by Cheryl Wyatt
He straightened, scowling. “No, it’s a known carcinogen that causes leukemia in children. Most exterminating chemicals are.”
“I meant cinnamon. Ants don’t like it so they stay away.” Right now, she wished she could sprinkle a little on him. His curtness made her stomach drop.
His jaw clenched and he studied her under hooded eyes. Whether remorse or sulking, she didn’t know.
His warm hand on her shoulder got her attention. “Sorry.”
One word. Yet every emotion was packed into it. She couldn’t turn. Couldn’t look at his face right now. She’d burst out crying. For both of them.
Each wounded in their own way, like two raging animals lashing out at each other. The vivid image gave her the courage to look him in the eye.
“It would benefit us both if we’d stop snapping and snarling at each other, put our heads together and figure out how to get past it. Something’s gotta give, Ian. Your brooding and my pouting. We can’t go on like this. Tia will pick up on it.”
A muscle rippled along his jaw. He studied her for a good ten seconds, then shut the car trunk. Firmly. Like the subject.
He pulled out his phone and dialed. “Hey, Kate, let’s meet up for dinner at the Golden Terrace. I want Tia to see the lights downtown.” Pause, then, “Why not? Where you at?” Ian scowled. “Fine. Meet me after dinner on the square.” He clicked off and slid into the car. “I promised to take Tia to get a tree this evening. She can see lights on the way, I guess. Kate can’t meet for dinner.”
Bri recalled him saying they were eating at the Golden Terrace. “I hope it’s not an inconvenience to drive me home first.”
He braked in the parking lot and looked at her. “Why? You haven’t had dinner yet. I promised to feed you.”
“Golden Terrace isn’t my style. I’m more of a grab a BLT and sit out on the deck watching forest critters in the woods kind of girl.” She didn’t want to admit how low on cash she was.
“I’m buying. Mitch says they have great T-bone steaks. And rumor has it that’s your favorite.” Now his voice sounded teasing.
“If you’re buying, I’m getting two steaks.” She grinned.
Ian drove toward the middle of town. A screech, then a horrific crashing of glass and metal caused Bri’s hand to grab the dash as Ian braked hard. “Oh, my word, someone just hit that guy on a bike!” Pieces of the motorcycle spun and bounced all over the road. “Oh, no, Ian!”
But by the time Bri’s sentence ended, Ian had thrown open the door, and was sprinting to the scene of an accident that put ice in Bri’s veins.
No way did someone not get seriously hurt in that. Breath short, she exited the car on trembling legs and rushed to where Ian and others crouched over the motorcycle rider. Several people were already on the phone.
“Sir, hold still,” Ian directed the young man, who blinked awake, to Bri’s relief. Sirens wailed in the distance now. Bri remembered how Ian being at her side calmed her. She closed her eyes and thanked God for having a doctor right here.
A doctor like Ian.
Paramedics loaded the man in, and Ian told them he’d meet them at the trauma center. “Mitch is gonna have a tough time with this one,” Ian said as they followed the ambulance. “And so is Tia. I promised to take her to get a tree and see lights.”
He looked so vulnerable, so torn, Bri couldn’t keep her hand from clutching his forearm in a show of support. “She’ll understand.” I hope.
“I don’t know. Tia’s so vulnerable because of all her mother’s broken promises. This could likely widen the chasm.” His voice broke like the motorcycle. “I was gonna get you a tree, too.”
“Oh, Ian, don’t fret over me. I have a tree, in my bedroom. It’s Caleb’s. A four footer with key chains for ornaments. He’s been collecting them since he was a kid. I keep it in my room because it makes me feel safer at night. Having his things and wearing his hoodies makes me feel close to him.”
His forearm flexed under her hand, making her aware of the muscles, and how able-bodied he’d been helping the young man, who’d stopped breathing shortly after Bri had knelt by him. No way could Ian not go to the trauma center. The man needed lifesaving surgery and Ian was the only anesthesiologist in town. “Sometimes I wish Caleb wouldn’t share so much.”
“With me?”
“No, about medical things. I don’t know how you do it.”
