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

by Valerie Hansen

  Julia appeared beside him with two cups of vending-machine coffee and handed one to him. “He’s going to be fine, you know. You should go in and talk to him.”

  Shaking his head, Nick blew on his coffee to cool it down. After a sip, he added, “Fighting with me is what put him here in the first place. I don’t want to make things worse.”

  “Is that what you think? That you gave him a heart attack?”

  “That’s what happened.”

  “He has angina,” she corrected him in a hushed voice. “Lainie told me he’s had it for a couple of years now, and every once in a while it flares up. Each time, the doctor runs tests, declares him fit to leave and sends him home with orders to take his medicine and slow down a little. For a while he does, then it’s back to his old ways.”

  “Stubborn.”

  “I’d say it runs in the family.” She met Nick’s sharp look with the sweetest smile he’d ever seen. “Oh, come on. You know it’s true.”

  Because it was pointless to debate something so obvious, he chuckled. “Yeah, I guess. When you’re double-Irish, there are plenty of hard heads to go around.”

  “Some people consider that a virtue. I happen to be one of them.”

  Despite the roller-coaster evening he’d had, Nick felt himself smiling at her. “Good to know.”

  He appreciated her standing in the hallway with him this way. It made him feel slightly less like an outcast, and his taut nerves gradually began to relax. When Lainie approached them, he braced himself. “Everything okay?”

  “He’s fine.” She echoed Julia with the same brand of sympathy in her eyes. Only he knew it was different for Lainie because she understood how he was feeling. “Do you want to come in?”

  Nick was stunned to discover that he did, very much. But he hesitated, anxious about upsetting Dad any more than he already had. “You think it’s okay? I mean, I don’t want to stress him out.”

  “You won’t, and I think it’ll do you good. You can try to hide it behind that tough-guy facade, but you still look like a semi ran you down.”

  He glanced to Julia, who politely kept her opinion to herself. But he saw the concern shadowing her eyes, and he heaved a resigned sigh. “All right, I’ll admit I was terrified. Happy now?”

  Laughing quietly, Lainie kissed his cheek. “Why don’t you both come in and say hi? He’ll be glad to see you.”

  Julia greeted the pastor easily, leaning in for a quick hug before gracing him with one of her beautiful smiles. “How are you feeling?”

  “Old and rickety,” he grumbled, glancing up at Nick. “Thank you for catching me, son.”

  It was the first time in years that he could recall his father referring to him that way, and in spite of all the turbulence between them, he felt gratitude welling in his chest. He wanted to reach out a hand, the way Julia did so easily with people but dismissed the impulse and simply grinned. “No problem.”

  From her chair on the other side of his bed, Mom cleared her throat and nudged Dad with one of her looks. They stayed locked in one of their silent battles for several moments before he relented with a nod. Looking up at Nick, he said, “I want to apologize for the way I behaved earlier. The pageant is your mother’s project, and I had no right to interfere with her choice of accompanist.”

  When he stopped speaking, she prodded, “And?”

  He cut her a frustrated glance before focusing on Nick again. “If you’d like to fill in, we’d very much appreciate your help. Both of us,” he added, earning a nod of approval from his wife.

  Extracted from a man who’d just narrowly escaped a heart attack, it wasn’t the kind of wholehearted gesture he’d been hoping for. But that his father had made it at all was so astounding, Nick decided to put aside his disappointment and take what he could get.

  “Sure, Dad. I’d be glad to. It’ll be fun getting to know Hannah’s friends.”

  From the cloud that descended over Dad’s expression, he knew that wasn’t the kind of Christmas spirit-filled response the pastor had been anticipating. Unfortunately, it was the best Nick could do.

  Chapter Six

  After dropping their parents at the rectory, Nick and Lainie headed for her place. It was past midnight, and as a night owl, he was just getting warmed up. “Why didn’t I know Dad had angina?”

  “He hates thinking about it, so we don’t mention it. He hasn’t had an episode in over a year, so Mom and I assumed he was better.”

  “’Til I came home and just about gave him a heart attack.”

  She didn’t contradict him, which only made him feel worse. “What were you two fighting about anyway?”

  Nick filled her in on their argument, and she reached over to hug his arm. “For what it’s worth, us Martin girls loved having you there tonight. Hannah said she thought it was awesome.”

  “Thanks.”

  They drove a mile in silence, and then she nudged his shoulder. “I held dinner for you, you know. Did you get lost on your way home?”

  “No, brat, I walked Julia home after rehearsal and we got to talking.”

  “That’s not what I heard. Georgia Bynes from the bakery was out walking her dog and saw you two in Julia’s shop—not talking.”

  Perfect, he groaned inwardly. How was he going to explain that? Inspiration struck, and he joked, “There may have been mistletoe involved.”

  She clucked in disbelief. “There’s not a single twig of mistletoe in that store.”

  In all honesty, Nick wouldn’t recognize the plant if it sprouted to life in front of him. Since she had him dead to rights, he decided the best course was to let it go. “Don’t read anything into it. We’re just friends.”

  “Friends with mistletoe.” She giggled. “Sounds like the title of a romantic Christmas movie.”

