Magic in Our Hearts

by Jeanne Mccann

  “And I adore you.”

  CHAPTER 25

  Four years later …

  Taylor pulled up in front of the Boulder airport in time to see Jeb striding out of the entrance. She waved to get his attention as she stepped out of her SUV.

  “Taylor, you look fantastic.” Jeb remarked as he grinned at his best friend and business partner.

  Taylor was attired in a pair of forest green ski pants and a lamb’s wool jacket, her feet snug and warm in fur lined leather boots. She looked right at home in the snow-covered town of Boulder. It was the dead of winter and icy cold, with snow flurries that had lasted all day long adding to the six inches of compacted snow already on the ground.

  “Thanks, Jeb, so do you. I’m so glad you decided to come for a visit.” Taylor smiled up at the handsome man as she reached up to hug him. He was wearing slate grey ski pants and a darker grey wool coat.

  “So am I. How are my godchildren? Have they recovered from their two weeks in Austria?” Jeb asked as he kissed Taylor on the cheek.

  “Yes, but Brett and I haven’t. What made us think taking two four-year-old children to the World Cup in Austria was a good idea. They had a blast, but Brett and I are exhausted. The girls are perfect, and they loved the trip. I thought we could drive by the slopes and let you see them in action. Brett’s teaching them to ski.”

  “Are you kidding me?” Jeb looked shocked. They were only four years old and both were extremely smart, but skiing?

  “No, and I think Rose is just like her other mother. She’s going to tear up the slopes. She has no fear. Jane is a little more controlled, but her style is perfect.

  They’ve been skiing with Brett for almost a year.”

  “Is Brett skiing?”

  “Only with the girls, and she’s very careful. She doesn’t want to take any chances with her knees. One injury could mean another knee replacement. She still skis so beautifully. I love to watch her.”

  “You love everything Brett does,” Jeb chuckled. “The spa is doing very well. I can’t believe how much business we’re getting. Having a successful U.S. ski coach promoting our spa doesn’t exactly hurt.”

  “We have to turn away clients in Boulder,” Taylor responded with a grin of her own. Their business couldn’t have been more successful. Taylor and Jeb’s business had improved upon its already stellar reputation and now included many international athletes taking advantage of the strong programs and rehabilitation services.

  “Maybe we should think of another location,” Jeb suggested as he climbed into Taylor’s Range Rover.

  “Are you serious?” Taylor looked at him with surprise as she started the car.

  This was news to her.

  “Well, I think by the time I’m ready to retire, your daughters will be old enough to run the business,” Jeb responded with a big smile.

  Taylor grinned at her best friend and business partner. “Maybe Jane, but I think Rose is going to break some hearts on the World Cup ski circuit for awhile.

  She’s so much like Brett it’s amazing. Her mannerisms are the same, she has that touch of arrogance that Brett has, and she is downright stubborn. Jane is the busi-nesswoman. You should see her negotiate her allowance. It’s like dealing with an MBA; she has her argument prepared before she even asks us for more money.” Jeb could hear the pride in Taylor’s voice.

  “Like mother, like daughter. How are you and Brett doing?” Taylor sighed happily. “Life just gets better and better. A day doesn’t go by that she doesn’t show me in some small way how much she loves me. I count my blessings every day that we found each other again.”

  “You two were made for each other.”

  “Yes, we were, not that she doesn’t drive me crazy some times. She’s on a kick to take a family vacation to Australia after this ski season, and she won’t take no for an answer. She and the girls have it all mapped out.”

  “What’s wrong with that?”

  “Two four year olds who want to see great white sharks, what do you think?” Taylor snorted as she negotiated the short distance from the airport to the ski resort and pulled into the parking lot. “We’ll have to walk from here. They’re over on the intermediate hill.”

  “At four—I’ve got to see this!” Jeb followed Taylor’s slim form as she moved quickly across the packed snow. “Hold up! I’m not used to walking in this stuff.” Taylor turned and laughed at Jeb. “At least you dressed appropriately this time.”

  “Boulder, Colorado, in the middle of winter—of course I’m going to dress for snow.” Jeb responded with indignation. The last time he had visited, Boulder had been hit with an unexpected snowstorm. Jeb had been wearing a business suit and loafers with a light overcoat that afforded little protection from the snow and cold. Brett and Taylor had teased him unmercifully before taking him to a local store to get appropriate winter clothes.

  “There they are up at the top just getting ready for a run.” Taylor shielded her eyes from the bright sun as she watched her lover and her twin daughters begin their run down the mountain. They were a beautiful sight to watch in contrasting parkas and black ski pants.

  “How do you know that’s them?”

  “I’d know Brett anywhere. I also can tell by their pants and parkas.” Taylor smiled as she watched her partner and lover elegantly ski down the slope with their two daughters. She fell in love with Brett all over again as she watched her glide effortlessly down the hill.

  “My God, they are wonderful skiers!”

  “They are, and Brett is very patient with them.” Taylor’s eyes were on Brett’s athletic body as she expertly worked her way down the mountain. Her moves looked effortless, Brett’s love for skiing evident on her smiling face. Taylor’s heart beat faster as she watched her ski.

  “God, I just love watching Brett ski.”

  “She is something. But look at your daughters, and they’re so little!” Brett finally noticed the two spectators as she approached the bottom of the slope. She skied over and stopped in front of Taylor and Jeb, both daughters easily keeping up with her.

  “Hey, Mom, did you see us?” Jane asked excitedly.

  “I did. You both looked terrific.”

  “Rose went off the jump even though Mom Brett said no.”

  “Jane, it’s not nice to tattle,” Taylor admonished her daughter. Rose’s face showed a total lack of contrition as she waited for her mother to express her disappointment in her behavior. But Taylor didn’t say a word to her mutinous daughter.

  “I just tried it once and Mom Brett already told me how dangerous it was.”

  “Good, then I don’t have to say another word, do I?” Taylor almost laughed out loud as she saw the look of surprise on her daughter’s face. Rose was always pushing everyone’s patience to the limit. No didn’t stop Rose when she wanted to do something. She was an extremely trying child for both Brett and Taylor to parent, yet they loved her dearly.

  Brett reached out and clasped Taylor’s hand in hers in a show of faith and support. “We were just finishing up here. Want us to meet you at home?”

  “I thought we could all go get some lunch together. What do you think girls?”

  “Yeah, with Uncle Jeb?”

  “Yes.” Both girls loved Rex and Jeb to death. They began to unhook their skis.

  “Okay, then let’s stow your gear in the car.” Brett began to remove her skis.

  “Hey girls, how was Austria?” Jeb asked as both twins began to jabber at once.

  They had obviously had a great time and competed at telling him about it. He couldn’t believe how beautiful the two young girls were. They looked just like their mothers.

  “Brett, you looked beautiful skiing down the mountain. You took my breath away.” Taylor spoke softly, just for her partner of almost eight years.

  “Just looking at you does that to me,” Brett remarked, her dark eyes full of passion for the woman she loved. “I love you.”

  “It’s magic isn’t it? Every day feels like magic
with you, the girls, our life.”

  “Yes it does. It’s magic every morning I wake up with you and magic when we go to bed together at night. In fact, it’s a totally magical life day after day and year after year. And the magic will last a lifetime.” Taylor reached out and clasped Brett’s hand in hers as she looked over at their two daughters who were teasing Jeb. Both of their daughters had red hair just like their mother. Rose had green eyes and Jane the aquamarine eyes of Taylor’s.

  They were beautiful girls, smart, fun, and healthy. Brett squeezed Taylor’s fingers as she followed her gaze to their children. Magic, that’s what it was—pure and simple magic.

  THE END