Reunited at Christmas Page 9

  “Liam, you and Ruby were a love story. I can’t believe you’d give up on that so easily. Most people don’t get second chances at love.”

  “I’m not giving up. I just don’t know how to protect my heart on this journey with Ruby. I want Aidan to have the thing he wants most in the world, but I also want my life back. The life I always imagined.”

  “Then go for it, bro. Don’t let fear stop you.” Cameron’s voice was laced with encouragement.

  Just then the clinic door jingled again, heralding the arrival of Myrtle Maplethorpe, aka the Duchess. Myrtle, the local historian, was also known as Love’s resident town gossip. Liam could hear her high-pitched voice emanating from the other room as she greeted Wanda.

  “I should get this little lady home and call Paige. It sounds like your next appointment is here.”

  They walked out into the waiting room together, both marveling at how soundly Emma was sleeping. The resiliency of children always amazed Liam, both personally and professionally.

  Myrtle was standing there in front of the main desk, resplendent in aqua from head to toe. She peered at them through her Coke-bottle glasses.

  “Well, hello, Dr. Liam. Cameron. Oh, and a darling little Prescott princess.” Myrtle’s tone trilled.

  “She’s a little under the weather with an ear infection,” Cameron explained.

  “Oh, those can be dreadful,” Myrtle said. “I hope the wee one feels better.”

  “Thanks. Nice to see you, Myrtle.” Cameron adjusted Emma on his chest. “See you later, Liam. And thanks for everything. If you need to talk, you know where to find me.”

  As Liam turned back to Myrtle, she narrowed her eyes at him. “Sounds like you’ve been leaning on your brother for advice. I’ve been called a good listener a time or two,” she said. “If you need a listening ear.”

  Liam almost burst out laughing. Myrtle was notorious for spreading people’s private business all around town. There was no way he was going to confide in her all his doubts and fears about Ruby. If he did, it would spread all over town like wildfire. Myrtle wasn’t a bad person, but she certainly wasn’t someone he could trust with his personal business.

  “That’s very kind of you to offer. Why don’t we go check out your heartburn?”

  As he led Myrtle into one of the examining rooms, he found himself wishing his issues with Ruby were as easy to solve as a simple case of heartburn.

  * * *

  Ruby felt a little bit nervous about showing up at Liam’s clinic unannounced, but after consulting with Aidan, they had decided that surprising him with lunch was a brilliant idea. She needed to step out a little bit on faith and embrace the life she’d once made for herself. On some level she had to accept that the woman she’d once been had chosen this life for herself. She had picked Liam. Although she’d made strides with Aidan, she had deliberately been distant from Liam. Knowing they had been a storybook couple felt intimidating. Out of her reach.

  How could she ever live up to the fairy tale of her and Liam? But was it right to not even try to forge something with her husband? She had once vowed to love this man for a lifetime. And with every day she spent here in Love, she was seeing the truth about this man with her own eyes. He was a loving father. Generous. And attentive. The fact that he could have been Mr. Alaska sure didn’t hurt. He was the most eye-catching man she had ever known.

  She had forced herself to take a good look in the mirror to examine her truths. Then she’d had a long talk with God. He had helped her see things more clearly. It was easier to have one foot in Love rather than invest everything in a life she couldn’t quite grasp. That meant she had an escape hatch. If she wasn’t fully invested, she could always head back to Denver. In the back of her mind, that’s what she had been doing ever since she arrived in town. And even though she had agreed to stay on for a bit, there was no commitment to relocate to Love. Her hands weren't tied. But it also meant that she wasn't giving fully of herself. That had to change!

  Now, armed with a fully loaded picnic basket, she was venturing out on a limb and seeing what came of it. And her pint-size companion seemed as excited about this outing as a kid on Christmas morning. He’d been the one to show her where to find the keys to the spare car sitting in the garage. Thankfully, due to Colorado’s climate, Ruby was used to driving on snow-packed roads. She took her time and handled the unfamiliar roads like a pro.

