The Christmas Joy Ride (16 page)

All my love, dear girl!

Christmas Joy

Miranda had just shut down her phone when she heard footsteps in the kitchen. She went out to see Marcus dressed in his normal clothes, casually getting a ginger ale from the fridge. “Oh, are you still up?” he asked innocently. “I couldn't sleep. Decided I needed a little nightcap. You want something too?”

“Sure.” She decided to play along in case Emily was eavesdropping in the hallway. “I'm kind of hungry too. And speaking of hungry, did you notice that the Santa snack and carrots are
gone
?”

“Really?” Marcus acted shocked as they went into the other room, exclaiming over the fact that it appeared Santa had come already.

Miranda glanced down the hallway to Emily's door, but it was still soundly shut. “That was amazing,” she quietly told Marcus. “I could've sworn you were really Santa. Very believable.”

He gave her a puzzled look. “What? Me, Santa? Are you imagining things?”

“Oh, very funny.” She poked him in his flat, firm belly. “And the pillow was perfect,” she whispered. “Very convincing.”

“I don't know what you're talking about,” he said innocently.

She laughed. “Oh, you're good. Very good.”

He leaned over and kissed her. “You're very good too, Miranda.”

“Merry Christmas,” she told him happily.

“It is, isn't it?” He grinned. “I'm pretty sure Emily is right. This really is going to be the best Christmas ever.”

Miranda could not disagree. She couldn't remember a Christmas where she'd ever felt this happy .Â .Â . and hopeful .Â .Â . and loved.

Melody Carlson
is the award-winning author of over two hundred books, including
Christmas at
Harrington's
,
The Christmas Pony
,
A Simple Christmas Wish
, and
The Christmas Cat
. Melody has received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books. She and her husband live in central Oregon. For more information about Melody, visit her website at
www.melodycarlson.com
.