“Did you find him?” Noelle asked.
“He went to my house.” David actually blushed. “Can you believe that? I made you doubt I loved you. I left my girls when I promised I wouldn’t, and all I had to do was ask for help to find Milo.”
“I guess we all learned something today, then. Maybe changing can be that easy.”
He pulled her close with one hand around her waist. His girls giggled behind him. “You make me believe I can change, Noelle. You changed to make a family with your sisters and your parents. Can you let me back in, one last time?”
She’d never managed to oust him from her heart. Tears grabbed at the back of her throat and she pulled his face down to hers until their foreheads touched. “It’s nearly Christmas. Let’s go home, and we can talk about it.”
“After I kiss you under that mistletoe.”
He caught her chin and practiced, his lips warm, his arms all the strength she’d ever need. She gave herself in that moment, to the man she loved, while somewhere the faint laughter of two little girls rang like Christmas bells.
Epilogue
On the first brand new morning in a brand new life, Noelle stood at the kitchen window, watching the sun rise over the fresh fall of snow in shades of pink and blue and gold.
“Merry Christmas,” David said, sliding his hands around her shoulders. She turned her face up to his for a kiss that promised a lifetime. And she believed. They would have forever, because no matter what they did in the world, their world would always be back here, with Margaret and Evelyn and each other, in the home that was hers again because she belonged here and so did David and his girls. Maybe their girls some day.
“I’ll remember this morning the rest of my life.” Noelle wrapped his arms around her and leaned her head into his chest. “That sunrise, and you holding me. Evvy and Margaret asleep upstairs, and Santa’s bounty beneath the tree.”
They’d been talking a lot the past few days. They’d talked all night as they prepared a wonderful Christmas for the girls. David would be moving home to Maine as soon as he found someone to help with his practice in Boston. They both assumed that soon they would be a family.
He breathed in. “The scent of coffee brewing and the turkey already roasting in the oven.” He straightened and pointed toward the resurrected chapel. “Is that someone coming through the doors?”
She narrowed her eyes. “Sam and Marnie. And look—that’s Chloe stopping for them in the driveway.”
David’s hands tightened. “I should have thought. I may be ruining their Christmas. They don’t like me much.”
“They’ll be happy for us. They understand mistakes and making wrongs right.” She grinned, happiness tingling in her fingers and toes and even her lips. She’d never felt so pleased. “But let’s meet them outside, just in case. Better not wake the girls.”
“What?”
She laughed, taking his hand to lead him through the mudroom onto the driveway. Chloe and Ted and Marnie and Sam all piled out of the car. Marnie sparkled like the morning sun, and Sam held her hand with pride that brought tears to Noelle’s eyes.
She knew, in that second.
“We’re engaged,” Marnie said, pulling off her glove to show them her beautiful, glowing ruby ring.
“I knew it. You look like the star on the top of our tree.” Chloe dashed around the car, and Noelle ran to them both. They hugged as they had the morning nineteen years ago, when Noelle had come home to this house, to her sisters and to her life.
They hugged Sam as well, who seemed tongue-tied with happiness, as Ted and David shook his hand.
At last, everyone stood back and actually noticed David.
Noelle laughed at the tension that suddenly wafted through their happiness. It didn’t matter because she and David loved each other. Always had. Always would.
“We worked it out,” Noelle said. She’d told Marnie last night when she’d asked if her sister minded David and the girls staying over.
“For good?” Chloe asked them both, but she marched into David’s personal space.
He smiled, obviously charmed. “If my phone rings, or email gushes into my inbox, or the family court judge herself finds her way to your doorstep, I’m standing here, where Noelle and my girls are. My priorities changed when I realized I was using other people’s problems to keep my life at bay. I want it all, family and bad days and heartbreak, but most of all, love, and Noelle beside me for the rest of my life.”
Snowflakes began to fall around them, but Ted moved first to shake David’s hand again.
“That’s a speech,” he said. “Probably the right one to make.”
Noelle hugged David close, only to be pulled away by her sisters for another hug and silent, sisterly promises of support.
“Where’s this fabulous Christmas breakfast I’ve heard so much about?” Teddy asked. “Chloe’s made some promises.”
Noelle laughed. “Sounds as if we all have. Come inside, everyone.”
They all pitched in to make the traditional Wright Christmas breakfast. Scrambled eggs with as many cheeses as the local market could provide, bacon and sausage and potatoes fried with diced onions and peppers and biscuits, which Noelle and Marnie and Chloe made together.
“I still don’t know why you’re so sure of David,” Marnie said quietly.
“He wasn’t the only one at fault. I needed him to love me better than anyone else, to make up for everything that was missing, but you all don’t know what was missing in me.”
“What are you saying?” Marnie looked up from the biscuit dough. “What’s missing in you?”
“I’m not great at trust. You and Chloe understood me. When I came here, you showed me my own bed, and you said it would never be anyone else’s. You showed me my closet and my shoes. You knew how to show me this was my family, and this family wanted to be stuck with me forever. Even I understood that. But David was never stuck with me. He had other places to be.”
