The First Noelle

by Delia Latham

  She touched a finger to his lips. “Enough. Please. I’m…overwhelmed.”

  Despite having slept for days, exhaustion tugged at her mind. Yet the thought of sleeping frightened her. What if she didn’t wake up?

  Michael bent to kiss her cheek. “I’ll be here when you open your eyes, my sweet Christmas song.” He crossed the room but turned at the door. “And Noelle…you will open your eyes.” Something in his voice—something rock-hard and unyielding—infused reassurance into Noelle’s heart.

  He always had known what went on in her mind. A smile pulled at her lips despite everything, and Noelle slid further into the silk sheets and pulled the comforter up around her chin.

  My sweet Christmas song.

  Michael had almost given himself away a few times since she arrived at Holliday House. What a secret he’d been forced to keep. Her heart hurt for him, but…had he planned to make her fall in love with the new version of himself? And then what? Marry her without ever telling her who he was? She groaned. Where were they to go from here?

  The scary truth was, they probably didn’t stand a chance at any kind of future—together or apart. How long before they were invaded by angry, ungodly experiments like the one that destroyed Trevor’s face?

  “God, help us all!” Noelle mumbled the words as sleep claimed her. It was her first real prayer since Trevor disappeared from her life.

  13

  Walking through the great room and foyer, she made up her mind to give her entire team hefty Christmas bonuses. They’d done a phenomenal job while she lay unconscious, and she found nothing to criticize. From the gorgeous Christmas tree that towered well into the lofty heights of the ballroom, to the tiniest ribbon on the smallest candlestick, everything was perfect.

  She crossed the courtyard to the chapel, where they worked even now to bring her sketches and notes to life.

  A shiver raced up her spine as she pushed open the door. Despite having kept the chapel décor at a minimum, the scene still evoked strong memories of the last time she’d stood inside a church at Christmas time. She hiked her chin and marched in anyway, determined to rid herself of all the angst and bitterness.

  A couple of garlands looped along the center aisle—large red and white poinsettias, baby’s breath, asparagus fern. Large bouquets graced three-foot columns on each side of the platform area. These also featured poinsettia and baby’s breath, with the addition of red and white roses. At Michael’s specific request, she’d worked candles into the décor on the platform and—for reasons he’d refused to elaborate on—a white runner down the center aisle. It appeared someone of importance would be among his guests.

  Noelle had refused to place anything at all on the glass walls. Nothing should hide even an inch of the stark beauty surrounding this place.

  As usual, Jimmy acted as spokesperson for the whole team. “Hey, boss! Glad you’re up and around. Whaddaya think?”

  She smiled and gave him a thumbs-up. “It’s perfect.”

  He frowned. “You don’t want to change anything?”

  “Nope. Nothing at all.” Noelle grinned at the puzzled expressions. “You’re finished here, people. Go home to your families and enjoy what remains of the holidays. Merry Christmas!”

  Five jaws dropped. Ten eyes of various colors widened in astonishment.

  “What?” She grinned, unable to keep a straight face.

  “You’ve never said that before, to any of us.”

  “Well, I’m saying it now. I wish you all the merriest of Christmases, filled with family and friends, lots of love—and way too much good food!”

  They all hugged her as they trailed out the back door. Alone, she strolled to the front, taking the long way around so she wouldn’t rumple the smooth white runner in the center aisle.

  She stood at the front wall, gazing out at the frozen waterfall and the naked trees in their white winter robes. Unimaginably beautiful.

  After a time, she sat on the first pew and closed her eyes. Peace enveloped her like a heavenly hug. She relaxed into the soft embrace, her lips curving into a smile.

  At last, she spoke—softly, but not murmuring. God would hear her prayer even if she didn’t say a single word aloud, but He deserved her best.

  “Father, it’s me, Noelle. I’m here to say I’m sorry. I was wrong to blame You for what happened to Trevor and me. I was wrong to walk away from You, when all You’d ever done for me was good. Can You forgive me and take me in Your arms again?”

