by Clare Revell
Hope nodded, rubbing her sleeve over her eyes. “He never got a joke or joined in snow angels or snowball fights or stuff. He took protecting us way too seriously. And since he became a cop he’s probably worse.”
Nick nodded. “Ah, OK. ‘Mum does like to ramble, doesn’t she? She’s crying again. She does that a lot, but its happy tears now. It doesn’t matter where you’ve been the past nine years. What matters now is the fact you’re alive and we want you home with us. Just for a visit, for Christmas if nothing else. Christmas isn’t the same without you. Well, nothing is.
“Do you remember that Christmas you broke your leg? You were so upset at having to be in hospital over Christmas. You cried and cried, thinking Santa would never find you there. Think you were about eight or nine then. I begged Dad to talk to the doctors to allow you home.’”
Tears ran down Hope’s face. “I remember,” she whispered. “I was eight. Dad came and got me late Christmas Eve and took me home.”
“He put you in my room as you insisted on sleeping with me. You wanted me to protect you from Jack Frost or some such thing. But that wasn’t as funny as the year you refused to put the stocking at the bottom of your bed. You weren’t going to have—”
“Some stranger in a red suit coming into my room,” Hope whispered. She smiled slightly. “We’d done stranger danger at school and I got really worked up about it. I mean he could do anything in there, like steal my teddy bear.”
Nick chuckled. “I am in complete agreement with you there. There’s no way I want a strange man in my room under any circumstances.” He paused. “Actually, thinking about it, we do our utmost to protect our kids and teach them to be careful about strangers, and then tell them about this bloke who breaks in, creeps around the house whilst everyone is asleep and leaves stuff in their rooms and we expect them to trust him. And we take the kids to visit him in shops, sit on his lap and pose for photographs with him. Thinking about it, that’s creepy.”
Hope nodded. “I always told Angel that Santa is a myth. Anything she got at Christmas only ever came from me.”
Nick resumed his reading. “Then there was the year we got snowed in and we found reindeer hoof marks in the snow on the front lawn. To this day I can’t figure out how Dad managed that one. We all miss you so much Hope, especially this time of year. We’re spending it together at Grace’s place, only we can’t be whole without you. It’s Christmas, season of good will and all. And Christmas really isn’t Christmas without my baby sister there. Love you sis. Always will. Your loving brother, Rick.”
Nick grinned. “Then it looks like there was a fight for the pen. Grace says hi, love you, miss you and please will you be my bridesmaid. Faith drew a heart with six people inside it. There’s a paw print from the dog. Your dad says please come home, even if it’s only to say hi, have some tea and some of your mother’s chocolate cake. You can even have the flake from the top this time and the pink dish…’ Whatever that means.”
“There was only one pink dish and we all used to fight over who had it.”
Nick turned the paper over. “Your mum carries on. DI Holmes says you have a daughter now. She is beautiful and so much like you. We won’t interfere unless you ask us too. But we want to know her and to be a part of your life again, even if it’s only a little part. We love you, baby girl. And we always will. Love Mum. And then they’ve all added their names and kisses and circles. Which I’m assuming are hugs.”
Hope nodded, tears running down her face. Her heart ached. As Nick had read, his voice had faded and she could hear the others speaking. Smell her mother’s perfume, almost felt their presence. She wanted to go home, so very much, but not without Angel and she didn’t suppose she’d ever get her back.
Pastor Jack came in. “Nick, we need to leave for the carol service.”
Nick glanced up, folding the letter. “OK, give us five and we’ll be right behind you. We’ll go in my car.”
“Don’t be late, you’re leading the service.”
“I know. Five minutes.” Nick waited until the door shut, before he gave into the urge filling him and pulled Hope into his arms. “You’re not alone anymore. That letter proves it.”
She nodded, her hands scrunching into his shirt. She could smell his cologne, feel the warmth and firmness of his body. With him she felt safe and loved. She didn’t ever want that feeling to stop.
