23. Lost Without You
CHAPTER 23
Lost Without You
H eath had done some strange things in his life, especially in the military, but he’d never won a three-legged race through the snow while wearing Christmas stockings as gloves until today. He and Nina had crossed the finish line about an inch before Troy and Piper.
He tried to swing Nina around in a circle, but the scarves holding their legs together meant they went tumbling through the snow instead. He cushioned her as they rolled, and her laughter was the best sound in the universe.
Snow had continued all night, but the morning had dawned fresh and bright. The wind had settled, and the sun was shining. A perfect winter day.
There’d been at least a dozen silly events during the afternoon, some inside the Saloon, others in Phail Way Park.
The entire town, plus the people from Midnight Lake and other neighboring towns, had shown up. Piper was onto something here. Carl and Jim’s B&B was full, and there was talk of needing another B&B in the area.
Addy, bundled in layers, walked over to help them to their feet. When he stood, he leaned in to tug her scarf down for a kiss. Nina rolled her eyes, but her smile was as bright as the sun.
He tugged the scarf back up to cover Addy’s lower face. “You warm enough? How do the lungs feel?”
“I’m good. If it gets windy, I’ll go back inside.”
He nodded and slung his arm around her as Troy called out over the microphone. “Okay, last event for the afternoon. This one is a timed event. You’ve got thirty minutes to complete the challenge. You can work in family or friend-sized teams. Keep it reasonable. We asked for your emails earlier, and your task is coming through in a minute.”
Nina pulled out her phone. Their daughter had a competitive streak like him.
Troy continued. “It’s a photo scavenger hunt. You’ll get points for each item along with creativity points. Piper and I are the judges, and anything that makes us laugh can earn bonus points as well. Have fun.”
Nina bounced until her email sounded with a notification. “It’s here. Okay, there are twenty items. Everyone’s going to start at the top. Let’s start at the bottom. Number Twenty is a rainbow.”
They all looked up to the winter sky, which was pretty, but not a rainbow in sight.
Addy laughed. “Looks like it’s time to get creative. I didn’t wear my rainbow socks today. Anyone else?”
Heath laughed. “Forgot mine this morning.”
Nina looked them over. “But we are wearing most of the colors. We can set them up in order and make a rainbow that way.”
Soon, Nina organized the picture with Addy’s multi-colored scarf and fuzzy pink socks, her own orange jacket and yellow socks, Heath’s navy jacket, and her friend’s purple hat. Rainbow accomplished. Heath didn’t think he could love his daughter more. Being able to do these games with her was a gift he’d never known he wanted.
For something to represent the movie they’d watched the night before, they found a panda with a bow around his neck in the Phail Phoods window display. They spotted a wrapped present, a halo, and a Christmas book. They sang Rudolph for the carol singing video and used Addy’s chai tea for something that smelled Christmassy. Every item on the list had them laughing, and he thought his face was going to hurt from all the joy.
It wasn’t long before Troy was calling teams to return and send their photos in for scoring.
“How many did we get, Spitfire?”
Nina counted as she double-checked. “Nineteen. We didn’t find any freshly made ginger snaps.”
Heath laughed. “Wait. Ginny didn’t have any, which is really odd. I bet she’s put some in the Saloon for when we get there.”
Nina’s eyes lit up. “Good idea. I’ll get the picture, even if it’s late. Unless someone else thought of it before Troy called time, we’re going to win.” She ran off, leaving him and Addy standing in the square.
Addy bumped her hip into him. “I wonder where she gets that competitive spirit from.”
He laughed. “I was thinking that earlier. You never cared if you won or lost a game as long as everyone had fun.”
Addy laughed. “True. I like to save my energy for other things.”
“Like raising a wonderful girl on your own. And building a career from something you love. And finding amazing people to support you.”
Addy pulled off her mittens and placed her hands on his cheeks. “Wonderful people like you. I’ve been so incredibly lucky in my life, Heath.”
He wanted to snort. She’d been next to penniless and homeless while pregnant. She’d had to take on several jobs to support herself and Nina.
She laughed and leaned up to kiss him softly on the lips. “I’m serious. I wish you hadn’t missed out on Nina’s childhood, and if I could, I would change that. But we have a wonderful daughter. We’ve found each other now and I don’t want to spend any more of my life regretting the past. I want to spend my life enjoying the present and the future with you.”
Heath felt a weight lift off his chest with her words. She was right as usual.
He placed his hands over hers where they rested on his face. “I like the sound of that. I’m going to let the guilt and regrets go. Let’s live in the now and the future.”
And he sealed that vow with a kiss.
A ddy flipped the Christmas morning pancakes while Heath and Nina finished setting the table. Chocolate chips in the batter and real maple syrup had been their tradition for years. She loved that Heath was all onboard for continuing their traditions while adding new ones as well.
As they finished up breakfast, Heath grinned. “I’ve got a plan for the rest of the morning. It’s a little weird, and I’ll need you both to trust me.”
Addy’s eyes widened, and she looked at Nina, who was grinning. She had the feeling her daughter was in on the surprise. “Okay.”
Heath grinned and leaned over to kiss Addy softly. “Keep on the Christmas pjs, but bundle up. We’re going on a road trip.”
A road trip? In her pajamas?
She was going to protest, but Nina was giggling and excited, and she didn’t have the heart. Not when she looked to see the same look in Heath’s eyes as well.
By the time they’d cleaned the kitchen, Heath had loaded some boxes into his car. Animosh jumped in the back with Nina. While Addy locked the house, he stood behind her and blocked the wind. When she turned, he leaned down and kissed her.