  Liam’s clinic was situated in a small, white clapboard house at the end of Jarvis Street. A sweet sign welcomed them to Dr. Prescott’s Office. A festive Christmas wreath hung on the door, adorned with bright red ribbons and candy canes. Adorable snowmen clung to the windows. Ruby couldn’t imagine a more cheery-looking doctor’s office.

  As they walked through the front door, silver bells jangled from above them. Aidan giggled and pointed. He began swinging the door back and forth so the bells continued to chime. Ruby shook her head and laughed. The sound of footsteps alerted them to Liam’s arrival before he came around the corner. The look of joyful surprise etched on his face was priceless. Warmth settled in Ruby’s chest at the sight of him. All her nerves immediately settled.

  “Hey! I didn’t expect to see the two of you. I thought it might be Wanda coming back from her lunch break.”

  “We’re taking you to lunch, Daddy.” Aidan pointed at the picnic basket. “And you won’t even have to leave your office.”

  Ruby held up the basket. “We hope you haven’t eaten yet. A little birdie told me you usually eat around this time, so we decided to bring lunch to you.”

  Liam’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. He grinned from ear to ear. “Thank you for thinking of me. It’s always nice to break up the day like this.” He motioned them down the hall. “Let’s go set up in one of the empty offices. I have about forty-five minutes until my next patient.”

  Ruby trailed after Liam and Aidan. Once they were in the office she pulled a red tablecloth from inside her shoulder bag and began spreading it out on the small table.

  “We brought chicken sandwiches and potato salad and cupcakes. Plus, a bag of my favorite chips.” Aidan rattled off the menu. “And a bottle of sparkling cider.”

  “Cupcakes! Wow,” Liam said. “You’re going to spoil me.”

  “We did a little baking this morning,” Ruby said. “For some reason I really enjoy making cupcakes.” Ruby had discovered when she was living with Trudy and Ezra that baking was her forte. It had kept her busy in the weeks and months during her recovery. And the older couple had appreciated having someone help them around the house.

  “You were always an excellent cook, Ruby,” Liam said. “Your specialty was reindeer pizza.”

  Ruby turned toward him. “Reindeer pizza? Seriously?”

  “It was your favorite.” Liam rubbed his stomach. “Not only to eat, but you baked it to sheer perfection.” Liam kissed his fingers and lifted them in the air. Ruby chuckled at the gesture.

  Ruby began taking the plates and utensils out of the basket. She lifted the sandwiches out and placed one on each plate, along with a dollop of potato salad. Aidan and Liam sat at the table.

  Ruby made a face. “No offense, but I can’t imagine being partial to reindeer anything.”

  Liam shot her a knowing smile. “Don’t knock it until you try it.”

  “Don’t hold your breath,” Ruby said in a singsong voice.

  “Hey! Wanna see how long I can hold my breath?” Aidan asked. He puffed out his cheeks.

  “After lunch you can impress us, A-man. Let’s just focus on this wonderful meal for the moment.”

  “Let’s pray over the food,” Aidan said. He reached out his hands on either side of him. Both Liam and Ruby linked their hands with his.

  “May I?” Ruby asked. Liam nodded.

  “Go for it,” Aidan said. His encouragement made Ruby grin. He was such
a joyful child. It spoke well of the way Aidan had raised him in the aftermath of the tragedy. There wasn’t a single thing about her son that she didn’t love to pieces. Although the idea of caring so much about him scared her a little bit, she was enjoying her role as his mother.

  She was acting on instinct and trying to listen to him and gauge his needs. Fake it until you make it. The expression popped into her mind. Ruby didn’t have all the answers, but she was determined to try to be the best mother possible.

  She bowed her head. “Thank You for this food, Lord, and for the blessings You continue to bestow on us. Thank You for this day and for all the ones to follow.”

  “Amen,” Liam and Aidan said in unison.

  They began to eat their lunch, enjoying a companionable silence as they devoured the chicken sandwiches.

  This was nice, Ruby thought. For once her mind wasn’t whirling with doubts.

