by Cindy Kirk
The only question now was, would she use Graham’s stumble as an excuse to not move forward?
Leaning forward, Faith brushed her lips against his. “I forgive you.”
Expelling a ragged breath of air, he rested his forehead against hers. “I love you, Faith. Please know I never meant to hurt you.”
“We should have talked this out days ago. But I was so hurt and angry—”
“I’m glad we didn’t. I needed to figure this out in my head. Come to grips with what I’d foolishly risked for a job.”
“Landing this deal means you’ll be a partner. You and the girls will head back to the city.” Faith swallowed against the lump in her throat. “Unless I’m shocked by what I find, I’ll be moving to Gatlinburg.”
“I don’t want to be hundreds of miles from you.”
Faith felt the same. The thought of losing what she’d just found had her wanting to weep. She tightened her hold on Graham and reached for the dream, speaking from the heart. “I don’t want to ever let you go.”
He searched her eyes. “Then why are we dancing instead of figuring out how to make us work?”
“I don’t know if there is a resolution.”
“If you want something enough, there is.” He kissed her softly as a sweet melody about holding tight to the one you love wrapped around them.
* * *
Graham spoke with the girls the next morning. They were enthusiastic about the step he was about to take and eager to take part in the moment. They loved Faith as much as he did.
Last night, he and Faith had discovered much could be accomplished when you put two determined heads together.
As they’d danced, they’d talked. By the time the last melody had faded and the crowd had begun to disperse, the plan had been fully formed.
If he was offered a partnership, he would take it with the proviso that he would work remotely, flying into New York only for meetings that were absolutely necessary. If the promotion didn’t come through, or the terms weren’t agreed to, he would see it as a sign that it was time for him to branch out on his own.
Graham was driven to succeed. He had ambition. None of that had changed. But he now realized the importance of balance and was determined to embrace that in his personal life.
If Faith didn’t like Gatlinburg, she would stay in Holly Pointe, and he would move here. One way or the other, they would begin a life together.
On Christmas morning, he would take the first step toward making their dream of becoming a family a reality.
* * *
After speaking with his daughters, Graham made the drive to the Tiffany store in Montreal in under two hours. It didn’t take him long to find the ring he knew Faith would love, an Art Deco-style with an emerald-cut yellow diamond in the center. The second he’d seen the vibrant color, it brought to mind Faith—bold and beautiful—and he’d had to have it.
The girls were excited but pinky-swore not to tell Faith. They assured him they liked surprises and wouldn’t spoil this one.
On Christmas Eve, he and Ginny accompanied Faith and Mary to church for the candlelight service. Standing beside Faith, the girls next to them in the pew, surrounded by family and friends, felt like a wonderful dream.
Graham nearly asked her that night as they stood in the town square and held hands while singing Christmas carols, the snow falling gently on them.
But he held back. Tomorrow, he told himself, it would happen tomorrow.
* * *
Ginny was the one who’d come up with the suggestion on how to propose. Until that moment, Graham hadn’t realized his mother-in-law had such a romantic nature. They’d involved Mary because she, too, was family.
“You look as nervous as a cat with a new dog in the house,” Ginny told him as he pulled into Faith’s driveway on Christmas morning.
In the back seat, the girls giggled.
“This is so cool,” Charlotte said. “Faith is going to be super surprised.”
“What if she says no?” Hannah spoke in a small voice, putting into words Graham’s worst fear.
“She won’t,” Ginny assured her before Graham could respond. “Faith loves your daddy, and she loves you girls.”
“Charlotte. Hannah. You know your part?” Now that they’d arrived was a poor time to ask the question, he realized.
“Yep.” Charlotte nodded vigorously.
“Move her on to the next spot by giving her another clue,” Hannah answered.
“I have bottles of champagne and sparkling cider ready for toasting.” Ginny patted her bag, a purse the size of Texas. “I spoke with Mary this morning. She has a lovely celebratory lunch planned.”
“But we’ll open gifts first.” Charlotte glanced at her twin, appearing alarmed.
“Of course,” Ginny soothed. “The scavenger hunt first, followed by opening gifts and then lunch. Okay?”
The girls exchanged relieved looks and nodded.
Ginny glanced at Graham. “You have the ring?”
“Right here.” Graham patted his pocket and expelled a breath of nervous energy. “I’m ready.”
As he said the words, Graham realized he was not only ready for this next step in his life, he was eager. He pushed open his car door and stepped out. “Let the scavenger hunt begin.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Faith originally planned to wear leggings and an oversize sweater, but when her grandmother commented that her red wrap dress was so pretty and festive, Faith chose it instead. While the color was perfect for the holidays, she felt underdressed without a holiday accessory, so at the last minute she pulled a necklace of twinkling lights over her head.
She couldn’t wait to see Graham and the girls.
“You’ve got enough food here to feed an army.” Faith shook her head as Mary set the pie she’d just baked to cool on the counter.
“Leftovers are always good to have at this time of year.” Mary cocked her head. “Was that the doorbell?”
“I’ll get it.” Faith stripped off her apron and tossed it onto a chair.
