Reunited at Christmas Page 15

  * * *

  In the aftermath of her date night with Liam, Ruby found herself settling more and more into family life at the Prescott household. Things between her and Liam were good. More and more, she was imagining a permanent place for herself here in Love. With Liam and Aidan. With each passing day, Denver became nothing more than a blip on her radar. It was shocking how quickly she had shed her life in Colorado. And with each and every day, returning to Denver seemed less and less appealing.

  Christmas was rapidly approaching. Ruby was getting really good at hiding presents all over the house. Some of her hiding places were so good she was beginning to fret that she might never find them. She had discussed with Liam the idea of buying Aidan a puppy for Christmas. Rita’s litter hadn’t been born yet, and they would need to stay with their mother for a few weeks after delivery. Aidan wanted a puppy so much, and since Liam was in agreement, Ruby wanted to make her son's dream come true.

  Last night they had stayed in as a family and decorated the Christmas tree. Liam had brought her to tears by pulling out a box of antique ornaments that had been in her family for generations. Ruby had lovingly fingered them, admiring the stunning detail and the intricate craftsmanship. It made her sad that neither of her parents was alive to see Aidan or to help her navigate through life. No matter how old you were, there was always a yearning for a mother. She was no different. And she did have memories of the woman who had been her best friend and motivator. Most of her recollections were sketchy, but she had memories of a round-faced, cheerful woman who had loved to bake and shower her children with affection. Ruby could almost feel the tightness of her mother’s hugs.

  Her mother had passed on to her a love of the Christmas season. And now Ruby wanted to do something to pass on her family’s legacy so that Aidan could know his heritage. That’s where Kyle could be a big help. She was going to call him later today and invite him to Love for Christmas. Seeing how close Liam was to his siblings made her ache inside to strengthen her ties to her brother. And he could act as her living memory about their family traditions until those memories came back to her. Now, more than ever, she was optimistic about the bulk of her memories returning.

  At the moment Ruby was sitting on the living room floor in front of the beautifully decorated tree, wrapping presents. Liam was right next to her, struggling with a tape dispenser and a roll of wrapping paper.

  “Is there a secret to this?” Liam held up his hands. They were covered in tape.

  Ruby chuckled and reached over to untangle him. “I take it that I used to do most of the wrapping?”

  “Pretty much,” Liam acknowledged. “Not that I didn’t try, mind you, but you were way more talented at it than I was.”

  “It’s okay. The true gift lies in the giving.” She winked at Liam. “You’ve still got a shot at winning in that area.”

  Liam folded the wrapping paper and stuck the tape down. He held up the box. “It may not be the prettiest gift under the tree, but I stuck to it and I did it.”

  Ruby clapped. “Nicely done, Liam.”

  “I wanted to share something with you... My family has a Christmas tradition of going caroling a few days before Christmas. You used to love it. We go door to door, singing all types of Christmas songs.”

  “That’s a great idea,” Ruby said. “I imagine it’s a real treat for the people whose houses you stop by. There’s such joy in song.”

  “We’re thinking of going tomorrow night. Are you okay with that? I don’t want you to feel overwhelmed. The Prescotts can be a little wild and crazy during the holidays.”

  “Only during the holidays?” she teased. “Having just witnessed your grandfather’s over-the-top proposal to Hazel, I’m going to hazard a guess that it’s not just during the Christmas season.”

  Liam made a face. “Okay. I take that back. It’s pretty much year-round with my family.”

  “The caroling sounds fun. Now that more of my memories have come back to me, I feel more comfortable being around groups of people. I don’t feel like I’m stumbling around in the dark without a flashlight anymore.”

  “And you’re developing friendships with Paige and Grace and Hazel. And Honor thinks you hung the moon. You’re not an island anymore.”

  “You’re right,” Ruby said. “It helps to have connections here in town. I really enjoyed the tea party. And having Honor invite us out to the Wildlife Center. Those ladies are all something else,” she said. “Grace is so adorable. And Hazel—” She let out a laugh. “She’s a character if I’ve ever met one. And Paige... I don’t know how or why, but she already seems like a close friend.”

