“He won't care what you look like, but I understand you might want to surprise him for the best Christmas gift of his life. If you're not planning on going to Nikki and Alex's house tonight, then you and Lily are coming home with me. My husband, Ben, and I have plenty of room. We'd love to have you stay with us.”
“I⦔ Serena blew out a sigh and hoped her expression conveyed the depth of her gratitude. How many people would open their home to strangers? Never in her life would she ever accept such an offer from a strangerâ¦until now. Colin was right. Starlight was different, and if Caroline was any indication, so were the peopleâin the very best of ways. Serena had complete confidence and trust that Caroline had her and Lily's best interests at heart.
“That would be great,” Serena said. “Thank you so much. Except for a lively little chatterbox, we'll be good houseguests. Once Lily hits a pillow tonight, she'll fall asleep quickly.”
“I'm not worried. You two don't look like rabble-rousers.” Caroline laughed. “I'll go get your dinners. Be right back.” Then she disappeared into the kitchen again. From behind the door, Serena heard a man singing an Italian aria. Was Caroline listening to an opera CD?
Spying a menu, Serena plucked it out of the holder on the counter. Opening it, she glanced at the various offerings. With names attached to many of the sandwiches and other offerings, Serena figured they had to represent the townspeople. How fun. She smiled when she spied Delicious Dante's Pastrami. No doubt that sandwich was named after the resident former World Cup soccer star. Likewise, the kids' menu featured names of kids who must live in Starlight.
Taking her first sip of the coffee, Serena's eyes widened and she sputtered. Wow. That was the strongest coffee she'd ever tasted, even more than espresso. She tapped her curled fist on her chest a few times and cleared her throat.
As she closed the menu, something caught Serena's eye. Flipping it open again, she gasped. “Colin's Bangers and Mash?” With a widening grin, Serena read the description of the traditional British dish made with sausage and potatoes. Colin had clearly made an impact on this little town, too.
Caroline emerged from the kitchen and placed two plates of steaming food on the counterâroast turkey with mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce, green beans, yams, and a roll for each of them. Then she disappeared and came back out almost immediately with a glass of milk for Lily. Everything smelled delicious and looked as if it were made from scratch.
“Are you an opera fan?” Serena asked Caroline as Lily skipped across the room and climbed onto the counter seat beside her.
“Oh, that's Marv, the dishwasher. That man loves his opera. Thank the Lord he's got a decent voice,” Caroline said. “I'm going back in the kitchen now to help him. I'll be out to check on you in a bit, but if you need anything before that, you give me a holler.”
“Thank you, Caroline. You're very kind. How much will I owe you? I'm sure you need to close your books for the night.”
Caroline patted Serena's hand and smiled at Lily. “Don't you worry. It's my treat. I'm thankful you're here, and I know a handsome, young British man who will be overjoyed.” With a wink, she departed.
“I want to see Mr. Colin,” Lily said. At least she'd waited this long to pout.
“Me too, Lily.” Serena reached for Lily's hand. “All in good time, sweetie. Let's pray for this meal, and especially for the mashed potatoes.”
Lily slid her hand around hers. “And the gravy.”
Serena smiled and tweaked Lily's chin with her free hand. “I think we're going to love Starlight.”
20
Colin watched with amusement as Nikki's eyes widened. Her cellphone was beside her ear, and she nodded a few times as she stared at him. “Sounds great,” she said. When she hung up, Nikki looked as if she wanted to say something but wasn't quite sure how.
“Spit it out, love. You've never been at a loss for words. What's going through that lovely mind of yours?”
“That was Caroline. She needs your help with something over at the diner.”
“My help? Why would sheâ?”
“Yes, there's something that requires your expertise. Or something like that. What do I know? I'm a confused pregnant woman.” Nikki planted one hand on her hip. “It's either a little field trip into town or stay here and help me make pies for the big Christmas feast tomorrow. Take your pick.”
Colin chuckled. “If dear Caroline needs my help with something and has specifically requested my assistance, then I'm more than happy to oblige.”
