by J. L. Jarvis
Marco felt elated until he realized that it didn’t change a thing where he was concerned. She could not like them both at the same time.
“I wanted to be loved, and Bryce could have done that. I think we were headed that way. But being loved isn’t the same as being in love. And I wasn’t—at least not with him. So I got off the train and headed for home.” She smiled. “That didn’t quite go as planned, but that tie you gave me came in really handy! Apparently, running off the road and going down an embankment can mess up your lights, and the snow was falling so fast that I was afraid no one would find me.”
Marco couldn’t take his eyes from her. “I should have found you a long time ago.”
Lydia eyed him unsurely. “I’m an idiot.”
“Is this the part where I’m supposed to look shocked?” He smiled, but it faded. Marco felt nervous. He had never been nervous with a woman. “You’ve been such a good friend.”
“Yeah, well… thanks.” She lowered her eyes, looking disappointed, which filled him with hope.
Marco ran a hand through his hair. “But the thing is that things change. I’ve changed.” He found such depth of emotion in her eyes, which shimmered in the firelight. He wondered how long that depth had been there.
“That’s why I came back.”
“Because you’re in love?”
She averted her eyes. “How did you know?”
“Because I love you.”
She lifted her eyes to meet his. “I have wanted to hear that.”
“Just to clarify, because you love me too?”
“Yes!” She laughed.
Marco’s heart felt close to bursting. “Then would you mind putting down that damned coffee drink?”
“Yes—I mean no.”
Without waiting, Marco took the drink from her and set it aside. Then he held her face in his hands and kissed her.
The fire crackled and warmed them, while outside, large snowflakes floated down and settled in a thickening blanket. The boats in the harbor seemed to lie atop the frozen, snow-covered sea. A snowstorm at Christmastime was magical when viewed from an indoor fireside, but Marco and Lydia didn’t notice any of that, because they were in love.
Sixteen
They stayed up all night, sometimes talking but always curled up together by the woodstove. Warm in each other’s arms, they discussed all the moments they’d missed and the ones they would share in the future. All that mattered anymore was that they’d found each other at last and discovered the love they’d had all along. Lights twinkled from the evergreens Lydia and Allie had hung. Christmas magic surrounded them, and love filled their hearts.
Marco pointed at the rafters. “See that?”
Lydia smiled. “Mistletoe.”
“Like I needed a hint.”
He brushed his lips against hers, and the day dawned on their kiss.
Marco brought over two fresh mugs of coffee then sat with his arm around Lydia’s shoulder and stroked her long hair. “This mane of yours changes color in the firelight. It almost looks orange at times, but I think it’s mostly red.”
Lydia frowned. “Auburn.”
He hugged her closer. “I stand corrected.”
She rested her head on his shoulder. “I like this. What took us so long to get here?”
“If we have to place blame, I plead guilty.”
“I wasn’t trying to blame you. I just feel so happy. I wish we could have just known. Why can’t there just be a computer pop-up window?”
He pulled back just enough to take a good look at her. “What are you talking about?”
“A window that pops up and says, ‘This is the one. This is the person who will make you happy forever.’”
“That would take all the fun out of it.”
“I’m not sure I’d call it fun.”
“Why? I’ve had fun since I met you.”
Lydia laughed. “That is such a Marco thing to say.”
“Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It’s easy when you’re not in love. That torch I was carrying got pretty heavy.”
“I think I was in love, but I just didn’t know it.” Marco stared at the fire. “I used to think I knew what love was, and I thought I could control when it happened. When I decided I was ready, love would strike like some huge, overpowering sledgehammer of emotion, and I would just know. Apparently, that’s not how it works. Love snuck up on me. While I thought I was keeping love on a shelf, ready for when I chose to feel it, it was already there in the things that we shared, like our first coffee at the diner. I think that’s when it started. You were different.”
Lydia wrinkled her nose. “Thanks.”
“No! I mean in a good way. You were smart and interesting, and I wanted to know more about you.”
“For me, it was your first crochet chain.”
He laughed. “First and last.”
Lydia shook her head. “Such a loss to the needlework world.”
Marco nodded. “The thing is that the bar customers look at you weird when you set down a granny square to pour someone a drink.”
She had an almost-serious expression. “I see what you mean.”
Marco’s smile faded. “If not our first coffee, maybe it was when we hacked Decker’s PowerPoint. You were all in, and I was impressed. And no one cleans a restaurant like you do. That pretty much clinched it.”
Her eyebrows drew together. “Your typical epic love story.”
“When you accidentally dipped your hair like a paintbrush in the cleaning bucket and I pulled it back and tied it in a knot so it would stay out of the way, you looked so adorable. I could have hugged you right then. But being with you was so effortless that I didn’t even know what it was.”
With a wistful look in her eyes, Lydia said, “I knew how I felt, though I really tried to be friends.”
