They didn’t have her booster seat, as Holly had given it to Troy to use. She had to be content with securing her in the back seat with only a seat belt.
Not wanting to let her daughter out of her sight, even for a second, she slid into the back seat with her.
Moments later, before the heater even had time to warm the interior of the vehicle, Ryan was following her directions to the Moore house and pulling into their driveway.
Dozens of people—all of Troy’s family—waited for them in the driveway. As soon as she unlatched her daughter’s seat belt and helped her out of the vehicle, a huge resounding cheer rose from the crowd.
Lydia looked startled and more than a little confused at all the attention. Troy rushed toward them and scooped her up in his arms, much as Holly had done. He buried his face in Lydia’s neck.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, baby.”
She blinked at him. “Why, Daddy?”
“I should have been paying more attention to where you were. But you can’t run off like that. You scared everyone.”
Troy was actually crying. Tears at the corner of his eyes reflected the Christmas lights from his parents’ house. Seeing his reaction, Holly’s anger drained away like snow melting under the first warm rays of spring.
Her ex-husband loved their child. He might not be as easy or comfortable around her as Holly would like, or as cognizant of the challenges ahead of her. He still loved her and wanted the world for her, the same as Holly did.
“You found her. Thank you. I’ve never been so terrified in my life. I would never have thought of the park. She asked me earlier if we could go see the big Christmas tree but I didn’t know which one she meant.”
He could have asked her. Lydia was very good atcommunicating her needs and wants, as long as someone was patient and calm.
Her grandparents hurried through the crowd of people. “Oh, honey. I’m so glad you’re safe,” Susan said. She was crying as well, which touched Holly.
Like Lydia’s father, the Moore family didn’t always know the best way to support her with all her challenges, but they loved her and were trying.
“Let’s go inside where it’s warm. Now that we have her back, we don’t have to stand out here in the snow,” Norm said gruffly.
“I don’t know.” Norm’s sister Nadine looked up at the night sky and the softly swirling snowflakes. “Now that we know she’s safe, it’s kind of magical out here, isn’t it? With the stars and the snow and the Christmas lights.”
They all seemed to appreciate anew the beauty of this Christmas Eve. A hush fell over the family as they looked around, taking in the surrounding mountains and the tall evergreen trees.
Holly wasn’t sure who started singing “Silent Night,” possibly Troy’s grandmother Nona. But soon everyone else joined in, a family united in gratitude that spanned generations.
Even a woman she didn’t know in the Haven Point Police Department uniform sang along.
When they reached the line about “all is calm, all is bright,” Holly felt more tears spill out. The words had never resonated so hard in her heart.
“Can I have some hot chocolate?” Lydia finally said when the song ended.
“You can have all the hot chocolate you want,” Susan promised her. Lydia’s grandfather took her hand and they led the way into their home.
Ryan, she suddenly noticed, stood nearby, slightly on the fringe of the group but still offering his silent support.
Troy pulled her aside as most of his family members returned to the house, though a few seemed to want to prolong the moment and stayed outside.
“I am so very sorry, Hol. I’m an idiot. I know Lydia needs to be watched more carefully than other children but I got distracted by the game we were playing and thought she was doing fine with her cousins. I should have made sure.”
This self-flagellation seemed a huge step for a man who never liked to admit he was wrong.
“We found her. That’s the important thing.”
His jaw worked as he looked between her and Ryan. “Look, if you want to take her home to have Christmas Eve with you, I completely understand. All the things you sent her from Santa are still boxed up. We could load them into the back of your SUV along with her other things and you could head back to Shelter Springs. Everyone would understand.”
Oh, it was tempting. Some part of her still wanted to grab Lydia, pack her into her car and never allow visitation with her father again.
She couldn’t.
