The Mechanics of Mistletoe

by Liz Isaacson

  “Will I see you today?” she asked.

  “Oh, boy,” Bear said, exhaling. “Maybe? I’ve got some drama happening at the ranch right now, and I’m not sure I can leave Judge and Mister alone.”

  “I’ll text Judge and tell him to grow up,” Sammy teased.

  “He’ll love that,” Bear said dryly.

  Sammy laughed and promised she wouldn’t text Judge. The call ended, and she sighed as she watched the screen darken.

  “Talking to Teddy?” Jeff asked, and Sammy straightened and looked at him. He wore a grin and so much more happiness on his face.

  “Yes,” she said. “Do you know what he’s doing for my birthday?”

  Jeff shook his head. “Believe it or not, Sammy, when he comes here, we don’t talk about you. He says hello and asks for you, then I come and get you. The end.” He looked over his shoulder. “I need help with this Volkswagen. I hate these cars, and this one is being a diva.”

  Sammy laughed and followed him back into the shop, still a little nervous about tomorrow night and what would happen.

  When she pulled up to her house later that night, Bear’s shiny black truck sat in her driveway, blocking her way into her garage. He didn’t seem to be sitting in the truck, though, and she looked at Lincoln. “You want to go find him?”

  “Sure.” Lincoln slipped out of the truck without a second look back. He ran toward the front porch, but Bear came out of her house before he reached the top of the steps. Bear scooped Lincoln into his arms, both of them smiling.

  Sammy couldn’t help smiling too, but she took a moment to say a prayer and put her hand sanitizer in her purse. Then she got out at the same time Bear and Lincoln came down the steps.

  “What are you doin’ here?” she asked, really laying on her Texas accent. “You said I wouldn’t see you until tomorrow.”

  “Do you want to ask her?” Bear asked, looking at Lincoln.

  “Ask me what?” Thunder rolled through the sky, and Sammy looked up as the noise lingered in the clouds. “Let’s go in.”

  “Sammy, I want to go sleep at the ranch tonight. Bear said I could, and he’s got a bed all set up for me already.”

  She looked from Lincoln to Bear. “You have school tomorrow, bud,” she said.

  “It’s just a half-day,” Lincoln said. “I don’t need to go.”

  Sammy didn’t know what to say.

  “Bear needs some help with these new horses he got, and if I’m there, the work will go so much faster.” He turned on the puppy dog eyes, and Sammy felt her resistance slipping. “Please, Sammy? Ranger’s going to—”

  “Lincoln,” Bear said quietly. Link looked up at him and he gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head.

  “Oh, right.” Lincoln closed his mouth and looked at Sammy.

  “He says he can pack his own bag,” Bear said with a smile. “I’d love to take you guys to dinner, and then you can have an evening to yourself.” He reached for her hand, his fingertips barely brushing hers.

  Sammy had so many questions, especially about what Ranger was going to do—and what she could possibly need an evening to herself for. Then she thought of a bubble bath, and a cup of hot tea while she read a book in bed. No homework. No checking to make sure Lincoln washed right in the tub. No dinner to make.

  “Okay,” she said. “Go pack your bag, Link.” She took Bear’s hand. “You come tell me what Ranger’s going to do.”

  Lincoln cheered while Bear just glared at Sammy. She smiled and said, “Please?”

  Bear sighed heavily. “He’s making your birthday cake, if you must know.”

  Sammy narrowed her eyes at him. “Why couldn’t Lincoln tell me that?”

  “Because,” Bear said. “Now come on. Tell me where we’re going for dinner.”

  Sammy did enjoy her evening alone. Her morning too, as she slept in and got ready for work at a much slower pace. Bear texted to say he’d bring Link to her parents’ house so they could go to dinner at Richardson’s, and Sammy left the shop early to get ready.

  She knew when Bear pulled into the driveway, as his truck had one of those huge engines that growled when it was running. She stayed in the house though, as he liked to come to the door to get her.

  “Relax,” she told herself. She needed more time to get used to Bear spending his money on her, and she felt woefully underdressed in the only black dress she owned.

