'Tis the Season for Love: A Charity Box Set

by Maggie Dallen

  Jenny glared. “Like no one has knocked over anything in the history of holiday shopping before.” She put her arm around Harmony and lead her away from the glowering sales manager.

  Harmony sighed. “Sorry. I’m fine.” She lifted her chin so she could watch where she was going.

  “Breck?” asked Jenny.

  “Yeah. We were supposed to perform today.”

  Jenny frowned in sympathy. Suddenly, she grabbed Harmony’s arm in a death grip. “Do not turn around.”

  When someone said that, the first thing Harmony always did was turn around. She did just that and was face-to-face with her worst nightmare—also known as her ex-husband.

  Sam looked the same as the day they’d signed divorce papers. Same blond hair styled to perfection. Same dapper business suit. Same white teeth that were so perfect she wanted to color on them with a black sharpie. The only thing that was different was that the woman hanging all over him was a brunette.

  Harmony glared. “What happened to Miss Barbados?” she demanded.

  Sam laughed easily as he turned to his new woman, ignoring Harmony’s verbal jab. “Why don’t you go over and pick out a fragrance? I’d love to buy you a gift.”

  The woman didn’t even cast a look Harmony’s way. She grinned up at Sam and jumped, making her boobs almost hit her chin. “I love pretty smells.”

  “I know.” Sam’s wolfish smile made Harmony want to throw up.

  She exchanged a look with Jenny that said, Wow—just wow!

  “It’s good to see you, Harmony.” He cupped her elbow and moved to kiss her cheek as if they were longtime friends who’d happened to meet up instead of exes who had broken each other’s hearts. Well, he had broken her heart. Obviously, she hadn’t done the same level of damage to him.

  That was disconcerting. Did she mean so little to him that he wasn’t at all remorseful for his behavior? She backed away so his lips caught air and her elbow was out of reach.

  His shrug somehow said that she was the problem in that interchange.

  She wanted to pull someone’s hair out—preferably his.

  “What’s up with the new model?” asked Jenny—ever the loyal friend. She wasn’t letting Sam out of explaining what had happened with she-who-must-not-be-named. “I thought you were deeply in love with the real estate agent.”

  He adjusted his tie. “She was crazy.”

  “How so?” prodded Jenny.

  He ran his hands through his hair, somehow making it look more perfect. Harmony liked when Breck did that and his hair was mussed. It was adorable, sweet, and so darn sexy. Sam’s perfection was fake. There was nothing under his exterior. All he was was a pretty package. “She had to use the same amount of shampoo and conditioner every day. She’d hold the bottles up to the light to make sure. And she always had to have a spare bottle of each under the sink just in case she ran out.”

  Harmony wrinkled her brow. “So?”

  “So, if she’s checking the bottles every day to make sure they’re the same, then she’d know how much was in there and the bottle under the sink is unnecessary.”

  A light went on in Harmony’s head, shining on Sam with such brightness that she finally saw him for what he was—and she saw their marriage in a whole new way. “Oh. My. Gosh.” Harmony pressed her cold hands to her cheeks.

  Yes, she’d been innocent—in all the right ways. She’d been young and wanting to love and be loved. She’d believed that men were like her father—honest, true blue, romantic, and that they protected the hearts of the women in their lives. Sam? Sam had taken advantage of her. He’d used her innocence up like … like shampoo that was easily replaceable. Maybe for him, it was—all he needed was a new woman on his arm who thought he hung the moon. But it wasn’t that easy for her to refill her bottle.

  Until now. Until she realized something very important—she was marriage material. She wasn’t boring—she was amazing! Breck was right: Sam couldn’t see how great she was because he was too busy looking at himself.

  “Bye, Sam.” She stuck out her hand, ready to shake away the residual influence he had on her life. He truly didn’t deserve her.

  Jenny made a strangled noise in the back of her throat.

  Harmony waved her off as she and Sam shook hands. “I can honestly say that I’m going to forget you. From this moment on, you’ll be nothing but a speck of my past.” With that, she spun on her heel and headed for the exit—not even needing to see his face or know his response, because she truly didn’t care.

