Free Believe by Liz Botts Page A

beard and twinkling blue eyes smiling at me.
    My breath hitches. As Gran joins the man, I know he’s my grandfather. How can I disappoint him? I want to run to him and grab him in a hug, but instead I head toward the piano bench to sit beside Nick.
    The grin on Nick's face shows even through his bushy faux beard. I edge myself down on the bench beside him.
    "What should we sing?" Nick's voice tickles the sensitive skin below my ear and I shiver. He lets out his Santa laugh. "Let's have a round of 'Up on the Rooftop.'"
    His fingers dance across the keys as he launches in to yet another familiar tune. Several people in the room join in. Nick slants a sideways glance at me and quirks an eyebrow until I begin to sing along softly. Thankfully my back is to the room because this is too embarrassing for words. I don’t sing carols because all of them glorify something that is a complete and total lie. Besides that, my singing voice sounds weird to me, too high and tinny. But my grandfather asked me to sing and the way Nick is looking at me…I want to give him a reason to be pleased with me.
    We finish the song to more applause. Nick holds my eyes just a moment longer than he should. Then he turns back to the crowd, putting on a good show. My poor heart hammers frenetically in my chest. A quick glance over my shoulder tells me that Gran and Granddad are sitting at the back of the room.
    I don't think about what I’m doing, but I reach over and give Nick's hand a quick squeeze before slipping off the piano bench and heading toward my grandparents.
    "Virginia." My name whispers off my grandfather's lips with a reverence usually reserved for mystical things. He struggles to stand and reaches to pull me into a hug. As he wraps his arms around me, I’m engulfed in comfort and warmth and safety. My grandfather has retained his Santa shape, feeling squishy as I wrap my arms around his middle. He smells of cinnamon and wood smoke. As he releases me, I realize he’s still the epitome of the title even after all these years away.
    Something inside me quivers. I feel like my heart is cracking open, and dare I say, the first small stirrings of belief surface. He releases me, and I stare at him through watery eyes. Tears fall unbidden down my cheeks and I can’t talk.
    I have no idea how long we stand there sniffling, hugging, and then laughing with disbelief, but suddenly I notice the room has gotten quiet. The piano music has stopped and the chatter of people has faded. I swipe at my damp cheeks and look around. A jolt of adrenaline races through me as my eyes connect with Nick's. He hovers several feet away, watching us, me, with a look of concern.
    He glances at Gran and then Granddad then back to me. "I, um, don't want to intrude," he says rather stiffly. The formality of his voice makes me giggle. The sound surprises all of us, but Nick seems to relax. "Are you okay?"
    Another giggle erupts from me. "No, and yes."
    Nick looks more confused than ever. He pulls off the Santa hat and beard, leaving him looking adorably disproportioned. I have to glance away so I don't giggle again.
    Gran finally says, "Virginia is just meeting her grandfather for the first time."
    "Oh, right," Nick says, understanding blossoming in his eyes. "Well, I won't disturb you anymore."
    He gives me a little smile before turning away and heading out of the dining room. Something about him leaving fills me with a lonely, empty feeling.
    "I'll be right back," I tell my grandparents before darting out after Nick.
    He's just about to exit the building when I catch up to him. I say his name breathlessly, and he turns to me. Before I know what is happening, I’m in his arms and his lips are pressed against mine. He tastes deliciously of hot chocolate, and I can smell just the faintest aroma of his cologne, something earthy, woodsy. His hands tangle in my hair, and I feel like I’m drowning in Nick.
    When we fall apart, he gives me another