“And I don’t know how you managed to wrangle a room full of romping preschoolers at the day care you owned. We all have gifts, Bri. It’s whether people choose to use their gifts for good or not.”
“Aha!” She aimed a finger at his cheek. “I knew it.”
He cut a glance her way as he neared EPTC’s lot. “What?”
“You do believe.”
He shrugged, looking defensive at first. Then, surprisingly, his face softened. “What you said earlier about taming our reactions to one another made sense. But while it sounds good in theory, I don’t have a solution.”
“Praying helps.” She braced for a harsh reaction. While annoyance flickered in his eyes, it wasn’t the fireball she expected.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” He turned and hoofed it to the trauma center ambulance bay, where Mitch, Lauren and Kate met him. Tia stood wide-eyed inside a window. Bri wiggled fingers at her and went in to get her out of there. Lem stood with her, but told Bri he needed to write a message for Lauren that he would wait with Tia at Bri’s.
Ian saw Kate, stood abruptly and whirled around as if simultaneously remembering and looking for something. He said something to Kate, who pointed where Bri kept Tia distracted from the gurney being wheeled quickly inside.
Ian saw that Tia was with Bri, and tangible relief washed over his face. He raised his gaze from Tia to Bri, and their gazes connected through the glass. Deep gratitude swam in his eyes as he mouthed slowly, “Thank you.”
Bri nodded. Put her hands to Tia’s shoulders to keep her facing the other way and tried her best not to let the adoration in Ian’s eyes get to her. Adoration directed at Bri this time, and unquenchable love for Tia.
The way Bri had felt that moment their gazes connected over the chaos drew her in a way that made her realize she was growing to trust him—more than she ever had with Eric.
“Ready?” She directed Lem to where Ian had parked, his door still open. Bri laughed. Lem and Tia loaded, Bri carefully drove one-armed to her cabin at a snail’s pace since she wasn’t allowed to drive yet.
“You sure you’re s’pose to be doing this?”
“What, driving?” Bri grinned and winked. “Sure.”
Lem cast her and her sling a grandfatherly look and a grin that said he knew she absolutely was not supposed to be driving.
What harm could come? It was just across the parking lot.
And down one tiny road. And one itty corner.
Once at her place, Lem and Tia helped carry in and put away her groceries. Bri put Lem up to watching Tia while she unloaded gifts, drove to Ian’s, lifted the key from his planter and unloaded his things. Longing swept through her when she got a good look at the huge wreaths. “So beautiful. Mama would have loved that on her lodge.” A knot sat in Bri’s throat because all of the Christmas decorations had mildewed in last spring’s flood.
The river made Bri suddenly remember they’d forgotten the fish. “Could you watch her a few moments more?” she asked Lem once she was back at her cabin. He happily obliged while Bri snuck into the bedroom and used her landline to call the pet store, which would be closed before she had a chance to get back there tonight.
Please, be open on Christmas Eve.
Otherwise, Tia wouldn’t get her Christmas fish.
“Sorry, no can do,” the manager of the fish department told Bri on the phone. “We won’t be open till the day after Christmas.”
&nbs
p; “What kind of pet store doesn’t stay open on Christmas Eve?”
“The kind whose owner would rather spend time with his own family than make a ton of money.”
“I see. I’m sorry then for sounding difficult.”
“Sure. We’ll hold the betta for you until after Christmas. I hope the little one has other gifts to tide her over.”
Not a gift she’d really wanted. Bri ended the call with her hopes diving for Ian and Tia to have a good Christmas. But, at least they had each other. If only Tia could realize how hard Ian was trying, and that he couldn’t help having to work sometimes.
Bri’s stomach growled on the way back to the playroom, reminding her they hadn’t eaten. Oh, well, probably for the best. The last thing she wanted to endure was an awkward dinner conversation with Tia’s brooding dad.
Paused at the playroom door watching Tia, enthralled as Lem read a Bible storybook to her, Bri hoped Ian would take her advice and truly consider that talking to God about all his troubles could make a huge difference.
