AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’ve never been anyone’s princess,” she told him back.
“So maybe...”
She held her breath and waited.
“Be a shame for you not to see Boston since you flew all the way here,” he said.
A hundred-pound weight lifted from her shoulders. She felt like she had the day she met the Frybergs, times ten. “What about my flight home?”
Letting go of her hand, James wrapped an arm around her waist and leaned in until their foreheads touched. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I know a pilot.”
EPILOGUE
Three weeks later
FOR THE LIFE of him, James was never going to get used to those nutcrackers. They were the stuff kids’ nightmares were made of. Whistling to himself, he passed under them and headed for the conductor’s shack.
“Good afternoon, Ed,” he greeted. “How’s the train business?”
The conductor blanched. “M-M-Mr. Hammond. We weren’t expecting you today. I’m afraid the castle closed early.”
“Are you telling me everyone has gone home?” James asked in his sternest voice. “It’s only two o’clock.”
“Well, it...it is Christmas Eve...”
“James Hammond, stop scaring the employees.” Noelle came bouncing out of the conductor’s shack wearing a Santa Claus hat and carrying a gold-and-white gift bag. Like it always did when he saw her, James’s breath caught in his throat.
“Don’t mind him, Ed,” she said. “He’s not nearly as Grinchy as he’d like people to believe.” Rising on tiptoes, she flung her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly. Completely confirming her charge, James kissed her back with equal enthusiasm. Her gift bag crinkled as she wrapped her arms tighter.
“Merry Christmas,” she said, smiling. “Nice sweater. You look very festive.” He was wearing a red-and-white reindeer jumper purchased at the hotel on his last visit a few days before. One of the advantages of having his own plane was that it made long-distance relationships a lot easier.
“So do you,” he replied. “Careful though. If Santa finds out you stole his hat, he’ll put you on the naughty list.”
“Then we’d better not tell him.” Giving him one more kiss, she untangled herself and held out the gift bag. “This is for you. Merry Christmas Eve.”
James fingered the red polka-dotted tissue paper peering out from the top of the bag. He might as well have been five again, for the thrill that passed through him.
No, he corrected, a five-year-old wouldn’t get this choked up over a simple gift bag. “I thought we agreed to wait and exchange presents tomorrow night when we were alone.”
Back in Boston, there was a stack of boxes with Noelle’s name on them. More than necessary, probably, but he hadn’t been able to help himself. Finally, he understood the joy that came from giving to the people for whom you cared.
“I know,” she replied. “This is more of a pre-Christmas present.”
Meaning she’d cared enough in return to shop for him. His throat constricted a little more. As far as he was concerned, he already had the best Christmas present in the world standing in front of him.
Her hand came down to rest on his forearm. Shaking off his thoughts, he focused on her shimmering blue gaze instead. “Consider it a small thank-you for asking me if I’d help with next year’s window displays,” she said. “A very small thank-you. I’m poor from all my Christmas shopping.”
“You didn’t have to buy anything. Asking for your assistance was a no-brainer. No one is better suited to work on our chain-wide window display extravaganza than you, my little elf.” It was true. Hammond’s “new direction” involved rolling out Boston’s iconic displays on a nationwide basis. The new displays would be more modern and inclusive to reflect the current consumer public, and focus on the message that Christmas was a time for spreading love and goodwill. James was excited for the new project, and for Noelle’s involvement since she’d be making frequent trips to Boston. He didn’t want to get too ahead of himself, but if things went well he hoped Noelle might someday consider spending even more time in Boston.
Seemed hope had become a habit for him these days.
“Aren’t you going to open it?” Noelle asked.
“What?” The gift. He pretended to study the bag. “Considering the size, I’ll go out on a limb and say you didn’t buy me a drone.”
Noelle stuck out her tongue. “Ha-ha-ha. You should be sending that drone a thank-you present. If you hadn’t stood in the way, we might never have gotten past the dislike stage.”
