Reunited At Christmas. Belle Calhoune

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СКАЧАТЬ reached out and squeezed Honor’s hand. Her wanting to touch her sister-in-law surprised her. She wasn’t really comfortable having physical contact with strangers. There was something so sweet and genuine about Liam’s sister. She radiated goodness, which put her at ease.

      “You don’t have to walk on eggshells with me, Honor. This is a very unusual set of circumstances we find ourselves in. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. I’ll try to be as forthright as I can.”

      Boone let out a groan. He shook his head. “You have no idea what you just got yourself into.”

      Honor playfully swatted him with her hand. She turned back toward Ruby. “Do you remember anything? Smells? Sights? Liam’s voice?”

      She thought for a moment before answering. “Yes. I do. Fragments, I call them. I remember cradling a baby. And that feeling of loving him with all my heart. But I suppose I never connected that baby to myself because I had no memory of giving birth. And I’m very eager to go to the Moose Café, because the smell of coffee always reminds me of snow.” She let out a giggle. “I have no idea why, but the brain is a funny thing.”

      “Hello.”

      Ruby heard the voice before she laid eyes on Aidan himself. He was standing in the doorway of the kitchen, all sweet brown eyes and chubby cheeks. His dark curls framed a handsome little face that closely resembled his father. Something twisted inside her chest.

      Ruby stood from her chair and walked toward her son. Her palms were slick with moisture. Her tongue was all twisted up and useless. For the life of her she couldn’t think of what to say at this monumental moment.

      By this time Liam was standing in the doorway, quietly observing the reunion.

      “Hi, Aidan. How are you doing?” She pushed the words out of her mouth.

      Aidan seemed to be studying her. His face was scrunched up. He was deep in thought. “You’re pretty. Daddy always said you were the prettiest girl he’d ever seen,” he said. “And you look just like the pictures we have.”

      “Why, thank you. You’re just about the cutest boy I’ve ever seen.” Ruby wasn’t exaggerating due to the fact that he was her child. With his jet-black lashes and striking features, Aidan was sure to stand out in any crowd.

      “That’s what Auntie Honor says,” Aidan cried, seeming thrilled at the compliment.

      “Do you have anything you’d like to ask me?” Ruby asked, wanting to make sure he was comfortable.

      Aidan nodded slowly. “Yes. I do.”

      “Go for it,” Ruby said.

      “When the snow swallowed you up on the mountain, did it hurt?” Aidan looked at her with an awed expression.

      Ruby could feel the corners of her mouth twitching with merriment. Aidan’s expression was so earnest. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings by laughing at his question.

      “Just a teensy bit,” she said, holding up her thumb and forefinger to demonstrate. “But I tried to be very brave.”

      Aidan cast a quick glance at Liam. “Daddy always tells me that you’re a hero.”

      She felt her chest tightly constrict as if someone was inside squeezing her heart. This little boy was sweet and endearing and wonderful. “I...I don’t know,” she said in a halting voice. “I wish I could remember that, but I don’t.”

      Suddenly a crashing sound rang out in the house. Footsteps echoed on the hardwood floors.

      “Liam! Where are you?” a deep voice boomed. “I need to speak with you.”

      Liam let out a groan and moved further into the kitchen. “Oh, no! Who told him?” he asked with a frown, his gaze shifting between Boone and Honor.

      Boone held up his hands. “Don’t ask me. I haven’t even had time to tell Gracie yet, never mind blabbing to Jasper.”

      “I haven’t spoken to Jasper in days,” Honor said with a fierce nod. “It wasn’t me.”

      “Who’s Jasper?” Ruby asked, wondering why everyone was acting so strangely.

      A man with silver-white hair and whiskers strode into the kitchen, his face appearing more animated than a cartoon character’s. “Liam! I’m glad that I caught up with you. I heard the strangest rumor a little while ago that I’m determined to clear up.” He shook his fist in the air. “And whoever spread this vicious rumor better run for cover. By the time I get through with them, they’re going to wish they’d never let the name Prescott come out of their mouth.”

      “Settle down, Jasper,” Liam instructed. “You know you’re not supposed to let your blood pressure skyrocket.”

      Jasper! Mayor Jasper Prescott. She recognized the name from some searches she had done on the internet about Love, Alaska. He was the town mayor and the creator of the Operation Love campaign, the program that brought single ladies to town to match them up with single bachelors. It seemed this town had a female shortage. And women from all over the United States were flocking to this fishing village to find themselves an Alaskan groom.

      If she wasn’t mistaken, Jasper was Liam’s grandfather.

      “Liam’s right,” Boone said with a frown. “Calm down before you blow a gasket.”

      “I will do no such thing,” Jasper roared. “If you knew the heinousness of this particular rumor, you’d want to run this person out of town on a rail.” Jasper wiggled his eyebrows at Liam.

      “Jasper, I need to tell you something,” Liam said.

      Before Liam could get a word out, Jasper swiveled his eyes in her direction.

      He let out a guttural cry then raised his hand over his heart. “I’m seeing things. I must be having a stroke. Call a doctor.”

      “I am a doctor,” Liam drawled. “And you’re not having a stroke.”

      “Grandpa, it’s okay,” Honor said, tugging on Jasper’s arm. “She’s real. It’s not a vicious rumor.”

      Jasper pressed his eyes closed and began taking deep breaths. When he opened them, he glared at his family members. “What are you trying to do to me? Send me to my grave well before my time?”

      Boone snapped his fingers. “Bravo. You’ve stumbled upon our diabolical plan.”

      Jasper rolled his eyes at Boone then took a halting step in Ruby’s direction. He stuck out a finger and poked her. Ruby let out a little squeak. “You are real. Ruby! Oh, Ruby. You’re back. I could almost sob with happiness.”

      Liam tugged at his arm. “There’s something you need to know about Ruby.”

      “She’s got a problem with her brain,” Aidan explained in a chirpy voice. “It won’t let her memorize stuff.”

      “Huh? What in the world are you going on about? That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard,” Jasper grumbled. He stared at Ruby with wide eyes.

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