Katherine and two other older men in suits flanked Nick and Mr Bower on either side. The men held the ceremonial check between them. Nick locked eyes with Angie and smiled. The camera people rushed in front of the stage and started taking pictures. Flashes of light lit up their faces. After a few moments, Nick’s dad moved behind the podium.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, it’s an honor to be here today.’ While he spoke, there was no sign of the man who had approached Angie at the information booth. He was professional and charming. Those were the touchstone qualities of a businessman. But in that, she saw a stark difference between Nick and his father. Nick’s smile was sincere. He and Angie worked hard for the homeless shelter with the wrapping station and Nick helping Hazel find a place to get clean and warm. Nick might not be like his father, but Angie clamped onto her trust issues.
‘I wanted to introduce my son, Nick Bower, who spearheaded this entire event,’ Mr Bower said, clapping a hand on Nick’s back.
Those in the room applauded for him as he took the podium. ‘Thank you, everyone.’ As the clapping died down, Nick took a breath and spoke into the microphone. ‘Our local mall is a cornerstone of our community. We’re constantly searching for ways to repay the people who support us. This year, a fine member of our community worked tirelessly to give as much as she could to the local homeless shelter. Her name is Angie Martinelli.’
Angie’s breath hitched as everyone in the room turned to face her. But she only had eyes for Nick. He smiled and waved her toward him. Several of the journalists moved aside to let her by. She didn’t want to be on camera, but for some reason, she knew with Nick by her side she would be fine.
Angie stepped up to the stage and stood next to Nick. While he spoke into the microphone, he didn’t look at the cameras once.
‘Angie has made me realize that this season isn’t all about retail shopping. It’s about experiences with those you love.’
He paused after the word love and Angie’s stomach fluttered.
‘And helping those who need it most,’ he finished. ‘I’m honored to know this incredible woman and I, for one, can’t wait to see what she does next.’
The room erupted in applause, and Angie blinked, remembering she was on camera. She smiled, hoping it didn’t look as shaky as it felt. The man next to her shoved the check in her hands while Nick took the other end. They stepped back, allowing Angie to stand close to Nick while the camera flashes filled her vision.
‘Keep your eyes open and look above the camera,’ Nick said under his breath.
With his voice, Angie relaxed. She no longer needed to force a smile as his presence and kind words overwhelmed her.
When Nick handed over the check to Katherine, a swell of pride moved Angie to tears. Katherine was close as well, and they laughed when they saw how emotional they were.
But Nick only had eyes for Angie, and along with her embarrassment over crying, her cheeks burned as well.
An overwhelming urge to flee the room took over, and once the cameras were off her, she stepped away from the stage and into the hallway. She glanced into the room, and it seemed as if no one missed her. They focused on Katherine, Nick, and Mr Bower.
‘Angie.’
She turned to see Hazel shuffling over to her. She wore a jacket, and her backpack slung over her shoulder. Angie guessed it was time for her to head out for the day. She pulled on her own coat.
‘I was hoping I would see you here. How lucky for me,’ Hazel said.
‘We delivered the check from the wrapping station,’ Angie said. ‘I was heading out to visit my friend in the hospital.’
‘Did she have her baby?’ Hazel asked.
‘She did,’ Angie said, grinning. ‘A girl.’
‘That’s lovely.’
Nick entered the hallway and stopped abruptly when he saw the two of them talking. His eyes were wild at first and then filled with relief when they landed on Angie. She couldn’t help wondering if he thought she had left without speaking to him. His fingers curled over his jacket slung over his arm.
‘There are the two lovebirds.’ Hazel preened at them. ‘Angie, you know Nick talks about you a lot.’
Even though Nick grimaced, he looked more handsome than ever. Probably because Angie couldn’t have him. ‘Hi, Hazel.’
‘Good morning, Nick.’
‘Angie,’ he said. ‘I thought we could continue our conversation?’
