Reunited At Christmas

“It might be a good idea to give her some space,” Boone said to Liam. “This could be very overwhelming for her,” he explained, casting Ruby a concerned glance.

With a begrudging look on his face, Liam took a few steps back. Boone followed suit.

“If you’re not feeling well, I can get you something to drink or take you to my clinic,” Liam said. “I’m a doctor here in town.”

Liam was a doctor? She shouldn’t be surprised by the news. He exuded a kind and authoritative air. It wasn’t hard to imagine him treating patients or calming a distraught child who needed shots. Ruby didn’t know whether there was a part of her that was remembering something from the past or whether it was strictly her imagination, but a picture of Liam outfitted in a white lab coat, a stethoscope hanging around his neck, flashed before her eyes.

“I’m fine,” Ruby said. “I think everything is just catching up to me.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “The plane ride. Being back here. I know you’re saying this is where I’m from, but I feel like a newborn filly finding its legs.”

“Ruby, I know this can’t be easy for you, but this is a blessing for our family. God answered our prayers.” He locked eyes with her. “And now I need to bring you back home where you belong so you can reunite with Aidan.”

Oh, no! She didn’t think she was quite ready for that. Ruby wanted to see her child, but she was terrified. What would she say to him? Would he expect her to be a certain way or hold him in a special manner? She didn’t know a single thing about being a mother.

“I hadn’t planned on anything like this,” she said lamely. “I—I don’t know what I would say to him. How do I explain that I don’t remember him?”

“If you don’t face this, you might never really be able to move forward.” Liam’s voice held an intensity that reverberated throughout the room. “Part of that is meeting your son.”

Ruby bit her lip. A feeling of anxiety swept over her. Had coming to Love been a huge mistake? Everything was happening so quickly. In a matter of minutes her life had dramatically changed, so much so that she wasn’t sure she could keep up with all the shifts.

“Can Ruby and I have a moment alone?” Liam asked, looking over at the sheriff, who nodded before stepping out of the room.

Once they were alone, Ruby felt a sudden shyness take over. This tall, good-looking man with the soulful, intense eyes was her husband. He belonged to her. And she to him. The weight of it settled over her like a warm blanket. Even though she couldn’t remember him or any specific details about their life together, she felt a tremendous pull in his direction that shook her to her very core. She fought against a sudden impulse to run all the way back to Colorado where she’d been safe from this gorgeous, rugged man who seemed to want the world from her.

Chapter Two

Once they were alone, Liam took a moment to simply gaze at his wife. She was even more beautiful than before, he realized. If that was even remotely possible. Since the very first time he had laid eyes on her, he’d believed that Ruby was the loveliest woman in the world. She had the type of beauty that turned heads. Her warm brown eyes had always showed him her truths. Now, he couldn’t see anything radiating from their russet depths but fear.

And it killed him that instead of making her feel safe, his presence brought her anxiety. Hadn’t Ruby always sought him out for love and protection? At least she had until the last few weeks before the accident in Colorado. He’d never admitted it to a single person, but his marriage had been coming apart at the seams. They had fought over the dangers of her occupation and Liam’s desire to have her close to home rather than flying out on rescue missions. Now, with Ruby’s memory loss, he was still the only person who knew she had asked for a separation before heading to Colorado.

“You can trust me, Ruby. I’m not going to do anything to hurt you,” he said, moving toward her slowly so as not to startle her. At the moment she resembled a deer caught in the headlights. His insides twisted painfully at the sight of her discomfort. He could only imagine how difficult it would be to come face-to-face with a past you couldn’t remember.

“That’s not what I’m worried about. I don’t want to hurt Aidan.” She twisted her fingers together and bowed her head.

His heart leaped at the sight of it. It had been a tic of Ruby’s whenever she was nervous. It was reassuring to know that she had still retained something about herself that he recognized. Even though she couldn’t remember him or their life together, this was still Ruby, despite the obvious changes in her demeanor. His wife. The woman he had vowed to love for a lifetime.

Something told him he might be repeating this mantra over and over again in the weeks and months to come.