“You know how I feel about you, don’t you?” His voice came over the top of her head, his breath warm in her hair. “I see you and my heart stops, my stomach does cartwheels and—”
She looked up, finding his intent gaze swallowing her whole. “I can’t breathe or think and all I want is to be with you. You’re the first man to see me as a whole person, to want to be with me doing normal stuff. You even took me shopping for clothes.”
Nick’s lips curved upwards. “That makes me either brave or stupid. Although I did learn how not to blush in the lingery…”
“Lingerie,” she corrected, and then laughed. “Did we linger in the lingerie section?”
He kissed her nose. “Something like that.”
She looked at the clock. “Don’t want to make you late.”
He looked at her seriously, his intent gaze rooting her to the spot. “One more minute won’t kill anyone. I know if we pursue things and do eventually marry, that I wouldn’t be your first because you have Angel.” He tucked her hair behind her ears. “Beyond that I don’t need to know. Your past is exactly that. In the past. Between you and God, forgiven and forgotten. Right?”
She nodded.
“So, help me out here. We’ll get Angel back with you where she belongs, get you on your feet, reunite you with your family, and see where God is taking the two of us. Right?”
“You do say right an awful lot, you know that?”
“That’s because I always am right.”
She snorted. “Yeah, if you say so.”
He kissed her cheek. “I do. Now, let’s get to church. Because I can’t be late.”
****
Hope sat in church, amazed at the difference a few hours made. The tree at the front twinkled in the low lighting. And for the first time in a long time she felt at home. God loved her, she knew that now, and she could almost feel His arms around her tonight.
The service began with “O Come All Ye Faithful” followed by “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks.”
Nick led the service, telling the story of how he and his brother had learnt alternative versions of “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks” from his grandmother, and another version of “We Three Kings” from school.
As they sang “Away in a Manger,” Hope heard a child singing clearly. The voice was hauntingly familiar.
Hope turned to look as they sat down.
Two rows behind, her parents sat, along with Grace, Faith, Rick, and two men. She recognized both as Elliott from that morning. Hadn’t someone told her the men marrying her sisters were twins? And her Angel sat between her sisters. Her family members looked the same, just a little older.
Tears flooded Hope’s eyes and she stood. She wasn’t ready for this. As much as she wanted to see them, to see Angel, she couldn’t just see them and then be parted again. She couldn’t take it. Leaving her seat, she ran down the aisle. She was at the back of the church when Nick’s voice from the pulpit halted her.
“When I was seven, I broke my mother’s favorite ornament. Convinced I’d never be forgiven, I ran away. It was raining and cold and I’d left in such a rush I’d forgotten my coat. Though my rucksack did contain a bar of chocolate, packet of crisps and my rabbit, Sebastian, who went everywhere with me. I got as far as the bus station. Not that I had money for bus fare to go anywhere, but I liked buses and it was dry and relatively warm.”
Hope stood still in the doorway, torn between leaving and hearing the end of the story.
“Anyway, it got to tea time and the only money I had was change for the phone. So I rang home. Dad answered and boy was he cross. He t
old me to stop being stupid, to come home because Mum was crying. I told him I’d only come home if it was all right with Mum and, if it was, he should hang a white towel out of the window. Anyway, I walked home and sure enough there was the towel.” He paused. “My point is that love is a lot bigger than anything we can do and we don’t need to do anything to deserve it. In fact, it’s when we don’t deserve it that we find we are loved the most. God may not hang a white towel from the window to show He loves us and wants us to come home, but He sent His Son to Earth as a baby to hang on a cross instead.”
Hope wanted to run to her family. Oh, how much she wanted to. Her gaze swung around the church.
Tommy Ackerman sat there, his dark eyes glinting with hate. He looked at her, smirked and drew his finger across his throat.
Hope shivered, turned, and ran.
