by Wendy Davy
Emma considered denying she needed assistance. She’d managed much more daunting tasks in the past. She could do this, too.
“I’d be glad to help,” he prodded as if sensing her hesitation.
“Well, if you don’t mind. But I need to get a knife to cut—”
“I’ve got it.” Reed withdrew a pocketknife and sliced through the twine. As he lifted the tree his muscles bunched beneath his coat, his broad shoulders carrying the load easily. He stood the tree upright on the driveway. “You chose a nice one.” He nodded his approval.
“Luke picked it out.” Standing back a little, Emma sized up the tree. “It looks even bigger now than it did on the tree lot.” If it was too tall she would have to saw off some of the trunk. She hadn’t unpacked Ben’s tools yet from the move. “Maybe we should leave it outside for now.”
“No worries.” Reed’s gaze seemed to penetrate her thoughts. “We can make it work.”
Emma blinked. There hadn’t been a ‘we’ other than she and Luke for a long time now. It sounded peculiar coming from Reed. She’d only spoken with him the one time before now; the day they’d first arrived. She’d seen him coming and going since then, had glimpsed him in his backyard a time or two.
So, why was he here now bearing a housewarming present and being so helpful?
“I don’t want to impose. Luke and I can manage.” She made sure Luke was still sleeping in the car, grabbed hold of the tree and dragged it up the driveway. The thing had to weigh a hundred pounds. She broke a sweat, even though the temperature couldn’t be more than forty degrees. Why did she have to get sick and appear so weak in front of this strapping guy? She didn’t want him to think she needed him to run to her rescue.
“I’ve got plenty of time.” Reed followed along. “I’m a physics teacher at Oakburn High School. It’s winter break. I’m off until the first of the year.”
Well, maybe just this one time. She released the tree and it thumped to the driveway. “It’s heavier than it looks.”
“No problem.” Reed picked up where she left off and hauled the tree onto the porch.
Emma loved the white wrap-around covered porch with the built in swing, and the house’s pale yellow exterior and planter boxes. One look at the house listing online and her heart was set on the cute little place. She’d purchased the home as-is, so the price was great. She already felt comfortable living there. She just hoped she could get the plumbing fixed soon. The bucket under the kitchen sink would only work for so long.
“How do you like Oakburn so far?” Reed propped the tree near the front door, tucked thumbs into his jeans pockets and looked around. “Can’t get much of a better view in my opinion.”
She agreed. The view was spectacular. Reed sure did make an impressive sight with his square jaw shadowed by just enough dark stubble to hint at mystery. And those blue eyes, clear as the Carribbean Sea. She took in his broad shoulders again. Very nice. And his solid, thick biceps. The man even had attractive, rugged hands. She sensed he’d noticed her perusal and jerked her gaze away to the surrounding mountains. “It is beautiful here. A nice place to start over.”
“Just you and your son?” Reed asked.
Had he seen she wasn’t wearing a wedding ring? Or had he noticed the absence of a man at her house? Didn’t matter, she supposed. Although she didn’t want just anyone to know she was a single mom, Reed wasn’t just anyone. He was her neighbor. “Yes. It’s the two of us. My husband, Ben, passed away about three years ago.”
Reed’s gaze softened. “I’m sorry.”
Emma drew in a deep breath and exhaled, determined to make this move to Shenandoah Valley the new beginning she’d dreamed of. And, with that new beginning came a new level of independence. “Thank you for your help. I should wake up Luke before he sleeps too long. Or he won’t want to go to bed tonight.”
“You sure you don’t need a hand setting up the tree? I don’t mind.”
She could use Reed’s help, but if he came inside he would see the bucket under the leaky kitchen sink. She opened her mouth to say no—
“Mommy?” a sleepy voice interrupted.
Emma glanced toward the car. Luke had woken and climbed out. He blinked a couple of times. His eyes lit up when he spotted Reed. “Hi! I remember you. Do you like my tree?” Instantly alert, Luke bounded up the porch steps. “I picked out the biggest and bestest one.” He craned his neck to look up at Reed. “Wow. You sure are tall. My dad was tall. I bet you can reach super high to put the angel on top for us like my dad used to.” He turned to Emma. “Can he? Pleeeze.”
