A strange feeling moved over me that caused goosebumps. Something about this moment felt too perfect. Too right. I pushed it aside, but something deep down inside had my stomach in knots.
* * *
“It’s a surprise for your father,” my mother said with a wide grin.
“Dad is going to flip out when he sees you bought him a new .22 for his birthday, Momma!” I said, helping her hide the gun in the attic.
“Someday when y’all go on that hunting trip to Montana he always talks about, he can use it for that.”
A Montana hunting trip was all my father and I ever talked about. It was our dream.
Too bad we never saw it come true.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Waylynn
“Okay, everyone ready?” my mother called out.
“Ready!” we all shouted, Chloe being the loudest.
My father hit the switch and the giant tree came to life. An internal warmth spread through my body as the sounds of Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song” filled the air.
The sight was beautiful, and not just the Christmas tree. It was everything. The one thing that stood out the most was my parents. They looked up at the tree, around the room to their family, and then at each other. It wasn’t just a passing look. No, this was a look of utter love. The way they gazed into each other’s eyes left me breathless. Their love was like a fairy tale, only more amazing.
“It looks beautiful, John,” my mother softly said. “Every year I’m in awe in this moment.”
Lifting his hand, he brushed a piece of her dark blonde hair to the side. “Not nearly as beautiful as you, darling.”
And there it was. The most intimate of exchanges. I’d witnessed them my whole life, but never really paid attention. When I glanced around the room, I saw it again and again. Steed and Paxton. Amelia and Wade. Mitchell and Corina. The love that filled this room brought tears to my eyes.
Then I felt his arms around me, and I knew. It wasn’t because my heart had never felt this way before. It wasn’t because every time I was around the man I wanted to strip him naked and ride him for hours.
It wasn’t any of that.
It was the way he looked at me. The way his eyes seemed to take on a completely new look when he gazed at me. It was the way he held my hand. The way he kissed me passionately, yet somehow soft and sweet.
“You’re lost in thought, my sweet Waylynn.”
His voice was like a blanket wrapped around my body on a cold winter night.
I had no idea what made me utter the words, but I knew they were right. I felt them deep within my soul as the song “Unforgettable” started playing.
My voice was low and soft as I wrapped my arms around his neck. I lifted on tippy toes and whispered, “I love you.”
For as long as I live, I’d never forget the smile on his face. His fingers dug into my hips as he pulled me closer.
“You’ve just made me the happiest man on Earth, Waylynn Parker.” He pressed his lips to mine. We kept it sweet and innocent, remembering my father and brothers surrounding us. He drew back and leaned his forehead against mine.
“I love you too.”
Someone pulled on my sweater, causing me to look down. Chloe stared up at us with those big blue eyes.
“Aunt Meli told me to come over here and ask what y’all are whispering about.” Her hand came up while she talked. “Well, really she told me to sneak over and listen to what you were saying, and I’m supposed to see if you used the…” She hid her mouth with her hand. “Love word.”
Jonathon bent down and looked Chloe in the eyes. “You go back and tell your Aunt Meli that she needs to work on her little spy not spilling her secrets.”
Laughing, I bent over and kissed Chloe on the cheek. “I love you, Chloe Cat.”
Chloe’s cheeks turned pink. “I love you too, Aunt Waylynn!” And like that, she took off to Amelia.
Jonathon stood. “She obviously didn’t hear us, or she’d be running around the house ratting us out.”
I folded my arms and stared at my sister, who raised her wine glass. “Remind me to never let Chloe Parker in on a secret!”
Wrapping his arm around my waist, Jonathon agreed.
“All right, y’all, it’s time for dinner!”
“When in the world did your mom have time to prepare dinner?” Jonathon asked.
“She didn’t cook. This is the one time of year she has someone come in and cook up a dinner so that she can spend time with us. It’s usually on decoration night and Christmas Eve. Momma likes to spend time with the family and the idea of being in the kitchen the whole time doesn’t thrill her.”