Reunited at Christmas

by Belle Calhoune

  With Ruby back in their world, God had just presented him and his son with the best Christmas gift ever.

  * * *

  Ruby sat in the passenger seat of the big, midnight-blue truck and gazed in wonder at her surroundings. She almost felt like a little kid as she swung her eyes in every direction. Everything in this village was so beautiful. It resembled an old-fashioned postcard. Jarvis Street—the main area in town—had quaint shops lit up with sparkly Christmas lights and charming lampposts decorated in red and white.

  A huge pine tree sat on the town green, adorned with colored lights and an abundance of ornaments. Couples were walking hand in hand down the street while a group of children had their noses pressed against one of the shop windows. A big sign with the words Operation Love hung on a shop door. Her attention was drawn to an establishment called the Moose Café. It looked festive and fun, judging by the moose logo above the door and the customers who sailed out the door with contented smiles on their faces.

  “That’s my brother Cameron’s place.” Liam glanced over at her, as if waiting for her to react to the name he’d tossed out. It hadn’t registered at all. She felt a little dip in her stomach. It felt as if she might be disappointing him by not remembering names and places and this glorious town. But she could never pretend about her memories just to make someone happy—they were sacred.

  “It started as a coffee bar, but it’s morphed into a pretty good restaurant,” Liam explained. “He serves up a mighty good mochaccino and a whole assortment of other fancy coffee drinks.”

  “It seems like a great place,” she said, admiring the soft glow emanating from inside. It looked like the sort of establishment where friends gathered to share food, good conversation and fellowship. Who had her friends been in this small fishing village? Had they mourned her passing? Had they missed her?

  “He built that place out of sheer grit and determination. You used to always say that Cameron could do anything he set his mind to.” A ring of satisfaction laced his tone.

  “I guess I was right,” she murmured. “That’s quite commendable of him. How many siblings do you have?”

  “Three. There’s Boone, who you just met. He’s the oldest. Cameron, who owns the Moose Café. And last but not least, is my sister, Honor. She’s the baby of the family.” He quirked his mouth. “I don’t want to make you feel any pressure, but my little sister always thought you hung the moon. She’s at the house now, watching Aidan, so she’s going to be very emotional about your return. I sent Boone ahead of us so he could tell her. Be prepared for a few waterworks. That one wears her heart on her sleeve.”

  Ruby was thankful for the heads-up. There was nothing worse than being blindsided. She wondered if that’s how Liam felt about her showing up in Love without even the slightest warning.

  He must be a strong person, she realized. Liam seemed to be handling the news incredibly well, much better than she was. Her own emotions were all over the place. She could feel something bubbling up inside her and threatening to overflow. She had been so used to stuffing her feelings down in an effort to minimize the pain of not knowing her identity. It was as if someone had pulled back her layers and exposed her core. All her nerve endings were tingling.

  She bit her lip. Ruby turned toward him, admiring how good-looking he was in profile. “What about me? Do I have any brothers or sisters? And what about my parents? Shouldn’t you call them?”

  Liam’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. “Your parents are both gone, Ruby. But you do have a brother, Kyle. You raised him after your parents died in a car accident. He lives in Alaska, but not here in Love. He’s a volunteer fireman. I’ll call him once we get home and see Aidan.”

  “Were we close?” she asked. Her pulse began to race at the idea that she had a blood relative she had loved dearly enough to raise on her own.

  Liam turned to her, a sheen of moisture in his eyes. “Very close. He was inspired to become a fireman after watching the work you did with search-and-rescue operations.”

  Ruby felt a big smile take over her face. “That’s nice. It makes me feel good to know that I worked in a meaningful profession and that I impacted people’s lives.”

  “You saved a lot of lives, Ruby. Even on that terrible day on the mountain, you rescued people. Pretty amazing, isn’t it?” Liam’s voice radiated a deep respect. “You were a hero.”

