“There’s a long antique table in her upstairs office. You can use that for a base.”
“Okay, but I’m gonna need some help. And how’m I supposed to get in there without anyone seeing me?”
“I borrowed a key from one of the shop assistants. They’re closing at six on Christmas Eve, and we’ll be out delivering gifts from the Gifting Tree, so you can go up then. How long will it take you?”
“Twenty minutes, tops. Wait a sec. Did I hear you say you’re gonna be out delivering gifts? Isn’t that against the Scrooge code?”
“Don’t push it, dude.”
“Okay,” Ben agreed with a laugh. “Dad and I’ll get to Toyland just after six. When we’re done, I’ll find you at the church and let you know how it went.”
“Just make sure you’re cool about it, or Julia will get suspicious. And thanks, Ben,” he added with feeling. “I really appreciate this.”
Nick could almost hear his old buddy grinning. “You’re going to an awful lotta trouble to surprise her. I think it’s real nice.”
“Yeah, well, she’s worth it.”
After they hung up, Nick took his bags into Toyland. Things were much calmer than they’d been when he left, and he looked around for something to do.
“Please, go,” Julia urged, pushing him toward the door. “I know you’ve got a deadline, and we’re fine here.”
“Are you sure? I mean, I can break down boxes or something.”
“You’ve done more than enough. Thank you for everything this week, Nick. We never could’ve managed without you.”
“Does this mean you’re free for dinner?”
Laughing, she shook her head. “We just got another delivery, so the storeroom is a disaster, and I have to get things organized by morning. I’ll be working very late, so I’ll take a rain check.”
There was no way he was letting her choke down a sandwich and slave away half the night by herself. “I’ll get takeout from The Albatross and come give you a hand. Around eight?”
The grateful look on her face was all the thanks he needed. “Perfect. I’ll see you then.”
Out on the sidewalk, Nick looked around the village he couldn’t wait to escape from just a few weeks ago. With fluffy snowflakes coming down, everything looked bright and inviting. The twinkle lights strung everywhere gave the windows a festive look, and the garlands draped around the gazebo were dusted with snow. A shout called his attention to the hockey game in the square, and he watched several kids riding their sleds down the side of a tall snow pile on the far side of the rink.
As he got into his car, it struck him how strange it was that a scene that would have felt so hokey when he first arrived now made him smile. Holiday Harbor was one of those places that never changed, and he’d always considered that a flaw. Now, he saw it as a strength, something that kept this town—and these people—grounded and real.
On his way out to Lainie’s, he passed the cobblestone wall that surrounded a spot he hadn’t seen in a very long time. The bronze marker was tarnished from years out in the weather, but the raised letters were still easy to read.
Holiday Harbor Cemetery.
Stopping in the middle of the road, he stared at the sign while images of his last visit flooded his memory. He remembered standing in the shade of an oak tree, holding a sobbing Lainie, trying to be stoic while one of his father’s friends droned on and on about gracefully accepting God’s will. The funeral had been sixteen years ago, but sitting outside those gates, he could picture it as clearly as if it had happened last week.
Next thing he knew, Nick found himself turning onto the gravel drive, following the curve that led out toward the newer sites. After hesitating a few moments, he gathered his nerve and got out of the car. Cleared paths snaked around the gravestones, and he followed one until he got to the large McHenry plot.
His grandparents were buried there, along with some elderly relatives whose names he barely recognized. As he crunched through the deeper snow, he was aware of his steps slowing down. But eventually he landed where some inexplicable urge had compelled him to go. Pausing in front of the marker, he brushed away the snow covering the inscription.
Ian Patrick McHenry. Beloved child of God.
Nick hadn’t been here since that day. Crazy as it was, he got the feeling that someone had placed a hand on his shoulder, thanking him. It was as if Ian had been waiting all this time for his little brother to come and acknowledge his resting place.
