Page 62 of Grinchland
Emotions coated his voice, so he stopped to clear his throat. “Please come back. Isabelle and I need a little of your Christmas spirit in our lives. She—I need you.” He paused. “I want you.”
A tear slipped down my cheek as I stared at him. I let go of all of my fear, all of my pain, and I closed the gap between us. Just as I neared him, I grabbed ahold of his jacket and yanked him to me, crashing my lips into his.
He didn’t wait to respond, his hands finding my waist and pulling me to him until I wasn’t sure where my body ended and his began.
His lips moved over mine, confirming to me what I’d suspected all along—we were meant to be.
A loud cheer came from the living room. Silas and I pulled apart, glancing over to see Isabelle standing on my couch, pumping her arms in the air. My face flushed as I glanced down at the floor, grateful that this little girl was as excited as I was.
“Belly, get off the couch like that,” Silas scolded her but kept his arm wrapped tightly around my waist.
“Is Ms. Snow coming back with us?” Isabelle asked as she obediently climbed off the couch.
“It depends on if she wants to come back with us.” He glanced over at me.
“Do you want to come back to live with me?” Isabelle asked as she skipped over to where we stood.
I glanced at Isabelle and then over to Silas. His gaze was so open and unabashed that it took my breath away.
“I would like that,” I whispered, my emotions getting the best of me.
Silas leaned in and kissed me once more. “Merry Christmas, Clara,” he murmured as he broke the kiss but kept his forehead touching mine.
I smiled, knowing what those words really meant. I pulled back slightly so I could meet his gaze. I wanted him to feel the power behind my words.
“I love you, too.”
EPILOGUE
Silas
I might have made a mistake introducing Isabelle to Christmas. Once Clara told her about Santa, Isabelle was insistent that we bake cookies that night and put them out with a cold glass of milk.
Then, at five in the morning on the dot, Isabelle was in my bed, bouncing around to wake me up. It was time to see if Santa left her presents under the tree.
I had half a mind to declare that Christmas was re-banned just so I could get some more sleep, but I decided against it when I saw her wide eyes and flushed cheeks. Isabelle was meant for Christmas, and Christmas was meant for Isabelle.
Clara was sleeping on the couch when we walked into the living room. I grinned at her as she sat up and stretched. We figured that until we had things nailed down between us, it was best if we had boundaries when we were with Isabelle.
Luckily, Clara was Mrs. Claus and had been able to produce numerous presents for Isabelle at a moment’s notice. So while Isabelle was busy ripping into the gifts, I snuggled with Clara on the couch, watching with a huge smile at the joy my daughter was experiencing. I had my arm wrapped tightly around her shoulders as I held her close to me.
Every so often, I leaned over and pressed my lips to her temple and whispered, “Merry Christmas,” over and over again. She just smiled and tucked herself in closer.
We spent the afternoon ice skating and having a snowball fight. As seven o’clock neared, I ushered the two of them into the living room and told them to get ready.
Isabelle was bursting at the seams to tell Clara what we were doing, but I just pressed my forefinger to my lips and prayed that she could keep quiet. We had a surprise for Clara, and I wanted to see her reaction when we pulled into town square at seven-thirty on the dot.
I will never forget the gasp that came from Clara when I turned down Main Street. Her eyes were wide as she looked over at me. I couldn’t stop grinning. My chest felt like it was going to explode.
“You didn’t,” she whispered as I pulled into my parking spot and turned off the engine. “Is that?—”
“It’s our tree!” Isabelle cheered. She was already unbuckled and was climbing onto the center console between us.
Clara glanced over at Isabelle. “It is!”
“Come on, there’s more,” Isabelle said. The sound of her door opening had Clara and I reaching for our own door handles.
Clara’s eyes were wide as she took in the sight. Todd had really pulled off something amazing. As soon as I told him my plan and that I was repealing the ban, he told me he’d take care of everything. The sheer number of decorations that started popping up around town shocked me. I had no idea that the man working next to me for so many years was such a massive Christmas fan.