5
Luke’s enthusiasm more than compensated for Emma’s reluctance. As Reed sawed a couple inches off the tree trunk, carried the tree inside and set it up near the bay window, Luke followed his every step, peppering him with random questions.
Reed answered them as they came, enjoying the child’s curiosity.
“Luke, let Mr. Reed finish what he’s doing.” Emma gently admonished as she scooted a plastic container close to the tree, took off the lid and removed a string of lights.
“He’s fine.” Reed answered. “I’m a teacher. I answer questions for a living.” He glanced toward his pretty neighbor. Her long hair spread out across her back, falling forward over her shoulders as she leaned into the bin. She had a nice shape. He’d noticed that the day they’d first met. When her caramel colored eyes met his, his heart skipped a beat. She looked a little pale today except where the tip of her nose and her cheeks were tinged pink. She’d been sneezing a lot, too.
“Are you OK?” Reed asked.
She nodded. “Just a bit under the weather.”
It had to be tough being a single parent, especially when fighting an illness. The child’s letter to God came to mind, tugging at his heart. At least Emma’s condition wasn’t serious.
Luke prattled on, saying something about the fireflies he caught in his backyard at the house they had before. “Do you have fireflies here, Mr. Reed?”
Reed snapped out of his thoughts, looked at the cute kid. “Yes, we do.” He knelt in front of Luke. “As a matter of fact, I have a special bug catcher you can use next summer if your mom says it’s OK.”
Luke’s head bobbed so fast his curly blond hair bounced across his forehead. “That would be great. Mommy is it OK if I use Mr. Reed’s catcher when the bugs come back?”
“Of course,” Emma agreed as she struggled to untangle a messy ball of lights.
Finished setting up the tree, Reed approached Emma. “How about you take one end, I take the other and we work until we meet in the middle?” He stood close enough to catch a whiff of her delicate, alluring perfume. Or maybe it was body wash. Or the shampoo she used. Regardless, he liked it.
Emma stilled, looked up between the inches separating them.
He flashed his most charming smile. Noted her breathing hitch.
The pull of attraction grew, and his gaze dipped to her soft, supple lips. But, Emma was his neighbor. He was here to give her a hand. Not flirt with her. And, judging by the growing paleness in her features, he had come along at the right time. “On second thought, I’ll take care of this if you want to rest.”
She hesitated. “It has been a challenging day. I could use a break.”
Reed gently slipped the light string from her fingers.
“Thanks. I’ll just sit over here for a few minutes.” Emma eased onto the sofa and closed her eyes.
Reed went to work untangling the lights. By time he finished, Emma had fallen asleep. Curled on her side, she looked so peaceful and fragile his protective instincts ignited.
“Shh. Mommy’s sleeping.” Luke tip-toed over to her, tucked a throw blanket around her and kissed her forehead.
In that moment, Reed lost a piece of his heart. To both of them.
6
By the time Emma woke, darkness had fallen. The fire in the fireplace cast a soft glow across the room. Logs crackled and flames danced, luring her back to sleep.
Wait. S
he hadn’t lit a fire. She bolted upright. “Luke?” She tossed aside the throw blanket and stood so fast her head spun. Grabbing the sofa’s arm, she steadied herself before calling out again. “Luke? Where are you?”
“We’re in the kitchen Mommy.”
We? Then she remembered. Reed Mason had helped set up the Christmas tree. Lights had been added to the branches and the angel looked down from above. How long had she slept? She glanced at her watch. Two hours. She hurried into the kitchen. Reed stood at the stove stirring something as Luke knelt on a chair next to him, looking into the pot.
“We’re making hot chocolate from scratch! It’s gonna have marshmallows and everything.” Luke grinned and Emma relaxed.
Reed handed over the spoon for Luke to continue stirring. He turned, leaned against the counter and crossed his ankles. “Hey, sleepy beauty.”
She touched her hair, smoothing it. She must look a mess, but she appreciated the sentiment. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep. You didn’t have to stay this long. You should’ve woken me.”