‘I’ll leave you to it,’ Hazel said, heading for the back door.
‘I’m on my way to visit Reese and the baby.’ At least she would have an out if she needed one.
They headed for the front door together. There was no one else in the hallway to interrupt them from this conversation.
‘I wanted to ask about you quitting,’ Nick said, holding the front door for her. The frigid air swirled around her, and she tightened her jacket over her chest. ‘I hope it wasn’t because of what happened between us.’
‘I got a job offer.’
‘That’s great,’ he said. The ends of his words clipped as if he were holding back. ‘So, you’re leaving?’
Angie nodded. She remained guarded, keeping the information to herself and protecting her heart. Without knowing for certain what their relationship meant, she couldn’t open herself up again just yet.
‘I wanted to tell you how sorry I am about what happened. I never intended to lie to you.’
She had to know. ‘What about Ivy?’
‘Me and Ivy, we’re friends. You, Angie, are the most important person to me.’
Nick told his truth so many times. Now she was the only person standing in their way.
‘It seems like I’m too late though,’ he said.
Angie released a breath.
‘I understand,’ Nick said, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. ‘Merry Christmas, Angie.’
He walked toward the lot, but her feet froze against the concrete. He got into his car. A sleek gray Lexus.
Angie looked up at the sky filled with thick clouds. She waited for a sign. Her heart tugged in his direction while her practical mind kept her in place. Could she love again so soon? Or were they never meant to be?
It wasn’t until he drove away that she could finally move toward an uncertain future where her heart was as empty as it was when she had arrived home a month ago.
Chapter 26
Nick gave Angie the opportunity to forgive him, yet she didn’t. As he walked to his car, his feet were like bricks of ice. He kept a slow pace, expecting to hear Angie calling out to come back to talk to him. They could go out for coffee or lunch and dig into the possibility of a future between them.
But she didn’t.
There was also her new job. It seemed as if she’d forgiven him enough to say hello to each other if they happened to pass on the street. He still couldn’t believe it was all over for them. And this was how they ended their holiday season after getting so close over the last few weeks.
The day stretched out before him. Charlie was already with Mrs Watson until later that night, and Nick wasn’t going to go home to stare at the tree he and Angie decorated together. He deserved to feel terrible about the events between them, but he wasn’t going to wallow in it.
There was also the matter of returning the ornaments. He supposed he could contact Angie after the holiday with that as an excuse to check in. If she was already off to her new job, he supposed he could drop them off on the porch. A sick feeling welled in his stomach at the idea of slinking away from contact with her family. That wasn’t like him. He wasn’t sure what she had told them, but at the very least he owed them a thank you for allowing him to share the season with them.
As he drove from the lot, he spotted Angie outside the shelter. The light was red, so he stopped almost in front of her. She stared off into the sky as if she were puzzling out the meaning of life. She had no idea he was watching her, and when the light turned green, he slowly drove away.
Nick wasn’t proud enough to think he
had something to do with her somber expression, but it gave him a little hope that Angie wasn’t as over him as much as she wanted to appear.
***
Other than needing to pick up supplies to wrap gifts, Nick wanted to be at the mall. It was the one place he could melt into the crowd and mull over his thoughts. He wasn’t going to bother David with his problems so early in the day. They had a meal to prepare for tonight and Nick didn’t want to get in the way of their holiday celebrations. No doubt Theresa would want to dig into what happened between him and Angie over dinner anyway.
The mall closed early due to Christmas Eve and wouldn’t open again until the day after Christmas. He couldn’t help moving toward the information booth more than once. He wasn’t sure why he thought Angie would pop up there, but it was as if she left an imprint on the place and him.
Nick wondered if he would ever be able to come down to this place and not think of her. She’d left enough of an impression on his life that he wasn’t sure if that were possible. He wished he would have thought about gift shopping sooner. Then, he could have come to the wrapping booth and spent even more time with Angie, instead of the one special gift.
