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It's Christmas Eve Eve… which means it's time for more Halloween Leahward, LOL!

Sorry for the delay. I've had sick kids and a sick me, and we're all just starting to see the light. But I'm so excited to share this next installment with you!

Someone's night just got a whoooooole lot more interesting, hmm? Let's continue!


Halloween, 1997

The din of the restaurant.

The flowers, table, and wine list.

All of it ceased to exist and matter.

Because he was here.

Edward was here.

"Miss?" The server asked somewhere beside me. "Is the gentleman staying?"

I stared without really seeing, trying to understand what my mind was telling me.

Namely, that he was here.

Edward was here.

"Are you all right?"

I heard the server but couldn't make myself look his way. After years of trying to forget or pretending I didn't remember, Edward was here.

Here.

With me.

On Halloween.

"Miss?"

I realized I was being rude and blinked out of my trance. Yet my head refused to move, as though afraid if I looked away, Edward would disappear.

"I'm sorry, ma'am." The server sighed. "But I do have other tables."

"Give her a moment," Edward said.

"My apologies." I faced the server. "I was not expecting the gentleman and have no idea why he's here."

"I know, Leah. I…" Edward sighed, and I gripped the sides of my chair to keep from looking at him again. "I just want to talk."

The server ignored him. "Is that all right with you?"

And there was the million dollar question.

Was this all right with me? Could I sit across from Edward after all this time—all this time!—and hear him out?

And if I refused, could I stomach the alternative? Could I sit silently by and let him walk out of my life?

Again?

"He can stay." My voice sounded strange, but I smiled anyway. "Thank you for being so patient."

"My pleasure." His glance at Edward indicated otherwise. "Let me know if you need further assistance."

"I will."

I watched the server disappear into the crowd to avoid the gaze of the man to my left. Despite the surrounding noise, I heard the chair across from me slide out and willed myself not to bolt from the table.

"Thank you for seeing me," he said softly.

I wanted to laugh, as "seeing him" was about the last thing I was doing. The wine list recaptured my attention, and I flipped through it in earnest, searching for something stronger.

Was Liquid Courage an actual beverage?

"Leah?"

I closed my eyes and clamped my lips shut. How many times had I imagined this moment? How many times had I fantasized about hearing his voice again? About hearing him saying my name again?

How many times, I wondered now, had I reacted like a woman being tortured?

"Could you look at me?"

I shook my head, wishing he understood. How could he not know how difficult this was for me? How could he not realize I was falling apart at just the sound of my name on his lips? And now he wanted me to look at him again?

I couldn't do this.

I couldn't do it, and I was a fool to think otherwise.

"Leah, please look at me."

The tenor of his voice compelled me to comply.

And what I saw stole my breath.

There was fear and nervousness sullying the perfect green of his eyes. There was excitement (to my surprise) and something else I couldn't quite define.

But beyond that, beneath that, was vulnerability so profound I could have cried. He didn't blink, didn't speak, and I took the time to drink it all in: Edward Masen, raw and humbled before me.

It was a miracle in more ways than I could count.

"Excuse me?"

I jumped at the feminine voice over my shoulder. "Yes?"

"I'm sorry I startled you." Tanya offered a timid smile. "But you have a call."

"A call?"

"Yes." She glanced toward the hostess station. "You can take it over there."

I eyeballed the distance between here and there, uncertain I was strong enough to make the trip.

"I'll wait" came the gentle voice from the other side of the table. "Take as long as you need."

I didn't dare attempt eye contact again, but I managed a nod as I rose to follow Tanya. My legs felt as if they would give out beneath me, but I forced their cooperation, refusing to begin with a wipeout in the middle of the dining room.

My fragile nerves wouldn't survive such a misstep.

Tanya led me to an alcove to the right of the hostess station, indicating the phone on the high-top desk. "Line 3."

"Thank you." I took a steadying breath, praying nothing had gone wrong at the Halloween party. "Hello?"

"Don't hate me."

I recognized the voice instantly. "Katherine Elena Denali…"

"The government name," Kate said. "I must be in trouble."

"What did you do?"

"The real question is: what did you do?"

"What?"

"Are you dining alone?"

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "I don't think that's the point right now."

"I think that's exactly the point."

"What is he doing here, Kate?" I hissed into the receiver. "How did this happen?"

"Don't you want to hear those answers from him?"

"No!" My volume drew the attention of a passing patron. "I don't know what I want."

"I don't believe that, but let me tell you what I want. I want you to return to that table and confront the man who broke your heart seven years ago. Say what you want, do what you feel, and by the time the check comes, you'll know."

