A (kinda) Country Christmas: A Christian Holiday Romance

by Krista Phillips

  Granted, she’d been more distracted than usual lately—it had nothing to do with Kendra’s brother though.

  Nothing at all.

  So what if they’d been carpooling to church every Wednesday night for play practice and started a habit of having dinner together—with Kendra and Mari too—after church the last two Sundays. Kendra still hadn’t come to church though, but had finally promised to come to the Christmas Eve service.

  “Well, Kendra called and asked if we could all meet at Nate’s place tonight around seven.”

  Sadie’s heart did a little rebellious skip. Silly heart. It wasn’t like it was his permanent house or something. It was just a cabin he was renting. Nothing more. Going to his place—with his sister and her daughter—was nothing to get all pitter-patter about. “Did she say what we’ll be doing there?”

  “Evidently he hasn’t decorated for Christmas yet and has no plans to. Says he can just come here or walk down the Parkway to get his fill of the Christmas spirit. Kendra said that was not acceptable. She thought we could all meet there and help him put up a tree and decorate, and have some hot chocolate and all that jazz.”

  Helping Nate deck his halls for Christmas? Oh yes. She was in. But— “How does Nate feel about all this?”

  Mari’s eyes lit up with a hint of mischief. “That’s the best part. He doesn’t know.”

  Sadie was afraid of that. What man would willingly let three women invade his home and decorate? Not many. And especially not Nate, Mr. Organized and Tidy. She’d decided the only reason he’d shaved his head bald was because he couldn’t stand the idea of unorganized hair. “I don’t know if that’s such a great idea.”

  “But Kendra already has it planned. And I—uh—may have told her we could bring some of the decorations off the clearance shelf and donate them to the cause. I didn’t think you’d mind…”

  Sadie sighed. No, she didn’t mind. It was a great idea, actually, except for the fact it was more inventory down the drain. But after his amazing gift, there was no way she could argue about helping him decorate for Christmas, and she knew just the ornaments to use. “That’s fine. I’m still not sure about showing up at his house unannounced, though.”

  “Don’t be such a party-pooper, Mom. He’ll think it’s funny and totally won’t mind.”

  “You seem to be really all about this.” Her daughter was usually trying to find ways to not spend time with her, not the opposite.

  “Kendra and Nate are cool. I just think it will be fun.”

  It did sound fun. Maybe— “Fine. We can go.”

  Mari clapped her hands together. “Thanks, Mom. This is going to be epic. I can’t wait to see Nate’s face when we show up.”

  As her daughter all but danced from the room, Sadie sat back and frowned. What had gotten into her daughter? Three weeks ago, she’d been a belligerent teenager who wanted nothing to do with her mother. And suddenly she was setting up outings for them together?

  Something smelled a little rotten, but complaining about her daughter’s behavior getting better seemed like crazy talk.

  Maybe it was a Christmas miracle.

  If so, this might be the best Christmas ever.

  Nate took a right onto the back country road that led to his temporary Christmas cabin.

  He was used to the city and noise and lights, but the past few weeks had shown him there was something to be said about the calm and serenity that could be found in the mountains.

  Being able to come home to a quiet cabin with only the sounds of nature to greet him was relaxing.

  Much needed after the crazy day he’d had.

  His boss had called right after breakfast. They had a new client and needed someone to fly to Tokyo sooner rather than later to meet with them. It would be a quick trip, with the job not actually starting until the New Year. A six month assignment if their firm was hired.

  Anxiety churned in Nate’s stomach. Where were his Tums when he needed them?

  A month ago, he would have agreed to the job without a moment’s hesitation. But now—he probably would still go, but his confidence was dwindling.

  A long drive in the mountains had cleared his head a little. Thankfully it hadn’t snowed in over a week so the roads were mostly clear. The snow packed mountain peaks made for breathtaking views though.

  But the clear air still hadn’t calmed the restlessness that plagued him.

  He glanced down at the clock on the dash.

