Mistletoe Kisses & Christmas Wishes: A Christmas Romance Boxed Set Book Bundle Collection

by Leah Atwood

  The little girl scuffed her shoe against the sidewalk. “I’m beautiful and perfect just the way I am.”

  “That’s right!” The mother pulled her into an embrace and then started them down the walk once more. “Now tell me what happened to make Steve angry? You wouldn’t have had anything to do with that, would you?”

  Their voices faded into the Christmas music, and Chelsea lifted her gaze to Cannon who was still standing exactly where she’d left him only a moment ago. She was trembling even more now, but for a different reason. She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that God had sent that family right to this exact spot on the sidewalk to speak directly to her. The little girl might never remember her mother giving her words of truth in the little town of Leavenworth, Washington in the years to come, but Chelsea Tan would never forget.

  She had a choice. Was she going to believe Aunt Flo’s constant recriminations? Or was she going to believe God’s Word that said she was beautiful, special, created in God’s image. Was she going to believe Aunt Flo who said she would never be good enough for any man? Or Cannon who said she was the one he wanted to get to know?

  Tears pricked her eyes. “Oh, Cannon!” Two steps and she threw herself into his arms and buried her face in his neck.

  His arms came around her hesitantly. “Chels, I have to admit I’m a little confused here.” He chuckled softly.

  She pulled back, sniffed, studied his face. “It’s okay, because I can explain.”

  He cocked on eyebrow, waiting for the explanation.

  “Did you hear what that mother said to her daughter?”

  He nodded.

  “God sent that family here just for me tonight, Cannon. All my life Aunt Flo has told me I’m not good enough, pretty enough, this enough, that enough. That no man could ever love me so I should just be ready to live my life alone. That terrifies me when it comes to you, Cannon. I have to admit to having doubts about why a guy like you would even be interested in me.”

  “Chelsea, you are so special I don’t even know where to begin telling you what you mean to me. You are beautiful… Intelligent… Kind… And anyone who would tell you otherwise, well—” A muscle bunched up along his jaw.

  “I know, Cannon. I know that here.” She touched her temple. “But I need to learn to know it here.” She laid a hand over her heart. “I need to make the choice to believe it. To trust God…and you…and anyone really.”

  He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her temple. “Not just anyone, Chels. Only those who speak Truth. You have to compare it to God’s Word. That’s the measure.”

  She smiled, her heart suddenly so full of emotion for this man who put God first in all his decisions. “I’m going to try, Cannon. But I know it’s not going to be easy.”

  “It’s okay. I’ll be happy to practice with you until you get it right.”

  She tilted him a look. “So are you really considering moving here? Leaving Africa?”

  He grinned and tucked her closer. “I really am, but my decision comes down to whether this one beautiful, intelligent, kind woman wants to have me in her life.”

  Warmth spread through her. “Oh, she does, Cannon. She really does.”

  He grinned. “I’m very happy to hear that!” He tugged the bag of chestnuts from his pocket and shook it open, holding it out towards her.

  She took a few and they ambled down the sidewalk in silence. Chelsea reveled at the lightness she felt in her chest. God you are too good to me!

  All too soon the magical night came to an end and they realized they needed to get started on their two hour drive back to Seattle. But Chelsea was determined that she was returning home a different person than when she left.

  It was nearly one a.m. when Cannon dropped her off at her car in the coffee shop parking lot. She yawned expansively and dug for her keys.

  He gave her a sheepish look. “I didn’t mean to keep you out so late. I know your morning shift is going to come way too early.”

  She waved away his concern. “It’s a coffee shop. I’ll just live on triple espressos tomorrow.”

  He laughed. “And then not be able to sleep tomorrow night.”

  “Oh yeah.” She scrunched up her nose. “Maybe that’s not such a good idea.”

  “Well, either way, I’ll be by first thing to grab a mocha.”

  Her heart was already misbehaving at the thought.

