happened if I'd been stronger and hadn't run away in the first place.'
Grant took her anguished face between his hands and tilted it back. 'That's something we'll never know. Maybe we needed these years so we'd know how much we nearly lost.'
'And how much we really love each other.' She had never dreamed that he loved her so much, that money and its powers no longer could seem frightening.
She pulled away a little from him then, smiling up at him, but he drew her back and kissed her. His hand wrapped around the back of her shoulders. His hard mouth slanted over hers in fierce possession.
A long time later they pulled apart, breathless.
'Darling,' he murmured. 'How do you think Darius would feel about Santa bringing him a grandmother and a grandfather for Christmas as well as a daddy? You can say no… '
She smiled up at him mistily and placed two fingertips over his mouth. 'Hush… I don't want to say no. I want you to call them and invite both of them for Christmas dinner. It's a little late, I know. Georgia usually has so many invitations. They'll have to drive fifty miles.'
'They'll come.'
Grant sought her lips again. Then he rained hot urgent, kisses over her forehead, her brow, her throat, before stopping to cradle her face in his hands and peer into her eyes.
'It looks like Santa brought all of us a lot more than Darius asked for.' Grant kept holding her. 'If I didn't know better, I'd say today is the next best thing to a miracle.'
'Santa's special miracle,' she breathed.
'And mine,' Grant said. His dark face grew solemn. 'Darling, I-I have a confession to make.' For the first time his confidence seemed to desert him.
'If it's about other women… don't… '
'It's even worse than that.'
Her black brows arched quizzically.
'It was because of me, that the phone went dead that morning. I tampered with it that night, you see. I had to have you by fair means or foul.'
For a long moment, she stared at him in stunned surprise. Then her expression grew radiant. 'I guess you were just helping Santa work his miracle.'
'I love you,' he whispered.
She took his hand and squeezed it. 'Let's go upstairs and tell Darius.'
The kitchen door by the stairway banged against the wall. 'I'm right here, Mom!' Darius shouted exuberantly right before he burst into the room dragging his blanket and his teddy.
Norie put her fingers to her lips.
'I know, Mom. My outdoor voice… ' In a softer, more tentative tone, the child whispered, 'Right here… Dad.'
Grant knelt down and folded the little boy into his arms. 'Right here… son.' Very gently he lifted him from the ground.
'Are you really going to stay?' Darius demanded eagerly.
'Forever.'
Norie drew a deep breath of pure happiness.
'Merry Christmas, Norie,' Grant whispered, his blue eyes dazzling bright, as he drew her closer into the warm circle of love.
Holding Darius tightly, Grant bent his head and kissed her.
Author's Note
For me, Christmas is a very special time of family, love and renewal. It is truly a season of miracles.
A beautiful pecan tree hangs over my backyard. I know Christmas is coming when the pecans start falling and the squirrels start racing about collecting them. My mother (who loves fresh pecans nearly as much as the squirrels) uses the nuts to make homemade candy-divinity, pralines, fudge and my Aunt Bill's recipe for carmelized fudge. I use them to make pralines and date-nut fruit cake. I've included the recipe in the front. Now my daughter is old enough to bake cookies for her friends.
With three children in our house, there is always great excitement as Christmas approaches. My two younger children, Kim and Tad, insist on putting up the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. I guess just seeing the tree in the living room is a daily reminder that Christmas is really coming soon. My older son, David, decorates the outside of the house.
Usually, before Christmas, we go to our city's local production of
On Christmas Day, I cook a big turkey dinner for my family and all of our relatives who live in town. At some time during the holidays, we drive to the Texas hill country, where my husband's parents and sisters have homes, and we spend several days visiting them. If we make the trip before Christmas, we always go into the woods to help them cut down their Christmas tree.
I always look forward to Christmas, and I hope that this year's Christmas will be special for each and every one of you.
LIGHTS OUT! by Rita Rainville
This recipe should probably be called
GRAHAM TORTE
Preheat oven to 350° F.
Combine crushed graham crackers and baking powder.
Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs, milk and graham-cracker mixture. Blend well.
Put mixture in ungreased 9' x 13' pan. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes. Cool.
Serve with whipped cream.
See? I said it was easy. And you won't have to worry about leftovers!