  Almost eight. No wonder his stomach was growling. He’d been too caught up in his thoughts to even think about dinner.

  Maneuvering the SUV around the last curve, the cabin came into sight.

  What—?

  He tapped on his brakes, blinking his eyes. Had he turned on the wrong road? They were confusing.

  What he thought was his cabin was—not.

  Twinkling icicle lights hung from the front porch, and lights shined brightly from the windows.

  Two vehicles were parked out front.

  Then it registered. His sister’s Jeep Cherokee beside a very familiar, very old truck.

  He smelled Christmas rats.

  Parking in the grass, the only spot left, he jammed the gearshift into park.

  He’d specifically told his sister he was not going to decorate for Christmas. He wasn’t even sure he’d be here now depending on how long it took in Japan.

  He’d never decorated for Christmas. What was the point? Even after he got right with Jesus, he didn’t see the purpose to the whole thing. Why did someone need lights to celebrate the birth of the Savior? Didn’t that just distract from instead of add to the holiday?

  Plus, it was just all—messy.

  He was not a fan of messy. He didn’t mind seeing it on the stores and whatnot. But his home where he relaxed was a different story.

  Hopping out, he slammed the door with all the pent-up frustration from his day, stalked up the steps to the cabin, and flung open the door.

  “Alright, what are you all—” The activity in the room halted, and the three women stared at him as if they’d been caught stealing Santa’s toy bag.

  All the anger and frustration fizzled.

  Instead of messy and chaotic—the room was welcoming.

  A Christmas tree stood in the corner, half decorated with none other than the same type of ornaments he’d ruined at Bethlehem’s Boutique weeks ago. Green garland wrapped around the staircase and lined the fireplace mantle, and an off-white small nativity scene sat in the middle of the coffee table. The scent of cookies baking mixed with cinnamon and pine filled the air.

  It was simple yet festive. If he were going to decorate for Christmas, this was the exact style he’d pick. A little country with a sprinkle of modern touches.

  Kendra set down the ornament she was holding and wrung her hands together. “Well? What do you think?”

  “I think—” What did he think? He’d come in here ready to give them what for, but now—it was all just—wow. “It’s amazing. I don’t know what else to say.”

  Sadie fidgeted with an ornament she held. “So you aren’t mad?”

  Not anymore. “Of course not.”

  Mari shook her head, her blond ponytail swinging behind her. “See Mom? I told you so. Only the Grinch would be mad over a Christmas surprise, and Nate here is definitely not that, right?”

  Her eyes went to his, plunging him with guilt. He’d been mad when he walked in here. Maybe he did qualify for Grinch status. “Right.” He shrugged off his coat and tossed it over the back of the recliner. “Now, how can I help?”

  Kendra handed him an ornament. “Why don’t you and Sadie finish the tree? Mari and I are going to go work on the cookies.”

  His stomach almost sang hosanna. “Cookies?”

  Mari laughed and followed Kendra toward the kitchen. “Duh. We can’t have a Christmas decorating party without Christmas cookies.”

  Sadie shook her head and smiled while grabbing another ornament. “Yeah. Duh, Nate.”

 
; “Well, pardon me.” Catching the Christmas bug, Nate picked up a clear glass ornament ball and shoved the decision he had to make into his mental figure-out-later stash. It’d still be there tomorrow. “Now, where does this go?”

  “First, there is this lovely thing called a hook that you need.”

  He flicked her arm lightly. “I’m not completely Christmas-stupid.”

  She flashed him a saucy grin. “Sorry, but when your sister says you’ve never decorated for Christmas before, one has to assume you need detailed instructions.”

  He grabbed one of the curly doodads and attached it to the bulb. “Just because I never decorated doesn’t mean I didn’t see others do it. I’ll have you know my parents hired the most illustrious interior designers money could buy to decorate the Meyers' place.”

  “Ah. That explains a lot.”

