Chapter Fifteen Christmas Eve #2
As the chimes faded, Dusty lowered his head, his lips finding hers in a kiss that felt like coming home.
Sharon melted against him, all the fear and uncertainty of the past weeks dissolving in the warmth of his embrace.
The snow fell more heavily around them, dusting their shoulders and hair with white, but neither of them moved to go inside.
When they finally broke apart, Dusty rested his forehead against hers. “Merry Christmas, Sharon.”
“Merry Christmas, Dusty,” she whispered back, snow catching on her eyelashes as she looked up at him.
The back door swung open, spilling light and warmth and the sound of laughter onto the porch. Antonio stood in the doorway, a knowing grin spreading across his face as he took in the scene before him.
“Well, it’s about time,” he said. “Mom’s about to serve dinner, and she says if you two don’t stop canoodling in the cold and get in here, she’s giving your portions to the hogs.”
Dusty chuckled, keeping one arm firmly around Sharon’s waist. “You don’t have hogs.”
“I think she means Ridge and Shiloh.” Antonio chuckled before disappearing back inside. Dusty pressed a quick kiss to Sharon’s temple. “Ready to face the Boudreau clan? Fair warning—there’s probably going to be a lot of ‘I told you so’s’ going around that table.”
Sharon laughed, feeling lighter than she had in months. “I can handle it if you can.”
Together, they walked back toward the light and warmth of the Big House, the snow continuing to fall around them lightly, covering the Texas ranch in a soft blanket of white.
Looked like they’d be having a white Christmas in Shiloh Springs this year.
Christmas morning would dawn, bringing with it the promise of new beginnings—and for Sharon and Dusty, the chance to discover just how beautiful love could be when you finally stopped running from it.
Everyone was still gathered in the living room when they walked inside. Dusty had expected them to already be seated at the dinner table, since they’d been headed that way when he’d taken Sharon outside.
“Hey, Dusty,” Shiloh called from his seat on the sofa. “Looks like Santa left a present for you by the hearth. Maybe you should open it.”
Dusty grinned at Sharon. “This ought to be good. Shiloh makes a habit of finding the most obscure and weird stuff for Christmas each year.” He pointed at Shiloh, a mock frown on his face. “What are you up to, bro? I thought we were opening gifts after dinner.”
He heard a few snickers which were quickly muffled. Uh, oh. If they’re all in on it, it’s going to be something really strange or something that’s going to embarrass me in front of the whole family.
“Aw, don’t be a spoilsport, buddy. We went to a lot of trouble searching for the perfect gift, especially for you. Come on, open it.”
He heard echoes of “open it, open it” coming from several of the brothers, though he couldn’t pick out exactly which ones. When he met Sharon’s gaze, she simply shrugged.
A brightly wrapped box sat beside the fireplace, a huge ribbon on top. Instantly suspicious, because after all, this was Shiloh, he picked up the box and gently shook it, hoping it didn’t start ticking or explode. Hmm, so far, so good.
“Dude, I’m not going to have a box of exploding shaving cream in the middle of my momma’s living room.” Shiloh grinned and added, “I’ll wait and do that at your apartment.”
Dusty rolled his eyes and looked at Ms. Patti.
Her tender smile made him feel all gooey inside.
Truth be told, it was hard to imagine a family he loved more than the Boudreaus, even when the brothers sometimes got on his last nerve.
Ms. Patti had her arm wrapped around Sharon’s waist, making her feel part of the holiday celebration, and it warmed his heart that they’d all accepted Sharon as one of them too.
Tearing at the paper covered in little Santas, he found himself staring at a plain cardboard box, and he spotted where a shipping label had been not-so-expertly peeled off.
He couldn’t imagine what they’d ordered, and at Shiloh’s suspicious snicker, he had a feeling he was about to be the butt of their jokes for weeks to come.
Peeling back the tape, he felt around the packing paper inside the large box, until he felt something soft and squishy. Not in a gross way, but in a—
“No way!” Laughing, he pulled out a stuffed doll, one he hadn’t seen for so many years; he’d forgotten they existed. It was a Scotty doll. Scotty, the character he’d played on his television show. The irritating neighbor kid with the tag line that became a national sensation.
“Push the button, dude.” Shiloh was laughing almost uncontrollably at this point.
“Yeah, we wanna hear it.” This from Ridge, egging on his twin.
“You know you want to make Scotty say it.” Heath stood by his father, Camilla leaning against him.
“Push the button. Push the button.” The chant grew until everyone was repeating it.
Dusty looked at each person, saw the teasing and camaraderie, the joy of friendship, the teasing of brotherhood, and realized he was where he’d always wanted to be.
Squeezing the middle of the doll, he listened to his squeaky voice, on the verge of changing as he went from quirky sidekick to an almost teenager, said the words that had made him a star.
“Well, ain’t that a kick in the pants.”
The laughter and smattering of applause had him chuckling along with them, and when he looked at Sharon, he saw love shining in her eyes.
Inside, surrounded by the Boudreau family who had embraced him as one of their own, Dusty knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, Sharon would never have to face them alone. Not anymore. He’d be by her side, and together they could weather any storm.
Tonight was for celebration, for family, for the miracle of finding love in the most unexpected places. A place for new beginnings and newfound love.