“Hurt him?” Liam asked. “That’s not possible. He’s going to be over the moon to have his mother back.”

She lifted her head up and looked at him, her expression mournful. “But I won’t be the same mother who raised him. I’m a different person now, and I know that must be confusing and heartbreaking to you, but the accident changed all that.”

Her words popped his euphoria like the bursting of a balloon. This wasn’t nearly as straightforward as he would like to believe. The woman standing before him wasn’t his Ruby.

“What happened to you?” he blurted. He had so many questions about where Ruby had been for the last few years and how she had lived. Ever since he had walked into Boone’s office they had been churning inside him like acid.

A sigh slipped past her lips. “I was in an accident, I think. I’ve had CT scans on my head, and it’s pretty apparent that I suffered a traumatic brain injury. I don’t know exactly what happened, but when I woke up I was in a remote, wooded area.” She shook her head. “I must have wandered there in a daze from the mountain. God must have been watching out for me.”

“You were in Colorado doing a search-and-rescue operation.” He smiled at her. “That was your job. You were really great at it, too. You were caught up in an avalanche when you were doing a mountain rescue.”

Ruby’s jaw dropped. “Search and rescue? I had no idea. The reason I came to Love was because of a news story I watched on television about the Operation Love program. It basically detailed how the town mayor was matching single bachelors from here in town with women from all over the country.” She furrowed her brow. “There was something so familiar about the town. And I couldn’t get it out of my mind for days and days after I watched the segment. It gnawed at me. Call it a gut feeling, but I knew there was some connection between this quaint village and my old life. So I made the decision to fly out here and do some digging. I hit pay dirt the moment I entered your brother’s office. He practically hit the floor the moment he laid eyes on me.”

“Can’t say I blame him,” Liam murmured. “I had the same reaction.”

“It’s understandable. It’s been two years since the accident.”

“My dad was there that day in Colorado, helping out with the operation. He’s search and rescue like yourself. He saw you get swallowed up by the snow-slip, along with three others who were standing on that mountain ledge.” Just recalling it sent shivers through his body. It had been the darkest day of his life.

Ruby’s brown eyes widened. “Did they make it?”

“No,” he said somberly. “Only one body was recovered. All three of you were presumed dead.”

Tears pooled in Ruby’s eyes. “I have no idea how I survived that. All I know is that I was discovered by a couple who live in a remote area, miles away from the mountain. I don’t have a clue as to how I got there, but my friend Trudy spotted me wandering aimlessly near their cabin. When she brought me inside she said I was disoriented and couldn’t even remember my name. For the first few months she and her husband called me Kit. Then I remembered my name. It just came to me out of the blue.”

Liam felt a burst of anger toward the couple who had taken Ruby in. He clenched his teeth and reminded himself to count to ten so he didn’t vent. “How in the world didn’t they connect you to the rescue operation on the mountain? It was in all the papers and on the internet.”

Ruby quirked her mouth. “The couple who rescued me lives off the grid. Their lifestyle is very humble. They don’t have television or internet. And they were very protective of me. They brought in a doctor who examined me at their home since I was too afraid to leave. There was a bump on the back of my head, along with bruised ribs and some contusions. He wanted me to come in for additional testing, but I refused any further medical intervention.”

“You’re incredibly fortunate there wasn’t bleeding on the brain or anything else that might have been fatal.” Liam hated sounding like a medical know-it-all, but he couldn’t help but see this from a doctor’s vantage point. Not seeking medical attention at a hospital had been foolish. And risky.

Ruby sent him a sheepish look. “Not too smart of me, I know. I was a wreck for months and months. I jumped at the slightest sound, and I refused to do anything outside of my narrow comfort zone. It wasn’t until I went to Denver that I began to get connected with modern-day living. That’s when I finally had medical tests to get a firm diagnosis.”

“I’m amazed that you went so long without medical attention,” Liam said with a shake of his head. “But I understand that your circumstances were extreme. Having no memories must have been terrifying.”

