Single Dad's Christmas Miracle

by Susan Meier

  Clark said, “I’ll take them.” But as he reached to take the jackets from Missy, Clara Bell leaped up, grabbed the loaf of bread from the center island, whipped around and raced between Clark and Missy who were passing the coats. Three little jackets and two adult coats, complete with mittens and scarves, flew into the air. Two scarves fell on Clara Bell’s back and went with her into the hall and foyer.

  Clark yelled, “Crazy!”

  Jack said, “I’ll get her,” and ran up the hall.

  Owen scrambled after him. Two seconds later Clara Bell raced back into the kitchen from the right-hand door, apparently running the circle of hallway that ringed the downstairs, scarves billowing from her back, bread clamped between her teeth.

  “Clara Bell!” Althea said, reaching for a scarf and missing.

  Lainie and Claire giggled and reached for the scarves, too. When they missed, they bolted after Clara Bell. Jack and Owen rounded the corner into the kitchen and raced after them.

  “Kids!” Missy cried. “No running!”

  Wyatt said, “I’ll get them,” and headed up the hall.

  Clara Bell burst into the kitchen again.

  Missy grabbed for her, Clark grabbed for her, Althea tried to snag her collar, but everyone missed.

  Teagan calmly stepped in front of her. Clark gasped and lunged for her, but before he could get her, Clara Bell stopped dead in her tracks and laid the bread at Teagan’s feet.

  Teagan grinned.

  Missy said, “Well, Teagan. For a little girl who doesn’t talk, you certainly have a way of getting things done.”

  Everybody laughed but Clark. He picked up the slobbered on bread. “Luckily, when I was shopping on Tuesday, I bought a loaf of bread.”

  Missy started gathering the dropped coats and scarfs. “Where did you want these?”

  After setting the store-bought bread on the center island, Clark took the coats.

  When he returned, Missy said, “Why don’t we get everything set up and eat?”

  Clara Bell said, “Woof.”

  Clark scowled. “Oh, no. You go into the family room while we eat.”

  As if she’d done it a million times, Teagan walked over, took Clara Bell’s collar and led her away.

  Claire, the only blonde in the triplets, said, “We’ll help,” and she and Lainie raced after Teagan and the dog.

  A few minutes later, the food was on the table and the girls returned. Lainie said, “We washed our hands.”

  Teagan held hers up with a grin.

  “And without being told!” Clark scooped her up, walked over to the table and began organizing the seating. Because there were only six chairs, he and Jack brought in three chairs from the formal dining room. He put the triplets by their mom, with Wyatt on Missy’s other side. Then he directed Jack to sit at his left and Teagan to his right with Althea in the middle of the table between both families.

  Nobody spoke.

  Althea exchanged a look with Missy, who smiled. “Why doesn’t everybody just pass their plate up to me and I’ll dish out the lasagna and we’ll pass the plates back?”

  Sending the plates around the table got everyone talking again. Realizing the bread Clark had bought on Tuesday hadn’t been cut, Althea jumped from the table to do it. Comments on the delicious aroma of the lasagna swirled around. By the time she returned to the table with the bread, her plate of food was in front of her.

  Jack took a bite of his food and groaned. “This is fantastic.”

  Missy grinned. “I’m glad you like it.”

  “My sister loves to cook. In fact, she owns a company that makes cakes.”

  Teagan’s eyes widened.

  Clark forked a bite of lasagna, but before he ate it he said, “Teagan loves cake.”

  Missy smiled at her. “Then I’ll leave all the spare cupcakes here for you.”

  She grinned and nodded.

  Clark frowned. “Is that good for her?”

  “One cupcake a day for a few days won’t hurt her.”

  Jack laughed. “Hear that, Chai Tea? You’ll look like a cupcake when you’re done.”

  Mouth full of lasagna, Owen giggled.

  Lainie said, “Oh, gross.” But Jack and Teagan laughed.

  Clark shifted on his chair and addressed Missy. “Althea tells me you own your bakery.”

  “Yes. But I leave the management to a team. I’m so busy with the triplets that I save my work time for baking two wedding cakes a month. Because that’s the part of the job I love.”

  He faced Wyatt. “And you do what?”

  “I own a company that produces graphic novels.”

  Clark laughed. “No kidding.”

  Wyatt peeked over. “You like comic books?”

  Jack perked up, too. “Only yes.”

  “Great. I’ll have my office send up a few that won’t be out until spring. You’ll both be ahead of your friends.”

  Jack high-fived Clark and Althea’s heart warmed. Two days ago, Jack wouldn’t have been so open. Clark probably wouldn’t have, either.

  When his gaze met hers, she smiled at him.

  He slowly returned her smile. Small lines crinkled around his eyes. And something happened inside her. A weird shifting. For as many problems as they had between them, she couldn’t deny she liked him. A lot. Way more than a smart woman would like someone she’d known only a few days.

  “Why doesn’t Teagan talk?”

  That question came from Lainie, Missy’s little brunette with big brown eyes.

  Missy said, “Hush now. She’s shy.”

  But Teagan grinned across the table at the triplets, almost refuting Missy’s words.