Chapter Five
What would make the difference? Ian wondered at 5:00 a.m. Christmas Eve morning when he went to Bri’s to pick up Tia, who glared at him from the playroom door. “You ruined everything!”
He knelt on Bri’s woodland tapestry rug. “Tia, you got to help Miss Bri decorate her home last night. She said Lem even showed you how to make homemade ornaments before he left. They look wonderful.” He beamed at the colorful construction paper rings draped on Bri’s molding and the paper-and-glitter snowflakes on her walls and tree. “We have decorations to put up at our house, too. That’s why I’m here so early to get you.”
“You’re not early. You’re very late. We waited a long time and you never came back.” Her voice cracked, and her chin trembled. Stark fear and vulnerability flushed the anger from her face. She put her face down, composure crumpled, shoulders quaked.
In that instant Ian realized she had been afraid he’d left for good. As she was starting to figure out Ava had done. “I’d never leave you, Tia.” He reached for her.
She jerked her shoulder from his grasp and quivered to keep her sobs in. Bri stood in the doorway with worried, caring eyes.
Ian leaned in. “Tia, I’m sorry our plans went awry. The man who hit the motorcycle had fallen ill while driving. I had to take care of him, too.” His aneurysm had required a long, delicate surgery. Then the motorcycle victim coded. Twice. Following that, a tragic trampoline accident had paralyzed a man, who’d purchased it for his child’s Christmas present.
Yet Ian wouldn’t dare say all that to Tia.
His phone rang. It was his mother, probably wondering what time he planned on leaving Lem’s to drive to her home this evening, so she could see Tia open her presents Christmas morning. He’d call her back in a bit. For now, he wanted to decorate.
“Hey, Tia, I have a surprise waiting for you at home.”
She squealed and clapped. “A puppy?”
His spirits took a nosedive. “No, but I think you’ll like it, anyway.”
Her face lit with tentative hope. “A fishy?”
Ugh. Strike two.
“Let’s head over and see.”
She approached with an expressionless face. Clearly, she expected to be further disappointed. Hadn’t life proved it to be so? Ian motioned Bri to follow. She helped Tia on with her coat, and the trio walked over to his place to decorate. Hopefully, it would cheer Tia up to see the tree. By the time Ian dug it out of the box, his mom called twice more. Jenny Shupe wasn’t one to phone others obsessively. Maybe something was wrong. He called back. “Hey, Mom. Everything okay?” If life threw one more curveball at him...
“Everything’s fine. Sorry to worry you.” Relief hit. She sounded chipper. Voices invaded the background. “Oh!” she said excitedly. “Your siblings just arrived. Let me call you back.”
“Sure.” Ian used the time to put the tree together.
Tia wandered into the family room and gasped. Her eyes brightened and a grin tugged her mouth up, though she tried to hide it when Ian saw. Bri moved next to him. Her arm brushed his in what he instinctually knew was a show of solidarity.
He leaned to Bri, and whispered, “Tia’s smile sorely tempts me to be a one-time burglar. Break into Pawsome Pets, nab a particular betta so she’ll have Jonah in time for Christmas.”
Bri smiled. “I can see the headlines now. ‘One of Eagle Point’s most respectable doctors shocked the community today in an arrest for stealing a dollar-sixty-five fish....’”
He grinned. Kept the skin of his arm next to hers simply because it had been a long time since he’d felt anything that sweet. He wished he could express to her how much it meant. He wanted to bottle the feeling and keep it.
Tia began avidly investigating the tree and tinsel. She tossed its iridescent white-on-silver strands over her shoulders like a cape and began circling the tree, arms flapping like a nativity angel. Bri’s giggle mingled with Ian’s chuckle.
Ian leaned close to Bri again and kept low tones. “To my credit, the fishbowl and food cost seven bucks. Technically still a misdemeanor.” Ian grinned. He looked at Bri and reveled in not only how pretty her eyes were close up, but just how huge a part she played in reviving joy for him and Tia. Just by being herself. Like now. Her cheeks tinged pink at his open perusal, so he put some space between them.
