“It’s okay.”
Hollie looked from Doc to him. He owed her an explanation.
“Doc was restoring the sled for Maddie before she died,” he said softly. “You’ll be the first to use it.”
Hollie gasped and she lifted a hand to cover her mouth. Tears instantly filled her eyes and trickled down her cheeks. She brushed them away with a gloved hand. Her gaze flicked from Doc to him again.
He beckoned her to come closer and put an arm around her shoulders. “It’s okay, Hollie. I know Maddie would want this. And so does Doc. It’s as important for him as it is for me that the sled gets taken out.” He swallowed. “Maddie was Doc’s granddaughter.”
Hollie wiped at the tears now streaming down her cheeks. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
Jim nodded even though his own eyes pricked with tears. He had to turn away and take a few deep breaths himself before he could help Hollie climb into the sled. Once she was bundled in the antique quilts belonging to his grandmother and the generations of women before her, he climbed in beside her. He flicked the long reins on the horse’s rump and, with a jolt, they took off at a slow walk. For the next hour they traveled around the farm in silence, broken only by the horse’s hoof beats on the packed snow and the tinkling of a tiny bell attached to the horse’s bridle that jingled and jangled softly whenever he shook his head.
“This is the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me,” Hollie finally said, breaking the stillness. She reached for his hand and laced her fingers with his. “Thank you, Jim.”
Their lips met in a tender kiss and when it started to snow, Jim knew someone was smiling down on them.
Chapter 12
Their last morning together crept up too quickly for both of them. When Hollie came down to breakfast, he could tell she’d been crying. She dropped her new suitcase near the back door with a thud that seemed to echo through the house and dumped her backpack on the floor beside it. He sucked in a deep breath as his own throat closed over.
“Are you all packed and ready?” he asked.
She smiled sadly at him and nodded. Her eyes were glassy. “I can’t believe how quickly these two weeks have gone.” She stared out the window. “I was kind of hoping to wake up and find a snowstorm had swept over during the night and I’d be snowed in.”
He knew exactly what she meant because he’d been guilty of praying for the same thing. He’d been disappointed when he’d woken to blue skies and sunshine.
He placed a plate of breakfast in front of her. She smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes. Not even close. “Now it really does feel like the Last Supper,” she said.
“I wish it didn’t have to be,” he mumbled.
Hollie’s head shot up. It was the first time either of them had voiced the inevitable – that they were going to miss one another. He had no idea how he could feel so strongly about a woman he’d known for such a short time. She’d worked her way past the tough exterior of his mending heart and he couldn’t imagine life without her. The sleigh ride the day before had confirmed it for him.
“You could always come visit me,” she replied softly.
His heart raced at the idea. Was visiting Australia a possibility? Probably not. “It’s such a long way. And expensive. And with the farm and work and all the weddings coming up and …” He allowed his voice to trail off. He knew they were poor excuses and so did she.
“Well, you know you’re always welcome.”
After they’d finished eating breakfast, Jim hauled her suitcase outside and loaded it into the car. She stood staring into the crisp, clear morning, as though trying to capture everything, and he stood staring at her, doing the same thing.
“I’m going to miss this view so much,” she said. She spun around to face him. “Can you take one last photo?”
He grabbed his camera and steered her around the front of the house, snapping not one but as many photos of her as possible with the winter wonderland making a perfect backdrop. He was going to cherish these pictures and already imagined which one was going to be hung on his wall.
“I think it’s time to get out that selfie stick of yours,” he said. For the entire time he’d refused to let her use it.
She frowned at him. “What for?”
“We need a photo of us.” It had only been the night before when he was editing some of the photos that he realized there wasn’t a single one of them together.
They spent the next five minutes laughing uproariously, taking dozens of photos on her phone, trying to achieve the perfect selfie. Wiggles insisted on getting in on the fun and the result was hilarious with more than half the photos including Wiggles’ tail, teeth or tongue.
On the drive to the airport they chatted about inconsequential things like the weather warming up and Jim’s plans for the farm and how much Roo had grown in such a short time. He hated that he wasn’t brave enough to tell her what he was really feeling. The air was thick, all the spare space in the car taken up by the pregnant elephant that sat between them.
“Are you sure you’ll be able to get home?” Hollie asked. He’d insisted on driving her to the airport in the hire car. It seemed wrong to wave good-bye from the comfort of his back porch.
“It’s fine, Hollie. Alicia’s offered to pick me up. She’s heading down to Buffalo today to do some shopping.”
They drove in silence and she stared out the window. What was she thinking?
“Are you looking forward to LA?” She had four days in Los Angeles before flying home.
“It will be fun. I’m going to do all the tourist things. Disneyland, Warner Brothers and Universal studios, see the stars on Hollywood Boulevard, go to the wax museum, shop on Rodeo Drive. See the Hollywood sign.”
He chuckled. “That’s quite a list. Are you sure you’ll be able to do all that in four days?”
“I’m going to give it my best shot.”
“Is this part of Operation White Christmas too?”
