by Annie Rains
“Yes, Ray. You are the nicest man I’ve ever known,” Darby told him.
Joy smiled as she watched, even as an ache moved over the left side of her chest. Despite her fears, she wanted that for herself. She wanted to follow her heart without second-guessing if it would lead to heartbreak. “I better go,” Joy told the couple as she scooted back from the table. “I’m happy for you both.”
“Thank you. Ray and I will be together on Christmas. Will you come over?” Darby asked. “Or are you spending it with your parents?”
Joy shook her head. “You know they don’t really make plans. They’re so busy.”
“Too busy for their own daughter?” Ray asked.
Joy laughed. “It’s hard to compete with saving lives.” And she didn’t blame them as much as she used to. They could be more loving and doting but they were who they were, and she had to respect that. “I will be going to see them at the hospital tomorrow. And I’ll try to make it to your place for Christmas,” she told Darby. “Or would that be Ray’s place?” she asked.
“My house is our place now,” Ray said.
“When we said we were moving in together, we meant effective immediately. We’re not getting any younger.” Darby winked.
Joy nodded. “Good night, Aunt Darby. Good night, Ray.” She waved and then headed into the parking lot, now covered in a soft layer of newly fallen snow. Her boots sank to the earth with every step, her thoughts swirling around in her head and her emotions bubbling in her heart.
She got behind the steering wheel and cranked the car, turning the heat up high. The heater probably wouldn’t kick in until she was almost home. She’d make some hot chocolate when she got there and snuggle under a fleece blanket. The thought sounded cozy. And lonely.
Joy pointed her car toward her town house and started driving, still thinking about Darby and Ray and her earlier conversation with Erin. There were so many jumbled thoughts in her head—nothing felt clear.
Then Joy’s mind went blank as her car fishtailed and started spinning. She squeezed the steering wheel and tried to gain control of the vehicle. Had she hit ice? It felt like she was spinning forever, her life flashing before her eyes. Then her car jerked to a sudden stop.
Joy clutched the wheel, her breathing just as out of control as the car had been. Her gaze darted to the rearview mirror to make sure she wasn’t about to be hit by a car. The road was empty though.
She patted her heart and forced slow, deep breaths as she pulled to the roadside and let her emotions go into their own sort of tailspin. Aunt Darby was right. Life was for now.
She was so tired of being disappointed. In her parents and Granger, but most of all in herself. The person she’d always been was someone who followed her heart no matter what. That’s what had led her to quit nursing school and to work to put herself through art school. She fought for what she wanted and never threw in the proverbial towel. And she wasn’t going to start now.
She didn’t want to be a hospital receptionist. She didn’t want to give up on her art gallery, even if her time frame for achieving that goal had expired. She’d put it on her list for next year and wouldn’t give up until she succeeded.
And she didn’t want to give up on Granger either. What they had was worth fighting for, even if there was a risk she might get hurt again.
* * *
Granger needed to talk to Joy tonight. It was time to grovel like he’d never done before. He missed Joy, loved her, and he didn’t want to lose her over his own stupidity.
He pulled into the driveway in front of her town house, noticing the empty space where her car should be. She wasn’t here.
He pulled out his phone and considered calling, but last time they’d spoken, it hadn’t been pleasant. He should have fallen on his knees in that moment, but instead, his foolishness and pride had gotten in the way.
Granger groaned at the memory. He’d let his past affect his future. That’s why this wasn’t a conversation that could be had on the phone. It was too important, and he needed to look Joy in the eyes when he apologized. And when he told her he loved her.
His cell phone rang. For a moment, he hoped it was Joy. Then he saw Erin’s name flash on-screen. “Hey,” he said, answering immediately. “Everything okay?”
“No, I don’t think so,” Erin said, her voice a little shaky.
Granger’s internal alarms started sounding. “Are the girls okay?”
“Yeah, we’re just worried about Tinsel. She’s not acting right. I think something is wrong with her.”
