One Kiss for Christmas (The Happy Holidays Series Book 4)
Page 16
“Would he like to come here for dinner?” Donna asked.
“That’s what I was thinking, but I wanted to ask you first,” Jim said.
“Please invite him.”
“I will. See you later. Do you need anything from the store?” he asked.
“No, we’re all set.”
“Okay, see you in a bit.”
“And Jim—”
“Yes?” he said.
“There was no need to ask. You could have just invited Mr. Brenneman.”
Jim went quiet. “Thank you, Donna.”
She was just about to hang up when Jim said, “Donna—”
“Yes?”
He laughed. “The Christmas lights came in Monday morning.”
She could practically see him grinning on the other end of the line.
“That figures,” she said, and she started laughing, too.
The air was crisp and dry when the four of them left for church, half an hour before midnight. Because the roads and sidewalks were clear, the four of them had decided to walk. Brent and Leah walked ahead of Donna and Jim. Donna wore an ivory-colored winter coat with a beret and scarf in emerald green. Jim wore a black overcoat over his suit.
When they crossed the first block, Jim reached for Donna’s hand. She smiled at him, happier than she’d been in a long time. Up ahead, the chattering between Brent and Leah floated along in the air, punctuated by giggling and laughter. The words weren’t discernable, but the sense was one of merriment.
As they rounded the corner onto Main Street, they were joined by small crowds of people heading to church. There was a general feeling of anticipation in the air. The conversations were hushed but excited. All the shops were closed but their windows were lit up with Christmas lights. Traffic on the road was minimal, and Donna gasped when they arrived at the church.
The front doors of the church were wide open. The choir was rehearsing and their voices drifted out into the cold, starry night. Before entering the church, Donna glanced up at the sky for any signs of snow.
Inside, lit candles flickered along the base of the windows. Ushers handed out tapers with paper sleeves as churchgoers entered. The church was packed. Donna looked around for seats for the four of them, but all the pews appeared full.
“We may have to split up,” Jim said, reading her mind.
“There’s two seats over there,” Brent said, pointing. He looked at Jim. “Mom and Leah can sit there and we can stand at the back.” There was a group of men already standing at the back, some of them leaning against the wall.
Jim nodded. “Okay ladies, we’ll see you after the service.”
Although Donna was disappointed over the fact that the four of them wouldn’t be able to sit together, she was glad to be sharing the pew with Leah. She told herself to remember next year to leave the house a few minutes earlier.
The candlelit midnight service never failed to bring tears to Donna’s eyes. The choir was well-tuned and by the time it was over, Donna felt uplifted and was looking forward to celebrating Christmas with those she loved.
Leah turned to her in the pew. “That was really beautiful.” Her blue eyes blazed and she wore her blonde hair in an updo. She was a kind person, Donna thought, and her devotion to animals was commendable. Her bubbly personality complemented Brent’s quieter one. Donna felt Leah was a good match for her son.
“It was, wasn’t it?” Donna said, smiling at her. One of the things she was looking forward to in the New Year was getting to know Leah better.
They filed out of the pew with the rest of the churchgoers and joined Jim and Brent, who waited for them at the back of the church.
With his hand on the small of her back, Jim escorted Donna out of the church. When Donna stepped outside, she let out a squeal of delight.
“Look, it’s snowing!”
Everyone looked up. Big, heavy snowflakes fell rapidly.
“Looks like you’ll get your white Christmas, Donna.” Jim smiled.
“Mom, will I go home and get the car and come back for you two?” Brent asked.
She felt Jim stiffen beside her. She squeezed Jim’s hand and whispered, “He’s just being thoughtful.”
“I’m not that old,” Jim protested in a whisper.
Donna laughed. “No, you’re not.”
“Mom?” Brent called.
“We prefer to walk, honey,” Donna said.
“But thanks, all the same,” Jim added.
“We’ll catch up with you back at the house,” Brent said.
Donna waved them off. “They’re young. They probably want to be alone.”
“I’m not so young anymore, and I want to be alone with you,” Jim said, taking her hand in his.
Donna smiled. Why did it feel like she and Jim had always been together? She was excited about this next chapter in her life with him.
“Will we walk to the end of Main Street? Enjoy the moment?” Jim asked.
“I’d love that.”
They walked arm in arm. The snow had picked up and swirled around them. Snowflakes stuck to their coats and to Jim’s hair. They waved goodbye to other people and wished everyone they passed a Merry Christmas.
They arrived at the statue of Horace. He still sported his knitted scarf. The town hall lights illuminated the falling snow. They stood in front of the statue and looked down Main Street, the snow falling and accumulating on the street amidst the yellows, greens, reds, and blues of Christmas lights. Giant red ornaments hung from the old-fashioned streetlights. “It looks so beautiful,” Donna said, her voice catching.
