Page 25 of A Not So Merry Kiss-mas
I hoot. This pregnancy has been rough on her, and she’s suffering from ‘baby brain,’ not to mention she’s a tad more grumpy than usual. But hormones will do that to a person. Or so her OB/GYN keeps telling me.
My lip curls up, and I snort. “Promise me you’ll be good.”
“I cannot be held responsible for what I do or say tonight.” My brows pull together, and I give her a mock scowl, but the truth is she really can’t…at least not right while she’s pregnant.
I cup Melanie’s cheek and run my thumb along her jawline. My chest is bursting with warmth. I’ve never been more in love with her than I am at this moment. And she’s never been more stunning than she is carrying our child. She leans in and kisses me; the feather-light touch sends a zing of energy through me. It may have been ten years, but every kiss reminds me of our very first kiss under Mrs. F’s mistletoe.
It’s been ten years since our first Christmas, and the last time we were at Cedar Vale’s New Year’s Eve party, we were a newly minted couple.
That was before Noelle’s gran got sick, and she moved to Utah to take care of her. And before Cole was drafted to play for the Tampa Bay Rays. That move was pretty much the tippingpoint in their relationship, and it was at our wedding that things officially ended for them as a couple.
But this year, Mel and I, along with the help of a blizzard, were able to put them in a situation where they couldn’t avoid each other, and I’m happy to report it worked. Considering they’re the reason we started dating, it felt good to do a little matchmaking of our own.
“Did Cole tell you what time they’d be here tonight?” I glance over at the clock and see that it’s nine forty-five.
“They should be here soon.” The door opens just as the words leave my mouth, and I see the two of them walking in with Mrs. F.
Cedar Vale’s nonagenarian is still going strong. “They’re here and so is Mrs. F.”
Mel’s head whips toward the door. “I hope that I have the amount of energy she does when I’m her age. I’m ready to go to bed now.”
My brows furrow. “We can go home if—”
“Michael, I’m fine.” She gently brushes her thumb against the crease on my forehead, and I’m immediately pulled back to the first time I held her in my arms and did the exact same thing at the Nicholses’ party. I can feel my face relax and my lips tug. “What?”
“I was reminded of the night I got to meet Noelle’s friend Mel. Did I ever tell you how glad I was that it was you?”
“You may have mentioned it a time or two, but you can always tell me some more if you’d like.”
The heat in her eyes sends a surge of warmth through me, making my gut clench. I lift my hand to her face, pushing her hair to the side. And my gaze drops to her lips. I wonder if we should go home early.
“Mike! Mel!” Noelle rushes in and hugs us like she didn’t just see us a few days ago for Christmas.
“Noelle.” Mel gushes over her best friend, slipping out of my arms and walking with her to the table Mrs. F is sitting at.
“You know I love that the two of you are back together, but I’m just realizing how much time Noelle’s going to monopolize.”
“Are you jealous?” Cole’s lips twitch.
I scowl at him before my mouth pulls up at the corner and I shrug a shoulder, “Maybe?”
Cole howls, and I punch him in the arm.
“I am so excited about the baby, but there’s a part of me that’s going to miss having her all to myself.” I glance over to where my wife is, smiling with Noelle, and my chest expands. She needs her right now.
“How come you never told me about Mrs. Claus?” Cole claps me on the back, snickering. “On the ride here, Mrs. Fletcher was telling us about what she did back when you and Mel were neighbors.”
“Mrs. Claus?” My brow furrows, and I tilt my head to the side. “Do you mean like with her and the mistletoe?”
“No,” Cole shakes his head. “An actual letter that was mailed to Mel. Operation Mistletoe Match or something like that.”
I stare at him blankly and blink. Fairly certain he’s lost his mind, when I vaguely recall a manila letter that had her full name written in fancy black ink the day I set Mrs. F’s plan into action. I think there might have been a faint scent of gingerbread?
Nah.That was just the cinnamon and clove in her coffee.
Moving toward my wife, my former meddling neighbor, and Noelle, Cole follows behind. As I approach the three of them, I can hear them laughing. I eye up my wife and move toward her side.
“So what’s this about a letter from a Mrs. Claus?” Three sets of eyes turn toward me, all with different expressions. Mrs. F’scarries a glint of mischief and humor, Noelle’s hold surprise, and Melanie looks confused.
