Connor’s arm pulled tighter around Luna, and he whispered in her ear. “Are you okay?”
She turned to him to answer and realized that two tears had escaped and were rolling down her cheeks. She nodded and wiped them away.
But then, when Allison stepped to the microphone and sang the most haunting and beautiful a cappella version of, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” that Luna had ever heard, there was no point in holding them back any longer. She decided to just let them flow.
She turned her face up to Connor, smiling through the rivulets of tears running down her face and, in all likelihood, ruining her carefully applied makeup. She didn’t care.
“I’m fine,” she told him. “I’m just home for Christmas. For the first time in a long time, I’m home."
Chapter 26
Luna
Luna took a moment to glance around the interior of Main Street Eats, all decked out for Christmas Day. It was beautiful. She and Connor had worked so hard to make this happen, staying after closing pretty much every night to decorate and prep the special holiday meal that the restaurant served for free each year to those in need.
It had been so important to her grandparents that the people who’d come to depend on the meal as an important part of their Christmas tradition not be disappointed this year, and once she’d seen how much it meant to them, she’d been determined to make sure that didn’t happen.
But she knew one thing for sure: she never would’ve been able to pull it off without Connor. He had dropped everything in his life to help her and her family when they’d needed it, even after all the years of no contact. Damn. If that wasn’t the most amazing thing in the world, she didn’t know what was.
“Okay, everybody. Are we all ready?” A murmur of agreement went up from all of the volunteers behind the counter who’d be spending the day serving. They’d come out in droves. Connor had been right when he’d said that people in town would want to help. Gen and Gavin were there, along with Ella and Donovan, Jet and Abby, Troy and Allison, Mila...basically all of the Valentines and the people who loved them. It warmed her heart.
She took a deep breath. There were only a few more minutes until it would be time to unlock the front door. This was definitely going to be the last quiet moment all day, and she wanted to savor it while she had the chance.
Connor stepped over to her, giving her an encouraging smile. “Are you ready to take charge of the tradition this year?” he asked.
“I wish Grandma Grace and Grandpa Serge could’ve been here, but he’s still not up to it. It doesn’t seem right that all the people get is me.”
“They’re lucky to have you. Plus, things should be back to normal by next year. Right?”
She shrugged. This probably wasn’t the right time to get into a conversation about the future, what with the doors about to open to scores of hungry people, but she couldn’t help it. “I don’t know. I’m thinking that maybe next year, it’ll be all three of us running the restaurant. In fact, I’ve been thinking that maybe that should just be how things are all the time.”
Connor’s eyebrows rose. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
“Yeah. Well, if what you think I’m saying is that I’m moving back. Because I am.”
A slow grin spread across his face until it was split from ear to ear. “It’s a Christmas miracle,” he said.
“Kind of. More like It’s a Wonderful Life. I saw a bleak version of the future where my grandfather worked himself into an early grave, and I didn’t like that. Not one bit. I’m in a position to make sure that doesn’t happen. So I am.”
Connor nudged her. “Are you sure that’s the only reason?”
She made a point of thinking it over, as if she really had to wrack her brain. “Well…I guess the beauty of the Oregon coast is alluring. Not to mention, proximity to Portland. Yeah, I guess there are a couple more reasons.”
He chuckled. “How is it possible that I’m this in love with such a smartass?”
Her breath caught. “Are you saying you love me again?”
He leaned down close to her ear. “I’m saying I never stopped.”
She put her hand to the side of his face and pressed her lips to his. “I love you, Connor. Now, and always. Forever.”
Connor wrapped his arms around her and tears welled up in Luna’s eyes as he held her, although she refused to let them fall. Not on Christmas.
Her grandparents were both alive and well. That meant more than she could say after the scare they’d just had. But, not only that, she was moving home, where she would finally - finally - be with the man she’d always loved.
Yeah. It was a Christmas miracle all right. That was the only way to put it.
THE END
About the Author
Melanie Shawn is the writing team of sister duo Melanie and Shawna. Originally from Northern California, they both migrated south and now call So Cal their home.
Growing up, Melanie constantly had her head in a book and was always working on short stories, manuscripts, plays and poetry. After graduating magna cum laude from Pepperdine University, she went on to teach grades 2nd through 8th for five years. She now spends her days writing and taking care of her furry baby, a Lhasa Apso named Hercules. In her free time, her favorite activity is to curl up on the couch with that stubborn, funny mutt and binge-watch cable TV shows (preferably of at least eight seasons in length - a girl's gotta have her standards!).
Shawna always loved romance in any form - movie, song or literary. If it was a love story with a happy ending, Shawna was all about it! She proudly acknowledges that she is a romanceaholic. Her days are jam-packed with writing, being a wife, mom aka referee of two teens, and indulging in her second passion (dance!) as a Zumba instructor. In the little free time she has, she joins Melanie in marathon-watching DVDs of their favorite TV programs.
They have joined forces to create a world where True Love and Happily Ever After always has a Sexy Twist!
Get the scoop on new releases and sales earlier than anyone else, as well as have fun and socialize with Melanie and Shawna and a fan-freaking-tastic bunch of romance-loving ladies, at Club HEA with Melanie Shawn - https://www.facebook.com/groups/MelanieShawnClubHEA/
Afterword
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