by Janice Lynn
“Thank you so much, Cole.”
He was so stiff in her embrace that Sophie thought he might freeze into place.
When he didn’t respond in any other way, she inwardly sighed, ignored the giant crack forming in her heart at his continued rejection, then stepped over to hug Andrew and thank him. He was almost as uncomfortably stiff as Cole. Ben hugged her right back, though.
“No problem, Sophie,” Ben said, his expression proud. “We were glad to help.” Sophie smiled back, thankful for the friendly face. “But for the record, next year, Andrew and I will win our competition.”
Sophie’s gaze cut to Cole, but he was studying something across the room and didn’t say anything. She’d assumed Ben and Andrew had collected most of the remaining donations. Apparently not.
“Where did all this come from?”
“Cole got a big donation.”
“Can’t Cole talk for himself?” she asked, then wanted to slap her hand over her mouth.
“Children,” Maybelle scolded, clearing her throat to get everyone’s attention. “Snap to it. We’ve more toys to wrap. Lots more toys, thanks to the fire department.”
As they usually did when Maybelle spoke, everyone got to work, including Sophie, although her gaze strayed over to the firemen who’d help carry the items in. One in particular.
Whereas the others were talking to various people, and several had jumped in to help wrap gifts, Cole quietly helped carry toys over to the table to be sorted and wrapped.
Cole kept his eyes and his hands on the toy he wrapped, taking care to make each fold precise and each piece of tape perfectly sealed.
“For the record, we’re already plotting our new strategy,” Andrew told Sophie from where he wrapped presents next to Cole. “We won’t be outdone again by you and this holdout who came through at the last minute.”
“Who was the donation from?” Sophie asked.
“Nobody knows,” Ben supplied. “An anonymous cashier’s check came made out to Cole with a note to buy things for the toy drive on behalf of the fire department.”
“Wow. That’s awesome.”
Sophie’s gaze cut to Rosie. Did she think Rosie had donated the check?
“Good of them,” Maybelle said, then gave Cole a nod of approval. “And of you for doing the right thing, since the check was made out to you.”
Cole felt a little embarrassed under her eagle-sharp gaze. Something in her stare clicked, and although she didn’t say another word, just turned from him and started talking to one of the other Butterflies, Cole knew.
Maybelle had sent the check. It made no sense, but he was sure she had.
Which meant the woman had wanted Cole to come to the rescue. Which only made sense if…
Blasted matchmaking Butterflies.
But in this case, he’d take it without arguing since it had meant more than enough toys for the kids.
The firemen volunteered to help deliver the presents, so they stuck around until every gift was wrapped, labeled, and tucked in a bag tagged with where it would go.
“Cole?”
He’d used every ounce of strength in him not to respond to her sweet hug. Had dug deep for even more strength to keep from looking at her, especially when he’d sensed her gaze on him.
He reached inside and hoped he had enough strength for whatever it was she wanted as he turned to face her.
Her bright eyes searched his. “Thank you.”
“I didn’t do anything. Had I not been here, the check would have been sent to someone else.” Or deposited directly, if he was right about his Maybelle suspicion.
“Maybe, but you were here, it came to you, and you saved the day yet again.”
“Don’t make me out to be a hero, Sophie. I’m not.”
She gave him a small smile, but for the first time since he’d known her, that smile held a sadness to it. The realization that he’d done that gutted him.
“Real heroes never think they are.” She reached up, touched his cheek, then seemed to realize what she was doing and let her hand fall away. “I hope you have a merry Christmas, Cole. For whatever it’s worth, through my eyes, you’ve always been my hero.”
Chapter Seventeen
“Quit that,” Isabelle ordered from beside Sophie as they finished cleaning the shop before closing it for the holidays.
“What?” Sophie asked, wiping down a countertop and tossing some stray threads into the trash bin.
“Thinking about him.”
If only it was that easy.
“I miss him,” she admitted, not bothering to deny her sister’s claim. Isabelle knew her too well not to suspect the truth.
Isabelle sighed. “I know. You’re almost as sad a sight as that cat hanging around the house.”
Sophie’s mouth dropped open. “You know about Stitches?”
Isabelle rolled her eyes. “Did you seriously think I wouldn’t notice? He’s on our front porch every night, along with a box, blanket, water, and food bowl. What was I supposed to do? Just ignore him?”
Sophie’s eyes widened. “You’ve been feeding him, too?”
“No,” Isabelle quickly denied. “I’ve told him over and over I’m not going to feed him because he doesn’t live at our house, and to not give me those pitiful meows. But somehow, I still end up petting him—”
Giving up all pretense of cleaning, Sophie’s mouth fell open. “Stitches lets you pet him?”
Isabelle gave her a duh look.
“I can’t sit on the porch without the thing rubbing all up against my legs until I let him in my lap.” Her gaze narrowed. “Why? Am I not supposed to pet him? Please don’t tell me something is wrong with him. I don’t like him, but I…well, I don’t want anything to happen to him, either.”
“Nothing is wrong with him, as far as I know,” Sophie hastened to say, still staring at her sister. “I’m just surprised Stitches lets you pet him, that’s all.”
