by Lee Kilraine
“Yeah.” Heather’s lips tilted up. “But it’s nice. She doesn’t do any of it for show. She’s real, you know? And full of energy and action. She’s a lot like—”
“HL. I know. She’s genuine. And nice.” She always had been. Fame hadn’t changed who she was.
“Like mom was, only very different. I want you to be happy, Dad. I know you don’t need my permission, but I like Nora.”
Hawk wrapped his arm around his daughter. “I like her too. A lot. But I’m glad you like her; I wouldn’t bring any woman into our family who made you or HL feel uncomfortable or unloved. You two come first.”
“I know, Dad.” Heather leaned her head against his chest, and together the two of them sat looking at the tree.
“I heard her say she bought me bras.”
“She did. So you also know she feels awful about it.”
“That’s crazy, because it’s exactly what I need. But even more, is having someone who can help me with that kind of stuff. I know you’ve tried, Daddy, but we’re getting into some serious female stuff in the next few years.”
“You’re not kidding.”
She giggled. “And I’d really like to have Nora in our lives and helping me through it.”
“I’d like that too. But Nora has concerns about her ability to be a good mom, and she won’t do anything that would hurt you and HL.”
“Don’t give up yet, Dad. Nora’s smart. Smart enough to figure out we need her. And that you’re a great catch.”
“Thanks, kiddo.” Hawk kissed the top of Heather’s head. “You want to sneak out with me early in the morning to pick up a new tree?”
“Yes! Maybe a real one. It could be our new tradition—now that we’re celebrating Christmas again.”
Chapter Fourteen
Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer
Nora went through the painful process of waking up like she did every morning. She stumbled out to the kitchen in her pajamas in search of a strong cup of coffee. She managed to sling herself onto one of the island stools and squint around at the unnatural happy morning faces. Hawk already had her coffee poured and slid it cautiously across the island to her without a word, the way a person might feed an angry bear.
It took her about half a cup to feel awake. A full cup to lose her grumpiness and halfway through the second cup to achieve her normal happier self. Oh, they were on to her. Because no one said a thing until she’d slurped down the second cup.
“Morning, Nora.” HL scooted over onto the stool next to her and grinned his cute face up at her.
“Back at you, buddy.” She winked at him, then paused, sniffing the air. “What is that smell? It smells like Christmas.”
Heather and Hawk grinned at each other. HL grabbed her hand, pulling her from the stool and over to the family room.
“Look! Daddy and Heather got us a real tree!”
“It’s beautiful.” The fresh pine scent filled the house. Nora glanced into the plastic shopping bags sitting near the tree. Bags of new decorations. “Sweet. Do we have time to decorate it before the Reindeer Games?”
Hawk walked over and wrapped a casual arm around her shoulders. “As it happens, one of the events in the Reindeer games is speed tree decorating. So Heather came up with the brilliant idea of having this be a practice session.”
Nora pointed at Heather. “You have some of the best ideas.”
After quickly chugging down the rest of her coffee, Nora pulled up a little RUN-DMC and T-Swift on her computer for pump-up music. She rubbed her hands together, then flexed her fingers. “Let’s go, team. Heather, what’s my assignment?”
Heather handed out the decorations. “Daddy, you’re tallest, so you wrap the lights around. Nora, you can follow behind him with the tinsel garland. I’ll add on the balls, and HL can hang the candy canes.”
They each handled their assignments with gusto. There was laughter and silliness as they bumped into each other, ducked under outstretched arms, and even gave a boost up when needed. It took them six minutes and twenty seconds to decorate the tree, which they knew because Nora timed it on her watch.
“You know what the best part is?” HL asked. “The tree’s not pink.”
“I told you he’d like that.” Hawk winked across at Heather. “What do you say we talk through the rest of the events over a batch of blueberry pancakes?”
Within short order they were sitting around the kitchen table eating pancakes and discussing strategy.