  “So, how is your day going, Dad?” Aidan asked, sounding older than his years.

  Liam grinned. “Pretty interesting. A very familiar face popped by.”

  “Jasper!” Aidan guessed. “Was it his heart again?” he asked, referencing the heart problems that had sidelined Jasper almost two years ago.

  “Nope. It was your cousin, Emma. She had an ear infection.”

  “Oh, that’s yucky!” Aidan made a face. “I’m going to say a prayer for her tonight before I go to sleep.”

  “Praying for her is a wonderful idea,” Liam said. He reached out and patted Aidan on the shoulder. Father and son. When they were sitting next to each other like this, Ruby could see the resemblance. They had the same dark brown hair and their facial expressions were identical. Aidan had her eyes, though—they were a warm shade of brown.

  “Someone slipped this under the door this morning after you left.” Ruby slid a brightly colored card across the table. Liam wiped his hands on his napkin then picked up the card and read it out loud. “‘You are invited to a Get To Know Us tea party. Get dressed up and come spend some time with us. Tea will be served promptly at four o’clock at Hazel’s Lodge.’” There were names scrawled across the bottom. Hazel. Grace. Paige. Sophie. Honor. And Annie.

  Ruby had almost burst into tears the moment she’d read the gorgeous invitation. These ladies were being thoughtful and caring. They were trying to be sensitive of the fact that she had amnesia and didn’t have memories to draw on. And they were pulling her into the fold by extending this thoughtful invitation to her. Although she had acquaintances in Colorado, her closest friends had been Ezra and Trudy, who were senior citizens. Ruby loved them dearly, but there hadn’t been any real common ground.

  In Love, Alaska, she had blood relations and family ties. A best friend. A hunky husband who made her stomach do flip-flops. Whether she remembered it or not, she had history.

  “So...are you going?” Liam asked. He was tapping his fingers on the table as if her answer was important to him.

  “Of course. How could I say no?” Ruby asked. “It will give me an opportunity to renew some friendships and step out on that limb. Not to mention it will give me a reason to get a little gussied up. I’m getting tired of wearing nothing but jeans and leggings.” She felt a little self-conscious as Liam’s eyes honed in on her like laser beams.

  “I think you look pretty awesome in jeans,” Liam said, flashing her a cheeky grin.

  She raised her hands to her heated cheeks. The compliment washed over her like warm rain. As if he needed to do anything else to make her heart go pitter-patter. During lunch she had struggled to tear her eyes away from his jaw-droppingly handsome face. Several times her gaze had lingered way too long. She’d been certain he had noticed her perusal, although he hadn’t let on.

  What had it been like, she wondered, to be this man’s wife? To be adored and protected by such a strong, upstanding man must have been amazing. Liam was a hottie. It was undeniable. In his white lab coat and with his stethoscope hanging around his neck, he looked even more impressive.

  But allowing her mind to veer toward romance wasn’t smart. Not when she still didn’t have any recollection of him or their life together. How could she allow herself to fall for Liam when she didn’t know who she herself was?

  “Well, we should get going and let you get back to work,” Ruby said in a brisk voice. She stood and smoothed her hands against the fabric of her jeans. She began tidying the table and packing up the remnants from lunch.

  “Aw. Is it time to leave already?” Aidan pouted.

  Liam stood and lifted Aidan into his arms. “No worries, A-man. I’ll be home before you know it. Maybe we can take a walk in the woods behind the house and leave some food for your reindeers.”

  “Yes!” Aidan cried as he raised his fist in the air.

  Liam always knew what to say to make things better for their son. He did it so effortlessly, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy. Had she once had that particular talent? A memory tugged at her. She was pushing Aidan in a little swing to stop him from crying. Every time he went up in the air he pumped his little legs. For a moment she simply reveled in the recollection. It was real! She just knew it. And before long she would be remembering other things—perhaps about her friendship with Paige, her parents, Aidan’s first moments...and her romantic journey with Liam.

