Perfect Bride for Christmas, A

by Dyann Love Barr

  Reporters filled the yard, even in the driving snow.

  Vans with tall antennae parked along the side of the street, wherever they could find the curb. “The reporters are still out there like a pack of hungry wolves.” She’d already made a statement but they refused to leave. They were waiting for the juicy reunion to boost the late night ratings.

  “They’re only doing their job.. Any news on your sister-in-law?”

  “No.” Right now, she didn’t want to think about Brenda. She shoved the drape back into place.

  Keeley came through the dining room with a tray. “Anyone want some coffee?

  Both Zoe and Amelia passed on additional caffeine, but Keeley poured a huge mug for herself.

  “I don’t think I’ll ever get warm again. San Francisco can get chilly, but not this bone breaking cold. Has Alex given you any idea when they’ll get here?”

  “No.” Zoe began pacing again. “It feels like he 298

  A Perfect Bride for Christmas called last week instead of over an hour ago. What’s taking so long?”

  “A blizzard?” Keeley sat down on the couch and drank from her coffee. “He’ll be here.”

  A blast of sirens punctuated the clamor outside her window. Zoe ran to the door and threw it open, mindless of the cold. Flashing lights reflected on the snow.

  The reporters changed direction with the synchronization of a school of fish headed for a tasty morsel.

  A police car pulled into the drive, directed by Officer Eldon. Alex’s Hummer followed. Her heart pounded against her ribs, her hand trembled over her mouth while she ran to the door of his SUV.

  Let the people outside witness her joy at seeing her children unharmed. She wanted to hold them all night, to touch them to make sure they were unharmed.

  The police officer got out, running interference along with Officer Eldon. Alex opened his door, went to the back of the Hummer. Zoe sank shin deep in the snow, her steps hampered by its weight as she made her way to his side. Alex opened the back door, and the first sight of the three precious faces let loose a tsunami of emotions.

  “Hi, Mommy.” Macy waved at her. “I’m hungry.

  Can I have a hotdog?”

  Zoe smothered back a watery laugh. Mia sat next to her, quiet as a mouse.

  “Mommy, Mommy.” Michaela jumped up and down, holding out her arms to her while Alex unbuckled her seat belt. Once freed, she scrambled out as fast as she could. “I missed you.”

  Zoe grabbed Michaela before she could jump into the deep snow and held her tight, reveling in the familiar feel and scent of her child. Wet kisses rained over her face.

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  Macy followed a few seconds later.

  Alex had Mia securely in his arms. He turned to Zoe, squinting in the bright lights of the cameras. “I have another package for you, but I see your arms are full.” His smile warmed her, the thousand watt dimples more dazzling than the surrounding lights.

  “Let’s go inside.” She moved forward, close enough to feel his breath feathering against her cheek. “Hi, Mia.”

  Mia held her hand against her eyes to block out the light and turned her face into her father’s shoulder. Questions came at them from all sides, but Zoe and Alex ignored them. Both police officers walked beside them as they hustled the children into the house, away from prying eyes and the stampede of news hungry reporters.

  Zoe put Macy and Michaela on the floor and knelt to touch them. She held out her arms while Alex swung Mia down to join her sisters. “There you go.” Mia ran to her, throwing herself into Zoe’s arms.

  “Mommy, we didn’t get to see Santa. Aunt Brenda took us, but Santa didn’t come. Macy and Michaela said he would, but he didn’t.” Her body shook with emotion, her big blue eyes full of disappointment and worry.

  “We waited, but Aunt Brenda didn’t come back.”

  Michaela patted Zoe on the cheek. “I got scared.”

  “Me too,” Macy confessed. “Aunt Brenda said it was okay to go with her to see Santa.”

  “We told her we had to,” Michaela’s empathic words held a touch of drama. “She said she’d take us to see him.”

  “I need to get back to file a report.” The large man introduced himself as Officer Rockwell. “Ladies, it was a delight meeting you. I hope you have a merry Christmas. Be good.”

  “Thank you so much.” Zoe gazed up at both 300

  A Perfect Bride for Christmas police officers. “I don’t know how to show you how much this…” She pulled her girls closer. “What this means.”

