Their One-Night Christmas Gift

by Karin Baine

  ‘I don’t think there’s any point—’

  ‘Sure.’ Thankfully, Esme cut off Harriet’s protests and nipped out the door before she got dragged into the conversation.

  ‘Can we talk?’ He sat down at the table and pulled out a chair for Harriet. She remained standing.

  ‘I don’t think there’s anything left to say, Charles.’

  ‘I think there is. I hear you made plans for Dougal to become a permanent feature here?’

  Harriet grabbed a cloth and began to clean down the work surfaces, which already looked spotless to Charles. ‘It was just an idea I had. I’m sure Esme will find somewhere else for him.’

  ‘You were going to make a decision like that without talking to me about it first?’

  She spun around to face him. ‘Rehoming a dog is not the same as transferring a person’s job to a different country without telling her.’

  ‘I know. I know. What I’m trying to say is that we were both doing things we thought would benefit each other. I wasn’t trying to control your life, but I was guilty of not taking your feelings into consideration.’

  ‘Why would you cut me out of decisions like that again after everything we’ve been through? You know how hard it’s been for me to trust you again and then you go and do exactly the same thing.’

  ‘I realise that. Probably too late, but I swear I will do whatever it takes for you to be happy from now on. All that matters to me is you and the baby.’

  ‘I wish I could believe that.’

  ‘Surely the fact you were willing for us to take on Dougal said you were thinking about staying on here? Deep down you must know how much I care about you or you’d never even have considered that sort of commitment.’

  ‘It wasn’t my feelings that were ever in question. I love you, Charles. I’ve always loved you. Why else do you think this has been so hard?’

  ‘Then what the hell are we doing to ourselves?’ Hearing her say those words was all Charles needed to know he’d done the right thing in the end. He crossed the floor so he could be closer to her, wanting to take her in his arms, but she dodged around him and resumed her cleaning.

  ‘I’m sorry but, ultimately, nothing else has changed. Except I called you out on your behaviour this time.’

  ‘That’s not true. A lot has changed. It just took the shock of potentially losing you to make me realise that. The clinic is up and running. They don’t need me here any more. Esme could easily take over Heatherglen.’

  ‘What are you saying, Charles?’ Harriet stopped scrubbing invisible stains to stare at him. Knowing he was saying something she wanted to hear gave him the courage to carry on.

  He pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to her. ‘I went to see my solicitor this morning. This is simply a letter to confirm my intent, contracts are in the process of being written.’

  She scanned the letter his solicitor had drawn up this morning under duress. He wasn’t happy that Charles was willing to sign away his inheritance so easily, but this was a sacrifice he was only too willing to make if it meant he and Harriet could be together.

  ‘I can’t let you do this.’ Harriet folded the letter and tucked it back into his jacket pocket. She was so close he could feel her warmth, smell her perfume, and he so desperately wanted to kiss her again. He wouldn’t, though. Not unless he was sure he wanted him to.

  ‘Oh? You’re telling me what I can or can’t do now?’ He couldn’t help but smirk at the irony in that. Really, he didn’t mind when it showed she cared about him.

  She gave him a sidelong look. ‘This is different. Heatherglen is your life. I can’t let you give that up.’

  ‘You and the baby are my life now. I was asking too much of you, expecting you to give up your home, your job and everything else to move here. If you can still picture a future with me I’m fully prepared to follow you back to London. I’m sure I can find work there and we can come back and visit Esme anytime.’ The answer had been staring him in the face all along. Harriet wanted him to make a commitment, a gesture big enough that she would stop fearing the worst. That he was going to leave her on her own again.

  He’d fulfilled the promise he’d made to honour his brother and father and he’d seen Esme build a business and fall in love. Now it was time to focus on what was important to him. Harriet.

  * * *

  ‘This is all so...overwhelming.’ Harriet wanted to believe she could have it all, but only a few hours ago she’d been getting ready to say goodbye for ever, convinced Charles didn’t love her enough to change. Now he was offering to give up everything and go back to London with her. It was everything she wanted yet she was afraid of taking that final step with him again. Her head was spinning with the possibilities awaiting them but there was still something holding her back.

  ‘I’ll do whatever it takes to prove to you this family is all that I want. Say the word and I’ll quit working altogether to be a stay-at-home dad. I just can’t lose you again.’

  She would never ask him to do any of the things he was willing to give up, but these weren’t things he would say lightly. ‘You’d do that for me?’

  ‘I’d do that for us. For our family.’ He stroked his thumb across her cheek and placed a ghost of a kiss on her lips. Enough for her to crave more. Except he let go of her again. ‘I won’t put you under any pressure to make a decision now. You need to do what’s right for you.’

  Sound advice. If only she knew what that was.

  * * *

  ‘Esme, this isn’t the food I brought back from the supermarket.’ Harriet saw the plates of haggis, neeps and tatties and homemade black bun, a rich fruit cake wrapped in pastry, and knew she’d been played.

  ‘There was a bit of a mix-up. The caterers arrived not long after you left.’ With the party in full swing, Esme had finally taken a break herself to get something to eat from the buffet laid out in the marquee.

