Kick the Candle (Page 32)

I should have known something was up when Rick said he would meet me at my father's on Christmas morning. We'd spent every minute possible together since our engagement, unless I was working at the hospital. It seemed odd to arrive at Dad's brownstone alone.

Rick met me at the door wearing dark washed jeans and a holiday sweater with a reindeer on the front.

"Nice. Where'd you get that one?"

"The salesperson at Macy's said they were, and I quote, 'all the rage.'"

"I can honestly say that sweater has never been sexier." He kissed me and ushered me inside, his hand finding the small of my back.

After a meal of roast lamb and red potatoes (my favorite) we gathered around a professionally decorated artificial tree in my father's living room. The place still looked like a museum, not so much as a grain of dust to disrupt the sterile ambiance. Thank goodness the cabinet was open. The Christmas parade was playing on mute in the background.

Something was missing though. Dad was distracted. As expected, no one had called him about a service for Seraphina. My guess was all of her clothes were still hanging in his closet. My heart drooped into my stomach. I'd never seen him this down.

"Here, Dad. Open mine first." I handed him the gold wrapped box I'd brought, hoping to cheer him up. He tore off the paper and smiled. "Scotch! The good stuff. Jeez, Grateful, thank you."

I smiled. I'd splurged a little to buy a high-end label. After the taste Julius had given me of the good stuff, it felt wrong to get stingy on Dad. It wasn't as pricey as the vampire's but the purveyor had sworn my father would enjoy it. I figured the extra money Julius had sent my way should be put to good use since I couldn't get a loan with it to buy my house, a problem I swore I'd solve after Christmas. In the meantime, I'd left the Book of Light at Logan's, not knowing whether I'd be evicted again any time soon. He'd agreed to keep it there, even after he'd learned of my engagement to Rick.

"And now you." I handed a smaller box to my caretaker.

After an elaborate spectacle of opening it, he dangled my gift between his thumb and forefinger as if it smelled. "A cell phone?"

I nodded. "It's time."

Rick grimaced and looked inside the box as if the phone might be a joke and the real gift still inside. I'd suspected he wouldn't love it; a more than hundred year habit was hard to break. Still, he needed it.

"He doesn't have a cell phone?" Dad asked incredulously.

I glanced at Rick, who quickly masked his disappointment. "Long story," we said at the same time.

There was only one gift left under the tree, the size of a thick manila envelope. My father presented it to me ceremoniously. "From Rick and me."

"Both of you?" I asked. Odd, considering I wasn't aware they'd ever spoken before today.

I tore into it, curiosity making short work of the wrappings. Inside was a thick stack of documents.

"I have to be honest, Grateful, this isn't just a Christmas present," Dad said.

I looked at him and then at Rick who pulled a small silver box from his pocket. He flipped open the lid and I saw the blue shine of the antique oval diamond ring that had once been mine.

"I asked your father's permission." Rick smiled nervously. "Will you marry me?"

I wasn't sure why he was so nervous, or why he felt the need to ask me again. I'd already said yes. But then, it was like Rick to want to do things the old-fashioned way. He'd want to make it official.

"Yes. Of course." I gave a breathy laugh and held out my hand so he could slip the ring on my finger. It fit perfectly. Glancing up at my dad, I saw a happy tear slide halfway down his face before he wiped it away. "So the paperwork?" My heart beat harder as I finished pulling it from the envelope.

"The deed to the house," Dad said, beaming. "An engagement present from Rick and me. To be fair, he was going to buy it for you himself, but when I learned why, I gave him a very good deal."

My hand went to my heart. "It's mine? The house is mine?" The two most important men in my life nodded their heads.

When you are the Monk's Hill witch, there's a lot of uncertainty in life. I wasn't sure who might try to kill me next. Bathory and Naill were still out there. I owed them justice and they'd be difficult opponents. So much about my existence was dangerous, even brutal.

But as I held out my hand, watching the blue diamonds reflect the Christmas lights glowing red, green, and gold from the tree, I had my house, I had my family, and I had my man. I hadn't cast a spell, or made a wish, but somehow, after everything, tonight was magic.