“Oh, when I signed us up online, I named our team, Team Savage.” Heather looked at Nora. “I should have asked, but is that okay?”
“Sure. Team Savage has a nice ring to it.” Nora paused and looked around as smiles spread out on each Savage face.
“It does, doesn’t it?” Hawk’s gaze seared into hers for a moment before he clapped his hands together briskly. “Okay, so there are five events: speed tree decorating, the fruitcake toss, a three-legged race, the fastest family one-miler, and up the chimney with Santa. Anyone have suggestions for our plan of attack?”
“You mean other than win?” HL asked.
If Nora had learned anything from the Light Up Climax contest, it was that she needed to loosen her competitive grip and focus on the fun. “As long as we have fun, we’re winners, HL.”
“Actually, I heard some great advice.” Heather cleared her throat. “It’s from an interview Nora gave to ESPN a few years ago. I found it online last night when I was looking for tips on team competition.”
Heather brought up YouTube on her computer, angling the screen so everyone at the table could see it. It was from a few years ago just after the match when Nora had won a spot on the National team.
She was standing after the match, winded, red-faced, and sweating with patches of sand sticking to her legs and abdomen. People in the crowd behind her cheered and called to her, as she leaned toward the sportscaster to hear the question.
“So, tell us, Nora… If you could give advice to all those young children out there watching you, dreaming of one day going to the Olympics like you, what would it be?”
“I’ve always had five rules for playing any sport. Play to your strengths. Give it all you’ve got. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. When it gets hard, don’t quit, even when you think you can’t keep going. And the most important rule is to have fun. If you aren’t having fun, what’s the point?”
Heather clicked off her computer and Nora looked at Hawk, his eyes blazing across at her with a wickedly sexy heat. It set off a response low in her belly, sending a surging warmth through her body. She wiggled in her seat as Hawk’s mouth slid into a knowing grin.
Nora knew what he was grinning at. The Nora giving that advice on the tape was the one he’d been talking about last night. The Nora who didn’t turn chicken when things got tough. That grin had nothing to do with the Reindeer Games and everything to do with the two of them having a future. Yes, that was a huge turn-on, but it also scared the heck out of her. And she had no idea which Nora was going to prevail.
Hours later, Team Savage competed in their first Climax Reindeer Games, over on the Climax High School football field and track. There were more than thirty families competing but their sights were set on only one team: the Ralph family. Nora gathered Team Savage together for a pre-game pep talk.
“I don’t care what else happens here today except for two things. Number one is we have fun. And number two is we beat the Ralphs. I don’t even care if we finish twenty-ninth, as long as the Ralphs finish thirtieth, then it’ll be a win in my book.
“Three of the events are team events, and that’s where we’re going to shine. Oh, and the fruitcake toss because between your dad and me, we’ve got the farthest distance and most accurate edge on that.” She raised her hand for a high five from Hawk but he pulled her in and kissed her while HL and Heather giggled and people in the stands ch
eered.
Truth be told, the people of Climax had been cheering on Hawk and his children for years. So much so that watching them bond with and woo Nora Joy, the Climax-girl-made-good was like watching a fairy tale play out before their eyes.
Sure enough, between Hawk’s strength and Nora’s accuracy, Team Savage won the fruitcake toss. Next was the tree decorating, which thanks to their practice that morning, they won.
Nora pointed at Heather. “That was all down to you, girl.” Heather grinned, clearly as caught up in the competition as the rest of them.
The third event was the three-legged dash, which they’d assigned to Heather and HL. Hawk had a quick discussion with them about not fighting each other’s pace. Stay with the slowest runner’s stride and be patient and it would pay off.
It did. Heather, patience personified, kept to HL’s slightly slower pace. And while other teams tripped and fell, Heather and HL kept up their steady teamwork and crossed the finish line just ahead of Brian and his brother. Nora did a mental happy dance for HL.
