A Season to Celebrate

by Fern Michaels

  “I think so. Daddy friends live with you and other friends don’t. Right?”

  “Yes! Correctomundo!” Kate thought she had just dodged a birds-and-the-bees bullet. Emma was too young to even notice these things—but it was a different world from when she had grown up.

  “Are we ever going to go Daddy shopping, Mommy?”

  Kate burst out laughing. “One of these days. Just not today!”

  Kate pulled into the parking lot of the big warehouse store and looked around for an empty cart.

  Just as she was about to grab one, she noticed Betty Palmer leaving. Her stomach started that butterfly thing again. Betty, Melissa, tree man. It was almost too much.

  “Why, hello, Kate! Emma! Did you have fun with Victoria?” Betty addressed Emma directly.

  “Sure did.” Emma yawned as she was starting to wane from the day’s activity.

  “Just rushing through to pick up a few things.” Then she lowered her voice. “And this one needs a bit of a nap.” She winked at Betty and practically skipped away. “See you at the tree lighting! Have a good afternoon!”

  Betty looked a little perplexed. “You too!”

  Kate knew she had been a little rude. It was a “thing” to chat when you ran into somebody, but Kate rarely had time. “Chatting” wasn’t in her bailiwick—at least not idle chatter.

  Kate realized Emma was slightly bedraggled, so she lifted her into the main part of the shopping cart. The kid seat wasn’t up to Emma’s standards. She started making a fuss when she turned four. “It’s for little kids!” she would protest. But riding in the big cart was okay, according to Emma.

  Kate hurried to the back of the store, where the meat, vegetables, and bread were on gigantic display. The dairy section was just to the left.

  Calculating in her head what items she needed, Kate headed to the register as Emma was about to doze off.

  Managing the food and a thirty-seven-pound child was going to take some balancing.

  Strapping her sleepy child into her seat, Kate put the groceries in the back as well.

  She headed home. Their home. And a friend was coming over for dinner. Their first guest.

  When they got to the house, Kate carried Emma inside and put her on her bed for a nap. She was out like a light. Kate decided a short nap would be okay since the evening ahead would be jam-packed, what with company coming over and the tree arriving.

  Kate thought she should probably take a nap as well. She put the groceries away, headed for the sofa, lay down, and pulled a toss pillow over her face. She couldn’t stop thinking about events of the morning. Seeing Kevin in Melissa’s driveway. Falling into the bushes. She had to remind herself that she had also gone to the hospital—a place where she felt most in control. Yes, she would concentrate on that. Then her mind wandered to the little boy with the crushed leg. Then back to Kevin and the dog. She turned onto her stomach. Then onto her back again. No nap for her. It just wasn’t going to happen.

  Resigned to staying awake, Kate started moving some furniture to make room in the corner for the tree. They had considered several different sizes, and they were all so pretty. It was hard to decide, but Jake had been very helpful as she described her cottage to him.

  Before she knew it, the clock showed it was almost five. “Emma! Honey! Get up, sleepyhead!”

  Emma dragged herself from her room. “Mommy. I don’t feel so good. My tummy hurts.” Her face was flush, and Kate touched her forehead.

  “What did you eat for lunch?”

  “A sandwich.” Emma went from rubbing her eyes to rubbing her stomach.

  “What kind of sandwich?”

  But before Emma could answer, a gush of vomit flew from Emma’s mouth.

  Kate ran toward Emma before she could redecorate the living room with the remaining contents of her stomach. “It’s okay, honey. Let Mommy help you.”

  Kate carried Emma to the bathroom, where she proceeded to remove the puked-on clothes and set her in the tub. “Sweetie. What did you have for lunch?” Kate was trying to diagnose the root of the problem.

  “We had bologna sandwiches.”

  “What else?”

  “Don’t be mad.”

  “I’m not mad, honey. Just tell Mommy what happened. What else did you eat?”

  “Victoria had a box of chocolate mint cookies.”

  “And?”

  “And we ate all of them!” Emma was about to cry.

  “Just the cookies? Anything else?”

  “No. But. But we were so thirsty.”

  Kate was trying to be patient and not panic. “What did you drink, Emma?”