  It was fairly wonderful, Ruby thought. A feeling of pride rose inside her. There wasn’t much in her day-to-day life to feel accomplished about. Back in Denver she worked at a restaurant as a waitress. It was a low-paying, boring position that left her feeling as if there had to be more to life than her current situation reflected. But with no past, no degrees to put on a résumé and no known skills, making a living had been difficult. Her boss paid her under the table and hadn’t pressed her for a social security number after she’d explained her circumstances. She was thankful she was able to live a modest life on her salary, but the work didn’t fulfill her in any way.

  As Moose Crossing signs appeared on the road ahead and a magnificent mountain loomed in the distance, majestic and proud, the enormity of the situation crashed over her in unrelenting waves. She had stepped out on a leap of faith by making the trip to this lovely Alaskan hamlet. Leaving Colorado had pulled her out of the comfort zone she had established for herself in Denver. Despite her fears, Ruby couldn’t remember ever having felt this wonderfully alive and present.

  With every passing moment she was realizing that her being here in Love came with a host of complications. She had only brought a few days’ worth of clothes with her. Somehow in her mind she had imagined coming to Alaska and doing a little bit of digging around, then heading back to Colorado to continue with her life. Closure had been her objective. Finding out about her son and Liam had added a huge wrinkle to her plan. She had meaningful ties in this town. And there was nothing about Liam Prescott that made her believe he would sign divorce papers and send her on her merry way.

  Truthfully, she wasn’t certain that she was fully prepared to greet her old life head-on. A husband and a child? A brother? Family and friends? She wasn’t sure she could handle all of these new connections without coming apart at the seams.

  Liam shot a quick glance her direction. He reached out and touched her hand. She jerked it away, feeling uncomfortable at the tender gesture. Despite the circumstances, it was too intimate. She didn’t know him like that.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you,” Liam said. “You looked so nervous I just wanted to reassure you. Everything will be fine.”

  Ruby turned her head away and glanced out the passenger-side window. Everything will be fine. She wasn’t sure she truly believed that. Liam couldn’t possibly understand her journey as an amnesia victim. He didn’t know the twisted road she walked each and every day. The fear. The anxiety and stress. The frustration over not being able to access her own memories from her mind. And now she was going to have to face her four-year-old son and deal with questions she wasn’t sure she was prepared to answer.

  Look up, she reminded herself. It served to remind her that when things in life became jumbled or stressful, to look for God. He was always there for her. Ever present. Always faithful. Ruby didn’t know where her faith had come from, but she was grateful for it at moments like this when her fear felt like a living, breathing thing that might consume her.

  “We’re here,” Liam announced as he turned off the road and down a private, tree-lined driveway. Ruby peered out the window. Her surroundings resembled a winter wonderland. Spruce trees were everywhere. She recognized them from Colorado. They were beautiful, with full branches covered in a blanket of white.

  The tires crunched noisily on the ice and snow in the driveway.

  Fear skittered through her. What have I gotten myself into by agreeing to come here? She took a deep, fortifying breath to calm her n
erves.

  Liam had been right about her meeting with Aidan. What he was asking of her wasn’t a lot, considering he’d been doing it alone for two years and raising their son by himself. Something was pushing and prodding at her. A feeling deep down inside her that she’d been stuffing away for months. She ached to hold her child in her arms, to give him back the mother he’d lost. It felt instinctual, but it was terrifying to imagine how she might feel if he rejected her. What if after all this time she wasn’t enough?

  All of a sudden everything buzzing in her head hushed and stilled as Liam’s house came into view. It resembled something out of a fairy tale. Nestled in the woods and surrounded by snowcapped trees sat a small log cabin that brought to mind a rustic lifestyle. A fat, plastic snowman gave the front porch a festive air. A green pine wreath with red ribbons adorned the front door. A smattering of icicles hung from the eaves.

  A sigh slipped past her lips. It was a delightful house. Perfect for raising a family and happily-ever-afters.

