At that moment Paul experienced the deepest love that only God could give.
Rose gazed into his eyes. “Let me think, Paul. I’m overwhelmed. I need to grasp all that’s been said tonight.”
“Trust me, please. I love you.”
She nodded, then stood and turned on the flashlight. “I’ll help you to your room.” she said.
Paul rose and grasped her arm as they followed the beam to his room. After he’d climbed into bed, Rose and the light vanished while Paul lay in darkness.
Chapter Fifteen
The morning light filtered through the window, and Rose sat on the edge of her bed. All night she’d relived Paul’s words. He said he loved her. She felt amazed. Part of her wanted to believe and part of her couldn’t.
She opened her Bible, asking God’s wisdom. She remembered Paul talking about the Scripture that had moved him to realize how much God loved him. She flipped through the pages, scanning Philippians until she spotted the verses Paul had mentioned. “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”
When they’d talked, he’d mentioned that human love could be guided by the same qualities—tenderness, comfort, compassion, fellowship and like-mindedness with one spirit and purpose. Wasn’t that what she and Paul had done?
In so many ways their relationship was based on the qualities in those verses. Could God have blessed them with this special love? She loved Paul, and she prayed that God would help her accept the truth.
Rose bowed her head, and as her prayer rose to the Lord, she was struck by reality. Whether Paul loved her or not, she knew what she had to do. She rose in the chilly room, dressed and headed to the kitchen, grateful for a gas stove. By the time breakfast was ready, the children and Paul had joined her.
“How’s your ankle?” Rose asked, afraid to look in Paul’s eyes.
“I have a good nurse,” he said. “I’m feeling pretty good. I might go out and see if I can move some of that snow.”
“Don’t push yourself,” she said.
After breakfast they bundled up, and the twins charged out the door to make a snowman. Paul followed, but paused beside Rose, worry filling his face. “How did you sleep?”
“Not well, but I’m fine. I read the Bible this morning, and I’ve made one decision.”
“A decision?”
“I’m not leaving. I’m staying here even if I’m the kids’ nanny forever.”
Paul grasped her hand and brought it to his lips. “They’ll grow up too fast, Rose. Nannies aren’t forever. Mothers are.”
He turned and stepped through the patio doorway.
Rose’s heart tripped. His words were true. Nannies aren’t forever. Mothers are. She cleaned the kitchen, then made her way to the hidden gifts and wrapped the last of them. Finally she wandered down the stairs with a load of packages to put under the tree.
“Rose, come outside.”
“Come and see what we made.”
Kayla’s and Colin’s voices drew her to the patio door. They beckoned, and she grabbed her coat and hurried outside. When she saw their surprise for her, she faltered.
A snowman stood in the yard, adorned with mop-top hair. Rose recognized her flowery silk scarf at its neck and her broom in its hand.
“You made a snow lady,” Rose said, grinning at their ingenuity.
“It’s a snow mommy,” Kayla called.
“A snow mommy.” Rose’s voice was a whisper. She hid her tears behind her laughter, wiping her eyes with her fingers.
“Look,” Colin said. He pointed to a strangely shaped red spot against the snow mommy’s chest.
Studying it, she saw it was an apple carved to make a heart.
Kayla giggled. “It’s you, Rose. We gave it a heart because hearts stand for love, and you love us.”
“I do,” Rose said, crouching and opening her arms to the children.
They came barreling toward her, and with their exuberant embrace, she tumbled to the ground as they toppled over her.
“And we love you,” Colin said between giggles.
She hugged the children, fighting the tears that rolled from her eyes.
Paul stepped to her side and offered his hand. “Me, too,” he said softly in her ear as she stood.
Rose brushed the snow from her slacks, feeling Paul’s arm wrap around her shoulders.
“This is serious now,” Paul said, brushing his lips against her hair. “We have to talk.”
Paul descended the staircase, pleased that the electricity had been restored earlier in the evening. The children had gone to bed filled with excitement that tomorrow was Christmas Day, and he felt his own kind of anxiety.