Nikki appeared visibly relieved. “Would you? Thank you so much. Grab your coat and I'll drive you over.” Her gaze skimmed over him. “On second thought, why don't you go comb your hair? You might also want to brush your teeth. Oh, and you might want to change out of your reindeer lounging pants, adorable as they are.”
He grunted. “I didn't know Caroline was so picky, and I hadn't expected to be entertaining company tonight.”
“Not that you're not perfectly respectable, but humor a pregnant woman, won't you?”
“Of course.” Colin gave her a curious look. “I could say you're already milking this pregnancy for all it's worth, but that doesn't sound very politically correct now, does it?” He scratched his head. “I'll just dart upstairs and be back down shortly. Hopefully then I'll pass muster.” He paused. “I'm assuming jeans and a sweater are acceptable?”
Nikki nodded with a smile. “Perfect. Now, off with you. Hurry.”
Fifteen minutes later, Nikki parked her car near the back door of Barney's Diner. Colin glanced out the windows as a fresh snowfall fell. “Ah, a white Christmas. I can imagine that's commonplace in Starlight. The snow here is magnificent and so different from the cold, wet snow in Philadelphia. Not that Philly doesn't have its charms.”
“I'm sure,” Nikki said with a wry grin as she pulled the keys from the ignition.
“May I ask why we're going in the back door instead of the front?”
“Caroline's already locked up for the night. Being the night before Christmas, there are a lot of family members visiting in town and they don't know the diner's regular hours. If anyone sees us going in the front door, they might get the mistaken idea they're still open.”
A convoluted explanation if ever he'd heard one. Deciding to humor Nikki, Colin feigned shock. “Heaven forbid. I've sneaked in a few back doors in my life, so I suppose going back to my heathen ways to help the owner of a small town diner this once won't hurt anything. It is Christmas Eve, after all.” Colin climbed out of the car and then traipsed up the back steps of Barney's Diner behind Nikki.
She knocked a couple of times, and within seconds, Caroline's smiling face appeared around the door.
“Hi, Nikki. Colin. Thanks for coming to help me. Come in out of the cold.” Holding the door open, Caroline waited as they stepped inside the kitchen and stamped their feet on the mat.
The warmth was inviting, and he tugged off his gloves while Nikki did the same.
A large man sprayed dishes in a nearby sink, and he gave them a wave in the midst of a cloud of steam while an Italian aria played in the background.
La Traviata?
“Hi, Marv!” Nikki smiled and waved to the other man. “Marv's married to Laverne, the town librarian,” she told Colin.
“How wonderful for them. I hope Laverne loves opera.”
“She does,” Caroline said. “I had some last minute dinner guests show up tonight, and I didn't have the heart to turn them away. Being Christmas Eve and all.”
Nikki moved toward the door and opened it a crack.
Colin shook his head. “No peeking, Nikki. You need to wait until Christmas morning.”
She put a finger over her lips and closed the door. “Looks like they're really enjoying their meal.”
Colin turned to Caroline. “What can I help you with, love? Have your visitors outstayed their welcome? Do you need a blond Brit bouncer?” He smirked. “Forgive my punchiness tonight. And apparently my inadvertent alliteration.”
Caroline gestured to him. “Colin, if you'll come with me, please.”
“Gladly.”
Caroline pushed the door and led him into the main dining area.
As Colin passed by Nikki, he puzzled over why she had one hand over her heart and tears in her eyes. Those pregnancy hormones must be quite potent. When he entered the dining room, Colin turned at the sound of voices. Female voices, one young, one older. Familiar voices. Joy filled his heart and he broke into a wide grin as he spied Serena and then Lily.
Lily spotted him first. “Mr. Colin! You're here!” She slid off her counter seat and ran to him, arms opened wide. “I've missed you.”
“I know what you mean, Lily-Love,” he said, crouching as she ran into the circle of his arms. “It's been an eternity.” His gaze found Serena's.
Her eyes were moist and she gave him a tentative smile. She wouldn't have come all the way to Starlight, Iowa, only to tell him she never wanted to see him again.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Colin buried his face in Lily's sweet-scented hair. He hadn't cried in more years than he could count, and he was determined not to do so now.