For years he’d done everything he could to erase Ian’s death from his memory so he could get on with his life. Finally, Nick understood why his attempts to put the past behind him had failed so miserably. Grief-stricken and overcome by guilt, he’d reduced Ian to a single tragic moment in time, ignoring all the other things that made him who he was. Smart. Funny. The best junior hockey goalie within fifty miles.
Standing there in the frosty air, face to face with the grief he’d denied for so long, Nick realized that in trying so hard to forget his big brother’s death, he’d lost sight of the life that had come before it.
As it had earlier with his father, all the fight drained out of him. Resting his hands on the unyielding stone, he sank to his knees in the snow. “I’m sorry, Ian. So, so sorry.”
*
Around eight, Julia was in her maze of a storeroom, listening to Christmas music while she sorted through her remaining stock. Somehow, all the shipments had gone out today, but more had come in during the afternoon. The storm had put folks behind on their shopping, and today Toyland had logged its best sales all year. With only two business days left until Christmas, she was anticipating a rush of last-minute customers and overnight orders. And of course, there was the Gifting Tree.
Aaron Coleman’s PR campaign had been a huge success, and the pile under the tree was enormous. At first, she’d wrapped donations as they came in, tagging each one for delivery later this week. Now it was all she could do to tack on the proper snowflake, assuring herself she’d catch up on the details later. Of course, that was before the storm.
She’d toyed with the idea of paying one of her part-timers to handle it, but if she did that, it would eat into her profits. As a new business, Toyland was doing fairly well, but she knew the black ink she’d gotten from the boost of Christmas season wouldn’t last. If she was going to repay her parents’ loan, she had to watch every dollar she spent.
Trusting that it would all work out in the end, she got back to her inventory. When her cell phone began singing, she nearly jumped out of her skin. The caller ID told her it was Nick, and she put it on speaker so she could continue working. “Hi, there. What can I do for you?”
“Where are you? I’ve been banging on this door for five minutes, and folks are starting to stare like I’m some kinda wacko.”
“I’m sorry!” Glancing up at the large clock, she saw it was ten after eight. “I’m in the storeroom with the radio on so I didn’t hear you. I’ll be right there.”
When she saw him, she actually stopped in the middle of her shop and gawked. In one hand, he held a large bag with The Albatross logo on it. Over his other shoulder he was carrying a tall pine tree wrapped in netting that did little to disguise how full it was. It must be heavy, she realized, and she hurried over to open the door.
Framed against the snowy backdrop, he grinned. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas,” she replied automatically as he set the tree down. “Where on earth did you find one that big so close to Christmas?”
“In Turnberry.” When she cocked her head, he said, “It’s fifty miles away, and I had to cut it myself.”
“You cut a tree down by yourself?” she echoed in disbelief. “I thought you were a wreath-on-the-door kind of guy.”
“Yeah, well, I’m just full of surprises. If you take the food up, I’ll go get the ornaments from my car and meet you upstairs.”
“Nick, that’s sweet, but I can’t stop working right now. I’d welcome your company, but I have to get organ
ized for tomorrow.”
“A half hour won’t make much difference. Especially if I stay and help.”
Touched by the thoughtful offer, she shook her head. “I’ll be at this most of the night. I couldn’t ask you to stay that long.”
“If I stay, you’ll only be at it half the night.” His eyes drifted to the mound of toys under the Gifting Tree. “I’m no good with paper and ribbons, but I can handle the inventory while you wrap.”
When she began to protest, he silenced her with a stern look that quickly changed her mind, making her say, “You’re determined to hang around, aren’t you?”
“Yup. I can either harass you the whole time or I can help. You choose.”
There was that McHenry stubborn streak again. Only this time, he was using it to make her life easier, not harder. She could get used to that, she thought with a smile. “All right. Thank you.”
“No problem. I’ll lock the door when I’ve got everything inside. See you upstairs.”
Deciding there was nothing to do but go along, Julia headed up to her apartment. Tonight, it felt like there were twice as many steps as usual, and by the time she reached the top, her feet were really dragging. As she rounded the banister, no one greeted her with some Elizabethan quote, and she made a mental note to pick up Shakespeare tomorrow. Nutty as he was, she missed her colorful guest.
