A CHRISTMAS COLLECTION

by Wilton, Patrice

  Louise and John came into the hall to greet them. “We’ve got the Eagles and the Redskins coming up,” John told Ken. “We can escape after brunch. The girls have planned a concert.”

  “Oh, that sounds nice,” Marie said with a smile for the girls. “What kind of concert?”

  “Katie plays the piano and I sing,” Brooke said proudly.

  “Bravo,” Ally said, clapping her hands. “We look forward to it.”

  “I hope everyone is hungry.” Nick took off his apron and shook hands all around.

  “Starved,” Ken replied. “We skipped room service this morning, knowing another feast awaited us here.”

  “Good. I made a smoked salmon frittata and have croissants warming in the oven,” Nick said. “Along with the ham and sides, and a platter of shrimp.”

  Jennie opened some champagne and they all drank mimosas, ate way too much, and listened to the Tenors singing Christmas music on Pandora. The two older couples had become instant friends, and Jennie’s parents asked hers to visit with them before they headed back to Connecticut.

  After the last bite was eaten and the dishes put away, the children dragged them all into the living room so they could give their concert. Katie had been taking music lessons and was quite accomplished on the piano. She played Silent Night and Jingle Bells flawlessly, accompanied by Brooke, the enthusiastic vocalist. Both were greeted with wild applause.

  The men snuck off to watch the second quarter, while the women had another mimosa and chatted and the children played with their new toys.

  “So what did Ian want to talk to you about?” Jennie asked, sipping on her champagne.

  “Oh, not much. He was just worried about me. Wanted to know my plans. Told him I haven’t made any yet. Just taking some time off to go home.” Ally glanced at her friend. “I told Nick I’d stay and work until the first of the year, but then I need to go home and figure things out. I asked for two weeks, but he said my job would be waiting, if and when I decided to return.”

  “Oh, Ally, I will miss you, but I understand.” She touched Marie’s hand. “I know how much you want your daughter back.” She batted back tears. “I wish we could share her, that’s all.”

  Marie gave a soft laugh. “For now, it’s only a visit to see how Ally feels. Right, hon? No decisions have been made.” She held Ally’s gaze. “As much as we hope you want to make a home with us, we promise not to pressure you. It will be your decision if you decide to stay.” She sighed. “Besides, I have a feeling that Ian would miss her too.”

  “Is that right?” Jennie’s eyes danced. “Did he ask you to stay?”

  Ally squirmed. “Not really.”

  “You’re not telling us something,” Jennie said with a knowing look in her eye. “I think he’s got serious feelings for you. And he looked upset when he stormed out of here.”

  Ally hadn’t realized Jennie had seen him go. “No. Not at all. He’s not looking for a wife; he just got rid of one.” She swallowed her last bit of champagne and went to the sink to rinse her glass. “Let’s change the subject, okay?”

  “Okay,” Louise said with a smile, “but it was just getting interesting.”

  “My gosh,” Ally glanced at the clock in the kitchen. “It’s almost three. We’ve been here for nearly four hours.”

  “So? You don’t have anything better to do, and neither do we,” Jennie said. “Why don’t we play cards while the guys finish watching their game? Do you play Canasta?”

  Marie nodded. “Not in years, but we used to. Do you remember how, Ally?”

  “I’m a little rusty on the game, but we could stay for a few hands. I’d like to be on the road before it gets dark. If we leave by five we should be good.”

  “Why do you want to run off?” Louise asked. “Spending time here has to be better than staying in a dreary hotel room.” She glanced at her daughter. “If you have enough room, maybe they could spend the night.”

  Marie shook her head. “No. We don’t want to put anyone out. And Ally is more of a private person. Right, dear? You like your space.” She glanced around the table. “We still have to go back to the cabin tomorrow and help her clear out her stuff.”

  Jenny made a face. “Oh, Ally. That’s going to be awful. Can’t you have someone just pack it all up and put it in storage for you?”