  “Harmony?” Jenny caught up and hooked their elbows together. “Where are you going?”

  She stopped and grabbed Jenny by the shoulders. “I’m not the broken one, Jenny. It’s not me!” The revelation was so big it filled her up and about lifted her off the ground. “He is incapable of loving me the way I deserve. I wasn’t going to change him—not in one marriage, and not in a thousand.”

  Jenny grabbed her arms, locking them together. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.”

  Harmony laughed. “Then you should be happy, because if Sam’s the incapable one, then that means I am capable of loving someone enough. I’m enough.” She threw her arms out to the side and tipped back her head. “I’m enough!” She laughed, the joy of it all too much to hold in. Jenny released her and she spun in a circle, narrowly missing the store sign boasting 30% off all pajama sets. She stopped suddenly. “I have to find Breck.”

  “Go.” Jenny took the perfume from her. “I’ll buy this and drop it off at your apartment.”

  “Thank you!” Harmony hugged her before running out the door. Her feet hit the icy sidewalk, and she skidded. A Santa rang his bell, asking for donations. People in parkas and scarves rushed by, determined to get to their families or office parties.

  She ran the three blocks to Breck’s and pounded up the stairs—too excited to wait for the elevator. Once she got to his floor, she leaned against the wall and panted. Breck wouldn’t care if she was a sweaty mess; he’d answer the door and he’d kiss her like she was a winter princess. She charged ahead, still gulping for air.

  Three knocks and the door swung open. “’Sup?” asked a guy in a football jersey. She didn’t even know what team was plastered across the front, because it was all faded.

  She suddenly felt unprepared. She should have planned a speech or something that would tell Breck how wonderful he was and that she wanted him for this Christmas and beyond. “Is Breck here?” She rose to her tiptoes and scanned the room behind him. Half the magic supplies were missing. The melting snowman stood in the corner, looking droopy and left behind.

  “He’s doing a show or something.” The guy scratched his stomach. “Wait—you’re his hot assistant.” He leaned against the doorframe. “I was hoping to meet you.”

  Harmony nodded once. An idea popped into her head. If she could just get the melting snowman costume, and then somehow perfect an illusion she’d only stumbled through … she might be able to make this all work out. There was a lot riding on all those ifs. She grinned to herself. That was what Christmas magic was for!

  Taking advantage of the roommate’s posture, she brushed past him on the side he wasn’t leaning against. “I’m just came to get this.” She snagged the melting snowman and then, in a flash of inspiration, also took a piece of poster paper. She rushed back out the door before he thought to stop her.

  “Whatever,” he muttered. The door slammed shut.

  She grinned. Breck’s street performing permit only allowed him to set up in certain places. He’d mentioned that he wanted to do this trick near a business doorway … Think! Where had he said …? The toy shop! She jogged down the stairs and headed that direction, praying she got there before he was done. Hopefully this time, it would be the magician who was amazed by the magic trick.

  Chapter 15

  December 23rd (Continued)

  Breck

  The crowd applauded half-heartedly.

  Breck gave them his stage smile anyway. It was the s
ame smile he’d pasted on when the clerk handed him his change and wished him a Merry Christmas, the same one he used when he helped a woman off the bus, and the exact same grin that appeared when John asked if he had a rent check.

  It almost hurt to put that face on at this point, but what else could he do? His reason for smiling was gone, and he couldn’t get her back. The idea that he couldn’t save Harmony from herself had haunted him the night before. If only he hadn’t pushed. If only he’d held back his feelings and been less selfish. If only he’d tried harder or said the right thing.

  He grabbed a deck of cards. “For this trick, I’ll need a volunteer.”

  No one raised their hand. He deflated. Getting a volunteer was usually the easy part. If he couldn’t get someone to pick a card, then he wasn’t ever going to make it as a magician.

  He set the deck on the table and waved everyone off. “Sorry, folks, show’s over.” And so is my channel and my dreams.