“What do you mean?” Granger watched the rearview mirror, hoping to see Joy’s lights pull in behind him.
“Tin is lying down, and she won’t get up. And she’s whining a lot. I think maybe she’s in pain, and I don’t know what to do, Granger,” Erin said. “The girls are expecting me to fix this, and I can’t. I don’t want to ruin their Christmas.”
Granger didn’t want that either. “Just sit tight. I’ll be right there,” he promised, giving the rearview mirror one last glance before reversing out of the driveway and heading home.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Granger drove as fast as he could safely get away with, knowing that there was ice on the yet-to-be salted roads. When he got home, he rushed inside, his heart thrumming against his ribs.
“Daddy!” Willow cried, rushing into his arms. Her cheeks were wet. “Something is wrong with Tin! She won’t get up or eat or play. If she dies, it will be the worst Christmas ever!” Willow wailed.
Granger gave her a quick squeeze and then peeled her off him so he could assess the situation himself. Hopefully it wasn’t as dire as Erin and the girls feared. “I called Chase on the way here,” Granger told Erin as he knelt at Tin’s side. She was laid out on her dog pillow against the wall. Normally, she’d have met him at the door with her tail wagging.
“Chase Lewis?”
“He’s a veterinarian here now,” Granger told her, focusing on his dog. Tin definitely looked out of sorts tonight. With the busy season, Granger hadn’t given Tin a lot of attention. The girls had been responsible for looking after her, and from what Granger had seen, they’d done a good job. Tin’s food and water bowls had stayed full, and he’d seen them walking her daily around the farm.
But Tin was not in good shape right now. Granger pressed his hand around his dog’s belly, palpating it gently. It was round and firm—definitely not normal. Tin let out a soft whimper of pain under the touch, and Granger moved his hand to her head instead, massaging her gently behind the ears. “It’s okay, girl,” he said softly. “We’ve got help on the way.”
Granger looked back at Erin, who had her arms wrapped around her girls now. It was as if she’d never left. But she had, and things were different between Granger and his ex. But fortunately, kids were resilient. They bounced back, forgave, and forgot.
Granger had forgiven too. He didn’t even blame Erin anymore. But he hadn’t forgotten the pain he’d felt after she’d left. He still vividly remembered the struggle and his feeling of total inadequacy in raising his small family alone. Love was hard—so hard. And yet, here he was plunging into its depths again. He hadn’t signed up to fall in love with Joy but he had. And now here he was in pain again.
“Mind getting Tin some water?” Granger asked the girls.
“I’ll get it,” Abby said, quickly going to the sink.
“Thanks.” Granger turned toward the knock on his back door.
“I’ll get that,” Erin said, moving to answer.
Granger watched over his shoulder as she opened the door to Dr. Chase Lewis. Chase was in his thirties. He’d been a year ahead of Granger in school but he’d always been nice to him. As a teenager, Chase had worked on the farm during the holidays, cutting trees and loading them into customers’ vehicles. “Hey, Doc,” Granger said, reaching out his hand to shake.
Chase took it but his gaze moved immediately to the patient. “What’s wrong with Tinsel?”
“Not sure. She’s just
lying here. She won’t get up to go outside or eat.”
Chase knelt beside the dog as well. Granger usually took Tin to the veterinary clinic but it was closed due to the holiday.
Chase palpated Tin’s belly for a moment, speaking softly to her as she panted. Usually Tin’s tail would be wagging excitedly at the sight of her favorite veterinarian. Chase typically had dog treats in his pockets, and she knew she was only one “good girl” away from getting one.
Not today.
“What’s wrong with her?” Granger finally asked, unable to wait patiently anymore. “Is it bad?”
Willow let out a little whimper now from behind them. Granger heard Erin’s voice soothe her.
“Well”—Chase looked up, his gaze bouncing from Granger to Erin and the girls—“it looks like your family is getting a little bigger this Christmas.”
“What do you mean?” Granger asked.
