by Alexis Lynne
He would chastise himself for his impatience, but in the short time he had lived in Sylvan Hills, Tara had become an important part of his life. He was thunderstruck the first time he saw her, and it had only grown from there. Coming home to an empty house the night before, he realized that no matter what renovations he made, it would never be complete without her there with them.
Another knock sounded, finally breaking the fog. Thinking Marley must have come home early from her sleepover, he quickly rose, pulled on a shirt, and padded barefoot to the front of the house, opening the door without preamble. It wasn’t Marley, but Tara, standing there fresh faced and smiling shyly. For a moment, right before the winter wind blew through his thin pajama pants, he thought he must be dreaming.
“Hi.”
“Hi. I woke you. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. Come in.”
He stepped back to allow her through, but she didn’t accept the invitation. Instead, she looked at him hesitantly.
“Here.” She handed a covered plate over. “Shelby made muffins.”
The bottom of the plate was warm. “She was up so early making muffins? Does she bake to ease a hangover?”
Tara smiled. “No. We didn’t sleep last night.”
“Watching more movies?”
“Talking, mostly.” She still didn’t come in, but she did place her bag inside the door. “Would you mind if I walked around for a little while?”
“Of course not. Do you want me to come with you?”
She smiled. “Next time.”
He cupped her cheek, leaned down, and kissed her. “I’ll get coffee going. Be careful. It’s slippery in some places.”
Justin watched her walk away and reluctantly closed the door. She had finally come, to the door, anyway. Hopefully she would come inside, but even if this was just the first step, that was okay. He busied himself with coffee and then building the fire in the living room. He did everything he could think of to make her comfortable, bringing in blankets and turning on the Christmas tree lights, but eventually he succumbed to his worry and began following her path as best he could through the windows. He lost sight of her and hurried up to Marley’s room to try to find her through the view up there.
Tara’s red coat was easily spotted among the graying trees of the mountain in the distance. She stood still, and he fought the urge to throw on his own coat and follow her. Space. He was slowly learning when it was needed to be given. He forced himself to go to his own room for a quick shower, hoping it would quell the simultaneous feelings of excitement about her being there and worry about her being out in the cold and the idea that she might be upset now that she was there after so long.
It didn’t work, and by the time she quietly knocked on the door again, he was pacing the length of the living room.
“Hey.” He pulled her in and helped her with her coat. Thankfully, it didn’t look like she wanted to flee. He grabbed her cold, gloveless hands and rubbed them in his own. “Let’s get you warmed up.”
“Thanks. I stayed out there longer than I thought I would.”
Justin led her into the living room and gestured for her to sit in front of the fire where he had arranged pillows and blankets on the thick rug. He went into the kitchen for coffee and Shelby’s muffins, arranging everything on the ottoman in front of Tara before sitting behind her. Leaning against the couch, he pulled her close and rubbed her shoulders while she warmed her hands on the coffee mug.
“What were you doing out there?”
She sipped her coffee and then leaned back into him. “Letting go. It’s something I should have done a long time ago. I didn’t realize how much hanging on to this place, to the dream of it, was holding me back. My art came from here, but it’s time for me to create something different, something even more meaningful.” She set her coffee on the ottoman and turned around, looking up at him with those big, warm eyes. What he saw there made his chest swell. “Justin, I am so out of my element here. I’m twenty-nine, and I’ve had two serious boyfriends in my entire life, and when it ended, I was more relieved than hurt. I know what I feel, but I’m not really sure what to do about it.”
He leaned in and kissed her gently while stroking the strands of her soft, dark hair. “Tara, the way you helped Marley make a home here even though it had to hurt you to see her taking over a place you loved, the way you were quick to put yourself between us and Fran, and the way you comforted me when I told you about my mother and supported me with Marley. Sweetheart, you’re a natural at this. I just wish you didn’t think you had to let go of something important to you in order to have it.”
Tara shook her head. “My grandmother would be happy that Marley is healing here the way that Shelby and I did. It makes me happy, too. It might not be in my family, but it still belongs to people I love. I’m immensely grateful for that.”
Justin exhaled, and with that long breath, pieces that had splintered and separated were back in place. He’d had his own wounds, old guilt that threatened to destroy everything he was trying to build, but now she was here—with him—and nothing in the past was more important than that.
“Tara,” he whispered as he gently turned her until they were face to face. He kissed her forehead, her jaw, and then trailed down her neck and back up again. Justin felt her breath hitch, and the sigh she released as he touched her sent a pulsing heat to all the right places. His hands began to roam and she did not stop him as he explored the soft curves of her body.
“I promise, sweetheart, never to give you a reason to doubt that you are cherished.” The hands that had been stroking her thighs now moved to the buttons of her frilly blouse, undoing one with each word.
“Protected.”
His flattened palms caressed the soft skin of her shoulders, now glowing in the lights of the tree. Justin cupped her face and waited until her dazed gaze met his. “And loved.”
