by Melody Anne
Sage leaned back in her chair and thought about it. Who was Spence?
“He’s . . . well, he’s kind and brilliant. The most talented doctor I’ve ever worked with. He’s funny, and knows his job so well. He knows when to be serious and when to laugh. Everyone we meet loves him. We can’t go anywhere without getting stopped. People just want to chat with him. He has this smile—oh, his smile—it’s so bright, so infectious. He’s spontaneous, and likes to jump right in with both feet, but he also knows when something needs careful planning. And the way he looks at me . . . it . . . it just makes me feel like I’m the only person on the planet.”
Bethel didn’t say anything, and Sage realized she’d been going on and on. She closed her eyes and pictured the Christmas tree, the tree she and Spence had found together and how it had become perfect because he had been perfect. She thought of fishing in Seattle, of the intimate club, of the laughter on the ski slope. She thought of those moments in the hospital when he’d cornered her in a dark room and left her breathless.
Every memory with him made her smile. She never knew what to expect when he showed up, but she wasn’t frightened by that uncertainty. She knew whatever he had planned would make her smile, would be a new adventure.
“I do love him—really love him. But what if it’s because it’s new? What if it does fade?”
“Then you’ll survive and you’ll learn ways to keep it fresh,” Bethel said.
“Just like that?”
“Yes, just like that. Haven’t you survived the most tragic of circumstances?”
“Yes. I still open my eyes sometimes in the morning and expect Mom to be right there.” Even if she did accept what was right in front of her, and then somehow lost it, she would survive that, too. Nothing could be as bad as losing her parents, not even losing the man who was already wedged tightly into her heart.
“It doesn’t matter, does it?” Sage asked.
“What doesn’t matter?” Now it was Bethel’s turn to be confused.
“I’m already invested. I’ve been dwelling on this for days, trying to rationalize it, trying to figure out how to make this black-and-white, how to outline it and tuck all my emotions into nice little corners. But the bottom line is that I love him. Whether I lose him now or in ten years or in sixty, it doesn’t matter. It will hurt no matter what. I can’t go back now.”
“No, no, you can’t,” Bethel said with a grin.
“Well, being in love stinks.” Now, her grandma could call her a child all she wanted. Sage stood up, then leaned down and kissed Bethel’s cheek. “I love you,” she said, then she moved through the house and went upstairs.
She didn’t even have the energy to go home. Being at her grandmother’s would always be home, though. Falling into her old bed, she drifted to sleep, her only solace.
Grace was expressionless as she faced Camden. Why did he have to keep pushing her? Why wouldn’t he just let this go?
“Do you really think this will all just fade away, that you can keep lying to your friends, the people who care about you?”
“I don’t have friends,” she said, putting an emphasis on the S at the end of the word friends.
“Come on, Grace. I’ve known you since you were a kid,” Camden said, blowing out his breath as he paced her small apartment.
“You’re certainly not my friend, Camden. Please don’t insult my intelligence by pretending you are,” she snapped, going to her fridge and pulling out a bottle of water.
“There was a time when we were more than friends, Grace.” She turned to find him right behind her, way too close for her comfort. “You know I would never purposely hurt you.”
“Ha. That’s amusing, Camden. It’s amazing how you can twist our history. The only friend I have is Sage, and I don’t want to pull her into this. I’m going to live my life, and if everything goes to hell, I guess that will just happen.”
There was no possible way that she was giving this man ground—or anything else. He’d already taken her heart eight years before. Then he’d smashed it into tiny little pieces and he’d never looked back.
“I’m offended that you think so little of me, Grace.”
“I have a feeling you’ll get over it. Just put an ad on Facebook telling all the lonely singles that you need some consoling.”
“Why are you such a pain?” he practically shouted.
“Maybe because that’s how I survive. You can either deal with it or you can stay the hell away from me. I’ve already told you I have nothing to say and I’ve been more than clear that I don’t want your help. I don’t care what anyone does or says, I will not cower in a corner.”
“I’m not asking you to cower in the corner, but you don’t need to put out flashing neon lights saying Look at Me.”
She knew he wasn’t dealing well with the situation. They’d already had this conversation a million times now, ever since he’d received that blasted file, ever since her father—not that he deserved the title—had royally screwed her over.
“Maybe I’m a girl who likes to play games—dangerous games, Camden. Maybe I’ve decided my life has been boring so far. Maybe, just maybe, I’m the perfect protégée for my parents,” she said, sending him a wink and shrug.
“I don’t know what you’re trying to prove, but you’re doing an excellent job of acting like a spoiled brat. If you want to roll over and play dead, I should let you, but I know somewhere, maybe locked deep down inside, is the smiling girl I used to know. Where is she, Grace?”
“How dare you! You have no right to psychoanalyze me. You have no right to step into this apartment. Where in the hell were you when I needed you most? Was that your week with bimbo one or bimbo two?”
“What happened in the past is in the past. You need to let it go.”
“Please go away, Camden. I’m too tired to deal with you anymore today.” The fight had been drained from her. She needed to put on her happy face and pretend everything was copacetic.
