A Season to Celebrate

by Fern Michaels

  “Kevin? You okay? You got a little red-faced for a second.” Maggie was beginning to worry about whether he would be okay so that she could execute her plan.

  “Yeah. I’m fine. Why do you ask?” Furrowing his brow, Kevin asked, “Are you sure you’re okay? You’ve been acting a little strange.”

  “Don’t be silly. I’m just excited that you’re here, and it’s Christmas, and we’re at the tree lighting. Remember, dear, it’s been six years! I’m over the moon!”

  “I think it’s that eggnog!” Kevin looped her arm through his and led the way to the courtyard.

  It was an hour before the activities would start, and there were several dozen people milling about.

  The festivities would proceed in layers of light. One of the parishioners had once worked as a lighting technician for Prince and knew how to program the lights to coincide with the music. And the tree had some very small twinkle lights just to give the area some atmosphere. The choir would assemble and begin its fifteen-minute recital before leading the entire group singing four or five familiar carols. With each song, another layer of lights would go on until they got to the finale, “Joy to the World,” at which point the entire courtyard would explode like fireworks, with thousands of lights. It was a truly mystical experience regardless of one’s religion. For a few moments in time, the atmosphere—and what seemed like the entire world—vibrated with good cheer, peace on earth, and goodwill toward all.

  Maggie thought she caught sight of Kate and Emma. Kate looked particularly radiant. Her hair had a soft wave sans the headband, and she wasn’t wearing those googly eyed glasses. Emma was adorable, with her soft white scarf, matching hat, mittens, and her pink cheeks surrounding a big smile. They were standing with a little boy about four years old, and two other adults who appeared to be his parents. Maggie recognized him as Jesse Myers, the little boy with the crushed leg. The stars were lining up in a way that even Maggie couldn’t have orchestrated.

  Earlier that morning, Kate had been given her patient duty roster and was assigned Jesse’s case. His parents were visiting, and they were trying to explain to him that he wouldn’t be able to go to the tree lighting. Jesse was deflated. All of them had hoped he would have been released by then.

  She had scrutinized his chart, X-rays, recent MRI, and his progress with his physical therapy and the Trekker Gait Trainer. She was cautiously optimistic that it might be possible to release him from the hospital.

  “Hello, I’m Dr. Kate Stafford. I’m taking over Jesse’s case. Do you have a moment?”

  She had ushered them into her small office.

  “I see he’s made great progress, and I am wondering if you would be comfortable if we arranged for medical transport for him to attend the tree-lighting ceremony tonight? I will accompany him, and both of you, of course, but I need you to sign a waiver.”

  Both parents looked at each other with shock and curiosity. “We were told he needed to stay another two to three days,” Mr. Myers offered.

  “Yes, I know. It was primarily for physical therapy, but the weekend is coming up, and he wouldn’t be doing much anyway. I think it would be a boost for his frame of mind. It’s been shown that a patient who is happy and has a positive attitude heals faster than those who do not.”

  Tears started rolling down Mrs. Myers’s face. “He’s been here for almost two months. We made all the preparations in his room, installed a ramp, retrofitted the bathroom to accommodate his gait trainer. . . .”

  Mr. Myers took his wife’s hand and spoke gently. “We are certainly ready to take him home if you think he’s ready.”

  “Well, I do. I’ll have his discharge papers drawn up and arrange for a medivan to take y’all to the tree lighting. The van will wait and take you home afterward. How does that sound?”

  The couple hugged each other and practically tackled the petite doctor. “We don’t know how to thank you! This will be the best homecoming ever!”

  Kate ushered them out the door and busily filled out the forms and made the arrangements.

  Kate smiled, thinking about her own family joining her and Emma for their first Christmas in the new house. She would have her personal homecoming, too.

  Kate had brought a change of clothes, her contact lenses, and peeked in a small mirror to freshen up her makeup. She picked Emma up from day care and followed the medivan to the church courtyard, hoping her parents would have no difficulty finding the church.

