There was singing.
Christmas carolers?
Serena tossed aside her book and joined the excited Gizmo at the door. She glanced out the window to find the sun had set. Her driveway quickly filled with carolers. They were each holding a candle as they sang. And they were singing in English. Serena was impressed.
She rushed to pull on her coat and boots. Then she attached Gizmo’s leash.
She picked up the barking, tail-wagging dog. “Shh...or I’m not taking you outside.”
It took a moment, but he quieted down...just until she got outside with him. When he started again, she shushed him. And ran her hand over his back, hoping to calm him.
The singers were amazing. Their voices were beautiful. But what were they doing out here? It wasn’t like there were houses lining the road. Dwellings were quite scattered in this particular area. Still, she felt blessed that they would come visit her.
They helped to buoy her flagging spirits. If only Jackson were here with her. She’d bet he’d really enjoy this. But she didn’t know where he was. For all she knew, he could be on a flight back to New York.
And then the group parted. It was hard to make out who was walking between them in the dark. Whoever it was, they were approaching the porch. As the person got closer, Serena recognized Jackson. Her heart jumped into her throat. What was he doing here?
She noticed that he was carrying more flowers. The backs of her eyes stung. His image started to blur. She blinked repeatedly. She couldn’t believe he was here.
Gizmo wiggled and barked, anxious to get to Jackson. She wasn’t the only one happy to see him. She put the dog down. Gizmo immediately ran over to Jackson, who bent down to pet the dog.
In the background, the choir continued to sing. And then Serena realized this was what Jackson had meant by the note with the flowers. He was responsible for bringing the carolers to her door.
He approached her. Their gazes met and held. Her heart started to pound.
“I’m sorry,” they both said simultaneously.
Then they both gave an awkward laugh. He held the flowers out to her and she accepted them.
Serena knew she had to say more. She had to make this right. “I overreacted earlier. I was feeling insecure when you didn’t like the idea of me moving to New York and I handled it badly.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong. I did. I totally messed up everything when you gave me that most amazing Christmas present. I panicked. And then I complicated matters by giving your video to my agent to have him get a team to clean it up and give it a polish. I wanted to surprise you with it for Christmas. But my agent got it into his head to leak the video, even though I told him not to. Anyway, he’s no longer my agent.”
“He’s not? Because of me?” She didn’t like the thought that she was responsible for someone losing their job.
“No. I let him go because I can’t work with someone I don’t trust.”
“Do you trust me?”
“I do. It’s just that I wasn’t being honest with myself.”
“How so?” She held her breath wondering what he would say.
“I promised June that I would move on—that I’d make a new life for myself. Before she got sick, we’d talked about having kids—a boy and girl. She wanted me to have that chance. She...she thought I’d make a good father. And so she made me promise to marry again. At the time, I would have said anything to make her happy. I didn’t think that I could take a chance on love again—the loss—the pain. I didn’t want to love anyone ever again. And then I met you. Do you know what you’ve taught me?”
Serena shook her head.
“I learned that it’s a very lonely life without someone to share it with. And I don’t want to hide from the truth.”
“What truth would that be?”
He stepped closer to her. He reached out and stroked his fingers over her cheek. “The undeniable truth is that I love you, Serena Mae Winston.”
“You do?”
“I do.”
She at last drew in a full breath. “I love you, too.”