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Yawning, she pulled Alec out of the room and into the dimly lit hallway. “I’m not taking your bed. Cara will be so happy to wake up and find you there. Let me just get my shoes and I’ll let myself out.”
“Where are you going?”
“The cottage. I’m staying—” She broke off, frowning. Did Alec know she and Baird were sharing the cottage? “I’m staying at the cottage where Cara stayed last Christmas.”
“But isn’t Baird staying there?”
“Yes. I wish I could say it’s an interesting story but it’s not. We’re both very stubborn, and we both thought we should have it, so there we are.” She smiled at her brother-in-law, genuinely happy to see him. “I’m good to walk back so let me grab my shoes and phone and I’ll see you in the morning.”
“I’m not letting you walk back by yourself. Get your things and I’ll take you.”
Ella knew better to argue, and in the mudroom, she retrieved her coat, slid her arms into the jacket and zipped it up. Alec opened the door and she gasped at the gust of wind.
“Wow. That’s cold,” she said.
“The weather is changing.”
“Does that mean snow for Christmas?” she asked hopefully as he held the passenger door open for her.
“Probably not for Christmas, but maybe for New Year’s.”
“Too bad.”
He smiled faintly. “You’re just as bad as your sister.”
And suddenly Ella remembered how awful Alec’s past few days had been, and how heartsick and guilty he must have felt calling all those clients, letting them know the terrible news.
She wrapped her arms around him and gave him a fierce hug. “It’s good to see you,” she said. “I hope you know how much I love you.”
For a second, Alec was still, and then he hugged her back. “Thank you,” he said gruffly.
She let him go and climbed into the car, glad he couldn’t see she was blinking back tears. This was so not the Christmas she’d expected, but maybe it was better. She was here to help, here available, to do anything and everything, whether it was clear the table or give hugs. Sometimes one just needed to be surrounded by love.
It was a very quick drive to the cottage. Ella thanked Alec and slipped from the car after he’d pulled up in front of the cottage door.
Entering the dark cottage, Ella was grateful Baird had left a light on near the stairs. She hung up her coat, eased off her shoes and tiptoed up the steep staircase, avoiding the steps that tended to creak. The last thing she wanted to do was wake him. But just as she was reaching for her doorknob, Baird’s door opened.
“Who drove you here?” Baird asked from the shadows enveloping his room.
She couldn’t see him well, but he appeared to be wrapped in some kind of enormous robe, reminding her of a Viking on a midwinter’s night. Except he wasn’t a Viking, he was a Celt.
“Alec did,” she said. “He’s just returned home.”
“Cara must be glad.”
“Cara was fast asleep when we left. But yes, she’ll be so happy to see Alec when she wakes up.”
“How did he seem?” Baird asked.
“Good. Tired. But typically Alec, impossibly polite.”
“I’m glad he’s back.”
Ella reached for her doorknob. “Thank you for leaving the light on for me.”
“Of course.”
“I am sorry I woke you, though.”
