Be Mine at Christmas by Brenda Novak Page A

gaze flew to Matt, who was watching her with so much hope that everyone in the room could feel the poignant emotions inside him.
    “ You’re my dad? I mean, my real dad?”
    Tears glistened in Matt’s eyes. He kept blinking, obviously struggling to hold them back, but he nodded. “I just found out myself the day before yesterday. I’m glad I know,” he said and gathered her in his arms.
    Angela didn’t realize she had tears rolling down her own cheeks until they began to drip off her chin. She wiped them as Kayla squeezed Matt tightly.
    “Merry Christmas, Kayla,” he said. Then he released her and turned her to face all the others in the room. “And these people—they’re your family, too.”
    Sherry had nearly fainted at “You’re my dad?” Now she leaned heavily on her husband and waved a hand in front of her, as if she couldn’t get enough air. “Does that mean you’re going to marry him?” she asked Angela hopefully.
    She still believed what she’d originally been told—that Angela was Kayla’s real mother. Theycould explain the details later, Angela decided. She had enough going on right now. Everyone’s attention had shifted to her, even Kayla’s.
    “Marry him?” Kayla murmured.
    “That—that’s one option,” Angela admitted. “We’ve been…talking about it.”
    “And what are the other options?” Kayla asked.
    Everyone’s eyes cut back and forth between them. Angela hoped no one could tell how badly she was shaking. “You could live here with…with Matt.”
    Some of the excitement fled Kayla’s face. “Without you?”
    “I don’t know yet, Kayla. I have a house in Denver—”
    “We’re selling the house, remember?”
    “And a job.”
    “Can’t you work here?”
    “You wouldn’t have to. I can support you,” Matt said.
    His mother moved closer to him. “He’d make a good husband.”
    “And you’ve seen the calendar,” his aunt added. “You know what kind of fires he can put out.”
    Angela didn’t have a chance to answer any of them. Kayla’s eyebrows were drawing together in hurt and anger. “You said I’d always be a central part of your life, and no one would ever change that. Now you’re giving me away?”
    “I’m not giving you away,” Angela said. “I—I’m letting you live where I think you’ll be happiest.”
    “I can’t be happy without you!”
    Angela turned to Matt, expecting him to help her defer answering. But he didn’t. “I can’t be happy without you, either,” he said softly, honestly.
    “Do you love him?” Sherry asked.
    Angela didn’t want to admit the truth. She knew what would happen. But Matt was watching her so intently, she couldn’t lie. “I do.”
    “So say yes… Marry him…It’s Christmas,” everyone said, pressing closer.
    Angela let her uncertainty show in her expression. “What about Stephanie?” she asked, seeking Matt. “Kayla’s her daughter. You’re the man she wanted.”
    This threw the others, but not Matt. “We’ll do what we can for her,” he promised. “When she’s ready.”
    Kayla’s arms slipped around Angela’s waist. “Leaving us won’t help her!” she said, hugging her tightly. And it was those words that finally made sense to Angela. Denying herself the joy of being with Matt and Kayla wouldn’t help anyone.
    The tears started to come again, but Angela brushed them away. “Yes.”
    “You’ll do it?” Kayla cried. “You’ll marry him?”
    Angela smiled through her tears. “I will.”
    Matt’s arms went around both of them, and he kissed Angela’s temple. “I’ll make sure you never regret it,” he whispered.
    The rest of the group hugged and congratulated her one by one, and Angela smiled as she realized that Kayla’s new family had just become her own.
    Maybe this Christmas wasn’t like the ones she used to know. But she knew there’d never be a better one. Except for next year. And the years after that…

Dear Reader,
    I’ve always had a fondness for the story