His mouth found hers, moving relentlessly until they were both breathless. Justin drew back slightly and stroked her neck, giving her time to pull away if she chose to. She didn’t. Tara leaned closer and whispered his name on his lips. Justin felt her small hands running through his hair as she pressed against him, matching his movements as they became deeper and more frantic. Clothing was slowly discarded and they were soon lying skin to skin, reveling in the feel of their bodies moving in time to the rapid beats of their hearts.
Justin was nearly overwhelmed, amazed at the feel of the soft body beneath him. She was his very own dark-haired Venus, full of love and now expressing all that deep passion inside her for him. This was his Tara, unlocked and open to him, and Justin wanted her to feel forever with every stroke of his body against hers. She had finally come to him and he worked her body for long minutes, giving her every pleasurable reason to stay.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“So, um, Tara is at the house. She’s making dinner so we might actually eat well tonight.”
Justin had picked up Marley from her friend’s house, and they made a quick grocery run before beginning the drive to the farm. After much satisfying convincing, Tara agreed to stay, even though she was apprehensive about his sister’s reaction to her being there.
Marley looked at him and raised her eyebrows. “Did she spend the night last night?”
“No, she didn’t. But, um, it is likely she will. Sometime.” He could feel himself blushing in front of a twelve-year-old girl, who looked thoroughly amused at his discomfort. He returned his eyes to the road and attempted to hide a smile. “You see, when a man and a woman care about—”
“No! God no. Just stop, okay.”
Justin laughed loudly as she shuddered.
Marley looked down and toyed with the zipper of her hoodie. “My mom had boyfriends. A lot of them. I used to wonder sometimes if any of them were my father.”
“Did you question that, Marley? I assure you there is no doubt that William was your father.”
Justin had seen the paternity tests himself.
“
I know, but those other guys were there, and he wasn’t.”
“You lucked out, kiddo. He was not a good man.”
She was quiet for a long while before she spoke again. “Then how did you learn how to be one?”
Justin had to take a moment to bite down the emotion in his throat. “I guess it helped that I hated the guy. I could see how his actions hurt people, so I would try to do the opposite of whatever he did. My mom was an incredibly compassionate woman. She always seemed to know what people were feeling, probably because she felt things so deeply herself. She hated to see anybody hurting. Ultimately, I think we all have a sense of right and wrong. Our conscience speaks loudly enough, if we just listen.”
She had turned to look out the window, but Justin could tell she was listening.
“I like Tara. You unclench some when she’s around.”
Justin laughed again, enjoying this more relaxed version of his sister. Unclenching had its benefits. “She’s nervous about how you’ll react to her being there.”
Marley looked surprised, which relieved Justin. He had not thought there was any need for concern, but Tara had been so nervous that he began to wonder if he’d missed something.
“So I shouldn’t tease her?”
“No, go ahead. She should know what she’s getting into right away. Besides, she’s used to a couple of hard-assed sisters. What’s one more?”
“I’ll be extra nice, anyway. Just in case.”
Justin realized that Marley wanted this as badly as he did. She’d lost so much. Of course she was worried she would lose this, too. They were so much alike, his two girls. Tara was probably feeling the same thing.
“I will be, too. Just in case.”
* * *
“What are you so nervous about? You’ve had dinner with them before.”
Tara held the phone to her ear as she stirred the sauce she had thickening on the stove. Justin didn’t have much in his fridge that could be thrown together for a meal, but Shelby had been pleased to hear they were getting real macaroni and cheese that night.
“Yes, but it’s different now. They are finally learning to be comfortable with each other. She might resent me coming in and taking his attention.”
“That’s a possibility. But this thing with you and Justin has been brewing for a while now. She’s probably expecting it. If there are any problems, you’ll work through them, unlike our sister, who is currently making a lot of noise pacing in her room.”
“What’s going on?”
“I don’t know, but I caught Brandon trying to sneak out of here this morning.”
“What? His truck wasn’t there when I left.”
“He parked down the hill last night to give Justin room in the driveway, remember?”
“Right. They couldn’t have done anything. We would have heard them. What did Brandon say when you saw him?”
“Nothing. He just grabbed a muffin and left.”
“That sounds about right. Has Charlotte been out of her room?”
“No, but I can hear her in there.”
“Ugh. Can we just stay out of this?”
“I don’t plan on mentioning it unless they do.”
“Good plan. I can hear them pulling up. Wish me luck.”
“All right. Talk to you later.”
She put her phone on the counter and drew a deep breath as she heard Justin and Marley come through the back door. A second later, he saw her. Shifting grocery bags out of one hand, he pulled her close with the other, giving her a sound kiss just as Marley came into the room. Tara quickly pushed him away and then shot him an annoyed look as he laughed softly.
“Hi, Tara.” Marley’s chipper voice was surprising as was the quick hug she gave Tara before she set her bag on the table. “Molly’s mom had a bunch of craft stuff, and we watched movies while we made ornaments. Wanna see?”
“Um, yeah.” She cast a quizzical look to Justin, who just shrugged his shoulders as he put away the groceries. She looked back to the table as Marley unloaded her creations. She had mostly done sequined balls and stars, which would pick up the lights when hung in the tree. “These are nice, Marley. They are really going to sparkle in the tree.”
