“Okay. I’m really glad you helped us.”

“I always help the people I love.” It just slipped out. She stared at him, and the little red-cheeked face and bright green eyes stared back at her.

His gaze never wavered. “I love you, too. I hope you stick around.”

Oh, boy. This could go so wrong. Charlie was a new love interest for her heart—and also a new risk. If things didn’t work out with Logan, her loss would be doubled. She’d been there before and feared going there again. On the other hand, the excitement she felt for Logan was doubled, too. Maybe it was time to quit being afraid.

“Good night, Charlie. I’ll see you on Christmas morning, okay?”

Chapter Eighteen

chapter eighteen

They’re nestled,” said Marion O’Donnell, coming down from the kids’ room.

“All snug in their beds,” added Al.

“Then Santa had better get to work,” said Bilski, nudging India. “We’ve got a pair of bikes to put together.”

“Humbug,” she said. “I’d rather have a hot toddy and go to bed.”

“I’ll give you a hand,” said China’s husband. “But only if you promise to help me with the dollhouse. All that itty-bitty furniture. I don’t get it.”

“We’ll put out the milk and cookies,” said China.

“You can put them right here,” Logan said, indicating the table next to him. “Santa needs a snack.”

Seated on his other side, Darcy felt a warm sense of contentment. She liked this family. She liked the interplay and the way they cared for one another. It reminded her of her own family, before the trouble with Huntley began.

She felt relaxed and at peace, far from trouble now.

India checked her phone. “Your mother sent a text message,” she said to Bilski. “She wants to know how we’re making it through the storm.”

“Tell her we’re suffering.” Bilski helped himself to another beer.

The coming storm was making national news because of its predicted size and severity. Currently it was hurling itself across the Great Lakes, gathering strength.

They went over the next day’s agenda like a team of battle commanders. “I’m going to get the ham in the oven before we go to church,” said Marion.

“We need to leave early,” China said. “Midnight service was canceled because of the storm, so the morning celebration is going to be packed.”

“Is everything in place for the live feed to Angelica’s mom?” Darcy asked.

Logan nodded. “We did a test run. It’s all going to come together, blizzard or no blizzard. If the internet service goes down, there’s a cellular backup.”

Darcy felt a wave of warmth for him. She loved that they were working together on this project. She just hoped it was enough to make Christmas bearable for Angelica and André.