Silver Christmas (9 page)

Ever since then, he'd eaten breakfast early
before she came down and seemed to avoid being alone with her. When
they walked the dogs, it was always in a group with Chloe and
Marcus with his black Labrador, Peggy, or sometimes with Owen's
other cousin Jonathan and his partner, Vicky, and their two dogs,
one of which was another of Paddy's littermates.

They'd had lunch at his sister Shelly's pub,
the Fat Goose, a couple of times during Christmas week with his
relatives, and Owen never sat next to her. She was having a
wonderful time doing things with Chloe and getting to know her
daughter better, but she missed her time alone, talking with
Owen.

She missed the twinkle in his eyes, and his
smile that seemed to say so much. She glanced his way often, but
she never caught him looking at her now. Had the attraction between
them all been in her mind? Maybe he'd only ever wanted to make
friends so they could have a civilized relationship while dealing
with Chloe.

Jennifer sat cross-legged on the floor by the
kitten box in the silence of the bathroom. The tiny felines were
now fully aware of their surroundings. The mischievous little
creatures scampered around exploring, their eyes bright with
curiosity, their ears pricked.

Sixpence was still the smallest, yet
definitely not a runt. They were all cute, but the sixth kitten
would always hold a special place in Jennifer's heart because she
was Chloe and Owen's favorite—the one they wanted to keep. Somehow
she was already part of their family.

Jennifer cradled a wriggling Sixpence between
her hands and held her at eye level, losing herself in the pleasure
of the moment with this tiny fur ball, trying to put her confused
feelings for Owen out of her mind.

"Are you going to stay here, rascal?"

"I hope so," Owen said from the doorway
behind her. He came into the bathroom and shut the door. "We had a
call come into the estate office thirty minutes ago. We've found
Mama Cat's owner."

Jennifer's heart dropped at the thought the
cat and kittens would be taken. It wasn't that she wanted to keep
Mama Cat, but she had arrived here the same time as Jennifer, and
in some strange way their destinies seemed linked. "So, what's her
story?"

"Her name's Stripy. The woman who called says
she belongs to her elderly mother who was rushed into the hospital
about the time we found the cat. She asked me to go ahead and find
homes for the kittens, and wants us to keep Stripy for a few more
weeks until her mum comes out of the hospital."

"So you can keep Sixpence?"

Owen smiled in answer, that warm smile of his
that communicated so much. He was relieved, happy, and far more
relaxed than she'd seen him since the visit to the garden center to
buy the Christmas tree.

"I haven't told Chloe yet. I thought it would
make a wonderful surprise on Christmas morning. What do you
think?"

"It'll be a lovely surprise for Chloe." Today
was Christmas Eve, so she wouldn't have to wait long for the news.
"I'm really looking forward to my first Christmas day with
her."

She wasn't looking forward to the days after
that, though. She couldn't stay at Rosemoor Farm indefinitely. The
kittens would go to new homes after Christmas, and so would she.
She had to accept the job at Warmshurst Zoo or find something else.
A new home, a new job, and a new life.

To a casual observer, she, Owen, and Chloe
might look like a family, but they weren't. The only thing she and
Owen had in common was a daughter.

Owen crouched at her side and ran a finger
along the fur sticking up on Sixpence's spine.

"So, when do you leave us?" he asked.

"As soon as you want me to go."

"Don't you have a date to start at the zoo
job?" He sounded surprised.

"I haven't accepted it yet, but I probably
will. It ticks all my career boxes."

Owen pressed his lips together for a moment.
"That's a good thing, I guess, but don't forget people matter
too."

"I plan to make plenty of time to see Chloe.
Maybe she can come to me every other weekend and half of her school
vacations."

Owen scooped up a kitten that was trying to
clamber over the corral they'd put around the cat bed, and
deposited the fluff ball gently back beside its mother. She waited
for him to answer her. Instead he rose to his feet and turned
towards the door.

"Owen. Will that be okay?"

"Yes. Of course." He turned at the door, his
expression unreadable. "By the way, Chloe's not the only person who
cares about you."