  He tried not to frown at what felt like a jab as he hung the glass ball in an empty space toward the top of the tree. He was used to the snotty-rich-kid jokes when he was a kid, but no one really understood just how bad they’d stung. “What do you mean by that?”

  She picked up a faux white twig with little red berries at the end and inserted it expertly between tree limbs. “I just meant the whole never-decorated-for-Christmas thing. I wasn’t sure if your parents were anti-Christmas or what.”

  His muscles relaxed. “No, but it definitely never revolved around Jesus, that’s for sure.”

  They both reached for another ornament at the same time, and their hands brushed as they went for the same one. Sadie dipped her head, her almost golden hair covering what he was pretty sure was a beautiful, pink blush on her cheeks. “Sorry. I’ll get a different one.”

  “Nope. It’s all yours.” He grabbed the one beside it as he tried to ignore the tingling in his fingers. He’d held the hand of more women than he could count. Not a fact he was proud of anymore—but never had their close proximity had the effect on him that Sadie did.

  He could feel his pulse pounding in his throat.

  His palms were sweaty.

  His hand fumbled with the ornament as he tried to keep still threading the hook.

  No, this was definitely not typical Nate.

  “You’ve gone quiet all of the sudden.” Sadie had stopped and was staring at him, an amused smile on her face.

  “Sorry. I’m—” Enchanted by your very presence and can’t seem to stop acting like a fifteen year old boy with his first big crush? “I have a lot on my mind.”

  “Oh, what about?”

  Desperate for an out, he grabbed the first thing off his for-later stash and threw it out there. “Work. I got a call today.”

  “And you usually don’t get phone calls?”

  “Not this kind. They want me to fly to Tokyo on Friday to visit a client.”

  A crash sounded behind them, and Nate turned to see Kendra, wide-eyed and pale. A plate of cookies lay scattered and broken on the floor.

  Twelve

  “You’re leaving?” Kendra’s bottom lip quivered as unshed tears filled her eyes.

  Nate tossed the ornament he was holding onto the couch and crossed the room in three long strides, taking his baby sister in his arms. “I’m sorry, Kendy. I—”

  She pushed him back. “No. I’m sorry won’t cut it this time, Nate. You do this every year. I don’t know why I thought this would be different.”

  Regret blasted through him like a rocket, destroying his heart in the process. They’d always done this over the phone. She’d beg him to spend Christmas with her, and he’d apologize and send her a big ol’ gift to make up for it. It was easier that way at first. It’s what Mom and Dad had always done. They’d rarely all been together for Christmas, and when they were, their parents were busy fighting or taking naps.

  And more recently, his job had been an excuse to cover up the fact that he’d become just like his parents whom he’d despised.

  Until this year.

  Spending this month with Kendra, Sadie and Mari had been like nothing he’d ever experienced. Helping out with the children at the church play—he’d felt included. Appreciated for something other than his business skills and robust bank account balance.

  He wiped one of Kendra’s tears with his thumb and shook his head. “It’s just for the weekend. I fly out on Thursday and will be back home on Monday. I’ll be back in plenty of time for the Christmas Eve play on Tuesday night.” He’d be suffering from some major jet lag, but he’d survive. He always did.

  She wiped her eyes with her shirt sleeve. “Promise?”

  “Yes. I promise. Now. You ruined some good cookies there. I hope there are more.”

  Sadie had already cleaned up the mess on the floor, and Mari was carrying another plate from the kitchen. “Right here, hot and ready.”

  Kendra stepped back and tucked the stray strands of dark hair behind her ears. “Sorry guys. Geez, you’d think I was twelve instead of going on thirty, huh.”

  Sadie pulled her into a hug. “You’re just fine. Plus, I was about ready to punch him at the thought of him skipping out on the play anyway, so you saved him from a black eye. He should be thanking you.” She glanced at him and winked.

  Kendra laughed. “Crap. If that’s the case, I should have let you start swinging. That would’ve been hysterical.”