“It was,” Ruby said with a sigh. “I don’t want to say I’m used to it now, but nothing is as bad as those first few days and weeks when nothing made sense. Lately I’ve experienced more flashes of memory. I’m grateful that I remembered my name and this town...even though I have to admit it’s not easy being here.”

Liam observed the worry lines and strain etched on her face. He wanted to reach out and take away all her fears and worries. Back when things were good between them he would have reached out and swept a kiss across her brow and soothed Ruby the way he knew best. If only he could. Those days felt like a million years ago.

He smiled at her. “I feel very grateful that those flashes led you back home.”

“Home.” She wrinkled her nose as she said the word. “I don’t want to hurt your feelings, because you seem like a very nice man, but home isn’t something I’ve ever known. Not really. The home we shared... I wish that I could remember it, but I can’t.”

Liam’s heart lurched at the look of utter defeat etched on Ruby’s face. The woman he knew was a fighter. She had never given up on anything. Not a single time. Not ever.

“I know everything is coming at you fast and furiously. But I need you to know that when I married you I took our wedding vows very seriously...we both did. We’re still married, Ruby. My home is your home.”

“Liam,” she protested, “what you’re saying is very sweet, but I don’t—”

“I know you don’t remember us and our life together, but I remember you,” Liam interrupted. “The food you like. What makes you laugh. Your favorite color. The way your cheeks flush when you get angry.”

A vein began thrumming above her eye. “Those things may have changed. I’ve done a lot of research on my condition. Tastes can become altered after a brain injury. For instance, I love apples. I may not have before.”

Liam grinned. It made him happy to know that she hadn’t changed completely, despite the differences he noticed in her demeanor and personality. “You’ve always loved apples,” he said. “Ever since I’ve known you.”

“That’s good to know,” she said. A hint of a smile played around her lips. For a moment she looked less somber. Almost lighthearted. Within seconds, a shadow crossed her face. “I’m not sure about meeting Aidan. I don’t know how to act, what to say to him.”

Liam had to stop himself from reaching out and caressing her cheek. She looked so vulnerable right now. “You’re his mother, Ruby. For him, that’s going to trump everything else. Remember, he’s only four years old. He’s at the age where he accepts things at face value for the most part. Unless, of course, you’re trying to get him to eat his vegetables.” Liam let out a chuckle. “Aidan and broccoli have been having a tough time of it lately.”

Ruby scrunched up her face. “Broccoli? Yuck. The kid has good taste. I like him already.” She let out a sweet laugh.

“And I’m not an expert on amnesia, but as a physician, I know that certain things can trigger memories. Maybe seeing Aidan will cause you to remember something solid about your life before the head trauma,” he said. “Something that can ground you in the here and now.”

She chewed her lip for a moment. It seemed as if she was soaking in everything he had explained to her. “You’re right,” she said with a nod. “I owe him a shot at remembering. He’s mine, whether I remember him or not. I’m not sure if I know how to be his mother, Liam, but I know it’s not right to walk away from this. At least not without seeing him first.”

“I’m not asking for the moon, Ruby. I just want you to meet him, to see him face-to-face. We’ll cross the bridges as they come.”

“I’ll do it,” Ruby said with an emphatic nod of her head. “I want to see our son.”

Liam felt a tightening sensation in his chest. Aidan was going to be reunited with his mother! It was almost as wonderful as the moment the knowledge had seeped in that Ruby was alive. For the last two years he had been walking around like a man with half a heart. Now, for the first time in forever, he felt as if he had hope. Although he knew the odds might be stacked against Ruby getting her memory back, he couldn’t help but feel optimistic about their lives returning to normal. And, above all else, Aidan getting his mother back.

With Ruby back in their world, God had just presented him and his son with the best Christmas gift ever.

* * *

Ruby sat in the passenger seat of the big, midnight-blue truck and gazed in wonder at her surroundings. She almost felt like a little kid as she swung her eyes in every direction. Everything in this village was so beautiful. It resembled an old-fashioned postcard. Jarvis Street—the main area in town—had quaint shops lit up with sparkly Christmas lights and charming lampposts decorated in red and white.

