“Then tell your mother.” Thom made it sound so easy, but he didn’t need an excuse every time he stepped out the front door. He didn’t even live at home, and he wasn’t visiting his family for Christmas the way she was. He wasn’t accountable to his parents for every minute spent outside their presence.

“Did you let your parents know we were meeting?” she asked.

He half-grinned, looking sheepish. “No.”

“That’s what I thought.”

“How about coffee?” he asked in an all-too-obvious effort to change the subject. “I could use a refill.”

She gave a quick nod. She’d been counting the minutes until they could talk again. After their meeting in the park, she’d barely slept. She’d relived their conversation—and their kisses—over and over. It seemed a miracle that they’d finally learned what must have happened that day ten years ago. Truly a Christmas miracle. Now, if only their mothers would miraculously reconcile…

Thom left and returned a few minutes later with two steaming cups of coffee.

Noelle held her cup with both hands, letting the heat warm her palms. She hadn’t felt chilled before, but she did now. “I—I don’t know where to start.”

“Why didn’t you ever come home?” he asked bluntly. “Start by telling me that.”

“It was just too painful to come back here. I made excuses at first and it got easier after a while. Plus, Mom and Dad and my sisters were always willing to visit Texas. It’s beautiful in a way that’s completely different from the Northwest. Oh, and the shopping is excellent.”

He laughed. “Is there anyone special in your life?”

“I have a number of good friends.”

“Male or female?”

She hesitated. “Female.”

Thom visibly relaxed. “You don’t date much, then?”

“Of course I date—I’ve gone out lots. Well, maybe not as much as I’d like, but I was engaged for a while. How about you?”

“I came close to getting engaged. Twice.”

Without knowing a single detail, Noelle was instantly jealous. “Who?”

He seemed pleased by her reaction. He leaned back in his chair, stretched out his legs and crossed his ankles. “No one you know. Besides, I’m the one asking the questions here. You can drill me later.”

“No way! In other words, you became some kind of ladies’ man after you dumped me?”

His face suddenly grew serious and he reached across the table for her hand. “I didn’t dump you, Noelle.”

She’d meant to tease him but realized her remark was insensitive—not to mention plain wrong. “I know. I apologize. Chalk it up to a bad choice of words.”

Thom squeezed her hand. “Do you think that’s what happened with our mothers?” he asked. “A bad choice of words?”

“How do you mean?”