14
Nick felt sick as Hope ran from the church, a man following her. He’d seen the cut throat gesture and recognized him as the knife man from the crisis center. He announced the next carol and as the music started he left the pulpit and went to Jack. “Can you take over? Hope just ran out of here, with a bloke in close pursuit. I’m pretty sure it’s the bloke who threatened her. I’m going after her. Can you let Nate know? I had a quick look from the pulpit, but can’t see him anywhere.”
Jack nodded. “Sure.”
Nick headed down the aisle and out the door. The snow fell heavily, obscuring any footprints there might have been. Praying hard, Nick ran to get the car. He drove down the road, hoping he was going in the right direction.
As he drove, the wheels slid repeatedly from underneath him and several times he almost swerved, recovering at the last moment. He approached the bridge, seeing two people running. A blue coated figure with blonde hair flying was being chased.
Nick’s stomach dropped into his boots.
The man grabbed her arm, yanking her around. They struggled. The man was pushing her, trying to force her over the side into the icy water below.
Nick pulled the car over, praying he’d be able to intervene. He slammed the hazard lights on and pulled his phone from his pocket as he jumped out of the vehicle and dialed 9-9-9. “A woman is being attacked on Richmond Avenue Bridge. The bloke’s trying to throw her over into the river. Tell them to hurry.” He raised his voice. “Hope!”
“Nick…” came the strangled reply. Her feet slid and she screamed as she was forced onto the side of the bridge.
Nick ran up behind the man, pulling him off. “Leave her alone.”
The man swung an arm towards him, knocking Nick to the pavement. Nick scrambled to his feet, sliding in the snow. He grabbed for the man again, and he got in several punches before getting the upper hand for mere seconds. He slipped on the snow and fell, rolling in slush, trying to get to his feet.
Blue lights flashed, sirens echoed. The police were here.
Nick had to get to Hope.
The stranger reached for Hope, slipping in the snow.
Hope climbed onto the railing, clinging to it.
The two policemen grabbed the man, seemingly without effort. Nick stared and then it made sense. They weren’t sliding in the snow at all due to cleated rubber trackers on their boots.
Making his way carefully, Nick trudged over to look up at Hope. “You won’t make me climb up there, will you?” He asked. “I have this problem with heights.”
“Watch out!”
Nick swung around, horrified.
The man had fought his way free and lunged towards Hope. Time slowed. The man’s arms flew out, making contact with Hope’s coat. He swore at her as he pushed hard.
Hope seemed to hover in midair, her scream echoing as she fell, then a splash as she hit the water.
“Nooooo…Hope…” Nick tore off his coat and shoes and within seconds had climbed onto the railing. Closing his eyes, he jumped over the side. The fall seemed endless until he hit the water with a cold, sharp shock. He plunged below its icy depths, pressure forcing him to open his mouth. The water filled it, and he desperately pushed upwards, gasping for breath and spitting out water. “Hope!” He couldn’t see her.
Voices echoed from above.
He turned, moving his arms. Something floated on the water to his right. Striking out, he swam the short distance and turned the figure over. “Hope…”
Her eyes fluttered open and she panicked. Arms flailed and she dragged him under the surface.
Pushing upwards he gripped her tightly. “I’ve got you.”
“I can’t swim…”
“I can, just keep still.” He held her securely, using the other arm to head towards shore. The icy water made it hard going and he didn’t seem to be making any ground at all.
A boat appeared beside him. “Pass her up, sir.”
Nick allowed the uniformed officer to take her and then let another pull him onboard as well. A blanket landed around his shoulders as he shivered, water pouring from his clothes. He looked for Hope. “Where is she?”
“I’m here.” Hope leaned against him as the boat headed towards the shore. “Thank you for saving me.”
He slid his arm around her and kissed her. “I love you. I’ll not let anything happen to you if I can help it.”
“He was in the church. I was about to go over to my family when I saw him and he threatened me. I ran, but he followed me.”
“I know. I saw him from the pulpit. That’s why I came after you.”
