Page 63 of The Bear's Christmas Wish
Instead, she pulled back, gathering her resolve. With a final smile, Sarah climbed out of the truck and began trudging through the snow toward the house.
At the porch steps, she turned and waved, watching as Michael lifted his hand in response before pulling away from the curb. She stood for a moment, watching until his truck disappeared around the corner, savoring the last moments of their magical night before she faced her mom.
With a deep breath, Sarah unlocked the front door and stepped inside, immediately enveloped by the familiar scent of her mother’s house—cinnamon and coffee and home. And something else. Something vaguely familiar.
“Hi there, honey.”
The voice froze Sarah in place. She turned slowly, her stomach dropping as she took in the sight of Liam standing in the hallway, leaning against the wall with that easy smile on his face. The same smile that had once made her heart race but now only made her teeth clench. He looked as if he belonged there, as if they were still married, as if he hadn’t completely let Emmy down just yesterday.
“Liam,” she managed, fighting to keep her tone civil even as anger bubbled up inside her. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to see my daughter, like I promised,” he said, pushing away from the wall and taking a step toward her. “And you, of course.”
“Like you promised yesterday. For the sleigh ride,” Sarah reminded him.
“Something came up,” Liam said. “But I’m here now.” As if that made everything all right.
Sarah’s jaw tightened as she hung up her coat, buying herself a moment to regain composure. “Well, Emmy’s not here. She’s at a friend’s house.”
“So Pat told me,” Liam replied, his gaze sliding over her rumpled clothes from yesterday, his eyebrows rising slightly. “Emmy’s not the only one who didn’t come home last night.”
Heat rushed to Sarah’s face. Not from embarrassment but from indignation. “That’s none of your business.”
“Isn’t it?” Liam moved closer, his cologne invading her space. “We’re still family, Sarah. Emmy’s our daughter.”
“Yes, Emmy is our daughter,” Sarah said, emphasizing the singular. “And you let her down. She even made you a cookie yesterday—decorated it specially—and saved it for you.”
He at least had the grace to look uncomfortable, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. “It couldn’t be helped. I had a business meeting the night before, and then one thing led to another… I lost track of time.”
“It never can be helped, can it?” Sarah interrupted, her patience wearing thin. “There’s always some excuse, some reason you can’t keep your promises.”
Liam’s expression hardened. “That’s not fair, Sarah. I’m here now, aren’t I? Better late than never.”
“Is it?” she challenged. “Do you have any idea what it does to Emmy every time you let her down? She puts on a brave face, but I’m the one who has to pick up the pieces after you leave.”
“Look, I said I was sorry,” Liam replied, his tone defensive. “What more do you want from me?”
“All I want from you, Liam, is a promise you won’t ever let her down again,” Sarah said. But she knew even if Liam did make that promise, he wouldn’t stick to it.
However, she also knew that for Emmy’s sake, she had to be civil. Had to keep their relationship on good terms.
As she headed for the kitchen to make coffee, she was more grateful than she could ever say that this man was her past and her bear shifter Christmas tree farmer was her future.
Chapter Twenty-Five – Michael
Michael whistled as he flipped the sign from “Closed” to “Open” at North Peak Pines. The morning sun glinted off the fresh snow, transforming the farm into a postcard-perfect winter wonderland that no amount of marketing could improve upon. Nature had done the work for him.
Although Sarah’s flyers were a close second.
They were a first,his bear reminded him,at giving us an excuse to see more of Sarah.
So true,Michael said.
And just look where that led,his bear added.
To them, revealing their true selves to their mate. And their mate accepting them for who and what they were.
Maybe we should frame those flyers for posterity,Michael said with a grin as he stretched his arms above his head, limbering up for a full day’s work.
