by Regina Duke
Between songs, Brady explained to her, “Sorry about dinner. The phone call was from my mechanic, who had just taken chains out to the choir’s bus on I-25. He wanted me to know that they were on their way in case they didn’t make it. In gratitude for assistance and for rooms at the inn, they volunteered to give us a concert.”
They sang for forty minutes. When the concert was over, it was clear that no one was ready for the impromptu party to end. Someone behind the scenes started playing dance music with a Christmas theme. When “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” came through the speakers, everyone got up to dance, including Brady and Sunny, who was holding Peanut under one arm.
Brady smiled down at her. “I thought you’d be angry. I didn’t mean to be gone so long. Things just popped up.”
Sunny nodded. “I understand.”
Brady looked stunned. “Really? I’ve been waiting to hear you say that for eight years.”
Sunny laughed. When the song ended, she said, “Hold Peanut.”
Without blinking an eye, Brady took the dog and held him close, petting his head and enormous ears.
Sunny’s eyes teared up. “You don’t know it, but you just passed a huge test. I want to show you what my father gave me for Christmas.”
Cautiously, Brady said, “Okay.”
Sunny headed back to their settee. As Brady joined her, still petting Peanut, she pulled the stack of letters out of her purse.
Brady’s brows shot skyward. “Your father had them all this time?”
Sunny shook her head. “My mother had hidden them in one of her drawers, I guess. Dad slipped a note inside the box saying he found them as they were packing for their trip to Malaysia.”
Brady suddenly looked uncomfortable. “You read them all.”
Sunny nodded. “I wish so much that I had received them eight years ago. I never would have refused to talk to you if I’d known you were on the phone. I’m so sorry.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” said Brady. “That night changed both our lives. My parents came by the school with their government escort. One of the government guys came in and told me there had been an accident so I would follow him without question. Once I got in the car, my folks were there, and I was told that we had to leave right that moment. I begged them to let me go back in so I could explain to you what was happening, and they said no way, I could call you later, but we had to go. Next thing I knew, we were on a chartered flight to Las Vegas.”
“You said my father wouldn’t want to be home after my mother got the news. What was that all about?”
“Your mother and my father were competing for a job, a top secret position.”
Out of the blue, Sunny said, “Area 51.”
Brady cocked his head to one side. “How did you know?”
“Las Vegas was a big clue. But how did my mother know that night that your parents were whisked away, and why?”
Brady looked embarrassed. “My father called her from the car. I didn’t know it was her, but I’d bet anything that’s who he called. He spoke one line into the phone. ‘I got that job you wanted.’ Then he hung up. I learned later that the two of them were constantly at each other’s throats at work. She must have been furious.” He dropped his gaze to Peanut’s sweet face. “I think that’s why she hid my letters and never told you I called. She didn’t want you to have anything to do with my family.”
Sunny took a deep breath and let it out in a whoosh. “I cried when I read them,” she said. “Upstairs. I was so sad, because we could have been together all that time.” She gave Brady the letters and took Peanut from his arms.
Brady stared at the envelopes in his hands. “You don’t want them?”
Sunny said, “That depends. Do you still feel the same way?”
Brady searched for words. “I’m not very good at writing letters,” he said. “I’m better at math, and I’m really good at mechanical stuff. When I wrote these, I was pouring my heart out. And yes, I still feel the same way.”
Sunny touched his face with her fingers. “So do I,” she said. Then she laughed softly. “What next?”
Brady tucked the letters back into Sunny’s purse. “This,” he said. Gently, so he wouldn’t alarm Peanut, he leaned forward and kissed Sunny softly on the mouth. When the kiss ended, he murmured, “Merry Christmas.”
Sunny felt the tears spring unbidden from her eyes.
Brady was horrified. “What’s the matter?”
Sunny was smiling and crying at the same time. “I’m so happy!”
Brady sagged with relief. “Thank goodness! Does this mean we’re starting over?”
“Yes,” said Sunny.
“Good.” Brady’s phone rang.
Sunny took it out of his hands. “Oh no, you don’t. You’re not getting away from me again. If you have to go somewhere, I’m coming with you!”
Brady smiled. “Deal. May I answer it now?”
Sunny released his phone and leaned against his chest, cuddling Peanut as she did so. When her parents left the country for Christmas and her ex betrayed her by stealing her clients, she’d thought this would be the worst Christmas ever. But here she sat with everything she’d ever dreamed of having, and a new life waiting for her in Eagle’s Toe.
End
Other Books by Regina Duke
The Wedding Wager (Colorado Billionaires, 1)
The Wedding Hope (Colorado Billionaires, 2)
The Wedding Venture (Colorado Billionaires, 3)
The Wedding Belle (Colorado Billionaires, 4)
Colorado Billionaires Boxed Set (Contains novels 1, 2, and 3)
Krystal's Christmas
Sunny's Christmas
Christmas Angel
My Vampire Wedding
Calin's Cowboy
North Rim Delight
The Woof in the Wedding Plans
Trickster and Other Stories
Linda White's Loving the Sensitive Dog
Linda White's Sir Darby: Another Sensitive Dog
Find all of Regina's books at Amazon.
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling Author Regina Duke writes sweet romance, cozy mystery, and paranormal. She lives in the High Desert with her three dogs, and when she’s not writing, she’s playing the piano and enjoying her friends.
Learn more at http://www.reginaduke.com. For fiction, please visit her at www.ReginaDuke.com. And for non-fiction, www.LindaLouWrites.com.