by Sabrina York
She heaved a sigh. Was her father in town? It was time to confront him, so she could learn the entire truth. Had he changed as much as she hoped? She’d been surprised at all the worthwhile organizations he was supporting.
Yes, it was time to move forward, she decided, walking back across the bridge toward the inn.
She paused momentarily, checking out the lights. Wow, she thought, they’d used colored ones this year, and a bunch of individual displays featuring Santa and Frosty, along with Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer were decorating the nature walk. Mia would have loved to see the expression on kids’ faces when they walked along the trail with their parents.
Suddenly, Mia felt exhausted. It had been a long day and dealing with memories from the past was going to be more difficult than she’d thought.
Tugging on Sammy’s leash, she headed back along the path that led to the Atkinson’s cabins.
Looking through the window from where he was sitting in a booth inside the Dragonfly Pointe Inn Café, Noah could hardly believe his eyes. He’d been holding his breath, hoping that Mia would accept Emily’s job offer, and there she was, walking along the lakefront path in front of the inn.
But wait a minute, Emily must have known Mia was coming to Crystal Rock and hadn’t said a word.
What was Emily up to?
For a moment, Noah considered chasing after Mia, but he had no idea what her response would be when she saw him again.
Noah sighed heavily. He’d better stick with the plan Mia’s father had come up with. It was a good one, and Derrick wasn’t sure if Mia would forgive him or not. It would be better if Derrick spoke with Mia first and confessed about the blackmail, before Noah approached her.
Noah was scared to death that Mia wouldn’t want him anymore. Six years had gone by, and she’d lived in a totally different world and had made a success of her career in choreography, even performing occasionally with Marielle McKinnon, he’d heard, when Noah had spoken with Marielle and Drew.
Yep, as much as he was hurting, he would wait.
30
Although she’d purchased a comfortable doggie bed, Mia woke up the following morning with Sammy sleeping beside her. Despite her scolding, she was really getting a kick out of the fact that he was becoming attached to her so quickly.
Sammy was never further than a few feet away. He even tried to follow her into the bathroom when she was ready to take a shower, so she’d closed the door on him. When she was finished, he was laying there guarding the door when she opened it back up.
Sammy made Mia laugh, which was something she hadn’t been doing very much of lately.
Sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee, Mia’s phone rang, and she answered, “Hello?”
“Mia?”
“Amanda? How are you?”
Amanda answered, “I’m doing well, Mia. It’s so good to hear your voice. I’ve been living here in Crystal Rock, and when Emily told me you were here to stay, I was so excited.”
They talked for a few minutes, until Amanda cleared her throat.
Mia asked, “What is it? I know something is up.”
Mia heard Amanda sigh, before answering, “It’s your dad.”
“Why, what’s wrong?”
“He’d like to speak with both of us. He asked if I would get in touch with you, because he wasn’t sure how you’d react.”
Mia sighed. “I’ve noticed after checking him out online, he’s become important in several charitable foundations, including the wounded warrior home. Has he changed?”
Amanda muttered, “I don’t have a clue. I haven’t talked with him since you left. In fact, I almost got married a year later.”
“What?”
Amanda answered softly, “John asked me, but I backed out. He deserves someone who’s willing to give him her whole heart.”
“It’s always been my dad, hasn’t it? You’ve never gotten over him?”
“That’s what I’m afraid of. It’s sure screwed up my life.”
There was a long silence until Mia spoke. “When does he want to see us?”
“This afternoon,” Amanda answered. “At the house. How about I meet you there at two?”
“That’ll work,” Mia answered. “I won’t go up to the door until you’re there.”
“Okay, I’m looking forward to seeing you again. I did go to one of Marielle’s performances in Chicago once, but they wouldn’t let me speak with you, and I didn’t have your number.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t keep in touch,” Mia murmured. “I’ll try to be better.”
“Me, too. Cutting ourselves off from each other didn’t seem to help much. I missed you like crazy.”
“I’ve missed you too, Amanda.”
Mia heard a sniffle.
Amanda continued, “Okay, well. I’ll see you soon. Bye.”
“Bye,” Mia answered, disconnecting the phone as she looked outside through the window. There was a man walking along the edge of the beach who looked vaguely familiar.
In fact, he looked just like Noah, she realized, except he walked with a limp instead of with Noah’s smooth even gait.
She shook her head dazedly. No, it couldn’t be. Emily had made a point of saying she hadn’t spoken with Noah in a while. Great. Now Mia was imagining things.
When Mia stood up, Sammy followed as she poured herself more coffee and walked into the bedroom to unpack the rest of her clothes.
Mia drew in a deep breath as she pulled into the driveway of the house a few minutes before two. Stepping out from the car, she took a quick look around the yard. Everything looked well kept, and the landscaping which had been newly planted when the house had been built had filled in nicely, since there were lots of evergreens.
Other than that, everything looked the same. She’d always loved this house.