The boat docked and officers helped them from the boat.
Nate came over to them. “We’ve got him. Are you both OK?”
Nick shivered. “I-I thought y-you’d never get here.”
“Jack rang me as soon as you ran from the church. I then picked up your call for help from the radio. Go and get checked out at the hospital, and then go home. I’ll get statements in the morning.” He looked at Hope. “I’m dropping all the charges against you. We have cast iron proof they were fabricated.”
Hope shivered, teeth chattering. “Th-thank you.”
Nick shook his head. “There’s something we need to do tonight. It can’t wait.”
Nate frowned. “You need checking over. Swimming in the river isn’t a good idea on a summer’s day, never mind tonight.”
Nick sighed. “Have J-Jackson meet us at the manse and check us over there.”
“Fine, but you go nowhere until he’s done so.”
Nick nodded. He handed back the blankets and put his coat around Hope. “Here, you need this more than I do.” He slid into his shoes that Nate had handed him. “Let’s g-go f-find y-you d-dry th-things.”
“Y-y-you t-too.”
He nodded, leading her back to the car. He drove to the manse, heating on full blast, shivering.
At the manse, Hope headed up to shower and change.
Nick settled for a towel and a shirt, jumper and pair of jeans from Jack’s wardrobe. Fortunately they were the same size. He made a pot of tea and warmed his hands on the cup.
By the time Jackson arrived and checked them over, Elliott texted to say they were back at Grace’s and could he please bring Hope over.
Hope looked at him. “Thank you. Again.” She hugged him. “If you hadn’t come when you did…”
“…I wouldn’t be wet and dressed in Jack’s clothes,” he quipped. He gazed into her blue eyes and slowed leaned his head towards hers, catching her lips in a light kiss.
Her arms tightened around him and she kissed him back.
As he pulled back she cupped his face with her hand. “You’re the first man to kiss me in a long time,” she whispered. “That was one thing I’d never do. Or allow any man to do to me.”
He smiled. “Then I’m honored.”
“I was saving my kiss for someone special. Someone like you.”
Nick kissed her again,
“My family were all there tonight. Just behind me in church. With Angel, all together and happy.”
“Not totally happy. They need you.”
“That’s what t
he letter said.” She paused. “And I need them. Need you and Angel, too, but I’m not complete without them.”
Nick smiled. “I have something for you, Hope.”
“What’s that?”
“Something you need. An early Christmas present if you like. But it means going out, so you’ll have to borrow one of Cassie’s coats.”
She looked at him. “OK. But where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
15
The decorated houses flashed by as Nick drove. He’d taken a couple of plastic bags and towels from the manse so neither of them was sitting on wet car seats.
Hope had thought she would die as she fell from the bridge and plunged into the icy water. But even as she’d fallen, she’d prayed, crying out to God. When the freezing water streamed over her head, peace had descended, which took her completely by surprise. And then Nick had been there, confirming that God had heard her cry. Thank You, God…I know it’s coming late, but thank You…for Nick, too.
As Nick turned into a familiar road, she gasped.
He glanced at her. “Are you OK?”
“Aunt Tilja lived around here somewhere.” The car turned. “This is Carnation Street. She lived opposite the shops and owned the florist.” She closed her eyes, tears burning. She swallowed hard. “I should have gone and visited. I wanted to; so many times since I got here, but I was afraid she’d condemn me too, and tell my parents…”
Nick parked the car. “I didn’t know your aunt, but from what I’ve heard about her, she wouldn’t have done that. She’d have put you up in her spare room and not asked any questions.”
“I’m an idiot.”
Nick’s lips brushed her cheeks. “My idiot,” he whispered. “Open your eyes. We’re here.”
Hope opened her eyes. Shock resonated through her as she looked at the house. “Oh.”
Nick squeezed her hand. “Grace lives here now.”
Hope looked at him then back at the bungalow. She could hardly believe what she was looking at.