“The lighthouse,” she said, as if it was the most logical place to go on Christmas morning.
They walked along the edge of the water, the only people on the long stretch of sand. It was just the two of them, the birds soaring above, and the waves racing up to greet them. The pink tint of sunrise faded to a brilliant blue sky filled with fluffy clouds.
They walked on until they reached the lighthouse and stood at its base, facing the vast expanse of the sea. A gentle breeze tousled her hair and stroked her skin. She couldn’t ask for a more perfect morning.
A flash of teal caught her gaze, and she pointed. “What’s that? Just out there at the edge of the waves.”
He took a few steps into the water and reached down, scooping it up before returning and handing it to her.
“Oh, look.” She stared at it in awe. “It’s sea glass… and it looks like a heart, doesn’t it?”
He looked closely. “It does.”
She clenched it tightly in her hands. “You know what I’m going to do with this?”
“What?”
“I’m going to put it in Nana’s Christmas box. A reminder of this Christmas. Our first Christmas.”
“Our first of many.” He pulled her into a hug. “I think that’s a wonderful idea. This has certainly been a Christmas I’ll never forget.”
“It has, hasn’t it?” She looked up at him, all her emotions raw and near the surface. So much had happened since she’d returned to the island.
“And I have something I want to give you for Christmas,” he said softly.
“What’s that?” She looked up into the depths of his eyes, and it was as if she could feel his emotions intertwining with hers.
“It’s more something I want you to know…” He reached out and cupped her chin, tilting her face up, locking his gaze with hers. “I love you, Evie. You make me feel whole. Like where I belong is right here with you.”
Her heart beat in double time, and the love she felt for him—and had tried to ignore—swelled through her, commanding her attention. “I love you too.” She managed to whisper the words before the gentle sea breeze took them away, flinging them across the water, announcing their love to the world.
He leaned down and captured her lips, a gentle kiss full of love and promise. She stood there in his arms, where she belonged, and it was like the last piece of her heart fell into place. And she’d treasure the heart-shaped sea glass they’d found as a reminder of the day they both admitted their love.
As they stood on the shoreline, the waves washed a tiny yellow shell up to their feet. Randy glanced down at it and smiled. “You know about the legend of the lighthouse? If you make a wish and throw a shell into the sea, your wish will come true?”
“Of course I do. I’ve made many wishes here. And I’ve made two since I’ve returned.”
Curiosity lit up his face. “Really? What were they?”
“I wished that I could keep the cottage and find a way to live here.”
“That wish came true.” He brushed a finger along her cheek, smiling gently. “And the other wish?”
“When I first came to the island, I came here to Lighthouse Point.” She glanced up at the lighthouse, then back toward Randy. “I was feeling alone and lost. I missed Nana so much.” She closed her eyes briefly, reliving those first painful days. “And I stood right here and wished to feel happy again and find joy.”
His eyes never left her face. “And did you find it?”
A slow smile spread across her lips as she met his gaze. “I did. Right here. With you.”
He kissed her again, there under the familiar, comforting presence of the lighthouse. The yellow shell tumbled down the shore, washing back out to sea. She had no need to make another wish. All hers had come true.
Thank you for reading my story. I hope it brought you a bit of the magic of the Christmas Season. If you want to read more about Belle Island, try my Lighthouse Point series full of family, friendship, and more of the quaint island charm. Learn about the legend of making a wish at Lighthouse Point, and find out more about Tally’s story. She’s one of my favorite characters!
As always, thanks for reading my stories. I truly appreciate all my readers.
