Page 65 of Christmas Home

“Okay, so can I do this with you? Today? Can I be there for you? ’Cause, damn, this is big. You know this is big, right?” he asked.

“Yeah, I’m the one freaking out here.”

“I know, dammit, but you won’t be doing it alone, not if you want me.”

“Thank God,” I said and kissed his forehead. “I was really hoping you’d say that.”

fifty

Clyde

Iwas beyond excited,having made amends with Ruther and confessing our love in person. Only to have the event clouded by his going to his old home, a place I knew terrified him.

Mrs. Cole didn’t hesitate to give me the time off to go with him. I bustled around, making sure everything was done so as not to put too much undue stress on the staff I was leaving high and dry.

I had time to rush upstairs and clean up before Ruther met me at the café, Corey in tow. “Chris said to meet him at the library, and we’d walk over together,” Corey said.

I immediately took Ruther’s hand and asked if he was okay.

“Yeah, I am.” The fact that he shivered showed hownotokay he was.

“You know, you don’t have to do this.”

He smiled and nodded. “Yeah, I do, I really do.”

Corey turned, looking as concerned as I felt, as we continued toward the library. Chris met us at the front door. He, too, looked a bit concerned when he saw Ruther’s face. He quickly started talking.

“Roth is going to meet us at the house, and Mom and Dad said they’d love to show you their side. I think Roth’s sister is in town. She usually stays in the condo you’re leasing from Jesse, but she’s been staying in the suite we keep for my parents. The place is so different from what it was. We’ve tried to stay true to the history, but…” Chris’s rambling, which was unusual for him, trailed off as we continued our trek. I knew he was probably nervous, but I guess his chatter was to make things less stressful for Ruther. It seemed to work, and I could feel Ruther relax as we walked toward the house.

The driveway wound gracefully up the hill. You couldn’t see the house from the road, which hadn’t always been the case. The small woodland had obviously grown up between the house and the road.

If I’d lived here, I’d have kept it too, preferring privacy over announcing my wealth.

The moment the house came into view, Ruther stopped in his tracks. None of us moved, then Chris announced he would run ahead and let the family know we were here.

As soon as he was out of earshot, I asked Ruther if he was okay.

“I will be, just…I just need a moment,” he admitted.

Corey and I waited on either side of him while he steeled himself. I was just about to tell him we could go back when he launched forward, dragging me with him.

When we approached the front door, Roth greeted him and welcomed us inside. I looked up into Ruther’s face, concerned about his reaction, but the moment he walked in, he smiled. “It’s…it’s so different.”

“Yes,” Roth said. “We decided to take the central part of the house back to as close to the original as possible.”

“It’s perfect,” Ruther said. “Absolutely perfect. Now I can see where Lance got his inspiration.”

When Roth looked confused, Ruther told him about the designs for his new home, the one they would be building as part of the development project. “When I was little, this had more of an antebellum look. The staircase was gaudy. I prefer the original much better. I also like the tiled floors more than the carpet,” he said as Roth showed us around.

The house was decorated for the holidays, all very tasteful and beautiful. Nothing ostentatious, like I’d probably have done.

We went into one of the wings after touring the main part, and Chris announced this was the guest house where his family stayed when in town. “This is my sister, Lettie,” Chris said as a woman turned to greet us.

She stood and shook our hands. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Chris has geeked out about your family for years. It’s nice to put a face to the legend.”

Ruther stiffened but smiled. I could tell he initially thought she meant the fire being a legend, but then she said something about the Quaker history, and he immediately relaxed.

“Well, come on through, and I’ll show you the bedrooms,” Chris said.

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