“It’s OK. We’re having a good time. Aren’t we Luke?” He ruffled Luke’s hair.
Luke giggled. “Yeah! Did you see the tree? I was right. Mr. Reed reached the top without a ladder. He’s a whole six foot and two meters tall.”
“Six foot, two inches tall,” Reed corrected with a laugh.
“Yeah. Two inches,” Luke confirmed. “Do you think I’ll be as tall as you one day Mr. Reed?”
“I don’t know, buddy. Guess we will have to wait and see.”
Luke was so enamored with Reed’s attention that Emma supposed it wouldn’t hurt for him to stay a while longer. She settled onto a kitchen chair. “Thanks for looking after Luke.”
He nodded. “It’s my pleasure.” His gaze lingered on hers, his charming dimple appearing with his smile.
A jolt of attraction struck Emma. If she wasn’t careful, she could become as enamored with Reed as her son had already become. She looked away, took a calming breath.
“Hot chocolate’s ready.” Reed pushed off the counter and rinsed his hands in the sink.
Alarm skittered through her. “Wait. The sink has a leak.” Had she remembered to replace the bucket after dumping the drain water last time? She rushed over, opened the cabinet doors and checked. The bucket was gone. She looked for water dripping from the pipe but it was dry.
“Mr. Reed fix-ted it alweady. And I helped.” Luke puffed out his chest.
Her gaze shot to Reed. “When? How?”
“When you were sleeping,” Reed answered.
Emma didn’t know what to think. Ben had been the handyman around the house. He had always looked after those kinds of things. Now she was on her own. She had to learn to handle situations herself. Why was Reed being so helpful, anyway? She didn’t want to feel indebted to him. But, she also didn’t want to be rude or seem ungrateful. “Thank you, but you really didn’t have to do that,” she managed to say.
“It was no problem,” Reed shrugged as if it really had been a simple task.
After Luke showed Reed where to find the mugs, Reed filled three. She accepted a cup of hot chocolate and wrapped fingers around it. Warmth seeped into her palms, and she took a sip. She could actually taste it a little in spite of being sick. She hoped her cold was on its way out.
Luke dropped a handful of mini marshmallows into his mug, poked them with his finger, and then spooned the marshmallows into his mouth. After swallowing, he turned to Reed. “This is yummy. Mommy says we’re gonna make Christmas cookies as soon as she gets the oven fixed. Can you fix ovens?”
Adrenaline shot through Emma. “I can handle the oven, Luke. Let’s not worry him with it. Finish your hot chocolate. It’s time for you to go to bed.”
7
Reed had sensed the moment Emma had put up her guard. Perhaps he shouldn’t have touched her plumbing. But, it was a simple fix, and he hadn’t wanted her to have to pay for the repair. Then, when Luke mentioned the oven needed fixing, she’d immediately slammed the door on that topic as if accepting any further assistance would cross an unseen boundary. That had been two days ago, and he hadn’t seen her or Luke since.
Yesterday, he’d video chatted with his sister Anna and her kids, Molly and Miles, and then paid bills and finished wrapping gifts for friends and acquaintances. Laundry had been next and then after a trip to the hardware store he’d relaxed with a movie. Today, he planned to work on the fence. He wasn’t particularly motivated but it needed to be done.
After breakfast Reed shrugged into his coat and zipped up and then stepped out his back door and walked toward his shed. The crisp morning air carried the scents of wood smoke; someone had a fire going nearby. The scents carried him back to thoughts of his childhood and days spent camping and exploring the woods behind his house. He cherished the memories and hoped to have new adventures with his own family one day.
He stopped at the shed’s wooden door, thought about opening it to gather supplies and then bypassed it and continued through the back gate. He’d take a walk along the river and then mend the fence.
Reed strolled along the perimeter of the hundred yards of shoreline he owned, enjoying the sounds of the river passing by. A splash sounded and then another, drawing his attention.
Luke stood on the edge of Emma’s property skipping rocks across the river.
“Hey, buddy.” Reed approached him.
Luke looked up. His wide, toothy grin warmed Reed’s heart. “I skipted the rock thwee times. Watch this.” He picked up another rock and flung it. It plunked into the water with a splash. Luke tried again and again saying “watch this one” before each throw.