“You look beautiful, Donna,” Jim said softly. They faced each other in front of Horace as the snow fell heavily around them.
“Jim . . .”
“Donna, you still owe me one kiss for Christmas,” Jim said.
Donna smiled. “Just one?”
Jim laughed. “Well, maybe more than one.”
He took Donna in his arms and pulled her close. His embrace was warm, and Donna thought she could stay there forever. When he leaned down toward her, Donna parted her lips slightly in anticipation. Her heart raced.
“Merry Christmas, Donna,” Jim whispered. His lips were warm and firm, and Donna yielded to his kiss. She shivered but not from the cold. She let herself get carried away in his kiss.
Him kissing her wasn’t as Donna remembered it used to be. It was so much better. Donna felt like she had come home. To that place where happy memories are made, where one feels safe, and most of all, where one feels loved.
Epilogue
Four and a Half Years Later
Donna returned from her yoga class and laid her bag on the table in her new kitchen. She and Jim had sold their houses and purchased this one together, two blocks away from their old homes, when they started their life together after marrying three years ago.
There was the buzz of the lawn mower outside. From the window, she saw Jim cutting the grass in the backyard.
They had a big evening planned. The official opening of the homeless shelter was scheduled for later that evening. Donna was so proud of Jim. Singlehandedly, he had spearheaded a campaign to get a purpose-built shelter in Orchard Falls. There had been endless fundraisers, pledges, and good old-fashioned door-to-door canvassing. The town had rallied behind him. Even Sarge and Ralph had been enthusiastic about the venture and had come up with the idea of a food pantry within the shelter.
The building had unofficially opened two weeks ago. It was impressive. Jim had managed to secure a site within walking distance of the underpass. There were beds and showers and food. The food pantry accepted donations of canned and dried goods.
Jim had been asked to run it but he declined, telling the board he was enjoying retirement too much with his wife. But they made him an honorary member of the board anyway, and he continued to volunteer at both the shelter and the soup table.
Donna listened, tilting her head. The lawnmower had ceased. Humming a tune, she pulled a tub of candy cane ice cream fro
m the bottom of the freezer. She’d purchased it after Christmas before they pulled it off the shelf, and had hid it in the bottom drawer of the freezer. She knew Jim would never find it back there. The mercury was well over ninety degrees, and if ever there was a time for ice cream, it was now.
From the window over the sink, she watched as he sat down on the bench of the glider swing. She had just the thing for him. She grabbed two spoons from the drawer and carried them and the ice cream outside.
He smiled when he saw her approaching and patted the empty space beside him.
She held up the carton of ice cream and the two spoons.
As she neared, an expression of surprise spread across his face. She never tired of looking at him. As she had suspected, the scar from the stitches did not detract from his handsomeness.
“Is that candy cane ice cream?” he asked with a grin.
She sat down next to him and handed him a spoon. She peeled off the lid and laid it on the bench beside her. Her wedding ring, a band of diamonds and emeralds, glittered in the afternoon sun.
“Where did you get this?” he asked.
She smiled at him with a raised eyebrow. “I have my resources.”
“What time are Leah and Brent bringing the baby over tomorrow?” Jim asked.
“After breakfast,” she said. Brent and Leah were going off for a long weekend to a conference on animal rights. And Donna and Jim were babysitting their granddaughter, Hannah. “I’m so excited, I can’t wait.”
“I know you are, Grandma O’Hara. I am, too.” Jim threw his arm around her shoulder, pulled her close and kissed her forehead.
Donna glanced at her wedding band and then over at Jim. “I’m happy, Jim.”
Jim looked at her and smiled, his face reflecting how she felt. “Me, too.” He kissed her again, this time on the lips. That one kiss at Christmas had turned into a million kisses, and Donna never tired of them.
Jim took his spoon, scooped out some ice cream, and put it into his mouth. “That’s great stuff.”
Donna licked her own spoon. “It sure is.”
“Here’s to Christmas in July,” Jim said, and they clinked their spoons together.
Also by Michele Brouder
The Happy Holiday Series
A Whyte Christmas
This Christmas
A Wish for Christmas
The Happy Holidays Box Set Books 1-3
The Escape to Ireland Series
A Match Made in Ireland
Her Fake, Irish Husband
Her Irish Inheritance
Soul Saver Series
Claire Daly: Reluctant Soul Saver
Claire Daly: Marked for Collection
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Michele Brouder
About the Author
Michele Brouder is originally from the Buffalo, New York area. She has lived in the southwest of Ireland since 2006, except for a two-year stint in Florida. She makes her home with her husband, two boys, and a dog named Rover. Her go to place is, was, and will always be the beach. Any beach. Any weather.