Marco drew her closer as they looked into the fire. “Those are the first of many moments to come. When I’m old and sitting in my duct-taped recliner with the remote in one hand and a beer in the other—a Silva Brothers’ craft beer, of course—I want to have ten thousand moments with you to remember, because that’s what love is, and I want it with you.”
They spent much of the morning finding a tow truck driver to retrieve Lydia’s car and take it to an auto shop for repair. Then Marco drove her home.
As he walked her to the door, he asked, “Do you know what this is?”
“What what is?”
“It’s perfect snowball weather.”
Lydia kept walking. “I’m sure kids all over Pine Harbor will enjoy it.”
“Oh, I’m sure they will.”
A snowball hit her back.
“You’re kidding.”
With a mischievous grin, Marco shook his head.
“Really? Oh, it’s on!” Lydia formed a snowball and ran after him. She took her best shot but missed him.
“Aww. Nice try. You get a participation trophy!”
Her eyes widened. “Oh, wow. You have just awoken a sleeping snowman!”
As he taunted her without even bothering to make another snowball, she landed one on his chest that sent flakes flying onto his face and hair. He gave chase and caught her by the waist, and they landed in a freshly plowed pile of snow.
“Be careful. It would be a shame to get snow on that red hair.”
“Auburn.” She gathered her hair behind her.
“Wait. Hold it right there.”
“Why?”
“So I can put this handful of snow down the back of your neck.” He grinned deviously.
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Oh, yes, I would—unless…”
She tried to wriggle out of his arms. “Unless what?”
“Unless you kiss me.”
Her shoulders relaxed, and she turned around. Smiling sweetly, she started to put her arms around his neck, then she pushed his handful of snow into his face and burst into peals of laughter.
Marco laughed, too, a
nd, leaving the melting snow on his face, took hers in his hands and kissed her. She squealed at the coldness of the snow, then she kissed him back.
He brushed snow from her face and said, “Another one to add to the ten thousand memories.”
No longer laughing, Lydia put her arms about Marco’s neck, and they held one other.
From her upstairs apartment, Eve gazed out the window. “Lydia’s home—with Marco.”
Dylan joined Eve and put his arm around her. “Those look like two people in love.”
Eve slipped her arm around Dylan’s waist and smiled.
Seventeen
The sun set on Christmas Eve at the brewpub. They’d closed early for the holiday, but preparations were afoot for a party. Their circle of friends had all received cryptic social media invitations to “an important holiday event” via personal message. By five o’clock, nearly everyone had arrived.
Caroline asked Theo, “What is this about?”
With a glint in his eye, Theo said, “I’m not at liberty to say.”
Kim leaned on the bar. “Oh, come on! It’s not nice to keep secrets!”
“It’s not my secret to tell.”
With a determined expression, Kim looked around and took attendance, counting on her fingers. “Theo and Marco, obviously, since you own the place. Allie’s here, duh, because of Theo. But Allie, Caroline, and I form three-fifths of the lunch gang.”
Tilting her head, Caroline asked, “We’re a gang now?”
“Is crew better? I’m trying out names.”
Caroline studied Allie. “You don’t look nearly as curious as the rest of us are. You know something.”
Allie made a guilty face but said nothing.
Kim asked, “Speaking of the rest of us, where are Eve and Lydia?”
Before anyone could answer, the front door opened, letting in a freezing gust. In walked an unassuming gentleman in a topcoat. He had a thick shock of white hair. Theo rushed over to him and ushered him back to the kitchen.
Kim said, “He’s a little overdressed for a cook. And the bar’s closed, isn’t it?”
Theo returned with the mysterious gentleman, who had dispensed with his overcoat to reveal a wool suit, and led him to the window that looked over the harbor. Then he turned. He already had everyone’s attention. “Please sit down.”
Two small rows of seats were arranged facing the window. Everyone exchanged curious looks as they took their seats. The next moment, the wedding march played over the sound system.
Theo and Allie emerged from the kitchen together and stood on either side of the gentleman at the window. Then Dylan and Eve, who had a bouquet in hand, joined them and stood facing the stranger.
The dapper gentleman began, “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here…” and a wedding proceeded. Surprised expressions gave way to a few teary eyes as the minister pronounced Dylan and Eve husband and wife. As he said it, light snow drifted down through the windows behind him.
He’d barely gotten out, “You may now kiss the bride,” when Kim leaped to her feet and burst into applause.
Dylan and Eve turned to face everyone. “Surprise!”
As everyone surrounded the newlyweds with well-wishes and questions, Mel took a flute of champagne to each guest.
Dylan said, “We’ve already waited nineteen years, so we didn’t want to wait any longer.”
Eve beamed. “Neither of us wanted a big wedding. We considered eloping, but then we thought about all of you. What better way to celebrate being together than with our dear friends? After all, without you, we might not even be here.”
Kim made a noise, something between “Oh!” and a sob, and threw her arms about Eve and Dylan. Then she drew in a sharp breath. “Where is the honeymoon?”
