An Aussie Christmas Angel by Clare Revell Read Free Book Online Page A

get rid of them. Not sure I’d want one as a pet.”
    “Nor would I.”
    John smiled and turned his attention to his food. “That’s something else we have in common then.”
    She looked at him. “What else?”
    “Well, there’s God. He plays such a big part in our lives, and we both love and serve Him and obey Him, even when it does seem hopeless.”
    “Or when He doesn’t answer prayer.”
    John smiled. “Oh, He always answers. The problem is the answer isn’t always yes. Sometimes it’s no or not yet.”
    “Not yet, I can cope with. No, now that’s one I always struggle with.”
    “Same here. We also both come from large families. We both like the same food.”
    “We have different ways of worshipping though. You didn’t seem totally comfortable in church on Sunday.”
    John paused with the fork partway to his mouth. “Honestly? No. I find the hand raising and clapping distracting and yeah, I was rather self-conscious. But just because it’s different, doesn’t mean it’s wrong.”
    Jo smiled. “In My Father’s house there are many rooms. One for the hand-waving, dancing…”
    “…enthusiastic in their worship Aussies,” John put in.
    “And one for the Brits and their stiff upper lip.” She winked, and tried to look British, failing miserably.
    He laughed, shaking his head. “We have to maintain our stiff upper lip image. It’s what we Brits are famous for. You guys have beaches and sunshine and barbies. We have our sense of humor that no one else gets and the rain. Did you know the Victorians even tried banning singing in church at one point?”
    “Really?”
    He reached for his glass. “Oh yeah. But that would make it boring, right? Can you imagine an eternity with no singing praises?” He paused. “I could no more stop singing than I could stop looking at you and seeing how beautiful you are.”
    “I’m not—”
    He reached across the table and took hold of her hand. “Yes, you are. Your eyes sparkle and you resonate with joy and love for God. And that makes you beautiful on the inside as well as the outside.”
    She smiled. No one had ever called her that before and it had more than thrown her.
    He held out his glass. “I want to propose a toast.”
    Jo picked up her glass. “What are we drinking to?”
    “An unexpected song,” he said. “One that sneaks up when you least expect it and resonates through you so much you can’t stop singing it.”
    She held his gaze, knowing the song he was referring to. Was he thinking the same as her? “To an unexpected song.” She chinked her glass against his and drank.
    He set his empty glass down, his eyes never leaving hers. “That was wonderful. Do you want dessert?”
    “No, thank you. I couldn’t eat another thing.”
    “Then let’s pay and go for that walk.”
     
    ****
     
    The moon hung low and full in a jeweled sky. Glancing up, Jo marveled at its majesty and the fact that John walked under the same moon in his own country, even if the constellations were ones she’d never seen. Lights reflected off the bridge onto the still waters of the harbor as they walked. His hand was warm in hers, sending ripples straight through her. She didn’t think it possible to be happier and more content.
    Well, there was one way. She had to know and she wasn’t one to hold back and not speak her mind. At the risk of sending him running for the hills or the nearest train station and then the airport, Jo took a deep breath and plunged headlong into unchartered waters. “John, could I ask you something?”
    He turned towards her, the moonlight shining behind him, lighting up his whole profile. He really did look like an angel. “Sure.”
    “If you lived in Sydney, would you date me again?”
    “Absolutely.” The one word spoken with so much force and without thinking sent her heart soaring.
    “Really?”
    The moonlight and the halo of stars surrounded his head. John’s sincere fathomless blue eyes held her attention. “Absolutely I