  Chapter Eleven

  The next morning Chelsea felt like she’d been run over by the Sounder Train. Every muscle in her body begged for more sleep even as she forced herself to climb into her car and turn over the key. Even after getting home so late, she’d lain awake in bed simply reveling in the warm feeling of knowing, and choosing to believe, that Cannon cared for her. She didn’t know what time she’d finally closed her eyes, but it obviously hadn’t been soon enough.

  Ugh. She needed a triple shot. At least. And first thing, or she’d never be able to function today. Traffic was slower than usual and she hit every red light on the way, fighting sleep at each one. Finally, she pulled into the parking lot and mechanically locked her car and dug out the shop keys. Dawn was just beginning to outline the street’s buildings into dark shadows against pink light.

  A yawn stretched her jaw as she pushed her way into the store. She froze. Aunt Flo was already bustling back and forth behind the counter. When was the last time Aunt Flo had been by this early? She couldn’t remember. “Aunt Flo, what are you doing here?”

  Her aunt kept her back to her. “I’ve put all your things from the office into a box. You’ll see it there to the left of the door. Please leave your keys to the shop and take your things. You don’t work here anymore.”

  Chelsea’s jaw dropped. “What?”

  Aunt Flo spun toward her, propping one rag-filled hand against her hip. “You think you can just defy me like you did yesterday, young lady, and not have to face any consequences? I’ve always known you were ungrateful for everything I’ve done for you. But I can’t believe you would repay me for all the years of sacrifice I’ve given for you by leaving the shop on its own as if all of this means nothing to you.” She swung the rag around to indicate the interior of the store.

  “I didn’t leave the shop on its own! I left a very capable person in charge of closing up. For one night! One.”

  “Oh!” Aunt Flo flipped the rag at her, dismissively, and then turned her back and set to polishing the already sparkling side of the mixer. “I might have known you’d refuse any teaching and only see things your way! You’ve gone off the deep end, Chelsea. Gone off!” She swept up the bag of muffin mix and dumped it into the mixer. “First that poor boy, Ted. And now running off with this, this, stranger from who knows where and leaving the shop in the lurch.”

  Chelsea gritted her teeth. I will not respond. I. Will. Not. Respond.

  “Irresponsible and ungrateful. That’s what it comes down to! And I won’t have it anymore.”

  The words hit Chelsea like a physical blow. She closed her eyes. Dredged up the words the mother from Leavenworth had spoken to her little girl the night before. Jesus, help me to choose to believe You.

  What should she do?

  Aunt Flo had the gallon of milk in her hand, but paused to read the recipe on the side of the muffin mix.

  “It’s two cups, Aunt Flo. And four eggs. And a cup of oil.” She stepped behind the counter. “Please let me help you?”

  Jaw set, Aunt Flo sloshed milk into the measuring cup. “You made your choice last night on the phone. You can leave your keys on the desk.”

  Chelsea rubbed her forehead and glanced around the interior of the shop. She couldn’t believe this was happening, and yet, in some way she supposed she’d feared it might happen for years. Aunt Flo had never been pleased with the work she’d done no matter how hard she’d tried to please her. Slowly, she removed the shop keys from her ring and walked them into the back room.

  The office was empty of all her things. No pictures on the walls or desk. She’d even pack
ed away the framed picture of the two of them on Chelsea’s graduation day. Chelsea had always loved that picture. Aunt Flo had seemed different that day. She’d seemed like someone who actually cared and was proud of Chelsea’s accomplishment. The picture had been snapped as they’d been standing under the shade of a pine tree in their back yard, while Aunt Flo was pinning a corsage onto her dress just before the graduation ceremony. They’d both been smiling.

  Chelsea dropped her shop keys into the middle of the bare desktop, and then strode purposefully out into the main area of the shop to the box Aunt Flo had packed up. She dug through it until she found the picture, then took it back to the office and carefully propped it up on the corner of the desk. She stroked the glass with one finger, took a breath, and walked from the room.

  Jesus, what now?