When Nick finished shopping, he went to the apartment, unable to look at the tree for more than a few seconds. He set up his own wrapping station on the dining room table with his back facing the tree. Thinking of his family’s expressions while they opened his gifts distracted him enough to get him through the next few hours.
Every year, Nick tossed his gifts into bags with tissue paper, but it seemed a disservice to his family to do that this year. With each gift, he put the same love and care into the folds of the paper that Angie had. His heart had hardened to the fact that he had lost her for good, but at least she still influenced him. He would never regret meeting her and hoped that he had become a person worth loving for all of his faults.
Even with all the decorations, music, and lights surrounding him as he and Charlie left the building, his mood was as dark as the night sky. He wasn’t sure a flurry of snow would help either, but it couldn’t make things worse.
***
Seconds after Nick rang the doorbell at David’s house, the door flung open. The boys – clad in their matching red and white Christmas sweaters – wrapped their arms around Charlie’s midsection. She kissed them to a chorus of ‘gross’ and ‘eww’ before she bounded into the house.
‘Merry Christmas to you too,’ Nick deadpanned to the boys as they ran off.
‘We’re in here,’ Theresa called from the kitchen.
David walked into the living room, rubbing his hands under a towel while giving a pointed glance at the gifts. ‘Wow. You went all out.’
‘I learned a lot this year.’
‘Seems like it,’ David said.
Nick placed the gifts under the tree. It was smaller than the one Angie picked out, but all the homemade ornaments made from yarn and sticks made it that much more special.
‘Merry Christmas,’ David said, drawing Nick into a hug. His sweater was the same as the boys. Every year since the boys were born, the family had matching outfits. It was corny in the best way possible.
‘You too,’ Nick said, clapping his hand against his brother’s back.
‘Theresa is requesting you cut the Christmas ham,’ David said.
‘She’s requesting?’
David chuckled, holding up two bandaged fingers. ‘My hands have been through enough this week with new projects. How about you help me out a little?’
‘Only because it’s Christmas.’
Theresa and David outdid themselves. Nick noticed the change in furniture in the dining room. The table from the mall held the platter of ham, with steaming vegetables in bowls, and homemade bread among mouth-watering sides. The scent of the food was enough to calm his rolling stomach. The food and family reminded him of a simpler time in his past and wished his parents could complete the picture in his mind.
‘It looks better with some use,’ David said when Nick asked about it.
‘How did the press conference go this morning?’ Theresa asked Nick as everyone sat down.
Nick took his place next to the ham and grabbed the carving knives. ‘Did you watch it?’
‘We did,’ Theresa said. ‘You and Angie looked great together.’
Nick cut a look at his brother. ‘That’s not exactly how it is anymore.’ Nick concentrated on his task hoping he wouldn’t have to answer too many more questions right away.
Someone knocked at the front door. David looked around the table. ‘Who could that be?’
Theresa stared at her plate. ‘Why don’t you go and see?’
David narrowed his eyes at her, but she said nothing. They were at a standoff until a knock sounded again.
‘Or I’ll get it,’ Theresa said, getting up from her chair. She muttered something to herself that David somehow heard and he responded with his own mutterings as he rushed after her.
‘Is it Santa?’ Evan asked.
‘He comes down the chimney,’ James said.
Charlie barked from under the table and started pacing around the room before she fled toward the door.
‘You know Santa doesn’t appear to kids,’ Nick said.
‘Who’s at the door then, Uncle Nick?’ James asked.
Nick turned in his seat. Everyone was with their families tonight. The only person missing from the table was Angie. Nick had intended on being with her for at least one holiday feast. Had she wanted to make a final grand entrance before telling him she was going to stay in Brookside to be with him? He shoved the chair away and flew into the other room.
In his heart, he knew it was too good to be true. Nick’s ears pricked to hear his parents’ voices in the hallway.