Jennifer parted her lips to speak, not sure
what she planned to say, but it didn't matter because Owen was
gone.

Jennifer jumped up with Sixpence still cradled in her hand, the
sweet furry bundle of life a little talisman, giving her courage.
She hurried after Owen, careful in her haste to shut the door
properly to keep the other kittens safely inside.

Stepping out onto the landing, she glanced up
and down the corridor and heard the kitchen door downstairs.

After that provocative comment, no doubt Owen
was escaping to hide out with his goats. When things got
emotionally charged or difficult, she'd noticed he headed for the
goat shed.

Cradling a sleepy Sixpence against her neck,
she ran downstairs, along the hallway and into the kitchen. As she
expected, Heidi and Zach weren't in their beds.

Owen had always been like this, she realized.
He'd never been good at discussing his feelings with her. He said
his piece and then retreated and stewed, never giving them a chance
to talk things out.

Because she'd hated the way her parents had
shouted at each other, sometimes right over her head, she'd refused
to argue with him over Chloe and just run away.

Each of them were as bad as the other!

She marched down the tiled corridor to the
back door and found Owen in the mudroom, wearing his old yard coat,
pushing his feet into his Wellington boots.

He glanced up, startled, as she stopped in
the doorway, blocking his exit.

"You can't make a comment like that and run
away," she said.

"I'm not running away. I'm going to check on
the goats."

Jennifer had to suppress a smile. Who would
have thought the playboy who used to dote on his sports car would
become so fond of goats?

"Do you still have feelings for me?"

Owen turned his back on her and rinsed out
the dogs' dishes in the sink. Then he dried his hands on an old
towel, giving her a sideways glance. "Of course I have feelings for
you. You're the mother of my daughter." He cleared his throat. "Do
you have feelings for me?"

"I asked first. I want a proper answer."
Jennifer knew she sounded childish, but strangely she was enjoying
this conversation. She felt childish and silly, and excitement
bubbled inside, as if she was on the cusp of something that might
turn out to be wonderful.

Without taking her gaze off Owen, she pressed
her lips to the top of Sixpence's head.

He watched her and swallowed. "Yes."

"My answer is yes as well," she said.

He rubbed the back of his hand over his
mouth. Then he kicked off his boots and shrugged out of his yard
coat, tossing it on the counter.

"You're not going out to see the goats,
then?"

"The goats can wait." He grinned, a grin that
lit his eyes with desire.

He moved closer and rested his hands at her
waist, leaning in to put his lips to Sixpence's fur. He brought his
face so close she could have kissed his cheek, so she did.

"Oh, Jenn," he whispered. His arms slid
around her and pulled her close. The warmth of his breath brushed
her neck and ear as he pressed his lips there. "I love you. I
always have."

After all the acrimonious things he'd said
when she left, she'd thought he hated her. But she should have
guessed things weren't what they seemed. She knew that sometimes
people lashed out when they were frightened of losing what they
loved. Her mother had taught her that.

"I love you too, Owen."

"Has there been anyone else since me?"

Trust a man to immediately ask that. "Yes."
When he stiffened slightly, she continued quickly. "All my loves
had fur, hide, or scales, though."

He relaxed again and chuckled. "Are you still
going to take the zoo job?"

"You don't want me to?"

"I want you here with Chloe and me, but I'm
not stupid enough to tell you not to take the job." He pulled back
and gave her a knowing look. "I've learned from my mistakes. No
telling you what to do anymore."

"Kiss me," she said.

Careful not to squash Sixpence, he held her
close and pressed his warm lips to hers, transporting her to the
place she normally only traveled in her dreams.

• • •

In the sitting room at Rosemoor Farm, the fire
crackled in the grate, cheery Christmas music played, and Jennifer
sipped her Christmas Day mulled wine, happier than she'd ever
thought possible. People talked about this day being magical, but
she'd never really felt that until now.

Today really was going to be a special day,
not only her first Christmas Day with her daughter, but the start
of a new relationship with Owen, a second chance to have the happy
family life she'd given up.

"I just need to bring in one more basket of
logs to make sure we have enough to keep the fire going," Owen
said, winking at Jennifer.

