Finding Abigail (40 page)

When the door
opened, I didn’t look up from my task, assuming it was Noah, until I heard a
female voice. “Wow, I don’t think it’s ever smelled so good in here, I must
have the wrong house.”

I looked over
and saw Noah’s mom, Pamela, walking in carrying grocery bags.

Closing the lid
on the container, I stepped up to her. “Hi, Pamela, it’s nice to see you
again.”

Noah’s mom was
in her fifties, but the only way you could tell was the lines around her eyes
and mouth when she smiled. She was tall for a woman, I’d say about five ten,
and her wheat-colored hair was usually up in a bun, like her mother’s. Today it
was down, flowing smoothly just past her shoulders. “You too, honey, how are
you doing?” By the tone of her voice, I could tell she knew. Pamela moved to
the kitchen counter and laid her bags on top.

“I’m good
actually, thanks to your mother.” She smiled, pride shining from her eyes. She
loved her mother and it showed. “Is Sylvia with you?”

“I’m here,” the
woman in question called from the doorway as she stepped through. The brisk
December air blew in with her. Before she closed the door I noticed that it was
snowing again. It had stopped last night after we got home with the tree, but
it was nice to see the light dusting on Christmas Eve, especially now that
everyone was here, safe and sound.

I was so happy
to see someone from my other life that I rushed over and gave her a big hug.
The familiar scent of spearmint washed over me. “I’m so glad to see you.”

She gently
rubbed the back of my hair with her hand. “
I’m
so glad
you’re
okay.”

I couldn’t let
go of this frail woman; it was like coming home. Someone I saw on a daily basis
in my old life was here in my new one, and for some reason the floodgates
opened, and I started to cry. I didn’t understand my reaction. I wasn’t sad. I
was happy; actually it gave me hope that someday I could see others from my
past.

“I’ll go help
Harry with the bags. I’ll give you some time.” Pamela’s voice snapped me out of
my emotional breakdown, and I let go of Sylvia, stepping away as her daughter
went outside.

Through the
window I saw Noah leading a man and women that must have been his sister and
her husband, into the cottage. A little girl and a dog followed them.

“Do they know?”
I asked, watching Pamela join her husband near the car. I brushed my tears
away, hoping to erase all evidence. I didn’t want Noah to know I’d been crying.
After yesterday, I thought I was all cried out.

She moved up
beside me as we watched the group bring suitcases, and coolers into Sylvia’s
old home. “Yes, I told them on the way here. They knew something was up since
you moved here, but it wasn’t my news. But when I told them that you’d be
joining us they wanted to know the whole story. I thought they should know. Is
that okay?”

“It’s fine, I
don’t think they ever met Nick.”

She placed a
cold hand on my shoulder, turning me to face her. “Actually, after you left, he
came by their house to ask me some questions.”

I tried to push
down the feeling of fear, but it was difficult when we were discussing Nick.
“Has he been there since?”

“No, I’ve been
around a long time.” She winked. “I know how to lie.”

Speechless, I
simply held her hand and squeezed.

“So tell me
about you and my grandson.” She took her coat off and laid it onto my
outstretched hand as she sat down at the kitchen table, her flowing
plum-colored skirt spread out around the chair.

I gaped at her
as I hung up her coat on the coat rack, and then took the seat next to her. The
legs of the chair scraped against the linoleum floor. “How did you know?”

“Well, when you
first arrived, Noah was irritated with you when we spoke on the phone. And I
think a little with me because I wouldn’t tell him your situation. But the last
few times I’ve talked to him, he sounded happy and content. Besides, I told you
you’d like him.”

I pushed my
bangs out of my eyes. “Is there anything you don’t know?”

“Not so far,”
she said with a grin and a wink, her pale gray eyes sparkling with amusement.

I laughed. “I’m
so happy you’re here.”

The door swung
open and Noah stepped inside. “Everything okay in here?” His family stood
behind him waiting to come in.

