Love Inspired December 2013 - Bundle 2 of 2: Cozy ChristmasHer Holiday HeroJingle Bell Romance

by Valerie Hansen

  How would a man who had been raised in a home where holiday tradition was thwarted and family love was rarely expressed deal with the atmosphere in Bygones? Or in the Leigh home and their community church?

  Looking at Josh’s situation that way brought out Whitney’s compassion and empathy. He had made great strides in the past few months. Perhaps she was expecting too much from him.

  Peace filled her. She laid aside her phone. If Josh failed to arrive in the next few days, for whatever reason, she would pray hard for the wisdom and strength to forgive him again. To trust him, no matter what.

  If she truly loved him, as she knew she did, there was no other option.

  *

  “I’ve decided to make the announcement to the entire town at once,” Josh told Susanna as he concluded his story of the six months he’d spent in her old hometown. “That’s why I wanted you to call your classmates. I’d like as many of them to come Friday night as possible so you can all surprise Miss Coraline. If anybody in Bygones deserves to have her wishes granted, it’s that lady.”

  Susanna was grinning and blinking away the occasional tear. “I can hardly take all this in. You did it for me?”

  “That was how it started,” Josh said. “Only it sure didn’t turn out the way I’d expected.” He paused and cleared his throat. “Remember the nosy reporter I mentioned? Well, I have a surprise planned for her, too.”

  “Did you buy her a new convertible because she wrecked hers? That would make a great Christmas present.”

  He shook his head. “I’ve been so distracted lately I didn’t buy her anything special for Christmas. I suppose I thought saving Bygones would be enough.”

  His mother was shaking her head and grimacing. “Not if you value her friendship and loyalty. After all, she is holding back her exposé for your benefit.”

  “True.” He glanced at his Rolex, glad to have it back on his wrist now that he was no longer playing the pauper. “It’s pretty late to be shopping. I imagine all the jewelry stores are closed.”

  “You’re going to buy her jewelry?”

  Josh arched an eyebrow at his mother’s disparaging tone. “Why not? That’s what Dad always got for you.” He huffed. “You must have a fortune in expensive trinkets.”

  Because she was slowly shaking her head and looked so sad, he waited for her to explain further. When she didn’t, he patted her hand. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  “I suppose I can tell you now that your father’s gone. Nearly every one of those extravagant gifts was an apology for breaking his marriage vows. I knew what was going on. If I’d had the backbone, I’d have left him long before he died.”

  This explained a lot. “Why didn’t you?”

  “Because I loved him. And I felt sorry for him. He was never truly happy, you know. All he really cared about was making money and getting ahead in business.”

  Her voice faltered. Unshed tears filled her eyes. “For a long time I was afraid you were too much like him.”

  “Maybe in a way, I was,” Josh said. “But not anymore. I think my move to Bygones was God’s plan for showing me what I was missing.”

  By now, tears were flowing down Susanna’s cheeks. As she whisked them away she stared at her only child. “God?”

  “I joined the Community Church, too,” Josh told her. “Pastor Garman explained everything to me and I turned my life over to the Lord.”

  Susanna enfolded him in a tight embrace. “That news is the best Christmas present I’ve ever gotten.”

  *

  It seemed to Whitney that Christmas Day and the one following were the longest she had ever endured. Josh had called the Leigh house to wish her family a belated Merry Christmas on Thursday but had not said anything particularly endearing to her, other than to promise he would fly back in time for the Friday night gala in the old theater.

  As she hung up the phone, she let her disgust show enough that Betty noticed. “What’s the matter, Whitney? He called. And he explained again. I wouldn’t want anybody to risk their life braving a storm in a helicopter just to get here on a certain date, would you?”

  “He shouldn’t have left in the first place.”

  “Why not? He had a business to run that he’d been ignoring for a long time for all our sakes.”

  Whitney scowled. “How did you know that?”

  “I put two and two together. You already told me who he was and what he did for a living. It only stands to reason that he’d been neglecting his company. We should all appreciate his sacrifice.”

