“Running circles around me is more like it,” Boone muttered.
Aidan giggled and covered his mouth.
“Hey, little man. I need to have a big-boy talk with you about something,” Liam said, trying to keep his voice casual.
Aidan’s eyes bulged. “Uh-oh. Did Auntie Honor tell you about the snowball?”
Snowball? “No,” Liam said with a raised eyebrow. “Is there something you need to tell me?”
Aidan gulped. “You go first.”
Boone and Liam exchanged a glance. Neither of them could resist grinning at Aidan’s comment. For a four-year-old, he was pretty fast on his feet.
Boone sprung up from the floor and said, “I’ll give you guys some time alone.”
As he walked toward the door, Boone reached out and squeezed Liam’s shoulder. “Let me know if you need anything,” he said with a nod.
As always, his brother was proving he was a strong support system to lean on during tough times. Once Boone had closed the door behind him, Liam went and sat on Aidan’s bed. He patted the spot beside him and said, “Come on over and sit down, A-man. We need to talk something out.”
Aidan joined him on the bed and peered up at him, a curious expression etched on his face. “What is it, Daddy? Did I do something wrong?”
“Absolutely not,” Liam said, reaching out and tweaking his nose. “You’re the bee’s knees as far as I’m concerned. You’re the best son on the planet.”
“The planet? Whoa!” Aidan said in a raised voice. “That’s cool.”
“You’re my best buddy. We’ve been through a lot since we lost your mother.”
Aidan made a sad face. He let out a little sigh and bowed his head.
“I know it’s been hard not having a mom.” Liam placed his arm around Aidan’s shoulder and squeezed.
“I wish I could remember her more,” Aidan said in a soft voice. “I like looking at her face in the album. It helps me make a picture of her in my mind.”
Aidan’s words went straight to his heart, as they always did whenever he talked about his mother. How would he ever find the right words to tell him she was alive? How could a little boy even begin to process the information?
“Aidan. Something has happened. It changes everything for us.” Aidan looked up at him with wide eyes. “It’s something good. Spectacular, really.”
Aidan rubbed his hands together. “Oh, I love great surprises.”
“Do you remember what I told you happened to Mommy? On the mountain?”
“Yes,” Aidan said in a solemn voice. “She was being a hero and snow came and swallowed her up.”
“Pretty much,” Liam said, biting back a smirk. “Sometimes things aren’t what they seem. We thought Mommy died on that mountain, A-man. But I found out today that she didn’t.”
“She didn’t?” Aidan asked, his mouth hanging open in shock.
“No, she didn’t,” he answered, blinking away the tears blurring his vision. “She hit her head and she was really sick for a long time. And she’s here, right out there in the living room.”
“No way!” Aidan said, jumping up from the bed. “Can I see her? Can I? Can I?”
Liam couldn’t help but grin at Aidan’s unbridled enthusiasm. Even though things were far from perfect with regard to Ruby’s return, his son’s innocent take on the situation made him feel on top of the world. He had received the news just as Liam had prayed he would...joyfully.
“There’s something else I have to tell you before you see her... When she hit her head, she lost her memory. So, she’s still the same mommy, but she’s going to have to get to know us all over again,” Liam explained.
Aidan’s face fell. He stuck his lip out. Tears welled in his eyes.
“Hey, buddy. What’s wrong? Just smiles today. No tears, okay?”
“I just feel sad that she lost her memories,” Aidan said. “That means she doesn’t remember the day I was born or getting married to you. And she won’t know my favorite color or the foods I like to eat.” He bowed his head and focused on the carpet.
Liam reached out and lifted Aidan’s chin. “But here’s the thing. Since you’re getting to be such a big boy, I have a huge job for you. I’m counting on you to tell your mother all about the things that matter most to you. The name of your turtle. Your favorite toy. How you like reindeer pizza better than anything else in this world.” He held out his hand. “If you’re up to the mission, let’s shake on it.”
