Page 38 of Second Chance Christmas

“It’s fine. I’m pretty sure they’re replicas.”

“Still—,”

“Wanna go grab something to eat?”

“Don’t you have to do stuff with the team or whatever?”

He dropped his forehead to hers. “You’re my team.”

She smiled against his mouth and squeezed his side. “Then let’s go.”

The following Christmas,they were back in Partridge Street, the same street they’d grown up in, but they were far from the same people. Cassidy was six months into her undergraduate degree in English Literature, Audrey was a happy, bubbly, confident school girl, and Leo was perennially grateful for having been let back into the heart and life of the only woman he’d ever loved.

But the best news of all came a week before Christmas, when it transpired that Grant Burrows, rather than be put through the specter of an embarrassing, public trial, had pleaded guilty to all charges. Cassidy wouldn’t need to face him in court, her diaries would never be read out. There was no need to relive any of the horrific chapters of that part of her life. And no need for it to become public record in a way that would haunt Audrey. When the time was right, in a careful way, Cassidy would tell her daughter the truth, but for now, it was so much easier to let her live her life in pure happiness.

They had been careful. For six months, Audrey and Cass commuted to London to spend time with Leo. It was only as the new school year approached that they decided they were ready to make things more permanent. At first, Leo suggested buying a place around the corner from his home, to give Audrey time to adjust to the new situation, but it was Audrey herself who decried that.

“But Leo has a house in London. Why wouldn’t we live with him?”

Cassidy had been cautious. “Well, darling, living with someone is a big step.”

Audrey had frowned. “Is it? But why?”

Cassidy had glanced at Leo, who’d shrugged. If Audrey wasn’t bothered, did they need to be?

“You understand we’d be living all together? All the time?”

“Like a family.” Then, she’d drawn her brows together. “Aren’t we a family anyway?”

And Cassidy’s heart had soared and her eyes had misted with tears so that beneath the table, she’d sought Leonardo’s hand for confidence. He’d squeezed it tight.

“Do you want us to be, honey?” He’d asked Audrey.

“Well, we all love each other, don’t we?”

Cassidy had sobbed, then laughed. “It’s happy tears, darling.”

“I like your happy tears.” And for a moment, Audrey had frowned, so Cassidy had known that Audrey was aware there was another kind, that she’d probably heard her mother crying them, even when she’d tried so hard to protect Audrey from the truth.

“I like them too,” Leo had said, reaching out with his other hand and squeezing Audrey’s. “Okay, ladies. When are you coming to live with me?”

And it had been many happy months since, and not once had Cassidy questioned her decision, nor Leo’s rightful place at her side. He was the wind in her sails, her ultimate support. She, quite simply, loved him and was loved by him. Beautiful, gentle, kind, considerate, handsome, clever him.

As they approached Harry’s house on Christmas eve, and snow began to fall, Leo pushed open the front door. “Run inside, honey,” he said, to Audrey. “Let grandpa know we’re here.”

He caught Cassidy’s hand before she could follow behind, and ran his finger over hers.

“You know,” he said, gruffly. “When I bought this ring, I always intended for it to be on this finger.” And he reached for her other hand.

Cassidy’s breath snagged in her throat.

As if she could misunderstand his meaning, a moment later, Leonardo was kneeling at her feet. “I have never been happier than this last year. You and Audrey are everything to me. Everything. I know we agreed to go slowly, but I just want you to know, that when you’re ready, nothing would make me happier than if you’d agree to marry me.”

“I thought you’d never ask,” she said, with a shake of her head. “Leo, you’re all I’ve ever wanted. How could I possibly agree to wait a day longer than necessary before finally becoming your wife? I love you,” she whispered.

He caught her face and kissed her then, until stars filled her eyes. Harry’s arrival preceded a booming laugh and a clap on Leo’s back. “About damned time. Go get your dad, Leo; I’ll open a champagne. Reckon it’s about time we celebrate all this, don’t you?”

* * *

And celebrate they did.With their engagement, and then their wedding, and with the births of three more children, and every single one of Audrey’s achievements, and every year, whenever they could. They had loved each other for so long, and they made a habit of loving each other well, too, for all the rest of their days. Just as they both deserved, just as their family deserved…

THE END