‘Grammy!’ Evan said, bouncing up and down.
Nick’s mother appeared in the doorway. A glittery hair piece tied back one side of her hair, exposing the collar of her white turtleneck.
David and Quinn stood near each other but didn’t speak. Any time he saw his father and David, it never ended up well. His father held wrapped packages in his arms. He must have found the wrapping paper fascinating because he didn’t look at David once.
The boys rushed over and hugged Nick’s mother. Nick didn’t recall the last time he’d seen his mom with the boys. It should have surprised him more to see her there on Christmas Eve when they hadn’t invited her. Or had they?
Theresa kissed his mom on the cheek. ‘Thank you for coming, Yvette. Merry Christmas.’ Then they whispered to each other low enough that Nick didn’t hear a word.
He started to suspect this wasn’t as much of a surprise as he’d initially thought.
Quinn stood by the door as if he was ready to flee at a moment’s notice.
Charlie blocked the exit, panting and expecting a scratch from the newcomer. Quinn hadn’t come to his apartment since Charlie was a puppy.
‘What are you doing here?’ Nick asked.
David folded his arms over his chest. ‘Funny, I asked him the same thing. I still have yet to get an answer.’
Usually, Quinn had the upper hand. But in David’s home, the tables had turned. He wasn’t going to allow any of the drama to unfold in his house on a holiday.
Nick stood next to his brother, showing his loyalty. After the mess he had stirred up with Angie – and he’d barely apologized for it – Nick wasn’t sure if he was ready to forgive their father yet. Showing up didn’t automatically excuse everything he had ever done to David.
‘Someone reminded me that I’m the only one who can make things right with our family,’ Quinn said, glancing at Nick.
David’s shoulders slumped. ‘You want to make things right? What does that mean, Dad?’
Quinn cleared his throat. ‘I’ve missed a lot. I’m sorry it took me so long to realize. I want to see my grandkids. Go to soccer games. Spend holidays together. This season isn’t quite right without it.’
Quinn’s gaze fell to the boys, and his eyes widene
d. Nick could have sworn they started to tear up too.
‘Boys,’ David said, clearing his throat and emotion from his voice. ‘This is your grandfather.’
James and Evan glanced at each other before walking toward Quinn.
‘Are those presents for us?’ Evan asked.
Yvette laughed, and Quinn blinked a few times before he smiled.
‘Of course,’ Quinn said, squatting in front of the boys. ‘But how about we eat first? Your Grammy told me all about your mom’s cooking.’
Theresa wrung her hands together, while David stood stock-still next to her. It wasn’t the picture-perfect family reunion, but it was enough for now.
‘Let’s eat before it gets cold,’ Theresa said, leading everyone into the dining room.
‘Nick, help me with these chairs?’ David asked.
Nick followed him to the front closet. David pulled two folding chairs from behind the thick coats.
‘Did you set this up?’ David asked, whirling on Nick. Redness lined his eyes. David had always been the more emotional brother. But it was much more than that. Their father had taken the first step toward repairing their relationship. It was more than any of them expected.
‘No,’ Nick said.
‘I knew it was Theresa. I mean, I suspected, but I had to ask.’
‘Why would she do that?’
‘She’s been talking to Mom on the phone a lot. Since the discussion with Dad at the mall, she’s been pushing me to talk to him. I think she took the initiative this time.’
‘Are you okay with this?’
‘Do I have a choice?’
‘You can kick him out. No one would blame you.’
David shook his head. ‘The kids need both grandparents. This will be good for everyone. I’ll handle Dad.’
‘Do you think he’s willing to change?’
‘He wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t. He said someone told him to make things right. It’s a Christmas miracle if I ever asked for one.’
They went into the dining room. Theresa had already set up two more place settings. Yvette and Quinn were on either side of the kids, and Nick’s dad seemed entranced by James’ story about how he set traps for Santa around the house.
Wrapped Up for Christmas Page 23