And then she remembered. Grabbing Micah’s arm, she shook it. “I have a wish,” she exclaimed. “I sat on Santa’s lap, and he asked what I wanted for Christmas, and then the roof flew off my house.”
Nick’s brows came together as he thought over her pronouncement. Micah brushed his hand up and down her back.
“It should work. A full-fledged Santa would have enough Christmas Magic to perform an override function.” Nick nodded to her. “Do it.”
“What do I wish for?” she asked them, looking back and forth between the two.
Micah shook his head. “It doesn’t work like that.”
Nick snorted. “The wish has to come from your heart. What do you want most?”
Charlotte squeezed her eyes shut to block out the swirling, twirling chaos around her. She gripped Micah’s upper arm, her fingers digging into the soft pajama fabric. “I wish…”
ChapterTwenty-Two
In Micah’s life, silence is usually unnoticed unless it comes after a loud noise. Like that moment after a baseball crashes through a window, or the last note of a song fades away.
That was how Micah felt about the wind. He’d begun to think it would always be there, pushing against him, tugging at his clothing, and throwing random Christmas paraphernalia in his path.
And then it was gone, and the world was quiet.
The first thing that came to his senses was the warmth of Charlotte in his arms. She’d buried her face in his neck and cupped the back of his head.
Truly, he didn’t want to move.
This, right here, right now, was perfection. He’d proposed, and she didn’t answer. So, on the other side of this moment, was either one that was infinitely better or worse.
Her cinnamon scent tickled his nose, and her hair slid across his hand each time he moved it up and down her back. She was warm and soft in all the right places, and he just wanted to stay in this moment. This perfectly still moment–forever.
“Dad!” Lizzie yelled.
His head came up just in time to see his little girl launch herself into the sleigh. Charlotte moved back to make space for her between them, and they smothered her with kisses. Giggling, she allowed the affection until she couldn’t stand it anymore.
“Dad, there’s a real reindeer. And our house is done.” She struggled to get out of their hold.
“What?” He looked at Charlotte to see if she knew what Lizzie was talking about, but her attention was on something over the side of the sleigh that was just out of his view.
She stood ever so slowly, her hands covering her mouth. “Merry Christmas indeed,” she breathed in awe.
Micah shoved to his feet. Nick had parked on the corner of Derby Road and 34th Street in front of the old, dilapidated house that had caused so much trouble for Charlotte, him, and Lizzie.
Only it wasn’t old and worn anymore.
Starting at the top, he cataloged the changes.
A new roof.
New exterior finish.
New paint.
New windows gleamed in the early morning sunlight.
The porch boards were straight and firm. The support posts were tall and strong. The lattice trim work was intricate and detailed.
The bushes had been trimmed back and wrapped in Christmas lights. A blow-up Santa was on the lawn, and a giant, beautiful Christmas tree was in the window. “Hey, didn’t that tree try to take off my head?” he asked. “Is this another dream?”
Charlotte laughed heartily and grabbed his hand. “Come on! I have to see inside.”