“That's a long time, right?” Lily clung to him.
He ran one hand over her dark curls. This child was in his heart to stay. Closing his eyes, Colin treasured the moment. “Yes, it's a very long time. I love you, my sweet girl.” He kissed her soft cheek.
“I love you, too. Mommy and I came to see you because we wanted to surprise you for Christmas.” Lily raised her arms high in the air and then wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning her head against his shoulder. “Merry Christmas!”
“Best gift ever in my life.” Rising to his feet, Colin watched as Serena left her seat.
“Lily, honey, why don't you come into the kitchen with me,” Caroline said, offering her hand to the child. Thankfully, Lily offered no protest and walked with Caroline.
Nikki would get to know Lily in the next few minutes, and without a doubt they'd be best friends in no time flat.
Colin found himself momentarily speechless as Serena took a small step toward him. “You're here,” he said finally. “I can't tell you how happy that makes me. Myâ¦heart.”
Serena took another small step in his direction, closing the gap between them. “I'm sorry for acting like a twit earlier in the week. I realize how inadequate that sounds for making you miserable. If it's any consolation, I was miserable and not at all happy with my behavior.” She shrugged and gave him an adorably sheepish grin. “I can only claim temporary insanity and pray you will forgive me.”
“No forgiveness is needed, love.” Colin restrained himself from running to her and enfolding her in his aching arms. He hoped this conversation wouldn't last long. He had more important things to do. Like kiss her endlessly and never let her go. This Christmas was turning out a lot better than he'd anticipated when he'd first arrived in Starlight, thank the Lord.
She seemed to be waiting for him to say more. “As long as I've known you, Serena, you've never been a twit. You had a lot to absorb, understandably so.”
She took another small step in his direction. “You may not know that Paulina came to see me before your appearance with Gabrielle in my office.”
Colin quirked a brow. “I wasn't aware. I suppose sympathies are warranted.” He couldn't imagine why Paulina would have paid Serena a visit.
“Paulina wanted to warn me about Gabrielle. She'd seen her with you in the wardrobe room.” Shrugging her shoulders, Serena slipped her hands into the pockets of her jeans. If possible, she looked thinner, as though she'd lost weight since Monday.
He'd need to get some rich and fattening holiday food into her. “Nothing happened in that wardrobe room, love. Surely you know that.” He'd already told her as much during that fateful Monday afternoon chat in his office, but he didn't think it would hurt to reiterate the point.
“I know. I never doubted you, Colin. But then when Gabrielle confessed that she'd been the woman with Graham the night he died, and had been his mistress, I was overwhelmed with self-doubt. Knowing she'd apparently made a play for you. Knowing she'd continue to sit in the co-host chair next to you every day.”
“Serena, sweetheart, don't ever doubt yourself or my love for you. As far as Gabrielle, she's gone.”
She snapped her gaze to his. “What do you mean?”
“I got a call from Lawrence this afternoon. Gabrielle has tendered her resignation, effective immediately. She's accepted an offer to do a morning show in San Diego with a rival network. We'll begin the search for a new co-host in the New Year. I'm already trying to convince Nikki to join me for a guest spot or two along the way.”
Serena's brow furrowed. “I'll continue to pray for Gabrielle. She rejected my offer to pray with her in my office, but we both know how the Lord can work miracles.”
“Yes, we do. Serena, I hope you know Graham loved you very much in his own way. I, for one, will always be thankful to him for one reason.”
She seemed surprised by that statement. “How so?”
“Because he gave you Lily.” His voice caught. “She's in my heart. Just as you are.”
Why was she still standing there with her hands in her pockets? Colin needed Serena in his arms. Now. This was beyond torture. She was more beautiful than everâher hair in loose waves and her blue eyes brightâeven after her long trip.
“You were so patient in not questioning me about my reasons for not coming with you to Starlight,” she said.
“You're here now and that's all that matters.” Colin took a big step toward herâa gigantic oneâso that only a few inches separated them. “I feel compelled to ask, love. What changed your mind about coming?”