I stand the case up in the hall before opening the door. “I know you think he isn’t good enough for me because he owned a failing toy store, but he’s actually really good with his hands.”
Dad bristles.
“You should see the stuff he’s made. You’d be impressed. He’s a good man, and he works really hard. Surely you can respect him for that.” I sigh. “You know his wife died six years ago? That’s why the business failed. He was grieving. If anyone can sympathise with how that feels, it should be you.”
Dad’s eyes sadden. His shoulders curl inwards like they always do when he thinks of Mum. He nods his head. “I didn’t know that, pudding.”
I slide my hands around Dad’s waist. “Thank you for understanding, even though you don’t agree with my decisions.”
“I love you. I just want you to be happy. If things don’t work out, you call me and I’ll come straight over to pick you up.” He holds me tighter and I inhale his familiar scent of cigars.
A bang at the door startles me. Dad peers over my shoulder at the silhouette behind the frosted glass in his large hallway.
“You expecting Ruth?”
He checks his watch. “Not yet.”
I take the two steps to the door and pull the handle. My heart stutters in my chest. “Nick?”
Teddy stands beside him, his pyjamas poking out from under his padded coat. “Daddy said there weren’t any flowers big enough to say sorry this time. But he wants to be friends again.” He gives me a big smile with his chocolate-covered mouth.
Nick clears his throat, his sad green eyes reminding me of a little puppy dog I used to have. “I’ve been such an idiot. Can you forgive me?”
My lips curl in the corner. “Maybe seeing as it’s the season for forgiving and all that.” I want to throw my arms around this man and tell him I love him, but is it wrong to also want him to grovel at my feet?
“I’ve beenpine-ingfor you. Thesnuggleis real. We have greatchemis-tree.”
“Did you just digest a load of Christmas puns on the way down here?” I fold my arms over my chest. “You’re going to have to do better than that.”
He steps into the house and cups my face. My dad’s still behind me, but Nick doesn’t care. He strokes my cheeks with his large thumbs. “I love you, Joy Winters. I love you from your head to yourmistle-toe. I’ve loved you from the moment you stepped into my office with your beautiful smile that lit up my soul.” He kisses my nose. “You were never just my star employee. You were my light in the darkness. My North Star.
Happy tears threaten my eyes. “I love you too, Nick. It was love atfrostsight.” My smile widens, forcing the tears to drip onto my cheeks.
Nick kisses them away, his lips hot against my skin with the winter chill blowing into the hall. “Every day you stole pieces of my shattered heart and fixed it back together again. You have my whole heart Joy, you mended it and now it’s yours.” His lips press to mine and I melt against him. His strong arms wrap around me, holding me close. “I’m never gonna let you go, little star. Say you’ll have me back.”
“I never wanted you to go.”
He pulls away to look me in the eye, glancing at my father over my shoulder. “I’ve sold the business. I’m going to sell the house too and move down here. Teddy’s up for it, aren’t you?”
Teddy nods his head.
“You can take that dream position at the publishing house. I’ll get a job doing whatever. I don’t care what I do, as long as we’re a family and we’re together.” He nods at my father as if wanting his approval.
“You don’t need to move down here, Nick.”
“I do, Joy. This last week’s been hell. I need to be near you.”
“I mean, I’m not staying here. I’m moving back to Hollyville.” My hand waves at my suitcase in the hall. “I have a new job there.”
“Okay. Then I’ll stay in Hollyville. You can move in with me.”
“I was kinda hoping you’d say that.” I shuffle on my feet. “Will you be my assistant, too?”
“Your new job needs an assistant?” He pinches his eyebrows. “I don’t know if I’d be any good. What is it?”
“I’m the new owner of Toy Trove Treasures.” I bite my lip, waiting for him to speak. My cheeks heat despite the chill from outside.
His jaw hangs open. “You bought the business? How?”