  He rang the doorbell, and Sammy smoothed down her dress one more time before she went to answer the door.

  She looked up, as Bear stood so much taller than her. But he wasn’t there. Looking down, she found him on both knees, holding a black ring box toward her. It was already open to reveal a shiny diamond among blue silk.

  Sammy gasped, pure surprise mingling with delight as she noticed he was wearing a fancy black suit that seemed to suck light into it. His shirt was crisp and white, with a blue and gray tie knotted around his throat.

  “Samantha Benton,” he said. “I can’t wait to build a life together with you. I love you, and I love Lincoln, with my whole heart. Will you marry me?”

  Sammy had worked really hard on her makeup, but her tears burned her eyes and threatened to ruin it all. “Yes,” she said, her voice cracking. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

  Bear got to his feet in one swift move, his laughter joining with hers as he engulfed her in a tight hug. He made her feel beautiful, and smart, and safe.

  “I love you,” she said as he put the ring on the right finger.

  “I love you too,” he said, finishing and looking up at her. They smiled at one another, and Sammy tipped up to hold his face in both of her hands. She took a few seconds to really search his face, and she found him to be one of the most genuine people she’d ever had the pleasure of meeting.

  Then she kissed her fiancé.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Bear told Lincoln to go open the front door and hold it for him. He followed with the two long, foil trays of food in his hands, hoping he’d make it all the way to the kitchen before he dropped it.

  “Thanks, bud,” he said to Lincoln, barely squeezing by him.

  “Right here, Bear,” Sammy’s mother said, and Bear put the hot trays on the counter where she’d laid out trivets. “Thank you for getting this. It smells amazing.”

  “Sure,” Bear said. He’d stopped to pick up Sammy’s favorite pasta—chicken Alfredo—and her mother’s favorite—cheese-stuffed shells. Half of one of the trays should be full of breadsticks, while the other one should have spaghetti and meatballs.

  Bear could eat pasta any day of the week, so he wasn’t disappointed in the menu that night. Rachel had several bottles of flavored syrups sitting on the counter, along with two-liter bottles of soda and a huge bowl of potato salad.

  Not only that, but she’d gone to The Pennsylvania and picked up one of their homemade blackberry cobblers. Bear thought it was just about the most perfect birthday meal he’d ever seen.

  “Something smells good,” Vaughan said, hobbling into the kitchen. He beamed at Bear, who shook his hand.

  “Sammy said she was five minutes from leaving the shop,” Bear said, glancing at the clock on the stove. That had been fifteen minutes ago, and if she’d spoken true, she’d be at her parents’ already.

  She wasn’t, so she hadn’t left work yet. He’d wanted to provide an amazing experience for her the way she had him, but he respected her wishes, and he hadn’t invited anyone else to the party. He had sent a lot of texts and emails over the course of the last month, though, and he’d put together a book of cards, letters, and emails from people who knew and loved Sammy.

  He’d left the book in his truck, because he still wasn’t sure he was going to give it to her that night. He’d given her the diamond yesterday, and that could easily be counted as her birthday gift. Although, when Bear thought about it, being engaged to Sammy was definitely a gift for him, not her.

  “Sorry,” Sammy called from the direction of the front door. “I had this guy call
right as I was walking out, and all the other guys had gone.” She appeared in the kitchen doorway, flustered, with wisps of hair falling from her ponytail. “I need a couple of minutes to clean up, okay?”

  Her eyes landed on the trays on the counter. “What is that?”

  “Chicken Alfredo,” her mother said, smiling. “Hello, dear.” She stepped over and embraced Sammy, the two of them both closing their eyes. Bear couldn’t help smiling too. Sammy’s family was much smaller than his, but that didn’t mean the connections were any less real.

  “Five minutes,” Sammy said. “Where’s Link?”

  “He went out back,” Vaughan said. “I’ll get him.”

  Bear stepped over to Sammy and slid one arm around her waist. “Hey, you.” He grinned at her, and she smiled up at him, and Bear wanted to marry her that weekend. They hadn’t set a date, but she’d said she’d sit down with her mom and get something scheduled that night.

