Christmas with the Mountain Man (Log Cabin Christmas)

Chapter 8

Lacey

With Tate momentarily distracted, I take a moment to go outside and get some fresh air. It is cold and the snow has continued to fall leaving a beautiful white blanket over the town. Everything has been so perfect. I don’t want to ruin anything by getting upset over gift giving. But this is the hardest part. As a child it was difficult to see children getting piles and piles of presents under their trees. Everything they had asked for.

I take a deep breath in and inhale slowly watching it form an icy cloud.

“Everything okay?”

I turn around at the sound of that deep voice. Surprised to see Benson Blake joining me.

We stand there in silence for a little bit and then I ask, “Is it hard to adjust to life here? It’s so remote, so removed from LA or New York.”

“Is this you asking or is it for the article?”

I let out a little laugh. “I’m not sure if I’ll still write the article. I just want to know. What is it about this town that makes it so special?”

Benson takes a moment to lean his butt against the porch railing, so he is now facing me.

“You know, it’s not about the town. It’s about the people. If you find your people, well, that’s when it feels like home. When I came here I wasn’t sure what to do with myself. It wasn’t until I found Jesse that I knew. I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be. That’s when I really started living. And I have no regrets.”

I nod. I understand that. I feel like something has changed. Like life before coming here was just going through the motions. But after years of putting up barriers, am I ready to let them all fall down just because of one man?

“So this is where the interviews are being conducted?”

I turn to see Tate and in that moment I know in my heart that he is everything I ever dreamt of.

“No interviews here, just getting some air.” Benson gives Tate a friendly pat on the shoulder as he goes back inside. Tate walks slowly towards me, his intense gaze looking for something in my expression.

“Are you okay, Lacey?”

I nod. Wanting to say more, but there is too much emotion welling up inside of me.

“I got you a present.”

I watch as he reaches into his pocket. I prepare myself. This is the part of Christmas I hate. Having to pretend to be grateful for some generic present. There is no way that Tate could get me anything more, we have only known each other a week. Only just returned from the log cabin this morning.

As he pulls out a small present wrapped in tissue paper I take it from him. But before I can unwrap it he takes my hands in his.

“When you told me about growing up in the homes, about only having broken toys, that jigsaw puzzles were never complete, it breaks my heart. But I admire you so much more knowing what you have been through. I understand that it is hard for you to open your heart. Hard for you to believe that you deserve to be loved and have a good home. But Lacey, trust me when I tell you that I think I have fallen in love with you. I love your smile and your spirit and your trouble making ways.”

“Oh Tate.” I throw my arms around him and he holds me tight.

“Okay, now open your present.”

I quickly unwrap the tissue paper to find a set of keys. Three keys with a wood carved jigsaw piece as the keyring. As I turn it over, tears spring to my eyes as I see my name engraved into the wood.

“I made it today.” Tate whispers. “It’s so that you know that you are not a lost puzzle piece. That you fit into something bigger.”

He pulls out his keys where the puzzle piece fits perfectly to his square keyring.

And then pointing to the keys, he says. “This is the key to my place because I want you to stay with me. This is the key to my mom’s guest house because I know you might want your own space for a little while. And this is the key to the log cabin, because I want us to do it up together, Lacey. To make it a home perfect for both of us.”

Now the tears are free falling down my cheeks as I look up into Tate’s face and know that I have found what I have been missing all these years. Tate really knows me. Understands me. Accepts me.

I hug him tight. He kisses me hard. And then kissing my throat he asks, his hot breath tickling my ear. “Will you stay with me, Lacey?”

I nod and squeal with delight as he hugs me tightly to him. And then when he scoops me up and carries me off the porch with a wicked gleam in his eye, I let out a gasp.

“I might not know much about family Christmas, but we can’t sneak off in the middle of it all.”

“Oh yes we damn well can.”

His kisses convince me we can get away with anything and I hold on tight as he carries me away.