Holt’s heart plummeted, fearing that she was about to refuse him.
“I’ve never seen an emerald this big, Holt. I’m no’ used to your world. Your wealth.” She paused and swallowed. “Are ye sure I’m the lass for ye?”
“As sure as I’ve ever been of anything, Caitlin. Say yes. Please say yes. If you don’t like that ring, you can pick out another one you do like. Or one for each finger.”
She made him wait. He wasn’t surprised, just fearful. His chest felt too tight for his heart to have room to beat, his muscles locked so hard, holding him in place on one knee, that he thought he might start to shake. She wasn’t going to make anything easy for him, but he loved that about her. She was her own woman, used to making her own decisions. While she thought, she glanced from him to the ring to him several times, and Holt held his breath.
“’Tis a beauty, and I love it. But I love ye more, Holt Ridley. Yes! Aye, I’ll marry ye.”
He rose to meet her as she fell into his arms. “I’ve never been so happy,” he whispered to her. “I don’t know how.”
“But you’ll enjoy learning,” Caitlin told him. “I’ll teach you. I promise you that.”
* * *
Christmas night arrived, and Caitlin had to wrap tape around the shank of the emerald ring to make it fit her finger. Holt promised they’d get it sized in town the next day. In the meantime, she refused to go without it.
Tonight, they would host their first Christmas dinner celebration. The first of many, she hoped, though not for any concern about the Ridley family curse. The apothecary chest was safely stored at Cairn Dubh in the Highlands where it belonged. Instead, she hoped for years of happiness with Holt, his father and their friends as well as with her family in Scotland. She looked forward to many celebrations, large and small, public and intimate, and most especially, with the children she hoped they would make together, the family Holt never believed he would have.
While Holt conferred with Farrell, she looked around her, struggling to take in the changes a few event-filled weeks had wrought. The house was decorated beautifully. Mrs. Smith had worked her magic in the kitchen, and Caitlin and Holt had worked all day with Farrell to expand the festive holiday mood in the house that they’d first created with the Christmas trees. Now wreaths and roping adorned with lights and colorful balls draped doorways and mantels. Smaller ornaments and other seasonal decorations enhanced occasional tables beside chairs and in front of couches. The dinner table was set for a feast and decorated with candles, greenery and more colorful glass balls. Their guests would arrive soon. She couldn’t wait.
Holt’s father arrived first. Holt took him aside after Caitlin greeted him and left them to their reunion. Tears filled her eyes to see them with their heads together, deep in conversation. They finally had the family neither thought to ever have. She didn’t know what Holt wanted to discuss with him, but both had a glint of tears in their eyes, though being manly, they refused to shed them. Whatever it was, it clearly meant something important to both of them. She was thrilled to have helped bring Holt a happy resolution to the misery of his childhood and the sorry history of his family.
Their friends began to arrive soon after. Alice looked wonderful in her Christmas finery. This was the first time Caitlin could recall having seen her out of her white baker’s jacket and her red dress fit her like a dream. She caught Holt’s father studying Alice as Holt introduced them and fought a grin. Apparently, he liked the way she looked, as well. Rachel was there, too. She had mentioned to Caitlin that Doc Coates had sent her to Alice’s bakery several times for more chocolate croissants, but from the way his gaze followed Alice now, she would bet he hadn’t yet gone there himself and was regretting it. Caitlin suspected after tonight, he would become a regular customer. And perhaps more.
The next to arrive were high school friends of Holt’s, Jack and Anita from Holt’s favorite pizza parlor. That declaration earned Holt a laugh. The lawyer and estate’s executor, Mr. Thornton, evened out the number for the dinner table. Caitlin was especially pleased to see him. His presence was a measure of how Holt’s attitude had changed about the estate and everything in it.
“Now that everyone is here,” Holt said as Farrell passed out glasses of champagne, then returned to the kitchen. “I’d like to make a Christmas toast.” He raised his glass. “To family,” he said with a nod to his newfound father. “To friends,” he added with a smile for everyone else, “and to a wonderful Christmas for us all. I don’t know how to express how much it means to me to have you all here.”
Caitlin didn’t know if it was apparent to anyone else, but she’d heard the catch in Holt’s voice before he lifted his glass.
“Hear! Hear!” Jack said as everyone raised their glass in response, then drank.
Perhaps his friend Jack knew him well enough to have noticed it. Caitlin gave him a smile of thanks for diverting attention for the moment Holt needed to collect himself.
“Dinner is served,” Farrell eventually announced in his best butler imitation.
Everyone filed into the dining room and took their seats. Caitlin had made place cards and seated Alice across from Holt’s father to make conversation— or longing looks— easier for them. If they got to know each other, there might be another Christmas miracle.
Holt waited until everyone got settled, then addressed the table. “I have a few announcements to make before we eat.” He held out a hand for Caitlin.
She took his and rose, embarrassed, yet excited, knowing what he planned to say next.
“The first, in case you haven’t noticed,” he said, holding up her hand and turning it so the ring was visible to all, “is that Caitlin Paterson has agreed to become my wife.”
Whoops, cheers, and clapping greeted that announcement. Caitlin felt herself blush, heat rising from her chest to her cheeks as Holt pulled her to him and kissed her.
When their guests quieted down, and she had a chance to catch her breath, he added, “I’ve also made a decision about this estate that affects you all, and one I hope you will approve.”
Caitlin froze. He hadn’t told her about this. Why not? Had he found a local buyer? Nay, she didn’t think that was it. If he hoped they’d approve, he must not plan to sell it.
Holt’s steady gaze soothed Caitlin’s fears. He would have warned her if he knew she’d be upset. She took a breath and nodded.
He looked around the table. “I’m not going to sell the estate.” He paused to let everyone breathe a sigh of relief, then a smile lit his face. “I’m going to turn it over to Doc Coates to create the canine rescue and training facility that is my father’s dream. Mrs. Smith and Farrell will stay on, of course, to help my father manage the estate.”
Caitlin noticed Mr. Thornton nod and realized Holt had cleared this with him ahead of time, as executor of the estate and person in charge of dealing with the mountain of paperwork such an endeavor would likely require. She had every confidence Thornton could handle it.
“What do you mean, your father?” Alice asked, looking at Coates, who gave her a quirk of his lips.