“This isn’t over, Grace,” he warned as he moved toward the door.
“It never is, is it, Camden?” She sighed as he turned toward her, fire burning in his eyes. Yes, she knew there was still hunger there, but more than that, there was rage. Right now they both felt it in spades, each at the other.
“I’ll leave for now, but don’t think for a minute that I’m going to just roll over and watch you ruin your life,” he said as she yanked open the door to push him out if she had to.
“Trust me, Cam, I would never think you were the type to ever roll over,” she said, trying unsuccessfully to smile.
Cam said nothing else as he left her apartment.
Grace sagged against the door, allowing herself a moment of pity. Then, blowing out a breath, she pushed her worries from her mind. It was Christmas Eve and she was going to spend it with her best friend. She’d had enough anger and sadness to last her a lifetime. She was going to bury all of that for at least the next few days.
“Sage, wake up right this minute!”
Sage sat up, disoriented and rubbing her eyes. “What time is it? What’s the problem? Is everyone okay?” she blurted out, still half asleep.
She’d taken naps at the hospital before, and she knew how to wake up quickly and be prepared for an emergency, but with her recent insomnia due to high emotions, she was struggling to clear the fog from her brain.
“Nothing’s wrong,” Grace told her. “You just have to come with me right now.”
“What are you doing at my grandmother’s? I thought you were flying out tonight.”
“I was, but I got stuck behind a major pileup on the freeway, and I had no choice but to turn around.”
“Well, I for one am glad. Spending Christmas in Hawaii was a dumb idea, Grace.”
“With all of this snow, I thought it would be a nice change.”
“Of course lying on the beach and soaking in the sun is always nice. But Christmas is time for family, and since you’re basically my sister, I call it abandonment wh
en you leave me like that.”
“Well, I’m here now, and very grateful to be with you. Now get your butt out of bed and come with me. I can’t believe you’re sleeping at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve. I’ve gone to bed early before so I can wake up in the morning, but never that early.” Grace tugged on Sage’s hand until she was standing, and then handed her a thick sweatshirt.
“Are we going somewhere?” Sage asked.
“You’ll see. Come on.” Grace shimmied Sage over to her UGG boots and stood there while she slipped them on, then dragged her down the stairs.
It sounded like music was playing, but that wasn’t a surprise. Her grandma always played Christmas carols when she was baking, and she always baked the night before Christmas. Actually, she baked the entire week before Christmas. Her pies had become quite famous in their little town.
Lots of people usually stopped by Bethel’s house during the entire month of December. All the neighbors wanted the woman to see their faces, a reminder they were still there so they could have some of her goodies. Then they acted all surprised when Sage and Grace handed out sugary confections. And Sage loved doing that. It was always a pleasure to see how much joy her grandmother brought to others.
As they reached the bottom of the stairs, Sage realized that the music was coming from outside the house. The entire downstairs smelled like gingerbread, and Sage’s stomach rumbled as they passed the kitchen.
“What is that?” Sage asked as they reached the front door.
“Come and find out,” Grace told her. She stood next to the door but didn’t open it.
Sage was suddenly afraid. The light in Grace’s eyes told her that this was something big, something special. Was she ready to see?
“It’s Spence, isn’t it?” she said, hope and fear dueling inside her.
“I guess you’ll have to open the door if you want to know,” Grace replied, a grin splitting her face.
“A true best friend would tell me what’s on the other side of that door. A true best friend wouldn’t leave me hanging like this.”
Sage didn’t do well with surprises. Or at least she hadn’t until she’d met Spence. Now, it seemed, she was more used to them, and even anticipated them. Her fear was dwindling as she stood there. In its place a calm acceptance was rising up—a feeling of security and warmth.
“A true best friend would be green with envy and planning on heading to the nearest voodoo shop to get a doll and stick pins in it whenever she thought about how sickeningly romantic your future husband is.”
“What’s he done now?” Worth a try to ask again.
“I’m still not telling you what’s on the other side of this door, Sage.”
They knew each other well—heck, they each knew what the other was going to say before she said it.
“Fine!” Sage couldn’t stand it a second longer. She moved to the door, yanked it open, then stood for all to see with her hair a wild mess, no makeup, and wearing a thick, baggy sweatshirt, unflattering sweatpants, and sheepskin boots. And she didn’t care—not even a smidgen.
“I just want to say that I am the most jealous best friend in the world. If you don’t run to him right this minute, I’m going to push you down the porch steps and use your body as my own personal red carpet so I can take him myself.”
“Then I guess I’d have to get Camden to console me,” Sage said slyly.
“I would scratch your eyes out,” Grace said before her eyes opened wide and she covered her mouth. “I mean . . .”
“I will find out exactly what you mean, Grace, but later. Right now I’m going to push you out of the way and run out there into the arms of the man I love.”
At least a hundred of their neighbors were standing in front of Bethel’s house, and more were showing up by the minute. They were all singing Christmas carols and holding paper sky lanterns with candles glowing inside them. Spence was in front of them all, down on one knee, a lantern in one hand, a box in the other.
