Holly winced and took a bracing breath. “I work Fridays.” She willed them to understand. “I wish you would’ve told me sooner. I might have been able to trade shifts or taken a day of vacation.” Of course, being the newbie it was highly unlikely she’d score the day after Thanksgiving off. “I’m so sorry. It sounds like a lot of fun.”
Jessica rested her hand over hers. “It’s okay. We weren’t sure you’d be free, anyway.”
“You don’t know how much I want to go.” She blinked back tears of frustration. One step forward and two steps back seemed to be a constant theme in her life.
Her mom brushed at an imaginary crumb. “Oh, well. I tried. Think I’ll turn in early. You girls lock up when you leave.”
Holly turned to Jessica. “You’re driving home tonight? I know you only live in Wenatchee, but for some reason I expected you to stay over.”
Jessica shook her head. “I have to work in the morning. Speaking of work—don’t you have the early shift this week?”
“How’d you know?”
“You must’ve mentioned it. So you’re off Thanksgiving day?”
“No.”
“How is it you have to work five ten-hour days this week?”
“Oh, my goodness! You’re right. I’m so used to working five eights I spaced out that I’d have Friday off. I can’t wait to tell Mom. She’ll be so surprised.”
Jessica pushed back from the table. “She’ll be surprised, all right.” Her eyes gleamed. “This is going to be a blast.”
Holly flipped off the lights and walked outside with her sister. “See you Thursday.”
“Wait a second. You seemed bothered when you came back from talking with Mom. Did the two of you have another fight, or was it just her attitude dragging you down?”
“We’re fine. There’s nothing to be concerned about.” Holly didn’t want to burden Jessica any further with their mother’s dramatics.
“I know she can be difficult, but I think she just wants to be a part of our lives and gets testy when she feels like we don’t have time for her.”
“Okay, thanks. ’Night, Jessie.” She slid behind the wheel of her car and pondered her sister’s words. Was it true? Did their mother really only want to be included?
* * *
Matthew pulled a plate of warmed dinner from the microwave, poured sparkling cider into three glasses and a sippy cup, set everything on a tray, then joined his family by the fire. “Where’s Ava?”
“Sound asleep. I just carried her to bed.” April flashed him a tired smile.
He held out the tray to John. “The plate is for you.” He eased down and placed the tray on a side table. “This brings back memories.”
“Minus Mom’s famous sugar cookies.” John stretched out his legs and held the plate to his nose, sniffing. “This smells great.” He looked to their sister. “Thanks.”
“Oh, that reminds me.” April jumped up. “Be right back.”
Matthew glanced at John, who shrugged.
April came into the room holding a tin. “This came in today’s mail.” She pried the lid off and exposed two neat rows of sugar cookies.
Matthew raised his brows. “Are those—”
“From Mom.” April grinned wide and handed him a note and John the cookies.
Matthew cleared his throat and read. “‘Hey, kids, Johnny once told me he couldn’t have Thanksgiving without my sugar cookies. When I heard he was going to your place, Matthew, I rewrote the address label. You have your brother to thank. Enjoy! Sorry we couldn’t be there in person to deliver these, but LOL, who am I kidding—we love the Florida sunshine. You kids need to plan to come our direction next year. Love, Mom.’” Matthew laid the note aside and reached for a cookie.
“Cool!” John scooped out several and scarfed them down. “My favorite meal and my favorite dessert. It doesn’t get better than this.”
“I could’ve made these, too, you know.” Matthew frowned at his brother, who devoured three more after inhaling his dinner.
“Not like Mom.”
“I use her recipe!”
John shook his head. “Doesn’t matter.”
Mathew sighed and took a bite. Maybe his brother was right. Mom always had a knack for these. Even several days old they tasted great.
John wiped his hands on his jeans, leaving a trail of white crumbs on the denim. “I’ve been meaning to ask about the woman at the train. She looked familiar, but I can’t place her.”
April laughed. “She’s too old for you.”
“Duh. You both seemed very friendly with her, though, and I thought maybe I knew her, too.”
Matthew shook his head. “It’s doubtful. She was in my class, but you probably saw her around town.” Born five years after him, their parents claimed John was their best surprise ever.
“Oh. Will she be joining us for Thanksgiving?”
“No. She’s working.” Now, why would he assume that? “Holly is a nurse at the hospital.”
“Too bad.” John took a gulp of sparkling cider. “There anything between the two of you?”
Matthew reached for his glass and tried to keep his voice neutral. “What makes you ask?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Well, something put the idea in your head.” Matthew couldn’t imagine how John had leaped to such a conclusion.
“She seemed pretty friendly, as if you knew each other well.” He shrugged. “I saw her hand on your arm. Guess I assumed there was more to it than there was.”
April’s soft laugh startled Matthew. “I told you there’s something there. He probably noticed the same spark I did.” April’s eyes glinted with mischief. “It seems the two of you are the only ones who can’t see it.”
Matthew shook his head and stood. “I have an early morning and a full day of baking. See you tomorrow evening.” He couldn’t sit around and pretend he didn’t feel anything for Holly. His brother and sister knew him too well.
