Author: Bella Andre

Jack chased after her, laughing—and loving her more and more—every step of the way.

October

Mary and Jack stood at the top of a hill in Napa Valley and looked out over the rolling vineyards. The crush was just starting, and the air was perfumed with the scent of grapes.

“Growing up in Italy, the local winery owners would let us in to crush grapes with our feet in barrels. And then they’d pour the juice into cups for us to drink afterward.” She laughed as she looked down at her feet and added, “Unfortunately, I’m not sure how many of us thought to wash our feet before getting into the barrels.”

Jack loved to hear her speak about her childhood. Rosciano was in the heart of the Abruzzo wine region of Italy, so when a friend of his who owned a winery in Napa suggested they come up for the weekend to be a part of the crush celebrations, Jack had known Mary would love it.

“What do you think about chucking it all in and opening up Sullivan Winery?”

“Maybe one day,” she said as they headed down the hill toward the winery buildings. “But for now I’m rather partial to our life just the way it is.”

His friend David waved them over when they got to the stone-walled barn. “Up for crushing some grapes?” He pointed to a barrel full of grapes. “If you are, hop in.”

Jack grinned at Mary. “What do you say you show me how it’s done?”

She was clearly thrilled with the plan as she kicked off her heels. After she took off her stockings and he rolled up his pants and both of them quickly washed their feet, they got into the barrel, laughing as the grapes squashed beneath their toes. They were quickly covered in juice, not just their feet but their legs and clothes, as well.

He would never get enough of the sound of her laughter or the taste of her kiss. And later, as they sat out under the night sky and sipped the juice they’d made together, followed by one of his friend’s vintages, Jack made a wish on the stars above.

His wish was that the children he and Mary would have together one day would also find a love this deep and true for themselves.

November

The Sullivans had agreed to gather together at Mary and Jack’s house for Thanksgiving. Max and Claudia arrived first with Ian and Adam, and Mary was amazed by how much both boys had grown. Ian immediately ran into the backyard to play, and Mary scooped Adam into her arms where he happily settled while Jack poured his brother and sister-in-law drinks.

Mary was holding the baby on one hip when she answered the door to find Ethan on the doorstep.

“Hey, Beautiful,” he said in his typical flirtatious way. “You look good with the kid. When are you and Jack going to start popping them out?”

Mary was laughing as she gave him a kiss hello. “You sound just like my mother. No wonder she adored you so much when she met you at our wedding.”

“All those pretty Italian girls,” he said with a wistful look. “I really should get back to Rosciano soon.”

“Let me know when you’re done flirting with my wife,” Jack called out to Ethan, “and I’ll get you a drink.”

Mary was about to close the door when a shiny black limousine pulled up. Finally, she was going to meet William Sullivan. Every time she and Jack made plans to see him, his trips to San Francisco had been rerouted to other cities at the last second. Mary sympathized, as her travel schedule had once been just as hectic.

As he emerged from the vehicle, she noted that he was just as good-looking as his brothers, but unlike Jack, Max and Ethan, she couldn’t read William’s expression. She knew he was an artist, a very talented one, but even Jack seemed to find his brother a bit of a mystery.

“You must be Mary.”

She held out her hand. “It’s lovely to finally meet you.”

His gaze softened as he stroked a hand over Adam’s soft dark hair, and Mary finally saw there was more than a physical resemblance between William and his three brothers.

Howie, Larry and Layla arrived a few minutes later and helped fill the house with laughter and love. And when they all sat down a short while later to the huge spread of food, Mary wished both her parents and Jack’s could have been with them, too.

Hands down, it was the best Thanksgiving she’d ever had.

Mary had so much to be thankful for. Jack’s love. A relationship with her parents that was better than ever. Being a part of the amazing Sullivan family. Her flourishing career.

And, just maybe, if her suspicions were correct, she and Jack would soon have even more to be thankful for….

December

“Happy anniversary, Angel.”

Jack and his brothers had finished building the Lake Tahoe cabin a few weeks earlier, and tonight Mary and Jack were lying tangled around each other on the soft rug in front of their new river-rock fireplace.

Mary felt so warm and safe with her head cradled against Jack’s chest, listening to his heart beating steady and strong. Normally, she would have stayed right where she was. But she had a surprise for Jack that she just couldn’t wait another moment to give him.

When she got up, his heated gaze followed her every step as she took something from the bags they’d dropped just inside the front door and then returned to kneel in front of him.

She held out a small wrapped package, but instead of opening it, he stroked his hand over her cheek.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

A moment later, he pulled back the red-and-green wrapping paper and uncovered the beautiful ornament inside. It was a handcrafted clay Christmas tree, with Mary’s and Jack’s names together at the top. Off the edge of each of the branches along each side of the miniature tree was room for additional names to be added.

“If our first child is a boy, I’d like to name him Marcus after my father. And if it’s a girl—”

Jack interrupted before she could finish speaking. “Are you pregnant?”

“We’re going to have a baby, Jack.”

“I thought last Christmas was the best I’d ever have,” he said in a reverent voice as he pulled her close and laid one hand over her stomach. “But you’ve made every day better than the one that came before it.”

Together they rose to hang the new ornament on the tree next to the angel he’d given her last year on their first Christmas together.

One year ago, both Mary and Jack had been looking for a Christmas miracle, but they’d given each other so much more than either of them could ever have dreamed of having.

“Look,” he said as he pointed up to the ceiling. “Mistletoe.”

And as Mary and Jack Sullivan kissed beneath the sprig of mistletoe, both of them knew there were many more miracles to come….

Present Day

Glancing down, with tears in her eyes, Mary looked at the two Christmas ornaments sitting in her lap, which were more precious to her than anything else she owned.

From that first Sullivan Christmas through all the Sullivan Christmases that followed, these two small ornaments represented the deep and true love between her and Jack. She felt so incredibly blessed by the exciting life she’d led, the children who made every single day a delight…and most of all, loving, and being loved by, Jack Sullivan.

The sounds of happy voices coming up the walk brought Mary from her memories. Wiping her damp eyes with her fingertips, she stood up and carefully placed the two ornaments on the tree.

Looking up, she whispered, “I love you, Jack.”

When she opened the door, her family was standing in the fresh snow smiling at her. Marcus and Nicola were on the front steps with Chase and Chloe. Gabe, Megan and Summer were coming up the path laden down with brightly wrapped gifts.

“Merry Christmas,” they all said as they kissed and hugged her, and then began to pile into the cabin.

It was time for another Sullivan Christmas to begin.

~ THE END ~