A Puppy and a Christmas Proposal Read online

  A rap on the door made him jump. Beth? She’d come back?

  He flung it open and found Joe and Rose and Joe’s daughter, Katy, standing there in terrible matching festive jumpers with reindeers on. Joe held out his hand. ‘Just passing, thought we’d stop to say happy Christmas.’

  Alex shook his hand. Surprised. Thoughtful of them. But the last thing he wanted was to pretend to be jolly when his heart was in pieces. ‘Oh. Right. Thanks.’

  Rose grinned and held young Katy under her armpits as the girl’s legs slithered on the path. They were both laughing. Rose held Katy tight and pressed her head to her stepdaughter’s. ‘Katy wanted to try out her new roller skates. But they’re not great on snow.’

  ‘Not any better on concrete either. I don’t think it’s the roller skates, I think it might be operator error.’ Joe laughed. Then his smile dropped. ‘You okay, mate?’

  ‘Oh, you know. Fine.’ He wasn’t fine. This was Joe’s family’s first Christmas together and Alex was watching them all huddled together and laughing and so...so much more than okay that it made him feel worse...and had him wondering how it could be that some people embraced the Christmas spirit and others just...didn’t.

  Then he thought about something Beth had said about making the most of it. Yeah. The only thing that would make him smile right now was seeing her face. It had been ten hours since she’d slammed that car door. Ten hours where he’d thought he’d feel better about breaking her heart. And maybe he did, just a little, because once again he’d done it for her own good. But not for his.

  But the sad truth was, he didn’t want to end up lonely. He didn’t want to be alone. He wanted to love her. To have her in his life. Always.

  He’d been too quick to dismiss her thoughts and suggestions. He’d mired himself in feeling sorry and spiritless and hopeless for so long he hadn’t been able to grasp a chance at pulling himself out of it. He’d pitied himself for what had happened to him and for the loss of his dreams and had expected others to do the same.

  He’d accused Beth of doing it when maybe...just maybe, she actually was attracted to him the way he was attracted to her. Their lovemaking hadn’t felt like something she’d been doing because she felt as if she had to or because she wanted him to feel better. It had been hot, electric, intense, giving and taking in equal measure.

  And he’d fallen for Boy within about two minutes of meeting him. Okay, perhaps it had been love at first sight. So maybe he could grow to love an adopted child too. If he truly loved Beth he could at least try.

  Couldn’t he? The same way Joe and Katy had let Rose into their hearts. The way she’d grown to love Katy as her own daughter. His phone buzzed in his pocket. He took it out, his heart swelling in the hope of seeing her name.

  It wasn’t Beth. But he nodded to his unexpected guests. ‘Sorry, I’ll just have to take this. Have a good Christmas, guys, and enjoy the skiing.’

  They laughed and waved as he talked and listened. And when he flicked the phone back into his pocket he smiled. Maybe...just maybe... Christmas was indeed what you made it.

  * * *

  Beth had put on a brave face for her mother, but her heart hadn’t been wholly invested in looking for a twenty-pence piece in her Christmas pudding, or singing ‘Jingle Bells’ and drinking lumpy eggnog, so she’d slipped away quietly after giving her mum a tender hug and promising to visit again soon.

  To be fair, Bay View had put on quite a day of it and with all her mum’s new friends fussing and laughing Beth had felt like a spare part. She was glad to be alone in her car where she could...okay, wallow a little.

  The drive to Glasgow was remarkably smooth and she pulled into her garage and sighed. She’d thought—hoped—that the sight of her house would make her feel better, that being back here would ease the ache, but it didn’t. She was still angry that he hadn’t been willing to hear her out. To consider options.

  But at least the anger fuelled her muscles and she emptied the car of numerous boxes in no time. Then she switched on the central heating, made a cup of tea and sat in her lounge, in her house. Her home. One day it would feel like a proper home too. She was determined to make the best of it. One thing she knew she was good at was being kind to others and now she had to be kind to herself. She would heal in time. She had a job she loved. She had a lot more than some. A lot more than poor Dennis. Her heart twisted thinking about him and the dogs and her lovely Boy. And then, of course, her Alex.