“Everything is
wonderful.” Sylvia stood up and took my hand, pulling me up with her.

Noah walked
over and gave me a quick peck on the lips, then taking my other hand, he turned
to his parents. “Mom, Dad, this is Anna, my girlfriend.” Everyone’s face took
on the same expression—confusion. “She changed her name, and we want to keep it
that way, just to be safe.”

Instead of
agreeing or showing any sign of understanding they cheered. His mother rushed
over and gave us both a hug. She smelled of lavender. “It’s about time someone
settled him down, and I’m glad it’s you, Anna.” She winked, using my preferred
name. “I always liked you.”

Harry came up
beside his wife. “It’s nice to see you again and even better now that you can
handle this one.” He shot a look in his son’s direction as he gave me a hug. He
smelled of mint and chocolate.

Noah introduced
me to his sister Jennifer who insisted I call her Jen and her husband Collin.
Their little girl Libby was adorable, with light brown hair that fell to her
back, pulled up in a head band. She was wearing a cute red Christmas dress. She
looked about four.

I took
everyone’s coats and placed them in the closet of the spare room while Noah
brought in the groceries and dinner, which was pizza from Pizza Villa. “That’s
not very Christmasy, Noah,” his mother scolded him, taking a bite after we were
all seated around the table drinking wine and beer.

“Since Anna
doesn’t cook, and we spent the day moving her things over here so you guys
could have the cottage, you’re lucky you’re getting food at all.” He winked at
his mother, who grinned, taking a sip of her wine.

“I think it’s
great.” Collin added his opinion to the conversation, holding up his beer.

“So, Anna, I
see you have a new book out. Have you been writing much since you’ve been
here?” Pam asked me.

I nodded,
swallowing the mouthful of cheese and pepperoni. “Yes, it’s so peaceful and
quiet here. I’ve written a few actually.”

“Libby loves
your books, we have most of them. I think its so cool that my brother is dating
Abigail Watson,” Jen squealed, standing up to gather dishes. She stopped and
stared at me apologetically. “I’m sorry, I’m just excited.”

I smiled. “It’s
okay.”

“Yes, but remember
you can’t tell anyone.” Noah said, pointing at her.

Jen turned to
him. He was sitting next to her, a scowl clouding her pretty face. “Noah, I
wouldn’t do anything to risk her life, I like
her
. I’m just not sure
about you.” She ducked from a playful swat from her brother.

“Now kids, play
nice,” their father said with a smile.

After everyone
left for the evening, retiring to my cottage, Noah turned on the gas fireplace
and dimmed the lights. With the snow falling outside, the room was cozy and
romantic. He took a small wrapped box out from under the tree. “Open it.” He
placed it on my lap and fell into the couch beside me. The springs groaned
against his weight.

I shook my
head, handing it back to him. “No, we should wait until tomorrow.”

His eyes narrowed
as he held out his hand and pushed it back to me. “We will. But I’d like you to
open this in private.”

“
Okay
.”
I was suddenly very curious. What it could be that I couldn’t open in front of
his family? “Is it something dirty?” I asked with a smirk. He just shrugged his
shoulders, watching me with intense eyes. I pulled at the wrapping paper to
find a little square box—the perfect size for a ring. My heart sunk. I loved
him so much, but I definitely wasn’t ready for that.

His lips
twitched, seeing the look on my face. “Don’t worry, it’s not a ring.”

I sighed with
relief, giving him a small smile. “Good.” I lifted the lid off the box and
gasped. I gazed up at him not believing what I saw. “No way!” I gasped.

He grinned
widely but stayed silent.

Inside the box,
surrounded by cotton, was a small heart-shaped sterling silver locket, identical
to the one Nick ruined. It looked so much like mine, I almost believed he went
to my apartment and dug in the garbage disposal. I rubbed my finger over the
embossed lace, hoping that if I opened it, there would be a picture of my
parents. But of course there wouldn’t be. I left it closed so he wouldn’t see
disappointment on my face.