Chloe was carrying coffee mugs to the table. “David chose to be in other places.”
Noelle brushed the back of her doughy hand over her forehead. “When I was a girl, I was upset and mean, but not big enough to back it up. David stood between me and some bad people in the orphanage because that’s what David does. He stands between people and disaster. David’s decided to live his own life instead of saving everyone else’s, but I had to learn to trust that the one man I’ve loved all my life, the man I’ll always love—isn’t going to abandon me on Christmas beneath the gazebo—where he kissed me last night, by the way.”
“How did you learn that?” Chloe wasn’t fooled by her talk of gazebos.
“Something Margaret said made me question myself, and the answers were always in me.” She looked up as the men came into the room, and her home was filled with family. “Maybe the answers are always with the people you love best, who will always love you. I’m so glad we’re home, all together.”
Overhead, feet slammed to the floor, and they heard running. David hugged Noelle close.
“Here we go,” he said and kissed the side of her mouth.
Joy swelled inside her as the girls pattered down the stairs, the way Noelle and Marnie and Chloe had in past years.
“Daddy,” Margaret’s voice preceded both girls, skidding down the hall.
“Santa came.” Evvy headed for the tree.
“Hold on.” David went to them, his hand reaching for Noelle’s. “He left me a note, something about a puppy…”
The End
A Note from the Author
If you enjoyed reading this story, look for Harlequin Heartwarming books available everywhere online and from January 2016 - April 2016 in Walmart stores.
If you enjoyed visiting Christmas Town, Maine in Home By Christmas, you might want to read previous stories set there. Look for Christmas, Actually, a Harlequin Heartwarming anthology I wrote with Anna J Stewart and Melinda Curtis anywhere digital stories are sold.
I’m also writing a Heartwarmi
ng series set in the Smoky Mountains. Owen’s Best Intentions is the most recent release from that series. You can find out more at https://www.annaadams.net
For more information on my books or just to see what’s going on, check my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AnnaAdamsAuthor. You can also find me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/AnnaAdams
I’m always thrilled to hear from readers.
Wishing you all the best in this holiday season and the coming new year! Hope to see you again in Christmas Town!
The Christmas Bell
Carol Ross
Copyright © 2015 by:
Carol Ross
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
This book was built at IndieWrites.com. Visit us on Facebook.
150921.175517
Acknowledgements
For my sister Tammy, who loves Christmas more than anyone I know.
And makes each and every one as perfect as can be.
Praise and Awards
“Ross has crafted an enjoyable read centered on the themes of acceptance, hope, and forgiveness. The characters are well-written and the romance is tender and slow building.”
~ RT Book Reviews, 4.5 stars
“Another great story from Carol Ross! The characters are so relatable, loveable, and real. You feel like you know them and end up very invested in their happy ending.”
~Amazon reviewer
There were laugh-out-loud moments, some treachery and deceit, and of course a sweet romance. When you can get lost in a story you know it’s a winner...
~Cozynookbks
Chapter 1
“That’s the deal. You want the teapot; you do this one little thing for me.”
“One little thing, Walt?”
“All right, one meee-dium-sized thing.” His Irish brogue always thickened when drama was afoot. “I’m desperate, Andrea, my girl.”
Andrea Talbot put on her always-reliable poker face even as she wanted to laugh out loud. She understood desperate. Desperate was wanting to do something special for a friend for Christmas and maxing out your credit cards in the process. Desperate was watching two big deals fall through and her cash flow trickle to nearly nothing. Desperate was having to decide which to pay–the credit card bill or the rent.
Less than a week till Christmas Eve, she reminded herself, and then things would be better.
Or maybe her father was right. Maybe she didn’t have a head for business.
She squinted at Walt, the ruddy-faced proprietor of the Wild Shamrock Pub in Barrington, who was smiling hopefully at her from behind the scarred wooden bar. He was using the white towel draped over one broad shoulder to polish crystal tumblers.
“Let’s be clear here. You’re telling me that in order for me to trade for the teapot I have to go on a date with your nephew?” Andrea had been buying and selling antiques with Walt for years, back when it was only a hobby for her, before she’d ever opened Timeless Antiques & Collectibles. Sometimes his bargaining could get rather creative.
Walt picked up another glass and gave the chunky crystal a final unnecessary polish. “Well, I wouldn’t call it a date, really. He’ll be showing up soon and all you have to do is have lunch with the poor sap.”
She gestured at herself. “You do see what I’m wearing, right?”
“Aye, I do. I smell you, too.” He waved a hand through the air, as if a foul odor was wafting from Andrea’s dirty clothes.
“Funny. I told you there was a hibernating bat colony in Ned’s loft, a loft I bravely burrowed through in order to retrieve this butter churn for you. Now you can give your saint of a wife the best Christmas gift ever.” She had discovered the butter churn early that morning in Ned Barlow’s barn. It had been a thrilling and much-needed pick. She knew Walt’s wife would adore the churn, and she needed the sale. Since Walt’s pub was on her way home she’d stopped in to sell it straight away. That’s when he had offered a trade.
“And I love you for it, you know I do. He won’t notice.”
