Sweet Joymaker (Indigo Bay Christmas Romances #3) - Jean Oram Page 0,45

Why don’t you wait and talk to Clint on the weekend?” Fiona poked at her hair, making the Christmas-colored gems entwined in it sparkle.

“I like your hairdo.”

“I know. Everyone does.”

Her friend flitted off again and Maria sat, thinking. Was Clint really that busy? Why else would Fiona suggest Maria wait to talk to him?

Chapter 10

On Christmas Day Maria entered the living room to tell her boys and their loved ones that supper was ready. Roy and Sophia would have dinner with them tomorrow, letting Maria have them all to herself today, a real Christmas gift.

Gratitude.

So much to be grateful for. Her boys were finding love. Ryan and Carly had seemingly fixed whatever had occurred between them, and Laura and Levi were curled up together like Myles and Karen were. She’d even caught Brant and April looking at each other in a special way. The only son missing was Cole.

Her new dog, a rescue found by Brant, leaned against her leg and she absently bent and gave Bingo a reassuring scratch behind the ears. He’d been such a skinny mess when he’d arrived a few days ago, but was already looking healthier.

The front door opened, and something inside her stilled. She turned, her nerve endings firing both flames, then ice. For a moment she couldn’t speak, couldn’t even gasp.

It was Cole. Her second born had returned home after five long years away. Her feet ate up the ground between them and she threw her arms around him. For long moments Maria held him tightly, unable to believe he was truly here.

The wish she’d made on that Christmas tree ornament had come true, even though she’d broken the Indigo Bay tradition. How did that already feel like months ago, when it had been only last week?

“Hey, Mom,” Cole said, after the excited hubbub had died down, his brothers had welcomed him home. “I hope I’m not late for supper.”

She just shook her head, still speechless. He said it so casually, as though he’d merely stepped out to take care of some chores before the meal. Not run off without a word five endless years ago.

“You’re never too late,” she said, her voice almost failing her.

He held her gaze, and she scanned him. He was broader, and looked more sure of himself, but had a shadow in his eyes she knew meant he would need some time to heal from what had driven him away. Away from her. Away from family. Away from home.

It wasn’t until everyone began moving toward the kitchen that the shock began to wear off. And as it did she caught sight of someone else familiar standing in the doorway.

Clint Walker.

Once again something inside her stilled, and then began to thrum.

Without thinking, she took several steps his way. The living room and entry area had cleared out, leaving them alone.

Clint had been wearing a cowboy hat, and he lowered it to his chest. “Merry Christmas, Maria.”

His eyes didn’t leave hers, taking in details.

He was clutching a box about the size of a softball in his free hand. “I thought you might like this,” he said, holding it out.

She stepped forward, accepting the box. It was light. “What is it?” She opened the flap and saw a Christmas ornament nestled in tissue paper, the one with her seascape painted on it. Almost flabbergasted, she looked up at him. “You kept it?” Then the artist in her had to study the scene. Her seascape wasn’t so bad. Here in Texas, it brought her nothing but warm memories of laughing with Clint while painting, going for scooter rides, and walking around town.

Lots of good, good memories. She hugged the ornament to her chest.

“Thank you, Clint.” He’d brought it home for her without saying a word, as if knowing that, given time, she might cherish the item and all it represented.

“I heard about your mermaid.”

“On the scooter?” Her cheeks heated thinking about the anger-fueled airbrush job.

He nodded, his gaze not leaving hers. “I hope you’ll keep doing things you enjoy.”

Before she could summon a reply, her five boys—all five!—came hurrying back into the room, Levi in the lead. “Mom! We almost forgot,” he told her.

“Forgot what?” she asked, turning to face them. Their eyes were smiling and their faces glowing like their dad’s used to when he was their age. They were happy. All of them.

“We have a surprise,” Levi announced.

She glanced at Cole, who gave a shrug and a smile.

“No, Cole isn’t our surprise,” Brant said solemnly, clapping his taller brother on