Golden Christmas (10 page)

He held on to her, drawing as much comfort as
he gave. "I'm here if you need me. Hugs are available anytime."

"I'm so glad you came. I'm likely to drown in
my memories if I'm not careful. You help bring me back to the
present and keep my feet on the ground."

Her words dispelled any doubts he had about
coming. He'd do anything he could to help this woman he loved. Her
heart might still belong to the husband she'd lost, but he could
live with that as long as she let him love her. All he wanted to do
was make her happy again.

• • •

Vicky climbed out of her car and sucked in a deep
breath of achingly familiar salty air. Her parents' whitewashed
house stood where it had for sixty years, like a sentinel on the
top of the hill above the village. She wished Jonathan could see
the breathtaking view of the white-topped waves on the steely gray
ocean, and the spray as the waves pounded the rocks below.

She rounded the car as Jonathan climbed out
and let him take her arm. She'd have to be extra careful here
because it was unfamiliar to him. "We'll go around the front of the
car and through the gate. No steps, but the gateway isn't very
wide, so you'll have to drop behind me slightly."

"No problem. I can hear the ocean. It sounds
rough."

"It is. No boats out there today."

They passed through the gate and she latched
it, her heart thumping as if she had pushed Josh's stroller uphill
from where she used to live near the beach with Colin. The wind
gusted up the cliff, coating her skin with salty moisture. For a
moment she couldn't catch her breath. How many times had she passed
through this gate with Colin? How many times had Josh run along
this path, laughing and happy to be visiting his grandma and
granddad?

She paused, staring at the corner of the
flowerbed where her father had helped Josh plant some seeds.
Fragments of memories going back years spun through her mind like a
movie reel gone crazy, words and scenes overlapping.

The front door opened and her mother came
out, an apron around her waist, arms open wide. "Vicky, darling.
This is long overdue. We're so pleased to see you."

Vicky released Jonathan and hugged her
mother, then her father, her chest so tight with suppressed emotion
she could barely breathe. She had stayed away too long.

Her poignant reminiscing stopped abruptly as
her mother's gaze flicked to Jonathan, and her welcoming smile
turned into a frown. Vicky had been so wrapped up in her past,
she'd given hardly a thought to what her parents would think of
Jonathan. She should have forewarned them he was blind, but it was
too late now.

"Mum, Dad, this is Jonathan Bramwell." She
slipped her hand through his left arm.

"Hello. Nice to meet you." Jonathan reached
out and shook hands with her father and mother.

"Good to meet you," her father said, his
genuine pleasure clear in his voice. Her mother said nothing. The
frown was gone but her mouth was thin, her face pinched with
worry.

"Best come in out of that wind," her father
said. "Jonathan, would you like a drink before we eat? I'm sure
Vicky wants to go and help her mum in the kitchen."

"Sounds like a plan." Jonathan smiled as
Vicky led him into the sitting room and made sure he found a
seat.

"Just going to help Mum, then." She touched
Jonathan's shoulder, feeling protective of him. Seeing him in
unfamiliar surroundings made her realize how difficult it must be
for him.

She headed to the kitchen, pausing in the
doorway to look back. Her father had given Jonathan a glass of
whiskey and sat opposite him in a chair. They seemed to be
fine.

As Vicky walked along the hall towards the
kitchen, each picture of Josh on the wall pierced her with sharp
pangs of longing. But she kept a hold of herself, put one foot in
front of the other, and didn't stop to lose herself in the smiling
images.

"Want any help, Mum?"

Her mother dried her hands on a dish towel
and pulled Vicky into a hug. "It's so good to see you. I've missed
you so much since you moved away." After long moments of hugging,
her mother took a step back and held Vicky at arm's length. "Don't
take this the wrong way. I'm delighted you've found someone, but
you do understand what you're taking on with Jonathan, don't
you?"

"Because he's blind, you mean?"

Her mother nodded.

"Mum, he's a wonderful man who's made me
realize I have a life to live. He loves me and I love him. That's
all that matters." The words were out before she realized what
she'd said…she loved him. The revelation danced across her
senses.