  “No. I need to sort through it. With Mom and Dad helping me, it’ll be fine.” She knew that facing it again would be tough. Her teddy bear collection would be tossed in the garbage, and there were so many painful reminders. Jimmy’s blood stains on her floors. The moment he’d leered at her, and whispered, “I’ve got you now. You’re mine.”

  She shivered, remembering every terrifying moment when he’d held the gun next to her temple. His body behind her. His arousal. His scent. His hot, disgusting breath on her neck.

  “Are you all right?” her mother asked after seeing the shiver and expression on her face.

  “I will be. I promise.” There would be other memories back in her cabin. Again painful. Memories of Ian, in the shower, in her bed. She stood up suddenly. “If you don’t mind, I am getting a small headache. Probably too much champagne,” she said rubbing a finger between her brows.

  “Of course. We kept you here too long,” Jenny murmured. “Mom, can you get their coats? I’ll get Jenny an Advil.” She dashed off to get the pain medicine, and popped her head into the den where Nick, and her dad and Ken were still watching football. She told them that Ally had a headache and needed to leave.

  By the time they said their goodbyes and hit the road, the sky was already gray and dull and she knew the deer would be scrambling about. She backed out of the driveway and headed down Green Meadows Lane, taking it slow as the road was getting icy, and deer would be plentiful at dusk.

  They made it to the main road and were about a mile out of town when she heard a siren behind her. A police car with red and blue strobe lights flashed. She pulled over to let the car pass, but he pulled in front of her and came to a stop.

  What the hell?

  She rolled down her window and pulled her driver’s license from her wallet. Would it be Stuart, or Finn? Maybe she had a taillight out—she hadn’t been speeding.

  “Ian?” Ally breathed a sigh of relief as she recognized his large body—so tall, and strong. Not for me. She rolled down her window.

  “What did you stop us for?” Her tone was sharp. “We were just having lunch at Jennie and Nick’s.”

  “You were doing forty-five. Speed limit’s forty.”

  Her brow arched in disbelief. “Yeah, well, there was nobody but us on the road.” She glanced at her dad in the passenger seat, and met her mother’s eyes in the rearview mirror. Really?

  “Except me,” Ian replied. “I warned you about your lead foot.”

  “Hi, Ian. How’re you doing?” Ken asked. “Ally has a headache and needs to get going. I’m sure you can overlook a few miles on a vacant road. It’s Christmas time.”

  “We don’t have any crime in Heaven. It’s my job to make sure we keep it that way.”

  “Come on. We’re all friends here,” her father said, leaning forward with a jovial smile.

  Ian didn’t return the gesture, instead focusing on Ally. “Have you been drinking?” he asked.

  “What the hell! What kind of a question is that?” She looked him dead in the eye. “What’s going on with you, Chief Brown? Don’t you have anything better to do than pull over drivers for no good reason?” What was his problem? Why was he acting like such a jerk?

  “Answer the question.”

  “And if I don’t, what?” Ally was so angry she was shaking, but she held his gaze. “You gonna arrest me?”

  The tic in his cheek popped in and out. His dark eyes glittered and his mouth was an angry slash.

  “She had a couple of mimosas,” her mom answered quickly. “Over a few hours’ time. Nobody is inebriated. Give us the damn speeding ticket and let us get on our way.” She huffed and sat back.

 
Ian poked his flashlight into the car and sniffed. Then he scribbled on his pad, ripped it off and handed it to Ally.

  “I’ll let you off on the drinking, but watch the speed.” Then he turned and marched off to his car.

  “What the hell was that all about?” her dad grumbled. “Something crawl up his ass and die?”

  “He proposed to me yesterday.” Unbelievable. She watched him climb into the patrol car. “At the party.” Her voice thickened. “I didn’t take it seriously and turned him down.” Ally shrugged, but her insides were churning. “Do you think he’s angry about that?” He was supposed to be relieved!

  “Sounds like it. Maybe he thought you were emotionally involved with him too,” her father said. She knew they were all remembering her meltdown at the Italian place at dinner. “Were you?”

