her to come out, but she didn’t plan to give them the satisfaction. Maybe one of them had decided to venture up to the door. “If it’s a photographer, call the garda.”
Caroline disappeared and Gelsey went back to her contemplation of the fire-and of Christmases past. A smile touched her lips. “Deck the halls with boughs of holly, fa la la la la, la la la la.” She took another sip of her wine. After dinner, she and Caroline would share dessert and a glass of sherry and then they’d both go to bed. And one more Christmas in her life would be over.
“Gelsey? You have a visitor.”
Gelsey twisted around. “A visitor?”
“It’s Kellan. He’s brought a gift. He’d like to see you. Can I show him in?”
She hesitated. “Sure. Tell him to come in.”
She got to her feet, the wineglass still clutched in her hand, and sat on the arm of the sofa. When he appeared in the doorway, her breath caught in her throat and she had to remind herself to take another. “Hi.”
“Hi,” he murmured. “I hope I’m not disturbing-”
“No, I was just sitting here having-”
“It’s Christmas Eve and-”
“Would you like a glass of wine?” Gelsey jumped up to fetch him a drink from the small table against the wall. When she’d filled the glass, she held it out to him. “Sit. The fire is warm. It’s so damp outside. Your hair is wet.”
“Are we actually talking about the weather?” Kellan asked.
“I hope not.” She sat down on the sofa and he took a spot next to her.
“I’m sorry about yesterday. I should have been more supportive.”
“No,” Gelsey said. “I was acting like a spoiled brat. You were right. I don’t know anything about having a job. These things happen all the time. I need to learn to adjust my plans.”
“It’s caused a bit of a stir around town,” he said. “I spoke to Dealy this morning and he and the rest of the tourism committee are very concerned. The only one in town who seems happy about your leaving is Maeve.”
“Well, I’m glad that I could help her out. Maybe she’ll keep some of the changes I made.”
“Have you decided what you’re going to do?”
Gelsey shrugged. “I’m going to take my time and explore all my options.”
“Would one of those options be spending the rest of your life with me?”
Reaching out, she took his hand in hers. “I do love you, Kellan. I’m certain of that. But-”
He put his finger over her lips. “No buts,” he said. “Let me just let that first part sink in for a few moments.” He closed his eyes, a smile of pleasure curling the corners of her mouth. “Yeah, that was nice. You love me.”
“I do,” she said from behind his finger. Gently she pulled his hand away. “But I’ve got to take some time to get to know myself.”
“We could do that together,” Kellan said. “I hardly know you. We could kill two birds with one stone.”
Gelsey laughed. “I suppose you’re right. But I’m not sure you’re ready for the person I might be. I’ve done a lot of really idiotic things in my life and living a true and real life is probably going to be difficult. I’m going to get frustrated and impatient and I know I’m going to say stupid things.”
“Gelsey, I love you exactly the way you are. I wouldn’t have you change a thing. And if you can put up with me, then I can certainly put up with you.”
“I’m just not sure I’m ready for a relationship yet,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve ever
“So, if we aren’t together, maybe we could just be friends. You don’t have a lot of friends around here, except for Nan and Jordan. We could spend time together, maybe have dinner a few times a week and-”
“I thought you might take a project in France,” she said.
“I decided against that,” he replied. “I’m going to be sticking close to home for a while.”
“Is that because of me?” she asked.
“No, it’s because of me. I’m doing it for purely selfish reasons. And I’ve got a job in Ballykirk that will keep me busy for a while.” He glanced down at the gift he held. “I brought you something. A Christmas gift. Even if we are just friends, I wanted you to have this.” He nodded. “Go ahead, open it.”
Gelsey neatly pulled away the silver paper to reveal the old biscuit tin she’d buried on the beach. She smoothed her hand over the dented top, the illustration faded by time. “I gave this to you the first time we met,” she said. “I buried it in the sand hoping you would find it.”
“Me?”
“I used to watch you and your brothers from the top of the cliff and I thought you were the most beautiful boy in the entire world. I was madly and hopelessly in love with you.”
“Have you known it was me this whole time?”
“I think I did. But I found the box in the bedside table, and then I knew for sure.” Gelsey glanced up, tears clouding her vision. “You were the first boy I ever kissed.”
“You were the first girl I ever kissed. And I was in love with you, too. I went back to the cove every time I could, hoping you’d be there again. But you never came back.”
Gelsey slipped her fingers through his, her gaze fixing on their hands locked together. “Thank you for bringing it back.”
“There’s something inside,” he said. “Besides your treasures. Open it up.”
She pulled off the lid and recognized all the contents except for one thing. Gelsey pulled out the key and held it up. “What is this for? The cottage?”
Kellan shook his head. “No. It’s for your future. If you decide to stay here, to make a life here, then that key will open up an interesting opportunity.”
“What is it?” she asked.
“You’ll just have to come to Ballykirk and find out for yourself.”
“I’m coming for Nan and Riley’s wedding,” she said. “Before that, I’m going to New York to see my mother. My father will be there, too. He has some meetings in Washington after the first of the year.”
“You are coming back,” Kellan said.
She nodded. “Yeah. I’m just going to be gone a few days.”
Kellan slowly stood. Gelsey wanted to pull him back down, to stay with her for the rest of the evening. But she knew he had places to be. Christmas with the family and church after that. “Thank you for coming,” she said. “I’m sorry I didn’t have a gift for you.”
“But you did.” He pointed to her face. “That smile. I’m going to enjoy that for weeks. And you said you love me. That’s better than a lump of coal in a guy’s stocking. I guess I’ll see you at the wedding then,” he said.
“I’ll walk you to the door.” Gelsey slipped her arm through his and they slowly strolled out into the foyer. She wanted to lead him right up the stairs and into her bedroom. She didn’t want him to leave. Yet, she had to force herself to let him go. Making love to him now would only confuse matters.
When they reached the door, he turned to face her. “Happy Christmas, Gels.”
“Happy Christmas, Kellan.”
They stood there for a long time, just looking into each other’s eyes. “Where is the mistletoe when you really need it?” he murmured.
She laughed softly. “I think a Christmas kiss wouldn’t do either of us any harm.”
With a low sigh, Kellan cupped her face in his hands. Her gaze fixed on his and he bent close and kissed her, lingering over her mouth for a long time before drawing away.
“There. Now the world is right again,” he said.
“Please give your family my best wishes,” she said.
“I will.” He reached for the door, then paused before he opened it. “I love you, Gelsey. I hope you won’t forget that.”
“And I love you,” she said.
He nodded, then opened the door and walked out. Gelsey watched him as he got in the car. Kellan gave her a wave before he drove away. She smiled to herself. It was a beginning, like the kiss they’d shared in the meadow all those years ago.
She glanced down to find that she was still holding the tin in her hand. “My box of dreams,” she said. Funny
