Amanda grabbed another carrot and swirled it around in the ranch dip. That explained why she hadn’t been able to get a hold of anyone earlier tonight. She felt a little left out. “How was your day, Mom?”

“It was nice. Lots of great families this year.” Her mom pulled out the cold sandwich tray that Brenda had bought earlier. “How was yours? Your dad tells me you had dinner at Kristen Bailey’s?”

“I did. It was really wonderful. Her daughters are precious, and they honestly deserve a nice Christmas.” Amanda watched her mom. She was suddenly feeling sorry for missing the last two years with her family. “Mom, I’m sorry.”

“Sorry for what?”

“For lots of things. Letting the last two years go by. I don’t have any excuses. I’ve just been . . .” She sighed. “I was being stupid. This weekend has really reminded me how much I love this place and being part of this family.” She hung her head low.

Her mother came around the kitchen island and squeezed her shoulders. “Dear, we love you and only want what’s best for you. We just wanted to give you your space.”

“I should have talked to Brad way before this. I mean, he’s family. I let two years go by.”

“Well, maybe we weren’t with you the last two years, but you were with us.”

Amanda looked up. She could feel her tears starting to form. “What do you mean? In spirit?”

“Well, yes, and also in our living room. We watch your newscast on the Internet together. It’s become a tradition.”

“I’m a Turner tradition?” That was it. There was no stopping the flood of tears rushing down Amanda’s cheeks. She threw her arms around her mother. “I promise I won’t miss another Christmas ever again.”

Brenda bounced into the kitchen and set the pretty blue box on the kitchen island. “Your gift is ready. Here, take a look.”

Amanda opened the box and gently pushed aside the silver tissue paper. The tiny rock was in its center. It read, Xmas Dinner. “Oh, Brenda.” She put her hand over her heart.

“Do you like it?”

“It’s perfect,” she whispered.

“What’s this?” Her mother peered over her daughter’s shoulder.

Amanda flung her arms around her mother. “Thank you, Mom, for having the wonderful tradition of giving gifts before Christmas dinner. Tate is going to love this. I just know it!”

“That’s wonderful, dear. Can you help me take these sandwiches into the living room? I’m sure your grandmother is starving. She’s been watching A Christmas Carol all afternoon and mumbling about your grandpa paying a visit soon.” She laughed. “We may need to keep her away from the spiked eggnog.”

“Sure thing. Right behind you.” Amanda reached for the sandwich tray.

“Actually, let Brenda do that. You should go down and join the boys outside and surprise Tate with his gift.” Reaching over, she brushed a strand of hair out of Amanda’s eyes. “Why don’t you take Tate some cocoa? There are two thermoses next to the sink. You could go down to the sleigh.”

Amanda’s mouth opened as she watched her mother leave. “Well, that’s a first.” Presents were always opened before Christmas dinner and not a moment sooner. It was just as much a part of a Turner Family Christmas as the mandatory sweaters and the eggnog sugar cookies.

“What’s a first?” Brenda asked.

“She just broke a tradition.”

Amanda took a few minutes to make the cocoa and fill the thermoses. Once done, she grabbed a blanket from the living room. She also found a flashlight that she’d need to show Tate his present. The box with his rock was safely tucked inside the blanket. She headed outside and trudged down the snowy hill.

A small figure darted in front of her and jumped into the sleigh.

“Jingles! All right, little one. Move over.” She nudged the dog to the right side and got in. He crawled up into a little ball in her lap.

Tate and Alex were still giving out gifts about thirty feet away. She smiled. It had only been last night that Tate marveled at all the decorations on the lawn. Now, he was the main attraction.

Speaking of attraction . . . There was no denying that those little butterflies that didn’t appear when Brad was around her, were inside her stomach now and had multiplied over the last hour.

She put her hand on the blue box, thinking about the conversation she just had with her mother. She couldn’t believe her family had watched her newscast on Christmas Eve for the past two years. She’d become another Turner family tradition and hadn’t even known it.

It was chilly outside, but the cocoa warmed her up while she waited. How ironic. This was the very place that two years ago she planned to give her heart for all eternity to one man. Now she hoped to have a new beginning with a different one.

She watched as Tate and Alex continued to give out gifts. They were singing and laughing with the kids.

How could she have not realized this sooner? Maybe her grandmother and George from the hospital were right. Not to mention Lacy. If she just opened her eyes, maybe she would see what apparently everyone else who met Tate saw—a generous, kindhearted man.