John chucked a couch pillow at him. “Not if I see you first.”
Matthew grinned at their dad’s favorite saying. “Sleep well.” He softly closed the door to his room and readied for bed. Why couldn’t April get over the idea of him and Holly? They had no future together. Not that he wasn’t interested, but Todd was right—her job came first. He sat on the edge of his bed, reached for his Bible and randomly opened to Romans chapter fifteen. Verse thirteen in particular stood out to him.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
He laid the Bible on the nightstand, then rested his head back and sank into the pillow. Joy and peace, that’s what this time of year was supposed to be filled with, yet he felt anything but peace in regard to Holly. Why couldn’t he get that woman out of his mind?
He scrunched his brows. Did he really want more than friendship with Holly? He was being pulled in several directions and his bakery required a lot of him. He tucked away the thought and closed his eyes. He’d let God deal with it.
Lord, please fill me with Your joy and peace. And if it works into Your plan, could Holly be a part of it? Amen.
Chapter 13
Wednesday afternoon, as Holly strolled toward the hospital exit, she hummed a tune she’d heard on the radio. The front doors slid open and cold air buffeted her. She loved winter, but this cold was ridiculous and it wasn’t even technically winter yet. Hawaii sounded nice about now.
Since it was a slow day and the hospital was only keeping essential staff in order to cut operating costs, her boss had let her off early. She didn’t mind, but hoped it wouldn’t happen too often.
She ambled across the street and jumped over a mound of icy snow before landing on the sidewalk. She slid a few inches and stuck out her arms
to catch her balance. Okay, that was probably a bad idea. She took a tentative step and relaxed when her foot didn’t slide out from under her.
A familiar form headed in her direction. What was Matthew doing out and about the day before Thanksgiving? She figured a baker would be stuck in the kitchen. She stopped and waited for him to get closer. “Fancy meeting you here.”
He started. “Hi, Holly. I didn’t see you. My mind was running through orders.” His eyes drooped slightly, as if he was in need of a good night’s sleep.
“I figured you’d be swamped at the bakery today.”
He sighed. “We are—or rather, were. I started baking at three-thirty this morning and needed to get away for an hour. I figured a walk in the cold air would wake me up. George and my new hire have everything under control.”
“So you found someone. That’s great.” The cold seeped through her scrubs and she shivered.
“You cold?” He nodded past her. “I’m heading to The Gingerbread House. Join me? Looks like you could use a cup of coffee to warm up, and I need one to wake up my brain.”
She hesitated. Those weren’t the words of someone trying to avoid her. Maybe she had misunderstood his comment at church and he wasn’t giving her the brush-off, after all. “Okay. I’d like that.” She walked beside him with her hands stuffed deep into her pockets. “How’s your brother enjoying his vacation?”
“From what I’ve heard he’s having a blast. April loves having him around to entertain Ava. He took her up to Ski Hill yesterday.”
“I imagine it’s nice to get a break.” Holly stomped the snow off her shoes and followed Matthew into the building. The aroma of ginger and coffee soothed, and the heat from the oven thawed her. “I think I’m beginning to like this place as much as you do.”
Matthew’s eyes twinkled. “Ah. A convert.”
She snickered. He must truly enjoy coming here.
“Next.”
They stepped forward and Matthew ordered coffees and gingersnaps. “Have you ever tried their gingersnaps?”
She shook her head.
“You must. Add two more, please.” He paid and they found a table by the window that looked out onto the snow-covered lawn.
“Thanks. I could’ve paid for my own, though.” She added cream and sugar to her coffee and reached for a cookie.
“You can get it next time.” He cleared his throat. “I’m glad we ran into each other again because I feel bad about something.”
She furrowed her brow and stilled.
“I can’t stop thinking about my comment to you on Sunday. I know I’ve apologized, but I sense that it’s—”
She waved a hand and relaxed. “Don’t give it another thought. You didn’t say anything wrong. I’ll admit I was miffed.” She gave him a shy smile. “But after thinking about it for a while, I realized Todd is the one who said it, not you.” She sipped her coffee. “The only thing you did was clear the air and let me know you weren’t interested in anything other than friendship.” She looked down into her cup.
“That wasn’t exactly what I meant. I was trying to say I trust you where my heart is concerned. I know you aren’t interested in a relationship.”
Holly nearly choked on her coffee when it went down wrong. Matthew’s admission was beyond shocking, but made sense in retrospect, given the statement he’d made. “Thanks. I really jumped to the wrong conclusion.”
“Yeah, but my blunt lack of tact was inexcusable. I should’ve realized how my words sounded.”
She briefly touched his hand. “I appreciate your honesty and apology. Truth is, your words did hurt a little. But now I understand where you were coming from. I’ve made it abundantly clear I’m only open for friendship, and you are respecting that, so I thank you. Now let’s talk about something else.”
He nodded and swallowed a gulp of coffee. “Okay, thanks.” His eyebrows scrunched together. “Shouldn’t you be working?”
