by JoAnn Durgin
What was that all about? Nicole pulled away and gave him a skeptical glance. “Nice speech, but for now, nothing’s decided between us. And Alex isn’t planning on being in Starlight for Christmas. He’s with his family, and they planned a ski trip to Europe months ago. I’m flying to Minneapolis and meeting them over the New Year.”
“Well, then, I’m sure you’ll wow them just as you do everyone else.”
“I hope so,” she said. “I’m a little nervous about meeting them. But you need to promise to come with me back to Starlight some weekend if you can tear yourself away from your busy social calendar.”
“Eventually, I shall, my sweet. British invasion and all that.”
She laughed. “I’ll count on it.”
“Now, go. Off with you.” Colin waved one hand as though dismissing her.
Nicole swallowed the lump in her throat. “I’ll see you in a week. Nothing has to change, you know.”
“God be with you, love.”
Nicole’s breath hitched. “You, too. Keep Him close, my friend.”
“I plan on it. We’ll talk more when you return.” He winked. “Merry Christmas, Nikki.”
Mike put a hand on her arm to stop her at the edge of the set. “I have to say, you’ve surprised me. I never thought I’d see the day when you’d turn down a national opportunity and a chance for real stardom, not that we’re not thrilled we’ll get to keep you. You know as well as I do you’re lucky if you get one shot for fame in this fickle business.” He shook his head. “To think you’re running away to some little no-name town in the middle of the state.”
Nicole shook her head. “I haven’t really changed, Mike. I’m still the same girl with stars in her eyes.” She lifted her chin to meet his gaze head-on. “I’ve learned to be happy where God plants me. I don’t need to go somewhere else to make me happy. As far as Starlight is concerned, Dante Moretti will put that great little town on the map, but the people there won’t be swayed by the idea of fame or fortune. You won’t find T-shirt or trinket stands set up by people trying to make a quick buck from his celebrity. Instead, families will be flocking to Starlight with their children throughout the year with the hope of playing soccer and improving their skills from some of the greatest players who ever lived.”
Mike listened, not speaking. She figured she might as well get it all out now even if he didn’t fully understand her loyalty to either Starlight or to Wake Up, Des Moines!
“That little town is everything that’s right about my life. The people there are true, real, honest, and I dare say any one of them would clothe you, feed you, help you, and give you whatever you asked. Because that’s the kind of people they are. They fear God and don’t care what anyone else thinks. In the past few weeks, I’ve awakened to the fact that’s how I want to live my life. Surrounded by people who love me and want the best for me, whatever…or wherever that may be.”
“Then it’s where you need to go. But we’re going to be selfish and hang onto you as long as we can.” Like Colin before him, Mike opened his arms and pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her and drawing her into his chest. Feeling a bit awkward, Nicole leaned her head on his shoulder. “Starlight’s gaining another star,” he whispered, his voice gruff with emotion, something she never would have expected. “Go find your destiny, Nikki.” He kissed her cheek. “Have a great Christmas.”
She stood back, sniffling. “You, too. Sorry about that little speech. I guess I got carried away.”
He chuckled. “It’s obvious Starlight’s your passion. Everyone should be so blessed.”
“I’m excited to start training Whitney to be our third co-host for Wake Up, Des Moines! It can work, Mike.”
Mike cocked his head to one side, surveying her. “She’ll learn from the best, so I’m sure she’ll be just fine. But she’s not you.” With that, the senior producer strode off the set.
24
Starlight – Christmas Day
Nicole had stuffed herself so full of Caroline’s fabulous Christmas dinner, she thought she might burst. “That was the best meal ever, Caroline. You’ve outdone yourself.”
“Well, thanks for your help,” Caroline said. “We’re so happy to have you back in Starlight. And I’m not just talking about today.” Angie, Harry, and Ben, seated around the table, raised their glasses of sparkling cider in a rousing toast.
When her cell phone rang, Nicole withdrew it from the pocket of her jeans and checked the display. Her pulse jumped. “It’s Alex. If you’ll excuse me a minute.” Caroline pushed her chair away from the table and Nicole caught her sharing a smile with Angie.
“Hi there.” She carried the phone into the living room and stared out the front picture window, smiling at the sight of falling snow. She loved a fresh snowfall, especially on Christmas Day. “So, are you currently on a mountaintop somewhere in the Alps?”
“Well, it’s definitely snow covered,” Alex said. “All I can think of is you. Are you having a nice Christmas so far?”
“Yes, all things considered. I’m trying my best not to be incredibly jealous that you’re in the country I’ve always wanted to visit. You?” Nicole was surprised it was such a great phone connection considering the man she loved was halfway around the world. She sat down in an armchair, her back to the window, relishing the sound of his voice.
“Remember, it’s only geography. And I think your day—and mine—will be a whole lot brighter in a few minutes.”
“Oh? Why is that? Did you find some men willing to play Swiss hockey?”
Alex laughed, deep and hearty. How she loved it, but it only made her miss him more. She glanced at her watch, mentally calculating the time difference. “Guess that would be a pretty late game, huh?”
“I’m planning on something a lot more fun than hockey tonight.”
