by Nancy Fraser
Suddenly her phone blew up with texts and pictures as the rest of the family found trees they liked. “Looks like the competition’s begun.”
“We haven’t found a tree yet.” He looked panicked, his eyes darting from tree to tree. “There’s one! It’s perfect. Like the kind you see in the movies. Can we get that one?”
She turned and tracked his gaze. “Easy there, big fella. We usually decide as a family but that’s a beauty.” She snapped a picture and sent it to the group. “Now we wait.”
“While we wait, there’s something I want to do.”
“What’s that?”
“Kiss you. I haven’t had a chance all morning.”
She pulled her hand out of her mitten to press a finger to his lips. “First, tell me if Jett Smith is your real name.” As soon as he said he wanted anonymity she’d wondered if he’d hidden things from her.
“Somers. I’m Jett Somers. And I want to tell you all about me. For you, Brenna James, I’m an open book.”
Her phone pinged wildly with congratulatory messages. “We won. We’re taking the tree you want.”
He pulled her in tight and close and kissed her. Their lips warmed against the cold, but she shivered as desire rose. Warmed from the inside she whispered, “Jett, hold me.” She wanted to say much more, to talk about a future, but fear stopped her.
He was wooing her. He wanted her in his life. But what if she failed him? What if she went back to work and lost him in the crushing load of responsibility?
A throat cleared and he raised his head and smiled. “We’ve been caught,” he murmured for her ears only.
“We don’t mean to interrupt, but your blocking our way and we want to chop that tree before some other family gets it.” It was her sister’s voice, full of amusement.
Brenna shifted her gaze from Jett’s to Kayley’s. Her father stood immediately behind her, holding an axe.
“My father has an axe in his hands.”
Jett stepped back and put his hands high in the air. “We’re done here,” he declared loudly.
“Good,” her father said. “Now, out of my way, I’ve got chopping to do.” He brushed past Kayley and advanced on them. “You,” he said to Jett, “watch your feet. I wouldn’t want to miss the base of the tree.” He gave Jett an amused glance on his way by.
“That smile he gave me looked scary,” he said. “I’m hanging back here until the chopping’s done.”
Chapter 9
WITH THE BEST-LOOKING tree on the lot tied to the roof of Laurel’s SUV, Jett marveled at how much fun he’d had. He held Brenna’s hand as they trooped across the parking lot toward the old red barn dedicated to food and drink. Once inside, he saw more Christmas decorations like wreaths and lawn ornaments for sale.
Joy eased through Jett at how simple Christmas could be with a family who cared about each other. Until now, the season had been a backdrop for his time with Brenna. He’d noticed the lights and seasonal decorations that hadn’t warmed him until now. “This is one of the best days I’ve ever had,” he said into her ear.
The bright smile she gave him went through to his soul.
After ordering their hot drinks and plates of cookies they gathered at the round tables by the woodstove. The cookies were shaped like Christmas trees, stars, and sleds. He had his share and then some. Buttery goodness filled his mouth and contentment filled his heart. Even Reggie had thawed a little.
“I’m glad you’re having fun,” Brenna responded warmly. “I am, too. I didn’t want to give up our alone time, but we’ll manage. Now that they’ve met you, I feel lighter and freer. I hate to say it this way because it’s corny, but Christmas is special in Dickens and we all relax and enjoy the season here.”
“I want to talk to you. We need some of that alone time.”
A woman’s chiding voice broke over their heads interrupting his thoughts. “Wilhelmina Adamson, get down from there.”
They all looked over to see the young teen standing up from her wheelchair to reach a Christmas bulb from a high shelf. “Billie,” the woman cried again. “I’ll get it. Sit down.”
The line of people waiting for service parted to let the woman through. Just in time she clasped the wobbling girl around the waist and helped her back into her chair. “But, Mom, I can get it and I don’t want you to see what I’m buying for you.”