  “Yes,” she admitted. “A little. But he encouraged me to go—he didn’t want me to stay, not really. Once I decided to go back to Connecticut, that’s when he popped the question.” The patrol car pulled away. “It was a stupid question anyway,” she said, her eyes now following his taillights. “I mean, we’ve only known each other a little more than a week. Can’t fall in love in that short of time.”

  “Your father and I did,” her mother said softly. “Sometimes you just know.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Ian thumped the steering wheel hard as he drove away. What an absolute prick he’d been. Her parents probably thought he was a psycho—even-keeled one minute, then a blithering idiot the next.

  Dammit to hell. He should swear off women. Obviously he had no idea how to behave around them. He hadn’t meant to go off on her like that. He’d seen her Honda pass him a mile back, and he had just wanted to talk to her, that was all. Made up a phony excuse about speeding. The few miles over the speed limit were nothing, but he couldn’t let her drive by without a word.

  He’d wanted…hell…he didn’t know what he wanted, except it had something to do with making her realize she loved him too.

  He’d seen the look of relief on her face when she saw it was him. The dope who was in love with her, the one who’d practically begged her to stay and marry him. The three of them probably had a big laugh at his expense. It was the cuckold cop. Everything would be all right. Okay that their daughter had been drinking and speeding. Not really.

  He’d been sitting in the damn car, in the freezing cold, drinking shitty cold coffee, and munching on a couple of granola bars, while she’d been having a wonderful time with her best buddies.

  And it had rankled. She’d looked so pretty with her cheeks flushed pink. The beige wool coat had flattered her purple spikes too—although it seemed out of place in a small town like this. She looked ready to move on.

  She would go—but he wasn’t quite ready to say good-bye. Never to see her face again—never to hold her, love her, laugh with her. What would he do without her now? He hadn’t meant to fall in love, if that’s what this pain in his gut was. He’d only meant to keep her safe. But her sweetness and innocence had gotten to him. Deep. Soul deep. He didn’t want any careless guy screwing with her, or anyone hurting her. He couldn’t bear the thought, and the only way he knew to make sure that never happened was to make her his wife. Hence the stupid proposal and the wedding ring.

  He could always take it back, he supposed. She’d be leaving soon, not enough time to try and change her mind. Maybe he should have arrested her with a DUI. Locked her up overnight, and given Stuart the evening shift off. He’d have had a whole fourteen hours to show her what she’d be missing if she left. One stroke at a time. Once she got over being mad at him for arresting her in the first place.

  The following day he strode into Nick’s Bar & Bistro and sat down at a table in Charlie’s station. He wanted to see Ally, but was pretty sure she’d spit in his soup if he dared to sit down at his usual place.

  Couldn’t blame her.

  “You!” Ally marched up to him, hands on her hips the second he sat down. She must have been watching the door or something. “You have a nerve showing up here.”

  “I don’t need nerve. I’m the police chief and I can eat anywhere I please.”

  Her attitude put him on the defensive as she glared daggers at him.

  “And give tickets out to anyone driving over the speed limit,” he added. “One mile over—if I feel it necessary.”

  “Is that right?” She blew her shaggy bangs out of her eyes. “One frickin’ mile! Thought the rule of thumb was five miles an hour. No ticky at five. Ever hear of that?”

  “Only in big cities. Can’t lock up every Tom, Dick and Harry out there who speeds. Not enough jails. But here? Different story. Two empty cells, all the time. Might as well lock someone up once in awhile. Good for business.” He leaned against the wall and his eyes searched the room.

  “How can that be good for business?” Ally crossed her arms, her pink sneaker tapping the floor. “It costs money to provide food and shelter to a law-abiding citizen. Especially when she was unjustly ticketed!”

  “It justifies my job and the shabby salary they pay me.” He glanced around her furious but delectable body. “Where’s Charlie? This is her station. Figured I would take a break from yours.” He’d wanted to see her, but this was getting out of hand. She’d always been sassy, but this was different.

  “Why’s that?” she snickered. “’Fraid I might poison you or something?”

