24. Christmas Found
H eath knew how the Grinch felt. Not that he’d ever been a Grinch, but his heart was growing with every passing day, every moment, especially this Christmas day.
His girls loved the house, and Addy now wore his ring on her finger. They were an official family. One who would live together and take care of each other.
They sat on the blankets he’d spread on the floor in front of the tree. He’d added mugs, a kettle, and hot chocolate mix in the boxes he’d brought over with them.
He passed Nina a box and urged her to open it. It was his first Christmas present to his daughter, and he hoped she loved it. He hadn’t asked Addy about this one, and now he was worrying about his choice.
When Nina snapped open the box, her eyes widened and her gaze bounced from the box to him and back again a few times. He didn’t think he even breathed until she smiled, and tears filled her eyes. “It’s so beautiful.”
He’d picked out a silver locket and chain for her. And he’d added a picture that Branna had snapped the previous week at the park. He and Nina were laughing as they crossed the finish line of the three-legged race.
On the other side of the locket, he’d printed out a picture he had of himself and Addy as teens. He’d wanted the locket to be filled with family. Even if the pictures were tiny, they showed love.
Nina lifted the chain gently and then opened the locket. She grinned at the picture of the two of them. “Our first father-daughter victory. I love it.”
Then she looked at the picture of Addy and him, and her grin widened. “This is awesome. It’s of you two when you were kids. You look so young.”
Which meant they looked old now, but he’d take it.
Nina showed her mom the picture and then threw herself into his arms. “Thanks, Dad, I love it. And I love you, too.”
There went his heart, imitating the Grinch again. “I love you too, Spitfire. So much.”
They clung to each other and when he looked up, Addy was smiling, with tears streaming down her cheeks. He yanked her into the hug as well, but they toppled over and landed in a heap. The laughter helped him control his emotions.
Addy grabbed two boxes and handed one to him and the other to Nina. “I think these are a good follow-up to that gift. Heath, the one for you, is from both me and Nina. Open them at the same time.”
Heart bouncing, Heath grinned at Nina and then they ripped open the paper, sending it flying. Inside was some kind of book with the word Christmas and the year written across it. He flipped it open and his heart started growing again.
There was a picture of a very pregnant Addy and a younger Nimii. Beside it, she’d written the date and location of the photo.
On the next page, there was Nina as an infant. He’d seen some of these pictures before on Addy’s phone, but this was so much better. Addy and Nina had included commentary with each of the photos, so he could look through it and feel like he was a part of it.
Nina snuggled closer to him and he tucked her under his arm and then tried to brush away the tears. Addy tucked into his other side, and they went through the photo books. Some pages were similar, others just for him or just for Nina.
In Nina’s book, Addy had added pictures of Boston and where Heath had grown up. His school. The café where they’d met. The park where they’d hung out. So many great memories. Most of these pictures were off the internet because she didn’t own a cell phone or a camera at the time. Although he recognized a few from their recent Boston trip as well.
He hugged her with one arm and kissed her hair. “You are the most incredible person I’ve ever known. This is so thoughtful and must have taken you so many hours. I’m going to treasure it forever.”
Nina hugged her mom as well and then stood, wiping her eyes. “I don’t want to cry anymore. Even if they’re happy tears. Can we tour the house and see what it’s like?”
Addy grinned. “I’d like that, but you two open these first. Open fast.”
It didn’t take long before he and Nina were laughing. There was a pair of walrus slippers for him and a pair of penguin slippers for Nina. He was glad he’d chucked Addy’s polar bear slippers in the box.
Nina pulled out her phone. “Let’s get in a tight circle so I can take a picture of our feet. It’ll be the first shot for next year’s photo books.”
They shuffled through the house together. The downstairs had a dining room behind the living room where they’d been opening presents. A large kitchen at the back had space for a breakfast nook on the side.
Stairs split the middle of the house, and on the other side of the main floor was an office and a family room. There was also a mud room that doubled as a laundry area and a powder room at the back, next to the kitchen.
Upstairs, the primary bedroom and bath looked over the fields at the back. Three other bedrooms shared a hallway bathroom. It didn’t take Nina long to choose the largest one that overlooked the front and side yards.
“This is huge. Are you sure we can afford it? A space like this has to cost a fortune.” Nina’s frown matched her worried face.
“No need to worry. It’s already paid for. I sold my condo back in Boston and was able to buy this and stick a bunch into savings, including a college account for this bright young daughter of mine.”
Her eyes widened again. “That must have been some condo.”
Laughing, Heath shrugged. Real estate in the city was far more expensive than in a small town. “People pay a ton for a nice view in the city, but I like this view a lot better.”
They went downstairs and made hot chocolate, talking about plans for how they would fix up the house. As Heath leaned back on the counter with his reindeer mug and his walrus slippers, he knew he’d found his place.
When his phone beeped with an incoming text, he moved to grab it from the front room. It was probably one of his buddies wishing him a Merry Christmas.
He was half right. It was a Merry Christmas text, but it wasn’t from his friends. It was from his mother.
Merry Christmas to you, Addison, and Nina. Your father and I hope you have a wonderful day.