Her mother gave her a doubtful look,
obviously not convinced, but didn't say more. For the next ten
minutes they worked together, putting vegetables in serving dishes
and slicing the roast beef. The whole time Vicky imagined telling
Jonathan that she loved him.

They carried everything through to the dining
room. When the table was set, Vicky went back to the sitting room.
"Do you two want to come through?"

The men rose and she stood aside for her
father to go ahead, then stole a kiss from Jonathan and ran a
loving hand over his shoulder. She felt more tender towards him,
her need to be with him suddenly more acute as if she couldn't bear
to be out of physical contact.

"All right?" she whispered.

"Great. I like your dad." Jonathan slipped
his hand through her arm and she led him to his place at the table,
then sat beside him and gripped his hand under the edge of the
tablecloth.

While they ate, Jonathan told her parents
about the book he was writing on the history of Rosemoor Hall.
There was no doubt her parents were impressed that Jonathan came
from such a well-to-do family.

Later Vicky took Jonathan's arm and they
walked around the garden. Every step took her down memory lane. She
made an effort to describe the place to Jonathan, but much of the
time she was lost in her thoughts and he stayed silent. They
rounded a corner in the path and Vicky's step faltered, her heart
clenched with pain.

"What is it?" Jonathan turned to her, his
hand seeking out her shoulder and rising to her cheek.

"It's the sandbox Dad made for Josh." Her
words came out as a choked whisper. The cement around the edge was
overgrown with grass and the sand full of weeds. This had been
Josh's favorite place in the garden, and he chattered about it all
the time.

Jonathan put his arms around her as tears
filled her eyes. Memories of her little boy playing here ran
through her mind, yet having Jonathan's strong arms around her
helped more than she'd thought possible. She pressed her cheek
against his chest, the steady beat of his heart holding her in the
present.

"You're all right, darling. I've got you."
His gentle words brought more tears, but they were tears of relief.
Before she met him, she would not have handled this visit to her
parents' house well. Having him in her life made all the
difference. Her love for him was like a shield against the pain,
and it was time to tell him so.

"Yesterday you said you loved me and I didn't
say anything. I do love you, Jon. So much."

"Darling." He held her tight, pressing warm
kisses to her hair and face. She'd felt so alone, and now she
wasn't alone anymore.

Vicky felt drained by the emotional tension of the day. Add in the
long drive to her parents' house and back, and she was ready to
fall into bed when they arrived at Rosemoor Hall. Jonathan came to
bed early with her and gathered her into his arms, his lips against
her hair.

"I'm proud of you, love. That was a big step
today," he whispered.

She snuggled closer to his comforting warmth
while the weight of Honey curled on the bed at her feet felt
familiar and reassuring. Jonathan and Honey were home for her now,
her family. Maybe it had happened so quickly because she was
lonely, ready for someone to fill the empty space in her life.
Thank goodness she was between jobs and had no reason to rush back
to Southampton when her vacation should have ended. She wanted to
cuddle close to Jonathan and stay here forever.

The clock was striking ten when she finally
opened her eyes the following morning. It was difficult to drag
herself up from the depths of her stupor, as if she had done more
than sleep, as if she had sunk into oblivion, her mind too tired to
even dream.

Yet as she came to, she felt lighter, knowing
the visit she'd been dreading was over. Not only had it been
wonderful to see her mum and dad again, going back to the place she
associated so closely with Colin had been cathartic. She had
finally said good-bye and given herself permission to love
again.

The smell of freshly brewed coffee heralded
Jonathan as he entered with a tray bearing coffee, toast, bacon,
and fried eggs. "How are you feeling?"

"Happy because I'm in love with a wonderful
man." She sat up, fluffing the pillows behind her. As he leaned
down to put the tray on her lap, she slipped an arm around his
neck.

Tears filled her eyes as she held him, her
nose pressed against his hair. How she adored this man, and how she
ached for him because life would always be a little more difficult
for him that it should be. She would make sure to be here for him,
always.