  “I do, I do.” Whitney punctuated her comment with a sigh. “I suppose it is selfish of me to want him to stay in Bygones when he belongs somewhere else.”

  “Is that what he told you?”

  “He left, didn’t he?”

  Betty was shaking her head and beginning to smile. “Stop imagining obstructions where there are none. Josh promised to be back in time for the party and if it’s humanly possible he will be.” She chuckled. “I can’t picture anybody commuting by helicopter, can you?”

  “Unfortunately, yes,” Whitney said, pulling a face. “I wouldn’t be surprised to learn he has a corporate jet, too.”

  “You’re acting like it’s a crime to be successful.”

  Whitney rolled her eyes in frustration. “It’s not that. I was just starting to believe Josh belonged here and now I can see that he doesn’t. The man comes from a whole different background, not to mention the life he lives now. There’s no way I can expect him to fit into my little country world, no matter how much I wish otherwise.”

  Betty faced her daughter and held her by the shoulders. “When you started to date I promised myself I’d never interfere, but I’m about to break that promise. If you don’t give that man a chance to show you what he’s made of, I’ll be very disappointed.”

  “Oh, I’ll give him a chance,” Whitney vowed. “I plan to tell him I’m crazy in love with him, even if he laughs at me.”

  “What makes you think he might?”

  She shook her head and shrugged. “Let’s just say I’m having trust issues, okay? He spent six months lying to me, then admitted he hadn’t intended to confess at all until after he’d left town for good. It’s hard to put my full confidence in him after hearing that.”

  “But he did tell you in spite of everything. And you have forgiven him. I know you have.”

  Nodding, Whitney affirmed her mother’s comment. “Yes. I have. But part of me keeps insisting he’s still too good to be true. I’m not sure how much of the person I fell in love with is the real Josh.”

  “Then you’ll fall in love with him all over again.”

  “As Miss Ann Mars would say, ‘From your lips to God’s ears,’” Whitney whispered. “I’m out of ideas. It’s all up to Him from now on.”

  Betty laughed and hugged her. “That’s the first totally sensible thing you’ve said.”

  Chapter Twenty

  The chopper’s rotors beat the air as it finally lifted off from the rooftop of Barton Technologies. Josh sat in the pilot’s seat. His mother was beside him wearing the passenger’s headset. Once they were in the clear and headed for Bygones, he glanced at her and smiled.

  “I should have taken you flying with me before,” he said, relying on their radio connection to make himself heard over the roar of the engine. “Then you wouldn’t be so nervous.”

  “Don’t count on it,” Susanna answered. “I’ve flown lots of times in commercial planes. There’s no comparison.”

  “You just miss having all that metal around you. Look out through the plexiglass and enjoy the view.”

  She had to peek between her fingers because she’d covered her face with her hands during takeoff and had yet to relax. “Okay. It’s pretty. Pretty scary and pretty far down.”

  He chuckled. “Did you manage to get commitments from some of your high school friends?”

  “Yes. They were delighted to think of returning to Bygones for a belated reunion.”

 
; “Good,” Josh said. He checked his heading and altimeter. “We’ll be there in no time.”

  “I should be upset that you were that close and hardly ever came home.”

  “I was there for your birthday,” he reminded her.

  “True. Are you really going to put a new facility in Bygones?”

  Josh nodded. “Looks like it. If everything works out, doing that should finish the job of bringing back prosperity, particularly since I’m planning to pay my current staff to relocate there as well as adding local workers.”

  “What about you?” Susanna asked. “Are you going to live there, too? Because if you are, so am I.”

  “I hope to.” Josh sobered. “At this point, there’s only one person who could change my mind.”

  *

  Whitney had spent quiet Christmastime days with her parents, using as many of her spare hours as possible to deliver token gifts and plates of food to others, such as Miss Ann Mars who lived above the This ’N’ That.

  The white-haired octogenarian had been clearly delighted to welcome a visitor. “Whitney! Come in, come in. I was just enjoying a cup of tea. Will you join me?”