Aidan shook his father’s hand. “I can do it. I’m going to be five soon. That means I’m getting so big.”
His chest was almost about to explode with love for this boy. There were certain moments he wished he could just capture in a bottle for all time. This was one of them.
It was time to make new memories. With Ruby. “How about we go out there and get you reacquainted with your mom?”
Aidan nodded his head enthusiastically. Before Liam could stop him, he raced toward the door and pulled it open. His son tended to lead with his heart in all things. A part of him wanted to wrap Aidan up in his arms to protect him from the inevitable hurts life would bring him.
Liam took a deep breath. He knew instinctively that the road ahead was going to be difficult. God had blessed his family today with the return of Ruby. But there were still so many unanswered questions, so many potential roadblocks in the future. This wasn’t going to be a cakewalk by any means. He bent his head and prayed.
Dear Lord. Sustain me with Your wisdom and guidance. Help me put my family back together. Please allow Aidan to get the Christmas gift he wants most—a mother.
* * *
Ruby sat in the brightly lit, all-white kitchen with Boone, his wife, Grace and Honor while Liam was having his private talk with Aidan. Grace had just showed up at the house a few minutes ago. With her jet-black hair and blue eyes, she was stunning. Her petite frame couldn’t hide the fact that she was heavily pregnant. Ruby imagined she was set to deliver any day now.
The moment she introduced herself to Ruby, Grace had put her at ease by saying, “This is the first time we’ve met, so no worries about not remembering me.”
Ruby had heaved a giant sigh of relief. It was one less person she had to worry about feeling awkward around.
Everything in the room was pleasing to the eye, from the granite countertops to the copper pans hanging from the rack. She couldn’t help herself from gazing around with a deep appreciation for the setup. Ruby nearly fell off her chair when Honor told her she had been the one to lay out the plans for the kitchen design. Everything had been done to her specifications. Dream house. Dream kitchen. From everything she had seen, her life had been fairly wonderful. She hoped the old Ruby had been thankful for her blessings.
At the moment she was about as nervous as she’d ever been, even counting earlier this afternoon when she had walked into the sheriff’s office. This was all starting to feel surreal. A husband. A kid. A town full of people who knew her.
What did she know about being somebody’s wife or mother? What could she possibly achieve in this situation? Having no memories of the past was a severe limitation. It didn’t allow her to have any sort of frame of reference with them. The harsh reality was that they were all strangers to her. And she was sitting here among them not knowing what to say to fill the silence.
“Would you like some more tea?” Honor asked. They were sitting at the kitchen table, sipping tea, eating chocolate-chip cookies and making polite conversation. Both Boone and Honor seemed to be avoiding any topics that might get sticky. Neither one mentioned her amnesia.
“No, thanks. This green tea is delicious, though,” she said, raising the cup to her lips for another sip.
“It was always your favorite,” Honor said. She placed her hand over her mouth. “Oops. I hope it was okay to say that.”
Ruby reached out and squeezed Honor’s hand. Her wanting to touch her sister-in-law surprised her. She wasn’t really comfortable having physical contact with strangers. There was something so sweet and genuine about Liam’s sister. She radiated goodness, which put her at ease.
“You don’t have to walk on eggshells with me, Honor. This is a very unusual set of circumstances we find ourselves in. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. I’ll try to be as forthright as I can.”
Boone let out a groan. He shook his head. “You have no idea what you just got yourself into.”
Honor playfully swatted him with her hand. She turned back toward Ruby. “Do you remember anything? Smells? Sights? Liam’s voice?”
She thought for a moment before answering. “Yes. I do. Fragments, I call them. I remember cradling a baby. And that feeling of loving him with all my heart. But I suppose I never connected that baby to myself because I had no memory of giving birth. And I’m very eager to go to the Moose Café, because the smell of coffee always reminds me of snow.” She let out a giggle. “I have no idea why, but the brain is a funny thing.”
“Hello.”