  “Pineapple juice.” Tears were rolling down Emma’s face at that point.

  “Pineapple juice? And chocolate mint cookies? Was that all?” Kate wanted to be sure Emma didn’t leave out any important detail.

  “Yes. We drank a whole big can of it. I don’t feel so good.”

  Kate’s stomach almost turned over thinking about that combination. “It’s okay, sweetie. We’ll let Mr. Bubble wash away all the gunk.” She turned on the faucet and let the warm water mix with the bubble bath. “Should we wash your hair, too? I think I see some cookie crumbles in it!” Kate was trying to lift Emma’s wilting spirit.

  “I’m sorry. I promise I will never, ever eat bologna and cookies and pineapple juice ever again.” It came out more of a groan than a proclamation.

  Kate laughed softly. “It’s okay, honey.” She wiped Emma’s face and gave her hair a quick scrub. “Now dry off. I’ll go get you a fresh pair of PJs.”

  “But what about the tree man? What about our Christmas tree?” Emma was definitely distressed.

  “Don’t worry. We’ll have our tree, and we can decorate it tomorrow, when you feel better.”

  “What about your friend? Will he come back tomorrow?”

  “I think he may have to work. But I’ll be sure he helps put the lights on, so you and I won’t have to work so hard when we decorate. Okay with you?”

  “Yep!” Emma blew some bubbles from her nose.

  “Okay. Let’s get those jammies on and back to bed. Feeling a little better?”

  Kate was startled at the sound of the doorbell. “Geez, I didn’t realize what time it was!” Then she yelled toward the door, “Be right there!”

  She ushered Emma to her room, wiped the remaining bubbles from her hand, and headed to the front door. “Brian! So glad you could make it tonight. But we have a little issue happening.”

  “Everything all right?”

  “Yes. Just a bad combination of bologna, cookies, and juice. Emma got sick. I just gave her a quick bath and put her back to bed. Come in!”

  She showed him into the living room. “Take a seat. Pinot Grigio, if I remember correctly?”

  “Great memory! No wonder you aced all your tests!” Brian had always been in awe of Kate’s ability to recall what seemed to be every inch of the human anatomy.

  “Make yourself comfortable.”

  “I will! My dogs are barking!” He kicked off his loafers.

  Kate went into the kitchen and poured Brian a glass of wine and checked the cabinet for some children’s Pepto-Bismol. Frowning, she returned with the wine and handed it to Brian.

  “I need to run to the drugstore. Emma is in bed, and the Christmas tree is about to be delivered. Do you mind tree and kid sitting for about fifteen minutes?”

  “No problem. But would you rather that I go?” Brian offered.

  “It’s okay. I’ll only be a few minutes.” She grabbed her keys and wallet and dashed out the door.

  Chapter Ten

  Kevin left the farm a little earlier than usual. He wanted to be sure he had time to grab some dinner and deliver the tree to “Dr. Klutz.” He chuckled, thinking about her second bit of clumsiness.

  When he walked into the kitchen, his mother couldn’t help but notice that he was looking rather dapper for a delivery. With a twinkle in her eye, she checked him up and down. “My, don’t you look rather
handsome. Is that cologne I smell, too? A little fancy for a tree-farm delivery run, no?”

  “Ha! You caught me!” Kevin knew it was obvious, so he didn’t bother to protest. “I thought you’d be pleased to know that I intend to deliver the tree to the pretty new doctor in town. That is if you approve.”

  Maggie Matthews grabbed both of her son’s broad shoulders and beamed. “I am tickled pink! I think it’s wonderful that you are showing some interest! Do you want to bring over some date-nut bread? I made several loaves this morning for the bake sale. Or maybe a nice gingerbread house for her little girl?”

  “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Mama. This isn’t a date. It’s just a delivery.” He ran his hands through his hair. “And a bit of a fact-finding mission, you could say.”

  “Well, okay, dear. But you could say it was courtesy of the tree farm. We give every new customer a loaf!”

  “I wouldn’t let that news out of the bag.” He laughed. “There are a bunch of folks who would be mighty P-O’d thinking they should have gotten a date-nut bread years ago!”

