Once in Every Life

Carol's throaty chuckle filled the darkness. "Something like that. So, what do you say?"

Tess glanced down the darkened hallway, where her babies slept and her husband waited. At the thought of them, an aching tenderness unfolded in her chest, wrapping tightly around her heart. "All the memories I need are right here, Carol. I'll spend a lifetime making them."

A warm breeze, almost like a breath, touched Tess's cheek. The rosy light faded, became a glowing haze of gold. Then the candles extinguished themselves, leaving behind a heavy scent of smoke. "You've made the right decision," Carol whispered. "Good-bye."

"Merry Christmas, Carol," Tess said softly.

"Who are you talking to?"

Lissa looked up, surprised. Jack was standing at the corner of the room, staring at her. She blinked until he was in focus.

"Was I talking?" she asked distractedly.

"You said something about Christmas carols."

She frowned, wondering why her legs felt numb and her throat was so dry. "That's odd."

He came toward her, moving in that lithe, graceful way that always mesmerized her, and pulled her into a passionate embrace. She curled her arms around him and rested

398

her face in the crook of his neck. The warm, familiar scent of him saturated her senses, reminded her once again how much she loved this man.

"Dance with me," he whispered against her ear.

Lissa smiled up at him. She placed her hand in his and closed her eyes. Outside the storm played on, the wind beating a gentle cadence on the window pane.

Together they began to move, slowly and in perfect time to each other and nature's music. There, in a room that smelled of smoke and Christmas and magic, Jack and Lissa danced.

It was a good day for miracles.