“Please come,” his sexy voice implored.
“Okay.” Hell could wait.
Jonah held up his hand to flag down our server. “Check, please.”
Porter’s was located at the local outdoor mall, which made the impromptu shopping trip convenient but cold, as it was the first week of December. However, the scenery and walking hand in hand with Jonah more than made up for the chilly temps. The shopping center went all out this time of year with thousands of white lights hanging between the buildings and hundreds of decorated trees, including a thirty-foot-tall tree in the center square where there was also an ice-skating rink. There were even carolers singing “God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman” under lamp posts. It was a scene right out of a Christmas card.
I had a love/hate relationship with this time of year. I truly did love Christmas and my traditions. Especially the one I was currently working on. Each year I picked a theme for my Christmas tree and made my own ornaments. I had been having a hard time choosing, but Whitney had inspired me. I was going with a Little Women theme this year. I had started making clothespin-doll ornaments of the March sisters, and I made some more stained glass umbrellas and a few post boxes. Dani, Kinsley, and I would pick out a tree this weekend and decorate it while watching Miracle on 34th Street—the old black and white version. That movie spoke to me on so many levels. A lonely little girl given the gift of believing in magic again, in something she couldn’t see, but knew was true in her heart. In some ways I still was that little girl.
Jonah pulled me closer as we walked toward one of the children’s boutiques, weaving between the flurry of holiday shoppers. Being with him felt magical, especially since I never thought we would see each other again. My heart desperately wanted to believe he was true, but this time of year also brought out my worst fears and memories. My earliest memories of Christmas were of being lonely and forgotten. I was lucky if my mom remembered to fill my stocking with the gifts Grandma had sent. Most of the time she’d just ended up handing me the shipping box on Christmas day, after my childhood hopes and dreams were crushed waking up to nothing on Christmas morning. Christmastime was also when I wished the most that Roger would come rescue me, that instead of a letter on Christmas Eve, it would be him. Each year I was disappointed. He never came to whisk me away to his beautiful castle that I just knew he lived in. I was really disappointed, too, because I had really wanted a tiara.
It’s why I went overboard as an adult on the holidays. I had to make my own magic. My eyes drifted and landed on Whitney, who was leading the way, bundled up in her wool coat and a cream scarf with matching gloves. Maybe I could help her believe in the magic of Christmas, or at least show her how magical it could be.
“If I haven’t said it already, thank you,” Jonah interrupted my thoughts.
He had already thanked me quite thoroughly when he’d arrived at the studio to pick us up for dinner, while Whitney was using the bathroom. He’d picked me up and kissed me so deeply I could still taste the Skittles.
I gazed up at his happy face. “You’re welcome . . . again. I had a great time with her today.”
She really was the best part of my day. Well, except for waking up in the arms of the man I loved. But there was something about Whitney. Maybe it was her determination or her precious innocence. I don’t know, but I really did enjoy spending time with her. She made me laugh and smile, though I didn’t think she meant to. That was endearing all on its own. And she had a thirst for knowledge. She followed me around the studio asking about everything from how stained glass windows were installed to how much money the studio made each year and what types of advertising I was doing. She made sure to use contractions while she peppered me with questions. She also touted that her mom could make me more productive.
I had no doubt, but I was busy enough and I liked the setup I had now. Besides, I was still trying to sort out how I felt about Eliza. I knew if Jonah and I continued down this uncertain road, she was part of the package. But we didn’t have anything in common, except we loved the same man. Honestly, that was disconcerting for me. It was nothing like high school where two girls liked the same boy. This was real life, and Jonah and Eliza would forever be connected by Whitney.