Christmas in Bruges (4 page)

The policeman looked up, following her gaze. “I don't see anything.”

“Up there,” she pointed. “See that red? It's his scarf.”

“That?”

She felt a hand on her shoulder. “What is it?” the owner of the hand asked.

“It's my boyfriend, James,” she repeated. “I think he's—” She stopped, whirling around to see James standing there, looking at her uncomprehendingly.

“Oh, James!” she said, wrapping her arms around him. “I thought that was your scarf up there!”

He looked up. “It's just the Belgian flag. It's wrapped itself around the stone.”

“It's that damn movie,” the policeman said loudly, though talking to himself as much as to the crowd. “I wish they'd never made the stupid thing. Move on, everyone. The drama's over.”

“Did you really think I'd—” James started.

“You didn't show up this morning,” she blurted out. “I called your phone, and then the hotel said you'd gone out, and then I remembered how strange you'd acted up there . . . and if someone was really determined, and the suicide rate . . . and then the car backfiring, and you saying you felt like an idiot—”

“Stop! I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to make you worry. I should've called you. But when I woke up this morning, wishing your head was on the pillow next to mine, I felt selfish. I'm not suicidal, but like many vets, I've thought of ending my life. And yes, it disturbed me being up the tower and thinking of the ones who'd done it.

“And I feel guilty too, because so many didn't survive or came back with injuries. So many marriages have cracked under the strain, and I don't want that happening to us. I don't want to put you through it. Maybe you'd be better off with your Jim—”

“Stop it, James! Don't I get a say in this? Think of your uncle who fought in the Second World War. He still found things to be happy about. I remember how much he loved working in his garden. His wife loved him, his kids loved him—and he didn't have any of the resources you have. PTSD wasn't even talked about then. And think of those who've come back worse than you. You're a doctor, you can help them. That's why you went in the first place, to help, and you still can.” She took a deep breath. “I hope I don't sound trite or condescending. I don't want to. I know I don't know anything about it or truly understand what you're going through. But I love you James, I always have. Yes, I know this won't be easy, but I can't leave you now. It will get better, you have to believe that. You won't forget entirely, but with the right help and time, the happier memories will crowd out the bad ones. And if I lived this long without you, I can live with whatever else comes.”

“I tried to book a flight home today,” James said slowly. “I was going to leave. But the airport's closed on account of the snow.” He looked up at the tower, now veiled with white as the snow fell even harder. “Are you sure you want to do this? I'll try my hardest for you, but I don't want you to regret it.”

“So long as you try, I can't ask for more.”

“Do you want to come to New Jersey for Valentine's Day?”

“I'd love to,” she said. “But if this snow keeps up, we might still be here.”

“Fine with me,” he said. “It really is a fairyland.”

“An effing fairyland,” she corrected him with a laugh.

The carillon began to play “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” its notes drifting down on the snow.

“I love you,” James said over the bells. He took Paula's hand in his, and they walked through the square with its gingerbread houses trimmed in white lights and disappeared into the snowy fairyland.

The End

The Billionaire's Secrets

Falling for Rain

Christmas in Venice
(short story)

Midnight in Venice

The Billionaire's Secrets

“The windswept cliffs of Newfoundland make for an epic backdrop, and there are times when 
The Billionaire's Secrets
 seems to be channelling the spirits of the Brontë sisters. If you can suspend your disbelief a little, you'll likely find this to be a grand, romantic book.”

—indiebookspot.com

Falling for Rain

“Let me just point out a few things . . . if you don't like sexual tension, romance, strong women, gorgeous men, or anything Canadian, you will not love this book. However, if you do, this book is an excellent read. I had difficulty putting this one down . . . I teared up (ok, cried) a couple of different times. I highly recommend this book. I give it 5 stars.”

—
Beth's Reviews and Promotions

“This book will have you from the beginning. I read it in one night. Beautifully written. Prepare to have your heart to be torn by the pain these two characters have endured.”

—
The Indie Bookshelf

“This is a feel-good book you'd enjoy while in your favorite PJs sipping hot choco or whatever beverage you like while chilling. Who am I kidding? You will enjoy this book in whatever clothes you wear and wherever you are.”

—
whoopeeyoo! :D

The author of
The Billionaire's Secrets
,
Falling for Rain
,
Christmas in Venice
(short story), and
Midnight in Venice
,
MEADOW TAYLOR
loves to hear from her readers. Please email her at
[email protected]
, follow her tweets
@MeadowTaylor1
, and like her on
Facebook
.

Christmas in Bruges
.

Copyright © 2014 by Gina Buonaguro and Janice Kirk.

All rights reserved.

Published by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

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No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

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Cover photo credit: Janice Kirk

EPub Edition: October 2014

EPub ISBN: 9781443442169

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