She looked at him in horror. Selene had just dumped him and he had the nerve to stand in his ex’s presence and plan a date with her sister. Selene noticed and roared laughing.
“She doesn’t believe that we called it quits, Craig. I should leave you so you can convince her… what’s this?” she said as she pulled the last item from the stocking.
“It’s an ornament for the tree – a blue heart that was given to me recently and I find it fitting that you have it. Notice the little slice – it was my broken heart until I found you. It’s our Christmas miracle.”
Selene stared at Craig and shrugged her shoulders. “I agree we have been given a miracle this week but,” she placed the heart in Craig’s hand. “I think your miracle is two-fold. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to leave. Never was good at being a third wheel, but I do know where to find the men to fill that gap and expect nothing in return.” She winked at Craig.
“I wish you well in your search,” Craig said.
“They’re a dime a dozen in my world. Don’t you worry about me one bit. I expect an invitation to the wedding.” She looked at Jolene. “Don’t’ be so shocked, sister. I hope you still like me when you really get to know me. Now our father is another story. I doubt he will ever like me. I will concentrate my efforts on that challenge this week because when I return to my new job, time will be a scarce commodity.”
“Then I suggest you go find him and do the best you can,” Jolene said. “He is very down-to-earth. You don’t need to beat around the bush. Trace Sumpter works best when feelings are laid on the table and dealt with.”
“That’s a good suggestion. No time like the present, before I lose my nerve. Firstly, I’m going to call my boss and give her the news that I’m back on board, but will not be returning until my vacation is over. Mother has decided to stay as well so it will give us all extra time before life separates us again.”
“This time, it’s only a temporary separation. We’ve found each other now, sister, and I’m not letting go,” Jolene declared.
The women embraced and Selene left the room, dimming the lights on her way out. Craig and Jolene grinned at one another.
“The girl is not very subtle,” Craig said as he inched closer.
“Nine children? Why was I never informed of such a robust goal?”
“You caught me,” Craig said. “Simply tried to make the parting more her idea than mine.”
“You mastered that well. My sister is already throwing her ex’s in my direction.”
He was close enough, without touching, that she could barely breathe. “I was your ex first, so I suppose, paybacks a corker.”
“I have a gift for you,” he said. “Didn’t have time to put it in the stocking. From his pocket he took out a red heart ornament, all decorated in small glittery stones. He gently pushed open the tiny slit and Jolene gasped. “I believe I received the same ornament you did from the north pole for this very purpose of combining them into one. A bit of a stretch, but Sandra Fredricks assures me nothing is impossible in the romance department at Heritage Inn.”
Together they took the two hearts and slid them inside each other so they hung as one. Before their eyes the slit healed over and the two hearts fused into one.
“No way! Tell me you saw that?” Jolene said.
“I’m a believer of all things love,” Craig said.
“I figured the blue heart signified the union of my new family. I never dared to dream that you held the other half of my heart.”
“Only one came in the envelope and your sister wanted no part of the tacky ornament. I gladly took it off her hands, being a sucker for all things Christmas.”
“We do have that in common, don’t we, Craig Landers?”
“That, and so much more.
“I’m eager to explore your so much more.” Jolene snuggled into his arms. “Do you have anything against a less career driven woman?”
“If you want the truth, my perfect dream is rather out dated, but I always thought it might to nice to have my wife waiting for me when I rolled in after a day at work, cooking and minding the nine children and planning our vacations.”
“Like your mother did?”
“I said it was old fashioned, and probably chauvinistic, so you will be pleased to know I put that dream to sleep and will settle for anything the woman I love needs to become the independent wonderful person I fell in love with.”
“I neglected to tell you, because I didn’t want you to think we parted company in Sebring for nothing, but the whole travel-the-world adventure has lost its glow. I was thinking of starting up my own business “Budget Your Next Vacation”, something that I can do locally in Sebring. I can use the knowledge I’ve gained to make other people’s vacation memorable and the least expensive I can. So many can’t afford to go anywhere and I’d like to make some dreams come true. The bonus for you being that this little venture would keep me working from home, on the internet mostly.”
Craig grinned. “Good to know you got the traveling bug out of your system, and all was not lost in our parting.” He lifted her chin with his finger and his stare was so intense she thought she’d collapse from its power over her senses. “Jolene, this conversation has got me believing you’ll be waiting for me when I return home.”
“How long before your contract finishes?”
“Two months, and then I promise to never consider a job outside our state. Maybe the
