Celeste O. Norfleet - This Holiday Magic

The door opened behind her. She didn’t have to look to know it was Tyson.

“Janelle, can we talk?” he asked.

“There’s nothing left for either of us to say,” she said.

“Yes, actually there is. I’m sorry.”

She turned to him. “Is this your attempt at closure?”

“No, it’s a sincere apology for walking away like I did. I know it’s long overdue, but I still need you to know that I’m sorry for what happened between us.”

Janelle looked away without responding. Car lights turned the corner a block away. A few seconds later she recognized her father’s car approaching. “Here comes my dad,” she said, stepping down to the walkway.

“Aneka’s mother—”

“Look, it’s your life. It’s none of my business. I really don’t need to know this,” she quickly interrupted.

“Yes, you do. Aneka’s mother died two and a half years ago in a car accident.”

Janelle paused and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry for your loss and I’m sorry for Aneka. It’s difficult growing up without a mother,” she said, knowing from her own past experience.

“Her father is— Her father was my cousin, Girard. He survived the accident, but died a few months later from his injuries. Aneka is my goddaughter and as of two and a half years ago, I’m her legal guardian.”

Janelle looked at him, speechless. This wasn’t what she’d expected to hear. “I’m sorry. I know you and he were very close.”

“We were, and now his daughter is my daughter.”

Neither spoke for a few minutes.

Janelle sighed heavily. “I was surprised to see you here. You’re the last person I ever expected to see again.”

“Yeah, I’m full of surprises these days.”

She looked at him sternly. “Nothing’s changed. Just because my father seems to need you doesn’t mean I do or ever will again.”

He nodded. “I deserve that.”

“Yes, you do. And stop being so damn understanding. You were never that way before.”

“Really? What was I like?”

“Ruthless,” she said.

“Yeah.” He nodded slowly. “I guess I was.”

She grimaced at him. “Wow. Enlightenment. So, what did you do, climb a mountain or chat with a shaman or something?”

He smiled. “Or something.”

“What do you want from me, Tyson? A reprieve? Absolution? My blessing to move on with your life? What?”

“Right now I’ll settle for a cease-fire.” He extended his hand.

She looked at him and then nodded slowly. She was too tired to object. They shook hands and a small smile pulled at her lips. “Cease-fire it is.”

“Perfect timing, I’d say,” Ben said as he got out of his car and waved. “Glad to see you two have settled your issues.”

Tyson picked up her luggage, which he’d brought down with him, and walked over to the car. Janelle followed, but headed to the passenger-side door as Ben opened the trunk and Tyson put her luggage inside. She waited, listening as the two men stood and talked a moment.

She shook her head. She had no idea what was really going on with her father’s business and Tyson, but she was definitely going to find out. The trunk closed and her father walked to the front of the car. She looked into the passenger-side mirror and saw Tyson standing there, waiting.

His apology had been sincere, but there was no way she was going to let him into her life again. He’d hurt her before and she was not going to allow that to happen again.

Ben got into the car and looked over at his daughter. “Well, sweets, are you ready to go home?” he asked.

“Yes, I’m ready,” Janelle said.

As the car pulled away from the curb and drove down the street, she glanced in the side-view mirror again. Tyson was still standing at the curb. She watched him watch her until the car turned the next corner.

Closing her eyes, she relaxed for the first time in days. She was on her way home once more.

Minutes later she climbed the stairs to her childhood room and lay on the bed. Within a matter of seconds she was fast asleep.

* * *

After standing at the curb and watching Ben’s car drive away, Tyson went back inside and climbed the stairs. As he headed for the master bedroom, he glanced in on Aneka to see that she was still asleep, holding Janelle’s doll.

He walked over and sat on the love seat beneath the alcove. He laid his head back, thinking about the evening. Hearing Janelle’s voice when she had called earlier had been a shock, but seeing her walk into the office had left him speechless.

Granted, she was stunned and furious to see him. Even so, she was even more beautiful than he remembered. Her soft brown eyes still sparkled when she was emotional and her flawless skin still singed red when she was angry. Her full lips were still as luscious and tempting as ever and her body was just as perfect as always.

Her reappearance in his life was far sooner than he’d expected, yet it had allowed him to take the first step back into her life. Granted, it had been awkward and far more difficult than he’d expected, but nonetheless it was a move toward a new beginning.

He had loved her the moment he’d first seen her walk into the hospital cafeteria years ago. He’d known right then she was the only woman for him. It had taken her a bit longer to see that he was the man for her. But together they had worked it out and their union had ended up strong...before he’d left. Tyson needed to remind her of that. It would take time. She may not be ready to accept him right now, but there was one thing he knew for sure—tomorrow was another day.

Chapter 5

Hours later Janelle rolled over and opened her eyes. It took her a few seconds to realize where she was—at her father’s home in her old bedroom. Smiling to herself, she stretched leisurely and then slowly leaned up on her elbows and looked around the room. Sunlight streamed in and everything seemed brand-new. She chuckled to herself. Her father hadn’t changed a thing since she’d been gone.

Music posters still hung on the walls, trophies and dolls remained on the shelves beneath the crown molding, and CDs, books and DVDs were neatly stacked in her bookcases. It was like stepping into a time warp. Janelle realized the last time she’d actually slept in this room was at the end of her sophomore year in college. After that she’d lived in year-round campus apartments and later on in her own town house.

Her own town house. The instant she thought about her house, she recalled Tyson being there. Of course, now that the home was completely furnished with his things, it seemed more like his than hers. To his credit, the place was stunning. It fit him perfectly—it was stylish, contemporary and tastefully elegant. But she would have expected no less from Tyson Croft. He was the man she thought she’d be with the rest of her life. He was her soul mate, her friend, her confidant and her lover. He was the man of her dreams from the very beginning.

They’d met in the Johns Hopkins cafeteria the start of the second week of her third year in residency. She’d just completed a double shift—all night, all day and well into the following evening. She had been exhausted, too tired to drive home, but also distraught. Her patient, a five-year-old little boy, had been critical.

There’d been about thirty other people in the cafeteria the night they’d met, but she remembered seeing only him. She had grabbed a cup of tea to wind down and take a much-needed break. When she’d walked into the cafeteria, he’d been there, sitting right at the entrance. As she’d entered, he’d looked up at her and she’d stopped. He’d smiled and nodded once. “Good evening,” he’d said.

Her heart had jumped. He had unnerved her the instant he’d spoken. She’d taken a deep breath and managed to return his nod. “Good evening,” she’d replied and then continued walking until he’d stopped her again.