She felt the tap on her shoulder and she whirled around. “Sorry we’re late, sister. As usual, I was caught up with myself and kept Craig and my mother occupied with my constant planning.”
“That’s okay. Sharing someone else’s yard sale treasures is probably not your cup of tea.”
“But it should be, and I am eager to learn from you how to be more selfless and giving,” Selene said.
“I’m far from perfect,” Jolene said.
“Our Craig would beg to differ on that,” said Selene as she dragged him forward. “First I need to get my good news off my chest before I burst. It is so nice to have a sister to share my joy with.” She pecked a quick kiss on Jolene’s cheek and continued, her eyes lighting up like the ones flashing on the Christmas tree. “It seems our parents are not the only ones who make bad choices. Cherise Queen is groveling at my feet, begging me to take the position she offered her play-boy fling. It turns out, Steven Clarence was not a good fit for the top floor of the Fashion Queen Magazine and the chair in the grand office is still vacant.”
Excitement discharged from Selene, and Jolene pulled her into an embrace and hugged tight as if she could somehow make up for all the hugs they’d missed. “I’m so pleased for you. But I hope you didn’t jump at the offer immediately. Might be good for her to sweat it out a few hours, keep her trembling in fear that she made the biggest mistake of her career in not choosing you.”
“I did!” Selene yelled. “Told her a tiny white lie, that I needed to talk to my mother who’d offered me a better position in her company. That sent my boss into a frenzy, reminding me of all the excuses I’d vented for not making the move to the family magazine ages ago.”
The girls laughed and it felt so natural.
“I’m beginning to believe you can’t separate the heart of twin. All the years we’ve been apart and I sense that this bizarre bond with you has been hiding in my soul all along.”
“Oh, Jolene! I feel it too. You must tell me every time you fly into Atlanta and you have spare time. I’ll drop whatever I’m doing and run to the airport.”
That aroused a chuckle from Craig. “I’ll believe that when I see it.”
She slapped at him playfully. “You won’t be there to see it. And that brings me to the unselfish news. Craig and I have spent hours talking this out so I don’t want no backtalk from you Jolene.”
Jolene’s insides fluttered like a butterfly while shivers sped up her arms. She managed to say, “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Good. In light of this new job offer and my sorry state of workaholism staring me in the face, I decided to release Craig back into the available pool of men who track women for a more normal relationship that promises a future. I not ready to commit to a man like that, and heaven-forbid, not one that wants children. I had no idea Craig wanted nine—his own private baseball team! It’s unheard of in the circles I hang with.”
Jolene dared to glance in Craig’s direction and saw the smirk growing on his face. She bit her lip to stop the laughter building inside from erupting into laughter. Who had nine children these days? No one in her circles either.
The girl moved like a Ferrari, racing in top gear with a tank full of energy. She glanced at the stockings. “I heard I had one hanging here. Did you make it Jolene?”
“Can’t say I did. The resort provided the missing guests with one. Didn’t want to exclude of any of their visitors from the gift-exchange event.”
“It is nice here, isn’t it,” she said as she pulled hers down. She peeked inside and squealed.
“You sound like a little girl who’s missed too many Christmas trees,” said Jolene.
“When I was young, we always had a tree and mother somehow managed an hour of free time in the morning to rip open the gifts Santa brought. But when the little-girl magic wore off it was harder to pin her down. It turned into an afternoon event that we worked around Christmas dinner, and it usually involved colleagues stuck in the city far away from their families, or a new man. Suppose that’s when I broke free of the dream. There would never be just the two of us – not in the world she’d created for us to live in. I got used to it, and look now, she has a clone for a daughter and it thrills her to no end.”
She pulled out the bag of treats from the Inn and moaned.
“Yep – Now you know why they have a spa and exercise room on site: So, you can work off all the pounds the chef puts on us with his rich recipes,” Craig said.
“I haven’t been yet,” Jolene said. “The weather has been so nice and who has time with all the events surrounding the Christmas theme.”
“Well, I have, and I believe I hear a weight-lifting competition coming on. Does tomorrow morning suit you, Jolene?” Craig asked.
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.
&n
bsp; “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 new entrepreneur will have time to assist me as well, help keep the clients coming my way, and the bills getting paid. With your contacts and world-view you’d be my best asset.”
“So now I’m an asset?”
“You are everything and anything you want to be, as long as you’re mine.”
“Are you proposing, Craig Landers?”
“I guess I am, Jolene Sumpter.”
“Well this twin is very interested in pursing that dream. I’ve never stopped loving you.”
“That’s all I wanted to hear.”
With the heart ornament pinned in the space between them, Craig leaned in and claimed her lips. The world seemed to stand still and Jolene’s heart filled to capacity, completely mended and overflowing.
***
Miracles did happen – with a little co-operation from His extended hands – Mrs. Claus and her kick-side amateur, Sandra Fredricks. Heritage Inn chalked up another successful match and all of heaven danced at the victory.
The End
Join Forces with the Author and Fans
Come join the fans at:
Dream Creations Romance: A FB group to interact.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1118008614903688
See all this author’s titles on Amazon Author Page
https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00J9RM116
Sign up for the weekly newsletter for a touch of inspiration and reading selections, new releases or discounted romance books.
http://eepurl.com/djNqjn
Do you like Book Bub? Follow me there!
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/marlene-bierworth
ONE LAST THING. Please, return to the retailer where you purchased this book and leave a short review. It helps the author’s rating and inspires readers in search of a new book. Thanks!
https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Hearts-Ornamental-Match-Maker-ebook/dp/B089KSGFCZ/
Christmas Hearts in July Page 10
