Chapter 24
The next morning, Evie flung open the door to Randy’s knock, excited to see him and share Christmas morning with him. He swept her up in a hug, then set her down and kissed her. She grinned up at him. “That’s a nice way to start a day.”
“Merry Christmas, Evie.” His fingers lightly brushed away a wayward strand of hair away from her face. “I can’t imagine spending Christmas without you. I’m glad you stayed.”
A rush of contentment flooded through her. “I am too.” She squeezed his hands. “Now, let’s go open the last item in the Christmas box. I can’t wait any longer.”
They settled on the couch with the box resting between them. He gave her an encouraging smile as she slowly opened the lid, plunging her hand inside to grasp the last item. She took it out and unwrapped it, gasping as she saw what she held in her hands—a delicate silver bracelet with tiny pieces of light-colored sea glass embedded in it.
She looked up at Randy. “Nana gave this to me when I was a little girl. It was my Belle Island bracelet. I only wore it when I came here to the island. It made it… more special to me. Like a secret Nana and I shared.”
He slipped it onto her wrist and she stared at it, feeling a strong connection to Nana, to the cottage, to the island. Suddenly an idea struck her and she jumped up, tugging on Randy’s hand. “Come on, there’s somewhere we need to go.”
He got up agreeably and followed her outside. “Headed anywhere in particular?”
“The lighthouse,” she said, as if it was the most logical place to go on Christmas morning.
They walked along the edge of the water, the only people on the long stretch of sand. It was just the two of them, the birds soaring above, and the waves racing up to greet them. The pink tint of sunrise faded to a brilliant blue sky filled with fluffy clouds.
They walked on until they reached the lighthouse and stood at its base, facing the vast expanse of the sea. A gentle breeze tousled her hair and stroked her skin. She couldn’t ask for a more perfect morning.
A flash of teal caught her gaze, and she pointed. “What’s that? Just out there at the edge of the waves.”
He took a few steps into the water and reached down, scooping it up before returning and handing it to her.
“Oh, look.” She stared at it in awe. “It’s sea glass… and it looks like a heart, doesn’t it?”
He looked closely. “It does.”
She clenched it tightly in her hands. “You know what I’m going to do with this?”
“What?”
“I’m going to put it in Nana’s Christmas box. A reminder of this Christmas. Our first Christmas.”
“Our first of many.” He pulled her into a hug. “I think that’s a wonderful idea. This has certainly been a Christmas I’ll never forget.”
“It has, hasn’t it?” She looked up at him, all her emotions raw and near the surface. So much had happened since she’d returned to the island.
“And I have something I want to give you for Christmas,” he said softly.
“What’s that?” She looked up into the depths of his eyes, and it was as if she could feel his emotions intertwining with hers.
“It’s more something I want you to know…” He reached out and cupped her chin, tilting her face up, locking his gaze with hers. “I love you, Evie. You make me feel whole. Like where I belong is right here with you.”
Her heart beat in double time, and the love she felt for him—and had tried to ignore—swelled through her, commanding her attention. “I love you too.” She managed to whisper the words before the gentle sea breeze took them away, flinging them across the water, announcing their love to the world.
He leaned down and captured her lips, a gentle kiss full of love and promise. She stood there in his arms, where she belonged, and it was like the last piece of her heart fell into place. And she’d treasure the heart-shaped sea glass they’d found as a reminder of the day they both admitted their love.
As they stood on the shoreline, the waves washed a tiny yellow shell up to their feet. Randy glanced down at it and smiled. “You know about the legend of the lighthouse? If you make a wish and throw a shell into the sea, your wish will come true?”
“Of course I do. I’ve made many wishes here. And I’ve made two since I’ve returned.”
Curiosity lit up his face. “Really? What were they?”
“I wished that I could keep the cottage and find a way to live here.”
“That wish came true.” He brushed a finger along her cheek, smiling gently. “And the other wish?”
“When I first came to the island, I came here to Lighthouse Point.” She glanced up at the lighthouse, then back toward Randy. “I was feeling alone and lost. I missed Nana so much.” She closed her eyes briefly, reliving those first painful days. “And I stood right here and wished to feel happy again and find joy.”
His eyes never left her face. “And did you find it?”
A slow smile spread across her lips as she met his gaze. “I did. Right here. With you.”
He kissed her again, there under the familiar, comforting presence of the lighthouse. The yellow shell tumbled down the shore, washing back out to sea. She had no need to make another wish. All hers had come true.
Thank you for reading my story.