Page 142 of Mistletoe and Mischief

“I know you’ll be surprised, which makes it all the more special.”

Her hand trembled as she carefully slipped off the paper. Holding her breath, Miranda lifted the lid of the small blue box. Inside was a gold coin, a very old one, she guessed, framed by a gold bezel.

“It’s from a sunken treasure ship found off the Florida coast,” Will explained.

Taking it from the box, she saw that the coin was attached to a fine gold chain. Will took it out of her fingers, placed it around her neck and secured the clasp. She could feel the coin resting at the base of her throat, the metal smooth and cool. Automatically, she pressed her hand over it.

“It’s treasure, Miranda,” Will whispered. “Just like you are to me.”

She blinked a couple of times, hardly able to fathom that Will Jefferson would do this for her. Or that he’d say such a thing.

“I...” Speaking seemed impossible, and whatever she said, whatever words of appreciation she managed to form, would never be enough. “I don’t know how to...thank you.”

“You’re kidding. You, speechless? I don’t believe it.”

“Don’t joke, Will. I mean it. I don’t think anyone’s ever done anything like this for me.”

Will kissed her then. Really kissed her. He was gentle and loving, and when he raised his head, his eyes were filled with promise.

21

“Mom, what time will Dad get here?” Sophie asked, as she and Bailey hurried into the kitchen. “Is Danielle coming, too?”

Beth had expected them long before now. She was clearing away the last of their brunch dishes, irritated that she hadn’t heard from Kent. She was determined not to contact him, although she considered it bad manners to keep his family waiting on Christmas Day. “I don’t think your father actually gave us a time,” she said with more generosity than she felt. He’d certainly implied it would be that morning.

“Oh,” Sophie murmured.

“It’s already afternoon,” Bailey said. “We’ve never opened our gifts this late.”

That seemed like a minor complaint to Beth. The thought of spending Christmas Day with Kent’s...friend was enough to make her feel like going back to bed. Playing hostess to Danielle was above and beyond the call of duty.

It hadn’t bothered her nearly as much until she’d realized how deeply she still loved Kent. For the past three years, she’d been able to live with a degree of contentment, refusing to acknowledge how lonely she was.

“Mom, call Dad and ask when he’s going to be here,” Bailey said.

“Why don’tyouphone him?” Beth suggested. She purposely banished the picture of Kent and Danielle cuddled together while their daughters impatiently awaited his arrival.

“Okay.”

Cell phone in hand, Bailey sat down, propping her elbows on the kitchen table.

Beth tuned out her daughter’s conversation as she silently prayed for the strength to get through the day. Depression weighed heavily on her. If she managed to survive this Christmas, she’d tell Kent she’d made a mistake. She loved him and wanted him back in her life. Only she couldn’t tell him that in Danielle’s presence.

No, she might as well forget any hope of a reconciliation, she told herself. Danielle was young and beautiful and competitive. She wouldn’t give Kent up easily. Beth had made the mistake, and now she had to live with the consequences.

“Mom? Mom?”

“Yes,” Beth said, turning her thoughts away from her ex-husband.

“Did you hear what I said?”

“Sorry, no.”

“Are you feeling all right?” Sophie asked, joining her sister at the table.

“I...don’t know.” What Beth really wanted was to escape to her room with a fake flu bug and leave the girls to celebrate Christmas with Kent and Danielle. But she couldn’t do that to her daughters. She’d muddle through and somehow find the strength to pretend all was well.

“Dad’s on his way,” Bailey told her.

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