  I have always held you, daughter. I never let go. All was forgiven long ago on a cross in Jerusalem.

  Noelle caught her breath. Her dad had always taught that God would never forsake His children. She’d forsaken Him, and yet He still held her in His arms, still loved her, and had already forgiven her decade-long refusal to acknowledge Him.

  Tears overflowed and streaked her face. They were good tears, and they washed away the hurt and pain of those awful, empty years. By the time the oak doors behind her opened and shut, and footsteps drew near her front-seat altar, she felt clean and made over. Indeed, she felt much like the young woman she’d left weeping in the back of a poinsettia-adorned church a lifetime ago.

  “Noelle?” Michael lowered himself onto the pew beside her. “Are you OK? You disappeared. Your parents are worried.”

  She chuckled. “That’s a given. It’s what they do. But I’m fine, Michael. Better than I’ve been in a long time.”

  “Good.” He sat for a moment, both of them absorbing the peace around them. “The chapel looks amazing.”

  “I think so too.”

  He cleared his throat. “I’d like to tell you about the event I’m hosting on Christmas Eve—and by the way, you and your team have gone above and beyond everything I hoped for.”

  “You’re welcome.” She grinned. “You’re going to write a pretty big check for all of this, so I’m glad you like it.”

  “It’s worth every penny.”

  “So…what is the occasion, then?”

  “Our wedding.”

  Noelle bounced off the pew and stood, wide-eyed, staring. Michael didn’t even blink.

  “Our…wedding?”

  “Yes. That was the plan all along.” He took her hand and pulled her back down beside him. “Honey, I didn’t make it last time, even though I wanted to marry you more than anything in the world. I guess it wasn’t meant to be…not then…but nothing has changed for me. I’ve loved you all my life. I love you still.” He slipped off the pew and onto one knee, where he reclaimed her hand and brought it to his lips, and then held it close to his heart. “You’ve turned this into the most beautiful wedding chapel ever and made Holliday House ready for wedding guests. Will you marry me, Noelle?”

  She couldn’t breathe. Could she risk another wedding that might not happen? Would she go mad with uncertainty and dread between now and then?

  “We don’t even know if we’ll live until Christmas Eve,” she murmured.

  “We’re never promised another day, are we?” Michael’s smiled soothed, despite Noelle’s tumultuous emotions. “However, I finally reached my contact in the protection program. Turns out, he was planning to set up a meeting with me. The government program that got me into all this is now defunct. After years of failed experiments, they’re calling it a loss and have cleared out all evidence that a lab ever existed in that location.” He shook his head, pulled in a breath, and let it out again. “It doesn’t change much for me, in all honesty. I’m required to retain my current identity, and remain silent about what I saw. Still, Marcus and I can both breathe a little easier, though I fear we’ll never be entirely untethered to our government.”

  “Marcus. Dr. Johnston?”

  “Yes. Someone spilled the beans to him after escaping the facility in its early days and going to Marcus for medical care. In return for his family’s safety, he’s been their medical backbone all these years.” Michael’s smile was grim. “I just spoke with him. He sounds twenty years younger.”

  “
That’s wonderful news. So my folks…we’re all safe.”

  Michael hesitated. “Probably…but I will teach them—and my parents as well—to keep a close eye on their surroundings. The program is no longer existent, but the bad guys are still out there, Noelle, and they’d love to know what went on in that lab. Experiments the government deems unsuccessful might be considered perfect in the hands of unsavory people.” He studied her face. “You understand what I’m saying.”

  Noelle swallowed the lump of dread in her throat and nodded.

  With a squeeze of her hand, Michael continued. “They may or may not know that a kid named Trevor Holden saw what he saw ten years ago. I have to be up front about that. That’s why I will remain Michael Holliday and keep stringent security measures in place. I’ve never run into a problem, and I hope not to, but I can’t let down my guard, especially now that—hopefully—I’ll have a genuine treasure to protect.” He traced a fingertip over her hand and up the ring finger while Noelle reminded herself to breathe. “Please say you’ll marry me, my sweet Christmas song.”

