Page 29 of Soldier’s Christmas Crush (Trinity Falls: Home for Christmas #4)

WILLOW

W illow awoke on Christmas morning to sunlight streaming through the windows. She felt good, in spite of the ache in her heart. Spending the day with her new friends yesterday had been a balm to her soul, and she was finally ready to put in the work to win her brother back.

Grabbing her phone from the bedside table, she wasn’t sure what she expected to see, but it definitely wasn’t a missed call and two texts from Ransom.

Ransom

kids and i were hoping you’d come by this morning to open presents

and Merry Christmas

She stared at the screen in complete awe for a moment, then tapped out a quick reply before she lost her nerve.

yes!

see you in a few!

Her mood was lifted enough by the simple exchange that she was humming a happy tune as she headed into the bathroom for a quick shower.

She already missed Jensen and Henry like there was an empty cavern in her chest. But if she could make things right with Ransom, then at least half her heart could be full.

And she had been so looking forward to seeing Travis and Mae today. She sensed that her niece and nephew needed her in their lives, and she needed them too. It was a relief that Ransom wasn’t going to cut her out after all.

When she was dressed and ready to go, she grabbed the container of homemade cookies and the bag of gifts she was bringing over. Hopefully, the kids would like the stuff she had picked out. And she knew they would love her famous chocolate chip cookies, even if they weren’t exactly Christmas themed.

The fire escape stairs were covered in snow and ice, so she headed down the main staircase. It was still dim inside, with the curtains pulled closed, meaning no one had been to the house yet this morning.

It made her happy to see that Carla’s Place was empty. It was good to know that all her friends had someplace to be on Christmas morning. Though she hated the idea of anyone coming into a dark and empty house on Christmas, so she decided to brighten the place up, just in case.

She placed the extra plate of cookies she had made on the kitchen table and took a moment to start a pot of coffee, open the curtains, and plug in the tree.

This way if someone stopped by the place would look cheerful, and they would have a nice treat to enjoy.

Once she was satisfied that the place was as warm and welcoming as she could make it, she headed out.

The drive to Ransom’s house was peaceful. Not too many people were currently on the roads, though lots of driveways were full of cars. It reminded her of when she was little, and they sometimes had a house full of cousins for the holidays.

Maybe that will be my kids hanging out with Ransom’s one day…

But when she tried to picture her future children, she kept seeing Henry’s sweet smile in her mind.

She flicked on the radio, hoping to distract herself from self-pity. She was a very lucky woman in almost every possible way. It was silly to moon over what might have been.

John Lennon began singing “Happy Christmas,” and she had to smile. Today was a day for peace on earth, and it seemed like Ransom was finally ready to make peace with her on his terms.

As she pulled down the narrow lane to get to his house, she thought about the effort he’d put into clearing it enough to get his own truck out. It had obviously meant a lot to him to go see his friend yesterday.

Hopefully they’ll make up too at some point. They both deserve it.

She passed the barn and pulled up in front of the house, parking the station wagon beside her brother’s truck. Once she had gathered up her gifts, her cookies, and her courage, she headed up to the house and got ready to knock on the door.

But it opened before she touched the wood.

“Aunt Willow,” two little voices chorused.

“Hi, Travis,” she said, accepting their hugs. “Hi, Mae. Merry Christmas.”

“What’s that ?” Mae asked, looking at the bag she carried with great interest. “Is it presents?”

“ You’re not supposed to ask that ,” Travis whispered loudly to his little sister.

“It is presents,” Willow said quickly. “You two like getting socks for Christmas, right?”

“I like socks,” Mae replied politely, though her expression wasn’t as enthusiastic as before.

“Oh, that’s too bad,” Willow said shaking her head in mock disappointment. “Because I only got you toys this time. Maybe next year I’ll bring you some socks.”

Both kids roared with laughter that Willow strongly suspected was at least partially fueled by the sweets that had been in their stockings.

“Hey, sis,” Ransom yelled from the kitchen. “Come on in, breakfast is almost ready.”

“Thank you,” she said, handing Travis her bag. “Bring that to your dad, okay?”

“Mae, where should I put my coat?” she asked, though she could clearly see the coatrack.

“Right here,” Mae told her proudly, leading her over to it. “You just put it on there.”

“Thank you,” Willow told her.