  “Trust me. Those women can be a real lifeline here in this town. Each of them in their own way is made of strong stuff.”

  It was nice to hear Liam speak so well of Hazel, Honor and both his sisters-in-law. She thought very highly of all of them. And she looked forward to making those connections with Annie and Sophie, as well. That was the beauty of community. She hadn’t experienced it in Colorado, but right here in Love, it was as natural as breathing. It was enmeshed in the fabric of the town.

  “So, I don’t want to bring up a tricky subject, but we never talked about your dad. Is he still in town?”

  “Not that I know of,” Liam said. “I grilled Jasper about it, but he said Pops never swung by his house. Can’t say that I’m surprised.”

  “How’s Jasper doing? Hazel seems to be staying firm in her resolve to be done with the relationship.”

  “He’s in a little bit of a tailspin at the moment. At first he was in denial, but now the anger is coming out. I’m hoping he just fast-forwards to the acceptance part.”

  Ruby made a tutting sound. “I feel kind of sorry for him.”

  “What? Why? He broke Hazel’s heart,” Liam said.

  “Yeah, but I think his heart must be a little roughed up, too. I think Jasper pretends not to care as much as he really does care deep down. Get it?” Ruby asked.

  “I see what you’re saying, but at this point in his life he needs to get his act together. Tomorrow isn’t promised to anyone. We all need to own up to our truths.” Liam looked over at her. He seemed slightly preoccupied about something, but he didn’t seem inclined to share it with her.

  She threw her tape down on to the carpet and turned to Liam. “I have an idea!”

  Liam’s mouth twisted. “Should I be worried?”

  “No. It’s brilliant. Why don’t we play matchmaker for them? Hazel and Jasper! Think about it. Jasper is the one who created the Operation Love program. He’s brought dozens of women to this town and helped Alaskan bachelors find love. Your brother met his wife through the program. So did Declan! Shouldn’t we try and give something back to Jasper?”

  Liam let out a sigh. “When you put it like that, I guess we do owe Jasper a little consideration. What exactly did you have in mind?”

  * * *

  It was a perfect Alaskan winter night for caroling. The temperature was a chilly fifteen degrees Fahrenheit. Snow was lightly falling as they headed out on foot from the center of town. With a full moon hanging high in the sky and the heavens lit up with sparkling stars, their path was made clear for them. There couldn’t be a more perfect December night.

  It was a full crew for caroling, but it truly did feel like the more the merrier. Liam had surprised her by inviting Kyle to come and join them. Jasper, Hazel, Boone, Grace, Cameron and Paige were also there. Jasper and Hazel were avoiding each other like the plague. Emma had stayed at home with her nanny, Fiona, since she had just recovered from her ear infection, and neither Paige nor Cameron wanted to run the risk of a relapse. Honor was there, as well as Sophie, Declan and Annie. And Pastor Jack Teagan, who made a point of telling Ruby he’d been the one to officiate her wedding.

  Ruby was happy to see everyone. And she no longer felt like a stranger among t
he townsfolk or with Liam’s family. She was part of them now. A citizen of this quirky Alaskan town. A Prescott.

  They went door to door, singing beloved Christmas songs. More times than not they were invited inside for holiday treats and hot cocoa. Some townsfolk handed them candy canes or put their coats on and joined them in the revelry. Ruby couldn’t think of a more festive way to spend an evening. And to make it even more special, she had a flash of being heavily pregnant with Aidan and going door to door, her hand firmly clasped in Liam’s.

  “I think that’s it for the hot chocolate, Aidan,” Ruby said. “You’re going to end up with a bellyache.”

  “But, Mom, I don’t feel sick at all,” Aidan protested, his little mouth turned down in a frown.