Billie. This was Billie Adamson. Not a young man, but a teenage girl. She’d disappeared from the chat room completely and without warning. Her mother fussed and clucked over her while Billie looked stubborn and disappointed. “Mom, stop,” she said firmly. An obstinate purse of her lips overtook her pretty face. Her short braid rested at her frayed coat collar.
He had to approach them. It was clear this contretemps between mother and daughter had ruined a happy outing and that meant he’d run out of time. He stood and walked over, leaving Brenna in mid-conversation.
“Mrs. Adamson?” he asked quietly. The woman, frazzled, looked up at him quickly and then went back to settling her daughter.
“It’s Miss Barnes. What do you want?”
“It’s about Billie, here. I met her online and—”
“You’re the guy?” She interrupted with the force of a raging rhino. “A grown man? Here to do what with my little girl?”
“What? Wait!” A murmur grew around them as sick horror settled in Jett’s gut. “No!” he said just as forcefully. “This isn’t what you think. I didn’t know she was a girl, or young. I believed it was an adult, a scientist, in that chat room.”
“Trying to get her to tell you where she lived, asking about her schooling? How stupid do you think we are? I got her offline as fast as I could.”
He raised his palms to his face and dragged them down in frustration and horror. She believed he was the worst kind of man. “No. All of this is wrong. Billie, did I ever talk about anything that made you uncomfortable?”
She stared at her lap and shook her head. “No,” she whispered. Louder, she said, “Mom, let’s go, you’re embarrassing me.”
He took in the condition of the wheelchair. It was old, the seat back worn. Miss Barnes’ clothes were past their prime. This woman was struggling financially and needed to hear what he had to say. He pressed his card into Billie’s hand. “I want to understand your process with the batteries. That’s all. I can help.”
Miss Barnes took the card from Billie’s hand and glared at him. “She’s always got her head in science journals and the like. I can’t make sense of any of it.”
“MOM! I want to leave.” She cast Jett a look of utter humiliation.
He nodded and cleared a path for them. “Please call and we can talk about Billie’s future and yours. Do a search online about me. Dig deep. You’ll understand who I am and why I’m here. I promise this will change things for you.” And the world, he hoped.
When he looked toward the tables for Brenna and her family, they were gone.
“BRENNA, HE’S A DANCE instructor. Why waste your time?” her father blustered, still incensed by what he’d overheard. He’d turned an alarming shade of burgundy and that was the only reason Brenna had hurried out of the gift shop.
No way on Earth Jett was an internet stalker of young teens. Of course not. But trying to get through to her father when he ranted this way was a fool’s game. Her mother shook her head when Brenna opened her mouth to speak.
Fine, she’d say nothing about the false accusation until her father had calmed down. She wouldn’t get through to him, no matter what she said.
“Jett and I are a holiday flirtation, nothing more.” The words felt like acid on her tongue and belied all that had passed between them. She worried Jett might think she believed that girl’s mother. A quick end to their Christmas romance was for the best, but she had to tell him she believed he was a good man. She refused to part ways on such a sour note.
Her eyes smarted with tears as they climbed into their vehicles and left. She took one glance out the back window and saw Jett, stand
ing alone in the cold, watching them drive away. She waved at him, once.
He didn’t wave back.
Her mother turned to look at her with narrowed eyes and gave her one sharp shake of her head. Trix and Kayley flashed looks between each other. Brenna felt certain they had a few things to say about Jett, too.
An hour later, with no word from Jett, Brenna settled at the dining room table. Gramma’s wonderful homemade chicken noodle soup fragranced the air, but she couldn’t bear to try it. It would feel too normal, and nothing about this past hour felt normal, and she couldn’t bear to eat. Her spoon rested in her hand, unused.
Trix smiled at her in a “got your back, cousin,” kind of way and cleared her throat. “I have something to tell you all,” she began.
They all raised their faces to Trix’s, and Brenna set her spoon down beside her cooling bowl of soup.
“I’m getting divorced.”
The bald statement completely shifted the focus from Jett to Trix, and Brenna went to her cousin and gave her the biggest hug ever.