  Aunt Flo didn’t say anything to her when she stepped back through the main room. She lifted the box of her things and propped it against one hip before she paused at the door, gripped the handle, and turned to look at the woman who’d raised her.

  Shoulders stiff, and lips pursed, Aunt Flo bustled back and forth trying to look busy, but Chelsea knew it had been so many years since she opened up the shop that she had to be scrambling to remember everything she needed to do.

  “The list you made for me back when I started opening up, is under the drawer in the cash register. Bye, Aunt Flo. Please call me if you need me. I love you.” She waited, hoping for at least some acknowledgement, but the silence stretched. Finally when Aunt Flo stomped into the back room, probably to pull a tray of scones from the freezer, Chelsea sighed, blinked back tears and stepped out onto the sidewalk.

  Feeling deflated, she looked both ways up and down the street. The sky was lighter but still the neighborhood was just barely starting to come to life. What was she going to do now? Once Aunt Flo set her mind to something, she didn’t back down. Chelsea held no hope that her aunt would call with an apology and the offer of her job back.

  She glanced at her phone. Still too early to call Cannon. Maybe Havyn? But no today was her rehearsal dinner. The last thing she needed to deal with was a panicked personal call from her maid of honor.

  Cannon then. No. She’d just drive around for a while first. She shuffled to her car and sank into the still mostly warm interior and started the engine, but then had no idea where to go. And Cannon had said he’d be here first thing when the store opened for a mocha. That wasn’t too long from now. She decided to chance it that Cannon might be up, or at least forgive her if she woke him.

  “H’lo?” His voice was raspy and groggy.

  She sighed. “I woke you. I’m sorry.”

  “Chelsea?” She heard rustling in the background. “It’s fine. What time is it?”

  She winced. “Five thirty.”

  He grunted.

  “I’m sorry. Go back to sleep. I’ll talk to you later.”

  “No. No. I’m good.” But she heard him yawn. “What’s up?”

  Where did she begin? Tears suddenly choked off any words she tried to speak and she only managed a mangled whimper.

  “Chels?”

  The compassion in his tone was the last crack in the dam she’d been valiantly attempting against the tears. Sobs shook through her.

  “Chels, hon. Just try and tell me where you are.” More rustling in the background.

  “F-F-Flo’s,” she managed to stutter.

  “Be there as soon as I can.”

  The phone went dead in her ear. Relief had her sinking back against the seat. She pressed the heels of her hands to her eyes. How was it that a heart could hurt this much? Aunt Flo needed her, didn’t she? How could she just walk away knowing the amount of work it took to run the shop and her aunt’s physical limitations? She tipped her head against the headrest, feeling no sense of direction.

  A tap at her driver’s window twenty minutes later jolted her from a fitful sleep. She shivered, realizing the interior of her car had gone cold now. She blinked sleepily and peered out to see what had woken her.

  Cannon peered in, concern etching his forehead into a frown. The sensation of arriving home after a long, grueling journey washed through her. He’d come.

  She wanted nothing more than to scramble out of the car and throw herself into his arms, but she might as well not add desperate to her crazy because desperately crazy was so much less appealing than just crazy. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep herself from laughing, because then he would really think she’d gone over the edge.

  Cranking over the engine, she rolled down her window and looked out at him. He’d never been a more welcome sight. His black leather jacket broadened his shoulders, and the Seattle Sounders skullcap he was wearing this morning made him look like a true Seattleite and heightened the concern in his blue eyes.

  Thankfully, her own were mostly dry now, though she felt sure they were still red and puffy.

  He squatted down, rested his forearms against her window sill and his chin on his arms, and studied her with a soft compassion that almost made the tears start up again.

  She blinked them back.

  “Talk to me, hon.”

  Unable to keep her distance any longer, she slumped toward him and pressed her forehead to his. “She fired me.”

  She felt the jolt of his shock. “What?”

  “She was here when I got here this morning. Already had all my things packed and in a box. Demanded the keys and told me I don’t work here anymore.” The last words hitched in her throat.

  “Oh, Chelsea…” He reached in, cupped the back of her head, and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I’m so sorry.”