  Next Christmas she’d have a huge tree. She’d make it the best Christmas ever and put this one down to a memory she’d prefer to forget. Although, she would never, ever forget Alex. She just had to get over him. She sighed. She’d done it before. She closed her eyes and fought back the tears. No more. She was done.

  Oops. Running a finger under her eyelid, she caught a rebellious stray tear. Almost done. She took a deep breath, blew out slowly and stood up. ‘Right. Time to make a life.’

  An hour or so later she was unpacking her suitcase when a hammering on her door had her heart racing. Who the hell would that be on Christmas Day? She didn’t know the neighbours. Was it the police? Was her mum okay? She ran down the stairs and tugged open the door. Did a double take. Forced herself to breathe. ‘Alex.’

  There he was. By some miracle. On her doorstep, wearing the most ridiculous Christmas jumper, with embroidered red bells tied with a bow and the words ‘Jingle My Bells’ written above. And it wasn’t fair, because even with that ghastly number on he looked so damned beautiful it made her heart stutter.

  He smiled warily. Unsure. ‘Er... Happy Christmas?’

  ‘Christmas, yes. Happy? What do you think?’ Her heart was now in overdrive and her body prickling with longing. She scooped some snow from the garden wall and cooled her face with it. His fancy-pants car was in the driveway and she could see something moving...no, jumping inside.

  Her heart lurched. ‘Oh? Is that...is that Boy? In the car? What’s going on?’

  Alex shrugged. ‘It didn’t work out with the family.’

  ‘Why not? What was wrong?’ Was he here just to dump the dog on her? Just the way he’d tried to a few weeks ago? Typical. It wasn’t about her at all. It was about him. Business as usual.

  ‘He wasn’t happy, Beth. Not at all.’ Alex’s lips pursed and he looked as if his heart was going to break. ‘He didn’t settle. He just howled the whole time and scratched at the door. He chewed everything in sight and pooped on the Christmas presents.’

  She bit back a laugh. Some people shouldn’t have pets. ‘They didn’t give him much of a chance. Three days?’

  ‘They tried everything but...well, he missed us and they didn’t think it was right keeping him when he was so sad. They were so worried. But they’ve phoned round and found another puppy who loves them and does what he’s told...at least some of the time.’

  ‘And you’ve brought him here for me to look after, is that it? I only have a small place.’ She pointed to her tiny hallway and imagined how quickly Boy would wreck everything within reach. ‘It’s not dog-proof. I can’t—’

  ‘Actually, I’ve decided I’m going to keep him. We kind of get along. I’ve given up all hope of ever having a pair of un-chewed shoes again. Or a rug that hasn’t got teeth-shaped edges. I’ve arranged for Fraser’s daughter to play with him while I’m at work. When she starts school I’ll have a rethink. But I’ll work something out. Frank’s wife said he can go up there and play. Frank’s home now, by the way—he called earlier to say thanks and to wish us all the happies for the season.’

  ‘That’s good. That’s great. I’m happy for you all.’ But her heart was breaking. It had been a kind of comfort to think he was hurting and alone too, but now...man and dog were together and she was... She took a deep breath. She was fine.

  She would be.

  ‘Do you want to see him? Before he claws holes in my fancy-pants upholstery?’ Alex’s g
aze snagged hers and this time his smile was a lot warmer and hopeful and friendly.

  ‘Of course. Yes. Of course.’ What was this about, then? Had he come to show off? He’d got the dog and she hadn’t? She watched as he walked to his car and as he opened the door a blur of brown streaked past and bounded towards her.

  ‘Oh, Boy. Boy.’ She knelt down and nuzzled into his fur, her throat raw and sore. ‘How was my baby on the journey? Did he howl and cry or was he a good boy?’

  Alex’s voice was pained. ‘Howled, the whole way.’

  She imagined that. And Alex trying to deal with it and drive. It would have been terrible. Boy could make a hell of a decent howl. ‘Good. But at least he wasn’t car sick.’

