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“Mariel had come down to stay with me in New Mexico to help me, both during the birth and afterward. She brought my sewing box, and of course, it had this thimble in it. That was when I started designing and planning the clothing line for little girls. Both Mariel and this little silver gift of love got me sewing again. And it healed me. That and the sight of my little Molly.”
“So, the full circle means you will start sewing again?” Noah said. “Maybe make another try for you clothing line?”
“Yes.”
Noah pushed it a bit further, wanting her to say what he’d hoped for. “And does it have something to do with me as well?”
She breathed out a soft laugh. “You know it does. I think I was meant to find it now because you came back into my life. And I don’t ever want to lose you again.”
“That will never happen, my love.”
13
The Christmas season had arrived and, after so many years apart, Julie and Noah brought back their activities advent calendar, each one choosing something to do on the days of December. When they were busy, both had resorted to simple things, like singing a carol on a Facetime call, or having a box of cookies delivered from a local bakery. Of course, Molly was part of their adventures now, except when it came some adult events, like the charity ball at a hotel in Greenport or a get-together at The Blue Albatross or the formal holiday dinner at the Beachview Country Club—where the romance between Julie and Noah filled the latest gossip.
Because Julie’s brother, Bryce, had been the stand-in dad for Molly since she was born, they had a tradition of Bryce arriving on Christmas morning to watch Molly open her gifts from Santa. Last year, Julie had invited Tricia to join them, and she was happy her bother and his wife wanted to join them again this year. Julie invited Noah as well and on Christmas Eve he spent the night.
“Are all of these gifts from you?” Noah asked, as he carried another heap from a closet to the living room.
“No. My brother always brings his over ahead of time so I can put them under the tree before he gets here.”
Noah set down boxes and arranged them around the Christmas tree. “The little lady is getting quite a haul.”
“As if you didn’t double it,” Julie said. “I can’t believe how many presents you bought her.”
Before Molly went to bed, they had opened a few gifts because Julie wanted her daughter to see Noah had gotten her the goofy wizard hat Molly had seen in a shop one day. Julie had refused to buy it, saying it was horrible, and that had been the first time Noah had witnessed Molly having a tantrum.
And Julie had to admit, she hadn’t helped with her snobbish judgment that was reminiscent of a part of herself she was trying to shed.
“You must be exhausted,” he said, sitting in a club chair and pulling Julie onto his lap.
She had been cooking all day for the brunch she was going to serve her family tomorrow. “Not too tired for some kisses.” And she reached for the back of his neck, pulled him closer and pressed her mouth to his. When things got heated, as they always did between them, they held hands and headed for the stairs.
Tomorrow would be a long day. After the brunch for her family, Bryce and Tricia would be taking Molly to a party at Morgan’s house where there would be other kids and games and Santa would arrive.
Julie and Noah would be going to a dinner at his parents’ house, and she was relieved they both agreed it might go smoother if it was just the two of them. Molly was ADHD and might act up if she got bored, and Julie wanted to make a good start on her relationship with his family. They would invite his parents over another time to meet Molly. Julie could control the environment here and troubleshoot if necessary. She had onlymet his folks once, briefly, at a firefighters’ event during that last Christmas season before she went to London.
“Marla,pass some more potatoes to your brother,” Dan Taylor said. “I can see by the way he knocked down his last batch the man is hungry.”
Noah shrugged. “You know me, Dad. I’m a fool for mashed potatoes. Especially the way Mom makes them.”
Dan smiled. “You like the way she whips them up with all that butter.”
“Uh-oh.” Julie looked up from her plate. “You said the wrong word.”
“What’s that?”
“Butter.”
Joanne twisted her lips. “Don’t tell me he’s worried about his cholesterol. Not at his age.”
“Never too early to pay attention to fat-producing foods,” Noah said, staring painfully at the fluffy little mountain range of soft whites.
“How many servings have you had?” his sister, Marla, asked, smirking.
“Two. This would be my third.”
“Oh, go on,” Julie said. “Live a little. It’s a holiday. And now when I want butter and syrup on my pancakes I can remind you of this.”
