A Soldier's Christmas

Although he was annoyed because she’d withheld their letters, he had to remember that she was still Emma’s mom. He truly believed that she hadn’t meant to hurt Emma, but, unfortunately, she had. She’d hurt him as well, but she probably didn’t care about him.

“Look,” he started, because he figured they’d be there all day waiting for her to say something, “I know you don’t think much of my relationship with your daughter, but I love her and have no intention of walking away. What you did when we both needed each other the most was wrong. I’ve only read one of the letters that Emma wrote to me that you hid, and it broke my heart with how desperate she was for word that I was alive. Emma cried herself to sleep last night after reading the letter I wrote to her when I lost my best friend. We needed each other and, because of your actions, we weren’t there for the other.”

Martha gave an anxious little cough and finally held his gaze. “I didn’t know, and until now, I never realized just how much you both relied on the other. I also realized that Emma loves you. My daughter was right when she said that I didn’t understand the relationship you both had via letters.” She shook her head. “I guess part of me still doesn’t, but I can’t deny the connection I see between you both.” She offered a small smile. “I’d have to be blind to not see it. You see, Emma is a dreamer, and she always dreamt bigger than her brother and sister, so she’s had to deal with disappointment after disappointment.” Tears filled her eyes as she continued, “What I did, I did because I love her and didn’t want to see her get hurt. In the end, I hurt her the most.” Martha pulled a Kleenex out of her purse and dabbed at her eyes.

Logan stayed silent while Greg placed the drinks in front of them and made a quick exit, obviously uncomfortable with the emotion surrounding their small table.

“Martha, I need you to know that I really love Emma. I fell in love with her through our correspondence. I felt a connection with her that I’d never felt before and I told her things that I’d never shared with anyone.” He sighed. “Losing that connection was devastating. I felt like the only person that I trusted to keep me going had deserted me. I know that probably doesn’t make sense to you, but I don’t know how to explain the depth of love that I have for her.”

She swallowed with difficulty and found her voice, “I realize that now, and I wish I’d realized before I interfered. All I can say is that I’m sorry and, although I will understand if you’d rather not, I’d like to start over.” She smiled through her tears. “After all, I have a feeling you will be part of the family one day.”

It was his turn to struggle with words. Nothing would ever change the events of the past, but he was prepared to forgive if it meant that he was welcomed into Emma’s family.

“Then lets put everything that happened before int

o the past so that we can move forward,” he agreed, and reached out for her hand, which he gently squeezed before he reached for his cup of coffee.

“Mom? Logan? What’s going on?”

Logan hadn’t realized that Emma had returned, but he was delighted to see her. He jumped up and quickly kissed her cold lips. “Your mom visited me,” he grinned, “and welcomed me to your family.”

He laughed at the expression that crossed Emma’s face. It was as though she wanted to say, ‘Oh, my God. What?’. He didn’t blame Emma for her reaction and found it amusing.

“Emma,” Martha stood, “I came to talk to Logan and to apologize to him. I was so wrong with what I did, and I’m so very sorry. But I love you and don’t want to lose you over this. I’m sorry.”

“Oh, Mom.” Emma stepped forward and wrapped her mom up in her arms. “Let’s just forget about it.”

They broke apart, both their eyes red from tears, and Emma wrapped her arm around Logan’s waist. She smiled up at him and then met her mom’s watchful gaze. “I’m going to be leaving with Logan after Christmas. He has nine months left from his twenty years service and I want to be with him. Neither of us wants to be apart again.”

Martha swallowed back her emotion, and nodded. “I thought you’d be leaving with him.” She gave them a tearful smile. “I knew as soon as I saw you both together that you wouldn’t want to be separated.”

“Not anymore, Mom,” Emma said, but there was no anger in her words, just resolution.

“You’ll both come to the house for Christmas, right?”

Logan met Emma’s questioning gaze and nodded his head.

“We’ll be there,” Emma accepted.

“I’ll go now and leave you both in peace.” Martha shoved her arms into her jacket and held her hat and gloves before she turned to him, “Logan, what is your favorite pie?”

He smiled, he didn’t have to think, “Apple and cinnamon.”

“Okay, I’ll see you both Christmas Day.” Martha left them standing in the dining room as they watched her leave.

Emma let out a sigh of relief when she was gone. Logan gave her a quizzical look because he certainly hadn’t missed that she’d avoided saying that she forgave her mom.

“You’re not happy?” he observed.

“I am happy.” She glanced around and took his hand. “Let’s head back upstairs.”

He searched her eyes before he said, “Okay.”

Chapter 20

“What you said to your mom, let’s just forget about it, can you do that?” Logan asked her as soon as the door to their room closed.

Emma took her jacket off, sat in one of the caramel-colored chairs by the window and stared outside, not really seeing anything. “I can’t say that I forgive her, Logan. I wish I could but, at the moment, I just can’t. What she did was so wrong, and as much as I want to walk away with everything forgotten, I’m not sure I have that in me.” She turned and met his gaze, her’s blurred with the tears on her lashes.