Aiylin covers her mouth with a hand and rushes to them. She drops to her knees in front of Tinley. “I do like you! All of you!”
Tinley lifts a tear-stained face, “Then why are you leaving?” she demands.
“I’m not leaving yet. The snow won’t be melted for days, but I have a family who needs me, a job…” a life to get back to she almost says but the words don’t hold the meaning they once did.
“We need you,” Tinley declares and throws her arms around Aiylin.
Tears fill Aiylin’s eyes as she hugs the weeping child. Her heart is breaking at the thought of leaving them. Sebastian stares at her and feels the weight of his daughter’s words. “Aiylin is going home, but I promise that we will see her again.”
“You promise,” she hiccups and looks up at her father while Aiylin rubs her back.
“I promise,” he murmurs, looking at Aiylin who gives him a smile that could rival the stars.
Tinley sighs heavily and pushes away from Aiylin. Slowly walking away she mumbles, “This is not how my wish was supposed to go.”
They wait until she is out of earshot before bursting into laughter. Sebastian helps Aiylin stand. “I meant what I said, Aiylin. We will see you again.”
“I’ll hold you to that promise, Sebastian.” He reaches for her, but she steps back, pointing at him. “You promised us trees today. We need to eat breakfast before we head out.”
“Food is not high on my priority list. Not when you look so beautiful, Aiylin,” Sebastian growls and reaches for her again. Aiylin backs up with a nervous giggle and bumps into the wall.
“Why are you always running from me?” He steps close to her, pressing his body against hers and murmuring in her ear.
Her swift inhale, has him grinning as he nibbles her sensitive lobe. Aiylin presses against his chest, and he grabs her hands. “Sebastian, you make me believe in magic,” she whispers, and before he knows her intentions, she turns and kisses him senseless.
“Well,” a voice says behind them. “I’ll just come back,” Elizabeth says, laughing and hurries from the room.
“Mother,” Sebastian growls, and Aiylin hides her face in his neck.
“I’m sorry,” she murmurs.
Sebastian lifts her chin to look into his handsome face. “Never be sorry, Aiylin. You're giving me my own Christmas magic.”
Tears have her eyes shimmering as he kisses her again. “Now, can we go get our Christmas trees?” she asks.
“After breakfast.”
Elizabeth is in the dining room when they walk in for breakfast.
“My granddaughter tells me you are plotting to leave us,” Elizabeth says sternly.
“I, it’s just that…”
“I don’t suppose either of them bothered to ask you if you’d like to spend Christmas with us?” Elizabeth says, walking forward and taking her hands.
Sebastian glances at his mother with a surprised look. “I’m an idiot,” he murmurs. Elizabeth shrugs and Aiylin has to cover a laugh.
“You are more than welcome, Aiylin, to share our home and our holiday. Don’t answer right now,” when she sees the doubt flash across Aiylin’s face. “Think about it.”
“Please, think about it. We’d love to spend more time with you,” Sebastian grins.
“You're very kind, but don’t you think it will only cause more damage in the end. The separation will only be harder the longer I stay.” She excuses herself and hurries to her room. Her hunger has faded as anxiety presses in on her.
“How can I say what it will do to my heart to leave them?” Going home has lost its appeal. It’s not that she doesn’t wish to be with her own family, but here she is simply Aiylin.
Elizabeth smiles smugly at Sebastian as he pushes his food around on his plate. “How can you be so happy, mother? You heard what she said.”
“I heard her loud and clear. Did you?” Elizabeth grins when he glances at her.
“What are you talking about?” he demands.
“She wasn’t talking about Tinley but her own pain. Sebastian, the poor girl, is protecting her own heart.” Elizabeth sighs and slaps her cup on the saucer. “And you need to give her some physical space. Court her, don’t seduce her!” she hisses.
“Mother!” Sebastian flushes when he realizes she is right.
“I’m right. What have you offered her so far? She’s running scared, as she should be.”
“What did you expect Mother? That I’d ask a woman I’ve only known a few days to marry me?” he snaps.
“No, of course not, but don’t let your own fear of being hurt again push her away.”
Sebastian sits back to think and runs a hand over his face in frustration. “I see your point. How did I get so lucky to have such a smart Mother?”
“You were blessed,” she laughs with him.
“I will beg forgiveness later, right now we need to go cut down our trees.” Sebastian excuses himself and hurries to find Tinley.
Chapter 19
Langdon watches from the shade of some trees as they walk through the snow pulling a sleigh behind them. Aiylin is smiling at a man as though he hung the moon. He hisses in rage when the man leans over and steals a kiss. The loving stroke of her hand on his cheek has Langdon reaching up and touching his own face.
“Betrayer,” he trembles with indignation and fury. How dare she choose someone else! She will pay dearly now.
Aiylin is unaware of the vile thoughts of the man watching her. All she knows is joy. The fun of choosing a tree to decorate and celebrate the birth of Jesus. Together they pick a tree and then laugh as Sebastian cuts it down. Aiylin holds the little girl in her lap as they sit on a log.
“Hurry Daddy, Oma’s making hot
