Hannah frowned. “If you knew that, I’m surprised you encouraged him to stay. Why didn’t you push him to find someone who could make him happy?”
“Because men don’t butt in like that,” he claimed.
She laughed. “As if,” she commented wryly. “You’ve done plenty of butting in. You just didn’t expect him to fall for Abby,” she said. “Your old girlfriend.”
“That is not what I’m worried about,” Luke insisted. “I’m worried because they’re lying to themselves and to each other. He’s falling in love with her.”
Hannah’s spirits perked up. “You really think so?”
“Of course he is,” Luke said with certainty. “But she’s keeping him at arm’s length because she thinks it’s what he wants. He’s trying to go along with it, claiming it’s what he wants, too. If one of them doesn’t break the stalemate, they’re both going to be miserable. That seems like a crying shame to me.”
“Maybe they’re telling the truth,” Hannah argued. “Maybe it only seemed like they had this instantaneous deep connection. Maybe they’re smart to accept what they have as some kind of temporary chemistry, a part of the healing process they both need to go through.”
Luke shook his head. “I thought women were supposed to be the romantics. Come on, Hannah. You know better.”
She sighed. “Yeah, I do. And I feel bad for him. For her, too, for that matter.”
“Then talk to Abby. If she’s not serious about him, encourage her to end it.”
“Absolutely not. If you feel that strongly that they’re messing it up, talk to Seth.”
“I did talk to Seth,” he said in frustration. “He wasn’t listening.”
“Then leave it alone,” she advised. “Otherwise the one who loses might be you.”
Luke sighed. “They’re our friends. I can’t just ignore what I see happening. I’ll talk to Abby myself. Maybe I can get through to her. She’s not half as hardheaded as Seth is.”
Hannah smiled. “That’s what you think, but fine. Go for it. Just don’t be surprised if she tells you to mind your own business. That’s what I’d do if I were in her shoes.”
22
Christmas day dawned bright and clear with a slight nip in the air. Abby snuggled more deeply under the covers and a little closer to the man in bed next to her.
“Merry Christmas,” Seth whispered in her ear.
She smiled and rolled over. “Merry Christmas to you, too. What time is it? We’re supposed to be at Seaview Inn early if we want to see Isabella open her presents.”
“You do realize she’s just going to be tearing at paper and playing with the boxes, right? She’s not old enough to understand all the commotion.”
She nudged him with an elbow. “I want to be there. She may not be big enough to understand about Santa or the true meaning of Christmas, but she’s going to look so cute when she sees all the presents and the lights on the tree.”
“And you need to be a part of that, don’t you?” he said knowingly.
“Sure,” she said, seeing no reason to pretend otherwise. “I may never experience it with a child or grandchild of my own.”
“Then let’s get moving. I happen to know for a fact that Isabella never sleeps much past seven in the morning and it’s almost that now. Jenny will probably have a batch of cinnamon rolls coming out of the oven any minute to tide us over till after the presents are opened.”
They showered and dressed quickly, then headed for the inn. Luke and Hannah arrived at the same time, laden down with even more brightly wrapped packages than Abby.
“Thank you so much for including me this morning,” Abby said, giving Hannah a hug. “I think I may be more excited than I used to be as a kid.”
“I doubt that,” Hannah replied. “Even as a teenager, I think you stayed up half the night watching out the window for Santa.”
“I did not,” Abby protested, but she was grinning. “I stayed awake watching old Christmas movies. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.”
Hannah turned to Seth. “I’m telling you, she never gave up on Santa.”
“No, what I’ve never given up on is the magic of the season,” Abby corrected. “Now let’s go inside before we miss Isabella’s reaction to everything.”
She didn’t have to say that twice. Luke held the door and they all trooped inside just in time to see Kelsey and Jeff coming down the stairs with Isabella in Jeff’s arms. She was wearing Christmas pajamas with feet and had a red bow in her tousled hair. Her eyes were bright with excitement, but no more so than Kelsey’s.
“Jeff, let me have her,” Kelsey said. “You go in and turn on the lights on the tree.”
“I’ve already done that,” Jenny announced, coming out of the kitchen with a plate piled high with fragrant cinnamon buns. “Coffee’s ready if anyone wants it. I’ve set the pot up in the living room. Cups are there, too.”
Hannah hurried into the living room to add the gifts she and Luke had brought to the pile under the tree. Abby followed with hers. Then Kelsey brought Isabella into the room, while Jeff snapped pictures as her eyes widened with delight.
“Me, me, me,” she shouted with glee, pointing at all the packages.
Kelsey laughed. “No, my little princess. Not all of them are for you.”
“Just most of them,” Jeff said, shaking his head. “We need to have another baby before we spoil her rotten.”
Kelsey gave him a withering look. “I’m still getting used to the fact that we have Isabella. Let’s not rush things.”
Jeff grinned at her. “I’m just saying it’s the smart thing to do for our daughter’s sake.”
Abby chuckled at his tactics and leaned over to Seth. “Want
