“Jacob?” she gulps.
“Yes, daughter. It would seem that you left some details out of your trip,” he glares at her.
“Daddy,” she tries, but he cuts her off.
“You weren’t going to tell us that Langdon followed you and tried to kill you!”
Ida shouts “What!” and sits in a chair.
“I didn’t want to worry you,” she whispers.
“Aiylin, did it ever occur to you that you don’t have to do everything alone?” Charles asks and reaches for her hand. She grips it like a lifeline.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, Aiylin. Your nature is to protect, but it shows a distinct lack of faith in God when you take it all on yourself,” he reprimands her.
“Charles!” Ida hisses. “That’s harsh.”
“No, he’s right Mom. I need to stop and remember that God is always with me. My will isn’t his will,” she smiles softly and touches her father’s hand.
“Exactly. Tell us what happened.”
Aiylin sits with her parents and tells them everything. She describes Elizabeth, Sebastian, and Tinley. How they welcomed her, and they stare at her when she talks about how kind, respectful, and faithful Sebastian is.
Neither of them speak for a moment, and Ida wipes her eyes. “I’ll start packing.”
Aiylin laughs softly and shoves away the fear. “He’s going to be so mad at me,” she whispers.
“Maybe a little,” her father says, “but if he loves you as much as you love him, then relief will win over anger.”
Aiylin stares at him in shock, “I do love him,” she whispers and starts crying. He hugs her tightly and murmurs to his daughter.
“Let’s go get your Christmas present,” he teases.
“My Christmas wish you mean,” she sniffs and laughs. “Thank you.” They talk long into the night, packing and planning. Ida decides to stay and greet Patrick and Mena at the train station. They will travel together to Nazareth once they have a chance to talk.
Aiylin glances out the window of the train and prays that Sebastian will have an open heart. Part of her questions why he didn’t come after her, but she imagines that he’s worried about leaving Tinley or feeling betrayed by her. She chews on her lip as the scenery flies by.
They check into the hotel a few hours later intending to go to the Becker’s the next day, but Aiylin can’t wait.
“It’s not a long drive to the house,” she insists.
“I’ll go to the livery and get a carriage,” her father says with a smile.
“Thank you, Dad,” she says. After he leaves, she turns to her mother, “How do I look?”
The red velvet dress with the fur collar is the perfect complement to her skin, hair, and eyes. “It’s what I was wearing the first time I met them,” she murmurs.
“You look beautiful, as always,” Ida hugs her and prays this man doesn’t hurt her daughter.
As they ride out of town, she tells them the story of the lantern, and Ida smiles. “How charming! A magical Christmas wish,” she glances at her husband who is smiling.
They ride in silence for a while until it’s time to turn on the lane. “Stop!” Aiylin insists. The sun is starting to set, and she smiles when she sees the house in the distance.
“I’ll walk from here,” she jumps down before they can object. “Trust me,” she gives them directions of how to get to the stables and waits for them to leave to start walking.
Closing her eyes, she allows the cold air to wash over her. It starts to snow, soft, fat flakes, and she grins. “Perfect.” The lantern is glowing in the distance, softly beckoning her and she’s drawn to the possibility of the magic waiting for her.
Aiylin steps into the warmth of the lantern's beam and smiles up at the house. “I can feel the magic here, but I think I need to do this on my own. Thank you,” she murmurs, and the lantern flickers.
Tinley is playing in her window when the lantern’s flicker distracts her. She gasps and watches Aiylin step to the lantern and begin speaking to it!
A shaft of light shoots from the lantern straight into the window, filling Sebastian’s room with its honey glow. He hears her laughter before he sees her, and his heart tumbles to his feet. Sebastian breaks into a run and laughs when he sees Tinley burst from her room. He scoops her up.
“Come on, my heart, let’s go get our Christmas wish,” he laughs when she hugs him tightly.
Elizabeth hears a noise that sounds like a herd of cattle on her stairway, and she shouts when Sebastian comes tearing down the steps. “What in the world!”
Charles and Ida are walking with Stanley towards the house when they see Aiylin standing in a strange glow. Her smile outshines the light and Ida gaps, “Charles! Look at her.”
Sebastian puts Tinley down first, and she runs crying straight for Aiylin and throws herself around her legs. “You came back!”
Aiylin squats down and wraps her arms around her neck, “I could never stay away from you, angel. I’m sorry if I hurt you, Tinley but I had some things to take care of.”
“Are you home for good now?” Tinley demands and wipes her eyes.
“I don’t know. I need to talk to your Daddy. Do you see that couple with Stanley?” Aiylin points.
“Yes,” Tinley sniffs.
“Those are my parents, and they’d very much like to meet you and your Oma,” she whispers.
Tinley giggles, “I can help!” she presses a kiss to Aiylin’s cheek and wiggles free. She runs straight past Sebastian, and Charles booming laughter is soon heard. He scoops her up and carries her inside, following Stanley and Ida.
Sebastian’s eyes never leave her face. Aiylin’s resolve almost falters when her eyes meet his. He isn’t smiling, just staring at her,