She’d have thought, after all this time, Graham would feel comfortable just walking in. When she jerked open the door, she had to force herself to usher them all inside, help them off with their coats and say a few words to Ginny and the girls before fully focusing on Graham.
Seeing him in dark pants and a gray-striped cotton shirt made her glad she’d dressed up. He looked so positively yummy she could barely keep her hands off him. “I’m glad you could come. Have you had a good morning?”
“I did. Made even better now that I’m with you. Red is definitely your color.” Graham took her hands and leaned forward, kissing her gently on the lips. “Merry Christmas, sweetheart.”
Faith felt her cheeks warm as the girls giggled.
“Merry Christmas, Ginny.” Mary strolled into the foyer, holding out her hands to her friend. “I’m so glad you came.”
“I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”
“Miss what?” Faith asked.
“Christmas, of course. Not to mention Mary’s baked ham with the pineapple brown sugar glaze.” Ginny gave a little laugh. “And I absolutely adore her mincemeat pie.”
Charlotte frowned. “I don’t like pie with meat in it.”
“Sounds yucky.” Hannah wrinkled her nose. “I don’t like it either.”
“How do you know you don’t like it? You’ve never tried it.” Graham paused. “Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever had it.”
Mary smiled. “You can all try a bite. If you don’t like it, I have pumpkin.”
“Can we start the scavenger hunt now? Can we? Can we?” Charlotte begged.
“Please, Daddy, you promised.” Hannah folded her hands as if in prayer.
“Scavenger hunt?” Faith glanced at Graham. “What are they talking about?”
“I used to love scavenger hunts around the holidays when I was a child.” Ginny cast a pointed glance in Mary’s direction.
“I did as well.” Fa
ith’s grandmother beamed. “There was nothing I enjoyed more than making up clues and sending someone searching for treasure.”
“I have clues,” Charlotte announced.
Faith turned to the twins and smiled. “Did you make up clues just for today?”
The two nodded in unison, reached into the pockets of their matching red plaid dresses and pulled out scraps of paper.
“We made up a scavenger hunt for you.” Charlotte pointed at Faith.
“Me?” Faith brought a hand to her throat. “Why for me?”
Hannah slipped her little hand into Faith’s and looked up at her. “Because Daddy likes you, and we like you.”
“And it’s a fun game,” Mary added with a bright smile.
“Totally fun,” Ginny added with a decisive nod.
Faith glanced at Graham, the only one who hadn’t weighed in on the scavenger hunt.
He only lifted his shoulders and grinned, as if to say, Don’t look at me.
Charlotte, a future CEO in the making, took charge as everyone stood around looking at each other. She handed one red square of construction paper each to Mary, Ginny and Graham and looked each one in the eye. “This tells you where you should go.”
Hannah gave the adults similar-sized pieces of green construction paper. “This is the next clue. The one you’ll give to Faith.”
Faith glanced from one girl to the other. “I’m impressed.”
“We want you to be—”
“Happy,” Charlotte cut off her sister. “The game needs to start.”
“Shall we take our places?” Mary’s eyes glittered as she glanced down at the two scraps of paper in her hand.
It was just one more reason Faith adored her grandmother. Mary was always a good sport and up for any adventure.
Unlike Faith, who’d been hesitant about taking the time on Christmas morning to do a scavenger hunt. Even one especially designed for her.
Which was why, Faith decided, she would go into this one with enthusiasm.
Faith met Charlotte’s gaze. “Tell me what I should do first.”
“You stand here with me.” Charlotte gestured as the others scattered. “In a minute, I’ll give you the first clue.”
“That works.” Faith smiled at the child. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“You’re a nice person.” Charlotte studied her. “You’re kind and funny, and you don’t yell. I don’t remember much about my mommy, but if I had a mommy, I’d want her to be you.”
Faith noticed she didn’t say just like you, but that she’d want her to be her. Kneeling down beside the girl, Faith wrapped her arms around her. “If I could have a daughter, I’d want her to be you. I love you, Charlotte.”
“Love you back.” After giving her a squeeze, Charlotte stepped away, a general once again in control. “Here’s your first clue.”
Your bedroom holds one key.
The first clue took her to her room, where she found Hannah jumping on her bed. With a startled yelp, Hannah hopped to the floor. “Sorry.”
“That’s okay.” Faith sat on the bed, and the girl scrambled up to sit beside her.
Faith wondered if she was supposed to ask for the next clue, or if Hannah would just hand over the paper. “Have you had a good Christmas so far?”
“Um-hum.” Hannah nodded.
“Is there anything you want to give me?” Faith paused. Even if the girl had misplaced her paper clue, surely she remembered what it said. “Or tell me?”
“You’d make a good mommy.” Hannah flung her arms around Faith’s neck. “I love you.”
Faith rested her face against this sweet girl’s neck. “I love you, too, Hannah Banana.”
“I know.” Hannah stilled and then pushed at her shoulder. “You have to move on. You can’t stay here.”
“I don’t know where to go.” Faith lifted her hands and let them drop. “Do you have the next clue?”
Hannah stuck a hand into her pocket and gasped. “It must have fell out.”
She frantically scanned the room until she spotted the green paper on the floor. “There it is.”
