Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy - Janice Lynn Page 0,92
saw.
A good man. A hero. Her hero.
Dreams where he looked at her and didn’t fight what was between them.
Because she wasn’t crazy. She’d seen how he looked at her, how he’d stepped outside his comfort zone—going sledding, going to church—for her. He hadn’t done that because he hadn’t cared. He did care, whether he’d admit it or not.
“My relationship with Cole is complicated,” she admitted. She and Isabelle had always talked about everything, but regarding Cole, Sophie had bit her tongue, knowing her sister’s bias.
“Because he’s former military?”
Sophie shook her head. “Cole being former military isn’t a problem for me.”
“I know that,” Isabelle assured. “I’m saying it’s a problem for him, which in turn makes it a problem for you.”
Not really surprised at her sister’s insight, Sophie glanced at her and nodded.
“I know he cares about you,” Isabelle continued, “but—”
“What?” Sophie asked, having been caught off guard by her sister’s comment. “How do you know he cares for me?”
Isabelle rolled her eyes. “Anyone can see that he’s crazy about you, but that’s—”
“You think he’s crazy about me?”
“Sophie,” Isabelle said in a completely exasperated tone. “You’re missing the point.”
“Which is?”
“That you shouldn’t be crazy about him.”
Sophie bit into her lower lip. “But what if I am anyway?”
Isabelle was silent for long moments, then said, “Then I pray God guides you in whatever decisions you make, and that you find true happiness in life. It’s all I’ve ever wanted for you.”
Cole made her happy.
“Thank you, Isabelle. For loving me, and loving on my cat, too.”
Her sister gave her a pointed look. “I’m pretty sure Bobbin is actually my cat and not yours.”
Christmas morning arrived bright and early. Although Sophie and Isabelle didn’t rush from their rooms to wake their mother as they’d done as children, they both still made their way to the living room when the smell of Christmas breakfast began drifting through the house.
Since they’d gotten big enough to contain their exuberance, Darlene had started the tradition of cooking a mini feast for the three of them. They ate first, then opened presents while sipping on Christmas coffee.
“Mmmm, that smells wonderful,” Sophie praised as she walked into the kitchen. “What can I do to help?”
“Grab plates and set the table. Isabelle is making coffee.”
Breakfast was a hit, and soon they were in the living room, sitting around their tree.
Their mother got them items from her salon, a new sweater apiece, and some books they’d mentioned wanting to read. Isabelle went next and handed out her gifts—beautiful crafting aprons she’d made for them.
“Oh, wow, Isabelle, this is amazing.”
“Yes, I love it,” their mother agreed. Both Sophie and her mother put theirs on and posed for photos.
“I’m next,” Sophie squealed, excited to give them their gifts.
She’d made her mother a heating pad filled with rice that she could wrap around her neck to ease her often-achy muscles after being at the salon for long hours. She had also bought her a new set of scissors and had topped her present with a Butterfly-made snowflake.
Fighting her smile, she handed Isabelle a box.
“Quit smiling so big. You’re scaring me.”
Sophie laughed. Her sister would laugh, too, when she saw what Sophie had chosen for her.
Gently removing her own Butterfly-made snowflake, Isabelle just as carefully removed the wrapping paper from her present, folding the paper once it was off the gift.
“Just rip into it,” Sophie encouraged. “You’re taking too long. We’ll miss Sarah’s wedding if you don’t hurry.”
“Only if you take as long getting ready for it as you did for church the Sunday morning Cole came to visit.”
Ouch.
“For that, I should take your gift back and give you coals.”
Isabelle lifted the box’s lid, looked at the contents, then shook her head, laughing. “You shouldn’t have.”
“I thought you might say that.”
Isabelle pulled out a “To-Do List” scratch pad with a dragonfly emblem in each of the corners, along with a dragonfly pen and several other stationary items, all emblazed with dragonflies. At the very bottom of the box was a cat bandana with a tiny dragonfly embroidered on it and a cat collar Carrie had helped Sophie find last minute.
“Those are lovely,” Darlene said, leaning over for a closer look. “Cute collar. About time y’all got one for Bobbin.”
Bobbin? Which meant their mom knew all about Stitches...a.k.a. Bobbin, apparently. Sophie shouldn’t be surprised. Moms usually knew everything.
Laughing, Isabelle cut her gaze toward Sophie, then hugged her. “Thank you, I think.”
Sophie, Isabelle, and their mother were early to Sarah and Bodie’s wedding, but the church was already