“Tinsel here is going to have Christmas puppies. Tonight.” Chase grinned up at them.
Suddenly Abby and Willow were jumping up and down, cheering so loudly that Granger’s parents could probably hear them from across the lawn.
“I want one!” Willow said.
“Me too! Me too!” Abby agreed.
Granger’s shoulders rolled forward as he exhaled. Now wasn’t the time to tell the girls that they couldn’t have three dogs, or keep however many Tin was going to have tonight.
“Me too,” Erin added, her voice softer than the girls’, but her face shone with just as much excitement.
Granger met her gaze. A puppy would keep Erin company in her new place. “I think that’s a great idea. You’ll give one of these pups a good home.”
Granger looked from Erin to Chase, just in time to see the veterinarian’s frown. Whatever Chase was thinking, he kept it to himself though. Other people’s opinions were one of the hurdles that Erin would deal with if she was moving back to Sweetwater Springs. For a while, people would judge her for leaving her girls, for returning, and for everything in between. The folks in town were amazing people but it was human nature to make assumptions and to form opinions before you knew what was truly going on. It wouldn’t be easy for Erin but Granger really hoped she’d endure it. And he wasn’t going to let her go through this alone. He planned on being her friend through it all.
“How long until the puppies are born?” Abby asked, stepping near Chase.
“Not long. They’ll be here before morning. All we can do for her now is make her comfortable and give her a little privacy.”
“Of course.” Granger got up and started gathering old blankets. They dimmed the lights in the kitchen, leaving just the soft glow of the lit Christmas trees to illuminate the living areas. Granger saw Chase to the door and thanked him again as he left. Then he turned back to Erin. “The snow is still coming down heavy, and it’s dark,” he told Erin. “You should stay the night. You can take the bedroom.”
Her eyes widened. “Are you sure?”
Granger shoved his hands in his jeans pockets. “I’ll change the sheets and sleep in the living room to be close to Tinsel.”
“Can I sleep with you tonight, Mama?” Willow asked.
“And me too?” Abby added, sounding like a little girl again.
Erin laughed. “I guess that’s okay.” She looked at him, her eyes going soft. “Thank you, Granger.”
“Of course.” Then he went about preparing the sleeping areas for the night. He might not get much shut-eye but that wasn’t all because of Tin and the forthcoming puppies. His thoughts were circling around Joy too, wondering when he’d see her again so he could apologize and hoping she’d hear him out. After all, Christmas was the season for hope, miracles, and second chances.
And for him, this Christmas, it was also his season of Joy.
* * *
Joy bundled up against the cold and headed out into the snowy Christmas Eve morning. She had a lot to do today. First on her list was meeting her parents at the hospital cafeteria. After that, she intended to find Granger so they could talk.
She got into her car and cranked the engine, letting it warm for several minutes. As she waited, she was very aware of her racing heartbeat.
Last night’s fishtailing on the ice had cleared her thoughts on more than what she was doing with her career. It had also set her straight on what she wanted for her life. She’d gone online and had deleted her application at the hospital. Then she’d spent the rest of the night thinking about Granger. She’d pushed him away because of the kiss—yes. But also because she was scared. Terrified, actually. She hadn’t wanted to fall into that dark hole of heartbreak and loss ever again. But she was tough. She could get through anything, as long as she knew she’d given it her all.
She was a passionate woman. That’s why she couldn’t spend a portion of the day behind a desk. Why she created art. Why she taught others to do the same. And why she couldn’t walk away from Granger just yet.
When the snow and ice on her car were melted enough, Joy pulled onto the road and drove to Sweetwater Springs Memorial Hospital. She parked in the parking lot and headed inside to meet both of her parents. Joy traveled down the well-lit corridors toward the big, open cafeteria. It was bustling today with noise and people, and there was the faint sound of Christmas music streaming in from the overhead speakers. Joy glanced around and saw her parents seated at a corner table.
She quickened her pace, heading over to them. “Hi, Mom. Dad.”