  Had she been happy in this cozy, eye-catching home? Had all her dreams come true when she had married Liam and given birth to their baby boy? From all appearances, Ruby Prescott had been living the dream.

  “We built this house from the ground up. It was your dream, Ruby, ever since you were a little girl, to live in a log-cabin home in the woods,” Liam said, his eyes moistening.

  “Thank you,” she blurted.

  Liam frowned. “For what?”

  “For giving me that...the home I always wanted. It must have meant the world to me,” she said, feeling a pang in the region of her heart. To have been so loved by her husband that he had made it a priority for her to have her log cabin in the woods was a wonderful thing. It spoke of devotion.

  Had our life together really been so idyllic?

  She felt a wave of sadness pass over her. To have lost so much—a loving husband, a dear son and a wonderful home built straight from her imagination was painful. And although Liam’s home was unbelievable, she still didn’t feel any sort of connection to it. Nothing had been stoked inside her except sheer admiration.

  “You don’t need to thank me, Ruby. Anything I ever did was based on love. And you returned those blessings wholeheartedly and without reservation.” They locked gazes for a moment. Something simmered in the air between them that caused her to turn her eyes away. It was hard to wrap her head around discussing love with someone she had just met.

  Liam turned off the engine and made his way to her side of the truck before she knew what was happening. He opened the door and reached for her hand, reminding her to watch her footing on the slippery ground. Knowing her boots had already caused her to slide several times that morning, she clutched Liam’s elbow as she felt her foot slipping. Liam didn’t flinch as her full weight leaned on him. “Sorry,” she said in a low voice. “You would think I’m used to this because of all the snow we get in Colorado.”

  “No worries. I’ve got you,” he drawled, causing tiny butterflies to do somersaults in her tummy. He led her the rest of the way to the porch steps, easing his stride so as not to rush her. The gesture spoke volumes to Ruby about Liam. Considerate. Caring. A true gentleman. She felt as if she was slowly but surely piecing together the clues as to what kind of man Liam Prescott was. So far he seemed like an incredible human being. She could very well imagine women tripping all over themselves to be with a guy like Dr. Liam Prescott.

  Before they had even reached the top step, the front door sprung open. A young woman with long, chestnut-colored hair and gentle features stood there, her gray-blue eyes awash with tears. She looked Ruby up and down, her expression incredulous.

  “Honor,” Liam said in a warning voice. “Take it easy. We don’t want to overwhelm her. She’s just getting her bearings.”

  Before Ruby knew it, she found herself enveloped in an enthusiastic bear hug, the likes of which she had never before experienced. At least not that she could recall. Honor’s arms were squeezing her so tightly that for a moment it felt overwhelming. She watched as Liam untangled his sister’s arms from around her and gently pushed her away.

  “I’m sorry. Boone said to go easy, but I couldn’t help myself.” She sniffed back tears, her stare never wavering from Ruby. “I’m so happy!”

  Ruby sent Honor the warmest smile she could muster. This young woman seemed so sincere and good-hearted. It made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside to know that she had fostered a tight relationship with her sister-in-law. She could feel the love radiating from Honor.

  Once Liam ushered her inside the house, Ruby stood in the foyer and looked around at her surroundings. The décor was warm and cozy. Cream-colored walls provided a soothing vibe while family photos on the front table provided a personal touch. She spotted a picture of herself and Liam. It was an odd sensation to see a photo she didn’t remember posing for. She was gazing up at Liam adoringly. He was holding a baby boy in his arms. Most likely it was their son.

  “I just can’t believe it! Ruby’s back. You have your family back, Liam. All of our prayers have been answered.” Honor gushed as she threw herself against Liam’s chest. As Ruby stood and regarded the heartwarming scene unfolding before her, she couldn’t help but fret over the very real possibility of letting everyone down. Especially Aidan. She had traveled to Love to get answers her own mind couldn’t provide. She hadn’t even been certain that she’d been on the right path. The thought of staying there in town hadn’t ever crossed her mind.