  “That sounds nice,” Whitney had said, holding out the covered plate. “Mom sent you some ham and other fixings, just in case you hadn’t bothered with a big meal.”

  “Aren’t you sweet?” The spry but bent little old woman led the way into her kitchenette. “Just put that on the table, dear. I’ll boil more water for our tea. And help yourself to some sweets if you like. As you can see, a lot of my friends treated me.”

  “You deserve every cookie,” Whitney said, admiring the homemade assortments. “You do so much for all of us. Like providing those outdoor Christmas decorations, for instance.”

  “Nonsense. I just share what the good Lord gives me.”

  Whitney sank into a chair at the small kitchen table, shed her coat and propped her elbows on the red-and-white-checkered cloth. “Have you ever wondered what you’d do if you suddenly had a lot more money?”

  Ann giggled like a nervous teenager. “Mercy me. What makes you ask that?”

  “Just wondering. About a lot of things,” Whitney told her solemnly.

  Waiting for the water to boil, Miss Ann joined her guest at the table and set a cup with a teabag in front of her. “I didn’t think there was anyone left who remembered.”

  “Remembered what?”

  “My youth.” She began to smile as if she were reliving a happy, carefree time. “I was quite a catch in those days, you know. The fellas were all chasing me.”

  “But you never married?”

  Ann shook her head and tucked stray white strands back into the customary bun at her nape. “I came close. Once. If my daddy hadn’t interfered I might have been Dale Eversleigh’s grandma.”

  Whitney almost choked on a bite of sugar cookie. “You what? How?”

  “His granddaddy came courtin’ me, long ago. We were in love, or at least we thought we were. But my papa didn’t think the boy had enough promise and he didn’t cotton to my living behind a funeral parlor, either, so we broke up.”

  “Is that why you stayed single?”

  “Maybe. It’s hard to remember. Then, of course, my former beau went on to make a success of his business and leave quite a legacy to be passed down to Dale.” She lost her wistfulness and began to smile again. “The boy’d be a whole lot more good-looking if I’d birthed his daddy, I’ll tell you. I want to laugh every time I see him flash that gold tooth of his.”

  Whitney was shaking her head in astonishment. “How many other wonderful stories are you keeping to yourself, Miss Ann?”

  “Probably more than it’s wise to air,” the elderly woman said with a wink. “So, tell me, how is your love life these days? Are you and Josh Smith really a couple?”

  “Word travels fast.”

  “Fast, but not necessarily true. I’d like to hear the whole thing from you, dear. Has he popped the question yet?”

  “He hasn’t even told me he loves me.”

  “Ah. Well, in my day we weren’t quite so outspoken. If a boy wanted to court me he didn’t hug me out in the street in front of a whole passel of folks. He might not even hold my hand until he was ready to get real serious.”

  “I suppose you mean what happened when Josh and I were helping the volunteers decorate.”

  “Mmm-hmm.” She poured hot water into Whitney’s cup. “I also heard that you wrecked that cute little car of yours. What a shame. Is it a total loss?”

  “Fortunately, no,” Whitney reported. “I’ll need a new top and work done on the windows, but the metal wasn’t badly bent because it landed in snow, I guess.”

  “That’s good. Word is that a certain handsome man came to your rescue.”

  “Yes.” Whitney sighed. “It was amazing. Josh was out looking for me after we’d had a misunderstanding. He got his van stuck and when he called Elwood to tow him, they discovered me. I was trapped in my car. I don’t think I’ve ever been that cold before.”

  “Sounds like a Christmas present of sorts.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. From the good Lord.” Ann paused to sip from her own cup. “Don’t make the same mistake I did and let the right man get away, Whitney. It’s too late for me to change my life but hopefully you can benefit from the mess I let my daddy make of mine.” She stared into the distance as if seeing something that wasn’t there. “If I’d known then what I know now, I’d have defied my father and married the man I loved.”

  “My parents like Josh,” Whitney admitted ruefully. “The problem is not from outside forces being against us, it’s all me. I’m having trouble adjusting to the fact that he fooled me so completely.”