A huge pine tree sat on the town green, adorned with colored lights and an abundance of ornaments. Couples were walking hand in hand down the street while a group of children had their noses pressed against one of the shop windows. A big sign with the words Operation Love hung on a shop door. Her attention was drawn to an establishment called the Moose Café. It looked festive and fun, judging by the moose logo above the door and the customers who sailed out the door with contented smiles on their faces.

“That’s my brother Cameron’s place.” Liam glanced over at her, as if waiting for her to react to the name he’d tossed out. It hadn’t registered at all. She felt a little dip in her stomach. It felt as if she might be disappointing him by not remembering names and places and this glorious town. But she could never pretend about her memories just to make someone happy—they were sacred.

“It started as a coffee bar, but it’s morphed into a pretty good restaurant,” Liam explained. “He serves up a mighty good mochaccino and a whole assortment of other fancy coffee drinks.”

“It seems like a great place,” she said, admiring the soft glow emanating from inside. It looked like the sort of establishment where friends gathered to share food, good conversation and fellowship. Who had her friends been in this small fishing village? Had they mourned her passing? Had they missed her?

“He built that place out of sheer grit and determination. You used to always say that Cameron could do anything he set his mind to.” A ring of satisfaction laced his tone.

“I guess I was right,” she murmured. “That’s quite commendable of him. How many siblings do you have?”

“Three. There’s Boone, who you just met. He’s the oldest. Cameron, who owns the Moose Café. And last but not least, is my sister, Honor. She’s the baby of the family.” He quirked his mouth. “I don’t want to make you feel any pressure, but my little sister always thought you hung the moon. She’s at the house now, watching Aidan, so she’s going to be very emotional about your return. I sent Boone ahead of us so he could tell her. Be prepared for a few waterworks. That one wears her heart on her sleeve.”

Ruby was thankful for the heads-up. There was nothing worse than being blindsided. She wondered if that’s how Liam felt about her showing up in Love without even the slightest warning.

He must be a strong person, she realized. Liam seemed to be handling the news incredibly well, much better than she was. Her own emotions were all over the place. She could feel something bubbling up inside her and threatening to overflow. She had been so used to stuffing her feelings down in an effort to minimize the pain of not knowing her identity. It was as if someone had pulled back her layers and exposed her core. All her nerve endings were tingling.

She bit her lip. Ruby turned toward him, admiring how good-looking he was in profile. “What about me? Do I have any brothers or sisters? And what about my parents? Shouldn’t you call them?”

Liam’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. “Your parents are both gone, Ruby. But you do have a brother, Kyle. You raised him after your parents died in a car accident. He lives in Alaska, but not here in Love. He’s a volunteer fireman. I’ll call him once we get home and see Aidan.”

“Were we close?” she asked. Her pulse began to race at the idea that she had a blood relative she had loved dearly enough to raise on her own.

Liam turned to her, a sheen of moisture in his eyes. “Very close. He was inspired to become a fireman after watching the work you did with search-and-rescue operations.”

Ruby felt a big smile take over her face. “That’s nice. It makes me feel good to know that I worked in a meaningful profession and that I impacted people’s lives.”

“You saved a lot of lives, Ruby. Even on that terrible day on the mountain, you rescued people. Pretty amazing, isn’t it?” Liam’s voice radiated a deep respect. “You were a hero.”

It was fairly wonderful, Ruby thought. A feeling of pride rose inside her. There wasn’t much in her day-to-day life to feel accomplished about. Back in Denver she worked at a restaurant as a waitress. It was a low-paying, boring position that left her feeling as if there had to be more to life than her current situation reflected. But with no past, no degrees to put on a résumé and no known skills, making a living had been difficult. Her boss paid her under the table and hadn’t pressed her for a social security number after she’d explained her circumstances. She was thankful she was able to live a modest life on her salary, but the work didn’t fulfill her in any way.

As Moose Crossing signs appeared on the road ahead and a magnificent mountain loomed in the distance, majestic and proud, the enormity of the situation crashed over her in unrelenting waves. She had stepped out on a leap of faith by making the trip to this lovely Alaskan hamlet. Leaving Colorado had pulled her out of the comfort zone she had established for herself in Denver. Despite her fears, Ruby couldn’t remember ever having felt this wonderfully alive and present.

