by Taylor Hart
“I believe in you, and I want you to fly there, not drive.”
Before she knew what happened, she launched herself across the presents and into his arms. She was so overwhelmed that all she could do was hold him. “Thank you,” she whispered into his ear.
He gently pressed his lips to hers. “You will soar. I know it.”
“Ann, will you tell us what he got you?”
Zoey returned to where she’d been sitting, wiping the tears from her cheeks. There couldn’t be any harm in telling them, could there? “I … I’ve been wanting to try out for The Voice, and the tryout is December twenty-seventh. Mike bought me an airline ticket from Billings.”
His mother laughed. “That’s amazing.”
His dad grinned. “You’re going to be great.”
Mike’s mom held out her hands. “Can we link up? I want you all to know how grateful I am for my Savior, Jesus Christ.” They linked hands. Janet cleared her throat. “I’m so thankful for His love and atonement. I am so grateful for my life.” She wiped a tear.
Michael took her hand and smiled at her before smiling at Mike and Zoey. “Ann, I loved your song last night, and as I thought about why I loved it so much, I knew it reminded me of that whole process of falling for Mike’s mom. Which is what you want, right? True love?”
Zoey felt a bit heady, but she thought of how she’d written it right after the snowmobile. Was she starting to fall for Mike? She nodded. “Thank you for having me.”
Mike’s dad held his wife’s hand. “I want you all to know how grateful I am for my wife. I don’t know how much Mike has told you, Ann, but she fought cancer, almost died from it.”
His mom leaned into him, holding his hand tighter. “Shh.”
His dad had tears in his eyes. “At the time, we weren’t married. I had left before graduation and gone on to school. There were lots of things that happened. I thought she was married and happy for a lot of years.”
There was silence, and his parents just looked into each other’s eyes like they could see each other’s souls.
Mike took her hand. “Lacey was my mom’s first child, with her first husband.”
It hit Zoey like a ton of bricks. “What?” They all looked so together. She hadn’t noticed a different father around. She thought of how Lacey had hugged her father like he was life itself at the wedding yesterday.
His mother nodded. “Her father passed away a few years ago, but it was a dark time in my life, and with the cancer, it was really hard. For so many years, I didn’t know if I would get to see tomorrow.” She snuggled into his dad’s side.
Zoey was amazed at Mike’s parents, this new information, and this family in general. They were impressive.
Mike squeezed her hand. “The hospital here has a tree-lighting ceremony every year on Christmas day. It’s later tonight. We like to go and just feel grateful that we’re here.”
His mother smiled at her through tears. “Each day is so precious. Each day we get to be alive, have each other.” She wiped her eyes again. “Getting to see your daughter get married is really special.”
“Of course,” Zoey said.
His father reached out and gave her hand a brief squeeze. “We’re so happy you joined us this year, Ann. Family is important to us, and—” He broke off, looking at Mike, then back to his wife. “Well, we’re thinking that maybe you’ll be part of ours one day.”
Zoey thought of that first year she’d been married, and remembered how she and Josh had sat around a little tree and shared so many hopes and dreams. Here in this setting, everything she and Mike had been doing felt so wrong. She was lying. They were lying to his family, and it felt way too intense. She turned to Mike, who could tell she was having a freak-out.
Chapter 18
Mike walked into Grandpa’s house later Christmas afternoon, carrying a pile of presents, and kissed the old guy on the cheek. “Well, heck,” Grandpa muttered as he took a couple of presents out of their hands and quickly arranged them around the Christmas tree. “Welcome, welcome.”
It was a tradition. They went to Grandpa’s house to open presents with him in the afternoon. Later, they would go to his mom’s parents’ house a bit down the road.
Grandpa kissed him on the cheek, then went the whole line down, including Zoey. Grandpa had a cracker tray, and he always put out beef jerky he’d smoked himself. His house was a cabin with deer heads on the walls. Very rustic, but Mike had spent a lot of time here when he was growing up.