He crossed the foyer and looked into the living room, where Rose sat on the floor beside the fireplace in the same spot they’d sat the evening before. The room was lit with the fire’s glow and the glint of the tree lights.
His stomach tightened as he entered the room. Rose turned to face him and patted the floor beside her. He stood over her looking down at her slender frame and watched the firelight glint in her tawny hair.
Tonight she looked relaxed, not stressed, as she’d been so often in their crazy mixed-up relationship. Employer-employee-friend. What had he asked of her? Yet she’d come through as the dearest friend in the world. The dearest woman in his life.
He sank beside her and took her hand. “You’re staying.”
“I am.”
He brushed his finger across her cheek. “Do you know that I love you?”
“The kids love me. I saw that today.” She lifted his hand to her lips and kissed his fingers.
“And what about me?” he asked.
“I love you. I told you last night.”
He stood and drew her up into his arms. “I love you, Rose. The kids love you and I do. You’ve given us more than anyone could expect. Your time. Your concern. Your love. You’ve made our lives complete.”
He held her against his chest, his arms wrapped around her waist, her lips so near he could taste the mulled cider they’d drunk earlier. “You’ve made me whole, and now it’s your turn. I want you to be my wife.”
Her eyes searched his. Then her lips curved into a smile and she closed her eyes, then opened them. “This isn’t a dream?”
“It’s the whole truth. The beautiful truth. Remember once I promised you anything to come to Little Cloud. Tonight I’m promising my love.”
Rose took him by the hand and led him to the window, where the Christmas moon spread its silver light over the snow, and pointed. “You promised me that once. Remember?”
“I guess I did promise you the moon.”
“But you gave me even more. You gave me the sun and stars. The whole universe.”
Rose looked into the heavens, then back at Paul washed in the silver glow. The man in the moon shone down on them, just as Rose knew God had smiled down on them and guided their paths.
Paul reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. “It’s not a ring. We’re still snowbound, but it’s an early Christmas present for you.”
Rose’s heart skipped as she took the box. When she opened it, the gift amazed her—the bracelet she had admired weeks earlier. He’d bought it that long ago for her. “It’s beautiful.”
She dangled it in the moonlight, admiring the fused translucent glass. “Is this an engagement bracelet?”
“If you say yes.”
“I do,” she said.
Paul wrapped her in his arms, and his lips touched hers. She rejoiced in the wave of happiness that rolled through her. After the long struggle, God had given her the gift to trust and to believe there was one man who truly loved her.
“The kids,” she said once their lips had parted. “What will they say?”
Paul didn’t answer, but kissed her again.
T
orn wrapping paper spread across the living-room floor. Two new bicycles stood beside the tree, while wooden puzzles, new clothes and games sat nearby. While Christmas music drifted from the speakers, Rose held the macaroni-edged picture frame in her hand. The twins had used markers to color the pasta and Paul had bought the frames. She gazed at the photograph of Paul and the children that they must have taken from the sleeve of photos. They’d given Paul one of her with them in the leaf pile. Their homemade gifts touched her heart.
“Rose and I have one more gift for you,” Paul said.
The children dropped what they were doing and looked at him with curiosity.
Her pulse tripping, Rose shifted beside Paul, and he wrapped his arm around her waist. “Last night I asked Rose to be your mother and my wife.”
Their gazes shifted to Rose’s face.
Rose felt tears welling in her eyes. “I said yes.”
“Yes,” Colin said, jumping up and bounding toward them.
“Our real mommy?” Kayla asked. “Not a snow mommy.”
“Snow mommies melt,” Rose said, crouching down to hold Kayla in her arms. “I don’t melt. I’ll be here forever.”
Kayla’s eyes widened. “Forever.”
Forever, Rose thought, holding the child in her arms. Forever, like the promise of the amazing Christmas moon.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-5960-1
THAT CHRISTMAS FEELING
Copyright © 2005 by Harlequin Books S.A.
The publisher acknowledges the copyright holders of the individual works as follows:
CHRISTMAS IN MY HEART
Copyright © 2004 by Catherine Palmer
CHRISTMAS MOON
Copyright © 2004 by Gail Gaymer Martin
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That Christmas Feeling Page 20