  Ann scowled. “He did? How? When?”

  “Oops. I’ve said too much.” She pushed away from the table and stood. “There’s going to be a big bash at the old theater on Friday night. If you want to hear the whole story, you need to be there at six, sharp. Can you get a ride or do you want me to come pick you up?”

  “I’ll have Danny Wilbur or his daddy, Kenneth, drive me over. In the meantime, why don’t you take some of these cookies with you? I have way more than I can eat.”

  “You keep them. They’ll freeze nicely,” Whitney told her. “Enjoy your meal.”

  “Tell your mother thanks for me,” Ann said. She followed Whitney to the door. “Are you sure you don’t want to tell me more? You wouldn’t want to be responsible for causing a sweet innocent old lady to die of curiosity, would you?”

  That ridiculous comment had made Whitney laugh. She’d gently hugged Ann. “You may be old and sweet, but you’re far from innocent. Have a lovely dinner and I’ll see you at the movies.”

  “Will your young man be there?”

  “I certainly hope so,” Whitney had told her. “Since he’s the one who’s throwing the party.”

  *

  Josh had arranged for Coraline to pick them up as soon as they arrived in Bygones. Landing in the parking lot of the former Randall plant, Josh helped his mother disembark, then stood back while the women held a tearful reunion.

  Robert Randall had chauffeured Coraline.

  Josh joined him and they shook hands. “Merry Christmas.”

  “I sure hope so.” Randall’s questioning look focused on the closed building behind them. “I know it’s early yet but I wondered…”

  “Looks like a done deal,” Josh told him. “Once my attorneys finish the paperwork and we both sign off on the terms of the sale, we’ll be good to go. Have you thought over my suggestion? I will need a local consultant, even after we hire a full staff.”

  “I’ve thought about it.” Grinning, Randall nodded toward Coraline and Susanna. “If I agree, I’m going to need time off for a honeymoon. I assume that can be arranged.”

  Josh clapped him on the shoulder and vigorously pumped his hand again. “Congratulations, you old dog. I’m glad to see you finally came to your senses. Miss Coraline is a fine woman.”
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  “There’s another equally perfect, single girl around, you know. Have you decided what to do about Whitney?”

  “I have. I really blew it when I came to town in disguise.”

  “Yes, but you had good reasons, according to my future bride. So, what’s next?”

  “The movie and announcements tonight. You’ll be there, of course.”

  “Wouldn’t miss it,” Robert said, eyeing the teary reunion between Coraline and Susanna. “Where is your mother going to stay while she’s in town?”

  “I hadn’t thought about that,” Josh admitted. “Any ideas?”

  “Sure. I can take Coraline’s sons to my house with me and leave her house for all the women. It’ll be just her, your mother and Coraline’s daughter, Cindy.”

  “Sounds great. Thanks. I have a lot to arrange before tonight and Mom needs to catch up on local news, anyway.”

  “Have you told her about Whitney?”

  “You mean have I warned her?”

  “Something like that. There was a nice article in the last Gazette about the reopening of the theater. Are you really inviting the whole town?”

  “As many as we can squeeze in, with overflow in the lobby if necessary,” Josh said. “I’ve redone the projection system in digital format to keep up with technological advances. I’m not sure whether I’ll operate the theater all the time or just keep it for special occasions. A lot will depend on how many of your former employees choose to come back to Bygones and start living here again.”

  “I have one man I can suggest already,” Robert said. “Brian Montclair is an excellent manager. He’d be an asset to Barton Technologies.”

  “Do you think he’d consider leaving the bakery?”

  Robert laughed again. “For a job that doesn’t require him to wear an apron? That’s a no-brainer.”

  “All right. After I make the initial statements at the theater, I’ll tell anyone who’s interested in a possible job to see you and put their name on a waiting list.” Josh raised his hand as if bestowing knighthood on Robert. “I hereby dub you official personnel director—with time off for your honeymoon, of course.”