  Please, Lord, let me remember more about my life in Love. I don’t want to walk around not feeling whole anymore. Let me learn more about myself so I can be a better woman. Not just for myself, but for Aidan and Liam, as well.

  Chapter Eight

  Ever since Ruby’s return, coming home after work had been the highlight of Liam’s day. As he drove down the private lane leading to the house, his chest always felt as if it might burst with expectation. It was a strange feeling since it reminded him of the early days when he’d first fallen in love with Ruby. Back then he had been full of a mixture of excitement and dread. He had been so afraid of losing her. It had always seemed to Liam that being with Ruby was like catching lightning in a bottle. It still stunned him to this day that all of his prayers had been answered when she’d fallen deeply in love with him.

  God had blessed them both. And even though the current situation wasn’t ideal, he had to remind himself to stay focused on the blessings.

  Liam drove into the driveway and stared at the log cabin nestled in the woods. A soft, amber-colored light emanated from inside. This was his haven. He had always loved their abode, but now it felt like home again. During Ruby’s absence he had tried to fill the house with as much love as he could, but he’d never been able to replicate all of the things Ruby had infused into their home. A woman’s touch. A mother’s nurturing instincts. A soft place to fall.

  And despite her amnesia, she still brought her own ray of light along with her. It had subtly transformed their house into a home.

  With each and every day that passed, he was finding it hard to imagine being without Ruby ever again. Although the question still remained. Would Ruby stay on in Love? Or would she return to the life she’d been living in Denver? The very thought of her leaving made his chest tighten with sorrow.

  A flash of color caught his eye just as he was about to mount the stairs leading to the porch. A slight figure—bigger than Aidan—stood right on the edge of the area leading toward the forest.

  The illumination from the porch shed a little light on the shadowy figure. It was Ruby. Placing his briefcase on the steps, he turned around and began walking in her direction.

  The crunching sound of his footsteps on the snow-packed ground filled the silence with every step he took. Ruby swung her eyes toward him as he approached. With her red coat and white, tasseled hat and matching mittens, she looked utterly charming.

  “Hi, Liam.”

  “Hey, Ruby. What’s going on out here? It’s pretty cold to be outside now that the temperatures have dropped.” />
  She waved her mittened hand toward the woods. “I heard something out there. It sounded like an animal crying out. Aidan is watching television, so I figured I’d check things out.” She shrugged. A sheepish expression crept over her face. “I thought maybe I could save whatever creature was out here raising a ruckus.”

  Liam cast his eyes toward the woods. “It was most likely a bird of some variety. A loon or owl. Or a beaver perhaps.”

  She bit her lip. “It was such a plaintive cry. Heartbreaking really. It stopped right before you drove up.”

  “You don’t want to venture out in the woods at night, Ruby. I should have remembered to tell you that. It’s fairly common to come up against wolves or even bears in these parts.” He felt like kicking himself for failing to warn his wife about the potential dangers in Alaska. It was still hard to wrap his head around all of the things she no longer remembered.

  Her eyes widened. “Yikes. So most likely a wolf was hunting its prey.”

  He smiled at her. “Most likely. They’ve been known to go after moose and caribou, as well.”

  Ruby nodded. “And they’ve gone after humans, too, which makes it foolish for me to have come out here to investigate.” Her expression radiated frustration.

  “Not foolish,” he corrected. “Caring about animals is compassionate. Part of living in Alaska means being aware of the risks, however small they might be.”

  She huffed out a small breath. “It’s strange to not remember such vital things.” Ruby ducked her head. He could see her lip trembling.

  He reached out and tipped her chin up, acting on impulse. “I know this whole experience must be scary for you. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to not remember so many things. For what it’s worth, I think you’re a brave woman, Ruby Prescott. You always have been.”

  They locked gazes. Her warm brown eyes flared with uncertainty. “That’s the thing, though. I don’t feel courageous. You told me earlier that I was a brave person, but maybe that was the old Ruby. Most days I feel like I’m stumbling around in the dark without a flashlight. I wish I could remember Aidan’s favorite foods and the things that scare him.”