They sat around the tree and opened the gifts. Grandpa had gotten him a knife, and Mike loved it. It was designed to look like a shark, and Mike knew he probably got it at one of the expos that came around during October and November. “Thanks, Grandpa.”
“I got it for when you finally realize you’re coming back here and not staying in that hoity-toity city.”
Mike’s father said, “Dad, we’ve talked about this. Mike is at Harvard. He is going to have an MBA from Harvard. That’s pretty impressive.”
Grandpa snorted. “It’s more impressive to come home and help his grandpa muck out his horse stalls.”
His parents gave a polite laugh, but Mike could tell his father wanted to kill him.
His mother handed Grandpa a present. “I want you to use this.”
Grandpa hesitated, then opened the package—a new iPhone. “Oh my, what am I going to do with this?” Grandpa asked with a disgusted tone.
Mike’s dad put a hand on Grandpa’s shoulder. “You’re going to use it, old man. When you’re out in the fields by yourself, you’re going to answer it so we don’t worry about you.”
His mother nodded. “At least have your locator on so we can track you.”
Mike’s dad turned to Zoey. “We had an incident a couple of months ago.”
“We wouldn’t have if I had my grandson home to help me,” Grandpa grumbled.
Mike frowned, wishing he’d heard about this incident. “Let me see it, Grandpa. I’ll get it set up for you.”
Grandpa surrendered it to Mike and turned to Zoey. “I have a present for you.” He picked up a small box beneath the tree. “I thought you might like it.”
She opened it and gasped. Reverently, she pulled out a silver chain with blue topaz in the shape of a flying eagle. “No, I couldn’t take this.”
Grandpa ignored her. “Put it on.”
Tears shimmered in her eyes. “I’m sorry, but I really couldn’t.”
Grandpa pointed at her with the knife he held. It was Mike’s new knife. He had taken it to sharpen. “Now listen: that necklace was Mike’s grandmother’s. It’s one I got for her one time when I was stationed in Colorado. The Native Americans there sell this topaz jewelry.” He winked at Zoey. “I know you’re keen on the Native Americans because of your no-picture policy, but after hearing that song last night … well, darling, I knew you were meant to fly. To sing. To soar with that talent. That eagle is a symbol of what you’ll do.”
Now tears did fall down her cheeks.
“Let’s hear something, sweetie.”
Mike couldn’t decipher how Zoey was feeling. She held the necklace like it was sacred.
Grandpa stuck his chin out. “It’s yours and I don’t want to hear any argument about it.”
Her eyes met Mike’s, and he nodded, knowing Grandpa wouldn’t back down.
Zoey looked back at Grandpa with tears in her eyes. “Thank you.” She looked at his parents too, mystified, and laid her hand over Mike’s. “Thank all of you for making me feel like I belong here. I want you to know the song I sang yesterday was really written because of the way I met your son. He really did save me from a dark place.” Her lip turned up. “The funny thing is, I haven’t been able to write in a long time. Being here with you all, the words just keep coming.”
“Then sing them for us,” Grandpa insisted again.
She closed her eyes, and Mike’s heart raced. The woman was so pretty. Right now, she wore the new blue sweater his mother had given her and a simple p
air of jeans, but he could honestly say she was the prettiest woman he’d ever met.
“It wasn’t like I was really lonely. Not with all I had to do. But when you came into my life, I knew I would never be the same.
“It wasn’t like I was really looking. It seemed the past always got in the way, but you took my hand and wouldn’t let me refuse. You took my hand, and then all I knew was that …
“I wanted this. I want it now. I wanted you in my life. I wanted this. I wanted now. I want you in my life. It’s not the perfect love story because the complications go for miles. But I want this. I want you now. And I want you in my life.”
“At times the path’s been hard to see. There’re so many rights and wrongs—how can it be? But you’re just right there, waiting for me to see.
“I want this. I want it now. I want you in my life. And I think this time, it might be our chance, to make it all work out.
“And I want you to know no matter what happens, you’ve changed me.
