Destined to Love (Starting Over Trilogy Book 3) (24 page)

“Do you think I should put some hand sanitizer out because of the baby?”
 

“No, he’s fine.”
 

“I’m worried about all the germs — he’s still so small.”
 

“He’ll be fine; the germs will actually help build up his immune system. This time next year he’ll be crawling around eating bugs and dirt. He needs to build up his immune system now. After the age of six weeks, it’s good to start allowing babies to be exposed to some germs. No one is sick, so he should be fine.”
 

I look up at Mason, “Really?”
 

“I’m afraid so. If Brea and Vincent are lucky, bugs are all he’ll eat.”
 

“Um, Mason, we aren’t having any boys. Just so you know.”
 

“Angel, girls eat bugs, too.”
 

“Ugh, I better get my kisses in now, while his mouth is still clean.” I smile and walk over to the group on the floor playing with James.

“Look, Miss Angel, look how fast it goes.”
 

“Wow, James, that is very fast. I’m so glad you like it.”

“Momma said my Daddy loved trains when he was my age. I think he would like this train.”

I look at James and he has a sad look on his face.

“Buddy, I think your Daddy wishes he was here to play with you right now,” I say.
 

My eyes fill up with tears and I want to say something but I can’t form the words. Emma is hugging her son, and I am amazed at how well they both are adjusting. Emma is 26 and raising a four-year-old son alone.

I walk away and head into our bedroom so I can pull myself together.

Mason follows me in. “What’s wrong?” he asks, walking over to comfort me. He wraps me safely in his arms. I can only shake my head and cry.
 

“It’s all right.” He kisses the top of my head and leaves his mouth there.

“I love you. I just want you to know that.”
 

Mason leans his head back and says, “I know that and in one week these will be happy tears.”

“Don’t ever leave me.”
 

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“Mason, promise me you’ll never leave me or our kids. I don’t think I could take it if you left us.”
 

“Angel,” he says, cupping both his hands on my face. “I’m not leaving you, ever.”
 

“Ok, I don’t think I can do what Emma does everyday: put a happy face on when your heart is broken.”
 

“Angel, she does what she has to do for her son. She is a strong and brave woman.”

“She really is.”
 

“Go dry your tears and put on a happy face. We have a party and kids out there depending on you.”
 

“Ok, I’ll be out in a few minutes. Will you go play with James for a few minutes?”
 

“I sure will. See you in a minute.”
 

Once I am done, I walk out and see Mason and Alec playing with James on the floor. Emma, Sara, and Brea are standing near the bar within seeing distance of James. Josephine, Lilly, and Maria walk over to me.

“Angel, this is a lovely party.” Josephine smiles.
 

“Thank you, I am so glad you made it. I hope you’re having a nice time.”

“We are having a wonderful time.”
 

“Do you want to get the food out on the table now?” Maria asks, looking at the food on the counter.
 

“I think now would be a good time, thank you.” We all carry the food to the table and uncover everything. Lilly places the serving spoons out, and Josephine announces that the food is ready.

Once everyone is standing around the table, Carl asks, “May I say the prayer this evening?”
 

We gather into a circle and hold hands. I am standing beside Mason when James squeezes in between us. He holds my hand with his small hand. I look down at him and smile before looking over at Mason. I look around the room and everyone is bowing their heads and closing their eyes. James squeezes my hand and I look down at him. He smiles and closes his eyes.

“Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for bringing us all here together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. We pray that you watch over our family and friends and keep them safe. Thank you for the food in front of us and bless those less fortunate. Please help us all to remember the true meaning of this holiday season. In your name we pray, Amen.”

“Amen.”
 

I open my eyes and look around. James squeezes my hand, and I kneel down to get closer to him.

“Miss Angel, did you know that tomorrow is Jesus’ birthday?”
 

“I know, that’s why we are all here tonight. To celebrate his birth. We also have a birthday cake for dessert. Do you want to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Jesus after we eat?”
 

“I am a really good singer. Momma says I sing like an angel,” he smiles, proudly.
 

“James, are you hungry?” his mother asks.
 

“Coming, Momma. I got to go. Momma don’t like us to waste food,” he says, darting off to be with Emma.

Mason and I stand at the kitchen island and watch everyone mingle and interact with each other. Sara and Alec seem to be getting along. I’m glad to see that.

“I like this tradition,” Mason says, touching my arm slightly.

I look over at him, “You do.”
 

“There is no better way to celebrate a holiday than with our friends and family.”
 

“I agree. This is Aunt Maria’s tradition. She and Raùl started it before I was born. We would all get together on Christmas Eve, all the kids would have one present to open and we would eat, listen to Christmas music, and have a birthday cake for baby Jesus. I missed it the last couple of years because of Jim. I didn’t realize how much I missed it until now.”
 

“Well, those days are behind you. From here on out, we will carry on this tradition and many more.”
 

I lean into Mason and he wraps his arms around me. “I love you, Beauty.”
 

“I love you, Handsome.”

After everyone eats and we sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus, everyone begins to leave. Brea, Vincent, and Arturo are the first to go. They want to get the baby to bed so Santa Claus can hurry up and come. Mason and I bought all the families a small gift and we hand them out to them as they leave. Emma and James are next to leave. James gives me a big hug and thanks me. Alec helps Emma load up the train set in Emma’s small car. Alec says his goodbyes before leaving.