“No.” She giggled. “I’m doing the tourist things every Aussie dreams of doing. I’ve wanted to see Disneyland since I was a kid and everyone dreams of going to Hollywood.”
“You mentioned shopping.” He poked her gently in the ribs. “You hate shopping.”
She giggled and squirmed in her seat. “I do, but I have to at least say I’ve been there. Or take a photo standing outside a shop and hope to spot a celebrity or two.”
When he saw the signs for the airport he wanted to keep driving, turn around and take her home with him, but he knew it wasn’t an option. Hollie had a life, a job, family, friends, all back in Australia. This was merely her vacation and he’d simply been a means to helping her achieve her dream and tick off the items on her Operation White Christmas list.
He pulled up at the terminal and they both got out and stood awkwardly on the pavement. He grabbed her suitcase from the trunk and handed it to her. She swung her backpack on her back and bit her lip. Her eyes were large, tears forming, words unspoken.
He stared into her eyes – in her new leather boots she wasn’t much shorter than him – and his heart began to pound faster than it had in two years. He sought her approval with his eyes and when she nodded slightly, he leaned toward her, closing his eyes. Their lips met and he kissed her tenderly, gently, softly, tasting the peppermint of her toothpaste and the strawberry of her lip gloss. They broke apart and he pulled her in tight for a hug. She turned her head to rest against his chest and they stood like that until a security guard approached them and none too politely informed him he needed to move the car.
As she stepped away, breaking contact with him and leaving him unmoored, she gave him a shy shaky smile that turned his stomach inside out.
“I don’t even know how to say thank you.”
“Was my kiss that good?”
She giggled and the sound warmed his heart once more.
“Not just for the kiss. For everything. For helping make my dream come true. I’ll never forget any of it.”
&n
bsp; The security guard approached them again with a darker look on his face. Jim pleaded with him for one more minute before reaching into the pocket of his jeans, pulling out a small turquoise-colored box and handing it to her.
“What’s this?” she asked, although he knew she was well aware it was a Tiffany jewelry box.
“I wanted to give you something so you’ll always remember me and your time in Canada. Open it on the plane.”
Jim kissed her on the cheek before turning and climbing into the car.
A lone tear dripped down Hollie’s cheek and she gave him one last smile. “I’ll never forget you, Jim. Thank you. Thank you for everything.”
She turned and without a backward glance walked into the terminal to catch her flight.
He sagged into the seat, gave a heavy sigh and started the car. After checking over his shoulder he pulled out from the curb and headed to the depot to return the hire car.
*
The next day, Jim still felt numb. He couldn’t believe he was never going to see Hollie again. He stood at the door of the spare room and inhaled her perfume. He rubbed his eyes. Her fragrance lingered, fueling longings he thought were long gone. Longings he’d tried to suppress since Maddie died. Longings that had surfaced the moment Hollie accidentally arrived into his life. She was like a ray of Australian sunshine designed to permeate the winter existence that had been his life for the past two years. Hollie’s arrival in his house felt like spring. She made him want to open the shutters, throw up the windows, sweep out the dust and cobwebs and get ready for summer. He pulled out his phone and scrolled through the pictures she’d sent him less than two hours earlier. One picture captivated him more than the others. He was staring at her while she stared deep into the camera on her phone. Her eyes sparkled with delight. He couldn’t deny it any longer. He loved her.
It’s okay to move on.
His heart stilled. It had been a long time since he’d imagined Maddie’s voice.
It’s okay, Jim.
The same still voice came again, floated in his head, settled on his heart. He might be crazy, but there was only one way to find out just how crazy. He needed to see Hollie again.
He only hoped he still had time.
Chapter 13
Four days later Hollie stood looking at the Qantas plane with its familiar red and white kangaroo logo painted on the tail. She was going home. After a whirlwind tour of Los Angeles, she was ready. She missed Jim, missed Wiggles and Roo, missed Canada and the farm, but it was time to go home. She had found herself constantly wanting to talk to him while she was in LA, to share her new memories with him. Although they’d sent the occasional text message to one another, Hollie knew there wasn’t much point continuing something that had ended before it ever had a chance to begin.
As she watched the bags and cases being loaded into the belly of the plane, she ran her fingers over the two silver charms on the necklace he’d given her. A snowflake and a Canadian maple leaf. She’d never forget him, nor would she forget the way he’d helped her achieve her white Christmas dream.
Her phone beeped and she glanced at it, smiling when she saw it was a text from Jim.
Hey Hollie. I just wanted to wish you a safe flight home. What time does your plane leave?
Hollie checked the time and shot back a quick message. We should start boarding in half an hour.
I’ve edited some of the photos and thought I’d send them to you. What’s your email address?
Hollie gave him the details. It was a long five minutes wait until her phone pinged, letting her know the email had arrived. She opened it and scrolled through the photos he’d sent. Her heart raced. They were incredible. Shot after shot, memory after memory of her white Christmas dream. He’d left her with the best gift she could have asked for. Her favorite was one taken on their last afternoon together, as they’d lost track of time riding around in the sled at the farm. Jim had taken photos as dusk had settled over the horizon. When the snow began to softly fall, she’d burst into tears. The large fat flakes had landed on her cheeks and mingled with her warm salty tears and she’d never felt so happy in her life.