  When the entourage from the hospital arrived, the crowd parted like the Red Sea to allow Jesse in his gait trainer and his family a spot right in front. Brian was also there with his fiancée and Kate’s family.

  Kate’s dad gave her the biggest bear hug he could manage without squeezing the air out of her. Her mom was beaming, kissing Emma all over her cherub-like face when Jesse yelled out, “Wylie! Wylie! We’re over here!” Jesse was waving to Wylie in the papoose wrapped around Kevin.

  Kate snapped back to reality. No! Not him! Not here! Not now! her brain was screaming silently.

  Kevin was having a similar reaction until he saw Brian put his arm around a woman standing next to him and realized where he had first seen the man—before the debacle tree delivery. Brian was a nurse at the hospital. Approaching the brink of an awkward moment, Kevin stood tall and held out his hand. “Merry Christmas. I believe we met a few days ago when I was delivering a tree.”

  “Yes. Sorry I wasn’t much help. This is Anita, my fiancée.”

  “Very pleased to meet you.” Kevin was effusive as he turned to greet Kate.

  She looked radiant. “Dr. Klutz, I presume?”

  Kate broke out in a hoot. “Please. Not in front of my patient! And my family!”

  “How do you do. I’m Kevin Matthews, and this here is Wylie. He thinks he’s a therapy dog.” A roar of laughter filled the air. “When did you stumble in?” Kevin could not hold back his teasing.

  “Besides being a ‘famous Christmas tree man,’ are you also a comedian?” Kate volleyed back.

  Kevin pulled out his biggest smile, exuding all the charm and warmth he could. “That’s an occupation I hadn’t considered, but perhaps we can discuss it over dinner some time?”

  “I would like that very much. And I promise that I will try to stay vertical!”

  Maggie was witnessing the camaraderie and pulled her husband over to the group.

  “Hello, Maggie and Mr. Matthews!” Kate was beaming. “This is my mom, Eliza, and my dad, Henry.”

  As they exchanged greetings, Kate felt a hand on her elbow. “I don’t want you to be falling down in front of your family,” Kevin whispered in her ear.

  His touch felt warm and secure, and she looked into his azure eyes. “I guess I’m going to need a therapy tree man to make sure I don’t!”

  Just before the music started, someone dressed in an elf costume made an announcement. “Before we begin, we want to dedicate this first song to those of you who have been away—Mr. Kevin Matthews; for those of you who are making your home here for the first time—Kate and Emma Stafford; and for those who are going home from the hospital, Jesse Myers!” After the cheers and applause died down, the choir began to sing “Home for the Holidays.”

  * * *

  Kate and Kevin gazed into each other’s eyes, as if to say, “best homecoming ever!” Emma tugged at her mother’s coat and, pointing her finger at “the famous tree man,” announced in a voice loud enough for everyone around them to hear, “Mommy? I don’t think we need to go Daddy shopping after all.”

  An Unexpected Gift

  KATE PEARCE

  Chapter One

  Morgantown, Morgan Valley, California

  After saying his good-byes, Billy Morgan came out of the feed store and checked that everything he’d loaded in the back of his truck was secure. It was one of the beautiful crisp, clear winter days he loved, with just enough bite in the air to catch at his breath and taste the incoming snow on his tongue. Even though the inclement weather would soon cut off Mor
gan Valley, winter had always been his favorite season.

  He checked the list his mother Ruth had given him, and headed off to Main Street. The smell of coffee from Yvonne’s French Café drifted across the road, and he inhaled appreciatively. When he’d completed his errands, he’d pop in and finish off his morning in style. The Morgantown shop owners had draped their old-fashioned storefronts and boardwalks in Christmas lights, which would come on at night, and make the old gold rush town look enchanting.

  The place hadn’t changed much since he was a kid. He always remembered the day his grandfather had sat him down and told him how his great grandfather had come all the way from Wales during the California gold rush, and ended up owning a livery stable and saloon in the new settlement before buying himself a ranch on the profits. Having a whole town named after your family was something special, and Billy had sworn to his grandfather that he’d never let his family down.

