It was after noon when Dylan and Cole strolled in from the barn, Aric had strolled in a couple hours earlier. They had worked the morning shift, and Will and Juan were taking the afternoon shift with the help of one of the part-timers, so that all the Jacobs brothers could attend the Christmas Eve church service together. Then on Christmas Day, Dylan, Aric, and Cole would take the second milking so Will and Juan could be with their families in the afternoon. It didn’t surprise her to know Dylan would arrange everyone’s schedules so they were able to spend time with their families on this blessed holiday.
Cole snatched the lid off the slow cooker and eyed the ham with the look of a starving wolf.
“Hey, put that lid down,” Marissa snapped teasingly, “that’s not ready yet.”
She reached into the fridge and pulled out some salami and cheese, and then glanced over her shoulder at the two handsome men standing behind her. “Wash your hands while I whip up a sandwich for you guys to hold you over.”
Cole dashed toward the sink but Dylan hesitated.
God forbid he let her wait on him. “Hands, now, or you can’t have your sandwich.”
Dylan stepped next to Cole and washed his hands.
She handed Cole his plate but before taking it from her hand he leaned toward her and kissed her on the cheek. “Thanks, you’re the best.”
His full smile was contagious. He was such a schmoozer.
She reached back, grabbed Dylan’s plate off the counter and handed it to him. His gaze held hers for a moment. Was he going to kiss her as well? Anything, she would give anything for just one peck from his lips. She willed him to kiss her, silently begging God for this favor. No luck. He thanked her, then yanked his gaze from hers before snatching a bag of chips off the counter and taking a seat at the table with Cole.
Cole tilted his head to the side and offered her a soft sympathetic smile.
She sat with the two men while they ate. Cole was full of conversation, as always, but Dylan was even more quiet than usual. Preoccupation filled his gaze. What was up with him? Maybe he was just tired.
“You look like you could use a nap,” Marissa stated.
“I’m fine. I’ll help you in here. I just need to shower first.”
Marissa glanced around the kitchen and shrugged. “No need, I’m all set in here, you can rest before dinner and church.”
He parted his lips to speak but Marissa chose to cut him off. “I’d hate to have you fall asleep during Nate and Luke’s performance tonight. That wouldn’t look good. So you’ll take a nap.” She cringed inwardly at her own harsh demanding tone.
Dylan eyed her curiously without a word, and out of the corner of her eye she caught Cole’s wide grin. Cole’s grin didn’t surprise her. He knew her state of mind. They talked regularly and she knew he knew she was about at the end of her rope waiting for Dylan to come around, which is why Cole suggested the plan he did for New Year's Eve. Feeling guilty about facilitating such a plan, she pushed the thought of it out of her mind. She’d deal with it later, after Christmas.
After shooing Dylan and Cole out of the kitchen, she continued on with the meal preparations. Once done, she planned on spending time with the boys, which probably meant watching Nate and Luke rehearse their lines for the Christmas pageant. Though she’d already watched them perform at least fifty times she welcomed watching them again.
Shortly before four o’clock, Marissa began setting the table for their Christmas feast. She pulled the china from the hutch and placed it on the long kitchen table covered with a red tablecloth. She imagined what it must have been like for Mrs. Jacobs to set this table for her family, the joy she must have felt to cook such a feast for her husband and children, and the pleasure she must have felt buying and wrapping gifts for her children, knowing how pleased they would be when Santa visited. It broke her heart to know that poor little Luke and Nate probably didn’t have much recollection, if any, of a Christmas with their parents. She did her best today to prepare a meal similar to what Cole had told her about from their past, and she was bound and determined to do her best to make sure the Jacobs boys, and men, knew they were loved unconditionally.
Once complete, Marissa eyed the lovely table. It was time to wake Dylan so he could call the troops to dinner. She tapped on his bedroom door. No response. She tapped again. Still no response, so she gripped the knob, turned it and cracked open the door just a bit. “Dylan.”
Nothing.
