“You nervous?” Matt murmured. He’d been sitting next to Angela since she and Kayla had arrived a few minutes earlier.
Angela nodded. “Dying. You?”
“Yeah.”
He seemed excited. He also seemed intent on making them a family. Angela had asked him not to mention the possibility to Kayla. She needed more time to think. She had a home and a career in Colorado. Pulling up stakes and moving back to Virginia City was a big decision. Especially so soon. And then there was Stephanie…
When Matt had told Angela about his conversation with Kayla’s mother, Angela had made some calls, trying to locate her. It was so difficult to give up hope. She’d thought maybe Stephanie was ready to get clean at last. But when she’d finally made contact with the shelter where Stephanie had been staying, she’d been told that a man named Jaydog had picked her up late last night.
That was where the trail had gone cold. Stephanie was probably right back on the streets, doing anything she could to feed her addiction. Angela had been through the cycle enough times to know that—and yet she felt so guilty for loving Matt, for wanting to be with him. Could she really move back to Virginia City with Stephanie’s daughter and agree to marry the boy Stephanie had wanted so desperately?
She didn’t think so.
“He’s asked her to marry him,” Angela heard Sherry whisper to Ray, Ray’s wife and Claudia, her sister, in the kitchen. “Can you believe it? He’s in love!”
Angela glanced worriedly at Kayla, afraid she might overhear. But Kayla didn’t even look up. She was too busy burrowing under the tree.
“What did she say?” came Ray’s murmured response.
“She’s thinking about it.” Sherry lowered her voice, but Angela could still make out the words. “So be really nice to her.”
Evidently, Matt had heard his mother, too, because he squeezed Angela’s hand and Angela couldn’t help laughing softly to herself.
“So where would they live?” Claudia asked.
“I’m praying it’ll be here. What good is getting my first granddaughter if I never get to see her?”
Matt’s mother had a point. If they got married, they’d live in Virginia City. Angela knew that already. But even if they didn’t marry, Kayla would stay with Matt. Angela felt certain she’d be happier here than she’d been in Denver. The only decision left was whether or not Angela could allow herself to be part of the idyllic picture. Could she say yes? After everything Betty had done for her, did she have that right?
“We’re ready!” Kayla shouted.
Sherry ushered in the group from the kitchen, while Claudia’s children rounded up their dad and Matt’s father, who’d been checking out the new computer in the other room.
Matt let go of Angela’s hand and leaned his elbows on his knees, watching Kayla as she sat next to her presents.
“Do we take turns like before? Or do we all open at once?” she asked.
When Matt stood, Angela knew he couldn’t wait any longer. “Before we get too carried away with all the gifts, I have something to say.”
Sherry grabbed her husband’s arm excitedly, Ray grinned at his wife and Claudia motioned for complete silence. Obviously, except for the children, they all thought they knew what he was about to announce. But this would be a surprise.
Angela clasped her hands tightly in her lap.
“I have a special gift for Kayla. One I’d like her to open now,” Matt said.
Kayla sat up straighter. “But you already gave me a gift, Matt.” Her hand went to her throat in search of her locket but, finding it missing, she turned worried eyes to Angela. “My locket! It’s gone!”
“You haven’t lost it,” Angela said. “I took it last night. Matt’s giving it to you again.” She cleared her throat to help steady her voice. “Only this time it has your father’s picture in it.”
Silence as thick as the snowdrifts piled outside descended on the room as everyone stared at Kayla, who was still gazing in shock at Angela. “That can’t be true,” she said.
“It’s true,” Angela said.
Matt crossed the room and pulled the plush blue box from his pocket.
“Are you sure I should open it here?” she asked him.
He knelt down beside her so everyone could see. “It’s okay,” he murmured. “Go ahead.”
Kayla’s trepidation showed in the stiff set of her shoulders. With a final glance at the people watching, she slowly, carefully withdrew the locket.
Angela’s pulse raced as Kayla opened the tiny clasp. Then the girl’s jaw dropped and her gaze flew to Matt, who was watching her with so much hope that everyone in the room could feel the poignant emotions inside him.
“You’re my dad? I mean, my real dad?”
Tears glistened in Matt’s eyes. He kept blinking, obviously struggling to hold them back, but he nodded. “I just found out myself the day before yesterday. I’m glad I know,” he said and gathered her in his arms.
Angela didn’t realize she had tears rolling down her own cheeks until they began to drip off her chin. She wiped them as Kayla squeezed Matt tightly.
“Merry Christmas, Kayla,” he said. Then he released her and turned her to face all the others in the room. “And these people—they’re your family, too.”
Sherry had nearly fainted at “You’re my dad?” Now she leaned heavily on her husband and waved a hand in front of her, as if she couldn’t get enough air. “Does that mean you’re going to marry him?” she asked Angela hopefully.
She still believed what she’d originally been told—that Angela was Kayla’s real mother. They could explain the details later, Angela decided. She had enough going on right now. Everyone’s attention had shifted to her, even Kayla’s.
“Marry him?” Kayla murmured.
“That—that’s one option,” Angela admitted. “We’ve been…talking about it.”
“And what are the other options?” Kayla asked.
Everyone’s eyes cut back and forth between them. Angela hoped no one could tell how badly she was shaking. “You could live here with…with Matt.”
Some of the excitement fled Kayla’s face. “Without you?”
“I don’t know yet, Kayla. I have a house in Denver—”
“We’re selling the house, remember?”
“And a job.”