by Lynn Landes
“You seem like a smart woman. You know that Langdon’s choices were his own.” She sighs heavily, “Just once I’d like to see a woman stay and fight for them. It’s always the two of them fighting alone. They deserve more. The question is, are you the woman to do that?”
“I want to be,” she whispers, “but I’m afraid.” She glances up at Louisa, “What if I’m not what he wants?”
“Then you will cry and grieve the loss, but you don’t get to run.” She sighs when she looks at the indecision on Aiylin’s face. “I may be a bitter old woman, but I never run from what I believe in. Judging from your trip here, neither do you.”
She grips Louisa’s hands, “What do I do?”
“I’ve decided we should spend Christmas with Elizabeth. Will you accompany me?” she decides suddenly.
“Yes,” she sobs and covers her face with her hands while Louisa laughs and hugs her. She starts shouting orders to her staff.
“I need a telegram sent to my sister Elizabeth, tell her I’m coming for Christmas and bringing guests.”
Chapter 27
“And so it was… that she,
having waited long
and endured patiently
realized and obtained
what God had promised.”
Hebrew 6:15
Elizabeth is beside herself with excitement when Stanley hands her the telegram. “Oh!” she sits down and smiles. Sebastian and Tinley have been lost without Aiylin, and she decides not to tell them. Surprises are good for the soul. Instead, she works with the cook to plan for extra guests. The staff cleans the house, and the presents are wrapped and placed beneath the tree.
Stanley is sent for more supplies and Sebastian is too concerned over Tinley to even notice. She’s refusing to leave her room. The first day he told her that Aiylin needed to go see her family after the attack and Tinley thought that meant she was coming back. He couldn’t leave Tinley to go after Aiylin. Not in this state.
The second day she cried her eyes out, and by the third day, she refused to leave her room. “Christmas wishes aren’t true,” she grumbles when Elizabeth tries to cheer her up.
“Darling, you know that I told you sometimes wishes take time,” Elizabeth tries to explain.
“Yes, Oma.” All her excitement is gone.
“Christmas is in three days. Won’t you please come sit with me by the fire?”
“I think we are going to take a walk, Mother,” Sebastian says from the door. “Come on, Tinley.”
“I don’t want to,” she murmurs and stares in the distance.
“I can see that, but I need to take a walk, and you don’t want me to get lonely, do you?” he teases.
“No, Daddy,” she whispers and follows him from the room. Elizabeth is beginning to question her judgment. Perhaps she should tell them? She watches them leave and moves to the window. The lantern is glittering in the yard, as usual. “If only I had a wish left.”
The lantern flickers and Elizabeth gasps and grins. “I’ll be patient. What’s one more day?” she whispers.
“Charles! Have you lost your mind? We can’t just show up at their house for Christmas!”
Aiylin walks into the house and hears her parents shouting at each other. Shock ripples through her and she runs upstairs.
“What’s wrong?” she demands “Is Mena okay?”
“Mena’s fine, but your Father is clearly not,” her mother snaps and steps in front of him.
“Tell her!”
“We’re going away for Christmas?” he snaps.
“Where are you going?” she asks softly.
“To Nazareth,” he says, shoving clothes into a bag.
“What!” she gasps and doubles over. Her body is shaking, and her mother runs to her.
“See what you did, Charles!”
Aiylin lifts her face and shocks them both by wiping her tears. She points and can’t stop laughing.
“Oh, Lord, you broke her!” her Mother gasps.
“No, I’m fine,” she takes a deep breath and stops laughing. “Tell me what’s going on.”
Charles sits on the edge of his bed, “I received an interesting letter today from a Sheriff Jacob Dane.”
“Jacob?” she gulps.
“Yes, daughter. It would seem that you left some details out of your trip,” he glares at her.
“Daddy,” she tries, but he cuts her off.
“You weren’t going to tell us that Langdon followed you and tried to kill you!”
Ida shouts “What!” and sits in a chair.
“I didn’t want to worry you,” she whispers.
“Aiylin, did it ever occur to you that you don’t have to do everything alone?” Charles asks and reaches for her hand. She grips it like a lifeline.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, Aiylin. Your nature is to protect, but it shows a distinct lack of faith in God when you take it all on yourself,” he reprimands her.
“Charles!” Ida hisses. “That’s harsh.”
“No, he’s right Mom. I need to stop and remember that God is always with me. My will isn’t his will,” she smiles softly and touches her father’s hand.
“Exactly. Tell us what happened.”
Aiylin sits with her parents and tells them everything. She describes Elizabeth, Sebastian, and Tinley. How they welcomed her, and they stare at her when she talks about how kind, respectful, and faithful Sebastian is.
Neither of them speak for a moment, and Ida wipes her eyes. “I’ll start packing.”
Aiylin laughs softly and shoves away the fear. “He’s going to be so mad at me,” she whispers.
“Maybe a little,” her father says, “but if he loves you as much as you love him, then relief will win over anger.”