  “Well, that would be interesting,” he said. “Two major crimes in one week. We’ll have to tell people that Heaven used to be a nice town, but not anymore. They might as well keep driving ’til they get to Philly.”

  Charlie came through the swinging doors with a laden tray in her hands. She dropped them at the next table, then turned to him. “Hey, Chief. Nice to see you. Has Ally got your order?”

  “No.” He frowned at Ally and looked at Charlie. “I was waiting for you.”

  “Great. I’ll be back in a minute. Just got to get fresh drinks for these people.”

  Ian turned back to Ally. “See? That’s how a customer should be treated. Not with a snarly attitude.”

  She put her hands on the table and leaned in. “You’re the one who’s snarly. Giving me a ticket yesterday. Where’s the holiday spirit?”

  “You were drinking it.” He wished he could just shut up. She hadn’t been driving erratically at all.

  Her eyes flashed dangerously, which got his motor running hot. Reminding him that he’d come in with a different goal in mind. Spending quality time with her before she left. “So, you still plan on going to Connecticut?”

  “The sooner, the better.” Her chin lifted. “It was made very clear that there is nothing here for me.”

  Crap. “How about a carriage ride after you get off work? Got a few things I’d like to say to you.” Once he’d cooled down.

  “I think you’ve said enough.” She strode off and he had to wait a few minutes for Charlie to appear.

  “What did you do?” she asked, her blue eyes sparkling with curiosity. “She looks ready to blow a gasket.”

  He chuckled. Hopefully hid his regret. “Yeah. I might have ruffled her feathers a little. Gave her a speeding ticket yesterday. It didn’t go down well.”

  “I can imagine. You probably could have overlooked it.” She smiled encouragingly. “Don’t want to ruin our spotless reputation around here.”

  “True. True.” He glanced at the menu written in chalk hanging on the opposite wall. “I’ll probably rip it up. How about a Bison Burger. Give me the fries.”

  “You got it, Chief.”

  Well, the good thing about being alone for the rest of your life was that you could eat anything you damn well pleased. No woman to tell you to watch your cholesterol or salt intake. No one encouraging you to eat the damn fish instead of the steak.

  Hell, he’d return the ring tomorrow and be darn glad that he did. When Charlie dropped off his plate, first thing he noticed was that his burger was overcooked and didn’t come out with double fries.
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  * * *

  Ally had given Nick an earful last night. She’d told him about the ticket, the stupid marriage proposal, and how she didn’t know if she could stand another few nights in this town.

  “You want to run away,” he said gently. “Don’t let me stop you. We can manage at the restaurant. Louise can look after the kids, and Jenny can come in and take over the night shift.”

  “I’m not running away. I just had a really shitty time at the cabin today, and got to go back again tomorrow.” She sniffed. “Then having to deal with Ian, it’s just too much. Why won’t he leave me alone? You know we slept together, right? Now he feels guilty. Thinks he’s got to marry me, do the honorable thing. As if!” She chortled. “I don’t want a man who doesn’t want me! I want the kind of love that you and Jenny have. And my mom and dad. They are still sweethearts after thirty years together.”

  “You shouldn’t accept anything less,” Nick told her. “But I’ve seen the way the chief looks at you. Like a love sick puppy. You think a man like him would propose to a woman out of guilt?” He cocked a brow. “Seriously? That guy probably has more women chasing him than bakers make bread.”

  She flinched. “I don’t think so. He acted like I was the only one.”

  “And that doesn’t tell you something?” He sat next to her and held her hand. “How did he make you feel? Trust your instincts, Ally. Did you feel cared for? Loved? An emotional bond? Or was it just raw sex?”

  “The first. I felt like it was really special. For both of us.”

  “Sometimes a man doesn’t know how to express his feelings, or when he does, how to say it right. He’s been moping around lately, but when he was with you there was a spring in his step. If he’s not in love with you, well, then, he’s a complete idiot and deserves to be miserable for the rest of his life. But if you leave now, and run away from your feelings, then you’ll never know.”

  Nick’s words added to her confusion.

  He got up and gave her a rueful smile. “Just saying. Do what your heart tells you.”