Chapter Eighteen
Nick had done his best to entertain his parents and Henry during the few days he’d been off work, but after what had gone down with Ellie, he couldn’t hide his foul mood.
They’d gone to the Magic House today, and Henry’s impatience to do what he wanted when he wanted had gotten on Nick’s last nerve. So when he’d wanted to go get something to eat and Nick had snapped at him that he’d have to wait, Henry tilted his head.
“You’re grumpy, Uncle Nick. You prolly need a nap.”
Nick looked to his parents for help. His mother tried to hide a smile, while his dad took Henry’s hand to go get something to eat.
“That’s not helping, Dad,” Nick said as his dad waved to him behind his head and walked off with Henry.
“You are grumpy,” his mother said as they walked down a hallway and leaned against a railing.
“I am not.” He blew out a breath, trying to gather himself together. “Okay, maybe a little. I’m just…tired.”
His mother looked at him. “Tired? Or is it something else? Like something to do with Ellie?”
His mother had always been perceptive, which was sometimes good, and often bad. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Too bad. What’s going on with the two of you?”
“Nothing, Mom. Nothing anymore, anyway.”
“Which means what, exactly?”
He shrugged. “I thought we had something. And then she told me she was moving out.”
“Hmm. She told me that, too.”
He gaped at her. “She told you she was moving out? When?”
“Christmas day.”
He shook his head. “Great.”
“You do realize she’s in love with you.”
He laughed. “Yeah. Sure she is. That’s why she’s taking Henry and moving out.”
His mother grasped his arm. “Nick. Pull your head out of your ass. She’s scared. She already lost someone she loved more than life itself. Falling in love again has to terrify her. And you’re John’s brother. The familial connection has to be doubly terrifying.”
“That makes no sense. It’s not like John died of cancer. It was an accident.”
“Love isn’t always logical. Neither is fear. And she probably thinks that because she moved in with you right after John died, everyone will think she chose you because you were convenient.”
He cast an eye roll at his mom. “Oh, gee, thanks.”
“Hey, I don’t think that. I know you’re amazing. She knows you’re amazing. But she’s also scared of her own feelings. So cut her some slack and give her some time to come to the realization that she can’t live without you.”
Nick just shook his head. “Ellie’s pretty good about doing what she sets out to do. If she says she’s moving out, then she’s moving out.”
His mom tapped him on the chin. “Hey, here’s a news flash. You’re not always right.”
Nick thought about what his mom said as they drove home. Henry passed out on the way home, but he woke up when they pulled into the driveway and decided he was hungry.
“Can we have spakettie for dinner?” Henry asked.
“Spaghetti,” Nick corrected.
Henry frowned. “That’s what I said, Uncle Nick.”
Nick wasn’t in the mood to argue. “I don’t know. We’ll see.”
“Are you still grumpy, Uncle Nick?”
Nick shook his head. “Nope.”
“You sound grumpy.”
His mother smothered a laugh and he glared at her.
They walked through the door and Ellie was there. She’d already changed out of her scrubs and into a pair of leggings and a long sweater. She looked beautiful, which only made the situation worse.
“Nick. Oh, hi.”
“We went to the Magic House, Momma,” Henry said, throwing his arms around her.
Ellie’s eyes brightened as they always did when she saw Henry. She hugged him, then got down on her knees to look at him. “You did? How fun.”
“Now I’m hungry. Can we have spakettie?”
Ellie switched her gaze to Nick. “Actually, I’d like to talk to your uncle Nick.”
“Uh, why don’t Steve and I take Henry out for dinner if that’s okay,” Laura said.
“Oh, boy, can we, Momma?” Henry asked.
Ellie cast a thankful look at Laura. “That sounds great. Thank you, Laura.”
Laura gave Ellie a reassuring smile. “You’re welcome.”
Nick handed the keys over to his dad, who patted him on the shoulder, smiled at Ellie, then took Henry out the door and closed it behind them.
Ellie looked down at her shoes. Nick waited for her to say something. When she didn’t, he shrugged, heading for his room.
“I went to the cemetery today.”
He stilled, then turned around. “That’s good. We didn’t go Christmas Eve like we usually do. Sorry about that.”
“You’re not responsible for me, Nick. I don’t ever want you to think you have to be.”
“Okay. I’m not responsible for you. I think you made that clear the other day.”
She sighed. “I went to the cemetery to tell John about you and me. And to say good-bye.”
He knew what John had meant to her. He took a few steps toward her. “That must have been hard.”
“Not as hard as I thought it would be.” She took several steps toward him. “I told John I loved you. I love you, Nick. And I’m sorry I said I was moving out.”
He saw tears in her eyes. And she was twisting her fingers. She always did that when she was nervous.
“I’m scared, Nick. I’m so scared of losing someone I love. I let you slip away from me.”
He closed the distance between them and pulled Ellie against him. “You will never lose me, because I’ll never let you go.” He kissed her, absorbing her tears with his lips. His hands roamed over her body as if he was memorizing the feel of her, as if he let her go she might disappear. When he pulled back, he looked at her, making sure she was looking back. “I love you, Ellie.”
She sobbed, clutching on to him like a lifeline. It wasn’t the first time he’d held her while she cried. He’d done it countless times before. But this time, she was crying happy tears, and damn did it feel good.
“I love you. I love you,” she said, over and over. “It feels so good to tell you I love you.” She held his face and kissed him over and over. “It feels good to be loved.”
“Ellie, you’ve always been loved. You’ve never been alone.”
She laughed. “I told John that I had a feeling he had something to do with you and me falling in love.”
He’d always been close with John. Losing him had devastated him. He didn’t think he’d ever be happy again after John died. But he tended to agree with Ellie on this one. If anyone could orchestrate the two people who meant the most to him falling in love, it would have been his brother.
He tipped Ellie’s chin. “You might be right. He wouldn’t have wanted either of us to be alone.”
“I also told John that you’re going to be an excellent father to Henry.”
Now it was his eyes that welled with tears. “I love Henry.”
She laid her head on his shoulder. “I know you do. And he loves you.”
He laughed. “Though he told me today that I was grumpy and needed a nap.”
She tilted her head back. “You were grumpy?”
“Yeah. I’ve been kind of out of sorts the past few days.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
“How about I make it up to you,” Ellie said. “Will you marry me?”
His eyes widened, his heart slamming against his chest. “Wait. What? Are you serious?”
“I am very serious. We’ve more or less been dating the past five years, Nick. It’s not like we need to get to know each other better.”
He smiled. “I guess you’re right. Ellie, are you sure?”
“I love you, Nick. Do you love me?”
“Yes. God yes.”
“Then marry me.”
Nick pulled her into his arms. “Okay, but first, I’m going to have to ask Henry’s permission.”
Ellie’s heart nearly exploded with joy. “I have a feeling I already know what his answer is going to be.”
He put his arm around her. “So do I. Let’s go meet my parents and Henry for dinner, ask Henry’s permission, then let my parents in on it, too.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
They grabbed their coats and got into the car to drive over to the restaurant. As Ellie watched the snow come down, she realized this was the first Christmas season since John died that she felt happy. Not just happy but deliriously in love and looking forward to a future—a new beginning with the man she loved.
Five years ago, one Christmas had signaled what she thought was the end of her life.
This Christmas, she had fallen in love and started a new chapter.
And she knew from now on, every Christmas would be filled with wonderful new memories.