Ruby heard the voice before she laid eyes on Aidan himself. He was standing in the doorway of the kitchen, all sweet brown eyes and chubby cheeks. His dark curls framed a handsome little face that closely resembled his father. Something twisted inside her chest.
Ruby stood from her chair and walked toward her son. Her palms were slick with moisture. Her tongue was all twisted up and useless. For the life of her she couldn’t think of what to say at this monumental moment.
By this time Liam was standing in the doorway, quietly observing the reunion.
“Hi, Aidan. How are you doing?” She pushed the words out of her mouth.
Aidan seemed to be studying her. His face was scrunched up. He was deep in thought. “You’re pretty. Daddy always said you were the prettiest girl he’d ever seen,” he said. “And you look just like the pictures we have.”
“Why, thank you. You’re just about the cutest boy I’ve ever seen.” Ruby wasn’t exaggerating due to the fact that he was her child. With his jet-black lashes and striking features, Aidan was sure to stand out in any crowd.
“That’s what Auntie Honor says,” Aidan cried, seeming thrilled at the compliment.
“Do you have anything you’d like to ask me?” Ruby asked, wanting to make sure he was comfortable.
Aidan nodded slowly. “Yes. I do.”
“Go for it,” Ruby said.
“When the snow swallowed you up on the mountain, did it hurt?” Aidan looked at her with an awed expression.
Ruby could feel the corners of her mouth twitching with merriment. Aidan’s expression was so earnest. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings by laughing at his question.
“Just a teensy bit,” she said, holding up her thumb and forefinger to demonstrate. “But I tried to be very brave.”
Aidan cast a quick glance at Liam. “Daddy always tells me that you’re a hero.”
She felt her chest tightly constrict as if someone was inside squeezing her heart. This little boy was sweet and endearing and wonderful. “I...I don’t know,” she said in a halting voice. “I wish I could remember that, but I don’t.”
Suddenly a crashing sound rang out in the house. Footsteps echoed on the hardwood floors.
“Liam! Where are you?” a deep voice boomed. “I need to speak with you.”
Liam let out a groan and moved further into the kitchen. “Oh, no! Who told him?” he asked with a frown, his gaze shifting between Boone and Honor.
Boone held up his hands. “Don’t ask me. I haven’t even had time to tell Gracie yet, never mind blabbing to Jasper.”
“I haven’t spoken to Jasper in days,” Honor said with a fierce nod. “It wasn’t me.”
“Who’s Jasper?” Ruby asked, wondering why everyone was acting so strangely.
A man with silver-white hair and whiskers strode into the kitchen, his face appearing more animated than a cartoon character’s. “Liam! I’m glad that I caught up with you. I heard the strangest rumor a little while ago that I’m determined to clear up.” He shook his fist in the air. “And whoever spread this vicious rumor better run for cover. By the time I get through with them, they’re going to wish they’d never let the name Prescott come out of their mouth.”
“Settle down, Jasper,” Liam instructed. “You know you’re not supposed to let your blood pressure skyrocket.”
Jasper! Mayor Jasper Prescott. She recognized the name from some searches she had done on the internet about Love, Alaska. He was the town mayor and the creator of the Operation Love campaign, the program that brought single ladies to town to match them up with single bachelors. It seemed this town had a female shortage. And women from all over the United States were flocking to this fishing village to find themselves an Alaskan groom.
If she wasn’t mistaken, Jasper was Liam’s grandfather.
“Liam’s right,” Boone said with a frown. “Calm down before you blow a gasket.”
“I will do no such thing,” Jasper roared. “If you knew the heinousness of this particular rumor, you’d want to run this person out of town on a rail.” Jasper wiggled his eyebrows at Liam.
“Jasper, I need to tell you something,” Liam said.
Before Liam could get a word out, Jasper swiveled his eyes in her direction.
He let out a guttural cry then raised his hand over his heart. “I’m seeing things. I must be having a stroke. Call a doctor.”
“I am a doctor,” Liam drawled. “And you’re not having a stroke.”