  ‘Uh-huh? You couldn’t have phoned to let me know?’

  Esme waved her away. ‘I was busy. There’s no harm done.’

  As though Harriet wasn’t suspicious enough about Esme’s whole part in getting her to stay, she gave Charles a little wink before she disappeared with Max.

  ‘Why do I get the feeling you had a rather large hand in the great catering mishap?’ she asked Charles.

  ‘I thought we needed more time to get our act together.’ Charles slid his hands around Harriet’s waist and kissed her neck.

  ‘Well, one of us did.’ She should’ve been angry that he’d concocted that supermarket trolley dash and wasted her afternoon, but it showed he had been fighting for them after all. While she’d been dispatched on a fool’s errand, Charles had been signing his life away in a solicitor’s office to prove his commitment to her. It was worth all the cloak and dagger shenanigans in the end when it made them both consider what was most important to them. Right now, she was content to be with Charles. The man who was willing to give up everything just to be with her.

  He kissed her again. ‘It’s almost midnight and I promised I’d get up and sing. Although I’m not sure I’ve had nearly enough whisky yet to do that.’

  ‘You have to. I’ve been looking forward to that all evening.’ She turned around in his arms and fluttered her eyelashes. This Hogmanay party reminded her of that first night they’d met. Hearing Charles sing again would be the perfect way to end it.

  ‘In that case, I wouldn’t want to disappoint you. Now, are you sure Dougal’s safely locked away?’

  ‘Yes, and I left the radio on for him so he doesn’t get lonely, just as you asked.’

  ‘Thank you.’ He dropped another kiss on her lips and went to join the band on the stage. Thankfully, the weather had improved over the course of the day. Although the ground was muddy, the crowd was able to move outside to watch the band. It had the atmosphere of being at a music festival. Especially when mos
t of them were wearing wellington boots to enable them to move unhindered across the wet fields.

  Charles looked so handsome up there, singing traditional Scottish folk songs, wearing his kilt and playing the guitar, Harriet had become his number one groupie. Especially when he locked eyes with her and made her feel as though she was the only person here and he was singing directly to her.

  ‘This last song is dedicated to the woman I love. Harriet, this one’s for you.’ As Charles began singing the slow ballad that had made her fall in love with him in the first place, tears streamed down her face. It was only now she realised she’d been waiting for him to say those words before those last barriers around her heart fell away.

  All too soon the song was over, but she’d make sure he kept that guitar and kilt handy. She wanted to see them both on a regular basis.

  ‘Ten, nine, eight...’

  The band began the countdown and Charles jumped down off the stage so he could be with her at midnight.

  ‘Seven, six, five, four...’ She pulled him close so he was beside her to toast in the new year. Andy, the guy she’d met in the lounge, was standing nearby with Esme and Max and she waved over to him. He looked nervous and was leaning heavily on his crutches, waiting for the cacophony of cheers and fireworks as though he was going into battle.

  ‘Three, two, one.’

  The place erupted as the sky lit up with explosions of colour and the crowd burst into a chorus of Auld Lang Syne, linking arms as they did.

  ‘Are you doing okay, Andy?’ She moved closer to where she could keep a closer eye on him even though he had people on either side to make sure this wasn’t too much for him.

  ‘You know what? I really am. I’m not in Afghanistan any more. Not even in my head. Happy New Year, Harriet. I think this is going to be the best one yet,’ he said as he raised his glass of whisky.

  ‘I think so too,’ she said, and couldn’t resist giving him a hug. It was so heart-warming to see another patient start anew after their recovery, whether from mental or physical impairment. As he joined Esme in letting off the party poppers and covering everyone around them in glitter and string, his laughter confirmed he’d passed his test and finally conquered his demons.

  Charles grabbed her by the hand and pulled her towards the house.

  ‘Where are we going? We’re going to miss the party.’ She looked back with longing at the throng of happy people celebrating without them.

  ‘We can’t miss the first footer,’ He said as though she knew what he was talking about. Her expression must’ve given her away as he was compelled to explain.

  ‘The first person to step into the house in the New Year.’

  ‘Oh,’ she said, still clueless as to why this was significant.

  Sure enough they’d just made it inside before someone knocked. Charles opened the door to a tall, black haired man and welcomed him in with a, ‘Happy New Year.’

  The dark stranger presented Charles with an array of gifts. ‘Whisky, to drink and celebrate the New Year. Coal, so that your house will be warm, bring comfort and be safe for the year ahead. Shortbread, to make sure those in the household won’t go hungry and a silver coin to bring prosperity.’

  ‘Thank you. Now go on out back and get something for yourself to eat and drink.’ Charles accepted the basket of gifts with one hand and clapped him on the back with the other, ushering him towards the party outside.

  Once the mysterious visitor had gone, Charles opened the whisky and poured them two glasses. ‘Happy New Year.’

  Harriet clinked her glass to Charles’s. ‘Here’s to the New Year, and our new life.’

  ‘I’m so happy you’re here to share this with me. There’s only one thing that could make the moment more perfect, Harriet. That’s why I wanted us to greet the first footer and bless us with good luck for the forthcoming year. Harriet Bell, will you marry me?’