  Now that she’d brought it up, he replayed his intimate moment with Julia in his mind. It was moronic and totally unlike him to dwell on something that he’d already decided could never happen again, but he couldn’t help it. Even though he’d surprised her, Julia’s instinctive reaction had been warm and inviting, telling him he wasn’t the only one feeling whatever it was he was feeling.

  Frowning, he had to admit he didn’t really understand what was happening to him. He was a planner, relying on a solid life strategy to keep him on track. That strategy included companionship strictly for fun. That way, the lady in question wouldn’t be upset when things had run their course and it was time for him to move on.

  Tonight, though, he couldn’t make himself walk away. He’d tried to put some distance between them, but Julia had reached across the gap and pulled him back in. Considering the disastrous way her last relationship had ended, he couldn’t believe she trusted him enough to let him so close. She was the first woman he’d met who’d asked him to stay when he was on his way out. Then again, she was the first one to offer him hot cocoa, too.

  No matter what angle he viewed it from, their quick friendship baffled him. It just wasn’t like him, and that made him antsy. He was always in control, but couldn’t shake the sensation that he was falling into something he couldn’t begin to understand. The idea that he’d lose his self-control with a sentimental woman who owned a toy store in a town on the edge of civilization was absurd.

  But he couldn’t deny that she fascinated him. Why, he couldn’t say, but there it was all the same.

  When they got back to the house, Todd met Lainie at the door with a warm hug. “I’m glad your dad’s okay. How’s Ann doing?”

  “Relieved. Annoyed. When we left their place, she’d crammed his medicine down his throat and was trying to get him to lie down. How were the kids for you?”

  “Baths and bed, no problem. I didn’t want Hannah to worry, so I just told her you were with your parents.”

  “That works.” Smiling, she looked at the papers stacked on the kitchen table. “How are your students’ history reports?”

  “A mixed bag, but you expect that this time of year,” he replied as he filled hi
s mug with some kind of tea and sat down. “Daydreaming about Christmas is way more fun than writing five pages about the Industrial Revolution.”

  “Speaking of writing,” Nick said, “I should get to work on Julia’s article. We’re running the next installment on Sunday.”

  “Writing now?” Lainie asked with a yawn. “Are you serious?”

  “Layouts and editing have to be done during the day, when other people are working. I write better at night anyway. It’s quiet, and I don’t get interrupted.”

  She gave him an understanding look. “You’re having fun writing again, aren’t you?”

  “It’s been a while since I ran with my own story, but it’s going well so far.” He chuckled. “I think.”

  After saying goodnight to them, he strode through the living room on his way upstairs. Todd had a fire going, and along with the lights on the Christmas tree, it was a nice, cozy scene. For some reason, his eyes were drawn to the large picture hanging on the wall above the fireplace.

  A posed family shot from their wedding, it was in a gilded frame that clearly said it was important to Lainie and Todd. In spite of the smiles, it was a chilly arrangement, with Nick and his father standing on opposite sides as far from one another as they could get. On the mantel beneath it was a collection of Martin and McHenry family photos. One in particular caught his eye, and he lifted it from its spot.

  It was a candid shot of Ian, Lainie and him, lined up front to back by height. There was a canoe beside them and tents in the background. Church camp, he recalled with a frown. A month before Ian died.

  He heard someone come up behind him and felt Lainie’s hand on his arm. “That’s one of my favorites.”

  “That’s nice.” As he put the picture back in place, he was surprised to hear himself add, “Y’know, I really wish things were different.”

  Lainie put an arm around his shoulders, the way he’d seen her do with Hannah when she was upset. “What things?”

  “That.” Nick nodded at the incomplete wedding family photo. “Ian should’ve been there with us.”

  “He was.” When he looked over, she gave him a gentle smile. “Whenever we’re all together, I feel him there, too.”

  “How?”

  “As long as we love someone, they’re never really gone.”

  He recognized that she’d skirted around the religion issue but still managed to get her point across. “Wish I could believe that.”

  “So do I.”

  Kissing his cheek, she patted his shoulder in a comforting gesture before heading upstairs. After she left, he stood there for a long time, staring at that picture, longing for something that could never be.

  *

  Saturday at Toyland was like a zoo, and Julia was grateful for the distraction.

  All those customers kept her from thinking about Nick. Well, mostly. Whenever she didn’t have much to do, the memory of their brief encounter slipped into her thoughts. More than once, she’d run it through her mind, curious about what had come over her. Was it a mistake? she asked herself for the hundredth time.

  The memory of that tender moment still made her smile, and she had to admit that crazy as it seemed, she considered it anything but a mistake. Wise? No. Wonderful? Definitely. She wasn’t some brainless twit who swooned when a man kissed her, but with Nick she’d felt something unique. What, she couldn’t say exactly, but it had been there that night, and it hadn’t faded.

  But how did Nick feel about it? She hadn’t heard from him since their race to the hospital, and she couldn’t help wondering if his disappearing act was some kind of message. Maybe he regretted kissing her, assuming she’d expect more of the same if he came around again.

