The Book Club Hotel(111)

He raised his eyebrows. “I assume you’re talking about yourself?”

“Naturally. Delphi is the restrained, adult one.” She marveled at how conversations with him almost always made her smile. “After I have ripped open my presents with abandon, I will probably drink several large mugs of very strong coffee in order to set me up to serve Christmas lunch to a dining room full of guests, including my sister and sexy Jack.”

“Sexy Jack? You think he’s sexy?”

“Why? Are you jealous?” It was her turn to tease him.

“I don’t know. Can he wrestle bears and chop down a tree?”

“I have no idea. I’ve never met him. Chloe was here when they checked in and they haven’t emerged from the room since.”

“Then how do you know he’s sexy?”

“I don’t. But that’s what Anna calls him. I’m waiting to make my own judgment.” And she was sure that whatever the mysterious Jack was like, he wasn’t going to be as sexy as Noah.

“That decides it. I’m going to be here tomorrow, helping.” He leaned toward her, intending to kiss her again, when they both heard a sound behind them. They jumped apart guiltily.

Flustered, Hattie smoothed her hair and jumped to her feet. “Delphi! What are you doing? You’re supposed to be asleep.”

“I tried but it didn’t happen.” Delphi ran to her, arms outstretched, and Hattie scooped her up, feeling the weight and the warmth of her, and her heart felt full.

“You have to sleep.”

“I can’t because I’m not sleepy. And anyway, Noah is here, which means Christmas has started.”

“Christmas hasn’t started and Noah was just leaving,” Hattie said quickly and Noah obligingly stood and reached for his jacket.

“That’s right. Just leaving.”

Delphi shook her head. “He’s not leaving. He can’t leave.”

“What do you mean?”

“He won’t be leaving because he’s going to be here in the morning when I wake up and that’s likely to be very early.” Delphi was breathless with excitement. “I knew that if I wrote to him, it would happen.”

“If you wrote to who?” Hattie was thoroughly confused. “And Noah is coming to see us tomorrow, but he won’t be here when you wake up. Unless you happen to sleep late.” And they both knew that wasn’t likely to happen.

“Yes, he will.” Delphi was emphatic. “Because that’s what I asked Santa for.”

“You asked Santa?” Was this the mysterious gift that she’d been worrying about? “What exactly did you ask him for?”

“I told Santa I would like Noah to live with us. And because his gifts are waiting for me on Christmas morning, I guessed Noah would be here sometime during the night. And here he is.” She squeezed her eyes tightly shut. “I’m not supposed to see my presents before the morning.”

“In that case, I’d better take you straight back to bed. Say good-night to Noah.”

“Good night, Noah.”

“Good night, Delphi. See you in the morning.”

Head spinning, Hattie carried Delphi back to her room and tucked her safely back into bed with her dinosaur. “Now, keep your eyes closed and you’ll fall asleep. I love you.” She bent and kissed her daughter and then tiptoed out of the room, leaving the door slightly ajar.

Noah was standing where she’d left him, in the middle of her living room with his coat in his hand.

“Apparently, you’re her Christmas gift.” She looked at him curiously. “Did you know about this?”

“No. If I’d known, I would at least have made sure I was gift wrapped. Worn a ribbon or two.” He tugged her against him. “Does this mean I don’t have to go home? If she’s going to wake around five-thirty, it means I have to be back here by five. It’s already almost midnight.”

Hattie was still getting her head around the fact that her daughter wanted Noah to live with them.

“Why didn’t she say anything to me before?”

“Probably thought it was between her and Santa.” He wrapped his arms around her. “How about a compromise? Tonight I’ll sleep in here on your sofa. That way I’ll be the first thing Delphi sees when she comes to find her presents under the tree in the morning. And after that? Well, let’s just take this a day at a time.”

“I’m not sure I’ll get much sleep, knowing that you’re just on the other side of the wall.”

“That makes two of us. But I promise to keep my eyes shut so that Santa doesn’t know I’m awake.”

She laughed. “You’re a real hero, Noah.”

“I like to think so.”

She slid her arms around his neck and kissed him, making the most of the moment. The present. And she was going to keep doing that. She was going to make the most of each day, not just because she knew it was what Brent would have wanted, and not just because she wanted to set a good example for her daughter, but for herself. Brent was gone, but she was still here. Damaged, bruised, but still here. She had Delphi, and the inn, and a whole community ready to offer support.

And she had Noah.

She smiled and buried her face in his neck.

That was the best gift.