Tracy was dozing on the couch when the doorbell rang—jangling repeatedly and insistently. She jerked fully awake and sat up, dislodging Rainbow, who jumped to the floor and fled down the hall.
“Let me in, Tracy!” Rush’s voice cut through the door like a power saw. “I’ve got questions, and I need some answers.”
He sounded angry. But Tracy wasn’t feeling like Little Miss Sunshine herself. Bracing for a battle, she opened the door.
Rush’s eyes blazed as he thrust a sheet of paper into her face. “Why did I have to get this from Maggie?” he demanded. “Why didn’t you give it to me this morning?”
Tracy let him in and closed the door. Her reply met his fire with ice. “When you gave me your news this morning, I thought you’d already made up your mind. You certainly sounded that way.”
“Damn it, I was drowning. I was asking for help and support, maybe some solution for resolving this crazy mess—a solution you had and didn’t think to give me.”
“I didn’t think you’d want it. I know you, Rush. You’d do anything for Clara, even go back to her mother and try to make the marriage work. I knew you were making a sacrifice, but I told myself that you were making it for your family, and that you believed you were doing the right thing. Giving you an alternative—I was afraid that giving you that document would only make your decision harder.”
The paper fluttered to the floor as his hands clasped her shoulders, almost hurting. “Tracy, I’ve been through hell, trying to find a way to be there for Clara without losing you. I love you. I would never walk away from the life we could have. I’d have told you that, but you threw me out before I could explain.”
“I love you, too. And if you’d explained, I’d have given you the document.” She looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears.
“We’re a couple of idiots,” he said. “You know that, don’t you?”
“Yes, I know it,” she whispered. “But at least we’re a pair.”
Their kiss was long, deep, and full of promise—a promise of lifetimes together, building a future, raising a family bound with ties of love.
As he released her, Tracy glanced around the room. “I know what this place needs,” she said. “A Christmas tree!”
Epilogue
Christmas, that same year
Rush and Clara came to Tracy’s house to celebrate Christmas morning. Under a gloriously lit tree, they sat on the floor and opened their presents.
Clara gave each of them the Christmas cards she’d made, which would be saved on the refrigerator and cherished always. When Rush unwrapped the photo of Clara, from the mall, he was visibly moved. Telling her it was his best gift ever, he gave her a big hug.
Tracy’s and Rush’s gifts for each other were practical, hastily bought items—warm hats, scarves, and gloves. Next year, they could buy something costlier and more meaningful. For this year these simple things would be enough. This was Clara’s Christmas. The important gifts were for her.
Clara opened Tracy’s gifts first. She loved the snow globe and the books. But there was more to come.
The first gift from Rush came in a big box. She opened it to find a cowgirl hat and a pair of cowgirl boots. “This gift has a special meaning, Clara,” he said. “It means that, yes, you’ll have to go home to your mother. But every year, you can come back here at Christmas and in the summertime to be a cowgirl again.”
Clara squealed with joy at the news, even though she was too young to understand the implications. Two days ago, Rush had called the private number of Sonya’s lawyer, who’d agreed that Rush would have a good case for partial custody if he chose to take it to court. The lawyer had persuaded Sonya to avoid a costly trial and give Rush visitation rights tw
ice a year. As for the question of Rush’s going back to her, Sonya had already moved on. She was dating a man she’d met on the cruise.
“One more present.” Rush handed Clara another box and helped her open it. Inside was a small, sturdy pet carrier.
“What’s this for?” Clara asked.
“It’s for your next present. Wait here.” He disappeared down the hall and came back with a lidded box. Something was moving inside it. He set it on the floor. “Open it, Clara,” he said.
She raised the lid with a little cry. Happy tears flowed down her cheeks as she picked up Snowflake and cuddled him close. “He’s yours,” Rush said. “You can take him home with you in the carrier. You can even bring him back if he turns out to be a good traveler.”
Clara jumped up and hugged Rush. “I love you, Daddy,” she said. “I knew that Santa couldn’t bring my miracles, but I never gave up. I knew that you could do it.”
While Clara played with her kitten, Tracy went into the kitchen to check the turkey she was roasting for Christmas dinner. Travis, Conner, and Maggie would be over later to share it with them.
As she closed the oven, Rush slipped his arms around her from behind and nuzzled the back of her neck. “I hope she doesn’t expect miracles from me every Christmas. That’s a pretty tall order.”
Tracy laughed. “Shall we share the other surprise, that she’s going to be the flower girl at our wedding this summer?”