She stepped into the room and gasped when her gaze landed on him sprawled out on top of the bed wearing nothing but the towel he’d obviously wrapped himself in after he showered. The poor guy must have been so tired he didn’t even have the energy to climb under the covers. But lucky her. Her mouth watered at the sight of him. The hard planes of his chiseled abs rose and fell with each deep, even breath he took. Even though she’d seen him shirtless on occasion in the past, the exhilaration shooting through her veins was just as robust this time, if not more forceful, than the first time she’d seen this glorious sight. Her heart hammered in her chest so hard and loud she was surprised it didn't wake him.
Her fingertips burned at the mere thought of touching his bare skin and tracing his sculpted muscles. His thick chest was peppered with hair trailing down over his stomach, the thinning line disappeared under the towel. She wanted to see where it ended. Skimming over the towel, her gaze landed on his powerful thighs, all muscle, glorious mouthwatering muscle.
Marissa stepped toward the bed, reached out and touched his shoulder. His eyes popped open and he shifted abruptly. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. Dinner’s ready.”
He sprang into a seated position. “Shit, I slept that long.”
“Yeah, so?”
“I have so much to do.”
Grabbing hold of the towel around his waist, he secured it as he leaped off the bed, but teetered for a moment before getting his bearings. Dylan's overstressed brain never rested, and he probably needed more rest than that of the past couple hours he just got.
“Everything is ready. There’s nothing for you to do but get dressed and call your brothers to dinner. And then later we’ll go to church.”
He eyed her as if he didn’t believe her. The poor guy was spread so thin he didn’t appear to know which end was up at this very moment. She stepped toward him, reached up and placed her hand on his flushed cheek. “Dylan, we’re all set. Dinner is ready, church isn’t until seven o’clock, and the boys have practiced their lines a gazillion times. You’ve bought all the presents and they’re wrapped and ready to go. There’s nothing more you need to do except show up.”
His gaze darkened as it held hers. “Thank you, Marissa. You have no idea…”
Nate shot into the room. “I’m starving, is it ready?”
Marissa nearly tripped on her feet backing away from Dylan. He stepped back as well. Nate, Nate, Nate, you have the poorest timing. What was Dylan about to tell her?
Nate’s gaze raked over his brother. “Seriously, get dressed, we’re starving out here.”
Dylan cleared his throat. “I’ll be right out.”
Marissa and Nate exited the room and entered the kitchen where the troops had already assembled.
Cole was dishing the food onto serving trays and placing them on the table, and the rest of the boys were already seated. Cole took his seat and Marissa sat as well.
Dylan stepped into the room and took his seat at the head of the table. His gaze zoned in on her and he smiled that handsome smile she loved to see. “The table looks lovely, and dinner smells wonderful.”
His focus shifted to Nate. “Since you’re in such a hurry to eat you can lead the blessing.”
The ‘amen’ was hardly out of their mouths when platters started nearly flying around the table at warp speed.
Marissa refilled the ham platter, then the mashed potato bowl, then more biscuits. Though she’d been around the Jacobs family for long enough to know how much they ate it still amazed her. But she was on to them now
, they would not out-eat what she had prepared for them today. A few minutes after dinner they tore into the desserts. She had learned over the course of time that Dylan favored cherry pie so she made sure to bake two of those, along with a pecan pie. They devoured the pies, making her feel as though she’d hit a home run.
She stood to clear the table but Dylan insisted she not partake in the cleanup, arguing the fact that since she prepared the meal she shouldn’t have to clean, forgetting the fact that he, Cole and Aric had spent a better part of the day working as well. It was of no use to argue with him. “Fine then, I guess I’ll just shower and get ready for church while my handsome bunch cleans the kitchen.” Braden’s wide smile let her know he took her compliment personally. She knew he still had a crush on her. At the rate Dylan was moving she’d probably be better off waiting for Braden to come of age.
The aroma of Dylan’s aftershave met her in the doorway of the master bathroom. Oh, how she loved sharing his bathroom, though she’d rather be sharing his bed, but she’d take what she could get for now.