Brenna had heard the news from Aunt Lolly and had had a couple of weeks to see that this situation had a silver lining. “From now on Trix you’ll be free to pursue your dreams. No more hiding your light under a bushel. No more being at his beck and call.”
Trix nodded. “You’re right,” she said with a tremulous smile. “I’ve been thinking along those lines myself,” Trix responded for everyone at the table. “Don’t be sad.” She held up her hands. “And please let’s not talk about what a bad guy he is for doing what he’s done. Good riddance.”
Aunt Lolly whispered the truth in Gramma’s ear. Trix’s husband was having a child with another woman. Brenna saw the exact moment the idea exploded behind Gramma’s eyes. She coughed as if the truth was too hard to swallow.
“Oh, dear Trix,” she said, reaching across the table. “Good riddance is right. My brave girl.”
With that, her parents looked from face to face for clarification, but Trix said it out loud before anyone else could. “He found a younger woman to start a family with. Good luck to her.”
Trix had deliberately stepped up to take the heat of the family’s attention and concern away from her and Jett. Brenna would be grateful for the rest of her life.
JETT WAITED IN HIS car an hour after the disaster at Gridley Meadows Farm. His nerves were taut with dread, as the seconds ticked by. He’d wanted more than anything to chase after Brenna and her family to explain away what they’d overheard but he couldn’t. That conversation would take far too long and deservedly so. When he spoke to Brenna, he needed to give her his full attention. The world needed the magic that Billie had stumbled on and Jett couldn’t leave the matter unresolved. But the longer he went without contacting her, the worse he felt. He sent her a quick text apologizing for the confusion and to please call when she could.
He nervously tapped his index fingers on the steering wheel as he waited for a call from Brenna or from Billie’s mother, Miss Barnes. Both women needed heavy explanations, and both deserved his undivided attention.
His ringtone blasted through the chilly air. Not Brenna. He answered immediately.
“This is Juliet Barnes.”
“Miss Barnes, thank you for calling me. You have no idea how important it is.”
“We did the internet search on you at the neighbor’s place.” She sniffed. “Billie made me.”
“We need to talk. The three of us. Name a place.”
She gave him an address and gave him two hours to stew over what he’d say. Maybe he’d text Brenna again and meet with her now, somewhere away from her family.
Before he hit send, his phone rang again. “Brenna,” he answered. “Thank God. We need to talk. I can explain. I’m a wreck.” He loved her so much and now he could lose her.
“Calm down,” she said softly. “Right back at you, Jett. I’m a wreck, too. Tell me where you are, and I’ll come there.”
“I’m parked in the square, in front of Dickens Hardware.” The word hurry dangled on his tongue, but he bit it back.
“I’ll be there in five. Hold on.”
He set his forehead on his steering wheel while a hundred voices screamed at him. “You’re a loser.” “No one will ever love you.” “Don’t come crying to me.” Were among some of his favorites when he felt overwhelmed. He pulled them out whenever he wasn’t sure he could achieve what he needed to do.
But then, softly, a whisper came to his rescue. “You can do this, Jett. Try once more. Just a little straighter. Keep working, it’ll come.” Delia’s whisper grew stronger, louder until it drowned out the nasty shouts and jabs from other kids in the system. Those other voices had come close to breaking him, but Delia put a stop to that. She’d guided him through his rockiest years and when life had threatened to beat him down, she’d been there.
Chapter 10
BRENNA FOUND JETT HUNCHED over his steering wheel and when she tapped on his window, he startled as if he’d been sleeping. When he saw her, he grimaced. She hurried around to the passenger side and climbed in beside him.
Jett said nothing but drew her into his arms and rested his head on her shoulder like a child. “I’m not like that, Brenna. I’m not a guy who tries to lure young girls on the internet.”
“I know,” she said quietly and firmly to get through his anguish. “I never believed it for a moment.” She lifted his head to face her. “You mentioned Billie to me before. A man who had a secret, ugly, agenda would never say her name or tell anyone they were looking for her.”
