Page 63 of Christmas Home

Clyde

I put the letter into an envelope I found in the same stationary kit and wroteRutheron the front. I placed it on the table and went to bed, determined to get up early enough to drop it into Ruther’s mailbox before work.

forty-nine

Ruther

Iwas so disappointedwhen Clyde slipped out of the town hall before we could talk. I tried not to make that mean he didn’t care. He’d come. That was something, right?

The attendees talked until nine o’clock, when Doc and the council kicked us out, saying they needed to lock up. I think people would’ve asked questions or talked my ear off more if they’d let us stay.

Jake and Lance invited Corey and me up to the roof of their condo, and we sipped Champagne. “So when do you start?” Jake asked.

“January second. That’s when I want to have the ribbon cutting.”

“Wow, you don’t mess around.”

“New chapter,” I said and looked over at the mansion that had been a part of so many of my nightmares. It was beautiful from this vantage point. The burned parts must’ve been rebuiltbecause it looked like it did in my memories. Yet, it wasn’t as sinister.

Corey and Jake chatted beside me as I pondered the house. I had one more demon to fight. One more to overcome if I was going to make this place my home.That house.

“Do you think Chris and Roth would let me see the renovations they’ve made to their home?” I asked, causing everyone to look my way.

Jake nodded, but Corey sat up. “Are you sure, you don’t—”

“I do. We’re doing something special, Corey, something I hope to be doing for some time. Unless I face what happened, I will always be afraid.”

He glanced toward the mansion, gleaming in the lights Chris and Roth had used to accent its pillars, then looked at me.

“If you’re serious, I can call and set it up tomorrow.”

“I am. I’m ready.”

Corey reached over and patted my knee. “I’ll be there for you. You know that.”

I smiled and nodded. “Gentlemen, this has been a wonderful day. But I think I’m going to turn in. Thanks for all your help, and Lance, your amazing designs are what made it as easy as it’s been.”

He smiled at me and nodded. I headed back downstairs and got into bed, fighting off the panic that’d swept across me now that I’d committed to tour my ancestral home.

Sweat popped out across my forehead, and, for a moment, I could feel the burning. Then I remembered Clyde sitting in the back of the room. His face smiling at me. I’d forgotten that he smiled throughout the presentation and Q and A.

The panic subsided, and although I was still very anxious about what I’d just committed to, I knew I could do it. I wish Clyde and I had cleaned things up because I would prefer to dothat with him, but even if we never did, I was so much stronger now than when I’d first come to Crawford City.

I closed my eyes and instead of fire engulfing me, I felt love. That’s exactly how I fell asleep—feeling loved and accepted.

The next morning, I woke to Corey singing in the kitchen and I climbed out of bed, happy to be greeted by a latte. “I made this for myself, but you have it. I’ll make another,” Corey said.

I laughed. He had started drinking his the same as I did years ago and had spent all those years bringing one to me each morning.

I sat down after thanking him and took my first sip. “Corey, you do know how thankful I am to have you doing this project with me, don’t you?” I asked.

He paused and looked over at me. “I…to be honest, no, I didn’t know. Not for sure. All these years, I’ve worked for you. You’ve always been there for me, and I appreciate it, but I’ve wondered if maybe you didn’t regret making me your partner.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “You’ve missed the signs, but I apologize for not being more forthcoming. Corey, I love you being my business partner. I wouldn’t have taken this project on without you and your abilities to keep a project on track. I can’t wait to do this with you.”

Corey smiled and went back to making his latte. “Oh, this was lying on the floor when I got up,” he said, handing me an envelope with my name on it. I opened it and smiled when I saw the handwriting and Clyde’s name on the bottom.

I felt the happy tears slip down my face as I read it. When Corey sat across from me, I showed it to him. “I think I might be in love, Corey.”

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