Knowing that the kids would be up early, she and Jason had put on pajamas before they fell asleep. His arms were around her tightly; she was pulled against him so that his chest met her back, and they were curled together like a little pair of mice. She felt him, felt all his warmth, and didn’t dare open her eyes. She didn’t want him to be a Christmas dream.
But he wasn’t. She was his wife. She was in love with him, and miraculously, he was in love with her. No gift could be greater.
“Mom!”
“Dad!”
It was Danny who called her name, and Angela who woke Jason. Yet when the two came flying into the bedroom, it was Angela who landed on her, and Danny who tackled Jason.
“Whoa, hey, what is this!” Jason protested gruffly. But he was laughing.
“It’s Christmas!” Danny announced indignantly.
“Wow, you mean we might have missed it?” Cary said, wide-eyed.
“Mom!” Danny moaned. “Will you two please get up!”
“I’ll make coffee,” Cary volunteered to Jason. Then she smiled and slipped out of bed. She winked at the kids as Jason tried to fall back asleep, and as she left the room, she could hear a burst of laughter as the two attacked Jason, tickling him mercilessly.
And apparently Jason was just as merciless in return.
Coffee and cocoa were ready when they all traipsed out to the living room. Cary seated herself by Jason’s side, comfortable in the crook of his arm, as the children opened their gifts. There was paper everywhere. And she was pleased to see that Danny was as impressed with the small things as he was with the wonderful new computer. And Angela, bless her, was thrilled with her gifts, too, even though she’d grown up with everything money could buy.
And Jason McCready, the self-made man, seemed more touched by Danny’s home-made Christmas card than by any gift he might have received.
Cary had just stepped over some of the paper to get more coffee when the doorbell rang. She arched a brow to Jason.
“Don’t look at me,” he told her. “It must be your cousin Jeremy.”
And it was. Except that he had run into June in the doorway, so both of them were standing there arguing, with their hands piled high with boxes for the children.
The two were quickly inside, and there was more mayhem as the children kissed them and thanked them for their gifts. Jason poured the coffee while Cary supervised the gift giving. Pandemonium seemed to reign for quite a while; then at last the room grew quieter. “I wanted to know if I could take the kids to the Parade of the Elves. It’s not far from here—I’d only need to steal them for a couple of hours,” June said.
Jason seemed uneasy. “June, I know it’s Christmas, but it might be a little wild out there today. Are you sure you want to take the kids by yourself?”
“Jeremy will come with me,” June said.
“I will?” Jeremy began. June kicked him. He stared at her indignantly, then he seemed to realize that June was trying to give the newlyweds some time alone. “Oh, I will. Of course.” He cast June a look of stern reproach as soon as he thought Cary was no longer looking. Cary hid a smile. She was certain that Jason hadn’t been aware of anything.
“I don’t know…” Jason began with a frown, looking to Cary.
“The kids will be fine. And I’m sure they’d love to go,” she said demurely.
Within minutes, it seemed, she had the kids dressed and ready to go. June and Jeremy were waiting at the door.
June and Jeremy. Hmm, Cary thought. Why not?
Jeremy paused to give Cary a kiss goodbye on the cheek, and she fluttered her fingers over his head.
“What was that?” he asked her.
“Christmas dust.”
“What?”
“Never mind. Just go on and have a good time. And thank you.”
“Sure. We’ll see you later.”
“Christmas dinner is here,” Jason advised over Cary’s shoulder. “I’m doing the stuffing.”
“I’m doing the stuffing!” Cary protested.
“No, you’re the turkey and the vegetables and the mashed potatoes and the pies. I’m the stuffing.”
Cary laughed as his arms came around her. She shrugged. “Whatever. Christmas dinner is here. Just be back by then, okay?”
“Got ya,” Jeremy agreed. June was telling him to get a move on. He rolled his eyes. “Is she coming for dinner, too?”
“Yes.”
“Great.”
“Christmas dust,” Cary repeated.
Jeremy frowned with confusion, then the foursome left.
Oh, well, there was always next Christmas, Cary thought.
She turned in her husband’s arms. His lips found hers, and when he kissed her deeply, she felt the familiar thrill sweeping through her.
Jason looked at the door again. “Are you sure they’re going to be all right?”
“Yes, I’m sure!” She caught his hand and, smiling, pulled him over to the couch. “June and Jeremy only look flighty, honest. I couldn’t trust the kids more with anyone else. And besides, I have another gift for you.”
He grinned, cocking a dark eyebrow.
“Oh, yeah?”
She nodded.
“Where’s the box?”
“There isn’t exactly a box,” she said. Her fingers still entwined with his, she started for the bedroom.
His brow arched higher. “Is it a foot massage?”
Cary laughed. “Maybe…” She stood on tiptoe, quickly kissed his lips, then began to whisper. He could still make her feel so shy at times.
“Remember when I told you there was nothing that I could give you that you didn’t have? And you said that yes, there was—me. Well, you’ve got me.”
“A gift I will cherish all of my life,” he promised her tenderly.
She flushed. “Thank you. But you also said you’d like four kids—if I was willing, of course—and that I could give you the two that were missing.”
“Yes?”
“Well, I thought that we could get started. We’re alone, we’re awake, we’re aware…”
“And we’re just as eager and as willing as can be!” Jason said, laughing.
He lifted her off her feet and into his arms. And then he was kissing her, deeply, richly, warmly. She felt herself coming alive, trembling, quivering inside.
The kiss seemed to last forever, but when he broke away, Jason paused, holding her tightly, tenderly.
And she realized that he was looking out the window. The North Star was still visible, a faint little flicker against the day that had dawned beautifully blue.
Cary felt a new trembling seize her. Thank you, thank you! she thought in silence. Thank you so much.
Jason’s eyes met hers. She smiled. “I was just thinking…” he began.
“So was I.”
“I’m so very thankful that I have you.”
She nodded. “And I’m so thankful for you. And for Christmas miracles. And Christmas dust.”
His grin broadened wickedly. “Christmas dust? That’s one you’ll have to explain.”
“Oh, well, you see—”
“Later,” Jason said firmly.
He carried her into the bedroom and laid her down. Then his lips touched hers, and she was in his arms, and very soon the day was exploding into a new splendor of excitement and wonder and enchantment. After the soaring and the magic and the ecstasy, the peace and the contentment remained, and his arms were locked around her.
“We have to get to the turkey,” he mumbled lazily.
“Yes, we have to get to the turkey,” Cary agreed.
But he didn’t move, and neither did she. He might not know about the Christmas dust, but he did know a lot about Christmas miracles.
Indeed he did. He arose at last, pausing to kiss her on the nose.
“Miracles!” he whispered softly. “Thank God for them, and for you—my Christmas miracle!”
He kissed her again, then pulled her from her cocoon of covers.
“Someone really does have to see to that turkey! Unless you want to test our luck and see if any elves will appear to cook it for us?”
Cary grinned. No elves were coming. They already had their Christmas miracles. “I’m doing the stuffing,” she told him. “You can be potatoes.”
“You be the potatoes!” he charged.
She laughed, found her robe and hurried down the hall, then she opened the kitchen door very carefully.
After all, it was just a matter of belief.
There might be elves in her kitchen after all!
Heather Graham Pozzessere - The Christmas Bride Page 9