Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor (Friday Harbor #1)(44)

Standing and stretching, Alex said, “I’m outta here. It’s my bedtime, too.”

“You’re coming back tomorrow morning, right?” Sam asked.

“Is Maggie cooking breakfast?”

“At least in a supervisory capacity.”

“I’ll be here, then.” Alex went to the doorway and paused to look back at them. “I like this,” he surprised them by saying reflectively. “It feels sort of…family-ish.”

He went to say good-bye to Holly and Maggie, and left.

“I think he’ll be okay,” Sam remarked. “Especially when the divorce is final.”

Mark smiled slightly. “I think we’ll all be okay.”

Holly came back into the room and set a plate of cookies and a glass of milk on the coffee table. “Renfield,” she said, “do not eat any of that.”

The bulldog wagged his back end agreeably.

“Come on, gingersnap,” Sam said. “I’ll tuck you in upstairs.”

Holly looked at Mark and Maggie. “Will you come kiss me good night?”

“In just a few minutes,” Maggie promised. “We’re just going to pick up a little and get things ready for tomorrow.” She watched fondly as Holly scampered up the stairs.

As Mark went to turn the train off, Maggie went to the plate of cookies and took out from her pocket a slip of paper.

“What’s that?” he asked, coming back to her.

“A note that Holly wanted to put next to the plate.” She showed it to him. “Do you know what she meant by this?”

Dear Santa

thank you for making my wish come true.

love

Holly

Mark set the note on the coffee table, and put his arms around her. “Yes,” he said, looking into her soft brown eyes. “I know what she meant.”

And as he bent his head and kissed her, Mark Nolan finally believed in magic.