She dived off the bed, scooped it up, then shoved it into Faith’s hand.
You eat and drink here.
Thank God for simple clues that even a three-year-old could understand. “I’m off to my next stop.”
Before she left, Faith gave Hannah a noisy kiss on the cheek that had the girl giggling.
“You’re going to really like the treasure.”
“Good to know.” Faith found Mary in the kitchen, mashing potatoes. “Am I in the right place?”
Catching sight of the paper in Faith’s hand, Mary grinned. “I’d say you’re right where you belong.”
“Do you have a clue for me?”
“You know, Faith, I’ve loved every minute of having you in Holly Pointe.”
“I’ve enjoyed every minute of being here.”
“I didn’t make it easy on you those first couple of years.”
“You did the best you could.”
“I’m better now. I’ve got my spirit back, and I feel like I can tackle anything.” Mary let out a breath. “What I guess I’m trying to say is, if you move to Tennessee, you’ll go with my blessings. Anywhere you go, it will be with my good wishes and love.”
“Grandmo—”
“No. Please. Let me finish. Having you here has meant the world to me.” Mary continued to mash the potatoes as she spoke. “What will mean even more is seeing you happy and fulfilled—whatever that looks like—in your own life. Understand?”
“I guess.” Conscious of Mary’s proximity to the stove, Faith gently touched her grandmother’s shoulder. “You’ve never been a burden. If that’s what this is about—”
“It’s about letting you know that I’m okay. That’s all. It’s about letting you know that what makes you happy will make me happy.”
“Thank you.”
“Your clue is under the place mat over there.” Mary gestured with her head in the direction of a side table holding a stack of mats.
When Faith peered under the bottom one, she pulled out a red square.
Go back to the beginning.
Finally, Faith thought, a clue that wasn’t obvious. Yet, she kind of wished it was, well, just a little more obvious. She tapped a finger against her lips.
“To the beginning,” she murmured, then started toward the door.
“You’re headed in the right direction.” Mary lifted the masher and smiled. “In every aspect of your life.”
The first thing Faith saw when she stepped into the parlor was Ginny standing near the hearth, a framed picture in one hand.
“Ginny.” Faith spoke softly, as the woman appeared deep in thought. “Is everything okay?”
“I brought this over to show Mary.” Ginny motioned her close. “These are my kids when they were young.”
It was a Christmas picture taken a good twenty years ago. The boys looked like they’d rather be playing with their toys than posing in front of a tree. Then there was Steph, so pretty and full of life, smiling brightly for the camera.
“A lovely family.” Faith handed back the picture. “I can’t imagine how hard it must be to lose a child.”
“Unbelievably hard.” Ginny blinked back tears. “That isn’t why I brought this photo.”
Faith smiled encouragingly.
“None of us knows what the future holds. That’s why when we’re given a chance to love, to build a family, we need to go for it.” Ginny met her gaze. “I hope you know I’d never stand in your way.”
Faith suddenly understood. “This is about me and Graham.”
“He was a good husband to my daughter, and he’s a good father. But he needs more than that. He needs a woman he loves to share his life. To be a mother to my granddaughters.” Ginny’s smile turned wistful. “I’d love it if I could still be a part of his life after he marries.”
Truly perplexed, Faith inclined her head. “Why wouldn’t you be?”
“Not every woman is as kind or as generous as you, Faith. That’s only one of the reasons I’m glad you’re in his life. If things should continue between the two of you, I want you to know that you have my blessing.”
Faith sensed these weren’t easy words for Ginny to say, but she also knew they came from the heart. Which made them all the more special. “Any woman would be lucky to have you as part of her family.”
Without warning, Faith found herself in Ginny’s embrace. “Seize the moment, Faith. Don’t delay when you know it’s right. None of us is guaranteed tomorrow. All we have is today.”
Ginny released her, expelling a breath and swiping at tears. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to cry.”
“I—”
“This is the next clue. I believe, though I can’t be certain, it will lead to your treasure.” Ginny shoved the paper into Faith’s hand. “I need to see what the girls are up to.”
Faith’s head spun as she read the next clue.
Up the stairs. You won’t need to go far to find your treasure.
With a resigned sigh, Faith trudged up the steps. The game had been interesting, but emotionally taxing. She picked up her pace the last few steps and turned the knob of the closed door.
“Here goes nothing,” she muttered and shoved the door open.
The first thing she saw was Graham standing beside a huge bouquet of red roses arranged in a crystal vase.
“Are those for me?” She smiled when he nodded. “How did you know I love red roses?”
She stepped to the bouquet, rubbing a soft petal between her fingers. She leaned over and inhaled the sweet scent. “They’re absolutely gorgeous. This is a wonderful treasure. Thank you—”
“They remind me of you. You take time to smell the roses, to appreciate the beauty around you.” Graham moved to her then, his gaze never leaving her face. “You’ve taught me that life isn’t a race, but a journey. One that we should take time to enjoy along the way.”
Faith placed a hand over her heart as it swelled with the sweet words. “Thank you for that.”
Smiling, she leaned close and kissed him. “Now, we better make Mary happy and get downstairs. We still need to open gifts before lunch and—”