  “Ha ha.” Nate grabbed a Santa shaped cookie from the plate Mari held and bit off his head. The flaky cookie mixed with red and white powered sugar icing melted in his mouth. “Mmmm. Delicious.”

  Kendra took a cookie and plopped down on the sofa. “We have hot cocoa or coffee ready too, if you want to help yourselves.”

  Nate followed Sadie into the kitchen. Funny how they kept being left or sent into rooms by themselves. Hm.

  Sadie poured herself a mug of hot chocolate. “You want some, or do you prefer coffee?”

  “I’ll take the hot chocolate for now, thanks.”

  She fixed him a mug and handed it to him. “So, Japan, huh? On such short notice?”

  “Usually we can just do a conference over the Internet but this is a really important, potential client.” From the way Sam, his boss, talked, it could be the defining highlight in Nate’s career if he landed the account and was able to do the turnaround—with a six-figure bonus check attached if he succeeded.

  And he would succeed.

  If he took the job.

  Was he really thinking of turning it down?

  Anxiety made the hot chocolate he sipped taste more like sewer water. He shoved the project back where he’d originally had it. Later pile. “Enough about work. What do you say we go finish trimming the tree and steal a few of those cookies?”

  “Sounds good to me. We should see if there are any Christmas movies on. Maybe watch one while we finish.”

  No Christmas movies were playing, but Kendra started jumping up and down like a teenager when she saw The Sound of Music was starting in ten minutes on one of the satellite channels.

  As the women gathered around the tree, laughing and smiling as they put the last few decorations on, Nate hung back, leaning against a beam that separated the living and dining area.

  This.

  This was what Christmas was supposed to feel like. This deep down peace in his heart, a smile he couldn’t turn off if he tried, the feeling of hope and joy brimming in his heart.

  This is what he’d been missing all these years.

  But—what was he supposed to do now? Quit his job and live a little country life in a touristy town in the middle of the Smoky Mountains? Settle down and get married and have a few kids?

  Would that make him happy?

  It was all well and good right now, a good old-fashioned country Christmas. He glanced around at the decorations, the modern and simplistic touches that were one-hundred percent Sadie.

  Okay, so it was a kinda country Christmas. With a little bit of Sadie-sass mixed in.

  But what about the day after Christmas?

  What did he do then?

  Lord, I could use
some guidance here.

  Because right now, my brain, my boss, and Japan are all calling my name, but a woman named Sadie, as crazy as it sounds, is calling my heart.

  Thirteen

  After the last of the kids were picked up by parents, Sadie plopped down in the pew beside Nate and rested her head back, eyes closed. “Phew. I’m beat. I can’t believe this is our last practice before the play next week. I just hope no one forgets their lines between now and then.”

  “It’ll be fine. You’ve done a great job with them.” So great that he’d questioned more than once in the last three weeks why he’d even been invited to help. He wasn’t complaining but—he did wonder. Those sets she’d mentioned him helping with? Yeah. They’d already been built. And a team of women from the church had handled all the costumes.

  Her lips tipped into a shy smile. “Thanks.”

  Nate took the moment to study her profile, something he rarely got a chance to do for risk of being caught.

  Beautiful. Her long eyelashes brushed against her skin, her nose turned upward to just the smallest bit of a point, and her lips—

  He averted his eyes as not-so-church-worthy thoughts plagued him.

  He hadn’t ached to kiss a woman this badly in a long time.

  Sadie had been perfect tonight, as always. She’d laughed and had fun but was obviously in charge, and the kids all adored her. She was a woman with so many layers and talents, he’d enjoy getting to peel back each one of them and find out what treasures lay beneath.

  But—he reeled in his thoughts. They weren’t his treasures to find. After the almost perfect evening last night, he’d spent this morning listing all the reasons pursuing Sadie was a horrible idea.

  She wasn’t the kind of woman who dated a guy like him.

  She was good and he was—not.

  She was country and he was—not.