  ‘Yes. A thousand times, yes.’ She threw her arms around his neck, uncaring about the whisky spilling everywhere. This was the ultimate commitment and there was nothing she wanted more than to marry this man and have his baby. As long she was with Charles she didn’t care where they started their new life.

  The truth had finally set them free, enabling them to raise their family in the best possible place. A home filled with love.

  EPILOGUE

  ‘DO YOU THINK we should call off the Christmas party?’ Charles was doing lengths of the living room with the baby over his shoulder, trying to settle him.

  ‘Thomas is just teething. He’ll be fine.’ Harriet was more enamoured than ever with her gorgeous husband now he was as attentive to their son as he was to her. They were enjoying their time off together over the festive period, even if sleep had become a thing of the past recently.

  ‘It’s not just for Thomas’s benefit. I think it would be nice for us to have a quiet evening together.’ Once their son had stopped crying, Charles was able to lay him down on the activity quilt he’d received from Auntie Esme for Christmas. The baby’s attention now on the bright-coloured jungle animals on the fabric and the noisy attachments, his exhausted father collapsed onto the sofa beside his wife. He still had enough energy to give her a passionate kiss. Thankfully, parenthood hadn’t diminished that side of their relationship.

  ‘That does sound like heaven.’ Chilling out by the fire, spending quality time together, was more appealing than the idea of rushing around making sure their guests had enough to eat or drink all evening.

  ‘Surely we could skip it for one year?’

  ‘I don’t think people would mind. Aksel and Flora are probably comfortable enough where they are without having to trail out here from the village in the cold. The same could be said for Lyle and Cassandra, even though they don’t have as far to travel.’

  At this time of year most people were content to stay with the ones they loved. The difference for Harriet this year was that she had people to stay at home with.

  ‘What about Esme?’ Charles gave her the face that said their plans for a quiet night had just been thwarted.

  ‘You know she’ll want to see her nephew and having Max and Esme isn’t the same as hosting a party. We can still have a quiet night in.’

  ‘You think? Just wait until she has us playing musical chairs and hide and seek.’ Although he was denying it, Harriet knew Esme’s excitement was part of the tradition around here.

  ‘As long as I don’t have to start cooking, or even get dressed, I don’t care. I’m going to slob out today.’

  ‘Me too.’ Charles stretched out along the settee and put his feet up. They were both overdue a good rest after the year they’d had getting her transferred from London and making plans for the research centre. Not to mention their wedding in the middle of it all. Now, with Aksel building an adventure centre on the estate, the year ahead was going to be another busy one for Heatherglen. She would never have expected Charles to give up Heatherglen when it had become a family home for all of them.

  They heard paper rustling in the corner and Charles lifted his head. ‘Dougal! He’s in the presents again.’

  Harriet watched with amusement as the two did battle over the new scarf Joanie had knitted Charles for Christmas. She couldn’t seem to do enough to thank them both for saving her life.

  ‘Give me that back, you daft mutt.’ Charles was growling almost as much as Dougal, who thought he was being treated to a new game, and Thomas was gigging at the spectacle too.

  Yes, this was her crazy family, and she wouldn’t trade it for anything.

  * * *

  Welcome to the Pups that Make Miracles quartet!

  Highland Doc’s Christmas Rescue

  by Susan Carlisle

  Festive Fling with the Single Dad

  by Annie Claydon

  Making Christmas Special Again

  by Annie O’Neil

  Th
eir One-Night Christmas Gift

  by Karin Baine

  All available now!

  Keep reading for an excerpt from Single Dad in Her Stocking by Alison Roberts.

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  Single Dad in Her Stocking

  by Alison Roberts

  CHAPTER ONE

  ‘OH, NO...YOU can’t be serious.’

  ‘I’m so sorry, Dr Cunningham, but there it is. I’m sure you understand that acute appendicitis isn’t something we can plan for. We’re doing our very best to find someone else to fill the position but, realistically, that’s not going to happen until after New Year. People want to be with their families over the festive season and...it’s such late notice. It’s the twentieth of December, for heaven’s sake. Christmas is only a few days away, you know.’

  Of course he knew. There was tinsel in all sorts of odd places in his emergency department here at the Cheltenham Royal Hospital and there was a small Christmas tree in the waiting room. Some staff members had taken to wearing earrings that had flashing lights or headbands with reindeer antlers or little red hats with pompoms attached and he kept hearing people humming Christmas carols. They’d even had a man in a Santa suit come in by ambulance earlier today after suffering a suspected heart attack as he coped with all those small people wanting to sit on his knee and have their photographs taken in the town’s largest department store.

  And, of course, he knew that people wanted to be with their families. Or felt obliged to be. It was precisely the reason why Max Cunningham always worked right through the holiday season to make sure as many people as possible in his department could have time at home with their loved ones. He’d done it for so many years now he was quite comfortable ignoring the commercial hype that tried to make it compulsory for happy families to gather and have an over-the-top celebration as they enjoyed each other’s company. It was as much of a myth as Santa Claus as far as he was concerned—or it was for the Cunningham family, at any rate.