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“Hey, I went to therapy on my own before,” I pointed out.
“I know you did. But you’re kind of—” she wiggled her free hand back and forth.
“Strong enough to be vulnerable, but also prefer to man your way through it,” Delaney chimed in softly.
Chloe cast her a quick smile. “That’s exactly it.”
I took a slow breath. “Okay, fair.”
“You don’t really need me, Lincoln,” Delaney said. “You had it figured out. Sometimes people need a refresher, whether it’s a therapist or a friend. It helps you get back on track and reminds you of what you already know.”
“Oh, I’m going to keep coming,” I assured her. “Not that you’re asking me to. It helps me.”
“You’ve got this,” she said a little while later as we were leaving.
Chloe held my hand on the way out. “I need a refresher sometimes too.”
Chapter Forty-Five
Chloe
Fairy snow
Christmas Eve felt like a fairy tale. I peered out my office window where I had an excellent view of one of the blue spruce trees strung with glittering lights.
“Hey, hey.” Lincoln’s voice reached me from the doorway.
I spun around, my lips curling into a smile. “Hey! It’s so pretty. I’ve never had a white Christmas.”
He tilted his head to the side as he walked into my office. “No?”
“I’ve been in wintry places where there was snow on the ground at Christmas, which I guess counts, but seeing fairy snow on Christmas Eve is new for me. I love it.” I clasped my hands together, squeezing them in joy.
“Aha,” he said slowly, stopping behind me as I turned back to look outside again. He looped his arms around my waist, resting his chin on my shoulder, and I savored the feel of him strong and sturdy behind me.
I leaned my head back, angling to glance up toward him. “I’m glad I’m here,” I said, my belly all warm and tingly. It felt as if one candle after another was lighting up inside with heat spinning everywhere.
He pressed an open kiss just below my jawline, sending hot shivers through me. “I’m glad you’re here, too,” he murmured.
“Enough with the PDA.” Grady’s teasing voice reached us from the doorway.
Lincoln chuckled as he lifted his head and glanced over his shoulder. “We’re just enjoying the view.”
Grady nodded. “Of course, the view is beautiful. Anyway, Mom sent me down the hallway to round you two up for Christmas Eve dinner. So either you come with me now, or she’ll come down here herself.”
Lincoln’s arms slid away from my waist, and he reached for my hand as we turned together. “Christmas Eve dinner, it is.”
I loved it here. I really did. Alaska was startlingly beautiful, but I was surprised to discover how much I enjoyed the winter. I liked the long nights, the quiet of the landscape with the snow muffling the sounds. We’d already passed solstice, the shortest day of the year, and I loved how much I noticed the change in light already.
“Before you know it,” Maggie said, smiling at me from across the table, “the days are going to get long fast.”
“We get through January and February and after that it starts to feel like the sun is racing to be here extra,” Lincoln chimed in. “I love it.”
Aside from just how plain happy I felt, Heartfire Falls was so festive. It added to the vibe. Every room was decorated, including the family kitchen. There were lights strung around the ceiling and all the windows, mistletoe hanging over every archway, and wreaths on every outside door.
The guests loved it too. I’d wondered how it would feel to be sharing the holidays with guests, but it amplified the joy. After my mom had died, holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas had felt like an emotional gut punch because she wasn’t there. My dad had always done his best, but his cooking skills were basic and decorating was definitely not his forte. We’d made it special in our own way, but being here felt so joyous in a different way.
Tommy came out beaming after we’d finished the main meal, which was delicious with a smoked salmon cream dish, ridiculously cheesy mashed potatoes, asparagus, and more. Now, we were on to dessert. He lifted his cake in the air before setting it on the cake stand Maggie had gotten him.