Probably because before they’d been living here, Dad had actually valued her opinion, and all her suggestions had been included in the plans drawn up by the architect.
When Amanda pulled up beside Mia’s car in a hatchback, Mia grinned, because she barely recognized her. She’d had a makeover, and her dark hair had been bleached and cut short, with bouncy layers. Amanda stepped out of the car, and Mia was surprised at how beautiful she looked wearing jeans with suede boots and a cute, short-length winter coat.
Amanda held out her arms, and Mia rushed into them.
“God, it’s so good to see you again,” Mia muttered.
A few minutes later, they looked into each other’s eyes.
“Ready?” Amanda asked.
“Ready,” Mia answered.
But before they could knock on the door, it opened, and Dad walked outside onto the porch.
Mia stilled, staring at her father.
His hair had nearly turned gray, and he looked so much older.
And weary. She wondered about his health.
Amanda appeared to be nearly as shocked as Mia.
He looked like he was ready to break down, staring between the two of them. And then he finally spoke after clearing his throat. “Come on in. I’ve got coffee made.”
Amanda nodded, reaching for Mia’s hand.
They followed him inside to the kitchen, where there was a tray of snacks, candy and Christmas cookies resting on the kitchen island.
Everything looked the same, Mia noticed, as if nothing had been touched since the day she and Amanda had left.
“Can I get you two some coffee?” he asked, motioning for them to sit at the island.
“Yes, please,” Mia answered.
“I’ll have some too,” Amanda said.
He poured their coffee, resting the mugs in front of them, and grabbing another mug, he filled it for himself and sat across from them.
“I’m not proud of myself. But you need to know the truth,” he said to Mia.
He continued the story, confessing he’d purchased the mortgage for Noah’s grandparents’ house, and had threatened to foreclose if Noah wouldn’t stop seeing Mia.
>
“I knew you wouldn’t like Noah, even before you met him. But I never in a million years would have thought you were capable of stooping so low,” Mia said softly. “All this time I’ve been mad at Noah for not standing up for me, when all he was doing was protecting the only family he had. That’s what family does for one another. They respect each other, and allow them to make their own choices, and trust them to live a life you can be proud of.”
Dad hung his head. “I know, Mia. And I’m sorry. You don’t know how sorry I am,” he added, turning away. “Jake Loughlin was a big client, and he purchased the mortgage from me, and he told me he’s never been so disappointed in any other friend as much as he was with me.”
“You only sold him the mortgage, so you wouldn’t lose him as a client?” Amanda asked, looking disgusted.
“No,” he answered, sounding emphatic. “I was already in trouble financially because of Monique. Little did I know what she was doing behind my back.” When he turned around to meet Amanda’s gaze, there were tears in his eyes. “I deserved what happened. I still can’t believe the kind of person I turned into.”
He looked at Mia. “Jake told me about Noah and his family. What kind of an idiot did I turn into, to threaten a kid who was doing nothing wrong and going into the Air Force, not only to serve his country, but to provide a steady income for his grandparents?”
“What’s happened with you, Derrick?” Amanda asked. “Are you having health issues?”
He sighed deeply. “I had a small stroke a few years ago. Everything kind of caught up with me. Since then, I’ve been trying to make up for all my mistakes. But I’ve missed you, Mia.” He turned to Amanda. “And you, Amanda. It was like having my right arm cut off, when you left. I felt helpless. I hired assistant after assistant, but no one could do anything right. And then I realized, you were much more to me than that. I was missing you.”
He turned to Mia, who had tears in her eyes. She was trying to get a handle on everything her father was saying.
“Baby? Please forgive me? I need you in my life, any way you want to be here, I’ll accept it. I promise.”
When he held out his arms, Mia began sobbing as she stood up, running into them. “Oh, Daddy.”
31
It was the day before Christmas Eve, and Noah couldn’t believe he was here at the Dragonfly Pointe Inn, six years later, performing for the audience at the charity event benefiting the wounded warrior home as well as the school and vocational center for children with disabilities.
Emily had demanded it, as a matter of fact, which was kind of strange, Noah realized, walking onto the stage after being introduced, considering she’d never been the demanding type.
Now married, Bree and Phil were in the audience, while Mike, Brad and Chris were actually here too, but had insisted they were too rusty to join Noah onstage.
Which was odd too, come to think of it.
Noah began with the song White Christmas, which went over well, and then sang a few upbeat songs before moving on to the song that brought back a bunch of memories.
Now to mingle with the audience, with the addition of a spotlight as he stepped down from the stage. He’d been told to follow the light, so that pictures could be taken as he walked through the ballroom wearing his uniform. It was part of his appeal as a fundraiser, Derrick Michaels had mentioned to Noah.
Noah began to sing.
‘I’ll have a bluuuuuuuuuue Christmas without you-‘
But as he approached the table where Derrick was sitting with Amanda and yes, Mia, Noah realized he’d been played.
Obviously, Derrick had confessed the truth to his daughter, and she had tears in her eyes as she stood, rushing towards him quickly.