“Yes, but it’s slow today. I was sent home early.”
“Is that good or bad?”
“Both, I guess, but I really don’t mind as long as it doesn’t happen often.” The next hour flew as they talked.
Matthew glanced at his wristwatch. “Whoa. George probably thinks I abandoned him.”
Holly slipped her arms into her jacket and stood. “Thanks for the coffee and cookies, but I have to say—” she lowered her voice and spoke near his ear “—I like your snickerdoodles a smidgen better than these gingersnaps.”
His face lit as he pulled the door open. “Thanks. Happy Thanksgiving, Holly.”
“Same to you. ’Bye.” Matthew went one way and Holly the other. Her feet barely touched the sidewalk as she practically skipped home. Their conversation had lifted a weight she hadn’t realized was there. A smile stretched her lips. Had Matthew taken the long way around hoping to run into her? Probably not, since he asked why she wasn’t working, but she wanted to think so nonetheless. She may be focused on her job, but he was a handsome man whose attention she enjoyed. There—she’d admitted it.
Unease settled over her as she pushed into her apartment. The more she got to know Matthew the more she liked him. An alarm in the back of her mind warned her of danger ahead.
* * *
Matthew drew in a long breath, savoring the scent of turkey and all the trimmings. If his nose could be believed, this would be a delicious meal. He tossed Ava above his head and caught her.
Ava giggled. “Again!”
Matthew set her down. “I’m tired, kiddo. See if Uncle John will play.”
Ava turned to his younger brother with puppy-dog eyes. “Please play.”
John shot Matthew a look and quickly returned his attention to the football game on television. “At halftime.”
Ava’s lower lip protruded.
“How about you go get your coloring book and crayons?” Matthew had entertained his niece all morning, to give April uninterrupted time to make dinner. He was ready to trade places with his sister. How could such a little girl wear a grown man out so easily? He couldn’t imagine what April was doing. It didn’t take two hours to put the turkey in the oven, but every time he walked into the kitchen she booted him out, claiming today was her day to thank him for letting them stay with him. At least she didn’t need to worry about the rolls.
He cringed, thinking about all the baking he’d done yesterday. His arms were actually sore from rolling so much dough. Maybe his current state of exhaustion had more to do with his schedule than with little Ava. Good thing the bakery was closed today and tomorrow so everyone could recover. He’d given his staff the extra day off—they’d earned it.
Ava trotted into the room and parked herself on the floor in front of the fireplace with her crayons. “Look, Unca Matt. Mommy bought me a Christmas book.” She held it up, revealing an oversize holly stem colored blue.
Holly. What was she doing right now? Probably poking someone with a needle, making their holiday even more miserable. “Very nice, Ava. Do you know what you are coloring?”
She shook her head.
“It’s called holly. It’s a plant people decorate with at Christmastime.” He walked to the mantel and pulled a sprig of holly from the wreath his sister must have purchased yesterday. “See.”
“It’s green.”
“Sure is.”
She frowned and scribbled all over the holly in her coloring book. “I do another one.”
He chuckled and stood. “Be back in a minute.” He peeked into the kitchen. “What time are we eating?”
April turned from the sink with a dripping spoon in her hand. “Soon. The turkey will be done shortly, and then all I have to do is carve it and make gravy.”
“May I come in now?”
“Sure, but don’t think you can lift a finger. I won’t allow it.”
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“You didn’t have to do all of this by yourself. John could’ve helped.”
“Actually, he helped with the bird this morning, but have you ever seen him in the kitchen? I don’t know what happened, but somehow he missed out on the cooking and baking gene. He’s a disaster in the culinary department.”
“Now that you mention it...”
April emptied the sink and dried her hands. “Would you mind pulling out the turkey?”
“Oh, April I forgot about your arm. Are you sure you’re not overdoing it?”
“I’m fine. It’s just a little weak.”
He donned oven mitts and rescued the bird from the oven. A wonderful aroma drifted up from the roasting pan. “It looks perfect.” He placed the golden-brown, perfectly roasted bird on a large cutting board, then took the pan to the stove so April could whip up the gravy. “John may not be handy in the kitchen, but he can certainly help set out the food.”
“No, don’t bother him. He’s helped enough. Besides, it’s his break, and he’s watching the game.”
“Listen to you. Since when do you care if someone is watching football?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. He’s been entertaining Ava all week, and I’d like for him to be able to watch the game without me asking for more help.”
“We’re your brothers. It’s our job to pick up the slack when you need a little help. That’s what families do.”
She sniffled. “Thanks.”
He cleared his throat. “When was the last time you spoke with Rick?”
“Last week. He warned me he probably wouldn’t be able to Skype or anything this week.” She sniffled again and swiped at her eyes. “I miss him. Especially today.”
“Ah, April.” His gut wrenched for his sister and her husband. He drew her into a tight hug. “Only six more months to go. You’re halfway there.”
“I know. Thanks.” She pulled away and sprinkled flour into the drippings while whisking it all together. “Ava’s so young, she barely remembers him. I want her to know her daddy.”
A Holiday Proposal Page 11