  “I can’t just leave her. She can’t run the shop on her own. Not to mention I have rent to pay…” She dropped her head against the head rest again. “I don’t know what I’m going to do, Cannon.”

  “First,” he opened her car door and gestured for her to get out. “I’m taking you to breakfast.”

  Chelsea climbed out, but glanced around. “We’d better both drive. I don’t want her to have your car towed.”

  He tugged her close and pressed a gentle kiss into her hair. I parked down the street at a paid parking place. My car will be fine.” He led her around to the passenger side and ushered her in, then took the place behind the wheel. Scooting the chair back to accommodate his legs, and adjusting the mirrors, he asked. “Where to?”

  She had no energy to make a decision. And hadn’t eaten anywhere for breakfast but the coffee shop for years. “I don’t know.” She shook her head.

  “We’ll just drive then and find a place.” He squeezed her hand and then backed out of her spot.

  Thirty minutes later, they were seated across from each other in a Denny’s. Chelsea was trembling with dread and worry over the future. She’d never been without a job before, she realized. Never had to worry where her next meal was going to come from. But the thing that bothered her the most was how unreasonable Aunt Flo was being. She was just hurt that Chelsea had done something on her own without asking for permission. And at almost thirty, Chelsea figured it was about time she’d done something like that. She had been very responsible and covered her bases. The only thing she was guilty of was not letting Aunt Flo know because she’d known what her reaction would be.

  Her fingers trembled so badly she was having a hard time opening the creamer for her coffee. Cannon covered her hands and held them for a moment until she stilled, and then took the little plastic tub from her and pulled back the tab.

  She thrust her hands into her lap and willed them to stop shaking as she eyed the bowl of creamers. She’d never be able to drink her coffee with only one in it.

  Cannon’s lip twitched at the corner and he picked up a second creamer. “How many?”

  She felt her face heat. “Three more.”

  He grinned. “Four creamers per cup?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t really like the taste of coffee.”

  He leaned back and blinked at her. “Why do you drink it then?�
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  She frowned. “I’m not really sure.” A nervous laugh escaped. Maybe because that was all Aunt Flo had in the house when she was growing up.

  He pushed the coffee aside. “What do you want instead?”

  She pinched the bridge of her nose. “I don’t know, Cannon. The coffee is fine.” What she really wanted was not to have to make another decision and not to fall apart on the day her best friend was going to need her the most. She just felt like the whole world had caved in on her. And suddenly she was spilling her whole sorry story to him. How hurt she was by Aunt Flo’s actions, how she’d never worked any other kind of job, or even had to apply for one, for that matter. And would Aunt Flo even give her a good recommendation? And what would she apply for? And today of all days when she needed to be calm and cool for Havyn and Levi. She needed to pull herself together, but she felt like she was being shaken apart. And even if Cannon had decided he was going to leave Africa to work for the church in Seattle, he still would be flying back to Africa to finalize some things and what if she was homeless and contactless by the time he arrived back here?

  “Chelsea!” Cannon covered her hands with his own.

  And she realized he’d said her name several times and she’d just kept babbling. She blinked, took a breath, looked at him.

  He was doing his best to suppress the humor, but she could see it dancing in his eyes.

  She shrugged. “See? I’m already falling apart and I’ve only been fired for less than an hour.”

  “You are not falling apart and I want to tell you something.”

  The waitress appeared at their table and set down an omelet and a plate full of pancakes, hash browns, eggs, and bacon.

  Chelsea frowned and glanced over at Cannon. They hadn’t ordered yet, had they?

  He grinned. “You were talking. I pointed to two things on the menu and hoped one would be good for you.”

  Her stomach rumbled at the tantalizing scent of the bacon. She glanced sheepishly at the waitress. “Sorry.”

  The woman grinned. “Sometimes we just have to get a few things off our chest when we let them pile up for so long. Sounds like you have just the man to help you through the hard times.” With that, she squeezed Chelsea’s shoulder and bustled away.