“Don’t bother. I accept your apology.”
“Things were great between us, and I let the actions of someone else rip us apart.”
“We were never a committed couple, Trevor. One kiss may have suggested a possibility, but we need to face the fact that you’re leaving, and I don’t think I’d do well with a long-distance relationship. I’m too much of a small-town girl.”
“Doesn’t appeal to me either. But leaving you is a far worse scenario. I think I’m falling in love.” Trevor stood his ground and let his eyes search for the answer he hoped to find.
“I’ve not encouraged you, Trevor, and I don’t want you to sacrifice the life you’ve chosen to live. Not for me or anyone else.”
“What makes you think I love what I do?”
“Why would someone live another person’s dream? Surely you would not build a business and endure it for the sake of earning a wage?”
“When my father died, my priorities changed. Now, I find myself trapped in a job that keeps me too far from my mother. I’m the only man in her life but I’m never around to meet her needs.” Trevor inched one step forward. “Don’t you see? It’s my heart’s desire to settle down and look after her – and an incredible special lady, should she let me into her life.”
Something distracted Trevor’s focus from Angie, and a shocked expression replaced it. She turned around to see what had caught his attention. The male owl had returned and somewhere outside he’d found tiny Santa party hats. He was actually pulling it over her flat head and pecking at her. She, in turn, was eating up his devotion like a lovesick female.
When Angie turned back toward Trevor, he stood directly in front of her. Hands moved upward to gently squeeze her shoulders, as he sought a response.
“Angie – tell me there’s a spark of hope for us. We need to see if this is just Christmas magic or the real thing. I need to…”
Angie placed a finger across his lips. “I need to know, too.”
Trevor grabbed Angie into a frantic embrace that resembled the act of a desperate man. She gently pushed him back and stared into his eyes. “Relax, Trevor Dristoll, I’m not going anywhere.”
When Trevor touched her lips again she surrendered to his claim. Angie trusted that love had the power to heal wounds from the past and offer them a future together.
THE COUNTERPART
Later that night when the guests had toddled off to bed, Angie stood waiting by the Christmas tree with the felt stocking in hand. Trevor asked her not to look inside until he arrived. Upstairs, he was saying goodnight to his mother and relating the good news that they’d decided to give love a chance. Christmas in December would tell the entire story. Angie desperately hoped for happily-ever-after, the relationship her princess-heart had dreamed of since a young girl. With the vivid imagination that only an innocent child can entertain, her castle-in-the-sky had stood strong and steady, occupied by her Prince Charming who in turn declared his everlasting love to her. The picture squeezed into the forefront of her mind and her spirit awakened.
Angie heard him coming up the hall, his eager steps tapping on the marble floor. It changed to a quiet thud on the cushioned flooring in the sitting room and soon he was behind her. While turning to gaze on the expression she felt certain would be forever branded in her thoughts, Trevor pulled her in. The stocking hung from her hand as she wrapped her arms around his neck. In this short time, Trevor had grown to love her, and she recognized its intensity streaming through every line in his face and in every search of his lips. Previously, her grown-up mentality scoffed at the idea of love at first sight but now she marveled that such a depth of relationship could grow so quickly. Angie’s heart tangled within his web and tonight she abandoned the struggle to resist him.
“You may wonder why I asked you here at this late hour?”
“I was hoping it was because it guaranteed privacy,” Angie said.
“Yes, and it would also guarantee you’d finally open your Christmas stocking and we could thank the Miracle-Maker for his leading all along, despite our stubbornness.”
“I must admit that you’ve piqued my curiosity about the contents of this stocking. You say it holds a miracle, magic and us. You’ve definitely grabbed my attention.”
“Finally.”
“You made that point clear. But I am a fan of His perfect timing. Perhaps he wanted the reveal to happen when we were on speaking terms.” Angie held back the grin.
“Good point.”
“So, can we proceed with the unveiling?”
Angie moved to a nearby couch and Trevor sat next to her. Slowly, to irritate Trevor who watched her every movement, she stood the stocking on its foot and began to feel from the outside.
“This makes a crackling sound – I think it’s paper or thicker like construction paper. Did you draw me a picture?”
“Maybe. Enough with the questions. Will you get to it?”
Angie dug inside with her fingers where she’d detected the paper. In response to her slow-motion approach, she received an annoying click with his tongue. She bit back a teasing smile.
“Patience, my dear man.” Angie withdrew it and smiled. “Art is not your gifting, I see. But I l recognize the heart and the initials. T.D. loves Angie. Must have been before the big surname reveal, huh?” Grateful that no painful expression found its way into his face, she continued. “I think I got one of these in the first grade, except it read S.J. loves A.P.”
“Are you going to drag this out all night? You’re killing the mood.”
“Not my intention at all, Mr. Romance. I shall tape this