  “Hmmm . . . Maybe you’re right. Okay, then. Just say it’s from me. A little welcome token.”

  “I guess that would be okay. I just don’t want to come off being foolish. Or too eager. We don’t want to scare her! And she may become my doctor. That could turn into an embarrassing situation!”

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake, Kevin. It’s just date-nut bread! Not an engagement ring.” Maggie was surprised at her own casual attitude, considering she was the one who kept encouraging him to make a gesture. Something. Anything.

  “If you insist. I will tell her it’s compliments of Maggie Matthews, Baker Extraordinaire. And your goods will be on display for sale at the church this Thursday. I’ll tell her it’s a promotional item.”

  Both laughed at their sophomoric behavior. It was, after all, just a tree delivery, wasn’t it?

  “Tell her it’s good with honey butter. Betty Palmer will be selling some of that at the bake sale as well!”

  Kevin gave his mother a wry look. “Since when did you become a marketing maven?”

  “Ha! About two years ago, I bungled one as I was trying to get it out of the pan. I didn’t want to throw it away, so I cut it up into pieces, stuck some toothpicks in them, and brought the whole kit and caboodle to church the night we were setting up the tables. Within five minutes, the plate was empty. Crumbs and all! Apparently, word got out, and I sold all twelve within the first hour! Everyone thought I was a marketing genius after that! Funny thing, doncha think?” Kevin could see the pride in his mother’s face.

  “Funny, indeed. Well, your secret’s safe with me.” He gave her a peck on the cheek, pulled on his hat, and strutted out the door.

  Since he had known that he was going to make the delivery after dinner, he had brought Kate’s tree home with him, so he wouldn’t have to drive all the way back to the farm.

  Checking the address on the receipt, he headed in her direction.

  When he arrived at Kate’s house, he noticed that there wasn’t a car in the driveway, but there was one on the street. He didn’t know what she drove so assumed she had left the driveway clear for him. As he backed in, he could hear some music playing softly in the background. It was The Nutcracker Suite .

  Jumping from the cab, he grabbed the date-nut bread, then lowered the gate on the back of the truck. Getting his Texas swagger on, he moved toward the front porch, removed his hat, and rang the bell.

  A man’s voice came from inside the house. “Hang on!” And then heavy footsteps. For a moment, Kevin considered that he might have the wrong place, but then the door swung open, and there stood Brian. “Hey! You the tree guy?”

  Kevin became instantly flustered. “Uh. Yes. I have a tree for Kate Stafford.”

  “Yeah. She had to run out for a minute. Emma has a little stomach thing going on.”

  Looking down, he noticed that the guy wasn’t wearing any shoes. So the new doctor has a boyfriend.

  “Need a hand?” Brian offered. “Let me get my shoes.”

  “No problem. I can handle it.” He turned and headed toward the truck. Realizing he had the bread in his hand, he tossed it casually to Brian. “It’s courtesy of Cedar Park Tree Farm.”

  Surprised by the lob, Brian missed the catch and the bread hit the porch, which gave Kevin a huge sense of satisfaction. What a doofus, he thought to himself. How can she be with a guy like him? Now, there was a klutz. What guy can’t make an easy catch like that? Then he thought of Emma. That poor kid. She’s going to be tripping through life.

  Kevin hauled the big tree from the truck and carried it onto the porch. “Where would you like me to put this?” Kevin’s mind was going toward the gutter at this point, and he suppressed a sly grin.

  “Kate made some room in the corner. Wow. That’s one big tree.”

  “Most people say the same thing. They look a lot smaller outside. We try to tell them, but they never listen. Then they have to cut a foot off the bottom and can never get it to stand right. We get calls every day asking if we can come out and help.”

  Brian wasn’t sure what to do. Clearly, the tree was going to invade a third of the living room. “Are you sure this is the tree Kate picked out?”

  “Hey, I wasn’t there. All I know is that this is the tree she paid for.” Kevin was losing his patience. He couldn’t wait to get out of that house.

  “Well, okay. I guess.” Brian was beginning to seem wimpier every minute. “Would you mind putting it in the stand?”

