“Yes, of course,” I said. William walked over and stood a few feet away from me by the mantel.
“I just don’t want to make you uncomfortable.” William looked sheepish. “Plus, Aunt Rita, Braithway, and my mom are a gossipy bunch, so as soon as they figure out, we’re up here…”
I laughed. “I can’t imagine.”
William looked relieved to see me laugh.
“It’s nice that your mom stayed in the states for the holidays,” I said.
William shrugged. “I’ve been having a hard time…” William’s voice trailed off for a moment before he added, “She thought it might be nice to spend the holiday here with my friends.”
My head jerked back a little when he said, ‘his friends.’ He stood with his hands in his pockets, looking at the floor.
“Kit, I am so sorry. I should have told you everything. I thought it was better to keep work separate from our relationship,” William said, “but I see how that was wrong—and that you feel like you can’t trust me. I hope that you can forgive me, and that we can at least be friends,” William said. His jaw flexed and his eyes searched my face for a reaction.
We stood in silence. I took a deep breath, and I said, “We can’t be friends.”
William sighed and his shoulders slumped, almost as if resigned to it. “I’m sorry, Kit. I understand. Thanks for hearing me out, at least.”
“I don’t think you do,” I said gaining confidence. “I can’t be casual friends with you because I can’t be anything casual with you.”
William looked up at me. I smiled. “I’m in love with you, William. I have spent every minute of the last six months trying to make sense of why I couldn’t move on, but it is clear to me now. You said it best the night of my birthday party. There is no turning back from this.”
William was against me so quickly. His hand cupping my face and then his lips against mine. The kiss was soft at first. I wrapped my arms around his neck.
William spoke against my mouth. “I love you, Kit.” Almost like no time had passed, William’s hands were around my waist pulling me against him.
I looked up at him and said, “I know we need to talk. I know we have a lot to work out, but I want to try.”
“Me too. I’m so sorry, Kit. I’m so sorry I hurt you.” William pressed his forehead against mine. “Please forgive me.”
“I’m sorry, too. I shouldn’t have left like that. I should have tried to communicate what I was feeling instead of just running away. You didn’t deserve to be treated like that,” I said. “I hope that I didn’t ruin everything by leaving.”
William paused and said, “It really hurt me that you left without even trying to work things out, but I understand how hurt you were, and I’m sorry. But Kit, you have to know, I would have waited for the rest of my life for you to come home.”
William held me in a tight embrace, almost as if he were afraid to let go. I pressed my face against his broad, muscular chest. I closed my eyes and breathed in his wonderful scent. I could feel him doing the same in my hair.
Then after a few moments, William said softly, “Kit, can I ask you something?”
“Yes,” I whispered, my eyes still closed.
“Where have you been? I looked everywhere for you.”
I laughed. “In D.C. staying with my dad and finishing my fellowship.”
William pulled back, and I looked up to see his handsome, crooked smile. “I can’t wait to hear about it, but we have to go downstairs and act very cool in front of some very nosy family members now.”
I chuckled. “This might be the best Christmas yet.”
William looked amused and said, “Better than last year?”
I let my fingers lace into his as we started to walk toward the door. “Our impromptu holiday movie marathon is going to be hard to beat, but I suppose we have time to try and top it.”
“Yeah?” William asked, his crooked smile spreading across his lips.
“I think we’re due for a lifetime of perfect holidays.”
Epilogue