“Ha. How could he not notice? I have cobwebs in my hair, bat poop on my jeans, dirt from head to toe, and who-knows-what other uninvited guests clinging to me.”
Leaning an elbow on the bar, he lowered his voice to a gravelly whisper, “I’m going to level with you, Andrea, my girl. Stu is in a bad way. His fiancée left him for her tai chi instructor and he can’t seem to rebound. I set him up on this blind date but the gal bailed. If I tell him the woman bolted, I fear it’ll push him over the edge. A simple meal is all I’m asking, to give his spirits a boost. I don’t want him sad-sacking around my sister’s house all week long during the holidays.”
She shook her head. “Still not sure how any of this is my problem.”
“It’s a lovely teapot. Worth at least twice as much as this churn.”
“I’m well aware of that.”
“I’ll trade you straight across.”
Straight across? This might be an offer she couldn’t refuse. She knew she could sell the teapot immediately, bringing her that much closer to being able to pay her rent. She could see Walt was caving for his nephew’s sake, but she didn’t let on. Negotiating was an integral part of this complex and crafty business of antique dealing. She’d never met anyone who liked to barter more than Walt and knew he would be disappointed if she didn’t partake.
“Give me a number. How much time do I have to spend with…What did you say his name is? Stu?”
“That’s right. Stuart, my sister Louise’s kid.” Walt stood to his full height and crossed his arms over his barrel-like chest. “An hour and a half. That should be enough time for you two kids to get to know each other.”
“Forty-five minutes,” she countered.
“An hour.”
“Done.”
A delighted grin lit his craggy face. “You’re a rare and exceptional woman, Andrea Talbot. I think you and Stu will be a fine match and–”
Raising a hand to signal the interruption, she said flatly, “Save the Irish charm. There will be no love match here today. I want that teapot.”
Walt barked out a laugh and poured her a ginger ale. She nibbled on a pretzel and weighed her options. She refused to ask her younger sister for even a short-term loan because Allison was still being bankrolled by their father. The pretzel crumbled in her fingers as she imagined the knowing smirk on Bradford Talbot’s face if he learned how precarious her situation had become. Her father had previously offered to rehire her at Talbot Cardboard Distribution. The thought made her sick to her stomach. She’d rather sweep out rental trucks at Ruby’s You-Haul-It. Unfortunately, sweeping could not pay her bills.
As excited as she’d first been to have finally found and secured Christmas Town’s original fire bell for Ben Fisher, she was beginning to question the wisdom of her actions. Not only had the purchase of the bell strapped her financially, a couple of deals had since fallen through, amplifying the problem. Now, here she was, trading a lunch date for a teapot. There was also the nagging question of whether or not Ben had the same feelings as she did about their friendship? What if this surprise fell flat and resulted in her abject humiliation in addition to this cash crunch?
So much riding on that bell...for her and for Ben.
~*~
Ben Fisher started his rented SUV and took a moment to enjoy the sight of snowflakes drifting languidly from the sky. There were some great things about living near Los Angeles, but he missed the changing seasons in Maine. He missed snow. He even missed some things about Christmas Town.
But he’d miss the sun and warm beaches, too, if he left California. Not that he had much time to spend oceanside. Sparrow Software Design, the business he’d co-founded, took up most of his waking hours. Although lately he’d looked forward to the hours he’d carved out of his schedule to communicate with Andrea in their search for the Christmas Town bell. Which
had kind of led to him craving extra hours for other things, too. Like a life in addition to his livelihood, starting with this extended vacation here in Christmas Town.
Andrea Talbot. Who would have guessed that Ben Fisher and Andrea Talbot would ever become business associates, much less friends?
Andrea had been homecoming queen, the captain of the cheerleading squad, the most popular girl in school. He’d been valedictorian and president of both the math and astronomy clubs. Their paths rarely crossed. Well, they had crossed for exactly one semester and then abruptly uncrossed again.
When his sister-in-law, Ivy, had recommended he enlist Andrea’s help, he’d had his reservations. The bell, commissioned by his great, great, great grandfather in 1899, was a valuable work of art, and an even more valuable piece of both his family’s and the town’s history. Its disappearance during his grandfather’s childhood had been the source of rumor, speculation, and treasure hunts ever since. Ben’s dad, fire chief of Christmas Town, had dreamed of the bell’s return ever since Ben could remember.
As much as Ben wanted to recover the bell, he didn’t need any reminders of his gawky, not-quite-good-enough days. What if she brought up that awkward high school moment when he had asked her out? Worse, what if she thought the bell was just an excuse to be around her again?
Desire to find the bell had won out. He didn’t regret hiring her. Even though they hadn’t located the bell yet, she had found other old and rare pieces for Ben’s collection.
As he pulled the SUV onto the road leading toward home, a grumble of hunger reminded him he hadn’t eaten lunch. He’d purposely skipped it in order to stop at the Wild Shamrock Pub in Barrington for one of Walt’s famous Shamrock burgers. Walt was a retired fire chief, his pub a hangout for firefighters from three counties. Ben missed it, too.
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