Harlequin Holiday Collection
Page 17
Kristie nodded. “They look like little birds.”
“That’s what they are. There are five tiny doves inside each sand dollar, and when it’s broken, they go free.”
Allison knelt next to them carefully, as if the moment might shatter like the shell. “That’s a beautiful story, isn’t it, Kristie?”
Her daughter nodded slowly, as if unwilling to give up her sorrow. “I guess so.” She leaned closer. “They really are like little doves.”
Free. The thought confused Allison. They’re free.
Kristie’s smile flickered, lighting her face. “Can I get Sammy and show him?”
David tousled her hair. “Sure thing.”
Kristie hurried toward the other room, her brace thumping.
Allison’s vision blurred with the tears she hadn’t wanted her daughter to see. Oddly enough, she could still make out the doves, flying free. They gave her an odd sensation, the way she’d felt when she’d watched the dolphins arcing through the waves.
She’d asked for a sign, hadn’t she?
Chapter Twenty
David saw the tears on Allison’s cheeks. He caught her hands, drawing her to her feet, wanting to wipe away the tears and not quite daring to.
“She’s going to be all right.”
“Thanks to you.”
It looked as if he had the chance he’d wanted. “Can we talk?”
She nodded. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
Kristie was coming back into the living room, accompanied by a flood of kids who slowed their steps to hers.
“Looks like privacy’s going to be in short supply in here.” David nodded toward the door. “Let’s step out onto the porch.”
The wraparound porch was dim and cool. Out in the darkness, the Christmas lights strung on the boats reflected the stars. This was Christmas for him—not sleigh bells and snow, but lights shimmering on the water.
He turned to Ally. “You said you wanted to tell me something.” Whatever it was, he couldn’t let it deter him from telling her how he felt.
“I couldn’t get away from what you said yesterday.” She looked at him, her eyes troubled. “I kept thinking about it all day. That I was turning myself into someone like Richard.”
“I shouldn’t have said that.”
“Yes, you should.” She hesitated, and he heard the whisper of her breath. “I’d begun to see that the life I had with Richard wasn’t right, even before Kristie. But I intended to hold our marriage together. I was devastated when it broke apart.”
The Ally he remembered didn’t give up once she’d started something. “It wasn’t your fault.”
“No. But I didn’t realize…until you said what you did. I’ve been trying to rebuild that same world for Kristie, even though it was never what I wanted. I didn’t realize I could be free. I could create a different life for us.”
Like the doves. Freed by breaking.
She drew a shuddering breath. “I’m not taking the job. It wouldn’t be fair to Kristie. I need to get her through the surgery before I do anything. Then…we’ll see.”
That was his cue, wasn’t it? He took her hands.
“Don’t go away, Allison. You belong here. Stay.” He breathed a silent prayer. “I love you. No pressure. I know you’re not going to rush into anything. You have Kristie to consider. But I love you. Both of you. And I’ll wait as long as I have to.”
She tilted her head back, her hair flowing over her shoulders. The starlight seemed to be reflected in her eyes.
She looked at him for a long moment. Then she smiled. “You don’t have to wait.” She lifted her face for his kiss.
He had his angel-girl back…to stay.
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ISBN: 978-1-4592-2409-4
Harlequin Holiday Collection: Four Classic Seasonal Novellas
Copyright © 2011 by Harlequin Books S.A.
The publisher acknowledges the copyright holders of the individual works as follows:
And a Dead Guy in a Pear Tree
Copyright © 2007 by Harlequin Books S.A.
Seduced by the Season
Copyright © 2008 by Harlequin Books S.A.
Evidence of Desire
Copyright © 2008 by Harlequin Books S.A.
Season of Wonder
Copyright © 2002 by Harlequin Books S.A.
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