"Know what?"

"If it's time to close the door on the past or take a leap of faith for your future."

I felt the watery tremor creep into my voice. "I can't do this, Kate."

"Yes, you can."

"I don't even know what to say."

"Then just listen. He came to you, so he must have something to say."

She had a point. And though the situation was more surreal than serendipitous, I owed it to myself to hear him out.

If only to silence seven years of 'what ifs.'

"I hate you."

"I know."

"Was there ever a meeting?"

"Yes."

"How'd it go?"

"We made a deal."

"I still hate you."

"I know. Happy Halloween, Leah."

Kate hung up, and I stared at the receiver until Tanya poked her head in. "Everything okay?"

"Yes." I set down the phone. "Just a business call."

"Good." She studied her black ballet flats. "Listen, um, Ms….

"Clearwater."

"Ms. Clearwater. I heard you objected to the flowers, and I just wanted to say that I only…"

"It's fine. My issue lies with whomever requested them. I know you were only doing your job."

"Oh, good! I would hate to have ruined your night."

"You didn't."

Let's hope my uninvited guest won't do the honors.

I made my way back to the table and felt Edward's gaze on me the whole time. It was a challenge to focus on my destination without looking at him, but I managed well enough. Resuming my seat, I flipped open the menu without a word or glance in his direction.

If he was going to crash my night with Kate, then he would have to get this started.

Whatever it was.

"Is everything okay?"

"Fine." I was surprised by how strong I sounded. "Just a minor issue at work."

"Where is work?"

"Ronald McDonald House in West Philadelphia."

He chuckled. "Of course."

My head snapped up. "What does that mean?"

"You're a natural nurturer with a heart the size of Saturn. You'd be right at home in a place like that."

My annoyance simmered to embers. "I am."

"That's great, Leah. Really. So what do you do there?"

"What are you doing here?"

He flinched. "I deserve that."

"And I deserve answers." I closed my menu. "Starting now."

"I have answers. But I don't know your questions."

"What?"

"I want to tell you everything, but I don't know what you want to know."

"I want to know what you're doing here!" I leaned forward to keep from raising my voice. "You appear out of the blue after seven years of silence, and for what?"

"To answer your questions."

"And that's it?"

"No, that's…" He closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead, and my traitorous heart leapt at the sight. "That's not it."

"Then what else is there?"

He met my gaze, and I folded my hands atop the table to stall their shaking. "I came here to apologize, to answer your questions, and to…"

"Yes?"

"To see if I'm too late."

On their own, the words could have meant anything: too late to invest in Irina's Bakery. Too late to join the planning committee for the next high school reunion.

But with that look in his eyes and the history between us, "too late" could only mean one thing.

And it was up to me to respond.

"Good evening!" I was grateful for this server's arrival. "My name is Alec, and I'll be your server tonight." He filled our water glasses, and I took an immediate sip. "Here are tonight's specials."

Edward's face cleared of emotion as he listened to Alec's recitation. The shaggy-haired server could have suggested sautéed shoelaces over herb-crusted Styrofoam, and I wouldn't have noticed.

My mental attention was focused on an entirely different matter.

"Shall I order first?" Edward asked.

"Are you paying?"

"I am at least good for that."

I looked at Alec. "What's the most expensive thing on the menu?"

Edward laughed, shocking us both, and I rescued Alec from awkwardness by ordering a T-bone with mashed potatoes and asparagus.

"That sounds good," Edward said. "I'll have the same."

Alec finalized the details and took his leave, and the tension at our table returned. I took another sip of water, and Edward cleared his throat. "Have you been here before?"

"No, but it seems nice." I set down my glass, and something occurred to me as I looked around. "The door."

"I'm sorry?"

"Tanya sat me away from the door because you were afraid I would leave." He didn't deny it. "The flowers?"

"Guilty."

"The song?"

"What song?"

"Never mind." There was no way I'd mention the cookies. "How did you convince Kate to help you?"

"Didn't take much convincing." Though he didn't sound pleased. "She said you guys had plans but she'd let me take her spot on a three conditions."

"And they were?"

"I had to be honest. I had to accept whatever you decided. Oh, and I had to get the check."

"Well, that last one was a no-brainer."

"What about the rest?"

I shrugged. "How would I know if you're being honest? I haven't seen you in seven years, Edward. A person can change a lot in that much time."

"Not too much though." His voice sent a shiver down my spine. "You're almost exactly as I imagined."

I reached for my water glass. "Almost?"

"Your hair is longer, wavier." I felt his gaze on my face. "And your nails are a different color."

"You thought about my nails?"