  Officer Eldon nodded and cleared his throat.

  “My daughter is about their age. I couldn’t go home with your girls out there. I’m just glad we have a happy ending.” His radio squawked. “Excuse me.”

  “Gramma.” Macy’s eyes lit up, and Mia lifted her head from Zoe’s breasts.

  Amelia stood in the doorway that connected the living room from the dining room. She looked as if she’d crumple if Keeley weren’t at her side, holding her up.

  “Gramma, Gramma,” the girls called out as they wriggled out of Zoe’s arms to rush to Amelia. Each one had a tale to tell at maximum volume.

  “Well.” Amelia blinked the tears from her eyes.

  “I hear you three had quite the adventure.”

  “Be careful of your grandmother’s ankle,” Keeley admonished with a smile. “Wow.” She scrutinized the girls. “This is amazing.”

  All three of them peered up at Keeley.

  “Who are you?” Michaela asked.

  Alex went over to Keeley, put his arm around her shoulder, and kissed her on the cheek. “This is my big sister, Keeley. That makes her your Aunt Keeley.”

  “We got an Aunt Brenda.” Michaela frowned.

  Macy nodded. “She’s mean.”

  “Aunt Keeley’s not mean. She went out in the snow to look for you.” Alex gave her a quick hug.

  “Didn’t you, sis?”

  “You did?” Mia eyed her, her face thoughtful.

  “I’ve never had nieces before.” Keeley nodded.

  Her eyes skipped from girl to girl and back again, then over to Alex. “You were right, they’re adorable.”

  “Clint said he was sucker punched the first time he met them.” Zoe laughed, “They think he’s the best 301

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  thing since the XBox.”

  “I can see why.” Keeley smiled. “Clint has a way about him.”

  “Girls, come give Gramma a kiss.” Zoe joined the crowd around Amelia. “And then, I think it’s time for a bath and bedtime. It’s been a long, scary day for all of us.”

  “I’m still hungry,” Macy complained. “Can I have my hotdog and milk and cookies?”

  “How about a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and milk instead?” Zoe took her daughter’s face in her hands. “Cookies only if you clean your plate.”

  All three jumped up and down in agreement.

  “All right, a snack before your baths,” Zoe ordered.

  Macy, Michaela, and Mia each gave Amelia a goodnight kiss. Keeley smiled at Zoe. “Why don’t I get the sandwiches and oversee the bath? I’ll let you know when they’re ready to be tucked in. That way we can all get to know each other. Okay?”

  The girls appeared dubious at first, but Zoe nodded. “I’ll be up as soon as Aunt Keeley says it’s time for goodnights. Now show Aunt Keeley the kitchen.”

  Macy led the way to the kitchen with Mia and Michaela holding on to Keeley’s hands. “Come on, Aunt Keeley.”

  “You’ll have to show me where you keep everything.” Keeley peered over her shoulder and mouthed, I love them.

  Zoe watched, her heart full, as her girls chattered like magpies. Never again would she wish for peace and quiet or get angry over the mess created by three active girls.

  Amelia’s cell phone rang. “It’s Bill, he’ll be here in about fifteen minutes.”

  Zoe loved having Amelia and Keeley here but right now, she wanted to
be alone with her children, 302

  A Perfect Bride for Christmas to check them over, to spend a bit of time with Alex.

  Officer Eldon came out of the dining room, zipping up his jacket. “The state trooper picked up Ms. Bennett at a truck stop on Interstate 70, halfway to Columbia. They recovered your credit cards, but she went on a spending spree at the mall.”

  “Did she say why she left the girls by themselves?” A sick feeling settled in the pit of Zoe’s stomach. Had Brenda done this on purpose?

  “Go on.” Alex’s grim expression didn’t bode well for Brenda. “I want to know what she had to say for herself.”

  “Ms Bennett stated she went back to get the credit cards and saw the children. They begged her to take them to see Santa.”

  Brenda had a vindictive streak. She never really considered the girls her nieces. What better way to get back at Zoe?