  “What’s with the snowman?” asked a loudmouth who had heckled Breck for the first five minutes of his routine.

  Breck glanced over his shoulder and saw his melting snowman standing a few feet away. “When did that get here?” he asked the crowd.

  They chuckled. “Like you don’t know!” yelled the heckler.

  Breck didn’t have to fake confusion. He shook his head. If John thought it was funny to mess around with his props, he was going to have to have a serious talk about boundaries.

  Or move out.

  Great, now he’d be job and apartment hunting in the dead of winter.

  He stomped over to the snowman. “Get out of the suit,” he said low through his teeth. The last thing he needed was to reveal this trick on the street corner. A part of him hoped to salvage it—for what, he didn’t know.

  “Say the magic word,” came the reply from inside the suit. That soft, melodious sound most definitely wasn’t made by John. Wait—was that Harmony? What was she doing inside … His heart rate spiked.

  “What are you doing here?” he whispered out of the side of his cheek. He didn’t know why she was there, but his heart hurt from growing so fast. The stiffness in his cheeks disappeared and he felt like he was twenty pounds lighter.

  There was no reply, so he went on with the act.

  “Ladies and gentlemen.” He dragged Harmony in front of the crowd. She couldn’t walk fast because her feet were restricted by the 8” circle at the bottom of the costume. “This is Frosty. He’s only got one fear; can anyone guess what it is?”

  “Summer!” called several people. Already, they were more involved in the act. Breck’s smile came easily and naturally, his muscles falling into it like they were made of marshmallows.

  “Thaaat’s right!” He shoved his finger in the air, all while placing Harmony near the flash pot. He hadn’t thought he’d need it but had set up the top hat version as part of his backdrop. Now, he was glad he’d thought to fill it up. “We’re going to give him a little scare and see what happens. Are you ready to help?”

  The applause was thick with anticipation. More people stopped, curious. Several held up phones, filming.

  He cupped his hand around his mouth. “When I count to three, we’re going to yell summer and see what happens.”

  He held up one finger. The group took a breath. 2 fingers. They opened their mouths. Three fingers and they unleashed, “SUMMER!”

  Breck stepped on the button to set off the flash pot, and a puff of smoke filled the air. The people on the front row coughed and waved their hands in front of their faces. Breck held his breath. This was the moment when Harmony slipped away and joined the back of the crowd.

  He could just make out her form … shoot. She missed the cue. He didn’t even care! He was so happy to see her. She stood there holding a big sign that said “You Melted My Frozen Heart.”

  He blinked. Wait. That wasn’t supposed to happen. What?

  You melted …

  Suddenly, it dawned on him. She hadn’t come to help him finish his last show. She’d come for him. He rushed her, picking her up around the middle and spinning in a circle. The melting snowman fabric ripped beneath his big boots. Oh well. He’d have to come up with another trick—although Harmony had made this one a thousand times better than he had imagined.

  Harmony dropped the sign and framed his face in her gloves. “Will you come home with me for Christmas?”

  He laughed. “Yes!” Setting her down, he fanned his face and turned towards the crowd. “I thought she’d never ask,” he said playfully. They laughed. Ladies put their hands over their hearts and oohed and aahed. Men nodded their approval—looking at him like he had game. He wouldn’t correct them, but his secret was caring about Harmony more than he could tell.

  Harmony leaned into his side. “And we can talk about after Christmas over eggnog.”

  “It sounds like heaven.”

  The crowd began to disperse. “I’ll help you clean up,” Harmony offered.

  Breck gave her another kiss on the cheek—just to make sure she was real and not some figment of Christmas magic that would melt with the snow. “I’ll go get the cameras.”

  He reached for the one on the store lamp and cut the zip tie. As he turned around, he saw Harmony talking to a man in black winter boots and a tan coat. A sense of familiarity washed over him as the man lifted his hat in goodbye and white hair appeared.

  “Who was that?” he asked as she came over, her arms full of fabric.