Aiylin stares at him in shock, “I do love him,” she whispers and starts crying. He hugs her tightly and murmurs to his daughter.
“Let’s go get your Christmas present,” he teases.
“My Christmas wish you mean,” she sniffs and laughs. “Thank you.” They talk long into the night, packing and planning. Ida decides to stay and greet Patrick and Mena at the train station. They will travel together to Nazareth once they have a chance to talk.
Aiylin glances out the window of the train and prays that Sebastian will have an open heart. Part of her questions why he didn’t come after her, but she imagines that he’s worried about leaving Tinley or feeling betrayed by her. She chews on her lip as the scenery flies by.
They check into the hotel a few hours later intending to go to the Becker’s the next day, but Aiylin can’t wait.
“It’s not a long drive to the house,” she insists.
“I’ll go to the livery and get a carriage,” her father says with a smile.
“Thank you, Dad,” she says. After he leaves, she turns to her mother, “How do I look?”
The red velvet dress with the fur collar is the perfect complement to her skin, hair, and eyes. “It’s what I was wearing the first time I met them,” she murmurs.
“You look beautiful, as always,” Ida hugs her and prays this man doesn’t hurt her daughter.
As they ride out of town, she tells them the story of the lantern, and Ida smiles. “How charming! A magical Christmas wish,” she glances at her husband who is smiling.
They ride in silence for a while until it’s time to turn on the lane. “Stop!” Aiylin insists. The sun is starting to set, and she smiles when she sees the house in the distance.
“I’ll walk from here,” she jumps down before they can object. “Trust me,” she gives them directions of how to get to the stables and waits for them to leave to start walking.
Closing her eyes, she allows the cold air to wash over her. It starts to snow, soft, fat flakes, and she grins. “Perfect.” The lantern is glowing in the distance, softly beckoning her and she’s drawn to the possibility of the magic waiting for her.
Aiylin steps into the warmth of the lantern's beam and smiles up at the house. �
�I can feel the magic here, but I think I need to do this on my own. Thank you,” she murmurs, and the lantern flickers.
Tinley is playing in her window when the lantern’s flicker distracts her. She gasps and watches Aiylin step to the lantern and begin speaking to it!
A shaft of light shoots from the lantern straight into the window, filling Sebastian’s room with its honey glow. He hears her laughter before he sees her, and his heart tumbles to his feet. Sebastian breaks into a run and laughs when he sees Tinley burst from her room. He scoops her up.
“Come on, my heart, let’s go get our Christmas wish,” he laughs when she hugs him tightly.
Elizabeth hears a noise that sounds like a herd of cattle on her stairway, and she shouts when Sebastian comes tearing down the steps. “What in the world!”
Charles and Ida are walking with Stanley towards the house when they see Aiylin standing in a strange glow. Her smile outshines the light and Ida gaps, “Charles! Look at her.”
Sebastian puts Tinley down first, and she runs crying straight for Aiylin and throws herself around her legs. “You came back!”
Aiylin squats down and wraps her arms around her neck, “I could never stay away from you, angel. I’m sorry if I hurt you, Tinley but I had some things to take care of.”
“Are you home for good now?” Tinley demands and wipes her eyes.
“I don’t know. I need to talk to your Daddy. Do you see that couple with Stanley?” Aiylin points.
“Yes,” Tinley sniffs.
“Those are my parents, and they’d very much like to meet you and your Oma,” she whispers.
Tinley giggles, “I can help!” she presses a kiss to Aiylin’s cheek and wiggles free. She runs straight past Sebastian, and Charles booming laughter is soon heard. He scoops her up and carries her inside, following Stanley and Ida.
Sebastian’s eyes never leave her face. Aiylin’s resolve almost falters when her eyes meet his. He isn’t smiling, just staring at her, and she can feel the hurt radiating from him.
“Why did you leave?”
“I’m sorry my mess found its way into your life, Sebastian. I understand if you can’t forgive me,” she stops talking when he takes another step.
“Langdon is a sick man. We will pray that he finds the help he needs, but none of that is your fault, and you know it.” He stares hard at her intending to leave her standing there, but she stops him with her next words.
“I didn’t use it,” she glances away from him and touches the warm iron. “I thought about it.” She steps from the heat of the light and into the cold. “Asking it to make you love me. You can’t imagine how desperately I want too, but this is bigger than a wish.”
“It is?” Hope flutters in his chest.
“Sebastian, what I feel for you and Tinley is better than a wish, because it’s alive and real. When I play my music, I feel it all. Love, hate, passion, but all of that pales in comparison to how I feel when I’m with you, and it terrifies me.”
“You need to ask yourself if your music fills the void in your heart, Aiylin or is there enough space for us?” Sebastian pulls her slowly towards him and kisses her, not giving her a chance to answer.