  Maybe he was right to keep his distance. Because she had no intention of getting serious with anyone right now, she’d resolved to keep a solid grip on her emotions. Her mission was to reconcile Nick and his father—not fall in love with the prickly editor.

  Fall in love? Where on earth did that idea come from?

  “Excuse me.”

  Fortunately, a customer pulled her back to more practical matters. She firmly pushed thoughts of Nick aside and plastered a smile on her face. “May I help you?”

  “You’ve got different gauge train sets, and I’m not sure which one is best for our son,” the man explained.

  “How old is he?”

  “Two.”

  Muting a laugh, she explained, “Those have a lot of tiny parts, so they’re meant for older kids and adults. What you want is back here.”

  She led him to another display she’d set up just like the ones in front. The only difference was that the train winding beneath the tree was a sturdy wooden set, ideal for small fingers.

  “Perfect,” he agreed with a relieved smile. “I’ll take two.”

  “Two?”

  “One for us, one for your Gifting Tree. It’s a great idea, and I’ll feel good knowing some little kid will have a nice Christmas.”

  “That’s very generous,” she approved as she carried the two boxes up to the counter. “Thank you.”

  “Are you getting a lot of help with it?” he asked while he signed the charge slip.

  Not as much as she’d hoped for, but she didn’t want to complain to him when he’d just purchased a fairly expensive gift for a stranger. “People do what they can.”

  “Do you have any flyers?” When she shook her head, he said, “I work at a PR firm over in Oakbridge. I can pass the word around there if you want. That should help.”

  Wary of creating the impression that she was seeking recognition for what should be open-hearted charity, she’d never considered advertising her toy drive. Then the full meaning of what he’d said hit her, and the light bulb went off. Offering her hand across the counter, she said, “Julia Stanton. How would you like to earn a little extra money during the holidays?”

  “Aaron Coleman. What did you have in mind?”

  “Helping me spread the word about my Gifting Tree. With some expert help, I imagine I could double the response I’m getting on my own. What do you say?”

  Grinning, he reached into his wallet and took out a business card. “I say give me a call on Monday. I’ll have some ideas for you by then.”

  “And a simple contract for me to sign?”

  Another grin. “Actually, I’d trade the PR work for the trains.”

  “Done.” Opening the order screen, she voided the transaction and credited his account. “Merry Christmas.”

  “To you, too.” Grabbing the handle on the box holding his son’s present, he waved with his free hand. “Talk to you Monday.”

  As Julia watched him go, she couldn’t keep back a smile. You never knew when God would send you just what you needed, sometimes even when you didn’t realize you were missing anything in the first place. You just had to keep your eyes—and your mind—open to the possibilities. Once more, Nick snuck into her thoughts. Her inability to keep him at bay made her wonder if there might be possibilities with him, too.

  *

  Saturday afternoon, Nick was finishing up his draft. When he first started Kaleidoscope, he did everything himself, from writing to final layout. These days, he oversaw all aspects of the business, but he hadn’t produced any significant content of his own in almost two years. It was humbling to remember just how much went into the writing process. He almost felt sorry for the reporters he dogged on a regular basis.

  Then again, it would do them good to see the boss with his own byline. It would prove he knew what he was talking about when he hacked up their work before approving it for Kaleidoscope’s growing readership.

  When he was done with the rough draft of his text, he flipped through the stack of childhood photos Julia had loaned him for scanning. He narrowed them down to two, one of which would accompany the latest article. The first was of her and her mother with their violins. In the willowy Gisele Stanton, with her graceful pose and encouraging smile, he saw how Julia would look in twenty years or so.

&
nbsp; The other was of Julia swathed in pink netting, dressed for her role in The Nutcracker. She looked to be around seven or eight, with her hair braided and piled on top of her head. Eyes bright with excitement, she stood in a graceful ballet pose, smiling at the photographer.

  Since everyone kept reminding him it was Christmastime, he went with the ballet pic. It complemented the story on her unusual childhood perfectly. He set up Todd’s ancient scanner, sitting back while it slowly processed the photo. Only one problem, he thought while he waited.

  To finish the exposé, he needed more interviews with Julia. Considering the way things had gone the last time they were together, he was torn between wanting to see her and avoiding her completely. As the scanned photo gradually unfolded onto his monitor, he rolled the two options over in his mind, weighing the pros and cons of each.

  When the picture scan was complete, so was his analysis. Dead-even, he realized with a sigh. What was he supposed to do with that?

  “Do you always sigh at your computer?”

  Nick twisted around to find Lainie in the doorway holding an armload of winter clothes. “Sometimes. Did you need something?”

  “We’re going sledding. You’ll freeze in those fancy duds you packed, so I brought you some of Todd’s things to wear.”

  “Thanks, but I’ve got a lot to do.”

  Walking up behind him, she leaned in to read over his shoulder. “The layout box is full, so you must be done.”

  “The draft is finished,” he corrected her sharply. “It still needs a lot of tweaking, and then there’s everything else in the edition that I need to approve.”

  “Oh, please! It’s two o’clock, and we’ll be back by four. You can tear yourself away for some fun and then tweak it after that.” When he didn’t say anything, she folded her arms with that mom look every kid hated. “Don’t make me send Hannah up here.”