She patted the dog on the head. “Jingles, I still don’t understand why he wanted to come home with me so badly. Do you think he’s had feelings for me all this time?” She slowly sipped her cocoa, looking in Tate’s direction.

* * *

Tate and Alex waved to the last car pulling away from the house. “That was fun,” Tate said. “Thanks, man, for all your help tonight.”

“No problem. It was cool. Dad loved it, too. He’ll probably make this an annual tradition now. As you saw today, we’re pretty big on traditions around here. You up to wearing that suit again next year?”

“I’d love it. But I guess it all depends on your sister.”

“Why’s that?”

Tate shrugged. The two men started to climb up the hill toward the house. His ankle still hurt, but it was tightly supported in his boot. A dog barked in the darkness.

“I think your sleigh awaits.” Alex pointed in the direction of the bark.

Tate’s heart beat fast through the red suit. Amanda waved to them. “How did you know she was in there?”

Alex shrugged. “She’s been hiding out in that sleigh as long as I can remember. “Nice of you to help us,” he called out.

“Nice of you to run over my boyfriend,” Amanda shouted back.

“Come on, Jingles. Here, boy!” He whistled. “Let’s leave these two love birds alone.”

Tate smiled and followed his heart straight to the sleigh. For a few more hours, she was still his girlfriend. He stepped aside as Jingles flew past him. “I thought that dog would never leave.”

“Hi, Santa,” she said.

“May I join you?”

“I think this might be your sleigh.” She scooted over. Once in, she draped the blanket around his legs so that they were both underneath.

“Here’s some hot chocolate.” Amanda handed him a thermos. “It should still be hot.”

He took a sip. “What a night, huh?”

“Indeed.” She shook her head. “How’s your ankle?”

“Much better. Almost as good as new.” He leaned back and padded the pillow under his stomach. “Hey, if you wanted to get an exclusive with Santa, I could make it happen,” he teased. “Could get you an Emmy.”

Amanda smirked and leaned back. “Nah, I’m really cozy right now. Maybe next year.”

“Why, Ace, is that an invitation to do this again next Christmas?” He noticed her look away. Was she nervous? She was reaching to her side and grabbing something. “Well, I’ll keep the beard on for a few more minutes in case you change your mind on that interview.”

“I have a little gift for you,” she blurted out and handed him a blue box with silver ribbons around it.

Tate set the thermos off to his side. “Amanda?” He took the box. “You got me a present? I don’t have anything for you.”

“It’s nothing really,” she said. “It was actually yours to begin with. I just thought you might—”

“Thank you,” he interrupted her. This was the second Christmas box this woman had given him in her lifetime, and she didn’t even realize it. He untied the silver ribbons and removed the lid. His shiny lucky charm poked out from silver tissue paper.

“Well, hello, old friend.” He picked up the familiar rock and squeezed it in his hand.

“I just thought that maybe given the day you had . . .” She paused. “Well, I thought you should have it back.”

Her thoughtfulness sent his heart racing again. He needed her to know everything, but he didn’t have a clue where he should start. He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “You know, my mom gave this to me when I was thirteen. She picked it up in a gift shop on a road trip on this very night. My dad had just died. She told me our luck was going to change.”

He could feel her hand touch his shoulder. “I’m so sorry that you lost your parents at such a young age. That’s why you carry this rock, isn’t it?” she asked. “I know you put it in your pocket before we go on air. I’ve watched you do it. Why did you give away something that is so personal and sentimental to you?”

“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “I got carried away in the moment. I thought you could use it this weekend.” He pointed to his ankle. “I guess the joke’s on me.”

Amanda took the rock from his hand. “It’s a little different now. I hope that’s okay.” She switched on the flashlight. “See.”

He leaned in and peered down. “Is something inscribed on it? I can’t quite make it out.

Xmas something?”

“It says, ‘Xmas Dinner.’” She sighed. “For tonight. I mean, I know it’s Christmas Eve dinner, but that would have been too long for Brenda to etch. I thought this could remind you of the special surprise you orchestrated for Kristen and the girls tonight. I know that Chloe invited you to dinner. That must have touched you somehow to do what you did.” She tugged his beard playfully. “That and you did promise if I brought you home, you would make sure Christmas dinner would be memorable. This is just a little reminder that I’m holding you to it.”