The last two events were team events and after watching the Ralph family for the past hour Nora was pretty confident. She leaned over and whispered to Hawk, “Their lack of teamwork and the way they tear each other down is appalling. How many years has Brian given HL a hard time?”
“Since HL started riding the bus in kindergarten.”
“Oh, yeah. The Ralph family is going down.”
Hawk smiled at her, wrapping her up tight in his arms. “Nora Joy, I think I love you.”
“What?” Blood rushed through her head so she wasn’t sure she’d heard him correctly. But that didn’t stop her from feeling like a nervous, fluttering bird was trying to flap and beat its way out of her chest. “You love me?”
He pulled back, his face as surprised as hers. “Damn, I didn’t mean to say that. Not yet.”
“Well, you did.” Nora put her hands on her hips.
“I take it back,” Hawk said, crossing his arms over his wide chest.
Nora lifted her chin toward him. “I’m not sure I’m going to let you.”
“You don’t get to decide.”
“Nora! Daddy! Time for the family one-miler!” HL grabbed each of their hands, dragging them over to the starting line. “The teams are lining up.”
“What’s the deal on this one?” Nora asked.
Hawk gave her the quick rundown. “Every member of a family has to cross the finish line. Last one across is the time for the team. Teams get to choose how they do it.”
Nora watched the Ralph parents hoist their two children on their backs, getting ready to piggy back them the whole distance. Hawk had said they were both former high school athletes, so that wasn’t a bad way to go. Except Nora saw the excitement on Heather and HL’s faces. They wanted to run too, not be carried.
She loved that attitude, so that’s what Team Savage went with. And they stayed together, matching the slowest runner of their team, encouraging each other and singing until they all crossed the line together. They didn’t win that event, but the pride on the kids’ faces made it easy to deal with the Ralph’s win on that one.
The final event was the hardest. Each family had to get every member up and over the “chimney” with one family member dressed in a Santa suit. This would take not only cooperation but trust too. If Team Savage failed, it would be here. Nora figured Hawk, Heather, and HL would be fine. Their circle of trust was strong and ironclad. She was the weak link in that circle.
But they came up with a plan while waiting for their turn. Hawk had done plenty of obstacle courses during his years in the army so they put him in charge.
“Here’s my suggestion. I’ll don the Santa suit and scale the wall. Once I’m on top, HL will be next. That way, Nora can boost you from below, while I grab you from above. Then we’ll need Nora to go next since she weighs more than you, Heather. If we save Nora for last, we may be too tired to help pull her up.”
“I agree. I’ve done this sort of thing before and it’s a common mistake.” Nora nodded before turning to Heather. “That gives you the hardest job. It means you have to pull yourself up the rope high enough for your dad and me to grab you.”
Heather nodded, her eyes wide and a little nervous.
“And you’ll have to trust us when you let go of the rope to grab and pull you up.”
Her eyes went wider, her head moving in quick, jerking nods.
Team Savage was scheduled last, since they were leading in points. It was hard for the kids to watch the many families struggle and fail to get over the wall. Sometimes it was due to a lack of strength and sometimes there was a failure of cooperation.
That was what took the Ralph family out of this event.
Team Savage pretty much kicked butt and had a blast while they were at it. Hawk threw on the Santa suit and made quick work up the wall. He threw one leg over until he straddled the top, then called down for HL. With Nora’s height, she was able to push his little body high enough for Hawk to lean over and grab him up. Piece of cake.
Nora turned to Heather to check on her. “I’ll be waiting for you at the top. All you have to do is climb about halfway up the wall, and we can grab you from there. You’re strong, Heather. And you’re tall and have long arms like me. You got this?”
“Yes.” They knocked fists.
Nora grabbed the rope and used her legs and arms to climb up, feeling the burn on her palms and in her injured shoulder. But Hawk’s hand was ready for her, warm and strong. He pulled her up as if she were as light as a supermodel. And his gaze said he’d be there…always. She went lightheaded at the thought. Not a good idea when you were sitting atop a ten foot wall.
