against his chest, shaking his head. “I’m sorry I didn’t introduce you. I wasn’t trying to be rude, but—”
I hold a finger to his lips, silencing him. “I get it. It wouldn’t have made a difference. It would have just prolonged what was already a supremely awkward encounter.”
“Mm.” He rubs his free hand over the side of his face. His gaze moves past me, out of focus. He looks sort of stunned.
I’m about to ask if he’s okay when he straightens and his gaze clears. He meets my eyes and smiles. It’s a real smile, full of love and just for me. The kind of smile that made me fall in love with him. I’m happy to see it, and yet now I’m the one who’s stunned.
“Ready to go?” he asks. “That bakery you love is just up the way a bit. We could stop there and I’ll buy you as many overpriced macarons as you like.”
“Are you sure? I mean, are you okay?”
“Aye, why wouldn’t I be?”
I sputter out a laugh, but he doesn’t seem to be kidding. He’s not one to hide his emotions, and I’ve always thought he was fairly easy to read, but right now I have no idea what he’s thinking. He raises his eyebrows in question, but other than that his expression remains neutral. I open and close my mouth, unsure of what to say. Maybe he’s still in shock and what just happened will hit him later. “As many macarons as I want?” I ask instead. “That could be dangerous.”
I pick out a couple more ornaments to go with the kangaroo and pay for them before we continue through the market. We’re both quiet as we walk. I have no idea what Declan might be thinking, but my mind is whirling. Things with my mom are far from great, and the last time I saw her she did her best impersonation of an Ice Queen, but I’ve never doubted for a second she loves me. In the back of my mind, I know we’ll make things right somehow someday. It might not happen any time soon, but I know if I ran into her on the street after not seeing her for ages, especially this close to Christmas, we could forget our differences for at least a minute, and remind each other that even though things may be rough right now, we’ll always love one another.
“Rose.” Declan stops walking, and I’m forced to stop too since we’re holding hands. “I can practically hear your brain working. What’s the matter?”
“I just can’t believe how calm you are after that run-in with your mother. You’re family, but she acted like you were practically strangers. How are you okay with that?”
Declan releases a long sigh. “I’m not okay with it. It’s simply something I’ve accepted.”
“But you’re family,” I press.
“In name only. We share the same blood, but that’s as far as it goes. We were never a happy, loving family. My true family, the ones who’ve shown me unconditional love, are Sharon and Maura. They’re my family. And you, Rose. You’re my family.” He ducks slightly so we’re eye to eye, his blue gaze steady and serious.
Declan’s aunt Sharon told me once that family isn’t always blood. She said people say you can’t choose your family, but sometimes you can and do. Sometimes you make choices that are right for you, even if it means cutting out family because they’re toxic. She told me I had the Connellys now, and from the very beginning the three of them welcomed me into their lives without questions or reservations or conditions. According to Sharon, sometimes you make your own family out of the people who love and support you, and that’s what I did. That’s what Declan has done. Part of me still can’t believe how lucky I am that he chose me.
“You’re really not upset?” I ask.
“I’m not. I promise. The woman we saw today, she may have given birth to me and I may have grown up under her roof, but she was never a mum. Not truly. She didn’t dry my tears or hold me or laugh with me. That was Sharon. Always. She was more of a mum to me than Carol ever was. I moved on long ago, and I don’t want you to dwell on it, because I certainly don’t.”
I study Declan. He wouldn’t say it if it wasn’t true. His honesty is one of the things I love most about him; he doesn’t tell me things because he thinks they’re what I want to hear. “Okay,” I say. “No dwelling.”
He nods. “Moving on, then?”
“Moving on. Only happy thoughts, like macarons, and shopping, and snow.”
“Snow.” Declan chuckles. The sound of it, paired with the sight of his dazzling smile makes my whole body go warm and my knees give an unsteady quiver. That quiver turns into earthquake-like tremors when he swoops down and covers my mouth with his. It only takes an instant for my senses to drown out the bustle of the markets.
‘And you, Rose. You’re my family.’ Declan’s words echo in my mind. Tonight we’ll have the first of our Christmas celebrations with our send-off for John, then we’ll exchange gifts and finish decorating our flat. Tomorrow my dad and Pamela will arrive for two whole weeks. And next week I’ll spend my first Christmas in London, the city I’ve fallen for, with the man I’m completely and utterly in love with, plus part of the family I was born into and all of the family I’ve made for myself, whether they’re here with me or hundreds of miles away being beamed in through video chat.
Christmas may not have been great the last few years, but it’s going to be wonderful this year. I just know it. I can feel the Christmas magic in the air.
~ ~ ~
Dear reader,
Thank you for taking the time to read CHRISTMAS IN THE AIR. If you enjoyed seeing Rose and Declan again, I’d love to hear from you. You can find all my contact information on my blog, and I’m available on Facebook, Twitter, GoodReads, and Instagram.
I’d be incredibly grateful if you’d take the time to write a review on your blog, GoodReads, and/or the ebook retailers of your choice. It doesn’t have to be long—even just a few words describing your feelings. Reviews are so important because they help people decide whether to read a book or not. You have the power to influence other readers!
Thank you for your support. Every time I hear from a reader who was touched by my work, it confirms that I made the right decision to follow my dreams and become an author.
With love and gratitude,
Marie
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thank you to my beta readers, Nancy, Jessica, and Patricia. I don’t know what I’d do without your invaluable advice and feedback.
Mum and Jess, thank you for your constant support, and for believing not only in me, but also in Rose and Declan.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Marie Landry has the best job in the world—one where she gets to make stuff up for a living and shamelessly eavesdrop on everyone around her. She writes happily ever afters while dreaming about the day she’ll have her own epic love story to tell. Most days you can find her writing, reading, fantasizing about traveling the world, listening to U2, watching copious amounts of TV on DVD, or having grand adventures with her nephews and niece.
For more on Marie and her books please visit https://sweetmarie-83.blogspot.ca. She loves to chat with fellow book lovers, so feel free to tweet her @SweetMarie83 any time! You can also stay up to date with new releases, sales, and other news by signing up for Marie’s newsletter.
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends