leggings and boots that came to just below her knees. She was quite pretty today, with her hair washed and falling easily over her shoulders, and a little hint of makeup. Charlie tugged on Dave’s hand and led him to the entrance, where they stepped outside into the cool air peppered with fat, lazy snowflakes.
“Michelle. You look wonderful.” Charlie, who usually shied away from physical intimacy, gave the girl a quick hug. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Michelle smiled shyly. “Ms. Longfellow is my new Santa Claus. I have a court date after Christmas, but she convinced the judge to let me stay with her in the meantime. Extenuating circumstances, she said. And then we paid a visit to the secondhand store and got me some new clothes.”
Marissa smiled. “Michelle wants to make a new start. It won’t be a fast process or an easy one. She could use a helping hand, that’s all.”
“I agree.”
“Me too,” Dave echoed.
“I know that what I did was so wrong.” She smiled sadly at all of them. “But I want to build a better life and I want a better life for him too. One that he’ll find with a good family.”
Charlie knew it had to be hard for Michelle to say. “That’s very brave of you, sweetie.”
“I hope one day I can be someone my son can be proud of. I’m thinking it might be like asking for a Christmas miracle, but who knows, right?”
“Stranger things have happened,” Charlie confirmed, taking Dave’s hand. “I happen to be a big believer in second chances.”
“Me too,” Dave confirmed, looking down into Charlie’s eyes. For a long moment their gazes held, and Charlie felt like the luckiest woman in the world.
After they said their good-byes, they collected Daniel and headed back to Charlie’s for the night. She’d turned on her lights before leaving, and as they drove in the yard, cheery multicolored bulbs glowed on the new snow. She realized that she’d come to love this cottage. Come to love Jewell Cove, especially once she started to let people in. It was home. When Dave took the keys from her hand and opened her front door, her heart gave a little pang. She took a moment and made a wish. A wish that Dave would maybe want to make it his home too. When they stepped inside and shut the door, he pulled her close and kissed her: long, thorough, beautiful. She put her arms around his neck and squeezed. When he was here, it felt like a missing piece of the puzzle was finally in place.
She’d tucked Daniel into bed and poured them each a glass of wine as he built the fire, and she was ready to put on a Christmas movie when Dave took her hand.
“I have something for you.”
He led her away from the entertainment center and to the front of the tree, where a few gifts already waited, tucked beneath the branches. Confused and a little excited, Charlie couldn’t help the smile that curved her lips.
“What?” he asked. “You look like the cat that ate the canary.”
“I’m just happy,” she answered. “I’ve never spent Christmas with anyone like this. It’s special.”
“So are you. “He reached into the middle of the tree and took out a box, about four inches square. “I tucked this in here before we left. I thought about waiting for tomorrow, but I want you to have it tonight.”
He held it out, and she took the red foil-wrapped box into her hands. It was light, and with shaky fingers she undid the ribbon and slid her fingernail beneath the tape holding the paper in place.
She lifted the lid and found an ornament inside—the same one she’d found at the bookstore at the Evergreen Festival, a perfectly round ball covered with paper quotes.
“Oh, Dave. It’s lovely.” She held it in her fingers. “It’s the Shakespeare one, right?”
His gaze was intent on her as he gave a slight nod. “Yes.”
It was very thoughtful, and she remembered him being a little longer in the store that day. “You said that they were changing the register tape, but you were buying this, weren’t you?”
“I was.”
“I love it.” She was so perfectly happy at this moment, she was positive life couldn’t get any better. But then she picked it up by the loop and went to hang it on the tree and a splash of green caught her eye. Bright green, like from a highlighter pen. She drew her hand back and turned the orb so that she could examine the strip of paper.
I would not wish any companion in the world but you.
A lump grew in her throat and the text blurred for a second. “Oh, Dave.” She drew in an emotional breath. “What’s it from?”
He put his arm around her waist and drew her close. “I looked it up. It’s from The Tempest.”
She took one step forward and hung it on a branch right in the middle of the tree. “I love you. You know that, right?”
“I do. So what do you say, Chuckles?”
“Say?”
He lifted her hand to his lips. She looked up at him, unsure of what he was asking, simply loving the sight of him there before her, knowing she loved him and was loved in return. Nothing could be sweeter.
“Companions. Partners. Lovers. I want it all. I want it all with you.”
Okay, so she hadn’t quite expected for her wish to be granted so quickly. But she was learning not to look a gift horse in the mouth. “I want that too.”
“I’m on a month-to-month lease with Tom.”
“And there’s more than enough room for us here,” she added, feeling ridiculously starry-eyed.
“We can always put on an addition later…”
“For the kids. Are you okay with that? I don’t know what’s going to happen with Daniel, but I want children, Dave. At least a couple.”
He grinned at her. “I’m more than okay with that.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “We’re really going to do this.”
“Yeah,” she said. “We are.”
He reached for her, curled a hand around her neck, and pulled her close for a long, searing kiss that left her breathless. Charlie let out a moan as he pulled her earlobe into his mouth, sending a dart of pure desire to her core. She reached for his dress shirt and started unbuttoning it, but his hands got in the way as he touched her breasts and pulled her against his hard body.
It only seemed to take seconds and they were stretched out on the rug in front of the fire. Without saying a word, they slowed their hands, took their time, savored each second. There was no urgency, just the sweet rush of anticipation. Charlie looked up at Dave and saw more than just a man. She saw her future.
“Merry Christmas, sweetheart,” he said, and kissed her tenderly.
“You’re my favorite Christmas gift,” she decreed, and then the rest of the world disappeared. It was just the two of them, a sweet little cottage on the bay, and a dream for forever.