  “Brenda doesn’t have car seats.” Zoe ran her hand through her hair. The thought of her children out in this weather, unprotected added to the anger and anxiety of the last few hours.

  “She told them to hide.” Officer Eldon’s face twisted into disgust. “When they got to the store, the line for Santa was too long, so she left them there, went to the bar and grill down the concourse—

  thought they’d be okay while she got something to

  ‘refresh’ herself. Said she didn’t realize they’d close the store early.”

  “I think she knew exactly what she was doing.”

  Zoe didn’t care what excuse Brenda used, she still endangered the girls’ lives.

  “She left them there?” Alex face burned with anger. Zoe watched his hands ball into fists. Maybe it was a good thing Brenda wasn’t here to receive the punishment Alex would wreak. “The bitch left them there to fend for themselves?”

  “Sir, when they found her, she’d had so much to 303

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  drunk, she doesn’t remember much. I understand she’s being held for theft and child endangerment, not to mention DUI. There may be other charges as she sobers up and they can get more information.”

  Zoe pulled in a deep breath. Let the law take care of the consequences of Brenda’s crime spree.

  Leave her and Alex out of it. “Thank you, again.” Zoe took Officer Eldon’s hand in hers. “I’m getting out of here and leaving you to enjoy your family.” He tipped his hat and smiled. “Merry Christmas.”

  Once he’d gone, Zoe turned to speak but found herself in Alex’s arms. The scent of his skin, the feel of the soft gray sweater against her cheek felt like

  next best thing to heaven.

  “Let me hold you for a moment,” he whispered into her hair. “I need this.”

  Together they stood in silence, leaning into each other with their hearts thumping a matched rhythm.

  It didn’t matter if Officer Eldon was in the dining room talking into his radio, or if Amelia sat in the blue chair watching their every move. Zoe reveled in the feel of his hand rubbing up and down her back, pulling her closer.

  “I don’t want to let you go, but there’s something I need to do.” He moved away, depriving Zoe of his warmth, the solidness of his body. He thrust his hand into his coat pocket and dropped to one knee.

  “What’s going on?” Amelia asked and reached for her crutches.

  “Sit down, Mom.” Alex peered over his shoulder at Amelia. “I’m trying to propose.”

  Zoe’s heart ricocheted against her ribs and bounced around like a Super Ball. She couldn’t catch her breath.

  Alex reached up to take her hand in his. “Zoe Ann Hillman King Bennett, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife—again? This time for all the right reasons. I love you. I was stupid before and 304

  A Perfect Bride for Christmas didn’t see the woman on the inside. Now, I wouldn’t care if you were—”

  “Let’s not go there,” Zoe interrupted. “But I thank you for the thought.”

  “I’m screwing this up.” Alex shook his head in consternation

  “Yes, you are.” Amelia piped up from her seat across the room. “No woman likes to be told you’ll love them even if they get overweight.” She stared at Alex with a mixture of disgust and humor. “I thought you were the man who knew how to woo a woman, not make her want to slap you silly.”

  “Mom, put a sock in it.” Alex appeared as shocked as Amelia. “Give a guy a break, will you?”

  He smiled over at his mother. “I’m nervous enough.”

  Alex opened the box to reveal a diamond band set with the most unusual stone Zoe had ever seen set in the middle. The emerald cut let the light shine through the gem to shoot out sparks of greens, blues, browns, gray and even a touch of pink. It was perfect.

  “Will you marry me, be the love of my life?

  Always be my best friend. Will you allow me the honor of raising our children together, to grow old with me?”

  Zoe’s eyes filled with tears of joy and love.

  ****

  Alex’s hands shook as he held the ring out to Zoe. What would her answer be? His whole life hung on one little word. “Yes,” she breathed. Her hands came to rest over her heart. “Yes.”

  “Yes?” He wanted to be sure he heard right. This time he didn’t want to take of chance of misunderstanding what Zoe said. “You mean you’ll marry me?”

  Zoe nodded, giggling and crying at the same time. “Yes. I’ll marry you.”

