Sealed with a Kiss by Leeanna Morgan (microsoft ebook reader txt) 📖

That evening, Rachel sat quietly in front of the open fire in John’s living room. She pulled a fluffy blanket around her shoulders and leaned her head against the sofa.

Grant had been back today, checking on the security system around the house. Tank and Tanner hadn’t said much at lunchtime and they hadn’t been happy.

After Grant left, the wind picked up. It was howling along the shingle roof, sounding like a rattlesnake warning of danger.

Rachel had never been particularly superstitious, but with everything going on, even she was jumpy. She’d made sure Bella was safely tucked up in bed and double-checked all the windows and doors before sitting on the sofa. Tank had shaken his head at her, but he hadn’t stopped her from checking each catch.

“You’re still awake?”

Rachel turned toward the open doorway. John was standing just inside the room with a mug in his hands. “I couldn’t sleep.”

He looked down at the drink in his hands. “Do you want a hot chocolate? The kettle’s still hot.”

“Sounds good.” She pushed the blanket off her shoulders and stood up.

“Stay there. I’ll get it for you,” he said quickly.

“I don’t want to be a nuisance.”

The frown on John’s face was deeper and more concerned than usual. “You’re not a nuisance. If anything, I’m the one that’s caused you more grief than you deserve.”

“You couldn’t help what’s happened.”

John’s gaze dropped from her face. “I’ll be back soon.” He left his mug on a cabinet and left the room.

Rachel sat down and pulled the blanket around her shoulders. She tried to imagine what she’d be doing now if she wasn’t here. It was four days until Christmas. The stores would be full of last minute shoppers all looking for the perfect gift. She would have been with the crowds, listening to the Christmas music playing over the speakers, humming along to Snoopy’s Christmas and Silver Bells as if she’d never heard them before.

“You’re smiling,” John said as he walked into the living room.

“I’m thinking about Christmas. Did you know that there are about 28 million real Christmas trees sold in America each year?”

“Really?”

“And there are close to 350 million Christmas trees being grown at the moment.”

“Fascinating.” John handed her a mug. “Be careful, it’s hot. What other stupendous facts have you memorized?”

Rachel narrowed her eyes at his smiling face. “Don’t be too quick to laugh. I make a great partner in a game of Trivial Pursuit.”

“I’m sure you do.” John sat beside her and took a sip of his drink. When she didn’t say anything, he smiled. “Okay. Blow me away with more intriguing facts.”

“Did you know that the grizzly bear is the official state animal of California, but no grizzly bears have been seen there since 1922?”

“No, I can’t say I did know that. Keep going.”

Rachel went through all of the trivia she’d filed away inside her head and looked for the oddest fact she could find. “In more than half of all US states, the highest paid public employee is a football coach.”

“You’re joking?”

“I kid you not,” Rachel said with a smile. “And did you know that there are 60,000 miles of blood vessels in your body. If they were stretched out in a single line, they’d go around the planet more than twice.”

John held his hand out in front of him. “That has to be seriously wrong.”

“Nope. I read it in a science journal.”

“You know not to believe everything you read, don’t you?”

Rachel sighed. “There’s a big difference between knowing something and believing in it. Take Santa Claus, for instance.”

“I have no idea where you’re going with this.”

“You don’t need to. All you have to do is listen.” She looked over her shoulder in case Bella had come downstairs. “Most adults know that Santa doesn’t exist. But if all of those adults suddenly gave up believing in Santa, the world economy would collapse. Last year, there were over three trillion dollars’ worth of Christmas sales in America alone. People want to believe in the magic. They want their children to believe in Santa Claus. We make up stories about how Santa will still visit houses with no fireplace. We leave carrots and cookies on a plate by the Christmas tree and make sure there are only crumbs left in the morning. It’s part of the magic.”

“But blood vessels are different from Santa Claus.”

Rachel sighed. “Of course, they are. But isn’t it amazing to think that your blood vessels could stretch around the world, not once, but twice? Even though it’s true, it’s still magic.”

“Not for the person who did the calculation. How do you think they worked it out?”

“I don’t want to know,” Rachel mumbled. “My imagination isn’t painting a pretty picture.” She blocked the images crowding her mind and focused on the fire in front of her. Even though it was late, she was glad of John’s company. When he wasn’t busy working, there was a stillness about him that she appreciated. His sense of humor wasn’t bad, either. And if she dug really deep, she was sure she’d find someone who still believed in magic.

John stretched his legs out. “Bella was born on a night like this. We’d had the worst weather anyone had seen in a decade. Snowdrifts were covering people’s vehicles and getting anywhere was a nightmare.”

“Did you make it to the hospital?”

“Jacinta delivered Bella in our apartment. I was on leave and Bella wasn’t due for another six weeks.” John’s gaze settled on the fireplace. The orange and red flames danced in the grate, moving in time with the wind whistling down the chimney. “I don’t regret many things in my life, but not spending more time with Jacinta and Bella is one of them.”

Rachel sipped her hot chocolate. She thought about her own mom and dad, the loneliness that had become as familiar to her as breathing. “My parents worked long hours. Even though we all lived together, there weren’t many times when we were all in the same place at the same time. It was hard.”

“Is that why you were worried about Bella being lonely when I first met you?”

Rachel nodded. “I was an only child, too. I thought Bella wanted a mom because she was on her own all the time. I didn’t realize that Bella had friends that helped fill the gaps. Mrs. Daniels loves her as if she was her own granddaughter.”

“Patty is special, but you were right. It’s too easy to think that Bella has everything she needs. Even though she’s got people around her that care, it still doesn’t replace me not being here.”

“Will you be able to spend more time with her once the drone problem is over?”

“I’m going to make sure I do.” John turned to her. “You never talk about your mom and dad. Do you see them very often?”

“I’m going to see them tomorrow night for dinner.” John’s gaze sharpened. “Don’t worry. Tanner has drawn the short straw and is coming with me. Mom