With every passing moment she was realizing that her being here in Love came with a host of complications. She had only brought a few days’ worth of clothes with her. Somehow in her mind she had imagined coming to Alaska and doing a little bit of digging around, then heading back to Colorado to continue with her life. Closure had been her objective. Finding out about her son and Liam had added a huge wrinkle to her plan. She had meaningful ties in this town. And there was nothing about Liam Prescott that made her believe he would sign divorce papers and send her on her merry way.

Truthfully, she wasn’t certain that she was fully prepared to greet her old life head-on. A husband and a child? A brother? Family and friends? She wasn’t sure she could handle all of these new connections without coming apart at the seams.

Liam shot a quick glance her direction. He reached out and touched her hand. She jerked it away, feeling uncomfortable at the tender gesture. Despite the circumstances, it was too intimate. She didn’t know him like that.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you,” Liam said. “You looked so nervous I just wanted to reassure you. Everything will be fine.”

Ruby turned her head away and glanced out the passenger-side window. Everything will be fine. She wasn’t sure she truly believed that. Liam couldn’t possibly understand her journey as an amnesia victim. He didn’t know the twisted road she walked each and every day. The fear. The anxiety and stress. The frustration over not being able to access her own memories from her mind. And now she was going to have to face her four-year-old son and deal with questions she wasn’t sure she was prepared to answer.

Look up, she reminded herself. It served to remind her that when things in life became jumbled or stressful, to look for God. He was always there for her. Ever present. Always faithful. Ruby didn’t know where her faith had come from, but she was grateful for it at moments like this when her fear felt like a living, breathing thing that might consume her.

“We’re here,” Liam announced as he turned off the road and down a private, tree-lined driveway. Ruby peered out the window. Her surroundings resembled a winter wonderland. Spruce trees were everywhere. She recognized them from Colorado. They were beautiful, with full branches covered in a blanket of white.

The tires crunched noisily on the ice and snow in the driveway.

Fear skittered through her. What have I gotten myself into by agreeing to come here? She took a deep, fortifying breath to calm her nerves.

Liam had been right about her meeting with Aidan. What he was asking of her wasn’t a lot, considering he’d been doing it alone for two years and raising their son by himself. Something was pushing and prodding at her. A feeling deep down inside her that she’d been stuffing away for months. She ached to hold her child in her arms, to give him back the mother he’d lost. It felt instinctual, but it was terrifying to imagine how she might feel if he rejected her. What if after all this time she wasn’t enough?

All of a sudden everything buzzing in her head hushed and stilled as Liam’s house came into view. It resembled something out of a fairy tale. Nestled in the woods and surrounded by snowcapped trees sat a small log cabin that brought to mind a rustic lifestyle. A fat, plastic snowman gave the front porch a festive air. A green pine wreath with red ribbons adorned the front door. A smattering of icicles hung from the eaves.

A sigh slipped past her lips. It was a delightful house. Perfect for raising a family and happily-ever-afters.

Had she been happy in this cozy, eye-catching home? Had all her dreams come true when she had married Liam and given birth to their baby boy? From all appearances, Ruby Prescott had been living the dream.

“We built this house from the ground up. It was your dream, Ruby, ever since you were a little girl, to live in a log-cabin home in the woods,” Liam said, his eyes moistening.

“Thank you,” she blurted.

Liam frowned. “For what?”

“For giving me that...the home I always wanted. It must have meant the world to me,” she said, feeling a pang in the region of her heart. To have been so loved by her husband that he had made it a priority for her to have her log cabin in the woods was a wonderful thing. It spoke of devotion.

Had our life together really been so idyllic?

She felt a wave of sadness pass over her. To have lost so much—a loving husband, a dear son and a wonderful home built straight from her imagination was painful. And although Liam’s home was unbelievable, she still didn’t feel any sort of connection to it. Nothing had been stoked inside her except sheer admiration.