When she got to the final photo, she grinned. It was a photo of Roo with Wiggles. A small chalkboard hung from Roo’s neck. She zoomed in and read the words “We miss you Hollie.”
She smiled sadly and she sent back a quick text, thanking Jim for the photos and the memories and telling him she missed them too.
A minute later, another text message arrived.
Turn around.
Her heart stilled. She turned slowly, saw him standing there and wondered if she was ever going to be able to breathe again. Dropping everything, she raced to him, throwing her arms around his neck. A jolt of electricity went through her as he scooped her off her feet and twirled her around.
“Jim!” The word came out croaky and she had to clear her throat to repeat it. “Jim. What are you doing here?”
“I missed you, Hollie.”
“I missed you, too.”
He gently placed her back on the ground. “Something was delivered to the house yesterday and I thought I should bring it to you.”
She frowned. “What?”
“Your suitcase. It turns out it wasn’t stolen from the car. The guy at the hire car place didn’t forget to put it in the trunk – he put it in someone else’s trunk. When the other car was returned to the depot, they found your case!”
Hollie laughed.
“Something else came for you today too,” he said softly.
He smiled, but she saw a touch of uncertainty creep into his eyes. He held out another small turquoise box and her heart almost stopped.
He was standing so close and watching her so intently that she was having trouble thinking straight. He slid his arms around her waist, pulling her close, holding her gently, his forehead resting against hers as he gazed into her eyes. She suddenly felt like she’d lost her sense of coordination. She was struggling to stand, her knees threatening to buckle beneath her as the weight of his nearness pressed in on her. His arms were the only thing holding her in an upright position, stopping her from falling to the floor and making a fool of herself. She felt people’s eyes on them and was glad when Jim drew her away from the crowd and found them a seat.
She slowly unwrapped the box and found a tiny silver heart-shaped charm.
“It’s beautiful.”
Jim leaned over and undid the clasp of her necklace. “I realized after you left that your necklace was missing something.”
She licked her lips and tried to speak but nothing came out.
“It was missing my heart,” he whispered.
Her body began to shake as he threaded the heart onto the chain then placed it back around her neck. His fingers were hot where they grazed her chin. He raised a hand to stroke her hair and his finger slowly traced the outline of her jaw.
“Hollie, the moment I saw you, I wondered what it would be like to hold you in my arms and kiss you. You looked like you were about to break into tears when I found you on the side of the road with Roo. I wasn’t sure at the time whether they were tears of joy that you’d been rescued or tears of fear that I was going to be some crazy lunatic.”
Hollie laughed loudly. “I was a bit worried, I’ll admit. All those stranger danger lessons I learned in school and one cute guy shows up to rescue me on a snowmobile and I throw them out the window. I kept reminding myself I wasn’t getting into a car with you – a snowmobile was totally different – but then when you asked me to stay at your house and I said yes, I thought for a moment that I’d totally lost my mind.”
“I think I lost my mind at the same time,” he replied.
He stroked her cheek again before finding her hands and lacing their fingers together. “Hollie, I have no idea how we’ll make this work, but I want you in my life.”
“You want me?” Her voice was a squeak.
He nodded and his gray-green eyes shone. “I want you. I want to get to know you bett
er. I want to come to Australia with you and see if we can make a go of this.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I want to marry you, Hollie.”
She swallowed hard. Once. Twice. Tried a third time. Moistened her lips. “You want to m-marry me?” she stuttered.
He nodded. “One day. I know we hardly know one another, but I love you, Hollie.”
Tears of joy formed as she stared at him in shock. Her heart was pounding so fast she could barely hear, think, speak, answer him.
The boarding announcement came across the public address system, startling her.
“So can I come with you?” he asked.
She looked at him in confusion.
“Hollie, I’m booked on the same flight as you. I even managed to get the seat next to you so if you say no, it will make the next sixteen hours very awkward.”
Her brain tried to process what he was telling her. “You’re coming home with me?”
He nodded.
“Who’s looking after Wiggles and Roo?”
“Wiggles is having a holiday with Mom. Doc is looking after Roo and the farm.”
“What about your business? Don’t you have any weddings coming up?”
“Nothing’s booked until spring. It’s always quiet in winter.”
“And you love me?”
He nodded again.
“And you want me?”
“Do you need me to show you how much?”
Without waiting for her answer, he kissed her then, long and slow and deep. A kiss filled with love and longing. He deepened the pressure of his lips against hers and she wrapped her arms around his neck, lacing her fingers together and pulling him closer, matching the intensity of his kiss.
She pulled away, fixed him with a stare and mouthed the words, “I love you.”
Jim leaned over to kiss her again. And again.
Acknowledgments
Operation White Christmas: Escape to the Country Page 8