Meghan Dewitt
Zoe wiped a tear. This was what the candy canes had been about, and a deep sense of fulfillment began healing her own fresh pain.
She opened the next one and the next. Story after story told her how she’d made a difference in the lives of Nativity and beyond.Father, thank You for the ministry You placed on my heart. She took a break after reading the first hundred emails. Her eyes needed a rest and her emotions overflowed.
Although Donovan’s betrayal stung, she never would have heard all the inspiring stories if her identity hadn’t been made public. Each email became a healing balm that soothed her battered heart. That almost made everything that happened worth it.
Almost.
She heated a can of chicken noodle soup for lunch, then ironed her clothes for the Christmas Eve service later that night. She’d planned to attend with Donovan but would go solo again this year. Once she got to church, she’d find someone to sit with. No more withdrawing into a shell to protect herself from hurt. Even though she still reeled from Donovan’s action, she’d had a taste of friendship and couldn’t go back to only having acquaintances.
The doorbell rang for the third time that day. Instead of ignoring it as she had earlier, she decided to answer, and politely tell the person she wasn’t interested in giving an interview. She opened the door and froze, not expecting to see Donovan. He stood with the reporter from WTCH who’d run the story on her.
She clenched her jaw and crossed her arms. Stared at them without speaking a word. All the stabbing pain of his betrayal rushed to fill her face with heat. They had a lot of nerve showing up at her home.
Donovan’s gaze shifted to her hand about to close the door then back to her face. “I know you don’t want to see me right now, let alone talk to me, but I have to talk to you. I can explain what happened.”
The urge to shut the door in his face ran strong, but she stepped back and let him in, along with Marv Markel, the reporter. She gestured to the living room, inviting them to have a seat. She sat in the armchair, giving them the sofa.
Snowball jumped on Marv’s lap, and the man appeared horrified.Serves him right. She could have called the cat down from him, but she rather enjoyed seeing him squirm. Only when he sneezed, and she realized he could be allergic, did she pat her knee and call the cat to her.
Marv folded his hands in front of him and leaned forward at a slight angle. “This isn’t usual procedure, but Donovan wouldn’t relent until I agreed to speak with you.”
She stroked the cat’s fur and gauged the man’s body language. He didn’t want to be there, so she’d let him have his say, and send him out with Donovan. “What about?”
“Donovan didn’t know anything about the story until after we aired it, and he’s not our tipster.”
“Oh.” Her mouth gaped, and she processed the information. She’d been so convinced Donovan betrayed her, she hadn’t considered the possibility of anyone else. But who could have known? “How did you find out it was me?”
“A nurse at the hospital saw you on the security cam. I can’t reveal her name without risking her job, but she called the station, and we went from there.” Marv tilted his head. “This guy had nothing to do with it, and for what’s it’s worth, I’ve never seen a man work so hard to win his girl back.”
Her chest sunk to her stomach. Donovan hadn’t done a single thing wrong, and she’d treated him like dirt. Could he forgive her?
If he’d gone through all that trouble to prove his innocence, surely that meant they still had a chance, didn’t it?
She met his gaze with tears in her eyes and mouthed an apology.
Marv stood up and excused himself. “If I’m not needed here any longer, I’ll be on my way. I wish you both a Merry Christmas.”
“I’ll see you to the door.” She rose to her feet and took several steps, but Hans stopped her.
“I can find my way.” Marv darted a glance from her to Donovan. “I have a feeling the two of you have lots of talking to do.”
Once he left, she sat next to Donovan. “I’m so sorry. I have thought the worst of you.”
“You have to know I’d never hurt you.” His eyes crinkled at the sides. “Work comes second to people, especially those I care about.”
“I know that now, and I should have known it then.” She wrung her hands. “I’m rusty on relationships. I’m so afraid of getting close to anyone, I think I got scared when I realized how deep my feelings for you went—maybe even welcomed an excuse to push you away.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” He stilled her hands with his. “I know life is hard and dealt you a raw deal. There are no guarantees, but we can have today, and tomorrow’s today, and the next day’s today, and all the todays that God grants us. I’ve fallen in love with you. I want you to meet Brody … and one day I want us to become a family.”
“You mean that?”
“With all my heart.” His arms folded around her.
She leaned into his embrace, breathing in his piney, rustic aftershave. “I’d like that very much.”