Noah stopped singing, but the band continued playing, the music echoing through the ballroom.
She halted, staring into his eyes. “Noah?”
Tears filled his own eyes. “Mia?”
Suddenly they were wrapped within each other’s arms.
This time, Noah knew, neither one of them would ever let go.
Epilogue
The following evening on Christmas Eve, Mia was walking with Noah along the edge of the beach with Sammy following behind.
She gave Noah a side glance. Mia still couldn’t get over the fact that he was here.
Apparently, he was feeling the same, because Noah squeezed her again with the arm he had wrapped around her shoulders.
“I still can’t believe you’ve adopted that dog,” he murmured and grinned.
“And named him Sammy,” she answered, smiling.
Noah halted, giving her the twentieth kiss she’d had today.
“When I think of all the wasted time,” Mia muttered.
“There’s nothing we can do about that now,” Noah answered, becoming serious. “All we can do is move on from here. At least everything that’s happened has made us stronger and wiser. Look at Amanda. Look at your father.”
“Yes,” Mia agreed. “It’s nice to have my real father back again.”
“I’m just happy he’s finally accepted me,” Noah muttered.
Mia murmured, “He actually ended up setting us up.”
When Noah rolled his eyes upward, she laughed.
Noah growled, “The guy still makes me nervous. He was nearly bankrupt, and he somehow snapped back from it—quickly, too. Who does that?”
Mia kept laughing.
Finally, she stopped, and gave him an uneasy look.
Noah must have noticed. “What?”
Mia confessed, “He wants us to have the house at the beach.”
Noah’s jaw dropped. “He’s giving us a house?”
“He is. He says it was always meant for me, which is why he let the architect in on my ideas. And now that we’re together, he can’t wait for us to have a family, and as many dogs and cats as we’d like.”
Noah scowled. “He did, did he?”
Mia halted, looking into his eyes. “Does it really bother you, me accepting it on our behalf?”
Noah suddenly grinned. “Your dad and I had a long talk the other day.”
Mia punched him in the shoulder. “So you already knew?”
“I did,” Noah answered, looking smug.
They continued walking along the beach, heading toward the Dragonfly Pointe Inn.
As they got closer, Mia pulled a leash from her pocket, attaching it to Sammy’s collar.
“Where are we going?” Mia asked, holding Sammy’s leash tightly, when Noah started guiding them toward the gazebo.
“You’ll see,” he answered. “The coast looks clear, at least.”
Walking her across the bridge, Noah halted near the gazebo’s railing.
“Sit, Sammy,” Noah said firmly.
And the dog sat.
Looking upward, Noah murmured, “Look at the moon, Mia.”
She gasped. “It’s blue. I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen it like that.”
“Never that deep dark color that matches your eyes,” he said softly. “It’s a Blue Christmas Moon.”
“Oh, Noah,” she whispered.
She turned into him and his hands framed her face, holding her still and steady before his lips covered hers with a fierceness that stole her breath. The kiss was long and slow and deep, and Mia kissed Noah with her whole self, concealing nothing, with an emotional intimacy that came from deep inside her soul.
Their reconciliation had turned into passion in a matter of hours, and Noah groaned, as he finally pulled away. “I’ve never stopped loving you, Mia. Please marry me?”
Laying her head against his shoulder, she sighed contentedly. “You know I will. There’s never been anyone else but you Noah, from the moment I saw you. I’ve always loved you too.”
“I’m glad you said yes,” Noah answered. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t feel right taking you to the Mistletoe Lodge after we spend a few hours with your father and Amanda tomorrow on Christmas Day. I reserved a cabin for us through the New Year.”
> “The Mistletoe Lodge?” Mia smiled widely with tears in her eyes. “That’s so romantic.”
Suddenly, Sammy stood up and barked.
“Quiet, Sammy. I already checked, and you’re allowed to come along with us too,” Noah muttered.
It must have been exactly what Sammy needed to hear, because he sat back down and watched, while Mia and Noah shared another kiss under the Blue Christmas Moon.
Also By Tamara Ferguson
TALES OF THE DRAGONFLY
ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
In Tandem
In Flight
Extended Flight
Emergence
KISSED BY FATE
NEW ADULT ROMANCE
That Unforgettable Kiss
That Unexpected Kiss
That Spooktacular Kiss
That Unbelievable Kiss
TWO HEARTS
WOUNDED WARRIOR ROMANCE
Two Hearts Surrendered
Two Hearts Unspoken
Two Hearts Unspoken Targets
Two Hearts Undone
Two Hearts’ Christmas Wish
Two Hearts Find Christmas
Two Hearts Unbroken
Two Hearts In Accord
Two Hearts Under Fire
Two Hearts Unlikely Heroes
Two Hearts Home For Christmas
Two Hearts’ Christmas Promise
Two Hearts’ Christmas Gift
Mistletoe Kisses & Christmas Wishes Set
(Includes Two Hearts Christmas Wish)