She climbed into the shower, pulled his Irish Spring bar soap from the rail, and held it to her nose, then she rubbed her fingers over the entire bar, thinking about how the surface had last touched Dylan’s enticing skin. Rather than use her lavender soap, she ran the Irish Spring bar over the entire length of her body foolishly hoping Dylan’s scent would seep into her skin, as if that would be enough to mark her as his territory.
After showering, Marissa slipped into a pair of black dress pants and shoes, and a plain red turtleneck sweater, choosing it for its color. They guys were just finishing in the kitchen when she stepped through the doorway. Dylan sent them off to change for church, and he slipped away to do the same. He returned a moment later wearing black dress slacks and a long-sleeved red and black plaid button down shirt with a red mock turtleneck underneath. She always thought he looked sexy as all get-out no matter what he wore, Carhartt bibs included, but what he did for that red and black plaid shirt was deliciously insane.
When they were all dressed and ready, Cole herded them into the living room where he had set up his camera to take some shots of themselves in front of the Christmas tree. Joy filled her heart as she stood there with them, with her family.
Cole and Aric loaded into Cole’s car as Marissa and the rest of the clan loaded into Dylan’s truck, and off to church they went.
More parishioners filled the church than Marissa had ever remembered seeing before. She hoped they could find a spot where they could all sit together, with the exception of Nate and Luke who would be sitting near the front with the other Sunday school children who would be performing during the service.
Dylan released Luke’s hand and instructed Nate to get him to his classroom. Nate motioned for his little brother to follow him but Luke didn’t budge. Instead, his big, brown, fear-filled eyes stared up at Dylan, pleading for him not to make him go with his brother.
Dylan crouched down. “What’s the matter, buddy?”
“I wanna sit by you.”
“Don’t you want to sit with your friends and sing with them tonight?”
Luke shook his head.
“Why not?”
The little boy’s eyes swam with tears, and his lip quivered. “I’m scared.”
Dylan’s already soft gaze melted even more. He squeezed his brother’s shoulder reassuringly. “There’s no reason to be afraid, you’ve been practicing all week and you know all the words. You got this, buddy. You’re going to be great. Okay?”
Luke’s nod came slow. He shifted his gaze from Dylan to her.
The terrified look in his eyes nearly caused her to scoop him up and run out the door so he didn’t have to face his fear, but she knew Dylan was right. He needed to sit up front with his classmates. And she knew he could do it, he’d practiced so hard the past couple of days. She squatted down and kissed his cheek. “You’re going to be great. Now scoot along with Nate.” Her voice nearly cracked but luckily she was able to hold it together. The last thing she wanted was to instill more fear or reluctance into the poor little boy.
Nate reached out and Luke took his hand.
Marissa stared after the two boys, even when they’d disappeared from sight. She blew out a sigh.
Cole slung his arm over her shoulder. “He’ll be fine. Let’s go get a seat.”
She glanced toward Dylan, who still stared in the direction the boys disappeared. The pain in his eyes was unmistakable, his little brother’s fear had seeped into him.
Aric waved them over to the spot he’d saved near the front of the church. They filed into the pew, Aric, Braden, Cole, her, and then Dylan. A few minutes later, the Sunday school children marched in, the younger ones dressed as angels, wearing halos, and white robes with gold trim. The older children were either dressed in their Christmas best or took on the roles of Mary, Joseph, wise men, and shepherds, Nate being a shepherd.
Marissa’s palms perspired as Pastor Jahn wrapped up his sermon, it would soon be time for the kids to sing, and she hoped and prayed Luke would be okay.
Mrs. Jahn motioned for the kids to rise and turn in their pews so they would be facing the congregation. Luke stood in the front. The shards of panic radiating from his gaze pierced her heart with the velocity and pain of a thousand daggers. Though he’d made great progress over the past six months, the poor boy was still more quiet and shy than most kids his age.