There was a nice fire in the fireplace and the kids had added green and red paper chains to the already decorated space so that it looked even more festive than before.

The three big, beautiful dogs she had seen outside last time were all sleeping by the fireplace, so beautiful they looked almost like a painting. One of them noticed her looking and thumped an inky black tail on the floor without getting up.

Willow slipped off her boots and put them by the door as well, and then headed into the kitchen.

She was prepared for things to be awkward after yesterday, but determined to power through it.

Her brother had reached out to be sure she was coming, which meant that he really wanted her here, and she was grateful for that.

“Smells amazing,” she told Ransom.

“Thanks,” he said, grinning at her before turning his attention back to the bacon he was flipping. A paper-towel lined plate by the stove was already covered with cooked strips.

“You’ve got enough for an army in there,” she teased him.

“Can’t hurt to have a little extra,” he said. “Never know who might stop by.”

“I guess,” she said, though she would be stunned if anyone just randomly stopped by in this weather on a holiday.

The living space was completely open, so she could see that Travis and Mae were back by the tree, putting together a complicated-looking train set. Their heads were close together and they were talking quietly, looking like there was no one in the world but the two of them.

“Reminds me of us,” Ransom said quietly .

“It does,” Willow agreed, smiling.

The two of them had been so close growing up. Even when Ransom had a whole crew of friends, he still made time to play with his little sister, and to hold her hand whenever she was scared.

“About yesterday,” he said quietly. “I heard what you said. And… I’m sorry, for everything.”

She moved closer and tried to meet his eyes, but he was focused on the sizzling treat in the pan, maybe because it was easier not to look at her while he spoke.

“You were ready for the Army,” he said. “I see that now. And you did so well, too. I’m proud of you. And I’m sorry I ever made you feel like I didn’t believe in you.”

“Ransom,” she murmured, genuinely moved. He had never been one to talk much about his feelings.

“I just wanted to protect you from the world,” he told her.

“I’ve always seen myself as your guardian.

But that’s your job now, unless you ask for my help.

I’ll try to keep my nose out of your business otherwise.

No promises that I’ll be good at it though, at least at first. I might need some reminding, and you don’t have to be subtle. ”

His eyes flashed up to meet hers now, and she could tell by his expression that he had said his piece.

“Thank you,” she told him, meaning it. “And I meant what I said yesterday. I really do appreciate how you looked out for me all those years. And I don’t think I’ll ever want you to mind your own business.

I still want to know your opinion, and I’ll always hear you out.

I just want you to respect my decisions. ”

“I can do that,” he said, nodding. “I just don’t want to lose you again. ”

She joined him at the stove and grabbed him to hug him close, stealing a piece of bacon off the paper towels as soon as he let her go.

“Cheeky girl,” he exclaimed, pretending he was going to swipe it back from her.

She shoved it in her mouth and chewed it up, humming with appreciation at the rich flavor of her stolen treat.

As Ransom transferred the last of the bacon and turned off the burner, there was a knock at the door.

She glanced over, stunned that her brother had been right. They had drop-ins after all.

“That’s your surprise, Aunt Willow,” Mae yelled to her with a big smile.

“ Mae,” Travis laughed, rolling his eyes. “You weren’t supposed to say that yet.”

“Is it a horse?” Willow asked right away. “I always wanted one.”

“Horses can’t knock on doors,” Travis pointed out, as Mae cracked up at the idea of a horse being at the door.

“True,” she said, heading for the front of the cabin.

There was only one Christmas surprise she wanted, and though she had no reason to expect it, a sense of anticipation rose in her chest anyway, making her feel light as air.

She pulled open the door and there they were. She had to blink a few times to make sure it wasn’t just her imagination showing her what she wished for most, but it wasn’t an illusion.

Jensen stood in the doorway, towering over her, his gray eyes fixed on her face, his expression of love and hunger freezing her in place.

“ Nah, nah,” Henry said softly, drawing her eyes to her favorite toddler, who was wrapped in his daddy’s arms.

Henry gazed at her for a moment, his twinkling gray eyes making him look so much like his dad. Then he stretched his hands out for her.

“Hi, Henry,” she breathed, taking him in her arms. “I’m so glad to see you.”

“Come on in, guys,” Ransom said, jogging over to welcome them.

Willow felt tears prickle her eyes as she watched the two most important men in her life clasp hands and then hug.