Reed joined him. “The flattest stones are the best for skipping.”
“I know. Mommy showed me. She says I’m super good at skipping rocks. She says my dad was too. I only remember him a little bit. He was strong like you. He didn’t look like you though. He had blond hair like me.” Luke gathered more rocks and set them in a pile. “I’m gonna save these for later. Mommy says savings are good to have cuz you never know what’s gonna happen next.”
“Your mom’s a smart lady.” Reed added some rocks to Luke’s collection.
Luke’s cheeks were tinged pink from the cold and his thin shirt couldn’t be giving him much warmth.
“Where’s your coat?” Reed looked toward Emma’s house. He didn’t see her. Not even through the bay window. “Does your mom know you’re out here?”
Luke shrugged and wouldn’t look him in the eye.
Suspicions confirmed, Reed knelt next to Luke. “Tell you what. Why don’t we pick the best skipping rock and go show it to your mom.”
“OK.” Luke sorted through the rocks, picked one up. “This is the bestest one.” He bounced up the yard clueless as to Reed’s concerns.
As they walked toward the back door, Emma suddenly appeared, cheeks flushed and eyes wide. “Luke Evan Richards. You were supposed to wait in the living room while I took a shower. What were you doing down by the water?”
Luke hung his head. “I was playing with rocks. But Mr. Reed was with me so that makes it OK, right?”
Emma’s momma bear eyes zeroed in on Reed. “Did you take him down there?”
Holding up hands in an innocent gesture he explained, “Found him already by the water.”
Emma shook her head as she looked at Luke. “We’re going to have a long chat, mister. Now, go to your room.”
“But…” Luke started, but one stern look from Emma and he quieted and moped inside.
Emma hugged her arms around her middle. “I would never let him near the water without watching him. Luke can swim but the water’s freezing this time of year.” She glanced toward the river and shuddered, her gaze taking on a faraway look. “Losing my husband was bad enough. I couldn’t bear losing Luke, too.”
“It’s all right.” Reed stepped close. “Luke is safe.”
“When I was pregnant I assumed Ben would always be there to help raise our child. I never once c
onsidered that I would become a single parent.” Her voice sounded tired, as if the challenge of raising Luke on her own had become overwhelming. “Some days I wonder how I’m going to manage.” Vulnerability shone through her eyes as she met Reed’s gaze.
The urge to be there for her grew so strong it had to be divine providence. “It’s going to be all right, Em,” he whispered. “You’re not alone.” Reed lapsed into silence allowing the depth of his statement to take root.
Emma’s breathing hitched. Moments passed and then she slowly nodded, dipped her head and leaned into his chest. Reed drew her close, content to simply hold her.
8
You’re not alone. In the days that followed, Reed and his reassuring words remained in Emma’s thoughts. Since losing Ben, life had been different. She’d accepted she had to handle things on her own. She didn’t normally allow her vulnerability to be so transparent. But, she’d felt so alone—until Reed had held her as if he’d had all the time in the world just for her. She hadn’t been able to get him off her mind since.
Mulling over her thoughts, Emma set up Luke at the kitchen table with a piece of paper and crayons. Luke’s artwork had helped Emma understand how he dealt with life’s events, from losing his dad to moving and all the worries in between. Even his simple pictures held significance. She’d learned a lot about what her son thought by discussing his drawings with him. “What are you going to make this time?”
“I’m gonna draw me and you and Mr. Reed making a snowman.” Luke picked up a white crayon.
“I can’t wait to see it.” Seemed Reed had made quite an impression on Luke. “While you’re drawing, I’ll be out on the porch hanging Christmas lights. Come get me if you need me,” Emma added, but Luke had already delved into his task.
Emma carried a box of lights outside, her gaze automatically straying toward Reed’s house. His dark blue pick-up truck sat in his driveway, and her heartbeat kicked up speed. Developing a crush on her neighbor wasn’t something she’d planned. She needed to rein in her emotions. “Focus Emma,” she spoke to herself. She found an electrical socket and plugged in the lights to check them. Nothing happened. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”