“Sage Banks, I love you,” he said as she moved toward him, her legs trembling, her heart thudding. It was simple, and it was sweet. He was opening his heart to her in front of people they’d known their entire lives. He was telling the world that she was worth the risk. He was telling her this was forever.
She dropped to her knees in front of him, and she didn’t even feel her sweatpants get soggy in the snow. “Spence Whitman, I love you,” she replied, then took the initiative and leaned forward, kissing him and clinging to him for all she was worth. She was through analyzing this, through thinking it over. Sometimes, as her grandmother said, you have to take a leap of faith.
Their friends and family continued singing as he returned her kiss. Her heart was so full now it seemed almost unfair to all the people who didn’t have someone to love.
“Marry me, Sage. That’s all I want for Christmas. I just want you to be my wife.”
“Then it looks like you’ve been a good boy, Spence.” His eyebrows furrowed in confusion, so she continued. “Santa is giving you exactly what you want.”
Spence grinned as he drew back, took an exquisite diamond ring from a black velvet box, and slid it onto her finger. “She said yes!” he called out, and their neighbors, in sync, released the sky lanterns, the hot candles helping them to soar.
Spence stood, pulling her up with him. He lifted his arm and released his lantern, and together they watched them all float into the sky.
“Your last gift, Sage. All our prayers and wishes have just floated upward. I plan on making every dream you’ve ever had come true.”
“You gave me the dream I didn’t know I wanted, Spence. You love me—my faults and all. And I love you—your faults and all.”
“I will forever be grateful to our meddling family members, but let’s not tell them—ever,” he said with a chuckle. The two of them turned to find Martin standing nearby with his partners in crime: Bethel, Maggie, and Eileen.
“I agree. We’ll make them suffer. It looks like the meddlers are only missing one member of their scheming group.”
“Ah yes, Joseph Anderson. We both know he’s the one who got them all started,” Spence said.
“Should we feel sorry for your brothers, or happy for them? Because right now I know I should still be angry at the meddlers, but I’m so happy I can’t find room for any other emotions to fit inside.”
“I say we step up and help them out,” Spence said.
“You are a terrible man—and I say . . . I agree.”
Then the two of them forgot all about talking as Spence took her into his arms and kissed her, showing her exactly what she meant to him. Their neighbors and family faded away as he lifted her and carried her inside.
EPILOGUE
“What a beautiful wedding that was,” Joseph said to Martin, Bethel, Maggie, and Eileen.
“That horse-drawn carriage looked like it came right out of the pages of Cinderella,” Bethel said with a sigh as she looked across the room at her granddaughter dancing in her husband’s arms.
“Yes, Spence really went all out to make her dreams come true. I’m mighty proud of my boy,” Martin said, his heart glowing.
The words brought tears to Bethel’s eyes. “And I’m so happy that Sage has found a man strong enough to hold her heart.”
“And I have another daughter to warm our home,” Martin observed. “This matchmaking stuff is pretty wonderful.”
“I was a little worried there for a while. Those two just weren’t cooperating,” Eileen said. She was glad it had worked out, but a bit bored now, though she didn’t want to admit it. She and her friends hadn’t been doing anything to move things along with the other two victims—er, bachelors—in the Whitman family.
“Yes, your kids are certainly as stubborn as my own brood,” Joseph replied with a laugh.
Martin joined in the laughter and said, “Oh, look at that. Spence is scowling.”
The little group turned to see Austin tugging Sage into his arms for a dance. Before Spence could clai
m her back, Austin’s wife, Kinsey, tapped his shoulder. He smiled at her and then offered his arm.
“He doesn’t want to let go of Sage for even three minutes,” Eileen said. “That boy is head over heels in love.” The woman directed a shy glance at Martin.
“Yes, love is certainly in the air. Just look over there in the corner,” Martin said.
The group turned as one and spotted Camden and Grace, who seemed to be having a heated debate.
“That boy’s eyes just about popped out of his head when Grace walked into the room,” Maggie remarked. “Her name is quite fitting, because she sure has a lot of class.”
“I’d given up hope on the two of them ever reconnecting, but from the look of things, the sparks we’ve set are starting to catch fire,” Martin replied.
“Camden has no idea that we’re the ones who put that file on his desk?” Joseph asked.
“Not a clue. He thinks it was her parents—those worthless people,” Martin grumbled.
“And has Camden stepped up like you thought he would?” Joseph asked. He hadn’t managed to make it back to Sterling in the last few months, not with so much going on in Seattle.
“Of course he has. Not only will he save the girl, but I’m hoping for another wedding. I’m thinking around Christmastime would be quite pleasant.”
Bethel’s eyes lit up. “Well, since it’s only June now, maybe we’ll get lucky and swing that wedding, and then a Christmas baby for the next year.”
“That would indeed make a mighty fine Christmas,” Eileen said with a sigh.
When Spence took Sage back into his arms, both their faces shone with the pure love that they shared. They might not have been thanking the five people who’d plotted their union, but their radiant joy was thanks enough.
“To love,” Joseph said, and the four friends joined the toast. They hadn’t had a single miss yet.
Turn the page for a sneak peek of the next heartwarming novel in the Unexpected Heroes series