  He grimaced as he went into the post office. He’d sure messed that up. Twenty-three years ago the disappearance of his wife and baby daughter had almost destroyed him, and sent a tremor worthy of an earthquake through the lives of his four sons and his mother, Ruth. It had taken him twenty years to come home, and he was still working at being forgiven.

  He sorted out the mail noticing none of it was actually for him, but that his mother had received a whole bunch of Christmas cards. A couple of letters had stuck together, and when he separated them out he discovered one was addressed to his old friend Bella Williams at the Red Dragon Bar.

  Being close to the bar, which sat on the corner of Main and Morgan, he walked around into the parking lot and approached the back entrance. The door was open, and Bella and some guy were standing on the threshold. Something about the young guy’s stance set everything protective in Billy to attention. He altered his angle of approach and came up behind the man.

  “Axel, I asked you to leave.” Bella was speaking, her voice calm.

  “And I told you to give me my wages or I’ll take them myself.”

  “Jay will be back any second now.” Bella raised her chin. She wasn’t a tall woman, but after running a bar for twenty-five years she wasn’t easily intimidated. “Do you really want to take on a retired Navy SEAL?”

  “He’s not coming, Bella,” Axel said. “I saw him heading out on the county road toward Bridgeport.” Axel took a step closer, invading Bella’s personal space. “Give me my damned money, bitch!”

  Billy gently cleared his throat. “Hey, you.”

  Axel swung around, his hands curling into fists. “What the hell do you want?”

  “I want you to leave.” Billy held up his cell. “I just sent a text to Nate Turner and he’s coming right now, so maybe you’d better stop menacing women and take a hike.”

  “Like you’d be able to stop me,” Axel sneered.

  Billy stepped closer and held the young fool’s gaze. “Do you really want to find out if that’s true?”

  Something in Billy’s eyes made Axel pause, which was just as well because Billy had survived a year in prison and was nobody’s pushover.

  A siren blared on Main Street, and with one last disgusted snarl, Axel ran off into the parking lot, got on his motorbike, and roared away.

  Billy instantly went over to Bella. “Are you okay?”

  She let out her breath and pressed her hand to her heart before reaching for him. “Thank goodness you came along, Billy. I was getting scared.”

  “You didn’t look it.” Billy wrapped an arm around his old school friend and she leaned into him, her whole body trembling. “You’ll be okay. It’s just the shock.”

  “I know.” She took a deep, shaky breath. “There was something in his eyes that frightened me. Do you think he’s on drugs or something?”

  “Probably.” Billy looked up as Nate Turner, the local sheriff, pulled into the parking lot. “Do you want to talk to Nate, or shall I do it?”

  “Why don’t you both come inside my kitchen and we can talk there?” Bella suggested. “It’s cold out here.”

  Billy hadn’t noticed the chill, but he was used to working outside in all weathers and had grown up on the ranch herding cattle and riding horses. After being incarcerated for a year, he’d yearned for open spaces, and never felt happier than when he was out in the fresh air.

  “You go on in.” Billy patted her shoulder. “I’ll bring Nate.”

  He waited as Nate got out of his truck and put on his official hat before strolling over to greet him. Nate had been to school with his sons, and was another local boy.

  “Hey, Mr. Morgan. What’s up?” Nate asked.

  “Some guy was threatening Bella Williams.”

  Nate frowned. “I assume Jay isn’t around?”

  “If he was, you’d probably be investigating a murder,” Billy said dryly. “No one would be stupid enough to misbehave with the mother of a retired Navy SEAL if they knew he was on the premises.”

  “So it was probably a good thing you were around instead.” Nate gestured at the open door. “Is Mrs. Williams in there? Is she okay?”

  “Yeah, she’s a bit shaken up, but no harm done. She said for us both to come in.”

  Billy went through the back door and into the large kitchen where Bella dealt with all the culinary needs of the Red Dragon Bar. She was sitting at the kitchen table with a cafetière of coffee and three mugs.