Until she met him, she'd thought her life was
over, bar the actual dying. Yet she'd turned a new page, and this
was only the start. This new life with Jonathan was full of
possibilities and opportunities. She breathed in hope, love, and
excitement with every gasp of air.

• • •

For the next three weeks they walked the
grounds of Rosemoor Hall, threw the ball for Honey hundreds of
times, fed the ducks, and visited Rosemoor Farm to see the early
lambs in the barn field.

They feasted on homemade pizza that Vicky
helped Chloe make in the warm farmhouse kitchen, discussed the
future with Owen, and spent endless hours sitting on the floor in
Shelly's kitchen, playing with Jessie.

Vicky's adorable bundle of golden fur almost
grew as she watched. Jessie was still small but quickly catching up
with the bigger black pups. In only a week she'd be ready to leave
her mum, and Vicky needed to prepare for that.

After dinner, Vicky slouched on the sofa with
Jonathan, her head on a cushion, her feet in his lap so he could
rub them. While he did that, she read aloud about the history of
the local area to help Jonathan's research. When she reached the
end of a particularly dry chapter on the parish church, she closed
the cover and set the book on the floor.

She relaxed for a moment, enjoying the magic
of Jonathan's strong fingers on her instep, while Honey whimpered
and twitched where she slept on the rug, obviously chasing her ball
in her dreams.

"You know my vacation was over two weeks ago,
don't you? I've stayed far longer than I booked."

"That doesn't matter. Stay as long as you
like." He lifted her foot and pressed a kiss to her toes. "I want
you here with me."

"I love being with you, but I need to get my
living arrangements sorted out. I can't take Jessie home to my
current place. It doesn't allow pets."

"Move in with me."

His words sent a shot of excitement through
her. This was Vicky's dream, something she hadn't dared hope for.
Was Jonathan really ready to take their relationship to the next
stage? "Are you sure? We've only known each other just over a
month."

"I love you. Why wait?" He reached for Vicky
and she went to him, sliding onto his lap. He kissed her and
stroked her hair, his touch already so familiar.

"You're sure?"

"Absolutely."

She snuggled close to him and they kissed
some more while she dreamed of spending all her time with him,
except she would have to find a job, of course. Owen had muttered
something about her working in the estate office, so that sounded
promising.

"I'd like to help you move your things, but
I'd probably be more of a hindrance," he said.

She cupped his cheek in her hand. "You could
never be a hindrance."

He chuckled. "Even so, it's best if I stay
here."

"I'll miss you every moment." A week apart
was going to feel like forever.

• • •

The following day, Vicky drove to Southampton and
packed up her belongings. It took a few days to arrange storage for
her few pieces of furniture and tie up her affairs. She'd been
working short-term contracts for an agency, so she didn't have a
job to worry about.

Excitement buzzed along her nerves as she
drove back to Rosemoor Hall a week later. She was so looking
forward to seeing Jonathan again. The week apart had felt like a
month, even though they'd talked on the phone at least twice a day,
often more. The thought of him alone with nobody on hand if he lost
his migraine meds or something like that worried her.

When she turned onto the gravel area at the
side of Rosemoor Hall, she had to maneuver around a new Porsche
parked there. Jonathan had mentioned his brother and sister-in-law
were due home. Maybe this was their car?

She cut the engine and stared pensively at
the expensive sports car. She wasn't looking forward to meeting
Jonathan's sister-in-law, Gabriela Bramwell. Apparently the woman
had suggested Jonathan stop giving guided tours of the Hall because
it didn't give a good impression—whatever that meant.

Vicky climbed out and pulled two bags from
the packed car, then lugged them to the back door and up the narrow
stairs. As she entered the corridor to Jonathan's apartment, a tall
woman with long blond hair wearing a tight black dress hurried
towards her.

"Who are you?" the woman demanded, voice
raised in a haughty tone.

"Vicky… I'm Jon's girlfriend."

"Jonathan doesn't have girlfriends." Her
adamant tone immediately put Vicky's hackles up. The woman made it
sound as though Jonathan wasn't allowed a girlfriend.