  “Oh, Michael...” That she loved him was not even a question. But her terrified heart held her back. “I’m not sure I’m brave enough to plan another wedding.”

  “It’s my turn to do that. You need only be here. Just say I do, and let me put a ring on your finger.”

  She bit at her lip, her eyes downcast until Michael gently nudged her chin upward. “Michael, I—” Her voice broke. “I—can’t do this right now.”

  His jaw set. His voice, when he finally spoke, was firm. “There will be a wedding in this chapel at 1:00 PM on Christmas Eve. I’ll be the one waiting this time.” He stood and pulled her up and into his arms. “In the meantime, I’ll pray, Noelle. Because if you’re not here to speak those vows, I’m not sure how I’ll keep on breathing.”

  He kissed her then, and Noelle responded with passion and perhaps a bit of desperation even though returning his kiss wasn’t fair—not if she couldn’t give him the promise he sought. But it felt so right to be in his arms, to feel his heartbeat racing in time with hers.

  Still, she allowed the embrace only for a moment before pulling away. Tears stung her eyes as she touched the tips of two fingers to his lips. “I have to go, Michael. I can’t—” She sobbed once and then turned to hurry down the side aisle.

  “Noelle!” His voice sliced through the air, and she stopped at the door but didn’t turn around. “Christmas Eve. One o’clock. I’ll be right here, waiting for you.”

  14

  Michael stood outside the chapel doors with Ken Joy. His heart pounded hard and fast.

  “Relax, son. You can do this.”

  “I have to if I want Noelle in my life. And I do.”

  “I know.”

  “You haven’t heard…?”

  “Nothing at all. She packed everything in about half an hour and kissed her mother and me on her way out the door. She didn’t say when she’d be back. We didn’t know about…all this…until you filled in the pieces.”

  “Even if she doesn’t show, I’ll carry it all the way through…like she did ten years ago.”

  “Noelle didn’t walk down the aisle and face all those people. We protected her from that. You don’t have to do this, Michael.”

  “Yes, I do.” He gave the older man’s shoulder a squeeze.

  “Well, then…” Noelle’s father peeked at his watch. “We can’t put it off any longer.”

  “Let’s go.”

  Only a few guests waited inside. Michael had kept the wedding small and intimate. Noelle didn’t need to face a large crowd this time—only their closest friends and family members.

  His throat rasped like dry corn husks as they made their way to the front. He’d never felt so light-headed, not even when that government beast took a swing at his head.

  God, how did Noelle endure this? With the next breath, another silent plea winged heavenward. Lord, please bring her back. I can’t lose her again.

  Oscar Tennerman offered a reassuring nod from his place in the best man’s position. He’d proven himself a better friend than anyone Michael had called by that title during his life as Trevor Holden.

  Noelle’s mother stood opposite the Tennerman. She’d be her daughter’s matron of honor—if the bride arrived. On the front row, Michael’s parents took in the scene with wide grins and misty eyes.

  Romantic harp music held the guests enthralled. Who would’ve thought the ungainly Charlene Hortzmann could tease such amazing sounds from any instrument? Mr. Tennerman had somehow known about her talent, and as always, he possessed the rare gift of knowing when the time was right to reveal a thing.

  Under cover of the breathtaking harp-song, Ken looked at Michael. “What now?”

  “Carry on.” Michael stood up a little straighter, swallowed the lump in his throat, and gave a single bob of his chin.

  Ken blew out a breath through pursed lips. He nodded at Charlene, and the music faded to silence.

  “Dear friends and family, thank you for joining us on this Christmas Eve afternoon. We’re here to join Michael and Noelle in holy matrimony. Noelle’s mother and I could never give her away, but we do give our blessing on this union. We’re thrilled to see our daughter united in marriage with the man she loves.”

  A rustle of whispered confusion filled the chapel. Where was the bride?

  Michael’s stomach knotted, and for a moment he thought he’d be sick.

