“Your timing is off by a few years, Lindy.” It seemed her mother had overheard.
“Anyone ready for dessert?”
Billy placed his hands on his flat stomach. “Not long ago I swore I couldn’t swallow another bite.”
“And now?”
“I got a look at that caramel-pecan pie sitting on the kitchen counter and I’ve decided to make the effort.”
“Big of you,” Lindy teased.
“I’ll take pumpkin,” Chad said. “Never did appreciate the fancy pies. Give me apple or pumpkin and I’m a happy man.”
The table was cleared, and the desserts were brought out. Lindy went for the caramel-pecan pie. It tasted as good as the recipe promised.
Soon afterward, Chad and his family headed home. Peter was worn out from all the activity and the excitement of the day. Lindy could tell Ashley was tired, too, as her hand continued to rub the slight swell of her pregnancy belly.
After her brother left, Lindy and Billy cuddled together in front of the television. At ten, her parents excused themselves and went to bed.
“Do you think they left for our benefit?” Billy asked, as he kissed the side of her neck.
“Could be.” That was likely not the case. Her mother had put in a long day and hadn’t napped when most everyone else had taken a short snooze.
“I’ll thank them later,” Billy murmured, close to her ear.
“Pray tell, what do you have in mind, Billy Kincade?”
“If you could read my thoughts, I’d definitely be getting a bag of coal from Santa next Christmas.”
Lindy couldn’t hold back a smile had she tried. “Is that so?”
“You have no idea.”
“Actually, I think I just might.”
Turning her into his arms, Billy kissed her again and again. A commercial played on the television, louder than expected, which broke them apart.
“I have to say, this is the best Christmas I can remember in a long while.”
“Mine, too,” she said.
“It’s because of you, Lindy. I’m doing my best to ignore the fact that you’re returning to Seattle in a week.”
“Me, too,” she admitted.
He reached for her wrist where he’d placed the charm bracelet with the single Santa charm. “My hope is that I’ll be the one adding charms every Christmas until it weighs down your arm to the point you can no longer lift it.”
Lindy didn’t know what to say. Basically, Billy was telling her he wanted to be part of her life from this point forward.
“We’ve been together a week, Billy,” she reminded him. “You can’t say something like that after such a short time.”
His eyes were dark and serious. “What you don’t understand, Lindy, is that you wrote your name on my heart when I was nine years old.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The day after Christmas, Lindy had promised to take Peter to the park for fun in the snow. This time of year, there was rarely a lack of the white powder in Wenatchee.
Knowing Peggy was anxious to hear from her, she sent her friend a text.
Out with Peter and Billy. Promise to connect soon. And yes, I am considering what we talked about. Still unsure what’s best.
A decision this big couldn’t be made on impulse or on the spur of the moment. Lindy needed time to consider her options. In addition, she felt it was necessary to hear the feedback on the project she’d submitted through Media Blast before she could make a decision either way. Yes, it was tempting to give in, but she needed to analyze the ramifications. Peggy was right, Billy would play a part in her decision. Living closer to family, too, of course. Nevertheless, the lure of success, of seeing her work on websites for major businesses, tugged at her. This had been her dream. Her goal from college, and she didn’t know if she was ready to give all that up.
Although Peggy had mentioned she would wait on Lindy’s decision before finding a roommate, Lindy realized she wouldn’t be able to put Peggy off for long. One thing was sure, she couldn’t give her friend a definitive answer this week, or probably next week, either.
An entire day spent with Billy and Peter filled her with eager anticipation. How quickly her thoughts had become entangled with him. It was as if they were meant to be together. It felt as if she belonged with Billy.
“Morning, sunshine,” she said when he picked up. It was barely eight, and she wasn’t sure if he was even awake yet. He hadn’t left her parents’ house until well after midnight. He’d had a long week, with late hours, and she hated to wake him.