I peered through tired eyes at the DVD clock.Midnight.
Using Josh’s arm as leverage, I pushed myself up to sit. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep. How long have I been sleepingfor?”
“An hour and ahalf.”
“You didn’t watch any more Julie Andrews movies while I was sleeping, did you?” I said, with barely enough energy to give him a halfsmirk.
“No, I figured you’d kill me if Idid.”
“Damn straight Iwould.”
Josh kissed my forehead. “All right, sleepyhead. Let’s get you to bed.” He started to move off thecouch.
“Not yet. I want you to open your present fromme.”
Like a young kid on Christmas morning, his face brightened. “Well, considering it’s Christmas in Australia, I can go forthat.”
Several presents sat under the tree, but there was one gift that hadn’t been there before. A gift that was slightly larger than a ringbox.
Josh removed the present and handed it to me. “MerryChristmas.”
I shuffled over to the tree and picked up my present to Josh, my hand shakingslightly.
You know how some people love finding the perfect gift? That wasn’tme.
Don’t get me wrong. I loved giving presents. But the idea of trying to find the perfect gift left me longing to hibernate until Christmas wasover.
Josh looked at me expectantly, and I carefully unwrapped the gift. Once the paper had been removed, I was left holding a velvet coveredbox.
Even though the box was slightly too big to be a ring, that didn’t stop my heart from hammering Jingle Bells against my ribs—but at a much fastertempo.
I opened the box and gasped at the gorgeous silver butterfly necklace resting against the black velvet. The delicate wings were created with various swirls andscrolls.
“It’s beautiful,” I whispered. If I wasn’t so sick, I would have shown him how much I loved it. “Thankyou.”
Was I disappointed it wasn’t an engagementring?
Maybe a little. The romantic side of me, which would’ve preferred to be married than be a single mom, had been hoping he would get down on his knee and propose. My practical side rolled its eyes atthat.
I was in love with him, but I wasn’t sure if he was in the same place. I didn’t want to get married just because he believed it was the right thing to do forNoah.
“Your turn,” I said, indicating at the gift in hishand.
He ripped off the wrapping and tossed it aside. Then his eyes went wide at the picture on thebox.
A 1958 Chevy Impala modelkit.
“The man in the store said it was challenging.” It was Josh’s preferred style of model—both challenging and a classiccar.
“I love it. It’s perfect. Everything’s perfect.…” He hugged me. “Now how about I get you to bed?” He kissed my cheek, his lips lingering there for aheartbeat.
Once we were in bed, he snuggled up to me. I was in that state between here and there, when you weren’t sure if you were awake or already asleep. Where come morning, none of what happened during those few blissful moments would be remembered—or if it was, you were convinced it had been nothing more than adream.
As exhaustion pulled me deeper, Josh murmured what might have possibly been, “I love you,Holly.”
25
Josh