"I've thought about every single part of you, Leah. Thought of little else since I left town."

I set down the glass, careful not to spill my water. "But you never called or wrote."

"I know." He dragged a hand down his face. "There was so much going on with the four of us, and I didn't know how to…"

"Four?" I steeled myself. "There was someone else?"

"Yes." At my sharp inhale, he shook his head. "Not for me! No, um…with my mother."

Alec returned with salads I didn't remember ordering, and I all but shooed him away. "Your mother had someone?"

"Yes. Well, she did five months after we got to Chicago."

"Five months after you…" My mouth dropped open. "She was pregnant?"

Edward's brow furrowed. "My dad was devastated."

A wave of smugness filled my heart, and I was immediately ashamed. Though his father's rules ruined our relationship, it was wrong to be pleased by his pain. "I'm sure he was."

"Should we pray?" He cleared his throat. "Before we eat?"

"Oh." That made sense. "Definitely, yes."

"Great."

He extended his hands across the table.

"What are you doing?"

"Praying." He offered a small smile. "Is that okay?"

"Yes, but…." I glanced at his hands. "I, um… I mean, I don't…."

"Right." He dropped his hands into his lap. "That was presumptuous. I'm sorry."

The whole night was presumptuous, but I saw no reason to say that. "I'm not trying to hurt you, Edward. It's just a little…"

"I know. You're here, and that's plenty. I shouldn't have pushed for more."

"Maybe we should pray silently on our own," I said. "I'm sure God can multitask."

His chuckle was hollow. "Sure."

I bowed my head and pleaded for direction. This night was not turning out the way I'd planned, and though I was grateful for the chance to see Edward again, my ping-ponging emotions were of little help. One minute I wanted to hear him out and the next I wanted to hide in the bathroom.

Wasn't this what I'd prayed for all these years? Wasn't this what I most wanted every Christmas and birthday? So why was it so hard to do? Why was it so uncomfortable and weird?

Because it was real. And anything I couldn't control scared the daylights out of me.

Edward shifted in his seat, and I realized my head was still bowed. I tacked on an actual prayer to my musings and muttered an audible Amen.

"Sorry." I raised my head with a smile. "Got lost in thought."

"I know the feeling."

"So….what happened with the…"

"The baby?" He pulled out his wallet. "See for yourself."

He slid his wallet across the table, open to the photo holder. And beneath the clear plastic covers, I saw someone who looked like someone who once jumped up and down outside my backdoor.

But her hair was curlier.

"She looks just like you." I flipped through the photos. "I mean, she could be your daughter."

"I always imagined my daughter with silky black hair," he murmured. "And darker eyes."

I looked up and found him staring at me with that vulnerability from earlier. I handed him back his wallet, and he stuck it in his jacket without looking away. We hadn't talked about anything, hadn't figured a thing out, but here we were now, staring a possible future in the face.

And the thought of him thinking about our children had brought us here.

"You asked why I didn't call or write," he continued. "I've written you dozens of letters since Halloween 1990, letters I either ripped up or burned because you deserved so much more than I could put onto paper."

"Edward…"

"There was no way to apologize for leaving like that, no way to ask you to forgive me, let alone beg you to wait."

"Edward, please…"

"Because I knew I couldn't come back. As much as I missed you and wanted to be with you, I couldn't do that to her." He shook his head. "I couldn't leave my sister like my mother did."

I gasped. "She left again?"

Edward's nostrils flared as his voice hardened. "This time, there was a note."

I couldn't speak. For all the pain his leaving caused, the promised reunion with his mother was the one positive takeaway.

And she destroyed that too.

"At least I got Esme out of the deal," he said at length.

"Esme?"

"Esmeralda, my sister." His smile was wide and proud. "She's amazing. She actually…"

"What?"

"She reminds me of you."

"Me?"

"She's bright, quick, and has a smile that makes everything better."

"Is she also suspicious of excessive flattery?"

He smiled. "What do you think?"

"I think." I set my napkin in my lap, grateful for the distraction of food. "I think we should eat before Alec returns with our entrees."

"Whatever you say, Ms. Clearwater."

The flirty formal address set my cheeks aflame, and I kept my head down to keep him from noticing. And as my heart rate struggled to remain normal, I had a sobering thought.

This is just the first course.


Sooooo….what do we think? Edward still has some 'splainin' to do, but I think this is a promising start.

THANK YOU ALL for spending part of 2015 with these two kids. Few people appreciate the magic of Leahward, so your support and reviews are so very dear to my heart.

May you have a blessed, peaceful Christmas season and welcome 2016 with eager, open arms. See you next year! XO