Shock had him rooted in place. He hadn’t heard a single word from them since the day he’d accused his father of trying to hurt Addy.
Addy’s arm wrapped around his waist. “Are you okay? Is everything all right?”
He held out the phone for her to see the text. She gasped and squeezed him. “I’m so glad they reached out to you.”
“Not just to me. They added you and Nina.” He didn’t mention that this might be the first time they’d actually used Addy’s name voluntarily.
She squeezed him again. “Tell them thank you from us and wish them a Merry Christmas back.”
“You’re a lot more forgiving than I am.”
She smiled up at him. “They did a lot of things wrong and caused a lot of harm, but they’re your parents. This is an olive branch, maybe the only kind they know how to extend. I feel sorry for them.”
He shoved the phone into his pocket so he could have two hands to frame her face. “No wonder I’m so in love with you. Your compassion humbles me.”
“Are you going to text them back?”
“Soon. I’ve got something more important to do at the moment.” He lowered his head and kissed her.
A ddy sprawled across Heath’s body, sated and happy. “Future Christmas days will have a lot to live up to. This one was absolutely perfect.”
He chuckled beneath her. “You’re right. But I’ll be glad when we have more space separating us from Nina’s room.”
Addy laughed even as her cheeks flushed. “Me too. I still can’t believe you bought us our dream house.”
His fingers drew lazy circles over her lower back. “I saw how much your eyes lit up when we stopped there that day. When the condo sale went through, I thought it was a sign that I should jump on the property. I know I should have probably talked to you about it, but I wanted you to have a good surprise for a change.”
Because he knew how many bad surprises she’d had over her lifetime, and he wanted better for her. She kissed his chest. “You’re a pretty special man, Heath Wilcox. I’m so glad we had a baby together and so very happy we’re all together now.”
Before she could even blink, she was on her back, wearing her very own sexy man like a blanket. Her body revved right back up.
“I’m glad about all that, too. And extra glad you said yes.”
She brought her hand around so she could look at the pretty ring again. It was gorgeous, but it was the symbol of it all that made her happy. “Forever. Nothing can tear us apart this time.”
“Not a damn thing. I’m never letting go, Addy.”
“Good.”
“Now let’s get you crying out yes again. But quietly. Our daughter is next door.”
B onus Scene
Garrett Briscoe
Garrett walked the paddock and talked with each of the horses, passing out apple slices and carrots. Christmas wasn’t a special day for the animals or for him, but they deserved a treat, anyway.
This ranch wasn’t the same as his grandparents’ ranch back in Oklahoma, but it was a good place. Folks in Tennessee treated their animals well and knew what they were doing with the training.
Garrett kept his eyes on the middle ground as he headed toward the lone mare on the edge of the paddock. While the Tennessee Horse Rescue & Training Centre mostly worked with animals bred to specific tasks, they also took in some rescues.
Those were the ones Garrett couldn’t ignore. He wished he could.
Every forlorn horse reminded him of Shaggy. Shaggy might have been a dog, but she’d been just as skittish as these horses when they’d first met.
They’d spent years together, with Shaggy turning into one of the best K-9s Garrett had ever seen. Smarter than most people and kinder, too.
But if it hadn’t been for her job, she’d still be alive.
All his fault.
Which meant he should ignore the mare. Leave her to heal on her own. What if he caused her death, too?
But the mare didn’t let anyone else approach her. As if she knew Garrett’s heart was as shredded as her own.
Eye contact would make her bolt, so he sidled his way through the crowd, edging closer. When there were no more horses between them, he started talking softly. Telling her what a beautiful girl she was.
A set of galloping hooves approached, and the mare took off for another corner. With a sigh, Garrett turned to see what his boss had to say.
Cecil Caputo was probably in his seventies, but the man sat on a horse with a ramrod straight back and keen eye. When CC slowed the gelding, he swung himself off like a man a third of his age. “Hey, Garrett.”
Garrett nodded, but concern started in his belly. The look in CC’s eye said something was off. Something big.
CC looked around the paddock and sighed before looking back at Garrett. “Got some news. Good for me. Crap for you.”
The man was always a straight shooter.
“I’ve sold the place. Got an offer I couldn’t resist. Well, I could have, but Kath would have killed me. Some developers want the land, and they’re willing to pay top dollar. The deal won’t go through for a couple of months yet, but we’re closing up. It shouldn’t be too hard to sell off the stock. Didn’t want you to hear it from anyone else. I’ll write you a letter of recommendation. Couldn’t ask for a better man with training the animals.”
The man’s eyes were misty with tears. Garrett’s entire body had frozen with shock and sadness. After the Army, he hadn’t thought to find a place that fit, but this one had been pretty close. Now, it was gone, too.
Just like every other place he’d ever been.
CC slapped him on the back, and his voice was husky when he spoke. “I’d like you to stay on until the sale, but if you find something else, I’ll understand. You’re a miracle worker with these horses, and I know you’ll find a new position in no time. Anyone would be lucky to have you.”
CC pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose and drew in a deep breath. “Okay. That’s all I had to say. Thanks, Garrett.”
Then CC hopped on his horse and headed away, leaving Garrett standing in the dust at the edge of the paddock. Alone.
Again.