  Ruby stopped in her tracks, blown away by hearing Aidan call her “Mom.” He continued to walk ahead with the group, totally unaware of what had just happened or how it had impacted her. Liam stopped and stood by her side. A smile threatened to take over his face. He looked almost as happy as she felt.

  “Did you just hear that?” she whispered. “Or did I imagine it?”

  “I heard it. I don’t need to ask you how it feels to hear him say that one very special word. It’s written all over your face.”

  Tears pooled in her eyes. She began to sniff to keep them at bay. “I can’t even put it into words. I feel like I could soar right now.”

  Liam reached out for her mittened hand and squeezed it. They began walking toward the group of carolers, hand in hand. For the first time in forever, Ruby felt like part of a couple. And it felt wonderful to know she wasn’t alone in the world. She was tied to something so much bigger than herself. There wasn’t any other place she’d rather be at this moment than right at Liam’s side.

  * * *

  “Why don’t we invite everyone over to the house for a small gathering? We were already planning to have people over. What’s a few more?” Ruby suggested. The expression on her face was one of pure excitement. Her cheeks were pink from the cold, and he could tell from the way she was jamming her hands into her coat pockets that she was trying to stay warm.

  “Everyone? Are you sure?” he asked, filled with surprise at Ruby’s willingness to host a large gathering. It was a generous suggestion, particularly since she was still getting used to being around large groups of people.

  “What about the plan for Jasper and Hazel? I’m not sure Jasper wants more of an audience for his big moment.”

  “Yes, I’m sure about including everyone. We have enough food to feed a small army, and Aidan will love having a house full of guests. Plus, it will make things more romantic when Jasper’s plan comes to fruition. He owes Hazel big-time after the last one.”

  Liam hoped Ruby wasn’t disappointed. His grandfather was a feisty, opinionated man who tended to dig his heels in when he wanted to be ornery. There was never a guarantee with Jasper that he would follow along with anything, even a plan that might reunite him with Hazel and put him back in her good graces.

  As they stood on Jarvis Street, Liam put his hands together and let out a whistle to gain everyone’s attention. The group quieted and shifted their attention to him. “Ruby, Aidan and I would like to invite everyone back to our place for a light meal, fellowship and holiday cheer.”

  Judging by the reaction, everyone was excited about attending a gathering at their home. There was clapping and cheering from the group. Jasper let out a groan and made a face at him. He didn’t think he’d ever seen his grandfather so nervous and agitated. He prayed this didn’t mean he was about to bail on the plan. Aidan was doing a little dance in the snow and sticking his tongue out so that he could taste the snowflakes. He dove into the snow then picked up a handful, lifting in the air and lobbying it in his father’s direction.

  Plop. It landed on Liam’s shoulder. With a wild roar he raced toward his son, who let out a shriek and began running in the other direction. Before long, snowballs were being lobbed in all directions by everyone. Liam couldn’t remember the last time he’d had this much fun. Joy pulsed sure and strong in the air. The spirit of the season could be felt right there on Jarvis Street among this group of townsfolk.

  Once they arrived at the house, Liam opened the doors and let everyone in. He grabbed Ruby by the hand and pulled her back outside.

  “What’s going on? Aren’t we supposed to be inside?” she asked with a laugh. “Jasper looks like he’s about to jump out of his skin. You might need to settle him down so this can go off without a hitch.”

  “Jasper will be fine. I just wanted you to see something.”

  He pulled her into the yard so that they were facing their big bay window. “Look.” He pointed up at the window.

  Ruby let out a gasp of pure awe. “Liam. It’s magnificent.”

  Liam and Ruby stood for a moment and simply admired the way their Christmas tree looked from outside. The lights shimmered and winked at them, dazzling in their beauty. The gold star glinted from on top of the tree. Their home looked warm and festive and inviting. In his heart of hearts, Liam had never imagined Christmas could ever feel this heartwarming ever again. It was true that a house wasn’t a home. Ruby being back meant all the difference in their world.

