Page 67 of A Colby Christmas Rescue

“Pack your bag,” Jamie told him. “I’ll water your plants. We have a jet waiting for us.”

They were going home. Together. For the first time in far too long.

Chicago

Tuesday, December 25

Christmas Day

Chapter Sixteen

Colby Residence,

7:00 p.m.

Victoria surveyed the buffet and the table in her dining room. Pride welled in her chest. She was so very grateful that her favorite caterer had been able to pull this off on such short notice.

Everything was perfect. The food, the desserts, the lovely drink venues. There was Wine Avenue in one corner, Champagne Falls—a fountain—in another and Everything Else Lane—with nonalcoholic choices—in yet another. The whole setup was so creative.

“It all looks lovely,” Lucas said as he moved to her side.

She smiled up at him. “The decorations too.” Lucas had been the one to oversee that part of the preparations. How he’d gotten holiday decorators on Christmas morning was a mystery. But then, Lucas was a man of many talents.

He’d never failed to accomplish a mission.

“I think we should share a private toast before the guests start to arrive,” he suggested.

“Good idea.”

They wandered to the champagne fountain and allowed the flowing bubbly to fill their glasses.

“To family,” Lucas said as he tapped his glass against hers.

“Family,” Victoria echoed. She closed her eyes and drank deeply. She was so very thankful that her family was home.

Jamie and Luke had arrived just before midnight last night. Victoria and Lucas had been up until two this morning just looking at those beautiful kids and pinching themselves. And listening to the story of all that happened in Nashville. The best part was that their grandchildren were safe, and they were home.

Jim and Tasha had arrived home this afternoon. The kids had gone to have some private time with them. Jim said they planned to tell them about the cancer and how fortunate they were that the treatment appeared to be doing its job. If all continued on this course, by spring Tasha would be cancer free.

It was all they could have hoped for.

“I think Poe is a very nice young man,” Lucas said, drawing Victoria from her deep thoughts.

She smiled. “He is, and I’m quite certain he’s madly in love with our Jamie.”

“Well, of course he is,” Lucas boasted. “She’s brilliant, beautiful and...he doesn’t deserve her.”

Laughter bubbled from Victoria’s throat. “You would say the same thing about anyone who showed an interest in her.”

“I would. And I would be correct in my deduction.”

Victoria nodded. “You would.”

“She and I talked for a bit this morning,” Lucas said before drinking more of his champagne.

“Really?” Victoria had seen the two of them having another cup of coffee after everyone else had left the kitchen this morning. “What did you talk about?”

“I asked her to come to work for the agency.”

---