Page 25

He’s such a wonderful man.

Rather than letting guilt consume me, I take a moment and feel gratitude for him. Seeing him with Nora earlier as they conspired in the kitchen melted my heart. I love that they’re bonding. Nora has so much of Upton in her and I love that. Always have.

Upton finally reaches the last box. I tense up, waiting for the inevitable. He opens it and pulls out a framed photo. His lips curl into a grin. I’m curious which picture it is, but he doesn’t show me first. Dad gets the first look and I’m glad because his entire face lights up.

“My favorite ladies,” Dad says with pride. “So much pretty in one picture.”

Upton looks over at me and winks. “You can say that again.”

Once Dad has had his fill, Upton brings it over to me. As soon as I see the photo, I chuckle. I was five or six in the picture. Mom took me to see Santa after the parade on Wing Whirr Way. Every year he has a small, festive house set up on the boardwalk area where kids can go to have their photos taken with him. Mrs. Clause is his helper and photographer. Each child gets a cookie after, too. In the picture, for some reason, Mom is sitting in his lap too. Her face is bright red, and her head is thrown back in laughter. I’m gazing up at her as if I’m thrilled to see this side of her.

And I was.

With Mom, there was so much pain and sadness in her, that when it would leave its post, she would come alive. I remember how beautiful she was when she’d smile or laugh. It made me feel like all was right in the world.

I run my thumb over the dust covering the glass. It clears the picture even more.

“You okay?” Upton asks, voice soft and only for me.

“Because of you, yes.” I reach over and clutch his hand. “Thank you for coming tonight.”

“You never have to thank me for being with you or doing things for you. I quite like it that way.”

I move Claudette to her perch and then bravely make my way over to the box. Upton gives me an encouraging smile as I kneel down beside it. The next couple of hours hurt, but they also make me smile more than I have in a long time. And Dad eats up every second of the Christmases he missed.

It makes me realize I should do this for Upton, too.

I’ll make him an album of all of Nora’s Christmases because he deserves to feel just as happy as Dad.

I’m going to make up for lost time.

When the clock strikes midnight, and Dad has already gone to bed, Upton gathers his coat.

A pang of sadness hits me in the chest. I don’t want him to leave.

“Going so soon?” I ask with a resigned sigh.

“You know I must.”

“Are you going to turn into a pumpkin?”

He chuckles softly as not to wake Dad. “Wrong holiday. Maybe I’ll turn into a gingerbread man or Santa.”

“You’re a little too good looking and trim to be Santa.”

His lips curl into a teasing grin. “Sandy Everhart thinks I’m hot. Noted.”

“Don’t let it go to your head, Kris Kringle.”

I pull on my own coat and step into my boots so I can walk him outside. Since it’s so late, it’s cold and eerily quiet. Whenever it’s snowy, I feel as if all sound has been muted. It’s so peaceful and a far cry from New York City. In the city, it was too chaotic to think much. Out here, the silence gives you more than enough space you need to mull over every minute thought in your head.

He takes hold of my hand as we walk over to his car. With a mash of a button, he remote starts the car, but he doesn’t get inside.

“Come here,” he murmurs, tugging me to his chest.

Since it’s cold, I press my front against his, eager for his body heat. His gloved hand cups my cheek and he uses his thumb under my chin to angle my head up. I’m snared by his intense gaze that speaks volumes despite him never having to utter a word.

“Thank you for inviting me back into your life, Sandy,” he says, running his chilled nose along mine. “This has been incredible. I’m so happy. You have no idea.”