  “Morning, Mrs. Williams.” Nate touched his hat. “Is it okay if I come in?”

  “Of course, take a seat, Nate.” Bella smiled, but still looked a little upset. “Did Billy tell you what happened?”

  Nate sat at the table and took out his notebook. “He gave me the basics, but I’d like to get your take on it. Did you know the guy who was harassing you?”

  “Yes, he’s been working here as my assistant for the past three months.”

  “Great. So you have his name and social security?”

  “His name is Axel Jordan. He came with good references from a San Francisco hotel, but I did notice he’d moved around a lot.” Bella sighed. “Everything was going okay until last Friday when he didn’t turn up on time. It’s our busiest day and we were really shorthanded. When he did arrive, he was sullen, uncooperative, and kept messing up the orders.”

  Bella sipped her coffee and cradled the mug in her hands, her brown gaze distant. “At first I thought he was sickening for something, but it was more than that. Eventually, Jay got mad and told him to go home and only come back when he was willing to put in a day’s work for a day’s wages.”

  “And he turned up today?” Nate asked.

  “Yes, after three days of nothing and me having to do everything myself.” Bella grimaced. “I tried texting him and calling, but he didn’t bother to pick up. Today he came seeking his wages for last week. I told him that Jay was the only one who can authorize those payments. He didn’t believe me.”

  “Which is where I came in,” Billy said. “He was demanding his wages and threatening to take them if Bella didn’t cooperate.”

  “Do you have his address here?” Nate asked. “I’ll go and pay him a visit.”

  “He rents a room over Ted Baker’s garage,” Bella said.

  Nate got to his feet. “Then if you don’t mind, I’ll go over there and see if I can head him off at the pass. I’ll come back for your full statement later this afternoon.”

  “Go ahead. I’ll be fine.” Bella waved him on. “Thanks for coming so quickly.”

  “Thank Billy,” Nate said, smiling at her. “He’s the one who texted me.”

  Billy waited until Nate shut the door behind him, and turned back to Bella. “Are you sure you’re okay? Would you like me to call Jay?”

  “No, I don’t want to worry him. He’s gone to an appointment at the VA and I would hate for him to miss it.”

  “You still look a bit shaken up,” Billy said slowly.

  “It’s not the first time this has happened, but it’s never pleasant.” She let out a long breath. “Thank you for being there
. I really appreciate it.”

  “You’re welcome.” He dug out the letter he’d found mixed in with his mail. “I was just coming to deliver this. It was in the wrong box.”

  She picked up the letter and laughed. “This must be the first time the IRS has ever done something right.”

  “Fancy that.” He joined in her laughter and noticed that she was starting to look a lot better. He hated to bring her back on topic, but he had no choice.

  “I’m worried that you’re all alone here if Axel comes back.”

  Bella patted his hand. “I’m not entirely helpless, Billy.” Her smile was both charming and wicked. “I know how to shoot a gun. Jay taught me.”

  “I bet you do, but still . . .” Billy’s gaze scanned the kitchen. “What time are you supposed to start serving lunch today?”

  “In about two hours.” Bella pointed at the walk-in refrigerator. “I prep a lot of stuff so it’s ready to go when needed.”

  “I could stay,” Billy said impulsively. “And help out.”

  “You?” Now she was definitely smiling at him. “Don’t you have a huge dude ranch to run or something?”

  “Not really,” Billy confessed. “My boys seem to have that in hand. I suspect I’d be more useful right here. I’m a trained chef.”

  “You are ?” Bella blinked at him. “Since when?”

  “When I decided to stop drinking and get a job, the only place that would hire me on was as a dishwasher in a restaurant. I stuck it out for about two years, and somehow ended up moving on to more useful things like washing and prepping the fruit and veg. Eventually, I took classes at night school and earned my stripes.”

  Now Bella was looking at him as if she’d never seen him before. “That’s amazing.”

  He literally squirmed in his seat. “Not really. I’d already messed up so badly that there wasn’t anywhere else to go but up.”