Page 129 of The Holiday Gift

She leaned down to Sadie and began to hum one of her favorite Christmas songs, “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.” After a few bars, the words seemed to crowd through her heart, bursting to break free.

And for the first time in eleven years, she began to sing.

* * *

With the IV bag in his hand, Ben stood outside the room, afraid to move, to breathe, as he listened to the soft strains filling the air. He needed to help her dog quickly but surely he could wait a few more seconds.

Caidy was singing to her dog and her voice was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard, clear and pure and sweet.

“The world in solemn stillness lay, to hear the angels sings.”

As she finished the song, he forced himself to move into the room and knelt beside her and the dog. She glanced over, color soaking her cheeks.

“You don’t have to stop,” he said as he pulled on surgical gloves and went to work finding a spot for the IV. “In fact, I hope you don’t. It appeared to comfort her.”

She was silent for a moment and then she began to sing “Away in a Manger” in her sweet, lovely soprano. The song seemed to shimmer through the air.

“Your brother is right,” he said when she sang the last note of the third verse. “You do have a beautiful voice. I feel blessed I had the chance to hear it.”

She smiled a little tremulously. “I can’t tell you how strange it feels to sing. Strange and wonderful. All this time, the music has been there, just waiting for me to let it out.”

“I didn’t know them but I can only imagine your parents would be happy you found your voice again.” He knew he was taking a chance reminding her of the sadness that had become so much a part of her holidays.

To his relief, she nodded. “You’re right. I know you’re right.”

Moving forward took tremendous courage. He was consumed with love for her and wanted to tell her so but the moment didn’t seem right, when her beloved dog was struggling for life.

“Is there anything I can do right now for Sadie?”

He turned his full attention back to her dog. “I’m giving her a bolus now—a great deal of fluid in a short amount of time—and then we’ll slowly drip the other bag over the next hour or so. I’ve also given her some medication in the IV that will help perk her up. We should see results fairly quickly. I’m afraid I’ll have to keep her here for the night. Do you mind?”

“Mind?” She gave a rough laugh. “I don’t know what I would have done without you, Ben.”

“I guess it was my turn to ease your burden a little for a change.”

Though she smiled, the Christmas lights from the tree she had given them reflected in green eyes that swam with tears. One dripped free and slid down her cheek and Ben reached his thumb out and brushed it away from her warm, silky skin. “Please don’t cry.”

“They’re happy tears,” she promised him. “Well, maybe a little bittersweet. I know she won’t be here forever. But she’s here now because of you. That’s what matters—she’s here. I don’t think I could be strong enough to endure losing her on Christmas Eve.”

“It’s not Christmas Eve anymore. It’s past midnight. Merry Christmas.”

Her smile took his breath away and she leaned slightly into his hand. “Merry Christmas, Ben.”

He caressed her cheek with his thumb, tenderness and love pulsing through him. Unable to resist, he framed her face with his hands and kissed her gently. She sighed softly and her arms slid around him.

The moment was so perfect there in his borrowed living room with the Christmas tree as a backdrop and he didn’t want to do anything to break the spell, but he knew she couldn’t be comfortable for long on her knees like that. He eased them both back against the armchair and sat there on the floor, pulling her almost onto his lap.

They kissed for a long moment with aching softness and it was more magical than any Christmas morning he had dreamed about when he was a lonely boy. Love poured through him as sweetly as the notes of her song.

He loved this strong, courageous woman and needed her in his life. Jack and Ava did too. All his carefully constructed reasons for taking his time, moving slowly, seemed to fade into insignificance.

Yes, this might present another huge change for all of them, but he knew his children were resilient. They both liked Caidy already. Even Ava had said as much after the pizza night. It wouldn’t take long for them to love her.

Finally she slid away, her eyes glimmering. She opened her mouth to speak and then must have decided she didn’t want to disturb the peace of the moment. She turned slightly in his arms to check on Sadie. He held her as they both listened to the steady pump of the IV and watched the colored lights of the tree reflected in the window and plump snowflakes begin to fall.

After a few moments, Tri hopped in, probably emerging from his favorite sleeping spot at the foot of Ben’s bed to wonder where he was. The little dog wandered over to Sadie, who was lying in front of the fire. Ben was about to call him off but Sadie’s tail began to wag and she stirred herself to sniff at the other dog. Tri licked at her muzzle and then settled in next to her.

“Look at her.” Caidy’s laugh was filled with wonder.

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