  Irritation was setting in. “No problem. I cut the bottom branches earlier to make it easier.” He slammed the tree into the stand. “Anything else?”

  “I don’t think so.” Brian reached into his wallet and pulled out a twenty-dollar bill and proceeded to tip Kevin.

  Kevin held up his hand. “Not necessary. Part of our service. Merry Christmas.” Marching back to his truck, he couldn’t remember the last time he had felt so exasperated.

  Chapter Eleven

  As Kevin was rounding the corner of Kate’s street, she was coming from the other direction and didn’t notice the Cedar Park Christmas Tree Farm truck.

  She pulled into the driveway and bounded up the porch steps. When she opened the front door, all she could see was a tree. A very large one.

  “Brian! You under there?” She didn’t know what to make of it.

  “Kinda big, doncha think?” Brian was standing in the doorway to the kitchen.

  “I . . . I had no idea it would be that big once it was in the house.” Kate was trying to wrap her mind around what had taken place in the few minutes she was gone.

  “Yeah. That’s what the guy said.”

  Kate gulped. “Which guy was it?”

  “I dunno. He was tall, black hair. Oh, and he left this for you.” Brian picked up the squashed remains of the date-nut bread.

  Kate looked forlorn and confused as she stared at the mangled lump. “What else did he say?”

  “Something like ‘Compliments of Cedar Park Christmas Tree Farm.’ He seemed a little pissy to me.”

  “Huh.” Kate wadded the remains of the loaf into a ball and tossed it on the counter. “Now, what in the heck can we do so the living room doesn’t look like a national forest?”

  “Maybe that’s where the term ‘tree trimming’ came from?” Brian was noticing Kate’s agitation and tried to make light of the situation. “He did say people usually call for help.”

  “Well, that’s not going to happen. We’ll figure it out. I am a surgeon, after all!”

  “Tree surgeon, Dr. Arboretum?” Brian teased, and walked over to the refrigerator.

  “Well, I do work on limbs!” Kate called back, amused at her repartee.

  Brian returned from the kitchen with a refill for himself and a fresh glass of wine for Kate. “Here. You look like you could use something medicinal.”

  Kate took the glass and chugged it down, almost choking from the acidity. “Cripes, that’s awful! I
should have known better than to buy something we used to drink when we were in med school!”

  The daunting task of fitting the huge cedar into the living area was upon them, and Kate made her way to the basement to fetch a pair of shears. Returning, she donned a surgical mask to lighten the mood a little more. “Good thing I don’t have a chain saw!”

  It took several hours for them to cut back the branches so the tree didn’t dwarf the room. When they were done, Kate stood back and gave it the once-over. “Tree surgeon, indeed! You up for stringing the lights?”

  “Only if you go on a mission of mercy and get us a decent bottle of vino!” Brian had always been a good sport and easygoing about most things. Another reason why he never finished med school.

  Kate gave him a big bear hug. “Emma will be thrilled to see the tree with lights! Be back in a flash! Oh, and if anyone comes to the door again, don’t let them in! Especially if they’re from the tree farm!” Laughing, she grabbed her keys and headed to the liquor store. As promised, she was back in ten minutes with two very nice bottles of Lucien Crochet Sancerre.

  “Wow!” Brian eyed the wine. “So this is what you get if you finish medical school?”

  “See what you’re missing?” Kate teased. “But I’m not about to get used to it. I still have a modest loan to pay. But tonight is special, and you’re such a pal to put up with all of this. Sorry about dinner. Emma did say pizza!”

  It was just before midnight when they decided the tree was in acceptable shape. The piles of trimmings from the branches were almost as much as what was left of the mammoth cedar. “At least it doesn’t look like Charlie Brown bought it!”

  “Really, Kate. What the heck were you thinking?”

  “Like I said, it didn’t seem as large outside with all the other trees.”

  “Next year, you may want to take a chaperone.” Brian was picking the needles out of his socks.

  Kate thought to herself, Maybe I’ll just skip that farm and get a fake one.

  “Listen, it’s really late, and we polished off two bottles of wine. I’m not counting the first one of swill. Maybe you should crash on the couch?”