Their Christmas Miracle

“Try fact. I wouldn’t marry just anyone.”

The moment was a perfect time to reach across the bucket seats and give her a reassuring touch. Thomas loosened his grip on the gear shift only to remember his promise to keep himself in check.

He settled for giving her a smile.

She smiled back, and he embraced the moment like a hug. Once upon a time, making her happy had been his greatest priority. That he could please her, even a little, after all these months was a gift.

There were only a handful of cars parked in the lot when he pulled into the point. Thomas offered up a silent thank-you. He’d feared more considering how popular nature’s light show was with the tourists. Then again, it was still early. The glow wasn’t usually visible until after ten.

But then, that fit his plan.

“Wait here,” he told her. “I’ll be back as soon as I’ve set up.”

Rosalind watched as he disappeared from view. Presumably to stake out a viewing spot near the beach.

Or near the cliffs, if he was planning to throw her off.

He wouldn’t. Strange, really. Thomas thought she didn’t trust him, but trust wasn’t the issue. Not entirely. That is, she was pretty sure he wasn’t a crazy person. At the same time, however, being around him sent her nerves into overdrive. Soon as he said he planned to charm her into staying, she became jittery and self-conscious. He acted as if she were someone special, and that left her off-balance.

Maybe she should tell him to forget London. They didn’t have to be in the same house for their daughter. He could as easily bring Maddie to Scotland...

“Ready?” The car door opened and Thomas reappeared, the blue in his eyes aglow in the dome light. In his arms he held a blanket. “This is for you,” he said as she stepped out of the car. He wrapped the thick wool around her shoulders. “Wind gets cold off the bay.”

“What about you?” she asked.

“I can handle the cold. Besides, that’s why God invented Chardonnay.”

Using his cell phone as a flashlight, he led her away from the crowds and toward an isolated section, as it turned out, not far from the cliffs. There on a small patch of grass lay another wool blanket along with a bottle of wine and two glasses. “I figured the lights would look brighter if we sat away from the lighthouse,” Thomas said.

He sat down, then patted the blanket next to him. “McKringle picked out the wine, so I have no idea if it’s good or not. He seems more a whisky man.”

“Chris is a connoisseur of most things,” she replied. “Far as I can tell anyway.” Across the water she could see the silhouette of the Orkney Islands. Black and hilly. The water was black as well, all but a stretch of white from the moon.

“Looks amazing, doesn’t it?” she said. “All that darkness.”

“Looks cold.” Thomas handed her a glass. “This is the most northern part of the UK. When we were here last week, I told Linus to watch out for elves.”

Rosalind laughed. “Why? You think Santa and his minions are popping down for a pint?”

“Why not? Can’t the old man enjoy a nip now and then?”

“Of course he can. If he’s a real person.” And life was as simple as sitting on a lap and making a wish.

“Don’t let Maddie hear you. As far as she’s concerned, Santa doesn’t only exist—he can do anything. Including visiting Scotland for a drop of whisky.” He touched his glass to hers.

“I’ll be sure to keep my blasphemous thoughts to myself,” Rosalind told him. Pulling her blanket tighter, she glanced in his direction. “Are you sure you’re not cold? I’m happy to share if...” She let the offer drift away.

“Thank you, but I’ll be fine,” Thomas answered.

Good. She’d hoped that’s what he’d answer. Despite the part of her wondering what it would feel like to have those strong arms wrapped around her.

“If Santa was real, what would you ask him to bring you?” she asked.

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?” She found the answer hard to believe. Surely there was something he wanted. “Everyone has something on their list, even if they’re as rich as Midas.”

“Except I already got my Christmas wish. Right here on this beach.”

There he went again, treating her like she was some kind of gift. Rosalind’s face turned crimson. Ducking her head, she pretended great interest in her wineglass. How she wished she could return his sentiment the way he clearly wanted her to, but her memory remained as dark as the water before them.

“How about you?” he asked. “What would you wish for? Besides the obvious.”

“The obvious is a pretty big wish. I’m not sure I could think of another. But if pressed...” She sighed. “I think I would ask for a cottage of my own. Not that I don’t like my room over the restaurant, but it would be nice to have a place to call mine.

“Then again, I guess I—I mean, we—do, don’t we?” she added. Thomas’s body had stiffened at the mention, making her realize her wish was based on having a life on her own. “Apparently, I’m still getting used to my identity. I don’t mean to be hurtful.”

“You weren’t,” he replied. “The situation is going to take some getting used to for both of us.”

Stretching out his legs, he leaned back on the blanket. Without his body to warm the space beside her, Rosalind shivered.