“What’s that mean? You think he only likes you?”
Sophie watched the play of emotions passing over her sister’s face as she went back to cleaning with a suspicious vengeance, and realization dawned.
“Oh my goodness, you say you don’t like Stitches, but you do!”
“I didn’t say that,” Isabelle defended, her cheeks going pink as she averted her gaze from Sophie and focused on straightening a bin of discounted thread spools.
“You didn’t have to. Stitches has you wrapped around his furry paw.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. The fact that I’ve been petting that pesky cat for the past couple of weeks doesn’t mean anything.”
“The past couple of weeks?”
Leaning against the countertop, Isabelle shrugged. “Quit making a big deal of it. I am not wrapped around that cat’s paw.”
“Yeah, well, for the record, Stitches has yet to let me pet him and I’m the one feeding him.”
Straightening, Isabelle’s eyes widened, then a grin spread across her face. “Seriously?”
Sophie nodded.
“Then why would he let me pet him?”
Okay, so she was a little peeved that Stitches had been holding out on her while loving on Isabelle, but the pleasure on her sister’s face was enough to have Sophie smiling.
“Maybe it’s all that catnip-scented lotion you’ve been wearing.”
“I have not—” Isabelle countered before realizing Sophie had only been teasing her. “You’re just jealous because he likes me better than he does you.”
“That’s true,” Sophie admitted. “So much for loyalty. I mean, I’m the one feeding him, not to mention the one who got stuck in a tree trying to save him, and he chooses you to love on. Great.”
“At least we know he has good taste,” her sister teased.
Sophie snorted. “Yeah, right.”
“Unlike you.”
“Let up on Cole.”
“Because he’s the man of your dreams?”
He was the man of her dreams. Or at least, the man she dreamed of.
Because he might be done with her, but her dreams weren’t registering that, and he continued to star in all of them. Dreams where they laughed together, played together. Dreams where Cole looked in the mirror and saw the man Sophie saw.
A good man. A hero. Her hero.
Dreams where he looked at her and didn’t fight what was between them.
Because she wasn’t crazy. She’d seen how he looked at her, how he’d stepped outside his comfort zone—going sledding, going to church—for her. He hadn’t done that because he hadn’t cared. He did care, whether he’d admit it or not.
“My relationship with Cole is complicated,” she admitted. She and Isabelle had always talked about everything, but regarding Cole, Sophie had bit her tongue, knowing her sister’s bias.
“Because he’s former military?”
Sophie shook her head. “Cole being former military isn’t a problem for me.”
“I know that,” Isabelle assured. “I’m saying it’s a problem for him, which in turn makes it a problem for you.”
Not really surprised at her sister’s insight, Sophie glanced at her and nodded.
“I know he cares about you,” Isabelle continued, “but—”
“What?” Sophie asked, having been caught off guard by her sister’s comment. “How do you know he cares for me?”
Isabelle rolled her eyes. “Anyone can see that he’s crazy about you, but that’s—”
“You think he’s crazy about me?”
“Sophie,” Isabelle said in a completely exasperated tone. “You’re missing the point.”
“Which is?”
“That you shouldn’t be crazy about him.”
Sophie bit into her lower lip. “But what if I am anyway?”
Isabelle was silent for long moments, then said, “Then I pray God guides you in whatever decisions you make, and that you find true happiness in life. It’s all I’ve ever wanted for you.”
Cole made her happy.
“Thank you, Isabelle. For loving me, and loving on my cat, too.”
Her sister gave her a pointed look. “I’m pretty sure Bobbin is actually my cat and not yours.”
Christmas morning arrived bright and early. Although Sophie and Isabelle didn’t rush from their rooms to wake their mother as they’d done as children, they both still made their way to the living room when the smell of Christmas breakfast began drifting through the house.
Since they’d gotten big enough to contain their exuberance, Darlene had started the tradition of cooking a mini feast for the three of them. They ate first, then opened presents while sipping on Christmas coffee.
“Mmmm, that smells wonderful,” Sophie praised as she walked into the kitchen. “What can I do to help?”
“Grab plates and set the table. Isabelle is making coffee.”
Breakfast was a hit, and soon they were in the living room, sitting around their tree.
Their mother got them items from her salon, a new sweater apiece, and some books they’d mentioned wanting to read. Isabelle went next and handed out her gifts—beautiful crafting aprons she’d made for them.
“Oh, wow, Isabelle, this is amazing.”
“Yes, I love it,” their mother agreed. Both Sophie and her mother put theirs on and posed for photos.
“I’m next,” Sophie squealed, excited to give them their gifts.
She’d made her mother a heating pad filled with rice that she could wrap around her neck to ease her often-achy muscles after being at the salon for long hours. She had also bought her a new set of scissors and had topped her present with a Butterfly-made snowflake.
Fighting her smile, she handed Isabelle a box.
“Quit smiling so big. You’re scaring me.”
Sophie laughed. Her sister would laugh, too, when she saw what Sophie had chosen for her.
Gently removing her own Butterfly-made snowflake, Isabelle just as carefully removed the wrapping paper from her present, folding the paper once it was off the gift.
