Page 92 of The Wish List
It felt like a sign. What could be better than a white Christmas to renew her waning hope?
Even her thoughts about her mom and tonight’s argument lessened in severity as snow continued to fall like it was settling her difficult emotions into something gentler.
Declan parked his truck next to her car, and she waited under a nearby streetlight, then greeted him with a lingering kiss.
“It’s a white Christmas.” She tipped back her head and opened her mouth to catch the puffy flakes.
When she’d left her mother’s house, it had been in a state of emptiness and regret. Now she felt hope again—both for a new life and love to see her through whatever came her way. With Declan at her side, there was nothing she couldn’t overcome.
Once the stranglehold of the past had released its grip on her, she would reunite with her sisters and even her mother—this time on her terms. Declan would help her to define those terms. He would be her rock.
“This means your Christmas wishes will come true,” she told him. The tenderness in his eyes as he stared down at her was all the confirmation she needed that this was the right path. “But what are we doing here? The bar’s closed.”
He kissed her again and drew in a deep breath. “I want to show you something inside.” He inclined his head to study her. “Why aren’t you with your family?”
She shrugged. Leave it to Declan not to be fooled by her buoyant spirits. He could see to the heart of her.
“Things didn’t exactly go as planned tonight.”
“How far off the plan?”
She tried for a smile. “A twenty-car pileup on the highway during a blinding snowstorm with a tornado heading in that direction not as planned.”
He cringed. “Are you okay?”
“In some ways I am, and in some ways I’m not. Let’s not focus on the bad right now. I can get so busy focusing on other people that I forget to care for myself. You’ve helped me remember that my needs matter, too.”
He nodded solemnly. “You matter. You’re important to me, Beth. I—”
An SUV pulled around the corner carrying a load of teenagers who’d probably snuck out for a joy ride in the snow. Someone rolled down the window as they sped past, wolf-whistling and calling out Christmas greetings.
Declan blinked as he stared after them. “This is some town. In most places, gangs of teenagers would be stealing yard ornaments and generally wreaking havoc. Here they shout wishes for a Merry Christmas.”
He chuckled and took her hand. “Let’s go inside. The snow is great, but it’s cold.”
“Are you going soft on me?” She poked him in the ribs with her free hand. “What happened to your big talk about Chicago winters? I think you’ve spent too much time in town. It’s time for a change.”
His fingers squeezed hers. “It’s time for a change,” he agreed. There was something about the seriousness in his tone that gave her pause.
Maybe this was when he would end things because he was leaving. They’d tacitly agreed to that from the start. How would he react when she suggested he accompany her to Nashville?
Even if he wasn’t willing to admit he could settle down, they could still see each other. He traveled, and Nashville was an accessible airport for a connection. Her schedule would be fixed during the program, but they’d find a way to make it work.
Beth wanted so badly to make it work.
He flipped on the lights inside the bar. The place felt almost spookily silent. Even when she’d stopped by during off-hours, there’d been at least one or two customers plus a bartender and always music from the jukebox. Now it was quiet, and a tendril of doubt spiraled through her. She pushed it away.
“It feels strange, like we’re doing something illicit by being here when the bar is closed.” She flicked a glance at the door. “Can you imagine the trouble a car full of rowdy teenagers could get into if they were in our situation?”
“I can,” Declan said. His deep voice sounded different, almost hesitant. “But it’s just us.”
“Is everything okay?” He was always checking on her, but Beth could tell something was going on.
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “I hope so. Damn, I haven’t been nervous like this since I planted a kiss on Brandie Knolls under the slide on the playground in fourth grade.”
“You had your first kiss in fourth grade?” Beth grinned. “What an overachiever.”
As she’d wanted, the teasing seemed to help relax him a bit. “Hardly. We clinked teeth. It was bad.”