  Alex’s eyebrows rose. ‘Ah...’

  ‘Oh, good boy.’ She fussed her puppy again. Fussed and scratched and rubbed and poured all her emotion into cuddles. Because here they were taunting her with her lost dream all over again and she didn’t want to let it go. ‘Vomiting on the fancy-pants car. Oh, who’s a good boy? You’re a good boy, aren’t you, darling?’

  Alex stood back and watched, a frown settled on his forehead. ‘This is not going to plan. It seems like you’re only interested in him.’

  She stopped fussing and looked up at him. Really? ‘Because he doesn’t want to break my heart.’

  He knelt down next to her. ‘Neither do I, Beth.’

  ‘It’s a bit late for that, right?’

  ‘Can we come in?’

  Like hell. She wanted to scream at him, to show him her bruised heart. But he’d come all this way and he was smiling and there was just that little bit of hope and her hands were shaking and it wasn’t all because Boy was here.

  ‘I suppose so.’ She scrambled up from the step, picked up Boy and walked through, hoping he’d follow. ‘Five minutes.’

  ‘That’s all I need. Oh, and a lifetime.’

  She whirled round to face him. ‘What?’

  He took a step towards her. ‘I’m sorry, Beth. I was spooked by the emotions. I’d taught myself to stop caring because I didn’t dare to think I could live our dream. It wasn’t possible. It isn’t.’

  ‘But we can try. We can talk about it. Talk to specialists. It doesn’t have to be your way or no way.’

  ‘I know. I’ll do anything, anything to give you the family you want. Adopt. Surrogacy. IVF...a sperm donor. All of it, none of it. Whatever you want. I love you so damned much, Beth. I’ve spent eight years trying to get over you and I just never will. No woman has ever been a match to you. You’re my best friend, my lover. My love. I just want you in my life.’ His eyes danced. ‘And not just for Christmas.’

  ‘You love me.’ She had never seen anyone look at her the way he was looking at her right now. He didn’t have to say the words, she could see it in his eyes, in the hope glittering there.

  ‘I love you, Elizabeth Grace, with everything I have. I adore you. I miss you and I hate it with you gone.’ He picked up the puppy and waved a paw. ‘Don’t we, Boy?’

  She slapped her hands to her hips. ‘You’re using the puppy to get me back?’

  He winced and winked. ‘Desperate times. What can I say?’

  ‘You broke my heart. Twice. I don’t think I can get over that.’ But she was willing to try. Because this was her chance. Her dream.

  He loved her.

  ‘I am going to spend every second of the next thousand years making it up to you. I promise.’ He circled his puppy-free hand round her waist, loosening her grip on her hips, and pressed close. ‘Please come back to Oakdale. Please, my love. Come back to your for-ever home.’

  ‘Oh, Alex. Yes. Yes. I want to come home.’ A tear escaped just when she’d thought she was done with them. But these were happy ones, so she didn’t fight them. And when he lowered his mouth to hers she let him kiss her, totally and thoroughly, and things were just starting to get interesting when she felt a wet slurp on her cheek. She pulled away from her man and pressed a kiss to her dog’s head. ‘I love you. I always have. And by you, I mean both of you.’

  ‘We love you too. Even more than chewing on state-of-the-art climbing shoes. Well...almost.’ Alex brought his mouth back to hers. ‘Happy Christmas?’

  She smiled, her heart full. ‘Yes, my love. The happiest Christmas ever.’

  One year later...

  ‘Has he been? Has he been?’ Little Leo tugged on Beth and Alex’s blanket, breathless and so over-excited his feet danced over the carpet.

  Beth opened one eye and her breath caught in her throat at the sight of her bright, funny, kind son. It had been a hard road but she and Alex had walked it together and last week they’d signed the adoption papers and become a family. She bit her wobbling lip and smiled. First Christmas nerves. She hoped she’d done it all right. ‘Should we go and see?’

