“Hey, why are you calling yourself names?” I insist, pulling her hand away from her face. A tear cascades down her cheek, and I quickly wipe it away.
“I should’ve just asked you instead of walking out like that. I got so scared that it was happening all over again. That I was putting on blinders with you the same way I did with Deirdre. I let my mother and the words of a stranger cloud my judgment.”
“Your mother was trying to protect you. She loves you deeply, as do I. We came to that understanding a couple of days ago. And that guy from the other night …” I sigh. “He was a pawn.”
Desiree’s face crinkles in confusion.
“His brother, Charles, I told you about. He’s had a vendetta with McKenna Rehab since Charles died. A few weeks ago, I turned down Waldrich’s offer to merge and Larry, the head of the project, tried to use that vendetta against us. He helped restart rumors about McKenna Rehab employees using our facility as a front to sell drugs. This morning, I had my attorney file paperwork to move forward with a lawsuit. We’ll be owners of Waldrich Healthcare by the time all is said and done.”
“Neil, I had no idea.”
I shake my head. “No one did.”
“I feel even more like an ass now.”
“Don’t. It’s a big, confusing mess of a scheme he tried to run, and given my history and yours, I understand where the confusion came from. I just need you to promise me this one thing.”
“What’s that?”
I lift myself to stand and hold onto her hand to help her up as well. Cupping her by the face, I say, “That if there is ever, ever a time where you don’t trust me or need clarification, you come to me about it. Don’t just walk away.”
She dips her head sheepishly. “I promise,” she says above a whisper.
“Good. The last thing I want to have to do is tear this damn city apart to get to you.”
She smiles up at me through watery eyes, blining. I pull her face to me, our lips meeting in the middle.
Too soon, Desiree pulls back. “It’s your ten year anniversary.”
“Tomorrow, officially. Will you come somewhere with me tomorrow morning?”
“Anywhere.”
“You didn’t even ask.”
“I don’t need to, but where?”
“That same meeting I went to ten years ago. I’m speaking and then getting my ten-year chip.”
Her smile is a mile wide as she pulls me into her for another kiss. “I’d be honored,” she answers.
The kiss becomes all-consuming before I can tell her that the honor, the pleasure, and joy is all mine.
“Merry Christmas to us,” I say against her lips.
Epilogue
Christmas, 2021
“Neil, what are you doing? The cookies aren’t done,” I squeal as he pulls me by the waist from the kitchen.
“The cookies will be fine. The oven has an automatic timer, and you have at least three dozen for my family and yours,” he insists, still dragging me over toward the living room where our Christmas tree stands, lit up.
“Speaking of, both of our families will be here any minute. You know my mother loves showing up early.” I cast my wary gaze over to the clock on the wall above the door, noting that it’s nearing three o’clock in the afternoon. Dinner is supposed to start at four, and both Neil and my family are eating at our place.
Yes, that’s right. I agreed to move in with him on Christmas of last year. I made the move a few days after the New Year, breaking my old lease and all. It was worth the leap.
“Don’t blame me because you wanted to spend most of the morning at the bakery,” he teases.