  “It was the same guy who was at your first show. He was standing in front of me, and when you called me up, he pushed me forward.” She looked over her shoulder. “He’s gone …”

  Breck put his arm around her and hugged her close. “He looked like my grandpa—same coat, same boots, same hair.”

  Her mouth fell open. “He had gray eyes—just like you.” They both turned and stared down the street in the direction they thought he’d walked. “He’s gone.”

  Breck shook his head. “I don’t think he’s too far away.” He ran his thumb along her jaw and then bent to kiss her. Thanks, Grandpa, he thought. Spending Christmas with Harmony was the best gift he’d ever been given.

  Chapter 16

  Christmas Eve

  Harmony

  A yule log cracked in the fireplace while Harmony and Breck drank Grandma’s eggnog. Bing Crosby sang softly in the background. The stockings were hung by the mantel with care and presents bulged under the tree.

  “I think my parents like you.” Harmony angled herself toward him.

  Breck’s arm rested on the back of the couch, and he began to play with her loose curls. “I hope so. They’re wonderful people. I can see so much of them in you.”

  She leaned into his hand, and he cupped her cheek. “All I ever wanted was to be like them.”

  He smiled softly, his eyes dipping to her lips. She leaned in, inviting a Christmas Eve kiss.

  Breck took his time, leaving her breathless and giddy all at once. He hugged her close and she melted into him, not at all surprised that she fit just right.

  “I love you, Harmony,” he whispered into her hair. She sighed into him, his strong body accepting and supporting her. “I know it’s crazy, and I’m not trying to scare you off. I feel it so strongly. I’m sorry if it’s too soon.”

  She lifted up so she could look him in the eye. “It’s not crazy, because I feel it too.”

  His eyes softened and he ran his hand through her hair.

  “I love you, Breck. I’ve been hoping for you all my life.”

  He kissed her in response. And it was perfect: the warmth from the fire, the lights on the tree, and the sweet eggnog dancing on their lips. Harmony’s heart lifted and healed and grew all at the same time. Breck was a future she wanted to embrace. His kiss said that he wanted to love and be loved. That was all. There were no strings, no games, no agendas. Just love.

  Pure and simple love between them.

  That was a Christmas gift she would cherish forever.

  Epiloguer />
  One Year Later

  Breck

  “No messing with the act this time,” Breck said out of the corner of his mouth before he rushed onstage.

  Harmony’s laugh did little to assuage his worry. Ever since her Christmas surprise with the melting snowman, she’d looked for ways to astonish him—throwing in twists to his illusions. His followers—well, their followers—on MyHeartChannel loved it when she got him.

  But tonight they were performing for a private group. It was his highest-paid live gig to date, and he was nervous. Harmony would waddle onstage in the melting snowman costume after he’d warmed up the crowd with a few simple tricks and some dad jokes.

  The last year had brought a lot of changes into his life, all of them magnificent.

  First, his channel had gone viral. The melting snowman with a side of romance was a hit. He and Harmony made enough money that he didn’t have to find a videographer job and she was able to work part time. They put together several more acts for each holiday but decided to keep the channel name Christmas Magic because it had brought them together.

  Second, he’d started a second business performing live. Of course, his lovely assistant was on hand to make sure things went smoothly—or didn’t; if she felt like throwing a kink in things, she did that too. He loved that she was deeply invested and having a lot of fun.

  Third—and this probably should have been first—they’d gotten married last Easter. The wedding was beautiful but simple. She didn’t want a big affair, and he only wanted her. They tied the knot on a boat in the harbor, the ship’s captain performing the marriage ceremony and the crew serving dinner to their 20 guests.

  Focusing on the crowd, which he could hardly see because of the spotlights, he fell into performance mode. He did a card trick with the president of the company who’d hired them to perform at the Christmas party. The guy loved it. He’d recommend them to his golf buddies for sure. Then Breck gave the introduction for the melting snowman trick. They’d managed to work it out so only a puddle was left onstage and he’d jump into it. The crowds loved it.