  “She is shy,” Clark said, “but that’s because we live out in the country. She doesn’t see a lot of people.”

  Little blonde Claire frowned. “She doesn’t have friends?”

  “There’s really been nowhere for her to meet friends.”

  Owen shook his head. “That’s sad.”

  “Owen identifies,” Missy explained. “He used to sneak into Wyatt’s house, looking for company.”

  “Too many girls in our house,” Lainie said and rolled her eyes.

  Wyatt laughed. “He just wanted some guy time.”

  Althea looked over at Jack. He looked back at her. A silent understanding passed between them. He wanted friends. No. He needed friends.

  “Maybe you should send her to preschool,” Missy suggested.

  Clark didn’t answer. He couldn’t. The strangest things were happening. He hadn’t had company in this house since his wife’s death and it should have felt odd, uncomfortable. Instead, once everyone got over Crazy stealing the bread, the mood became warm and happy.

  He’d even smiled at Althea, which was a huge mistake. Every time he looked at her heat rushed through him. But now, she wasn’t just a gorgeous woman, living in his home, she was a nice woman with a sister who loved her and a family. In one silly meal she’d gone from being his son’s teacher to being a person.

  Which would be great, except the more he got to know her the more he liked her.

  And he didn’t want to like her.

  He’d vowed he’d never get involved again. And he was a man who kept his vows. So why was she tempting him?

  The two families finished the meal talking about snow and Christmas. Clark and Wyatt supervised the triplets and Jack loading the dishwasher, as Missy and Althea spent a few more minutes at the table.

  Reminding their kids they had to get up for school in the morning, the McKenzies packed up to leave. Teagan hugged the girls. Jack and Owen made plans to meet online to play some kind of video game. Missy and Althea clung to each other.

  Wyatt shook Clark’s hand. “We’d love to have you come to our hou
se next week.”

  He winced. “I’m kind of busy, but Althea’s free to visit any evening. Every evening.”

  Obviously disappointed, Wyatt said, “Oh. Okay. That sounds great.”

  Clark felt like a real heel, but he absolutely positively couldn’t get any more involved with Althea than he had to be for Jack’s sake. His wife had more than broken his heart. She’d humiliated him. He wouldn’t risk that again.

  But when Althea said good-night as he and Teagan walked to the steps for bed, her smile was so radiant that his stomach clenched. For three wistful seconds he stared at her, wishing his wife hadn’t cheated, wishing he’d known she was unhappy, wishing they’d gotten a divorce like a normal couple, wishing he wasn’t scarred, bruised, wounded.

  But that was foolish. He was what he was. Wounded. And he did have troubles. Troubles that kept Jack at home and Teagan away from prying eyes. He’d spent three years protecting his daughter. He wouldn’t drag Althea into that.

  * * *

  Althea got out of bed the next morning, brushed her teeth, combed her hair, and did something she hadn’t done in at least ten years. She put on makeup before breakfast. Not a lot. Just a little mascara and some lip gloss.

  She studied her reflection, unable to believe she was so attracted to Clark Beaumont that she’d resort to makeup.

  But she was. And he was attracted to her. She’d known that from their first handshake, but after the way he’d smiled at her at dinner the night before and the look of longing he’d given her before he climbed the stairs to take Teagan to bed, everything felt different. He liked her. And for once in her life she didn’t want to run. She wanted this.

  She walked into the kitchen, her long chenille robe tied tightly over her boxers and tank top. Clark and the kids sat at the center island.

  She breezed to the coffeemaker. “Good morning.”

  Out of her peripheral vision she saw Clark look up. His gaze went from the top of her combed hair, down her puritanical robe to her bare feet.

  She smiled. He was looking as interested as she’d thought he was the night before.

  And she was very glad for the mascara.

  “So what’s everybody doing today?”

  She turned from the coffeemaker just as Clark rose and put another pancake on his plate. His white shirt fit his firm chest very nicely. His orange-and-brown-print tie brought out the amber color of his eyes. But it was his tidy brown hair that sent a thrill through her. This was a normal, decent guy who was interested in her. Not a beach bum. Not a guy who got drunk and beat his kids. A guy who protected his kids. The kind of guy a woman could make a life with.

  If she didn’t screw it up.

  If he really was interested.

  If he was thinking the same way she was.

  If they actually fell in love.

  That was a lot of ifs.

  “I have work. Two big meetings.” He waited for her to bring her coffee to the open seat across from his at the center island. “I know it will be a long day for you guys, but that’s the way it is when you own a company.”

  When she looked into his eyes her hormones went crazy, but he was back to being overly polite and cautious with her. Which, given that they’d basically just met a few days ago, was probably a very good thing.

  She glanced down at her coffee to break eye contact. She had weeks to work this out. There was no sense rushing things. In fact, it was wise not to rush things.

  Clark said, “How about you, Jack? What’s on your agenda for today?”

  Althea quickly glanced at Jack, who froze at his father’s question.

  “You know, neither of you has ever reported on what you’re doing.”

  Jack’s expression became defiant. “I’m working.”

  “I know you are,” Clark said. “I’m just curious about how far you’re getting.”

