This Holiday Magic. Celeste O. Norfleet

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      “Earlier, when I asked about my father, you seemed worried.” Tyson stopped and turned to her. “You know something else about him, don’t you?” she prompted. “What aren’t you telling me?”

      “What do you mean?” he asked innocently.

      She shook her head, knowing his expressions too well. Just like her father, he was hiding something. “Please don’t play games with me, Tyson. This is too serious. I know you just as well as you think you know me. You’re hiding something, just like Dad. What is it? What’s going on?”

      “You need to talk to your father about this.”

      “He’ll give me the same double-talk I get from you. Tyson, please, if you know something about my father, tell me. I have to know.”

      Tyson took a deep breath. “Why don’t we sit down?” he offered.

      Her insides tensed. This didn’t sound good already. She quickly assumed that there was more bad news about her father’s business, which might be in worse shape than she’d originally thought.

      He took her hand and led her to the sofa. They sat side by side. “Janelle, I came back about eight weeks ago to help your father.”

      “Yes, I know that already.”

      “What you don’t know is this isn’t the first time I’ve been back to Baltimore to help him. I was here shortly after you left for Tanzania six months ago. I stayed in your home for about two months.”

      “I don’t understand,” she said. “Why?”

      “Ben had a problem and he asked me to come.”

      She shook her head. “Another business issue?” she asked.

      “No, he had some medical trouble.”

      Her heart jumped instantly. “What? Wait, I don’t understand. He had medical problems and he called you and not me? Why?”

      “He didn’t tell you because he didn’t want to worry you. He knew that if he told you, you’d come back to the States and stay here for him, and he didn’t want that.”

      Her mind was a-jumble with a million questions. “No, this makes no sense. What kind of medical problems?” she asked, trying to think rationally. But all her years of self-composed medical training had gone out the window.

      “Ben suffered a minor heart attack and a TAI.”

      “You mean a TIA? A transient ischemic attack—a ministroke?”

      He nodded.

      Janelle gasped. Suddenly she couldn’t breathe. The air in the room seemed to evaporate. She jumped up and ran to the front door. In an instant Tyson was right behind her. He stopped her before she could get to it.

      “Janelle, stop,” he said, standing between her and the door.

      “Get out of my way, Tyson. I need to go see my father.” She stepped to the side, but he blocked her way again.

      “Janelle, stop and listen to me.”

      “Move,” she demanded angrily, then pushed past him.

      “Janelle,” he said, grabbing her arms and turning her around to face him. Tears began streaming down her face. “Listen to me.”

      “No, I don’t want to listen.” She didn’t need a medical degree to know that her heartbeat was elevated, her breathing erratic and her pulse out of control. She tried to push away from him, but he held tight to her arms. “Tyson, you need to let go of me now.”

      “Calm down,” he said.

      She glared at him. “Are you kidding me? You want me to calm down after hearing that my father almost died and I didn’t know anything about it?”

      “Yes, that’s exactly what I want. You can’t just run off to him like this. Please, let me finish. Ben is fine. With medical treatment and preventive care, his cardiologist is very encouraged by his progress. He had a procedure and he’s changed his lifestyle. He’s doing fine. You wanted the truth? This is it. He’s fine. I would never lie to you. You know that.”

      She did know it. She swallowed hard and looked at her hands on his chest. His heartbeat was just as elevated as hers. She tried to push by him again, but this time he quickly wrapped his arms around her and held her tight.

      At first she struggled. Then knowing it was futile, she held her breath and tensed. Everything inside her wanted to explode as the memory of her mother dying on Christmas Day and the image of her father collided in her mind.

      Then she exhaled and crumpled against him, giving way to the feelings long buried in her heart. As always, he was here for her. She closed her eyes and breathed in the sweet, spicy scent of his cologne. Yes, this was what she remembered so well. Tyson—strong, commanding, powerful, yet tender, gentle and forever loving.

      Being here in his arms, hearing his soothing voice, feeling him this close... The memories washed through and flooded her heart, bringing back feelings she had tried for so long to deny. This was where they had started and she knew in her heart that she had never stopped loving him. “I can’t...I can’t lose him.”

      “I know,” he whispered softly in her ear as he stroked the length of her back. “You won’t lose him. I promise.”

      He kissed her forehead, tenderly soothing the tears and sobs away.

      She reveled in the strong protection he offered. Here, in his arms, nothing bad could ever happen. He had a way of always making everything all right.

      She didn’t know how long they stood there, but after a while she took a deep breath and stepped back. He released her and gently tipped her chin up with his finger. She looked up into his dark, loving eyes. They were safe and assuring. Right then she knew she was lost once more. Falling in love with Tyson had been easy the first time. Loving him now was as natural as breathing.

      “He’s all I have left, Tyson...” she began.

      “Trust me. You have more than you can imagine. I’m here. I will always be here for you.”

      His words washed through her like a warm wave of calm. Trusting him had never been an issue. He had never lied to her. Years ago, when he’d told her that he was here for a job and would be leaving as soon as it was over, it had been the truth. But she’d thought she could persuade him to stay. He hadn’t and she’d been crushed. That was when she’d left.

      “I’m okay. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have...”

      “No, please don’t apologize,” he said, smiling. He cradled her face in his hands as his thumbs wiped away the last of her tears. “Are you okay?”

      She nodded. Why does he have to be so wonderful? “I’m fine.”

      He released her and she stepped back and looked away. “My heart breaks every time I see you cry. Did you know that?” She turned back to him and shook her head. He smiled. “Remember the first night we met?”

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