Page 31 of Dangerous December (Northern Pines Suspense #8)

With just three days left before Christmas, Beth’s bookshop was filled with the bustle of shoppers every day. Joyous faces. The sound of laughter. The exuberant holiday greetings spreading between neighbors in every aisle.

Had her heart ever felt this full?

At the end of the evening, when the last of the festive, horse-drawn wagons clip-clopped out to the parking areas and the jangling of harness bells faded, she turned down the lights and left just the Christmas lights twinkling in the front windows.

Snuggling into a cozy chair facing the street, she cradled a cup of hot cocoa between her hands and sighed with more contentment than she ever could have imagined just a few months ago.

At the tinkle of bells over the front door, she looked up and felt her heart take an extra beat.

Dev strode in and swept her up into his arms for a long kiss. “You can still back out, you know. We could wait until spring for a field of wildflowers...or until fall, for all of the autumn colors. Or if you think we’re moving too fast, we can wait longer...”

“Christmas Eve is perfect.” Her eyes burning, she looked up at him through sudden tears. “We’ll have everyone right here, so we won’t have to wait. Right?”

“Right.” He tucked her head beneath his chin and wrapped his arms around her for a warm embrace. But at the sound of a knock on the door, he stepped back.

Nora walked inside with her ever-present briefcase and a mischievous smile. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything. But I thought you’d want to hear the latest news.”

Beth felt a blush rise on her cheeks. “Of course we do. Can I get you something? Cocoa, or hot tea?”

“Thanks, but I’m heading out for dinner with my husband. I’ll try to keep this brief.” She settled into a rocking chair and waved at them both to sit down. “I’m sure you two would like this settled. And I would like it finalized and off my desk by mid-January.”

Beth’s breath caught in her throat. “Is...is it good news?”

Nora looked over at Dev. “Much to your cousin Stan’s displeasure, it didn’t take the full six months for everyone at Sloan House to find a way to become independent. He’s livid.”

“I’ll bet he is,” Dev muttered. “And when we turn my mother’s house into a women’s shelter, it should make him even happier. The man has the compassion of a gnat.”

“But there’s not a thing he can do about it, now or ever.” She turned toward Beth. “You will now inherit your bookstore building. Devlin, you will inherit everything else—the real estate, your mother’s investments, and all of her liquid assets. Stan will receive nothing.”

Stunned, Beth fell against the back of her chair. “So this is really happening.”

“It is. And it’s the way it should be.” A smile played at the corners of Nora’s mouth. “Vivian wanted to right some of her wrongs against you both, so she hoped to find a way to bring you two back together. If she can listen from above, she’ll be so happy. I hear congratulations are in order.”

Beth grinned. “Yes....but I just don’t know what to say about all of this. Dev?”

“I will regret our divorce every day I have left on earth. But I’ll be rejoicing our second wedding even more. It means far more to me than any inheritance.”

Nora chuckled. “You’ll have both, so congratulations.”

She stood and extended a hand to each of them. “If you can come to my office in the morning, we can begin the paperwork.”

She opened the front door, then turned back. “You might be interested in talking to the sheriff, too. He’s been investigating Frank’s accident, and Stan has been charged with hit and run.”

Aghast, Beth stared at her. “Just to keep Frank from becoming independent in time? Who would even do that?”

Nora scowled. “From what I’ve learned about Stan, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

Dev reached over to take Beth’s hand. “Nor would I.”

“Apparently, he also hired some vandals meant to cause you trouble, but I don’t know those details. I imagine it was another ploy so he could have Vivian’s inheritance all to himself.”

At noon on Christmas Eve, a new blanket of snow frosted the pines and sparkled like diamonds in the bright sunshine.

The tall white steeple of the small community church rose into the deep blue sky like a benediction over everyone gathering inside. Friends. Relatives. Folks in the community. All had been welcome to join in this blessed celebration.

Frank and Reva were seated at the front, next to everyone else from Vivian’s boarding house.

Cody’s excited whisper floated down the aisle. “They’re coming!”

At the back of the church, Dev smiled down at Beth with such love and promise in his eyes that she could barely breathe.

“Are you ready?” he whispered as he took her hand.

“I’ve been ready all my life.”

“No regrets?”

“Not a single one.” She raised up on her tiptoes to give him a long, sweet kiss.

He answered with an embrace and a deeper kiss that lasted until they heard the sound of whispers from the congregation and Cody’s cheers washing over them.

“Time to go,” she said with a laugh. “Because I can’t wait.”

And then they moved forward to begin the rest of their lives. Together.

Wishing you all my best,

Roxanne Rustand