“You’re teasing, right?”
“Maybe.” She kissed him on the cheek. “And maybe not.”
“Keep digging. There are still a few things in there. Tried to discourage my clients from depositing treasures inside your stocking but they did it to spite me. I think I’m a push-over.”
Angie laughed as she withdrew a picture book on owls. “Something for the kids?”
“Kids? Our kids?” Trevor appeared shocked that she’d bring the subject up. “How many do you want?”
“How many bedrooms do I have at the Inn?”
“Surely not!” A look of horror crossed Trevor’s face, and she laughed.
“You are an easy target. Rest assured, children will wait until after I marry Prince Charming, and then perhaps two might be a good number to strive for.”
“Two – I can live with two.”
“Are you proposing, sir, when I haven’t even opened my stocking yet?”
“Get to it, woman. You can be so aggravating. This is something new I’m learning about you.”
Angie felt around the outside and went for the sharp-edged object. She withdrew a screwdriver and laughed. “This is from Sammy, the maintenance man. A while back I woke him in the night because I couldn’t find the right head to remove a screw. He’s never let me live it down. This multi-ended driver will ensure he sleeps peacefully – until the next crisis.”
“What were you doing fixing stuff in the middle of the night?” He realized he’d fallen into her trap again and groaned. “Stop it! You have a talent for confusing me with your distractions. Would you just pick mine – please?”
“Saving the best for the last, Trevor. I always eat the red-covered chocolate candies last, you know, like the little ditty suggests. How about you?”
“Grr…”
Angie smiled and reached inside the stocking one last time. She withdrew a Christmas ornament, with a small Santa label attached. She exclaimed. “Trevor – I love it! How perfect is a set of his and her owls, donning cute little Santa hats and perched on a tree branch? You learned your owl lessons well.”
“I got this before I visited your barn or even knew you. But I did find it rather odd tonight that the male bird came bearing gifts of red and white woolly hats.”
“Agreed. That was odd, and to be honest, I’m not even sure where he found such tiny hats let alone knew that it belonged on her head.”
“It’s all part of the magic. Read the card,” Trevor said.
“Find the girl that houses the counterpart?” Angie puckered her brow. “Who wrote this?”
“Santa Claus or his Mrs., I’m guessing. The return address on my manila envelope was Santa Ville, North Pole. Express post.”
Angie recognized it as the same story Mrs. Dristoll told yesterday. It sounded just as bizarre today coming from Trevor’s lips. Angie cast him a look of unbelief, which brought the man to his knees.
“I swear! Not a word of a lie. You can ask my mother tomorrow. She was there when the mailman delivered it. And it just so happens the timing on that end was perfect too. It arrived when I was packing for this tour.”
“Yep, pretty perfect timing,” agreed Angie. She’d not snitch on his mother, just in case he felt betrayed by her disloyalty to his strange secret. If she’d been the one to receive such a gift, Angie wouldn’t have wanted anyone spreading this preposterous yarn, especially to a complete stranger.
“When it came in the mail I laughed at the ridiculousness of it all. Figured it was a prank. I’d have left the love-birds home but my mother slipped the ornament in the top of my bag. I only found it after I was out on the road.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t pitch it in the nearest garbage can when you discovered it in your suitcase.”
“It crossed my mind but I knew my mother would freak at the missed opportunity for true love.”
“And when you read the brochure about my owls in the barn – is that what enticed you to Heritage Inn?”
“No! That part scared me half to death. I’d have abandoned the whole idea but my mother wouldn’t hear of it. I must admit it was the beaches drew finally me here – nothing about owls, finding true love, or Christmas in July.”
“Glad to hear water won over your fear of all-things-Christmas. To your credit, you’ve handled the holiday theme well. And then to think you brought your own owl ornament for the tree.” She stroked his arm playfully. “Your story sounds very mysterious to me, Trevor Dristoll.”
“No – let’s go with a miracle, alright?” his eyes pleaded. “Angie, tell me I’m not crazy.”
Angie relaxed. What did it matter, as long as it brought them together?
“I’ve learned never to question the hand of God, or in this case, his hand extended to the Claus family, who are all about the spirit of giving and uniting lost and lonely hearts.”
Trevor jumped to his feet. “Yes! It all makes sense when you say it.”
“Angie stood and reached for his hand. “Come with me.”
They walked to the fully decorated tree and stopped. “Where shall we hang it?”
“Close to the angel at the top. The entire works of them are in cahoots and should rejoice together.” He ran for the stepladder in the corner and placed it at the front of the tree. Trevor watched Angie as she climbed to the top, stretched, and rested the love-owls on a branch. At the last minute, she lost her balance and tumbled backward into Trevor’s arms.
“Got you,” he said. “Now this is better. But, one thing is missing from all these decorations.”
“Mistletoe?” Angie asked. A grin spread over his face.
Angie led him to a window, overlooking the water and rolling hills in the far distance, and pointed up to