I want to stand at the doorway and watch the interaction between Emma and Alec but Mason stands in front of me and closes the door behind him.

“Give them some privacy.” He smiles.
 

“I was,” I lie.
 

Madison is next to leave.

Mason, Bruce, Donovan, Carl, and Uncle Raùl light the outdoor fireplace and open a new bottle of Scotch. Aunt Maria, Josephine, Lilly, Sara, and I begin to clean up. Once everything is cleaned up and put away, Lilly opens a new bottle of wine and pours everyone a glass. We turn the music up and join the guys outside on the lanai.

“That was quite a party,” Bruce says, sitting next to Lilly. “Everything was delicious,” he adds.

“Thank you, Bruce. I’m just glad everything turned out,” I smile
.
Mason sits down beside me and intertwines our fingers together.

“This time next week, it’ll be a whole different kind of party,” Raùl says, refilling his glass.

Mason looks at me and smiles. “I’ll finally marry the love of my life,” he says, lifting my hand to his lips and kissing them. “I’m glad we decided to move the time up. Midnight on New Year’s Eve sounded perfect, but in reality, it’s a little late for a wedding.”
 

“True, but 6:30 p.m. is a great time. With the time change and it getting dark earlier, this will be a perfect time for a wedding.” Lilly smiles.
 

“Everything is all finalized. It’s all a waiting game now. I just wish I knew where we were going on our honeymoon so I knew what to pack.”
 

Mason has taken this week and the next two weeks off from work. The entire office is closed and the employees are thrilled. He said his staff said they have never been off for the holidays before and they are looking forward to spending the holidays at home with their families. Some of his staff flew to be with their families out of state; some are going on cruises while the others are staying home. Mason has arranged with another doctor to be on call for Mason during his time off, and Mason will return the favor sometime during the summer.

Mason
 

Everyone leaves, and Angel and I unwrap one gift each. Aunt Maria and Uncle Raùl left two presents under the tree before they left
.
I hold my gift. The card reads “To Mason. From Santa. Please open on Christmas Eve.” I smile, open it, and see a pair of Christmas sleep pants with green elves and a new white tee shirt. Angel’s gift card reads “To Angel. From Santa. Please open on Christmas Eve.” She opens her gift and sees that it is a new red eyelet nightgown.

“Another tradition?”
 

“I’m a traditional girl, but I didn’t expect this tonight. They surprised me with these. If you don’t want to wear those, you don’t have to.”
 

“And break tradition, not on your life.”
 

While Angel is in the bathroom getting ready for bed, I place all of her Christmas gifts under the tree. I want them to be already under the tree for her in the morning. Just like if Santa had brought them.

She walks out of the restroom with her makeup removed from her face; her hair is in a high ponytail, and she is wearing her
Christmas nightgown. She is stunning to look at. I pull the covers back for her to get in. She crawls over the large bed until she is resting in the crook of my arm. She smells like peaches and cinnamon.

I inhale her and she laughs. “You always do that.”

“I know. I used to secretly inhale you, but now I just do it openly. I hope I don’t do it in public. That may creep some people out.”
 

“I inhale you, too. It’s a very relaxing smell and it always calms me.”
 

“We are just two creepy people in a pod, aren’t we?” I laugh.
 

“Yeah, I guess we are. Good night, Mason.”
 

“Sweet dreams, Beauty.”
 

The next morning I wake up to the smell of coffee. I already know without looking that Angel is up.
 

I pull on my shirt and walk out into the living room. The tree is lit, the fireplace is on, and Angel is on the couch covered up with her mother’s quilt. She is holding her cup of coffee and staring at the tree. I don’t think she sees or hears me.
 

I slowly walk over to her, and she looks up.

“Merry Christmas, Beauty.” I sit down next to her and she leans into me and I open my arms for her. “Why the sad face?”

“Merry Christmas, Mason. I’m just thinking of where my life was this time last year and where I am today.”
 

“That’s why you look so sad?”
 

“No, I just wish my Mom and Dad were here to see me, to meet you. They would love you.”
 

I hold her close and rub my hand up and down her thin cold arm to warm it. “I believe they can see us. I also believe they are watching and looking over you.”
 

“I believe that, too. I just miss them.”
 

“I know you do and I am sorry.”
 

“I wish they were here for our wedding. Can you believe that in six days, we’ll be married?”

“I can, Mrs. Myles.” I also beam. “We’ll be married and you’ll be all mine forever. It’s so close yet feels like it’s so far away.”
 

“It’s close, I hope we can get everything done.”
 

“Angel, let me get a cup of coffee, then you can open your Christmas gifts. I want to take one day at a time, and today we are celebrating our first Christmas together.”
 

“I’m sorry, I have a lot going on in here.” She points to her temples.

I laugh and stand to get myself a cup of coffee. “My girl never rests.”
 

When I return with my coffee, Angel is sitting on the floor near the tree holding a gift. She smiles and she looks like a child on Christmas morning. I sit in front of her on the floor and cross my long legs to mimic hers
.

She hands me the small silver gift with a huge grin. “Open it.”

I set my coffee down, take the gift, and shake it, and she laughs. Carefully opening the gift, I uncover a beautiful wooden case. I run my fingers across it and feel its smoothness. I carefully open the box and inside is a velvet bag. Inside the bag is a set of beautiful writing pens. There is also a business card that reads
Turning Red Woodturnings by Eric Laudenbacher.
I pick up one of the two pens and run my fingers over it.