Holiday Magic. Fern Michaels

said just before his lips met hers.

      Epilogue

      Christmas Eve

      The knock at the door sent both girls racing to answer it. Melanie was stopping by to bring them their gifts. They’d been acting like two Mexican jumping beans ever since she told them.

      “Girls, let’s remember our manners,” Stephanie said.

      Both girls slowed down and opened the door.

      “You’re not Melanie,” Amanda said.

      “Amanda, that’s rude!” Ashley said, stepping aside to allow Patrick to come in out of the cold. “We’re trying to teach her manners, but I think it’s going to take a long time.”

      “I’m still learning myself. It just takes some people longer than others,” Patrick replied.

      “Patrick, I thought you were Melanie,” Stephanie said, though she wasn’t unhappy that it was him. They’d been out four times in less than two weeks. He wasn’t the man she’d thought; he was more. Loving, funny, and kind. He had the patience of a saint where the girls were concerned. She’d never been happier.

      “Yeah, speaking of Melanie, she called me and told me she couldn’t make it until later, something about her car. Said she wanted me to give you this.” Patrick reached inside his leather jacket and pulled out a thick manila envelope.

      “Oh, that must be the gift she wanted to give to the girls.”

      “I’m sure of it. Why don’t you open it?” Patrick asked as he invited himself to sit at the small table in the tiny kitchen.

      “Well, it’s not for me,” Stephanie said. She was surprised that Melanie hadn’t wrapped the girls’ gifts since she knew how much they loved shiny paper and fancy ribbons. But maybe she hadn’t had time.

      “Actually, Melanie said it was for you and the girls, so I think it’s okay to go ahead and open it.”

      By that time both girls were hanging all over Patrick. He lifted Amanda onto his right knee and Ashley onto his left. “Go on, Mommy, open it!” Amanda said.

      “Oh, all right, but I wish she hadn’t…Well, okay, I’ll just open it.” Stephanie had knitted a sweater and matching scarf for Melanie and a hat and gloves for Patrick. She had been hesitant to dip into the deposit money, which had been returned to her after the purchase of the house fell through, so gifts from her this Christmas were handmade.

      She used a fingernail to open the top of the envelope. She pulled out several official-looking papers. She skimmed through them, looked over at Patrick, who had her girls sitting on his lap as though they’d been doing that their entire life.

      She looked at the papers again. And again. Then it finally hit her.

      Melanie’s gift to her. Tears filled her eyes and coursed down her cheeks like a waterfall. She could hardly speak. She thought she must be dreaming. But it was what it was. She didn’t know how it was possible, but somehow, some way, Melanie’s gift to her and the girls was the deed to an unencumbered piece of property, the little house in Placerville.

      “This is the best present we’ve ever gotten, right, Patrick?” Amanda asked.

      They all laughed as the girls told their mother about Melanie’s surprise and how it was possible. And how Melanie had said that, for the first time in her life, she knew the true joy of Christmas giving.

      And a surprise it was, a complete and utter surprise.

      For the first time in her life, Stephanie and the girls would truly have a home of their own, thanks to the incredible generosity of a loving friend.

      “A Very Merry Christmas”

      CATHY LAMB

      To Cindy, Todd, Mitchell, and Cara Everts.

       Thanks for the drift boat rides down the Missouri

       River, the opportunity to tease the fish,

       and the water gun fights.

      Most of all, thanks for the laughs.