Page 68 of A Christmas Duet

“I arrived late last night,” Jay explained. “I intended to—”

“I’m not signing with the Stamper Agency,” Haileyinterrupted emphatically, unable to keep the words inside her a second longer. “And nothing you have to say will convince me otherwise. If I can’t work with you, then…”

“Tell her,” Thelma insisted, breaking.

Jay went silent.

“Jay?”

“Oh, for the love of heaven.” With irritation coating her words, Thelma blurted out, “My son wants nothing more than to offer you a contract.”

“You do?” Hailey asked, her heart melting a little.

Jay nodded. “But—”

“Accepted,” Hailey countered before he could argue.

He frowned as if he remained torn as to what was best for Hailey’s career. “You’re sure this is what you want?”

Hailey rolled her eyes and looked toward his mother. “Is he always this obstinate?”

“Yup. Guess you know what you’re getting yourself in for if you hang with Jay.”

“I guess I do,” she confirmed.

His smile was huge. “Seeing that you know what you’re doing, then who am I to put up a fuss? I want what is best for you. You’re talented, Hailey, far and away more than you realize. The last thing I want is to hold you back. I fully expected you to go with Stamper, and the thing is you probably should, but that wouldn’t change the way I feel about you. About us.” Holding her gaze, Jay collected Hailey in his arms and soundly kissed her.

His arms were tight around her, bringing her close, as if he needed her more than the air he breathed. “What you don’t know is that I’m falling in love with you,” Jay continued. “Rarely have I met anyone so in tune with my heart. Almost from the moment we met, I had this feeling. Like everything that’s happened in the last couple years, the breakup of the band, establishing my production company…All of it has led to one thing. Meeting you.”

Hailey felt the same things, and as nuts as it sounded, she was falling for him, too. “The Podunk Winter Festival, the jam sessions, the ride on the snowmobile were the most fun I’ve had in years…some of the best experiences. And they were all shared with you.” Hailey inhaled the smoky scent of him, wrapped in his warmth. This was exactly where she wanted to be, where she needed tobe.

“We’re going to make beautiful music together,” she whispered. Stepping onto the tips of her toes, she kissed him. “And I think we should start with a Christmas duet.”

Epilogue

Despite their mothers’ protests, Daisy and Charles were married on the ocean beach early in June on a warm, breezy day. Daisy wore a beautiful dress she crocheted herself and insisted on not wearing shoes. Charles stood proud and tall, with tears glistening in his eyes. He held Daisy’s hands in his own as they exchanged vows. Daisy wasn’t the only one fighting back emotion.

Hailey struggled to contain her own tears as she stood next to her sister. Daisy beamed with a profound sense of joy as she gave her life to Charles. The wind tousled her sister’s carefully braided hair and the scent of the sea wafted around the young couple. No one could doubt their love for each other.

With her heart full, Hailey’s gaze connected withJay’s, who stood next to her parents. Julia had been terribly disappointed when Daisy insisted on a beach wedding. Her one hope seemed to rest on Hailey and Jay. Up until this point, they’d both been more involved in building his business and her songwriting career than any future plans.

With her teaching contract filled, Hailey got a small apartment in Seattle and concentrated on what she was born to do, and that was compose music. Most days she was in the studio with Jay. She found it hard to believe how her life could change so dramatically in such a short time. Jay worked hard to promote her music and was approached by Carrie Underwood’s team about the Christmas song. The wildly popular singer was also interested in several of Hailey’s other compositions and agreed to work with Jay’s production company. This was the break Jay had been waiting for that set him on the road to attracting other big-name artists.

Before Hailey realized it, the holidays were upon her again. Her parents invited Thelma to join Hailey and Jay for Christmas with them. Knowing how bustling Podunk was during the holiday season, Hailey was surprised when Thelma agreed. Jay offered to collect her, but Thelma, being fiercely independent, insisted on driving herself. She arrived early Christmas Eve day. Hailey was pleased to see her.

The three drove to her parents’ Tacoma home for dinner that evening. After dinner, they all gathered in the family room before leaving for Christmas Eve service at the church.

“Well,” Thelma said, directing the comment to her son. “Get on with it.”

“On with it?” Hailey asked, unable to understand.

“Mom, all in good time.”

“Seems like a perfectly good time to me. Right, Julia?”

“None better,” Hailey’s mother agreed, grinning from ear to ear. Frowning, Hailey glanced toward Jay. To her amazement, he stood and then knelt down on one knee in front of her.

“I’m not an intuitive man, Hailey. It’s not anything I’ve experienced in my life, and yet the first day I saw you with that guitar in your hand, my heart knew.”

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