Not so sweetly this time. Her body started tingling again, remembering how he’d woken her up that morning. His voice was the growl she loved. “Thanks for trusting me. I’m going to ask one more thing of you when we get in the car. I promise it’ll be good.”
Bewildered, she got into the car. Once in the driver’s seat, he passed sleep masks covered in Christmas patterns to her and Nina. “Put these on. It won’t be long and I promise to be a safe driver.”
Nina grinned. “You’re always a safe driver, Dad, especially when we’re in the car.”
Heart filled, Addy put on her seat belt and then the sleep mask, even though that was hard. She could feel the joy radiating off of Heath and Nina. She’d do almost anything to make them happy, but feeling in the dark and out of control wasn’t easy. It reminded her too much of the feeling when she’d woken in Jonas’s basement.
Heath reached over and lifted the mask. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think wearing the mask would be anything other than fun. That was thoughtless of me.”
The concern in his gaze had her warming and wanting to be brave. “I think I’m good. If I start to freak out, I’ll take it off.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I know. But I also don’t want to be a wimp, so let’s do this. Drive quick.”
From the backseat, Nina poked her. “Hey. You’re supposed to say drive safe .”
Addy laughed. “Like you said earlier, I know he’ll drive safe. I just want him to be quick.”
Heath pressed a kiss to her hand. “Less than a couple of minutes. Here we go.”
True to his word, they only made a couple of turns, and then he slowed the car and parked. “We’re here. Keep on the masks, and give me a minute to set something up. I’ll be right back. Promise.”
She heard the back hatch open and close, and then Addy leaned her head back and relaxed. “How much do you know about this surprise?”
Nina laughed. “More than you.”
That made her grin. “I think you and your dad are going to be the very best kind of trouble together. You’re a lot alike.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely. You’re both creative thinkers, you love surprises, you take care of other people, you like to win, and you’re trustworthy and kind. All kinds of things.”
She heard Nina swallow. “I’m glad he came to Phail. I’m glad he didn’t abandon us when you were pregnant.”
Addy was glad of the mask to hide her tears. “Me too.”
Heath called through the window. “I’m back. Don’t jump.” Then he opened a back door. “Give me your hand, Nina. Bring Mosh with you.”
In a few seconds, he was back. He opened her door. “Ready?”
“Yes.”
He took her hand and led her a few steps away. “Okay, you’re side by side. Take off your masks in three, two, one.”
They stood in front of the farmhouse next to Sean’s property. Boards no longer covered the windows, and someone had shoveled. Christmas lights sparkled from the porch’s roof. A Christmas tree glowed in the front window, and a huge wreath hung on the door.
“What do you think?”
She turned to smile at him, not sure what was happening. “It’s beautiful.”
Nina bounced and clapped her hands. “I love it. Is it ours? Did you really get it?”
Laughing, Heath nodded. “It’s really ours. The paperwork needs to be finished up, but it’s really ours.”
Ours? “What?”
Heath grinned. “I hope I didn’t jump the gun, but you said you loved the house. Your place is great, but this one has way more room for all of us.”
And it held no memories of what Jonas had done. “You bought us a house.”
He looked worried. “If you hate it, we can sell it and buy something else, but yeah, I bought us a house.”
She stared at the house and then at the hope and joy in her daughter’s face and back at Heath. “You bought us a house.”
“I’m getting worried here, Addy. I thought you loved this place. If I overstepped, I’m sorry?—”
She flung herself into his arms and squeezed. “You bought us a home.” Because it was more than a house. It was a future for them all.
“You like it?”
“I’m in shock, but I love it. I can’t believe you bought us a home.” She turned to Nina. “And I can’t believe you knew and didn’t tell me.”
Nina grinned. “Dad wanted to make sure I was okay with living somewhere new. He didn’t want me to feel like he was forcing changes on us. I think it’s going to be awesome.”
Addy laughed and nodded. “I agree. Can we go inside?”
Heath lifted her up and kissed her loudly and dramatically, making Nina laugh. “Now that I’m not in a panic that you hate it, yes, let’s go inside. I got the heat and water turned on.”
The tree in the living room stood in a pot and looked familiar. “Is that our tree?”
Nina’s head whipped to look at it as well. “You saved our Christmas tree?”
Heath shrugged out of his jacket and hung it over the newel post. Nina followed suit while he helped Addy out of hers. “I asked Isla if it was possible to save it and maybe replant it in the spring. She’s not sure if it will survive, but she’s got some magic stuff working in the soil. We’ll have to put it back in her hands soon, but she said it should be okay to live here for a few days.”
Addy hugged him again. “You’re such a good man. No wonder I’m in love with you.”
He laughed and hugged her close. “I love you too. I love you both.”
Nina joined in the group hug, and then Animosh jumped up to get in on the action. When they broke apart laughing, Nina gave Heath a look and a nod. “Now.”
“What have you two planned this time? I’m not sure my heart can take any more happiness.”
Her daughter exchanged a grin with her dad, and then Heath looked at her with such love that she knew she could take a lot more happy.
He took her hand and tugged her over to the blankets that covered the floor around the tree, along with the boxes he’d brought inside. Boxes he’d filled with the wrapped presents they’d laid out in the living room.
He reached into one box and pulled out a smaller one, then dropped to one knee. Her heart jackhammered in her chest, but she felt nothing but joy.
Heath took her hand. “I love you, Addy, and I’ve loved you forever. I love what an amazing mom you are. I love our daughter, who you raised to be a powerful, kind woman like you. Will you marry me?”
Addy dropped to her knees while tears streamed down her face. She cupped Heath’s face in her hands. “I love you so much. Always have. Always will. Of course, I’ll marry you.”
He pulled her in to kiss her deeply while Nina cheered in the background and Animosh barked at all the fun they were having.
It was perfect.