  ‘Wait for me.’ Alex shoved back the covers and bounded across the room, sweeping up the three-year-old into his arms and tickling his pot belly. As she watched them in cahoots and disappearing towards the stairs, Beth pinched the back of her hand just to check this was real. Because if it wasn’t and it was just a dream, she didn’t want to wake up.

  Downstairs she was greeted by delighted squeals and a happy bark as Boy ran between their legs, not understanding what the fuss was about, but knowing it was something special. From behind, Alex wrapped his arms round her waist and hugged her hard. ‘I told you that tree was too big. It’s too tall for the ceiling and bent at the top.’

  She turned in his arms and kissed him. And again. ‘Alex Norton, hush your mouth. There is no such thing as a too-tall tree. Or too much Christmas pudding. Or being too happy.’

  ‘And are you?’ He tilted her chin so she could see his eyes. So blue. So true.

  ‘More than you could ever imagine.’ She leaned against his chest as the mayhem of torn paper and more coloured plastic than was healthy for a three-year-old littered the carpet. ‘Are you?’

  ‘Well, it is Christmas, so I have to be merry and jolly, right? That’s the law.’ Grinning, he pulled a little velvet box from his track-pant pocket and held it out. ‘But I will be very happy if you say yes.’

  ‘What?’ Hands shaking, she took the box. Another pinch me moment. So many lately. And opened it. Inside was... A lump filled her throat. ‘Oh, Alex. Is this...?’

  ‘The ring I bought you all those years ago.’

  It was still the most perfect, beautiful, stunning diamond ring she’d ever seen. And she loved it. Had always loved it. There weren’t enough words. ‘But I thought... I decluttered it.’

  ‘You did, but apparently your mum salvaged it and let me know she had it. Just in case...’ Smiling, but also a little uncharacteristically nervous, he took her hand. ‘This is my just in case, Beth. This is my everything, my wish. My dream. Will you marry me?’

  It was her dream too. Always had been. She just couldn’t believe it was finally coming true. ‘Oh, my goodness. Yes! Yes, I will marry you, my darling man. Oh, Alex, I love you, so much.’

  He crushed her against him; she could feel his heart pounding. A jolly, merry kind of beat. ‘Then I am the happiest man alive.’

  * * *

  If you enjoyed this story, check out these other great reads from Louisa George

  Saved by Their One-Night Baby

  A Nurse to Heal His Heart

  Reunited by Their Secret Son

  The Nurse’s Special Delivery

  All available now!

  Keep reading for an excerpt from Mistletoe Proposal on the Children’s Ward by Kate Hardy.

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  Mistletoe Proposal on the Children’s Ward

  by Kate Hardy

  CHAPTER ONE

  ‘HOW ARE THE ward Christmas things coming on, Anna?’ Robert Jones asked.

  ‘Brilliant, thanks.’ Anna smiled at the head of the Children’s Department. ‘The Secret Santa is pretty much sorted, we’ve got Christmas dinner booked and most people have given me their deposits and menu choices, and the only thing I’m short of now is someone to be Father Christmas on Christmas Day.’ Her smile broadened. ‘Seeing as our usual Santa has let us down horribly.’

  Robert held up both hands in a ‘stop’ gesture and laughed. ‘Anna, you know why I can’t do it this year. I’d have to fly back from New York. And that’s more than my life is worth, on my silver wedding anniversary.’

  ‘Even for the ward? Even for me?’ she teased.

  ‘Even for the ward and even for you,’ Robert said. ‘Actually, Anna, I did want to ask you a bit of a favour. Jamie Thurston—the new paediatric orthopod who’s covering Nalini’s maternity leave for the first three months—is joining us today.’

  ‘And you want me to show him around and help him settle in?’ Anna guessed.

  ‘Would you?’ Robert asked.

  ‘Of course.’ She smiled at him again. ‘I’m in the PAU this morning. I’ll leave a message with whoever is on the desk to ask him to meet me at one and I’ll take him to lunch.’

  ‘Great.’ Robert patted her shoulder. ‘Thank you.’

  ‘Pleasure,’ Anna said, and had a quick word with Lacey on the reception desk before she headed for the Paediatric Assessment Unit.