Look, Mom! It’s like magic!” Jake knelt and plugged in the strands of Christmas lights that highlighted the new stable’s simple framed structure. White bulbs twinkled merrily, and the three-dimensional star Tucker had made from sticks and lights was mounted in the center, beaming its message of hope to everyone gathered in the barn.
“It’s perfect,” Kenna declared. Even on Christmas Eve, so many people had turned out to help transform the Cortez’s barn into the perfect venue for the pageant. Lance, Levi, and Lucas were currently setting up rows of chairs they’d borrowed from the high school. Carly Lammers and a bunch of her friends were decorating the tables that had been set up on the outskirts of the large space. Mateo and Everly, along with Kenna’s other book club friends, were setting out warming dishes filled with everything the town would need to enjoy a real Christmas feast together after the show—juicy sliced turkey, stuffing, candied sweet potatoes, and farm fresh rolls. There were also plates of every kind of Christmas cookie imaginable for dessert.
With everyone working so hard for the last few hours, you could feel the Christmas spirit floating in the air. In order to dress up the barn even more, Kenna had driven back out to the Christmas tree farm and they’d donated everything they had left to the cause. With the help from the town’s volunteer firefighters, she’d transported the trees back and decorated them with the ornaments the kids had made while the grown-ups had been working. To capture the spirit of giving, Kenna had also spread word for everyone to bring a wrapped present when they came back for the performance that night so they could do an exchange after dinner.
“This’ll be the best pageant ever!” Jake and Benny danced around in the middle of the stable, the small tool belts Tucker had found for them sagging low on their hips. “And this is the best stable anyone’ll ever see in a million years!”
“It’s the best one I’ve ever seen, that’s for sure.” Tucker walked out from behind the structure, and his eyes locked on hers with a look that made both her knees go slack.
“I have an idea,” he whispered, moving his mouth close to her ear. “Maybe you should hang some garlands way up there.” He pointed to the stable’s top tier.
Kenna answered with a smirk. “Are you trying to get me up on a ladder, Tucker McGrath?”
His low laugh spoke directly to her girly parts, heating them right up.
“I was kinda hoping…”
She moved closer to him and stared up into his eyes. “You don’t have to trick me into kissing you again, you know. I’d be happy to do it without the ladder. Whenever you want. Wherever, too.”
“I always want—”
“Hey, Tucker!” Jake bounded toward them, his hammer and screwdriver clanging in his belt. “When’re we gonna build the manger? That’s the last thing we have to do and then Mom said we can change into our costumes!”
“Yeah!” Benny loped along behind his brother. “It’s almost time for the show to start!”
Tucker shared a smile with Kenna, and she totally got it. Those two were too cute to resist. “I’ll tell you what,” Tucker said as he laid a hand on Jake’s shoulder. “You two go ahead and get all that wood we set aside for the manger earlier. I’ll be right there.”
“Okay!” Benny led the charge to the stack of lumber piled by the double doors.
Tucker watched them go before torturing Kenna with another ravaging stare. “I guess the kiss will have to wait.”
Her inner thighs quivered. “I guess it will.”
“I’ll be looking forward to it. All. Night.” Greed darkened his eyes, sharpening her ache to be with him again.
“Me too,” she nearly whimpered. He turned and walked away, taking her gaze with him. Dear Lord in heaven, those jeans…
“So it looks like your fling with Tucker is still going pretty hot and heavy.” Everly sidled up next to her and leaned an elbow on Kenna’s shoulder.
“Oh, it’s not a fling.” She still found it difficult to focus on anything except for Tucker.
“What’d you mean?” Everly’s arm dropped back to her side and she moved to stand in front of her. “I thought you weren’t ready for more.”
Kenna shuffled sideways so she could watch Tucker while he patiently instructed Benny and Jake as they worked on their project. “I didn’t think I was ready for more, but I seem to have found him anyway.”
Once again her friend blocked her view, confusion etched into the lines that crinkled the corners of her eyes. “Found who?”
“The man who makes me believe.” In herself, in him, in them, in the future, in love. That’s what Tucker had done for her. It wasn’t at all what she’d planned—and he likely hadn’t planned on it either—but that’s what made it so right. It had taken them both by surprise. “I’m not so sure you have to be ready. Maybe being willing is more important.” Being willing to take a risk, willing to follow your heart.
“Oh my goodness. That’s the best thing I’ve ever heard.” Everly used the sleeve of her sweater to dab at her eyes. “I’m so happy for you. And for Tucker. And for all of us. This really is going to be the best Christmas.”
“It really is,” Kenna agreed, getting a bit misty herself. Everyone had contributed so much. “The food smells delicious, by the way. Thank you for donating everything.”
As usual, her friend shrugged off the gratitude, as if donating enough food to feed nearly two hundred people was nothing. “We were happy to. Do you want to take a peek at what we’ve got?”
She’d like more than a peek, but she’d do her best to wait along with everyone else. “I’d love to.”
Everly walked her around and showed her the different food stations. She’d thought of everything—even down to the adorable Santa Claus napkins. After her friend let her sample one Christmas cookie, Kenna hugged her tight. “This is amazing. Seriously. I can’t wait to—”
“Mom!” Jake and Benny yelled for her, waving their arms across the room. It appeared they’d finished the manger project and were now all bundled up for some reason. “Tucker says he has a surprise for us! For all three of us! Outside!”
She looked at Everly.
“Go.” Her friend sent her off with a pat. “But we’re having coffee ASAP. We need to catch up. I need details, honey.”
She nodded a promise and hurried over to where the boys stood by the door.
“Get your coat on, Mom!” Benny tried to wrap her down jacket around her. “Hurry! We can’t wait to see the surprise!”
