Chapter 24

Chapter Twenty-Four

Charles

When I got back to the store, Melody fell into my open arms. “Are you okay?” she asked.

I breathed heavily. “My pride is hurt. I should’ve been able to catch him.”

Adding insult to injury, Bill got out of his police car. “You couldn’t catch him?”

Irritation burned through me. “If you’re asking for a statement, I was going up to Melody’s apartment and we both heard a noise. I ran to the front and saw someone leave, and I tried to catch him. But by the time I got outside, he was gone.” I cocked an eyebrow. “If the police were doing their job, they would’ve already apprehended someone.”

I knew I was being ruthless, but I didn’t care.

Bill threw his hands up. “Doing our job? Doing our job ? I’m not the one prancing around in fancy outfits. I’m on the ground, doing the work of a civil servant. You should thank me.”

Melody touched my chest, and I turned toward her. She didn’t have to stop me, though, because I had already realized that this was a stupid fight and there was no point to it.

I covered my hand with hers. “Okay. Thank you, Bill. What kind of report do we need to file?”

For the next half hour, Bill wrote things down and tried to enrage me.

After that, we gathered a small bag of Melody’s belongings, as I insisted that she could not stay at the doll shop by herself. Part of me was grateful that she was scared enough to agree—not just because of her security, but because I wanted her with me. Plus, it was Christmas tomorrow. Or today.

As we entered Grandmother’s house, the lights on the porch lit up. They were rigged to automatically turn on whenever someone puttered around my grandmother’s home. She had had those installed probably ten years ago, when she’d said it was getting harder to go around the big house at night.

“Are you sure I should be staying here?” Melody whispered.

“Of course.” We got to my room, and I pulled her inside. “I know you’re not gonna like this, but I’m nervous about the fact that your places have been broken into so many times. I don’t want you to stay in a different room. Of course, I’ll take the floor.”

“I’m fine. I can stay in a different room.”

I whirled to face her and put both hands on her shoulders. “I know you can. But …” I trailed off. There were so many things I wanted to say to her, but I didn’t know how to say them. “It’s been a long night, but I don’t think you realize how affected I’ve been by everything you have told me the past couple days. I cannot believe my grandfather told you that you would be an inconvenience in my life.” My throat got tight, and emotion filled me. “I feel like I’ve missed out on a lifetime with you. I won’t miss any more time.” I didn’t care if I was vulnerable and sounded desperate, because that’s how I felt. “Someone is clearly after you. I’m not leaving your side.”

The moonlight from the window cast a glow around her face. Her eyes were misty. She put her hands over mine. “I can’t believe it either. We did miss a lifetime together. Not that I would change it. The whole time we were driving out here, I kept thinking what it would be like if I were to go back in time, but as I’ve said, I wouldn’t do that, because of my son.” She pulled a hand away and wiped at her face. “I love Will. I got him from all those years away from you.”

I pulled her into me, thinking all kinds of thoughts I shouldn’t, like the fact that her son had been stolen away from me—that her son should’ve been our son. I would never say that out loud. “I know. I know.”

For a long time, we simply held each other, our bodies molding together and her touch a soothing balm to me.

“I know all those years can’t come back to us,” I said, “but being here with you now is a gift, and I will take it.”

She nodded and then pulled back and said, “I know you’re not going to leave, but I will have to insist that you sleep on the floor, because I know you won’t let me and …”

I cut her off. “No, you’re right. I won’t let you. I’ll sleep on the floor. I want to do things right with you. I want to be with you the right way.”

“Charles, is this really happening? It feels like a dream. A dream I never want to give up.”

I couldn’t help the warmth that spread inside my chest. “Grandmother said I might get some Christmas magic and a second chance this year. I didn’t really believe her. And I really didn’t believe in God’s plan, like I said earlier. But if this is God’s plan, I do believe it. I want the magic. I want God’s plan. I want you. Melody, I love you. I’ve never stopped loving you.”

She inhaled quickly. “Charles, are you sure? This is so fast.”

“Look, you don’t have to say it. I’ve waited for you a long time. I can wait a little longer.” I pulled her back into me, and she didn’t resist. Could she ever love me again? Could she get over her heartbreak and her ex? I truly hoped so.