  Althea peeked at Jack’s plate and saw it was clean. His breakfast eaten, he could leave. “Jack, why don’t you go into the den and set everything up. I’ll be in in a few minutes.”

  He sighed and slid off his stool. Teagan slid off her stool, too. She walked over, tugged on Clark’s sleeve until he bent down, and hugged him. She didn’t whisper in his ear. She just hugged him. Then she followed Jack out of the room.

  For as closed off as Clark was with everyone else, he certainly had a special relationship with Teagan. “She’s something.”

  Clark’s gaze meandered over to her. “Yes. She is.”

  “She has a heart full of love.”

  He sniffed a laugh.

  “And so does Jack.”

  “I totally agree. His problem isn’t personal. His problem is his schoolwork.”

  Althea stirred her coffee. “I was thinking about that yesterday, considering what I’ve seen in the past with the kids I’ve taught in a regular classroom, and I think I have an idea for an incentive to get Jack working.”

  His gaze met hers slowly again and this time her cheeks warmed. Of all the men she’d met in her life, happier guys, why did this man with closed off emotions make her breath stutter?

  “What’s your idea?”

  She smiled to take some of the sting out of what she was about to say. “I think Jack needs company. Competition. Maybe even friends to toss around ideas.”

  “And you think I can go to the friend store and pick up a few twelve-year-old boys?”

  She laughed. Okay. He’d made a joke. Maybe he wasn’t so closed off after all. “No. I think we could inspire Jack to work harder, get his lessons caught up, if we told him that if he passed the required tests we’d put him in school in town next semester.”

  Clark’s face fell. “What?”

  “He’s lonely. He wants friends. School is the obvious solution.”

  “I don’t want him in school and you know why.”

  “But if we don’t give him something to look forward to he’s never going to perk up. But more than that he needs friends.”

  “He doesn’t need to go to town.”

  “He does!”

  “Damn it, Althea! We talked about this!”

  She shut up. All thought of having a romantic relationship with him fell out of her brain. Closed off emotionally was one thing. Anger and yelling was another. She’d had enough of that from her dad to last her a lifetime.

  * * *

  Clark squeezed his eyes shut.

  Damn it! The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her. He liked her. He actually wanted to do a lot more than like her. But this was exactly why he couldn’t. His life was a mess and he didn’t want to drag her into it as a girlfriend or lover or anything beyond Jack’s teacher. “I can’t send Jack to school in town because of the gossip. I don’t want him to hear that about his mom.”

  Her eyes softened with understanding. “I know that, but that was three years ago. Kids in sixth grade won’t be talking about it.”

  “But the teachers will.”

  “Who cares? They’ll whisper about it for a week or so and it will drift away because your wife is gone. It’s over and done. There’s no fresh information.”

  He groaned and shook his head. “And what about Teagan? If Jack goes to school, he’ll hear the gossip about her.”

  “Clark—” Her voice was soft again. Soft and full of sanity. “He’s going to have to deal with this sometime. You can’t keep him here forever.”

  He rubbed his hand across his mouth. “I know.”

  “Most people will be too kind to talk about it when Jack’s around.”

  “Hopefully.”

  “Plus, he’s mature for his age. He’s a good boy. A smart kid. Even if the gossip gets to him, you’ll be able to talk him through it.”

  Clark drew in a long, slow breath. Jack had failed a semester, shouted that
he felt he was in a prison. Was keeping him home doing more damage than letting him go to school?

  “You could also ask the teacher or guidance counselor to watch out for him...to let you know if there’s gossip so you’ll be ready.”

  He looked at the floor, then back at her again, suddenly wondering if it really was Jack he was protecting...or himself. “I haven’t really talked with him about his mom since she died.” Sadness rattled through him. Because he hadn’t known how to talk about Teagan, he hadn’t talked about any of it. “Bits and pieces here and there. But nothing serious.” He sucked in a breath. “Maybe if we talked about her...” He shrugged again. “You know, if I dropped a few normal things into the conversation like what she liked for breakfast, that could pave the way for the ‘big’ conversation we may someday need to have.”

  “I think that’s a great idea. You’re going to be talking about this sometime. So it would be good to start small. With normal stuff. Maybe even talk about Christmas things. Did she decorate?”

  “Yes. But she didn’t let anybody help. There are no memories.”

  “So that’s what you tell him. You say, ‘your mom loved to decorate the house so much she did it herself.’ Then if he has any questions or wants to talk, you’ve opened the door.”

  He nodded. “Makes sense.” He sighed heavily, scrubbed his hand across his mouth. “Okay. You tell him that if he gets his grades up, I’ll look into sending him to school in town next semester.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  JACK ABOUT DIED of happiness when Althea told him about her talk with his father. He dove into his studies, set the table for their lunch of canned soup and bagels and met his father at the door when he returned from work that night.

  He launched himself into his arms, hugging him. “Thanks.”

  Clark’s gaze rose to meet Althea’s, as he spoke to his hugging son. “This is all contingent on you getting your grades up.”

  Jack stepped away. “I know. I will.”

  Althea slid her arm around Jack’s shoulder. Looking at Clark she said, “So what’d you bring for dinner?”

  “I stopped at a fish place.”