Tia rushed up, took Bri’s hand and jumped up and down. “It’s a tree! A tree! A tree!”
Bri pretended surprise. “A tree! How exciting!” She winked at Ian above Tia’s head. It did funny stuff to his heart.
None of those other fuzzy feelings, though. Not even if she did look breathtaking in a sapphire-blue frock that dazzled like Eagle Point Lake at sunrise. Silver dangly earrings brushed her jawbone at the juncture of an elegant neck. Ian tore his gaze and set his focus where it should be: on his daughter.
He set about opening other boxes of decorations and refocused on Tia. She didn’t seem perturbed that he’d gotten the tree without her. Thankfully, the Christmas-tree-farm owner had sold him a tree at four this morning after he’d left the trauma center.
Ian handed Tia her own special ornament. She gasped and hugged the fairy to her heart, then moved toward him like a flash but stopped. “Thank you,” she said in a small voice.
Oh, how he wished she’d gone ahead with the hug. His phone rang again. “Hey, Mom.”
“Hi, son.” His mom’s telltale hesitation made him pace. “Listen, we need to change plans up for Christmas. Your dad just surprised me with Mississippi Christmas riverboat cruise tickets. I realize I invited you kids over for Christmas Day and the day after Christmas, but the boat leaves this evening. Would it be a hardship to have our family Christmas meal for lunch today instead of dinner tomorrow?”
Ian thought of Lem. He might be disappointed, but he’d understand. Lem had Mitch, Lauren and others coming. Ian told his mom he’d call her back, then dialed Lem, who was gracious about Ian’s cancellation. “Just so long as you and little T start coming to my Saturday chili cook-offs,” he’d said. Then told Ian he knew he didn’t get to see his parents and siblings together often these days. Ian hung up, knowing Lem was right and that his life needed a serious breather. But he’d taken on all these cabin renovations....
Of course, in return he had dependable child care, which eased his stress. Ian called his mom back. “That would be fine.”
“Good, then I’ll let you go so you can get things ready.” Ian ended the call with his to-do list proliferating in his head. He eyed his watch. Two-hour drive to St. Louis. He still needed to decorate his house, wrap presents and pack a bag for himself and Tia.
Another thought erupted. What about Bri? She might not feel comfortable going to Lem’s by herself now that Kate couldn’t be there. Kate had offered last night to take the Christmas Eve
night shift so a single mother R.N. could spend Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with her children.
Plus Tia had been super-excited to learn Bri would be with them on Christmas Eve day. What to do?
He observed Bri, smiling at Tia, while seated on his love seat. He was stricken by how its color seemed more lively dove than doom-cloud gray with her on it. No surprise. Bri’s demeanor tended to brighten all she came in contact with. Well, with the exception of ladders, of course.
Ian held up boxes. “Who wants to help decorate?”
Tia erupted in squeals, and the trio decorated in frenzied laughter with festive music playing in the background.
Ian realized he had joined their laughter at some point. He’d also gotten that cozy, homey family feeling. Not good. Not at all.
But there was no way he could leave Bri home alone on Christmas. Not only did the thought sadden him, Caleb would be hurt, as well. Ian couldn’t assume she’d go to Lem’s. He was afraid she’d isolate herself if he simply excused himself and Tia from going to Lem’s. He sighed. Knew what he needed to do.
That didn’t make it easy. She’d probably assume he’d only invited her because he felt sorry for her and refuse to go because of her issue with hating to feel like someone’s charity case. He found her feeding Tia breakfast. She’d made herself at home in his kitchen. The sight of her with his apron on stirred equal shock, awe and anger. She tensed, so she’d caught whiffs of his ill feelings about a woman making herself at home in his life. Doubtful she’d go, but he was obligated to ask. “Bri, we’ve had a change in plans at my folks’ house. They want us to actually come today.”
She blinked. “I thought you were going to Lem’s?”
“I was, but I just called and canceled.” He explained about the riverboat thing.
“I understand. It’s not a problem. I’ve got plenty to do here and stuff to keep me occupied.”
“In other words, you won’t go to Lem’s.”