"Oh, Dad. Why didn't you do that earlier,
before we had breakfast?" Chloe huffed.

"You'll make some man a wonderful wife one
day, cocoa puff." Owen ruffled her hair as he passed. "You've got
the nagging bit down already."

Jennifer raised her eyebrows at him, and he
offered a wry smile in return. She knew exactly where Owen had
gone, and it wasn't to get a basket of logs.

Chloe had been manic all morning, dashing
around with Paddy, excited about the special present she was going
to get. She'd barely sat still while they ate breakfast because she
was so eager to start opening her presents.

Jennifer surreptitiously shut Zach and Heidi
in the kitchen and returned to the sitting room. "Come and sit
beside me, Chloe. Dad won't be long." She patted the sofa at her
side, and her daughter plopped her bottom down with a heartfelt
sigh.

"I'm coming," Owen called. "Are you
ready?"

"Yes." Jennifer grabbed Paddy's collar and
made him sit at her feet as Owen entered with a decorated box in
his hands.

Chloe immediately caught on. "You weren't
getting logs. You were getting my special present."

"This might be for Jennifer," Owen said.

Chloe rolled her eyes, not fooled for a
moment.

Owen crouched in front of the sofa and passed
the box to Chloe. "Gently now. The lid is loose. All you have to do
is lift it off."

A tiny plaintive meow came from inside the
box, and Chloe squealed.

Owen winced and Jennifer laid a hand on
Chloe's arm. "Not too loud, now. We don't want to frighten
her."

Chloe lifted the lid from the box to reveal
her kitten snuggled in a piece of furry fabric. "My Silver
Sixpence." She lifted the kitten gently from the box and held her
out to touch noses with Paddy. They'd introduced the two animals a
few days ago, and Paddy was amazingly gentle with the little
creature.

"She's from both of us," Owen said, squeezing
Jennifer's hand where it lay in her lap.

She caught hold of his fingers and squeezed
back, this change in their relationship so new it felt strange in
some ways, but oh so familiar at the same time.

"Our other surprise is that I'm going to stay
with you," Jennifer said, her voice catching.

Chloe put an arm around her mother's neck,
holding Sixpence between them. She pressed her cheek against
Jennifer's. "I've prayed every night that you'd stay, Mum."

Tears pricked Jennifer's eyes, and she
blinked them back.

"Will I get a brother or sister now?"

Jennifer stifled a laugh. Trust a child to
get right to the point.

Owen cleared his throat. "You don't need to
worry about that today, cocoa puff. You concentrate on your
kitten."

They took turns cuddling Sixpence and
stroking Paddy so he wasn't jealous while they watched Chloe unwrap
her other presents. Then they sat back and sipped their mulled
wine. Later, Chloe took Sixpence up to the bathroom to use the
litter box and have something to eat.

As soon as Chloe left the room, Owen pulled a
small red velvet box from his pocket and put it in Jennifer's lap.
Her heart clenched painfully at the poignant rush of emotion. She
pressed a hand to her mouth as tears burned in her throat. She'd
seen this box before—ten years ago.

"Jenn, I didn't mean to upset you. It's too
soon. This was stupid of me." Owen reached to retrieve the box, but
she curled her fingers around it and hung on.

"I'm not upset." She squeezed the velvet box,
remembering how Owen had knelt beside her bed in the maternity
ward. With the nurses and other new mums watching and her tiny
newborn asleep in the bassinet beside the bed, Owen had
proposed.

Jennifer had been emotionally exhausted,
confused about her future, and uncertain about her feelings. Owen
had sprung the proposal on her when she was most vulnerable. She
hadn't wanted to hurt him, but she wasn't ready to make such a huge
commitment.

She lifted the lid of the box with a
trembling hand and pulled out the gold band with its cluster of
diamonds. "It's a beautiful ring."

"I still want to marry you, darling. Will you
say yes this time?" He'd seemed so sure of what he wanted last
time, so certain things would work out as he planned. This time his
tone was husky with uncertainty. This time he really was
asking
her to marry him instead of expecting her to comply
with what he wanted.