  Dear Lord. Please provide some clarity. I need You now more than I ever have before. How do I embrace these people who care about me without raising false hopes about my return? My name may be Ruby Prescott, but I don’t remember who that is or how to be her.

  Chapter Three

  Liam felt Ruby’s eyes on him as he cradled Honor against his chest. He felt a spurt of sympathy for her. She looked a tad overwhelmed. There was a tight look to her expression, as if one little thing might cause her to shatter into pieces. Although he loved his baby sister to no end, she veered toward the dramatic. Ever since she was a little girl, she’d shouted her feelings from rooftops. As her big brother, Liam had always wished he could protect her from the slings and arrows of life, but he had learned through trial and error that it just wasn’t possible.

  He felt relieved about his decision to have Boone break the news to Honor about Ruby. There was no way he had wanted to have that conversation over the phone with his baby sister, nor had he thought it wise to simply show up with Ruby in tow. It would have been too much of a shock for Honor. As it was, she had practically strangled Ruby with her enthusiastic embrace.

  Ruby hadn’t seemed to remember his sister at all. There hadn’t even been a glimmer of recognition on her face.

  Retrograde amnesia? Liam had heard the term, but had never dealt with a patient who suffered from the condition. As far as he knew, it was incredibly rare, which made the situation even more baffling. And he felt a little guilty about the fact that her memory loss prevented her from remembering the pitiful state of their marriage prior to the accident.

  Was it right to allow her to believe things had been wonderful between them? He himself wasn’t under any illusions about that, but he owed it to Aidan to try to patch their family up. There was nothing Aidan wanted more than a family of his own.

  Earlier, Boone had promised that he would keep Aidan occupied until Liam could speak to him in private about his mother’s return. A quick glance around confirmed that his son was nowhere in sight.

  Honor moved out of his arms and wearily ran a hand across her eyes. She appeared emotionally drained.

  “Where’s Aidan?” he asked, knowing he had to get down to the business of talking to his son.

  “Boone is keeping him occupied in his room,” Honor said. “He was super excited that Uncle Boone showed up out of the blue. I bet they’re playing cops and robbers.�
�

  “I better go talk to him,” Liam said, addressing Ruby. “Boone can only keep him in there for so long.”

  “Do you know what you’re going to say?” Ruby asked in a tentative voice.

  Liam shrugged. “Honestly, I’m going to wing it a little bit. There’s really no script to follow here. I’ll be sensitive and caring, and try to help him understand it as much as any kid his age possibly could.”

  Ruby bit her lip. “Could you make sure to tell him that I didn’t stay away by choice...that I was sick and couldn’t find my way back home.”

  “Of course I will,” he said, emotion clogging his voice, turning it raspy. Just the thought that Ruby had been out there this whole time and living in Colorado unbeknownst to him, frustrated him to no end. But he was going to focus on what today had brought him and his family. Psalm 30:5 rolled through his mind like thunder. “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”

  Ruby’s return had brought him immense joy. Mixed with that joy was trepidation. The road ahead wasn’t going to be easy. He knew it with deep certainty.

  Liam turned and walked down the hall to Aidan’s bedroom. He paused for a moment to collect his thoughts, then turned the knob and stood in the doorway. Aidan and Boone were both stretched out on the floor playing checkers. It was Aidan’s favorite game. He watched the two of them, a feeling of deep love welling up inside him at the sight of his big brother bonding with his son. After the sorrow that had invaded their lives over the past few years, he felt so very blessed at this moment.

  He stepped into the room, causing Aidan to look up from his game. His brown eyes lit with happiness at the sight of him.

  “Daddy! I’ve been waiting for you to come home.”

  “What have you been up to, A-man?” Liam bent and tousled his son’s dark curls.

  “I been playing with Uncle Boone.” Aidan grinned.