The Christmas Sisters

Her legs shook suddenly, and then his smile wrapped itself around her heart and joy exploded inside her.

She raced to meet him and he caught her to him with his free arm, hugging her tightly.

“I thought you’d left.” She clung to him, her face buried in his shoulder. “I thought I was too late.”

“I was about to board when I picked up your message.” He dropped his suitcase and took her face in his hands. “That thing you said—could you say it again?”

What had she said? The whole car journey had been a blur. “I told you not to board—”

“Not that part.”

“My sisters told you that I’m in love with you.”

“That part.” His eyes darkened. “I don’t suppose you’d like to say it yourself, would you? I prefer to go direct to the source for my information.”

“I love you.”

He hauled her close, kissing her hair and her face. “Do you know how long I’ve waited to hear you say that?”

“Awhile, I guess. You’re a patient man.”

“Desperate would be a better word.” He crushed his mouth to hers. “I almost didn’t switch my phone on. Can you imagine how I would have felt if I hadn’t picked up that message until New York? You know how to keep a man in suspense. Why did you wait for me to leave to say it?”

“Because I’m stupid and cowardly. People think I’m reserved and unapproachable. They think I don’t feel emotion.”

“Oh, honey—” he lowered his forehead to hers “—you’re not cold. And you feel plenty of emotion. You’re just not that great at expressing it.”

The fact that he understood brought tears to her eyes. “I’ll try harder.”

“Don’t. Our relationship isn’t an exam you have to pass.” He brushed away her tears with the pad of his thumb. “I don’t want you to change. When have I ever indicated that I want you to change?”

He hadn’t, she thought. Not once. “I’ve never felt particularly lovable.”

“Then I need to work harder at showing you that you are.”

She clung to him, feeling the hard swell of his biceps through the soft wool of his coat. “There’s something else I have to say.”

“You can say it as many times as you like. I’m not going to stop you, but we could consider going somewhere more private.”

“In a minute.” She had to do it now, all of it, before she changed her mind. She was vaguely aware of people glancing in her direction on their way to passport control. “You asked me why I came home early—”

“You panicked. You were scared of my feelings, and scared of your own.” He pushed her hair back from her face, his hand gentle.

She felt her heart ache. “That’s not the reason.” She spoke before she could think of all the reasons why she probably shouldn’t. “I’m pregnant, Adam. I’m going to have a baby. And I know that’s a shock. I mean we used—I’ve thought about it, and I think there was one time—”

He stilled. His hand dropped to his side. “Pregnant?”

“Yes.” She waited, hoping for the best even while her fragile heart expected the worst. “It doesn’t have to make a difference. I don’t want you to feel pressure. I can handle it. There’s any number of ways we can—And if you don’t, I can...” Why was she so bad at this?

“Pressure?” He looked stunned. “This is why you ran that day? The reason you came home early?”

“I didn’t know for sure then. I hadn’t done the test. I did that when I arrived here. I imagine you’re feeling—”

“Why don’t you stop imagining how I’m feeling and ask me?”

Her heart was thudding. “How do you feel about it?”

“I’m shocked, obviously, but not in a bad way. I wish you’d told me right away. That’s a hell of a lot for you to be handling on your own. No wonder you were so stressed.”