  Ken kept talking, stalling, but he caught Michael’s eye and hiked an eyebrow. Again Michael nodded, although everything in him wanted to turn and run, maybe keep running forever.

  “Well, I’ve gone on quite long enough. It’s time to get these two bound in heart and hand.” Ken continued with the traditional ceremony Noelle had always loved, appearing unaware of the empty space his daughter was meant to fill. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the sight of God, with all of you as witnesses, to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. Not to be taken lightly, marriage should be entered into solemnly and with reverence and honor.”

  He continued on while Michael fought to stay upright. He longed to fall on his knees and beg God to bring his bride through the back doors, but he knew Noelle…if she’d meant to be here, she’d have arrived on time. Still, she had endured a wedding without a groom, and he’d told her he’d wait at the altar today, so wait he would.

  A gentle nudge from Mr. Tennerman tuned him back into the ceremony. The minister was launching into the vows.

  “Repeat after me, please. I, Michael, take thee, Noelle…”

  Michael repeated the beautiful, age-old promises, and voiced the two words he’d wanted to say years ago: “I do.”

  “What now?” Spoken in a whisper, Ken’s question held a world of uncertainty.

  “Carry on, sir.”

  Noelle’s father nodded and looked at the empty place beside Michael as if his daughter stood there.

  “Do you, Noelle, take Michael to be your lawfully wedded husband, to live together forever…?” The familiar words droned on, and Michael’s hope faded with each of them.

  Heavy silence followed the recitation. Michael’s shoulders drooped, and Mr. Tennerman stepped closer and took his arm on the side away from the congregation. The man knew how to be discreet.

  Into the silence, an angel spoke from the back of the small sanctuary.

  “I do. Yes. Yes, I do!”

  Noelle!

  A collective gasp went up from the guests as Michael swung toward the beloved voice. No angel had ever been more beautiful than his bride. She made her way, alone but with utter grace, down the runner-covered aisle. She wore a floor-length dress of white satin and lace, red and white rosebuds in her hair, and a wide, open, incredibly lovely smile. In her arms, she carried the long-stemmed red roses he’d left in the changing room with a note that read, “I love you, my sweet Christmas song. I’m waiting at the alter.”

  Having reached his side, she motioned for her dad to wait a mome
nt and then turned to face the stunned guests.

  “You’re all so kind to have come on such short notice and in the midst of your Christmas festivities. And then you arrived to find the bride not even in attendance. You must have thought my father and Michael were either insane or pulling some kind of elaborate joke.”

  A titter of amusement broke the tension in the room, even as a few guests gave vehement nods. Michael had never been more proud of Noelle.

  “First, allow me to apologize for being late. I won’t bore you with all the details, except to say that I had to plead with a certain San Francisco bridal shop owner to leave her family’s Christmas preparations, accept a generous ransom, and allow me to claim the dress I failed to pick up before they closed last night. By then, time was not on my side, so imagine my horror to discover someone had lengthened the road between San Francisco and Hope Springs by at least a hundred miles since I left here just over a week ago!”

  Another appreciative murmur of amusement greeted her words. Their friends and family would never, ever forget this wedding.

  Noelle hauled in an exaggerated breath, and this time, the guests applauded. When they were quiet again, she said, “Thank you for bearing with me. You all deserved an explanation, but now I’ll let my dad finish what he and Michael were brave enough to start without me. I can’t wait another minute to be Mrs. Holliday.”

  She turned and gave her dad a nod. Despite Noelle’s brave speech, her fingers trembled as Michael slid the decade-old diamond and ruby ring onto her finger.

  “What God has joined together, let no man put asunder. By the power vested in me by Almighty God and the state of California, I now pronounce you man and wife. May your life be blessed, your years be long, and…may your children come soon and be healthy. I’m ready for grandbabies!”

  Laughter filled the chapel.

  Ken gave his head a shake, clearly relieved to be calling this wedding ‘done.’ “Please, son…please kiss your bride.”

  Michael opened his arms and Noelle moved into them.

  “I love you, Noelle…my sweet Christmas song,” he whispered.