She snapped on the few lights she’d installed and set up their meal on the coffee table. Nick had been smart enough to order sandwiches and salads along with soda for each of them. With nothing to warm up, she sat down for the first time in hours.
Next thing she knew, someone was gently shaking her awake. When her eyes drifted open, she blinked over at Nick. “Hmm?”
“I’d let you sleep, but you don’t look all that comfortable. Are you hungry?”
“Mm-hmm.” When she moved, her neck protested, and she rubbed it with a groan. Yawning, she confessed, “I’ve never been so tired in my life.”
“How’d it go after I left?”
“Traffic was fairly steady all afternoon. It’s nice to see people back in town after the storm, and I’m sure the other businesses did well, too.”
“Have you had time to figure out your profits yet?”
After a bite of salad, Julia replied, “My hunch is we’re doing well, but I won’t know until I sit down and crunch the numbers later this month. Speaking of business, what did you decide about Kaleidoscope?”
“The last issue for this year goes out tomorrow, then nothing ’til New Year’s Day. I posted the notice today, so the readers will know.”
“And how did that feel?”
“Weird, but good,” he confided with a grin. “Can’t remember the last time I took this much time off from anything.”
And after that? Julia wanted to ask. He had a life in Richmond, completely separate from hers here in Maine. He had a condo, and a car, maybe even a plant or two. When he returned to all that, she’d miss him terribly. As rough a start as they’d gotten off to, she’d come to adore the gruff editor who claimed to hate the holidays but drove a hundred miles roundtrip to buy her a Christmas tree.
If she asked him about his plans, she feared he’d interpret that as pressure to stay. He’d already been in town three weeks longer than he’d anticipated, and she wouldn’t dream of asking for more. But if he decided to stick around on his own, she certainly wouldn’t complain. The last obstacle between them was still his struggle with his faith, but she was sure she could help him with that, if he’d just give her the chance.
Unwilling to spoil their cozy evening, she shoved her brooding aside, determined to make the most of the time they had left together. They continued chatting while they ate, and Julia felt some of the tension easing from her body. Resting her head back, she noticed the tree Nick had set up in an empty spot next to one of her bookshelves. The lights were strung, and boxes of ornaments sat around it, ready for hanging.
Rolling her neck, she looked over at him. “I thought I just nodded off, but you had time to put the lights on.”
Shrugging, he sipped some of his drink. “You were pretty wiped out, so I got the boring part done ahead of time. Dad used to do that when we were kids so we wouldn’t drive him nuts while he was untangling the cords.”
She laughed, and then she understood there was more to that comment than she’d heard at first. Raising her head, she shifted to look him in the eyes. “This is the first tree you’ve done on your own, isn’t it?”
“I hate Christmas, remember?” Despite the sarcasm, she saw the hesitance in his expression.
“I do remember,” she said gently. “What changed your mind?”
She expected him to laugh it off with some witty remark. Instead, his eyes held hers with a blazing intensity she’d never seen from anyone.
“You, Julia,” he murmured. “You changed my mind. About a lot of things,” he added in a pensive tone.
No posturing, no bluster, just a straightforward confession. It was so unlike him, she was completely floored. “Like what?”
Tracing the curve of her cheek with his knuckle, he smiled. “Twinkle lights. Snow. Christmas wishes. I know it sounds crazy, but earlier today I was thinking if Hannah hadn’t asked for me to come home, I never would’ve met you.”
He had a point, and Julia easily returned the smile. “So you believe now?”
“More than I did. Decorating this tree oughta finish me off.” Standing, he offered her a hand up. “Forgot to mention there’s mistletoe in that bag. I asked for something simple, but the clerk insisted on selling me something called a kissing ball.”
Going over to the pile of decorations, she lifted out a fragrant ball of pine, mistletoe and burgundy velvet ribbons. “Nick, it’s gorgeous! Since you went to all that trouble, we’ll have to find just the right spot to hang it.”