Her dad stood first and gave her a big hug. He was a tall man, towering over six feet in height. And these days, he was balding—a sign of intelligence, he liked to joke. “You look beautiful,” he said just like he did every time he saw her.
“Thank you.” Joy looked down at her jeans and sweater and guessed at what her hair must look like after coming inside from the cold, windy weather. If he was saying she looked beautiful right now, then she lost faith in all the other times he’d ever said it.
Joy turned to her mom next. Her mom opened her arms and pulled Joy in as well. Reflexively, Joy inhaled her mother’s scent. It wasn’t floral or sweet like one might imagine a mother to smell like. Her mom smelled of antiseptic; it was the distinct smell of a hospital.
“Merry Christmas,” her mother said. “I’m so glad we could get a chance to see you.” She pulled back and gestured at the table. “We already got you a plate.”
Joy glanced down at the three full-size meals. “Wow. So you guys have time for a real meal?”
Her father laughed and shared a look with her mom. “Well, it is Christmas Eve,” he told Joy.
“I’m sorry I didn’t cook it myself,” her mother said. “One of these days, when I retire, I will cook the grandest Christmas Eve meal you’ve ever had.”
Joy pulled out her chair and sat down as well. “Who are you kidding? You two love what you do. You’ll never retire.”
“If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life,” Joy’s mom said.
Joy glanced over with interest. “That’s Aunt Darby’s line.”
Her mom nodded. “Yes, it is. I should have listened to her a long time ago. And I never should have pushed you to apply for that receptionist job here if you didn’t want it.”
Here we go.
Joy blew out a breath and reached for the tea they’d purchased for her. “So I guess you heard that I pulled my application from consideration.” She waited for the but in her mom’s conversation. Her mom never should have pushed her to apply but it’s a good job. With benefits. It’s practical. Responsible. It’s time.
“Actually, I’m glad you pulled it,” her mom said instead, surprising Joy. “Your father and I…well, we don’t often act impulsively, but…” She looked over at Joy’s father, sharing another look. Joy wasn’t sure what was happening right now but there was something brewing in the Christmas Eve air.
“What’s going on?” Joy asked, looking between them.
“Well, we went to look at some property yesterday,” her father finall
y said.
Joy’s mouth dropped. “You’re moving?”
“Oh, no, no. We’re not moving out of the house that you grew up in. I couldn’t bear it. You’re my bundle of Joy, no matter how big you get.” Her mother beamed across the table at her. It was unusual to see her so happy, which only confirmed Joy’s suspicions that something was off.
“Why did you look at property, then?” Joy asked.
“It’s an investment property.” Her father pushed his glasses up on his nose. “A store on Main Street. The old clockmaker’s shop.”
Chills rode up Joy’s spine. “Oh?” That wasn’t possible. That shop had been leased.
“We were thinking about opening an art gallery,” her mom said excitedly.
Joy furrowed her brow. Was this a joke? “But you don’t make art.”
“No, but our very talented daughter does. And who knows? I might need a hobby in my retirement. Maybe I’ll take up sculpting or painting.”
Joy blinked, trying to process everything her mom was saying.
Then her mom reached for her hand. “I know it was never just a hobby for you. Your father and I both know it. And I know we’re a little late but we want to support you.”
Joy shook her head, momentarily at a loss for words. “I can’t let you buy me an art gallery. I’m not a kid anymore. I’m an adult, and if I want this, it has to be something I do for myself.” She looked between her parents, who stared back at her, their smiles subtly slipping off their previously excited expressions.
The disappointment was thick but not because they were trying to force her to do something she didn’t want anymore. This time it was because they were trying to support her and she was refusing their help.
But there wasn’t anything wrong with accepting help. It was about trust and faith, two things Joy needed to work on.
She took a breath and looked between her parents. “I’ll lease the store from you at a fair price,” Joy said finally. That’s what she’d been planning all along anyway. “And I’ll pay just like any other tenant would.”