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  He pried the ring out of the slot. It shot out of his sweaty fingers, bounced and rolled under the yellow and blue chair.

  “Oh, no.” Zoe got on her hands and knees beside him, and together they felt under the chair.

  Alex frowned as his fingers grazed over nothing but the carpet. “It should be under here somewhere.

  I mean, how far could it have gone?”

  “Wouldn’t it be easier just to move the chair?”

  Amelia got her crutches and hobbled over to where they sat on the floor.

  “It’s so heavy that it takes both Cherri and I to move it when I vacuum.” Zoe turned to smile at him, every color in the rainbow shining within her bright eyes. “This will be your chore as man of the house—

  furniture moving.”

  Alex jumped to his feet and offered her a hand up. “Well, let’s see where that bad boy went.” He got behind the chair, reached down, and picked it up by the arms with a groan. “Do you see it?”

  Zoe got back on her knees, her pretty ass sending his heart into a tailspin of need.

  “I think so.” She reached under the chair and stretched out her arm.

  “Hurry,” he grunted and gasped for air. His muscles shook with effort. Alex decided it was time to hit the gym again. Hard. Starting first thing in the morning. He’d slacked off with all the craziness leading up to his wedding day. Not any more.

  His wedding day. An idea formed in his oxygen-starved brain. He could still marry his perfect bride on Christmas Eve.

  “Found it,” Zoe shouted in triumph. She pulled it out and sat back on her haunches. She tilted the band back and forth, watching the gem glitter, a smile on her pert face. “No worse for the wear. See?”

  Alex let the chair down with a thump. “What’s in this thing—rocks ?”

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  A Perfect Bride for Christmas Zoe jumped to her feet with a laugh and handed the ring back to him. “Here you go.”

  “For cryin’ out loud, put the damn thing on her finger,” his mother commanded. “I’m standing here getting older by the minute.”

  “Should we humor her?” Alex asked Zoe as he motioned with his head towards his mother. “The suspense is killing her.”

  “By all means.”

  Zoe held out her hand and Alex slipped the tourmaline on the ring finger of her left hand. He brought her hand to his lips, giving it a kiss, and then leaned down to brush his mouth against Zoe’s.

  Their breaths mingled. The taste of her filled him until he drew her into his arm
s, feasting on her, knowing he’d never get enough.

  “Why are you kissing Mommy?” Macy asked.

  Alex and Zoe jumped back, surprised by the children. They’d been so lost in each other they hadn’t heard them come back from the kitchen.

  Keeley arched an eyebrow and threw his mother a questioning look.”

  The other two stared up at them with wide eyes.

  “Because Mommy has agreed to marry me, and we’re going to be a family.”

  Mia clapped her hands over her mouth.

  Michaela shot Macy a look of surprise.

  “Really?” Michaela walked over to them and reached up for his hand. “Really, really?” Michael’s tears came down like rain.

  “Yes.” Alex frowned. “Is something wrong?”

  Mia and Macy joined their sister.

  “No.” Mia laid her cheek against the back of his hand. “We asked Baby Jesus for you to be our real daddy.” She glanced over at her sisters. “We didn’t need Santa.”

  “Girls, Daddy and I need to talk about a lot of things. Why don’t you let Aunt Keeley take you 307

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  upstairs now and have that bath? We’ll both be up to tuck you in.”

  Zoe reached down to wipe Michaela’s happy tears. “You got your wish, baby.”

  “Okay, you heard your mother, up the stairs.”

  Keeley shooed the excited girls towards the stairs, stopping just long enough to give Zoe and him a kiss on the cheeks. “Congratulations.”

  “Thank you.” He watched Keeley hustle his children up the stairs and turned to Zoe. “I want to get married on Christmas Eve.”

  “That’s the day after tomorrow.”

  “I know. The tuxes are already rented, Mom has the house fixed up for the reception. She told me there would be a wedding this Christmas Eve. What do you say, Zoe?” He felt like he would float the ceiling. Alex turned to his mother. “Mom, can we do this?”

  His mother gave him an excited smile. “You don’t have a license or anything. You jump that hurdle, and I don’t see why not.”