He blinked and tilted his head as if awed. “I swear I thought when we were online that Billie was a young man,” he said fervently. “I assumed he was a science major in university. That was the school I asked him—her—about.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe this happened—I mean—I knew the person was young just by the language, but a young teen? She’s what, twelve or thirteen? No. I didn’t have a clue. Her command of science jargon alone, made me assume an adult was talking.”
She nodded to encourage him. “Go on,” she coaxed. “I need to hear all of it.”
“The young man I chatted with went silent right after I asked about school. Now I see why. Billie’s mother—whose name is Barnes, not Adamson—must have read our chats and put a stop to them. Rightly so. I’d do the same if it were a child of mine.”
“Yes. Me, too.”
“But this discovery of Billie’s is important, Brenna. It could change the future of the planet.”
“That big?”
“Yes. That big.”
“Then, what’s next? My grandmother recognized Miss Barnes from around town. She said the girl’s father comes from an old, established family from Philadelphia. Very wealthy. He’s refused to acknowledge Billie. His lawyers keep delaying a paternity test, but you only have to see him to know he’s her father. Miss Barnes has struggled with Billie’s medical expenses for years. She’s had many legal battles and she still gets no help.” Brenna watched understanding and disgust enter Jett’s gaze as she explained the girl’s circumstances.
“They need me as much as the world needs Billie’s process.” He set his jaw. “You’ve explained why I couldn’t find any local Adamsons. Since Miss Barnes gave her daughter her father’s name, it was impossible to make the connection.”
“I have their address if you want to go.” She gave him the address and he smiled.
“We’ve spoken,” he said, sounding pleased. “I’ve got another hour to wait for my appointment. She’s invited me to her home. I assumed the address she gave me was somewhere public, but she’s checked me out and understands I’m not a threat to her daughter.” His eyes brimmed with relief.
She felt the same relief. “We’ll go see them together. I’ll explain who I am. Maybe Juliet Barnes will feel better if I’m there.”
“I can’t express my gratitude. Brenna—"
“Sh.” She stopped him with a kiss. “This isn’t the time for our conversation. Let’s focus on Billi
e and Juliet for now.”
“You’re right.” He blew out a breath and grinned. “What do you want to do for the next hour?”
They strolled arm in arm around the square. The Trim-A-Tree store was filled with shoppers, but Jett wanted to go inside.
“I need to buy something,” he said with an air of secrecy. Once inside, he studied the ornaments for sale on the trees. Finally, he picked one off and smiled. “I’ve found the perfect one,” he announced. He palmed it so she couldn’t see it.
“What have you got there?”
“Na-unh, not telling. But I will say that this is the first tree ornament I’ve ever purchased.”
“Really?”
He nodded and his gaze went inward. “Christmas is kind of foreign to me. At least, the spirit is.” He dipped his head and ran his hand over his hair to the back of his neck. Jett looked uncomfortably adorable, like a child with a guilty confession to make. “This is the first time I’ve ever felt the spirit. When I was a kid, my life was different from yours and the season was either a long bender for my foster parents or I was in a group home and the cheer seemed phony and forced.”
She grieved for the loss of his childhood. “Jett,” she said softly and tugged on his upper arm. She pressed her forehead to his.
He shrugged. “You have no idea what you’ve given me, Brenna.”
“Jett,” she crooned again, her heart twisting. She kissed his forehead, the tip of his nose and then, his mouth. To comfort? To help him heal? To show how she felt? Maybe all three. “You’ve shared yourself with me, finally. And it is the most wonderful gift of all.”
She wanted to say she loved him, but they didn’t have time. He needed to sort out his situation with Billie and her mother. “We should go.”
He nodded and headed to the cash desk to pay for his ornament.
BILLIE AND HER MOTHER, Juliet Barnes, appeared to live in a house converted to separate units. On the side of the wide veranda steps sat a homemade ramp; built to accommodate Billie’s chair, Jett supposed. “That ramp’s too steep,” he said. “It would be hard to push the chair up there.”