She smiled, and hot tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. She nodded jerkily. “Yes. Oh, you idiot. I could slap you for putting us through all of this.”
“Wouldn’t a kiss do just as well?”
“I suppose, only…”
But the thought was left unspoken. His kiss was long and thorough and said all the tender words, the fanciful phrases she’d never hear.
It was enough.
More than enough to last her a lifetime.
Epilogue
It was Christmas morning in the Adams household.
The wrapping paper had accumulated in a small mountain on the living-room carpet. The Christmas tree lights twinkled and “Silent Night” played in the background.
Maryanne sat on the sofa next to Nolan with her feet up, her head on her husband’s shoulder. The girls were busy sorting through their stash of new toys and playing their favorite game—“being grown-ups.” Bailey was pretending to be a young college graduate determined to make a name for herself in the newspaper business. Courtney played a jaded reporter from a rival newspaper, determined to thwart her. It was Maryanne and Nolan’s romance all over again. The girls had loved hearing every detail of their courtship.
“They don’t seem too disappointed about not getting a puppy,” he said.
“I’m so proud of them,” Maryanne smiled. Both Courtney and Bailey were thrilled about the new baby, and although it had been hard, they’d accepted that there wouldn’t be a puppy in the family, after all. Not for a few years, anyway.
“They’re adorable,” Nolan agreed and kissed the top of her head. “Just like their mother.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“When did you say your parents would—” Nolan didn’t get a chance to finish the question before the doorbell rang. “Is that them?” Samuel and Muriel Simpson had come from New York to spend Christmas week with the family.
Maryanne nodded. Sitting up, she called to her oldest daughter, “Courtney, could you please answer the door?”
Both girls raced to the front door, throwing it open. They were silent for just a second, then squealed with delight. “Grandma! Grandpa Simpson!”
“Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas.”
Maryanne’s parents stepped into the house, carrying a large wicker basket. Inside slept a small black-and-white puppy.
“A puppy?” Courtney said in a hushed voice. She stared at her grandparents, who grinned and nodded.
“We think every family needs a dog,” Maryanne’s father said.
“Oh, he’s so cute,” Bailey whispered, covering her mouth with both hands.
“He’s perfect,” Courtney said, lifting the squirming puppy from his bed. “Is he ours? Can we keep him?”
“Oh, yes, this is a special-delivery Christmas gift for my two beautiful granddaughters.”
Maryanne came over to take the puppy from Courtney. She cuddled the small, warm body and looked into sleepy brown eyes.” I guess you’ve come a long way, haven’t you?” she murmured. The puppy gazed up at her, unblinking, and Maryanne fell in love. Just like that, all her concerns disappeared. At least this baby would be house-trained well before their son was born. And the girls could help look after him. She looked up to meet Nolan’s eyes, and he nodded. So, despite everything, there’s be two new additions to the family this next year.
Nolan ushered her parents inside and took their coats. “Sit down and make yourselves comfortable. Maryanne and I have a Christmas surprise, too.”
“As good as a new puppy?” her father asked.
“Oh, yes,” Courtney told him after a whispered consultation with her sister. She stroked the puppy, still cradled in her mother’s arms. “I don’t know what we’re naming that surprise, but we’re calling this one Jack.”
ISBN: 978-1-4268-3352-6
GLAD TIDINGS
Copyright © 2006 by MIRA Books.
The publisher acknowledges the copyright holder of the individual works as follows:
THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT CHRISTMAS
Copyright © 2005 by Debbie Macomber
HERE COMES TROUBLE
Copyright © 1991 by Debbie Macomber.
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, MIRA Books, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
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Glad Tidings Page 33