  “Five minutes,” she repeated, and Bear kissed her quickly and let her go. She may have asked for a low-key birthday, and he understood why. This wasn’t her real birthday anyway. On Christmas Eve, after the light parade, he’d already planned to have her and Lincoln up to the homestead.

  He and Bishop would be finished switching places by then, and Bear wanted her to see the west wing where she’d be living. He wanted to provide a sanctuary for her after a very busy night, and he wanted her to know how very much he loved her.

  The living room in the west wing would be quiet and dark and filled with as many of her favorite things as he could get before Christmas Eve. So it didn’t really matter if he gave her that book tonight or not. She’d get a lot of gifts on her actual birthday.

  He heard a dog bark, and it sounded like it had come from the backyard. Surprise moved through him, and he went through the utility room to the back door. Vaughan stood on the back porch, looking down at Lincoln and the cutest black and white spotted puppy Bear had ever seen. “What is happening here?” he asked.

  “Lincoln wanted to get Sammy a dog for her birthday,” Vaughan said like that was a spectacular idea. Bear could see a myriad of problems, starting with the fact that neither Sammy nor Lincoln were ever home during the day.

  “Oh, boy,” Bear said, rubbing his hand up the back of his neck and dislodging his cowboy hat. “Is that…is she going to like that?”

  “I doubt it,” Vaughan said, still grinning from ear to ear. He looked at Bear, the smile falling from his face. “Wait. Lincoln didn’t tell you?”

  Bear didn’t want to get the boy in trouble, but something bubbled in his stomach too. “Not exactly,” he said.

  “Lincoln said he talked to you about it, and you volunteered to take Spot up to the ranch and train ‘im up for Sammy.”

  Bear had a very hard time not letting his mouth fall open. “Oh.”

  Lincoln giggled as he rolled around with the dog—named Spot, apparently—and Bear found he couldn’t tell him no.

  “Hey,” Sammy said, coming out onto the porch too. “I’m ready.”

  “Happy birthday, baby,” her father said, and he hugged her. “I guess we’re doing gifts first.”

  “We are?” Sammy and Bear said at the same time.

  “Link,” Vaughan called. “Bring your mom her birthday present.”

  Lincoln scooped the puppy into his arms, where it wiggled and squirmed until it was facing him. Then it licked his face, causing another round of giggles to come out of Lincoln’s mouth.

  Sammy sucked in a tight breath and met Bear’s eye. “That puppy is for me?”

  “Looks like it,” Bear said as Lincoln struggled to get up the steps.

  He finally made it, only smiles for miles on his face. “Look, Mama,” he said. “It’s an English setter. They’re real good guard dogs, and they’re real smart.”

  “It’s a puppy,” Sammy said. “You have to teach a dog to guard and be smart.” She looked like she’d been struck by lightning.

  Lincoln shifted and put the puppy on the porch.

  “And who’s going to potty train that thing?” she asked.

  “His name is Spot,” Lincoln said. “See his black spots, Mom?”

  “Don’t you think your mother should get to name her own dog?” Bear asked.

  Lincoln looked at him, finally sobering enough to look a bit cowed. “Um.”

  “Link.” Sammy crouched down in front of her son. “Look, I know we’ve talked about getting a dog before, but I really can’t take care of one right now.”

  Lincoln toed the ground, and his face was just a picture of misery.

  “That’s why I said I’d help,” Bear said. “I mean, Lincoln asked me to take the dog to the ranch and keep him up there. Teach him to work and guard…and be smart.” He stepped next to Lincoln and put his hand on the boy’s shoulder.

  Sammy looked up at him. “Is that right?” She straightened, her eyes never leaving Bear’s.

  “Yeah, we figured you two will be living up there soon anyway, and then Spot—or whatever you want to name him—” He tightened his fingers on Lincoln’s shoulder. “—Won’t have to adjust to a new place.”

  Sammy knew Bear was flying by the seat of his pants, but she didn’t call him on it. She looked at Lincoln, her father, and then back to Bear. He had no idea what she found on each of their faces, but she sighed and dropped her chin to her chest.

