Page 96 of Wandering Souls

“Fate has seen fit to bring Abigail back to us and we, as a family, feel like the luckiest people on earth. Her courage and bravery have reminded us how precious life is.”

He stared with at his daughter with adoration. “Honey, we have nothing but love for you. We are blessed by your presence and we will support you no matter what you do. I just wanted to take this opportunity to let you know, before all of these witnesses, that we consider you a McCafferty. You are one of us and you belong. For now, and forever.”

Tears sparkled in Abi’s eyes.

“We love you, sweetheart, and I’m going to declare this Christmas to be the best one of my life.”

Damien wiped away her tears and kissed her forehead before turning to the crowd. The smile on his face stretched from ear to ear, the emotion infectious. Ray saw it reflected on every face around him. He found Millie and Grace beside him, both of their faces bright with smiles as they stood arm in arm. Millie reached out for his hand and held him tight.

“Family is everything,” Damien continued. “Protect yours with everything you have, love hard, and forgive freely.” He wiped his own tears away. “Lunch is almost ready, so please, don’t be shy and eat up. Merry Christmas everyone.”

“Merry Christmas,” the crowd repeated. People held up glasses of champagne and beer and soda in salute.

As the gathering dispersed and headed to chairs at the very long table in the center of the marquee, he watched Damien drag Abi into another extended hug. The fatherly love in his touch was beautiful.

“Hey little brother.” Grace touched his arm. “You okay?”

Ray blinked and became aware of the wetness on his eyelashes. “Yeah.”

She chuckled and handed him a napkin. “I should ask how the hell you got caught up in this enormous love-fest but to be honest, I think I’m a bit jealous.”

“Coming here changed my life, Grace.”

She shook her head. “No, brother, meeting Abi changed your life. You know, after Viv, I worried you’d never find love again, but here we are.”

He shook his head. “She’s going to leave and go back to the Army base.”

“I know and I’ll be here when she does. I admire you, Ray. You aren’t afraid to love big. It’s one of the many things I love about you. Does she know how you feel about her?”

“No and don’t you dare tell her. I won’t make her feel guilty. I went into this knowing she’d go.”

She frowned. “So you say, but I don’t think even you realized how hard you’d fall for her.”

He looked for Abi in the crowd and found her settling into a seat. Her head snapped up and she locked eyes with him. Her soft smile lifted his heart and took the edge off his sister’s words.

“She’s perfect for me.”

Abi patted the seat beside her.

Beside him, Grace leaned close. “Honey, if she was the perfect woman for you, she would never leave.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“If you say so, little brother,” she conceded with a shrug. “But you need to promise me one thing.”

He didn’t like where this conversation was headed. “Which is?”

“Tell her how you feel. Don’t let her walk away without a fight.”

His gut clenched but she pushed him toward Abi anyway. Ray weaved his way through the congregation and slid into the seat beside the woman he loved. Her smile welcomed him as her hand found his.

“He knows how to make a speech,” she chuckled, motioning toward Damien.

And he didn’t leave a dry eye in the house.

~

Abi’s feet hurt andthe thought of getting out of the car did not appeal. Night had fallen by the time she and Ray left the homestead. Since he’d taken Bruce, his sister and niece to his place earlier, it was just the two of them as she pulled up out the front of her cottage next to his sportscar. Switching off the engine, they sat in the dark. The only sounds filling the warm night were random clicks and pops of metal cooling.

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