Page 95 of Fourth Heartwarmers Trilogy
Charlie held up his present. “That’s a great name. Look, Maisie. Look what Santa brought me. It’s an iPad for kids.” With the two heads together, they both checked out Charlie’s gift excitedly.
Colin brought the last present from the tree to hand to Jaq. “This is for you.”
“But you already got me that gorgeous sweater.”
“I did. But this is from Santa. Open it.”
The smaller box gave away the fact that it probably held jewelry, and her hands shook with excitement as she ripped off the fancy paper and saw the Clancy logo on the box. When she lifted the lid, the beautiful, sparkling tanzanite bracelet she’d seen days earlier gleamed back at her.
“Colin. This is too much.” Her voice shook with amazement at his generosity. He’d remembered her comment about the expensive bracelet, and that alone made it more special than anything else he might have bought her. Delight lit up her expression as she stared at him, her emotional reaction completely open for him to see.
He lifted her to her feet and held onto her hands. “It’s not near enough to pay you back for all the things you’ve done for us. Giving up your beautiful hotel room for me to use while you stay with the kids. Spending all your vacation time being with us. You have to know how much it’s been appreciated. This is Santa’s way of saying he loves you.”
Voice shaky, and eyes shiny, she leaned in close for a hug. “I love Santa too.”
Overhearing their conversation, Charlie piped up, “What did Santa bring you, Jaq?”
She held out her wrist while Colin placed the bracelet carefully on it and Charlie and Maisie both reacted. “That’s so pretty, Jaq. I’m glad Santa came for you too.” Then Charlie looked at Colin. “What did Santa bring you, Colin?”
Silence filled the room as both Jaq and Colin stood stunned. Then in a flash, Colin began to laugh. “You caught me, Charlie. Last night Jaq and I got thirsty, and we opened Santa’s presentso we could have a toast. He brought me a very good bottle of my favorite wine.”
By the end of the day, between Jaq, Colin, and Google, they cooked the turkey, used the package of stuffing, and did mashed potatoes to have with the clumpy gravy. Jaq even concocted a sweet potato casserole the kids raved about. With all the trimmings placed on the table, and even a fancy Christmas tablecloth Jaq had found on sale, they celebrated the big day together.
Neither Colin nor Jaq mentioned how dry the turkey turned out or how lumpy the potatoes were because it didn’t matter. Not at all. The kids ate everything and came back for seconds. So did Colin. Therefore Jaq pretended the meal rated a five star review and ignored the things they couldn’t change… except to decide that it was past time she agreed to those cooking lessons from Gigi who constantly offered.
Seated around the television later watching the Christmas special, Jaqueline finally relaxed. Colin and the kids had helped with the kitchen clean up and they’d all done the dishes, making it a fun activity rather than a chore. Now, sitting all together, the harmony in the room made her feel comfortable and happy. Sneaking another peek at her gorgeous bracelet, she sighed, contentment oozing from every tired muscle.
Sharing the sofa, she leaned back against Colin’s body and didn’t pay too much attention as he checked the incoming text on his phone. When he stiffened, she knew without a doubt that he’d just received bad news.
“What is it?”
Keeping his voice low, he shared, “Cord just sent me a reply to my message from yesterday. The court case is going ahead next week but the judge we’re being ruled by is supposedly the worst possible choice. He’s known to be a stickler about Quebec and isn’t in agreement with people leaving the province. Cordwarned me that by pushing ahead with the hearing, we would be taking our chances, but we hoped we’d sneak by with one of the other more easygoing judges.”
“What’s this guy’s name?”
“It says here, Judge Thomas Gagnon. According to Cord, he’s close to retirement age and doesn’t put up with any foolishness in his courtroom. He rules his family law cases strictly and has little humor or understanding for anything outside the legal barriers.”
“Which means that he might be opposed to letting these French Canadian children be with you or leave the province, is that what you’re saying?”
“Yes.” Colin gazed over at the two children nestled together on a quilt that Jaq had put down on the cold floor. Maisie had babydoll Princess hugged close to her body while Charlie had finally put down his iPad to watch the show. Both kids were settling in after their excitement filled day, and his heart sped up with pride as he looked at them. They were so precious.
“I couldn’t give them up now, Jaq. Not in a million years. If I had to, I’d search for a job here in Quebec.”
“Then I guess I would too.” Her automatic response replayed itself in her head, and she admitted, “Leaving Vancouver would be so hard. But leaving Maisie and Charlie is unthinkable.”
“I know.”
Yet even the thought of not being near her mother and Gigi ripped her heart apart. She’d never dreamed of living anywhere but in the city she’d called home all her life.
She glanced at Colin to see the same anxiety written over his features. He finally admitted, “I’ve never imagined myself anywhere but in Vancouver. I love that city. And I love my old house, and the life I’ve made for myself there… my friends and colleagues.”
“Yet you’d give it all up for Charlie and Maisie.”
“In a heartbeat.”
Chapter Twenty-two
That night after they’d tucked the kids into bed and Colin left, Jaq couldn’t settle. She kept telling herself that the cranky old judge might not be as bad as they suspected. Yet it kept coming back to her… what if he is? Then their comfortable lives would be ripped apart, and everything turned upside down.