“You’ve changed me, and I want this.”
Overwhelmed by the purity of this woman, by her words, he couldn’t stop himself from closing the gap between them and pressing his lips to hers.
At first, she tried to stop him, but then she gave in and kissed him back.
His grandpa hollered, and his parents were laughing, but all Mike knew was that the show had gone out the window a long time ago for him.
He pulled back. He could see the shimmer of tears in her eyes, but she nodded at him.
“Whew. Young love.” Grandpa stood and nodded to the door. “How about you two come help me get this horse stall mucked out.”
Mike frowned at him. “Grandpa, not now.”
Grandpa went to the hooks by the door and pulled off two work coats. “What better time is there to help your grandpa?”
Chapter 19
Zoey didn’t know why Mike’s grandpa seemed so intense about them both coming out and helping, but she didn’t mind.
They got to the horse barn, and Mike grabbed a pitchfork, not looking happy. “Zoey, you stay over there. I got this.”
She stayed next to one of the stalls.
Grandpa came into the barn, grinning. He winked at Zoey.
“What is this about, Grandpa?” Mike asked, picking up crap and hefting it to the side.
Grandpa didn’t look at Mike; instead, he focused on Zoey. “Why don’t you two tell me who this is? Because I sure as heck know this isn’t the Ann you dated in Boston.”
Her heart raced, and she glanced at Mike, who dropped the pitchfork and moved to her side. “What are you talking about, Grandpa?”
“Mike, pick up that pitchfork. Don’t just leave it around, because someone will get hurt. Put it away properly.”
Mike wasn’t deterred. “Grandpa. Talk.”
Grandpa wagged his finger at Zoey. “The Ann you dated in Boston was stuffy and boring, and I could tell because you never sounded happy.” He looked at Mike like he’d just solved a Hardy Boys mystery. “Now, you’re happy.”
Zoey didn’t know what to say because, well, he was right about her not being Ann, and she was still reeling a bit from that kiss.
Mike let out a breath. “Yes, she is Ann. She—”
Grandpa put his laser-like focus on her. “Are you?”
The question, coming from this man, felt so personal. She knew she had to tell the truth. Mike put up his hand and was about to say something, but she cut him off. “No.”
Mike hesitated, looking caught.
She decided to just give it to him straight. “My name is Zoey Harper. My parents died in a plane crash right after I graduated from high school. I just graduated from nursing school, and I don’t have a job.”
Grandpa shook his head, a bit miffed. “So you and my idiot grandson lied to everyone.”
His words stung, but they were true.
“Grandpa,” Mike said. “Don’t do this.”
Zoey put up her hand. “I was married. He died in Afghanistan. It’s been a little over a year.”
Grandpa let out a breath. “I’m sorry.”
She turned to Mike, feeling defensive. “Yes, we agreed that I would be his girlfriend. It was wrong, and I have felt so guilty. There’s no excuse.” She pressed a hand to her heart, and tears fell down her cheeks. “Mike didn’t want to face you all by himself. You guys are pretty intense.”
Grandpa sighed. “And what do you want?”
She wiped beneath her eyes. “I do want to go on The Voice. There’s this audition in Salt Lake, but I just lost my job waitressing, and my car broke down.” She wiped beneath her eyes. “I don’t know. It sounds stupid and wrong now that I’m telling you.”
Mike raked a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry, Grandpa.”
Grandpa just stared at her for a moment. Then he reached out, taking her hand. “C’mon, girl, cry on an old man’s shoulder.”
She found herself in his arms. Her head settled on his shoulder, and more tears ran down her face.
“Well, dang it,” Grandpa said, patting her back. “A widow and all alone.” He tsked his tongue. “No wonder Mikey wanted to bring you home to us. You need us.”
The moment felt like more than comfort. It felt true.
She pulled back, seeing compassion in his eyes. “I shouldn’t have done this. It was wrong, and I hate lying to his mom and dad.”
Grandpa glared at Mike. Then he pointed to the barn wall. “Do you guys see that horseshoe?”