Angie rushed into the living room. “Oh my, what is that sound? I think it’s jingle bells. Nicole, honey,” she said, placing a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry to interrupt your conversation, but you need to see this.”
“Hang on just a minute, Alex.” Nicole stood as Caroline joined them in the living room with Ben and Harry following behind her. Putting one hand over the phone, she tried not to frown. She knew they meant well, but was it too much to ask for a little privacy? “You do realize the man’s calling from Europe, right?” Hearing the sound of jingle bells, Nicole slowly turned toward the two women huddled by the window.
“Wait a minute. Isn’t that Alex?” Caroline said.
Nicole stepped closer to the window. Her breath caught, and she covered her mouth with one hand. Her eyes widened, and her pulse pounded when she spied a beautiful red sleigh, draped with swags of holly and red bows, pulled by a majestic white horse, making its way down the street. She caught the looks exchanged among the other four in the room. “You know very well it is Alex, you lovable scamps.”
“Well, then, why are you standing here with us?” Ben chuckled under his breath.
“Alex,” she said into the phone, still finding it somewhat difficult to breathe, “a very handsome man has come to take me on a sleigh ride. I’m hanging up now.”
“You’d better.” She heard his laughter as she disconnected the call.
When Nicole turned to Ben, she loved how his eyes sparkled. “We had to get special clearance for him to bring that sleigh on a residential street, you know. Good thing it’s a straight shoot out to where you’re going. Now, you go on out there and wish your man a very Merry Christmas!”
Nicole launched into Ben’s arms, nearly bowling the man over. She needed to be more careful, but he didn’t seem to mind. With quick hugs for Angie, Harry, and Caroline, she grabbed her red jacket and wool cap from the hall closet and kissed Caroline’s cheek. “Love you all.” She heard their delighted chatter behind her as she darted out the front door and down the front steps, thankful she didn’t slide on the ice or worse, fall flat on her face.
After jumping down from the sleigh, Alex opened his arms. With a cry of
joy, Nicole stumbled her way over the snow-covered front walkway to meet him. The man looked better than ever, bundled in his heavy gray jacket, cheeks flushed with the cold, and his red knit hat pulled low over his forehead.
Alex gathered her close. “Merry Christmas, my love.” He kissed her but kept it respectable likely due to their audience. “I’ve missed you so much. I believe you promised me a sleigh ride.”
“My first and last. So, you’ve come to collect, have you?” She laughed. “I’ll take a ride anywhere with you, Mr. Kingsfield. Don’t mind saying that I’ve missed you something fierce. I can’t believe you’re really here. In Starlight. With me. On Christmas.”
“Where else would I be on Christmas but with the woman I love? The Alps are great, but I’ll wait until I can take you with me. More than anything in the world, I wanted to surprise you today. And it was totally worth it to see that special look on your face.”
She giggled, overcome with a burst of happiness. “Which look is that?”
He kissed the tip of her nose. “Like a little girl at Christmas getting the one gift you really wanted but didn’t expect to find.”
Nicole couldn’t resist. “Are you my gift, Alex?”
“Hang on, sweetheart. I have something to show you.” With those promising words, he lifted her up into the sleigh. After settling beside her on the bench, he pulled a red plaid blanket from the back and arranged it across both their laps while she tugged gloves over her cold hands. Within seconds, Alex guided the horse over the beautiful, quiet, and snowy landscape.
“You’re pretty good at this. Tell me. Do you actually have a license to drive a sleigh?”
“Hush, and stop being so pragmatic.”
“Make me.”
Stopping the sleigh in the middle of the street, Alex’s lips were warm as they settled firmly on hers. Nicole reveled in his kisses, never wanting them to stop.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked after they parted and she’d regained her equilibrium.
“Patience, Miss Reardon. You’ll find out soon enough.”
A half hour later, they neared the outskirts of Starlight. After stealing more kisses and snuggling beside the man she loved, he asked her to close her eyes.
She obeyed.
“You may open them now,” he said a couple of minutes later. Anticipation filled her heart, and she loved the excitement in his voice.
“Oh, Alex! How beautiful.” Before her stood a charming white chapel, nestled in a clearing among tall balsam fir and white pine trees. She turned to him, wonder filling and expanding her soul. “This is the site of the new Starlight Soccer facility, isn’t it? I haven’t even been out here yet.”
“Yes. They finished the chapel earlier this week. Dante wanted it to be the first structure built on the property as a constant reminder to pray for the Lord’s blessing over this project.”
“Very fitting. I love it.” Wide-eyed, Nicole breathed in the crisp air as Alex jumped to the ground and came around to her side of the sleigh. Wrapping his strong arms around her, he lifted her down from the sleigh. He stole another kiss as the snow softly blanketed the ground around them. After securing the horse’s reins to the trunk of a tree and giving him carrots to nibble, Alex took her by the hand and they made their way through the snow-covered field toward the chapel.
He dug a key from the pocket of his jeans, inserted it into the lock, and swung open the door of the chapel. Stepping inside, she glanced up in awe at the colorful, stained glass window. Above an altar, it depicted a familiar scene of Jesus with children gathered around Him.
