Page 69 of Suddenly Mine
She lay still for a moment, listening to the hush of the early morning. Christian’s arm was draped across her waist, heavy with sleep. His breathing was steady, the faintest brush of it warming her shoulder.
She sat up, yawning into the dark. It took her a moment to remember where she was — the huge bed and the Egyptian cotton sheets were still an unfamiliar luxury even after nearly a year had passed.
She’d moved in with Christian to his family home in Manhattan not long after New Year. The decision hadn’t felt big at the time — one morning they were brushing their teeth side by side, and the next, she was handing back her keys and leaving behind her frozen windows and the ever-growing passive-aggressive roommate. She didn’t miss that old place, but she remembered it fondly from a distance.
She leaned over and switched on the bedside lamp, blinking as the room came into focus. She had vague recollections of a loud thumping noise from outside the room. Christian rolled over and covered his head with a pillow, muttering something about waiting until morning to open her presents.
The mansion was quiet now, but a moment earlier, she could’ve sworn she’d heard something — like a knock or a thud from downstairs. She eased herself out of the covers, careful not to wake Christian, reached for the robe hanging from the foot of the bed, and padded out of the room.
The place was enormous — a palace, really, in the middle of New York — easily big enough for her and Christian, and Lewis,plus their family butler. Lewis was a new man, living his best life as a retiree with no responsibility except to try out all the coffee shops in Manhattan to find the best one. He was halfway through and loving it.
The mansion was big enough for her folks, too. They came to visit a lot, spending time being tourists in the city and living their happiest lives now they were free from the financial worry. Christian had flown them in from Nebraska yesterday morning, as a surprise, and Merry had screamed with joy when they’d arrived. Of all the gifts Christian had given her, the chance to spend Christmas with her family was the best of all.
Well,almostthe best.
She cocked her head, listening for the noise that had woken her. She could hear Christian snoring gently, muttering something about mops and buckets. He’d brought back all the old Carroll’s janitorial team and Merry thought he spent more time hanging out with them than he did in his office. He had a soft spot for his old colleagues. He seemed to enjoy the work, and that was something Merry loved about him. He was worth so much, she had discovered, but the money didn’t change anything about the kind of man he was.
When they weren’t working, they spent their time in the conservatory on the roof — which, they’d discovered, was tended lovingly by Mrs Cradley. Christian had bought her several new plants, and he and Merry delighted in watering them and pruning them together while the city busied itself below. They refrained from any extracurricular activities in there now — one almost run-in was enough. Mrs Cradley was no longer the Dragon Lady, she was just Catherine, though she still ran a tight ship and Merry still cowered a bit in her presence.
Another thumping noise echoed around the stairs, and Merry slipped down them. It wasn’t quite three in the morning, and other than the occasional honking horn or siren, the city wassilent. Part of her wondered if she needed to call the police, but their security system was sure to keep out intruders, wasn’t it?
As quietly as she could she crept down the stairs, walking along the long, wide corridor. The noises were coming from the living room, and when she peeked around the door she couldn’t quite believe what she was seeing.
There, by the Christmas tree she and Christian had chosen and decorated, stood a man, dressed all in red. Merry stared. It wasn’t the real Santa, of course. It was the store Santa and, as he stood up, rubbing his back, he began to laugh.
“So, Merry,” he said in his booming, friendly voice. “Do you believe in Christmas magic now?”
He adjusted his wire-rimmed spectacles and gave her the biggest, friendliest smile.
“Uh,” said Merry, not quite sure what to say. She thought back to the night the previous Christmas when she’d walked into the grotto and made her wish. “I do,” she said, smiling. “It came true.”
“They always do,” said Santa. “If you believe.”
“Thank you,” said Merry.
Santa smiled at her.
“I should be going,” he said. “It’s a busy night.”
“Of course,” said Merry, laughing.
She heard the creak of a stair behind her, and turned to see Lewis Carroll shuffling down them, rubbing his sleepy eyes. He seemed to have grown younger in the last couple of months, and his terrible cough had eased. She wondered if having Christian home had healed him in some way — not permanently, but maybe just enough. She looked back into the living room, but Santa was nowhere to be seen. Flecks of snow and soot drifted from the fireplace, dancing around one another.
“Can’t sleep?” said Lewis as he walked up to her, smiling.
“Oh,” said Merry, mystified. “I . . . I heard something. There was somebody here.”
Lewis laughed.
“Dressed in red?” he asked, and Merry nodded.
“He drops by from time to time,” said Lewis. “We’re old friends. To be honest, he hasn’t stopped by for a few years. It’s nice to know he’s back.”
Merry opened her mouth to ask what on earth was going on, then snapped it closed again.
“Good night, Merry,” Lewis said, shuffling towards the kitchen. “Or rather, good morning, in which case, Merry Christmas.”
Was it magic? Or maybe just hope and love returning. But as the snow began to fall beyond the tall window, Merry smiled to herself, her heart full.
Because, whatever it was, it had made all her Christmas dreams come true.
THE END