Hawk reached out and grabbed her. “Hey, you okay?”
“Fine. Give her the go-ahead.” Nora braced herself to help pull Heather up.
It wasn’t easy for a grown-up to climb the wall, let alone a slim, gangly ten-year-old. But Heather did not give up. She struggled and even slipped once or twice. Her gaze flew up to them, frantic and filled with doubt.
Nora bit her lip and grabbed Hawk’s forearm. “Maybe we should—”
“Oh ye of little faith. She’s got it,” Hawk said, leaning down, stretching out his muscled arm to Heather. “You’ve got this, kiddo.”
Heather’s face scrunched up, her lips pressed tight together as she adjusted her hands on the rope. Her gaze moved from Hawk to Nora, and in that instant Nora realized this wasn’t just about Heather. Trust was a two-way deal. And those eyes staring up at her needed to know she believed in her too.
Leaning over, Nora reached her hand down next to Hawk’s. She locked gazes with Heather. “Dig for it. You’re stronger than you think.”
Heather’s hands tensed on the rope and she found the strength for the last push, climbing higher. And that moment of trust—when she needed to let go of the rope, trusting they’d grab her and not let go—felt like a gift.
Team Savage won the Reindeer Games. And they loved every minute of it, celebrating in a fierce group hug. They were flying high, enjoying their victory and the cheers from the crowd…until Mr. Ralph complained. The judges called the two families over to arbitrate the situation.
“This competition is for families. The Savages added an illegal player to their team, a professional athlete no less, in an attempt to steal the Reindeer Games.” Ralph’s lips curled south like a petulant child. He jabbed an angry finger in their direction. “They aren’t a “real” family and should be disqualified.”
In Nora’s opinion, if anyone deserved to be DQ’d it was Ralph for poor sportsmanship.
“With all due respect, who the heck do you think you are? Where do you get off thinking you get to define what a family is?” Labels didn’t mean a thing. Calling her parents Mom and Dad didn’t change what they really were: dysfunctional and a no show. Nora took a step closer, holding on to her coo
l and lowering her voice for only the adults to hear. “Your kids got to enjoy winning the decorating contest. Look over at the faces of Hawk’s kids and tell me they don’t deserve the same thing.”
Mr. Baxter, the head judge, according to the ribbon on his jacket, cleared his throat and bravely waded in. “Perhaps now would be a good time to remember the spirit of the season.”
Exactly. Nora glanced over at Ralph hoping that had reached the man’s heart.
“Rules are rules.” Ralph crossed his arms over his chest and narrowed his eyes at her. “Bending them sets a bad example for all the children here today.”
Ha! Nora could easily come up with twenty things Mr. Ralph had done today alone that set a worse example. Yelling at his own kids and embarrassing them in front of their friends for starters. So much for attempting to reach the man with empathy. He was the Grinch, Ebenezer Scrooge, and Old Man Potter all twisted in to one.
Nora’s scalp prickled in warning as she headed into what her teammates called her “beast” mode, when her passionate and protective nature merged and she became fierce. She was ready to unload on Mr. Ralph when, thank goodness, Hawk wrapped his arm around her middle and pulled her back against him. That would have been both ugly for the kids to see and inappropriate for such a joyous festival.
“According to the rules you aren’t a family.” Mr. Ralph grinned smugly over at her and then made a big production of pulling up the rules of the contest on his iPhone and proceeded to read them aloud.
Until Heather interrupted.
“Excuse me, Mr. Ralph? I disagree.” Painfully quiet and shy little Heather stepped forward. “Families today are diverse and inclusive. People related by blood are bound together, but love binds people together too. We’re a family of the heart.”
“Yeah.” HL stepped up next to his sister. “Nora’s the mommy I’ve been looking for.”
Heather wrapped her arm around her brother, glancing back at Nora. “She’s the mother I didn’t know I needed—and wanted—until she rang our doorbell.”