“Okay, okay.” She bundled herself up while the boys impatiently tried to help by wrapping her scarf around her neck and shoving her gloves onto her hands. “Did he say what the surprise is about?”
“No.” Jake tugged her out the door. “But he said we’re going to love—”
A gasp swallowed up the rest of his sentence. Right outside the barn door, Tucker stood in front of his sleigh, the horses all hooked up and ready to take them away.
“Where did you get that?” Benny ran right over to him, but Jake seemed to be too busy gawking to move.
“This was my grandpa’s sleigh.” Tucker lifted Benny and set him in the back.
Jake finally wandered forward, slowly and reverently like he wanted to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. “It’s just like Santa’s.” He raised his hand to run it along the side.
“My grandpa told me he got it in the North Pole,” Tucker said, lifting Jake to set him by Benny. “He always used to say it was one of Santa’s old sleighs.”
Jake looked back at Kenna and the expression of pure wonder brought hot stinging tears to her eyes.
“So what’d you say?” Tucker asked, walking toward her. “You want to go for a ride?” He held out his hand. Behind them the boys squealed their yeses, but he waited for Kenna to answer.
Her throat still burned too much to talk, so she simply placed her hand in his. Together, they walked to the sleigh and Tucker helped her climb onto the front bench seat.
Once he was settled in next to her, he looked back at the boys. “I thought maybe you guys would want to come with me to pick up my mom.”
“Your mom?” A hopeful expression opened Benny’s eyes wider. “Is she all better?”
“Not quite but she’s close. The hospital said she can finally come home.”
Kenna closed her eyes, releasing a couple of tears. “I’m so glad she’ll be home for Christmas,” she murmured.
“Me too.” He laughed. “And she’s gonna get one heck of a surprise when we show up to break her out of the hospital in this thing.”
The boys giggled. “Let’s go!”
Tucker clicked his tongue and prompted the horses to get moving. While they glided along, the boys chatted about every detail of the sleigh—from the soft velvety “pillows” to the glossy red color.
“I bet Santa used magic paint!” Benny said.
“I wonder if it can still fly,” Jake mused.
“I didn’t used to think so.” Tucker scooted closer to Kenna and slipped his arm around her. “But I’m starting to believe in magic again.”
Yes. She rested her head on his shoulder, closed her eyes, and breathed it all in. When she opened her eyes, they were floating along Main Street in the glow of all the Christmas lights. The boys continued to trade theories about Santa’s sleigh, but she stayed quiet, content to listen and simply take in the moment.
As they reached the hospital, Tucker steered the horses right up to the main entrance. “You guys wait here,” he said, jumping down from the bench. “Mom and I’ll be right back.”
After he’d gone, the boys got antsy, but they didn’t have time to get into any mischief before the doors rolled open and Tucker led his mom outside.
Birdie halted. “What on earth?”
“It’s a sleigh!” the boys chanted. “We came to pick you up in a sleigh from the North Pole!”
“Tucker.” His mom’s hand rested in the very center of her chest as she walked closer. “When did you— How—”
Kenna brushed away a few more tears. He obviously hadn’t told his mom about his upgrades to the sleigh.
“What’d you think?” Taking his mom’s hand, he helped her climb in and then hoisted her suitcase onto the floor between the boys.
“It’s beautiful.” Her voice sounded a lot like Jake’s had when he’d first seen the sleigh, all awe and happiness. “Oh, Tucker, it’s like a dream. All the memories we’ve shared in this sled. This just brings everything back.”
“Those were good times,” he agreed.
Kenna watched his face carefully. They hadn’t had much time to talk during the day, but he told her he and his dad had spent three hours talking last night, and while it didn’t mean he’d worked through everything yet, he seemed different. Lighter somehow.
“But now it’s time to make new memories,” Tucker said, sending a wink to Kenna. Somehow, even in the cold night air, she found herself blushing.
“You can sit between us, Miss Birdie.” Benny patted the seat between him and his brother. “We’re gonna take you to the pageant now. And you’re going to love it! It’s the bestest pageant ever!”
“Oh, I can’t wait. I just can’t wait.” Birdie wedged herself between the boys and Tucker covered them all with the blanket.
All the way back to the Cortez Ranch, Birdie and the boys sang Christmas carols while Kenna snuggled as close to Tucker as she could get without climbing into his lap. There was so much she wanted to say to him, but she waited, simply listening to those three in the back enjoy the ride. It ended too soon for Jake and Benny, who let out disappointed sighs when Tucker steered the horses around the cars that were parked outside the barn.
Birdie hurried to climb down before Tucker could help her. “Why don’t I take you boys inside and your mom and Tucker can come in soon?”
Gratitude welled up in Kenna’s eyes. They wouldn’t have long before they had to go in and run the pageant, but it would be a gift to steal a few minutes alone with him before everything got started.
“Okay!”
“Yes! Then we can change into our costumes!”
Benny and Jake climbed down and politely waited for Birdie to take their hands before the three of them traipsed to the door.
Kenna stayed right where she was, still in the magic sleigh, still nestled against Tucker’s side. “Well, I think it’s safe to say this will go down as their favorite Christmas in the history of Christmases.”
Tucker dropped the reins and turned to face her. “It’s pretty amazing. To see the holiday through their eyes. It really does bring back the magic.” He leaned closer with that passion glowing on his face. “You bring back the magic too, Kenna. I’ve felt like a part of me has been missing for so long, but you and the boys helped me find it. You helped me face things I was too afraid to confront.”
She held his hands, squeezing hard to feel that connection even through their bulky gloves. “You helped us too. You made me believe again. You brought back my hope.” She kissed him softly, with all the surety she felt. Like she’d told the boys, this Christmas was all about new beginnings.
And she’d finally found hers.