Both of them turned to see where he was pointing. She nodded.
“That horseshoe is my lucky horseshoe. I won’t tell you the whole story, but suffice it to say that anytime a person is down on their luck, that horseshoe makes up for it.” He plucked it off the wall and handed it to Zoey. “There. Now, it’s going to all work out.”
Mike let out a loud laugh and bear-hugged his grandpa. “So you’re going to keep our secret?”
Grandpa nodded. “I’ll help you keep it, but I warn you, the truth always has a way of coming loose. I don’t have to tell it.”
Chapter 20
Zoey stood at the tree-lighting ceremony later that night, and it felt like the whole town was out here. Mike’s parents had gone off, talking with people. Mike stayed next to her.
After Grandpa’s, they’d gone back to the house and played games. Initially, she’d gone to Mike’s room, and he had gone to the guesthouse, but it hadn’t taken long for him to show back up and ask her if she was sleeping and if she wanted to play Monopoly with the family.
So that’s what they’d done. While they’d played, they’d eaten nachos and hot chocolate, and they’d turned on the football game. Zoey could honestly say it was amazing.
Mike got back from getting them hot chocolate and handed it to her. “The ten-second countdown is going to start any minute now.”
Zoey took a sip and relished being here. Kids raced around, and there was light Christmas music playing. A couple of the guys from the wedding last night had come and chatted with them. Even Nellie had come over, and they’d exchanged pleasantries. This town, after being here for only two days, felt more like home than anywhere since her parents had passed. Unexpectedly, she found tears washing down her cheeks.
“Hey.” Mike leaned into her. “What’s wrong?”
Dang it. She didn’t want to get into this. She didn’t want to have all these feelings that had been so blocked off. She shook her head and tried to flutter away the tears. “Nothing.”
True to Mike’s style, he didn’t take no for an answer. He took her hand and pulled her closer. “It’s because of Josh.”
She let out a light laugh. “Actually, no.” Which amazed her, because she’d been consumed with Josh and his absence from her life for so long. “No, I was just thinking about how this feels like home. I haven’t had that since my parents died.”
Putting his arm all the way around her, he whispered into her ear, “You’re okay, Zoey.”
She remembered that when she’d first met t
his guy, she’d been annoyed at almost everything he’d done. But now, it made her sad to think she only had one more day with him. They would do the toy drive tomorrow and he would take her back. The thought of that made her feel so blank and lonely.
That was the deal, though, right? No matter how much she was getting caught up in this little vision of “cute Snow Valley” family life, it wasn’t her life.
The countdown started, and Mike’s parents joined them. “Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one!” The lights came on, and the whole town cheered.
Mike’s parents were kissing, and then Mike was tugging her in, but he stopped right before.
She waited.
He grinned. “I don’t want to do anything that you—”
Zoey leaned up and in on her tiptoes. “Shut up and kiss me.”
He did kiss her, and not just a peck, either. He pushed his hand behind her neck and pulled her closer, leaving warmth wherever his skin touched hers.
“O Holy Night” blared, and people laughed. Even a dog was barking. Zoey only wanted one thing—to be right here, in Mike Hamilton’s arms, kissing him. She didn’t know how it’d happened, but she might really be falling.
Chapter 21
Mike had asked Zoey if she wanted to go to the guesthouse with him and watch a Christmas movie. He knew his parents were exhausted from the wedding and Christmas. Strike that: he wanted to be alone with Zoey without being under the watchful eyes of his parents.
“Star Trek?” Zoey asked when she joined him on the cozy living room couch. “I wouldn’t pick you for a sci-fi guy.”
Mike grunted and opened up the blanket to share with her. “Captain Kirk all the way, baby!” To his delight, she settled into him, letting him hold her. Mike was amazed at how this felt more and more real. He didn’t want to overanalyze it, but he did want to talk about it. He just didn’t know how.
She broke the silence, asking, “Why aren’t you following your dreams, Mike?”