Page 97 of Mistletoe and Mischief

Zach had to agree. “I remember the night Allison and Eddie brought us together, arranging for us to have a romantic dinner here at the house.”

“Our parents needed our help,” Eddie said, smiling at his sister. “Actually, that was Allison’s idea and it was a good one.”

“It was indeed.” Zach reached across the counter to take Rosie’s hand. He raised it to his lips and kissed her fingers. “And I’m very grateful.”

“I am, too,” Rosie whispered.

“We owe the judge a big debt of thanks,” Allison said.

“And I oweyouone,” Anson said in a low voice, his gaze connecting with hers. “You always had faith in me.”

“Oh, Anson, I had my moments. I so badly wanted to believe you didn’t have anything to do with the fire that burned down the Lighthouse restaurant.”

“The evidencewasdamning,” he said, frowning slightly. “I couldn’t blame you for doubting me.”

“When I learned you’d been at the restaurant that night, and then later, when your mother told me you’d started a number of small fires when you were a kid, my faith wavered.”

“Mine would have, too.” Again Anson came to her defense. “I looked guilty as sin. I can’t blame you, Allie.”

“Luckily you saw the man who really started the fire and were able to identify him.”

Zach had played a role in determining that Warren Saget, a local builder, was the arsonist. Teaming up with Sheriff Troy Davis, Zach had convinced Anson to come forward and speak to the authorities.

“If it wasn’t for your dad, I might still be on the run,” Anson said. “Your family’s been a lifeline to me,” he continued. “Mrs. Cox, Rosie, you’ve been more of a mother to me than my own. I know Cherry loves me in her way. She never counted on being a single mother, and she didn’t have the greatest role model herself. She does the best she can.”

Zach admired Anson for defending his mother. He didn’t question that she loved her son. Unfortunately, Cherry’s life had been a long series of low-paying jobs and living with ne’er-do-wells who used and abused her. Anson had been instructed to refer to these men as “uncle,” none of them ever being a father figure of any kind. His father had left Cherry as soon as he discovered she was pregnant. Turned out he already had a wife and family.

“Are we going to play bingo?” Eddie asked, straightening. “It’s tradition, you know.” He nudged Anson as he said that, and Anson elbowed him back.

“Why don’t we set it up while Allison and your mother finish getting dinner ready,” Zach suggested. He slid off the stool and headed into the living room. He didn’t recall how Christmas Eve bingo had begun, but the kids couldn’t have been more than eight and ten. He thought Rosie’s parents might’ve started it and that Rosie had carried it on, since she was big on traditions.

In the living room, Zach took out the game. He handed the cards to Anson to arrange, while Eddie gathered up the small prizes and placed them on the coffee table.

“If you have a few minutes I’d like to speak to you privately,” Anson said, sitting next to Zach on the sofa.

Eddie picked up on the “private” part right away and excused himself, mumbling that he needed to make a phone call.

Anson waited until Eddie had left the room. “What I said earlier about you and Mrs. Cox being more of a family to me than my own? I meant that.”

“We feel the same way about you, Anson. I’m proud of what you’ve accomplished.”

Anson smiled, as if Zach’s words had pleased him. “I never applied myself in school. I didn’t really have to. Everything came easily to me, so I got through without trying. I had no real plans, no aspirations. Then I met Allison and she encouraged me to do better—tobebetter. I would’ve done anything to make her happy.”

Zach remembered how he’d separated the two as teenagers. Anson had given his word and broken it, and as a result Zach had refused to allow Anson and Allison to date or even talk to each other. On Valentine’s Day, Anson had come to the door and handed Zach a card for Allison. At that moment Zach had begun to see a real sense of honor in the boy.

“I loved Allison when I was seventeen, and I love her now,” Anson went on. “It hasn’t been easy to maintain a long-distance relationship with me living in D.C. and her going to school here in Seattle.”

Zach nodded; he understood the challenges of such a relationship.

“I want you to know I’ve dated other women, but it’s Allison I love.”

His daughter had gone out with other young men through the years, but she felt the same way about Anson.

“I believe this conversation is leading up to something,” Zach said.

“I’d like to ask your permission to marry Allison,” Anson said quickly.

Zach leaned back on the sofa. He’d known this was coming, but hadn’t thought it would be so soon. “Allison still has a year of law school left.”

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