The children began to sing their first song. Luke’s lips didn’t move. Though six pews away from the children, Luke’s terrified gaze somehow found Dylan. Marissa looked at Dylan. His gaze was glued to his brother’s and he began mouthing the words to Away in a Manger. Within seconds, Luke’s lips began to move. Relief floated through every cell in her body as she watched the little boy sing.
Marissa glanced down the pew, at Aric, Braden, and Cole. They looked forward, watching Luke, Nate, and the rest of the children. Returning her gaze to Dylan, she found herself in awe at the incalculable depth of pride emitting from his gaze as he swung it between Nate and Luke. The expression was clearly more than that of a brother, it was more like that of a father.
After the service, Cole and Aric took off for home, and she, Dylan, and Braden went into the church social hall to find Nate and Luke.
Luke ran toward Dylan and leaped into his arms. “I did it!” Sheer excitement radiated in his tone.
“You did, buddy. I’m so proud of you.”
Dylan eyed Nate who didn’t seem nearly as excited as his younger brother. Marissa guessed the few years Nate had on Luke played a role in that. Dylan ruffled Nate’s hair. “You did well, too.”
Nate smiled.
Cole and Aric were getting out of the car when Dylan pulled into the driveway. How odd, Marissa thought, they had left church at least fifteen minutes prior to them yet got home at nearly the same time. Had they stopped off somewhere on the way home? But where? It was Christmas and surely everything was closed.
Marissa hung back with Dylan, Cole, and Aric as they seemed to be nudging the younger boys into the house first.
“Santa came!” Luke yelled.
The excitement in the little boy’s voice was present enough for Marissa, and the rest of the Jacobs men and boys wasted no time filing into the living room.
She eyed the heaping piles of presents under the tree, that explained why Cole and Aric high-tailed it out of church, they were responsible for stacking the presents under the tree, but on Christmas Eve, hmm.
Dylan winked at her. “We’ve always been one of the first stops,” he whispered. “Santa always comes while we’re at church.”
One by one they opened their presents, her included. How had she not noticed her heaping pile of presents when she stashed the others in Dylan’s closet?
Dylan had hit a home run with each and every gift. But why wouldn’t he have, he devoted his life to making sure his brothers, and anyone else he cared about, were taken care of and happy. The small gifts she purchased for the boys wer
e well-received as well, even Dylan seemed pleased with his. She hadn’t a clue what to get for him so, at Cole’s advice, they pooled their financial resources and got him a new scope for his hunting rifle.
After the younger boys went to bed, Marissa, Cole and Dylan chatted in the living room. Marissa opened the jewelry box containing the teardrop ruby hanging from a gold chain. This wasn’t just a department store special. Dylan had purchased this beautiful necklace from a real jewelry store. In her whole life, nobody had ever given her such a nice gift.
“It’s your birthstone,” Dylan said as if she hadn’t already put that together.
“Yes.”
“If you don’t like it you can return it and get whatever you want.”
She pulled a frown. “Why on earth would I consider returning such a lovely gift?”
Dylan's gaze raked over her. “Well, you were looking at it kind of strangely.”
“I guess I’m just taken aback. This is the most beautiful gift I’ve ever received. You shouldn’t have.”
Cole piped in, suggesting that she put it on.
Her fingers trembled as she worked to get it out of the box. After a few tries, she finally managed to free the necklace and slipped her hands up and around her neck, but she struggled with the clasp.
“Don’t just sit there, Dylan, help her with it,” Cole urged from the chair across the room.
When Dylan looked away from him he smiled and winked at her. He meant well, but he was pushing both her and Dylan out of their comfort zones.
Dylan took the necklace from her, and she edged forward on the couch, turning her back toward him. He reached around her, an arm on both sides of her as he draped the necklace in front of her. She gathered her hair into her hand to get it out of his way so he could fasten the clasp. Between the light brush of his warm breath washing over her and the touch of his fingers as they skimmed against her neck as he fastened the necklace around her, she thought she might pass out from the extreme exhilaration coursing through her veins.
Family Forever Page 12