“Don’t hide behind it, keeping the world at bay. I need you, Aiylin. The world is a messy place. It can hurt you. It can shame you and tear you down.” He traces his fingers over her face. “But it can also, cherish you, lift you up, protect and honor you, if you let it.”
“Sebastian how can you be sure? We’ve only known each other for a short time.”
“My heart knew when I looked out in the pouring snow and saw you running towards me, Aiylin,” he smiles and touches her face.
“Your heart knew what?”
“That my wait was over, Aiylin. Is yours?”
“Yes,” Sebastian lifts her up in his arms and kisses her again. They smile and burst out laughing when cheers erupt from the house. Aiylin hides in Sebastian’s neck as he carries her to the house. They stop and stare when the lantern flickers.
Elizabeth grins at her granddaughter, “Who knew that a promise, a blizzard, and a secret wish for a new mother would bring Christmas magic.
“I did, Oma,” Tinley spins and stops to smile at them, “but I didn’t wish for a new mommy.”
“What did you wish for?” Charles asks.
“A sister,” she giggles at the look of shock on their faces. “Oma says that wishes take time to come true. I’m still waiting.”
They are all laughing hard when Sebastian walks inside, holding Aiylin’s hand.
“What’s so funny?” he asks after introductions are made.
“Nothing,” Elizabeth says, wiping her eyes.
Epilogue
Tinley holds Laney’s hand and helps her climb into the window seat. “Now, will you tell me the story?”
“I don’t know if I can remember it Laney,” she teases. “It’s been four years since we’ve been here for Christmas.”
“You remember,” Tinley frowns and puffs, blowing a golden curl from her turquoise eyes. “No one knows…”
Tinley laughs, “No one knows where the lantern came from, nor do they understand the source of its power.”
Laney nods and listens with rapt attention.
“Some say it’s the Magic of Christmas that gives it light, others say if you make a wish under the lantern, your most secret wishes will come true,” Tinley glances out of the window thinking of her grandmother’s story.
Sebastian and Aiylin stop outside the door and listen as Tinley tells the story of her Christmas wish.
“Once, when I was a little older than you, I snuck out.”
Laney gasps, “No!”
“I know it was naughty, but Papa was so lonely. I had a secret wish in my heart, Laney and I didn’t know what to do to make it come true.”
“What happened?” Laney asks softly.
“It was the clearest night, and the brightest stars were shining in the winter sky. I was sleeping in this very room,” she points to the bed and holds her sister’s hand. “The lantern sent a beam of light into this room, painting it in a golden glow. It woke me and that’s when I heard it.”
Aiylin looks to Sebastian in surprise and they both step closer to listen.
“Make a wish,” it said.
“Were you scared?” Laney asks.
“No. Oma had told me the magic was special. It helped her when she was little. I dressed in my boots, coat, and gloves, not forgetting my scarf, for the wind was up, and I didn’t want to be sick at Christmas.”
“Was the lantern glowing?” Laney asks.
“Yes, a brilliant glow that seemed to light the path from the front door to the lantern.”
Laney glances out the window and back. “You were very brave, Tinley,” she whispers.
“Sometimes, we must be brave, Laney.”
Sebastian wipes his eyes. They lost Elizabeth this past spring and the wound is still fresh in his heart. Hearing his oldest child now, he sends a prayer of thanks to heaven.
“I made my way to the lantern and stood beneath it, closing my eyes tightly. I made my wish, and the lantern flickered!”
“It did!”
Tinley nods, “That very next morning, Mama found us!”
“I can’t wait to make my wish!” Laney yawns and glances out of the window.
“You were the best wish I could’ve ever made,” Tinley grins.
Laney leaps at her and throws her arms around her shoulders. “If I’m not brave enough, Tinley, will you go with me?”
“Of course,” she pats her.
“Is that a promise?” Laney asks.
“Yes, I will give you a promise for Christmas, Laney. I promise to love and protect you today, tomorrow and always.”
Aiylin doesn’t try to wipe her tears she turns into her husband’s arms.
“Merry Christmas, my love.”
The End.
Before you go!
If you enjoyed this title
You m
ight want to check out
Another book by Lynn:
Mercy's Promise
Thank you for taking the time to read this book! If you enjoy a book, one of the best things you can do to support an author is to leave an honest review. Thank you for taking the time to let others know what you thought.
If you want to connect with me online, and check out my other books, please visit my website:
www.followlynnsthread.com
About the Author
Lynn Landes is the author and independent publisher of multiple fantasy books in all age brackets. Her stories span the spectrum of Fiction, from historical romance, paranormal, romantic suspense to Christian fantasy including the best-selling Covenant Series.
Educated as a teacher Lynn never lost her love for literature and began writing at an early age. Poetry, short stories and fiction. She regularly can be found in the car rider line at her children’s school writing on receipts, napkins or whatever scraps are at the bottom of her purse. A Virginia girl at heart, she lives with her husband and three children in South Carolina, where she is currently studying Dragon Script with her ten-year-old daughter.