“Just rip into it,” Sophie encouraged. “You’re taking too long. We’ll miss Sarah’s wedding if you don’t hurry.”
“Only if you take as long getting ready for it as you did for church the Sunday morning Cole came to visit.”
Ouch.
“For that, I should take your gift back and give you coals.”
Isabelle lifted the box’s lid, looked at the contents, then shook her head, laughing. “You shouldn’t have.”
“I thought you might say that.”
Isabelle pulled out a “To-Do List” scratch pad with a dragonfly emblem in each of the corners, along with a dragonfly pen and several other stationary items, all emblazed with dragonflies. At the very bottom of the box was a cat bandana with a tiny dragonfly embroidered on it and a cat collar Carrie had helped Sophie find last minute.
“Those are lovely,” Darlene said, leaning over for a closer look. “Cute collar. About time y’all got one for Bobbin.”
Bobbin? Which meant their mom knew all about Stitches...a.k.a. Bobbin, apparently. Sophie shouldn’t be surprised. Moms usually knew everything.
Laughing, Isabelle cut her gaze toward Sophie, then hugged her. “Thank you, I think.”
Sophie, Isabelle, and their mother were early to Sarah and Bodie’s wedding, but the church was already packed. Not that Sophie had expected anything less. It might be Christmas Day, but sharing this special moment with the couple was a gift all their friends and family would cherish.
After just a few minutes, Bodie, his best man, and Bodie’s dog Harry appeared at the front of the church. Harry wore a bowtie and stood beside the men as if he knew exactly why they were there and what he was supposed to be doing. Both men were dressed in military blues, their chests decorated with various pins and medals in acknowledgement of their service to their country. The trio looked sharp, like they could take care of anything that came their way. Today, their mission was to have a good time, and based on the smile on Bodie’s face, they were succeeding. Even Harry seemed to sense the excitement in the air and be anxiously awaiting Sarah’s appearance as he eyed the back of the church.
Sophie closed her eyes and imagined Cole in full formal military uniform. She’d never seen in him his uniform and imagined it might never happen now that he was no longer in the service. Too bad, because he’d look handsome, like he could take care of business, too. Then again, he looked that way in everything she’d seen him wear—even when she’d gone to the firehouse to return the journal and had seen him in a Santa suit that hadn’t fit him at all.
She liked that about him, that he made her feel safe, as if he could take care of her no matter what.
She glanced around the church, wondering if he was there, then berated herself. She knew where he was—he’d told her. Cole was at the fire department, filling in so someone else could be home with their family. A hero to yet another family, although he wouldn’t see it that way.
But even though she knew where he was, she wished he was beside her, just as she’d wished the same thing every time she’d entered the church’s sanctuary since Cole’s visit.
She wished he was there, holding her hand and sharing her day.
She sighed, garnering a questioning look from her sister. The look turned knowing as Isabelle reached over, took Sophie’s hand and gave it a squeeze.
Sophie smiled back. No matter what, she was going to be fine. She had such an amazing family and friends. Life was good.
Even if Cole chose not to be a part of that good life.
Within minutes, Butterflies began walking down the aisle, one at a time, dropping flower petals as they did. Aunt Claudia, Ruby, a
nd then Rosie—who made dropping her petals more into a dance as she sashayed and waved at wedding guests—and then Maybelle, looking beautifully elegant.
When all four Butterflies stood at the front of the church on the opposite side of Bodie, Harry, and his best man, the music changed. Everyone stood, turning to look at the bride, including the dog.
“Wow,” Sophie breathed when Sarah and her father appeared in the entranceway.
“She’s a beautiful bride,” Isabelle whispered.
Sophie nodded, her gaze going back and forth between a giddily smiling Sarah whose arms were linked with her father’s as they made their way down the aisle and her groom who looked completely besotted at the vision his bride made.
It was clear that Sarah wasn’t seeing any of her guests. She only had eyes for the man waiting on her.
As Bodie only had eyes for Sarah.
What must it feel like to be loved like that? To know that you’d found a person to love you through thick and thin? Through the good and the bad? That the one who you loved, loved you back with all their heart?
“We’re gathered here today for the blessed union of my daughter and this fine young man. Her mother isn’t here, but she’d be so proud of the woman Sarah has become, as would my sister, her Aunt Jean. It is with great joy as her father that I give her in marriage to Bodie to be his wife.”
Sarah’s father spoke to the crowd, then handed her over to Bodie and changed role from father of the bride to the preacher performing their ceremony.
Sophie sniffled more than once as Sarah and Bodie exchanged their vows, especially when they knelt and Harry placed his paw upon their entwined hands.
Truly, Harry was the smartest, most perceptive dog Sophie had ever encountered. Unlike Stitches, who apparently preferred Isabelle over the person feeding him.
“I now pronounce you man and wife,” Pastor Smith told the couple, then looked at Bodie, all smiles. “You may now kiss your bride.”
Bodie kissed Sarah and a collective sigh sounded around the church, to be followed by a round of laughter when he lifted his head for a moment only to be pulled back into the embrace by Sarah.