“Grandpa, it’s okay,” Honor said, tugging on Jasper’s arm. “She’s real. It’s not a vicious rumor.”
Jasper pressed his eyes closed and began taking deep breaths. When he opened them, he glared at his family members. “What are you trying to do to me? Send me to my grave well before my time?”
Boone snapped his fingers. “Bravo. You’ve stumbled upon our diabolical plan.”
Jasper rolled his eyes at Boone then took a halting step in Ruby’s direction. He stuck out a finger and poked her. Ruby let out a little squeak. “You are real. Ruby! Oh, Ruby. You’re back. I could almost sob with happiness.”
Liam tugged at his arm. “There’s something you need to know about Ruby.”
“She’s got a problem with her brain,” Aidan explained in a chirpy voice. “It won’t let her memorize stuff.”
“Huh? What in the world are you going on about? That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard,” Jasper grumbled. He stared at Ruby with wide eyes.
“It’s completely true, though,” Ruby said. She stuck out her hand. “Jasper, I presume. I’m Ruby. I wish that I could say I remember you, but I don’t. And you seem very memorable, by the way.”
Jasper stared at her hand for a moment, his expression shuttered. Laser-sharp blue eyes roamed all over her face before settling on her eyes. “Since you don’t remember me, let’s get one thing straight. I don’t do handshakes with pretty girls.” He winked at her. “The first hug is free of charge.”
For the second time in the span of an hour, Ruby found herself being enveloped in the world’s tightest hug. Jasper smelled like nutmeg and coffee beans. His embrace made her feel as if she was greeting an old friend. His sincerity was palpable. Strangely enough, she didn’t want the embrace to end. It felt like a safe harbor.
When they broke apart, she noticed tears sliding down his face. He wiped them away with his palm. “Whether you remember me or not, I’m feeling mighty blessed to welcome you back into the fold,” Jasper said, reaching out and grasping her hand. “We’ve missed you.”
Ruby wasn’t sure how to describe what she was feeling. She felt all tingly inside, and her chest tightened with a groundswell of emotion. Although there was a wealt
h of information that eluded her about her life in Love, Alaska, she knew for certain that Ruby Prescott had been well loved.
* * *
“Why don’t we put the kettle back on and have some hot cocoa?” Honor suggested.
Aidan clapped his hands enthusiastically. Auntie Honor knew the exact thing to say to get her nephew’s attention.
As everyone settled around the kitchen table, Liam gently pulled Ruby aside. He shook his head as a feeling of mortification slid through him. “Sorry about Jasper’s over-the-top behavior. He takes some getting used to. Sort of like sushi. He’s an acquired taste.”
“Not from where I’m standing.” Ruby smiled. “I think he’s pretty amazing from what I’ve seen so far. He exudes such a positive vibe. And he seems to be a true original. I like that. And I get the feeling one always knows where things stand with Jasper. He doesn’t seem the type to mince words.”
Liam ducked his head and laughed.
“What’s so funny?” she asked.
“You always were partial to Jasper. He was like the grandfather you never had. Or so you said,” Liam answered. “You always took his side against me.”
“Sorry about that,” Ruby said in a light voice.
“It’s okay,” Liam conceded. “Watching the two of you getting along like a house on fire was always enjoyable.”
Ruby shrugged. “I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but I don’t remember that...or Jasper. Although—” Ruby frowned.
“What is it?” Liam asked. Had more flashes of memory occurred?
“Ever since I’ve been back I’ve felt this overwhelming sense of familiarity. I can’t put my finger on anything in particular—but it’s there, right under the surface.”
Liam felt his heart pound like crazy inside his chest. His feelings about Ruby’s memories were so conflicted. He desperately wanted her to get her remembrances back, but at the same time he dreaded what she might remember about the state of their marriage. It was a selfish thought, he realized, considering all Aidan stood to gain if Ruby was whole again.
“Where are you staying tonight? If you like, I can put you in our guest room,” Liam offered.
Reunited at Christmas Page 4