Eve answered, “With the holidays, we thought we would wait until later. We don’t have any definite plans yet.”
Dylan cleared his throat. “Well, that’s not quite true.”
Eve looked at him, clearly confused.
He set down his champagne and reached into his inside jacket pocket for an envelope, which he then gave to Eve. “Merry Christmas.”
Dylan answered her questioning look with a broad smile. She opened the envelope, pulled out an airline ticket, and gasped. “Paris? I’ve always wanted to go there!”
“I know. Can you wait until April?”
Eve threw her arms around his neck and hugged him, which looked like a fairly strong yes.
The minister reminded them that they needed to sign the wedding license to make it official.
Once the paperwork was dispensed with, Dylan said, “Madame, your carriage awaits.”
Allie and Theo brought the newlyweds’ coats to them.
Then Marco and Lydia held out a couple of folded blankets. “You’ll probably need these too.”
They opened the door to find a horse-drawn sleigh. Lydia’s jaw dropped. Once they were seated and covered in blankets, the driver gave them each a glass of champagne and took them on a scenic ride around the harbor.
“Merry Christmas, Mrs. Vaughan.”
She shook her head, eyes brimming with love. “Mr. Vaughan, Merry Christmas.”
Eighteen
The Christmas snow had melted away in an unseasonal thaw, but that didn’t dampen the spirits inside the Silva Brothers’ Brewpub. Pine Harbor’s Christmas had been filled with family and love, even more so than usual. While Eve and Dylan pored over Paris travel brochures, Lydia and Marco took full advantage of being off from school. When Marco wasn’t working, they were together. Allie closed up shop for the holiday week and spent most of her time at the brewpub, but work kept Theo so busy that she often helped them out or caught up on her reading.
Theo and Marco had announced a special New Year’s Eve party, which had sold out completely. It was in full swing by the time Caroline arrived with a date.
All of their lunch group was there, but Kim was first to go over and greet her. “Two questions. Who’s your friend? And does he have a brother? Okay, maybe three questions. What’s the brother’s phone number?”
But her questions became irrelevant when Kim paired up with a regular dance partner. During a slow dance, she caught Allie’s eye over her dance partner’s shoulder and, after pointing at the back of his head, gave him an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
Allie watched Dylan and Eve as they danced. They had finally found each other, and Allie’s heart filled with joy to see them together. In anticipation of the honeymoon in Paris, Marco played an Edith Piaf song for them.
The whole evening was so full of love and holiday joy that it was practically perfect. When they rang in the new year, Theo escaped from behind the bar and found Allie. “Happy New Year.” He kissed her then said, “I’ve got a surprise.”
As he pulled an envelope out of his pocket, Allie’s eyebrows drew together. “This isn’t another trip to Paris, is it?”
He laughed. “Sorry, no. And it’s not really a present, exactly. I just wanted to show you.”
“Okay…”
He unfolded a paper. “It’s the deed to the land I once showed you. I bought it.”
“Oh, wow! That’s fantastic!” She was so happy for him. Theo had been saving for that piece of land on a hill overlooking the harbor for years. He had worked so hard and achieved so much. “Congratulations.”
By the end of the evening, Allie was exhausted. She wondered how Theo managed to look so energized. Perhaps his vibrant spirit was what always made the events at the brewpub so fun. The evening had been a tremendous success, but the guests had all gone home. Only their good friends lingered for a last drink. Even Marco and Lydia were off to an after-hours party. Mel finished cleaning up, and Theo locked up after she left. He and Allie were alone.
He took her hand and led her to the window. “I want to show you something.”
“It’s snowing! Oh, what a nice way to end New Year’s Eve!”
Theo smiled. “It is, but it could be better.”
Allie couldn’
t see how. The evening had been a fantastic way to ring in the New Year.
As they stood side by side, looking out at the gentle snow falling peacefully on Pine Harbor, Theo asked, “Do you remember the day we first met?”
She turned to him. “Are you serious?”
He just smiled.
“Yes, I’m pretty sure I can remember how we first met.”
“Since then, I might’ve mentioned that I’ve fallen in love.”
Allie smiled through her confusion. “Yes, once or twice.”
“I’ve been looking forward to having a moment alone.”
“Me too.” She started to put her arms around him, but he held them to stop her then took her hands in his. “Allie?” He dropped down to one knee and looked up at her.
Allie drew in a sharp breath.
“From the start, you have always surprised me, so I wanted to surprise you this time—although it’s no surprise that I love you. “Allie Pidgeon, will you marry me?”
“Yes, I will.”
A few leftover fireworks went off in the distance, but Theo and Allie barely noticed.
The kitchen door opened a crack, just enough for Marco and Lydia to peek at the newly engaged couple.
Lydia whispered, “I think she said yes.”
Marco nodded. “They look happy. We might have to try that sometime.” Then he closed the door gently and drew Lydia into his arms.
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Acknowledgments
Editing by Red Adept Editing