I was so
touched by his gift, I was speechless. I had only mentioned the locket once, weeks
ago. I couldn’t believe he remembered.

“Aren’t you
going to look inside?”

“No, I don’t
need to, it’s so beautiful. Thank you.”

“Open it,” he
said sternly, his eyes narrowed again. I did what he asked. Tears rolled down
my cheeks before I could stop them. Inside the locket was a small picture of my
parents, exactly like my old one.

I looked up at
him. “How?” I whispered, so shocked I could barely speak.

“I looked
online for days looking for a locket exactly like the one in your album. I
finally found one, and they shipped it yesterday. That was the stop I had to
make on our way home.

“I took the
pictures from your album, and got copies made in this size at a place in
Martin. Then I snuck back over here while you were at the diner having lunch
with Kathy last week, and replaced them.”

All I could do
was stare at him. So many emotions swam in my head. I left Nick when he took my
father from me. And now that Noah had returned him, all I wanted to do was
spend the rest of my life with this man.

“You don’t like
it, do you? I’m sorry I overstepped. It wasn’t my business.” He took my silence
for anger or sadness, instead of what it was—awe. This sweet, wonderful,
handsome man that just kept surprising me.

“No, I love it.
I just can’t believe you did this.” I was still in shock. The locket was cold
against my skin as I held it in my hand. I couldn’t stop staring at it. Just
like in my dream, the lights from the Christmas tree reflected off the shiny
silver surface.

“I love you,”
he said simply with a shrug of his shoulders.

I closed my
hand around my new gift, and wrapped my arms around him, and kissed him with
everything I had. “Thank you,” I whispered, pulling away. “And yes, I’ll move
in with you.”

He smiled. His
eyes alight with the love that must have reflected mine. “You’re welcome, and
I’m so glad you’ll live with me because some day you’re going to be my wife.”
My eyes widened in shock; I couldn’t speak. He didn’t mind though, he just
laughed, picked me up, and carried me into the bedroom.

“Uncle Noah,
Uncle Noah, wake up, Santa was here.”

I opened my
heavy eyelids and stared into Libby’s big blue eyes. Her face was round and
delicate, flawless as only a child’s could be. I felt that I was looking into
the face of a porcelain doll. Until I looked down. She was wearing princess
footy pajamas. Her light brown hair, sticking up and falling askew down her
back. She grinned at me as she reached out and shook Noah.

He was facing
me, eyes wide open with a smile on his face. He started to fake snore. “Uncle
Noah, come on, Mommy said we couldn’t open presents until you wake up.” Noah
only snored louder.

I smiled at
him. “You know, Libby,” I began, sitting up in bed. “I’ve known your uncle a
while now, and I have a special way of waking him up. Do you want to try?”

She tilted her
head, interest sparking into those dark blue eyes. “Yes.”

“Tickle
attack,” I yelled, going for the side of his stomach, a spot I found one day
while we were horsing around. She joined me in the tickling, with giggles and
screams as Noah grabbed her, pulling her onto the bed between us, turning the
attack on to her.

I watched as
she struggled through the laughs and screams. Noah was smiling and having fun.
A feeling of joy crept inside me, and I realized I wanted this. I wanted our
child to wake us up in the morning. I wanted Noah to tickle his boy or girl and
see the happiness on his face that I saw right now. I no longer feared his
words from last night; I was excited for him to ask me to marry him—maybe not
right now, but someday.

Jen appeared in
the doorway wearing a faded black T-shirt and black yoga pants. Her hair was
pulled into a loose ponytail with strands falling loose that shouldn’t be.
“Noah, what are you doing to my child?”

“Tickle
attack,” he breathed, not looking away from his niece.

Jen raised a
brow, a smirk playing on her lips. “Aren’t you too old?”

He slowed his
hands, letting Libby take a breath. The child’s hair was now sticking straight
up. “Yes. But she started it.”