  “Fine,” she said. “But I really don’t like the name Spot.”

  Lincoln cheered, and her father limped toward the back door. “Our gift is inside, Sammy. Come see.”

  Lincoln followed him, but Sammy stayed with Bear. “You agreed to get me a puppy for my birthday? I don’t think so.”

  Bear grinned and shook his head. “I found out literally three minutes ago. Link was supposed to talk to me, and he didn’t.”

  “He really can’t do that.” Sammy faced the house. “I just couldn’t tell him no.”

  “Join the club,” Bear said, leaning down and inhaling the scent of her hair. She’d sprayed something in it to try and mask the grease, metal, and motor oil from the shop. It partially worked, but he adored the cherries and motor oil concoction in his nose.

  “You’re beautiful today,” he whispered, sliding his hand along her waist and letting his lips linger near her ear. He placed a kiss there that she pressed into, and Bear asked, “When can we get married?”

  “Let’s go talk to my mother,” she said, looking up at him. “Get a date on the calendar.”

  “Right now?”

  “Yes,” she said, laughing. “Right now, cowboy.” She put her hand in his and pulled him toward the back door. They went in together, and Sammy opened her gift from her parents—a brand new TV—and then said, “Mom, let’s get out the calendar so Bear and I can start planning our wedding.”

  “Oh, good idea.” Her mother bustled off to get a paper calendar she kept on her desk while Vaughan got out plates and cups for dinner.

  “When works for you?” Sammy asked.

  “Whenever,” Bear said. “I don’t do much but work on the ranch. You’re busier than me.”

  “Spring break would be nice,” she said. “Then no one would have to take Link to school while we’re on our honeymoon.”

  “When’s spring break?” Bear asked, knowing it wouldn’t be in the next couple of days.

  “March,” she said, looking up at him. “Does that work?”

  “Yes,” he said, and she circled March sixteenth on the calendar.

  “It’s a Saturday,” she said. “Then we can be gone for the next week.”

  “I’ll text my mother right now.” Bear did that, and everyone looked at him when he finished. “What?”

  “Do you have a gift for Sammy?” Rachel asked, and Bear’s face heated.

  “I do,” he said. “But it’s kind of lame, and I’d rather give it to her in private.”

  Sammy blinked, but her mother didn’t miss a single beat. “No problem.” She took a deep breath. “Okay, Sammy, we’ve got your favori
tes here.” She removed the lid from the food, a healthy dose of steam escaping. “Happy birthday, dear.”

  Rachel proceeded to stick candles in the chicken Alfredo, which made Lincoln laugh. She put a few in the cake Ranger had dropped off earlier, and they sang Happy Birthday to her, just the four of them.

  Somehow, though, there were more voices adding to the song than people in the room. Bear felt a very real impression that the heavens had opened, and angels had come down to celebrate Sammy’s birthday with her. He thought she must have felt them too, because she wept through the whole song.

  She hugged both of her parents afterward, and even Lincoln piled into the group huddle-hug. Bear stood on the outside and watched them grieve and heal and love, and it was beautiful.

  Sammy opened her eyes and met his, raised her hand as an indication that he should join them. He did, stepping right behind Lincoln and wrapping his long arms around the lot of them.

  Just like that, he became one of them, and the love they had for each other infused into him too.

  “Thank you,” Sammy finally whispered, and Bear stepped back, which allowed everyone else to do the same. “I know Heather and Patrick were here for that.” She wiped her eyes. “Now, I’m starving, and I’m going to eat all of this chicken Alfredo by myself.”

  She beamed around at everyone, and Bear could only smile back as his emotions had lodged themselves somewhere in his throat, making speaking impossible.

  Later that night, Sammy rode home with Bear while Lincoln snoozed in a sleeping bag on his grandparent’s living room floor. He went down the block and around the corner to her driveway. When he pulled in, he put the truck in park and reached behind the seat.

  “This is what I got for you,” he said, handing her the book. It was wrapped in plain white paper, with a bright pink ribbon that crisscrossed and made a bow. “I obviously didn’t wrap it.”

  “It’s beautiful,” she said. “So clean.”