A Joyful Christmas by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781643526362
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2013-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

“Don’t the candles look beautiful?” Larkin tossed the kindling she used to light the parlor candles into the fireplace. “Tradition has it that they are a symbol of welcome to help Mary and Joseph find their way as they looked for shelter the night Jesus was born.”

“They’ll help Uncle Jack find his way.” Rosie stared at the dancing shadows the flickering flames made on the walls.

“’Tis true. He and Doc Grant should be here soon. Let’s go help Wilma.”

In the kitchen, Wilma took the goose out of the oven. Its fragrant odors had been making Larkin’s stomach growl for hours. “Thank you for cooking that tonight. Smells truly delicious.”

Larkin lifted Rosie onto a stool. “There’s one quaint custom in Ireland where the groom is invited to his bride’s house right before the wedding and they cook a goose in his honor. ’Tis called ‘Aitin’ the Gander.’”

Rosie grinned. “You’re the bride.”

Larkin felt her cheeks warm…or perhaps ‘twas just the heat of the kitchen. “Aye. Tomorrow your uncle Jack and I shall marry.”

The thought of being Jackson’s wife brought twitters to her stomach that had nothing to do with hunger. A knock sounded at the door, and she jumped. Her beloved was here.

Rosie slid off the seat, but Larkin beat her to the door, pulling it open. Jackson stood there, his arm in a sling and his jacket around his shoulders, blue eyes smiling.

“Uncle Jack!” Rosie wrapped her arms around Jackson’s leg. He patted her head, but his gaze never left Larkin’s face.

Larkin’s heart flip-flopped. Oh, how she loved this man. And tomorrow he’d be her husband.

Someone behind Jackson cleared his throat. “It’s cold out here. Don’t suppose we could go inside where it’s warm so you two could stare at each other by the fire.” Doc Grant peered around Jackson’s shoulder, grinning.

They hurried inside, and Larkin helped Jackson with his jacket. Rosie and Doc sat at the table. Wilma set a bowl of applesauce on the table and smiled at the doctor.

“I need to talk to you in private a moment,” Jackson whispered in Larkin’s ear.

She nodded and led him to the parlor. He glanced around the room at all the pretty decorations. Maura’s dinner party had been canceled, but the lovely room would make the perfect spot for a Christmas wedding. Their wedding.

Jackson’s gaze landed on the mistletoe over the doorway. He grinned wickedly, dimples flashing, and tugged her to the parlor entrance. “In America, we have a tradition. If two people stand under mistletoe together, they have to kiss.”

Larkin’s whole body went limp, and if Jackson hadn’t pulled her to his chest, she was sure she’d have melted into a puddle at his feet. How was it she could come to love this man so much, so fast? His lips melded against her, and all other thoughts fled. Too soon he pulled back.

“No doubts about tomorrow?”

She shook her head. “Not a one. I’ve prayed hard, and God has made it clear. You and Rosie are my future.”

“I feel the same way.

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