The girl’s smile seemed a little more genuine as she picked up the ornaments. “I’m going to find places to hang them.”
Justin came up behind her as they watched Marley disappear into the living room. “She’s nervous, too. I find it funny that I’m the only one relaxed in this situation.”
She turned around to look at him. “Why is she nervous?”
“Because she wants you to stick around. Unclench already. You’re making the kid crazy.”
She slapped him on the arm. He picked her up by the waist and kissed her in a way that would ensure she was not only relaxed, but completely melted.
“Right. Okay, I’ll stop. I should be making sure Marley is comfortable, not crazy.”
“God, you’re brilliant. It took the better part of a year for me to figure that out.”
“Justin! When are you going to move these boxes? They are ruining the effect of the decorations.” Marley’s annoyed voice sounded from the living room.
“You’d think the exposed studs and patched-up drywall would be what she complains about, but no, it’s two old boxes tucked away in a corner that’s killing Christmas.”
Tara laughed and gave him a quick hug before returning her attention to the stove. She made fast work of assembling the mac and cheese and put it in the oven before returning to his arms. He leaned against the table and held her close.
“You’re so warm. I don’t remember the house being this drafty when I was a kid.”
“I’ve got to replace the windows. I’m worried what we’ll find when we take out the old ones, so it will have to wait until spring. You’ll have to stay with me every night, just to be sure I don’t freeze to death.”
Tara certainly wasn’t cold after that thought. “I suppose I could make the sacrifice. I wouldn’t want your frozen corpse on my conscience. We’d better get out there. I have a little experience with a sister who wants everything to be perfect at Christmas. I’ll help you move the boxes and save the holiday.”
Keeping one arm around her waist, he led her out of the kitchen. “I knew you’d come in handy.”
When they entered the living room, they found Marley peeking into one of the boxes. She looked up guiltily.
“What? The previous owners obviously don’t want this stuff. We can at least see what we’re throwing out.”
Justin tisked. “Bossy and nosey.”
Marley stuck out her tongue at her brother before pulling things from the deteriorating cardboard box.
“Looks like old Christmas decorations. Cool! I think this is part of a nativity.”
Marley turned to show them a worn, nicked-up, brown stable with dried moss glued to the roof. Tara gasped and walked to Marley, gently taking the piece from her hands. She looked at it a moment and then peered into the open box.
“Where did you find this?”
Justin came to her side and put his hand on her back. “The boxes were in the attic when we moved in along with an old easel that pretty much fell apart when I picked it up.”
Tara’s voice cracked. “These are my grandmother’s.”
Sitting on her knees, she emptied both boxes, and soon, she was surrounded by memories. Justin and Marley joined her on the floor as she reverently touched each item. Some were beautiful glass pieces that had miraculously survived being stored all those years, and some were simple crafts that had been made in school. In Tara’s eyes, every single one of them was priceless.
“So they weren’t thrown out with everything else.” Marley seemed fascinated by some of the pieces, especially the yellowed crocheted hearts and bells. Perhaps they could wash and re-starch them.
Tara shook her head. “Fran must have forgotten about them.”
A few weeks ago, those words would have been spoken with enough bitterness to scor
ch the Christmas tree, but now it was just a matter of fact. Tara was too happy in the moment to think about the resentments of the past. She smiled as tears gathered in her eyes.
“Look.” She showed a wiseman to Marley before assembling the nativity in front of them. “My gram’s father carved these for her when she was a little girl. They were originally bare, but I painted them for her one year.”
Justin kissed her temple. “It’s lovely. You weren’t the only artist in the family.”
“We should put this on the mantle.” Marley jumped up and grabbed a few of the pieces but then stopped abruptly. “Oh, if you want to. You probably want to take all this home, though.”
Tara smiled, appreciating the girl’s enthusiasm and thoughtfulness. “I’ll take some home for Shelby. There are a lot of ornaments here that she made. But I’ll put mine up here if that’s okay.”
Justin rose from the floor and pulled Tara up with him. He cupped her face in his hands, his eyes showing all the love he had expressed earlier. “It’s more than okay, sweetheart. Now the tree will be perfect.”
His thumbs trailed over her cheeks, wiping her tears. Tara suddenly heard music and turned to see that Marley had plugged her phone into a speaker and was playing Christmas carols.
“There. Now we’re ready to decorate.”
Tara could not have envisioned anything more perfect than this, not even in all her previous plans. The three of them worked together to intertwine Tara’s ornaments with the ones Marley had made. The last one Tara picked up, her own clay rendering of the farmhouse, was placed on a branch next to Marley’s.
Justin wrapped his arms around her waist. “I told you it would be perfect.”
Marley agreed. “My mother was very particular about how the apartment was decorated for Christmas. Everything was color coordinated and perfectly placed. It was really pretty, but I like this better.”
“Me too, kiddo. Feels like home.”
They stood there for a long while before the smells coming from the kitchen reminded them it was time to eat. Justin asked Marley to set the table as he poured drinks and Tara pulled the dish out of the oven.