Taking it from her, he looped the ribbon over a hook protruding from the wall. Flashing her a wicked grin, he reeled her into his arms. “How’s that?”
“I guess we should try it out and see how it works.” After a long, knee-weakening kiss, she smiled. “Perfect.”
Refreshed from her nap, she enthusiastically dug into the bags and pulled out boxes of ornaments. Some were frosted, some clear, others swirled like colorful candy canes. The star was made of crystal, and she carefully set it aside so it wouldn’t be crushed. “I’m amazed you could find so many nice ornaments this close to Christmas. You must have gone to every store around.”
“It took a while, but I actually had fun picking everything out. It’s always bugged me how downstairs was done up like Christmas central, and there was nothing up here for you.”
“It’s a wonderful surprise,” she approved, handing him a handful of baubles ready to go. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Looking up, he hung the decorations on some higher branches. Completely out of the blue, he said, “I went to see Ian today.”
Stunned, Julia lost hold of the red ball in her hand and quickly reached for it before it could roll under the sofa. The revelation was so unexpected, it took her a few seconds to form an appropriate response. “What made you decide to go there?”
He shrugged, avoiding her gaze as he hunkered down to get some more ornaments. “I was driving past the cemetery, and something made me go in.”
She knew what that something was, and her pulse leapt with joy. But she wanted to hear him say it, so she nudged. “What do you think it was?”
“It was time.” He slanted a look at her and for a few moments, they just stared at each other. Finally, he relented with a deep sigh. “Fine. It might have had something to do with God leading me in that direction. Satisfied?”
She was ecstatic, but she kept her expression neutral. “That doesn’t matter. Are you happy?”
“Yeah.” Gradually, a smile lightened his features. “I know he’s not really there, but it felt good to talk to my big brother again, y’know?”
“I do know.” Julia grasped his hand for an encou
raging squeeze. “What did you say?”
“I apologized.” When she opened her mouth, he stalled her with a hand in the air. “Not for the accident. I know he doesn’t blame me for that. I wanted him to know I was sorry for trying to forget about him. I thought it would make things easier to take, but it actually made them worse, for me and everyone else.”
“You should be very proud of yourself. This is an amazing leap for you after all these years.”
“I didn’t make it on my own,” he murmured with a grateful look. “You pushed and prodded ’til I got there. I didn’t make it easy for you, and I really appreciate you not giving up on me.”
How could she let this wonderful, aggravating man go back to Virginia? On the verge of telling him how she felt, Julia managed to stop herself before she blurted out something they might both regret. Instead, she smiled and said, “You’re welcome.”
Chapter Eleven
“You really had to deliver these on Christmas Eve?” Nick grumbled while he and Julia stacked piles of gifts in the back of Todd’s SUV. He’d laid the backseat down, but by his estimation it would still be a tight fit to get everything in one load. “Couldn’t these parents figure out how to hide ’em for a few days?”
“That’s not the arrangement,” she insisted in a gentle but firm tone that clearly said there was no wiggle room on this one. “This way, their children’s presents go straight under the tree, with no time for shaking and guessing.”
“Yeah, kids can be really annoying with that. When we were growing up, Lainie was the worst.”
“Patience isn’t her strong suit, even now.”
Opening the door to go back in the shop, he motioned her ahead of him. “Wait ’til she finds out I bought her a generator.”
“You didn’t!” When he nodded, she laughed. “She wanted a spa weekend at that new resort. You’re a dead man.”
“Sure, ’til the next time the power goes out. Then I’ll look like a genius.”
“I’m getting one as soon as things settle down after the holidays,” Julia commented while she piled more packages in his outstretched arms. “That way, Shakespeare and I can stay here during a blackout instead of imposing on Lainie and Todd.”
Love Inspired December 2013 - Bundle 2 of 2: Cozy ChristmasHer Holiday HeroJingle Bell Romance Page 56