  She had brought so much along with her—hope, joy, heart. And he knew now that her return also served to provide him with a second chance to get things right. Part of doing that would be facing down his fears and telling Ruby the truth about their marriage problems. He simply couldn’t exist in all this beauty while sitting on something so big. It was the only way he could save their relationship from future bumps and bruises. If they were going to have an open and honest relationship, he was going to have to be transparent.

  “It’s simply beautiful, Liam.” Ruby let out a sigh. “This whole evening has been so joyful. Being with family and friends. Seeing Aidan so happy. The caroling door to door.”

  Liam grinned with pleasure. “It was a night to remember, that’s for sure.”

  “I felt like a kid again singing like that. I was in the choir, you know,” she boasted. Yet another thing she felt blessed to have remembered.

  “It’s a good thing you’re easy on the eyes because your singing voice needs some work,” Liam teased. Her singing voice had always been something he’d been able to tease her about.

  Ruby swatted him with her mitten. “Hey! That’s not very nice.”

  Liam was laughing so hard he clutched his stomach. “Maybe not, but it’s true.”

  “I’m very insulted,” she said in a prim voice.

  “I’m sorry. It’s just that you’re amazing at everything under the sun. That’s the only thing I could ever tease you about,” Liam admitted.

  “It’s not the sound of the voice that’s important. It’s the way you put your heart and soul into it,” Ruby said, trying not to chuckle.

  All of a sudden Liam stopped laughing. Her words represented way more to him than she realized. It signified the way he wanted to walk in the world. Heart. Soul. Truth. He couldn’t imagine being wrong when being led by those values.

  “You’re right about that, Ruby. And no one sang tonight with more heart than you did. You radiate from inside.”

  “I’m happy. I think that explains it,” she said in a soft voice.

  Happiness. It wasn’t a concept he’d allowed himself to think about for some time. Not since his entire world had fallen apart in the wake of Ruby’s “death.” His feelings for Ruby were more powerful than he could put into words. He had always loved her, but now he was falling in love with her all over again. Step by step, moment by moment, she was making indelible impressions on his heart. And the sheer power of it scared him to death.

  * * *

  “You’re a beautiful woman, Ruby Prescott. Inside and out.” Liam reached out and ran his palm across her cheek.

  He lowered his head
and captured her lips in a stunning kiss that took her breath away. Her legs almost gave way beneath her. It felt as if she was being swept away. Despite the frosty cold, Liam’s lips were warm and inviting as they moved against hers. Ruby reached up and grabbed the fabric of his coat, pulling him closer. She wrapped her arms around his neck, anchoring herself to him. Ruby wanted to show him that she was in this—with every fiber of her being she wanted to be Mrs. Liam Prescott. She wanted him! And Aidan. And a life filled with all the blessings that had been on full display tonight.

  As the kiss ended, she found herself standing on wobbly legs. With a grin, Liam steadied her by holding her arms. Who would have thought a simple kiss would feel so earth-shattering? The attraction between them was electric. It even managed to cut through the chill in the frosty night air.

  “Let’s head inside. We need to give those two lovebirds a push in the right direction,” Ruby whispered.

  “Just don’t be too disappointed if it doesn’t work out the way you plan,” Liam warned. “As a Prescott, I’ve learned to expect the unexpected.”

  “Have a little faith,” she said as they walked inside.

  After taking off her winter parka, Ruby made her way into the kitchen, pleased that everyone was helping themselves to food and drinks. Prior to leaving for the caroling outing Ruby had laid out most of the food on the dining room table. Although they had only planned on a small number of guests, Ruby felt grateful they had enough food to accommodate a larger number of people. She busied herself filling up the punch bowl with eggnog and taking the shrimp and deli platters out of the fridge and placing them on the table. Honor had set up all the desserts on the side table. At the moment Aidan and a few of his little friends were helping themselves to cookies and brownies.

  All of a sudden Jasper appeared at her side. He tugged at her arm. “Ruby, I need to talk to you in private.”