Alex closed the door and rubbed his hands together before switching on the small heater. In a matter of seconds, its warmth permeated Nicole’s half-frozen limbs.
“What a special place. Thank you for bringing me here.”
“You’re welcome.” Taking her hands in his, he led her to one of the white benches. They sat down, turned toward one another, knees touching. “The first thing I need to tell you is that I’ve been offered a new position. It’s not with the network. I’ve prayed about it, and it’s where I feel the Lord has led me. I just accepted the offer last night.”
“I see.” Nicole swallowed her confusion and tried to control her breathing. What could this mean? He hadn’t even hinted of such a thing during their e-mails or many phone or Skype conversations. Maybe this was the kind of news that needed to be delivered in person. “Of course, you need to follow His will. That’s what’s most important. And even though I realize it’s just geography, please promise me this position is somewhere in the continental United States.”
“Yes, sweetheart.” His smile was wide and inviting. “It’s actually right here. In Starlight.”
She met his beautiful green eyes and gulped. Did she hear him correctly? “Starlight?”
“You don’t know how difficult it’s been not to say anything to you. It’s one of the biggest secrets I’ve ever had to keep. Dante’s offered me the position of marketing director for Starlight Soccer. I’m going to wrap up everything in New York, and I plan on being settled here in Starlight by the beginning of February.”
“Seriously? Oh, Alex, I can’t believe it!” Wrapping her arms around his neck, Nicole hugged him, scarcely able to comprehend his words.
“There’s more,” he said, chuckling as she peppered his face with light kisses. “Trust me. You’ll want to hear this.”
“What more could there be? This is fabulous news!”
“Dante’s given me the authority to offer you the position of communications director for Starlight Soccer. I happen to think you’d be very good at it. I mean, since you turned down a national network deal, I figured you might be willing to consider this opportunity. Of course, you’d have to put up with me hanging around all the time.”
That announcement stunned her speechless.
“The position also comes with some pretty big strings attached.”
“Strings?” she said, finally finding her voice.
Alex pulled his gloves from both hands and then proceeded to do the same with hers. Silently, she watched him with wide eyes, and her heart pounded out of control.
He slid off the bench, and balanced on one knee in front of her as he pulled out a small, blue velvet jeweler’s box.
“I love you, Nicole, and I want you beside me always. Will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?” He opened the lid of the box and Nicole gasped at the sparkling, marquise-cut diamond nestled inside. “If you want a different style of ring—”
“Alex, that doesn’t matter. It’s absolutely beautiful, and I love you. If I have to marry you to get the job as Dante’s communications director, then I guess that’s what I’ll have to do. You drive a hard bargain.”
He slid the ring on her finger and then kissed her again.
At length, they parted. “Forgive me for asking, but this decision of yours had nothing to do with the fact that I’d already decided to move here, did it?” She smoothed his hair since she’d mussed it a bit by running her fingers through it more than a few times.
“Not at all,” he said, chuckling under his breath. “I’ve been talking with Dante ever since I went back to New York.”
“So, we both chose Starlight.”
He nodded and his eyes, so filled with love, swelled her heart. “If you ask me, it was another way the Lord cemented in my mind that we’re meant to be together.” Alex dropped soft kisses on her neck before stopping and releasing a long breath. “Dante and Amanda have agreed to give me the use of their guest house until such time as you become my bride.”
Nicole shook her head, feeling lightheaded from it all. “I didn’t realize they have a guest house.”
“They don’t yet, but they will in about three months. Until then, I’ll be taking up residence in one of their guest bedrooms.”
“Not too shabby for a cameraman,” she said. “Now I know why Ben and Caroline tried hard to dissuade me from buying a house. They knew you were coming, didn’t t
hey?”
Alex’s grin gave her the answer. “Yes. They knew.”
She laughed. This explained so much. “Did Colin know, too?”
His grin grew wider.
She mock frowned. “Tell me. Does the entire town of Starlight know?”
“No,” he said, laughing. “Only half of them. Maybe more. Not sure. Does it really matter? I knew you wanted to move here, Nicole. Maybe even before you did. It was something you said on the night of the Starlight Mistletoe Dance.”
She raised a brow. “What did I say?”
“When we were dancing, you asked me what I thought of—and I quote—‘my Starlight.’”
“You have to admit, this town has a way of settling in your heart. But I can’t make an abrupt departure from Wake Up, Des Moines! That wouldn’t be fair. I’ll need some time to make the transition.”
“Of course,” Alex readily agreed. “I understand that, and I’m sure Dante will, too. Maybe you can even work out an arrangement to do special Starlight segments.”
“That’s an excellent idea. You know,” she said, pulling him closer by the collar of his jacket. “You’re very smart for a network executive.”
“Ex network executive. Almost.” He laughed and then took both her hands in his, running one finger over the gorgeous diamond ring. “I’m thinking we can marry right here in the chapel, if you’d like. Whenever you say.”
Nicole glanced around the lovely chapel. “Not many can squeeze in here, so we might need to have the ceremony at the church. We could come back here for the reception, if the facility is built by then, or I imagine we can probably talk Amanda and Dante into using the great room in their house.”
