At the end of the number, he stopped beneath a cross beam and gave her a kiss.
Startled at this public display, Annie looked up at him.
“Mistletoe,” he said with a grin, pointing to the sprig hanging from the beam.
She laughed. “And you spotted it. There doesn’t look like much.”
“Even a teaspoon of mistletoe prompts kisses.”
“Hey, move on, give the rest of a chance.” A couple stood beside him with big grins on their faces.
Nick stepped back, still holding her hand.
“This has been a special evening, Annie. Thank you.”
She nodded. “I’m glad you came.”
The church service welcoming the Christ child was moving and traditional. The old carols were sung with love and enthusiasm. The few children attending were sleepy-eyed and quiet. Annie couldn’t help remembering when her parents had brought her and how she’d longed to stay up for the midnight service but had hardly been able to keep her eyes open.
Leaving the church when the service ended, Annie smiled at Nick and Roger.
“So we’re still on for tomorrow,” Nick said.
“Yes. I’ll be there at nine. Bring Lucky. My folks will love him. Merry Christmas, Roger.”
“Merry Christmas, Annie. And thanks for taking the guy off my hands for the day.”
They all laughed and went to their vehicles.
Annie hummed one of the carols as she drove home. She couldn’t wait until tomorrow.
Christmas morning dawned clear and cold. Annie packed her gifts in the truck and headed out to pick up Nick. Her mother made the most delicious beignets for Christmas day and Annie couldn’t wait to get some.
Nick and Lucky were waiting in the parking lot when she drove up.
“I didn’t want you to have to get out,” he said when he opened the passenger door.
He put Lucky on the seat and the puppy scampered over to give Annie a big lick.
“Well, Merry Christmas to you, too,” she said. Looking at Nick, she smiled warmly. “And a Merry Christmas to you.”
“Merry Christmas. He set a small bag on the floor and climbed in.
“Is it too crowded with Lucky on the seat?” he asked, slamming the door closed.
“Nope as long as he behaves. And he has every other time.”
As Annie pulled out onto the road, the little puppy collapsed on the seat, his head on Nick’s leg. Before they left town Lucky was asleep.
“I wish I could drop off like that,” Nick commented.
“You probably did when you were a baby,” Annie said. “And we had as much energy as a puppy back then. I think that’s wasted on kids. I could use some non-stop energy some days.”
“Tell me more about your parents,” Nick said.
“My dad’s a manager for the ranch they live on. The owner of the property is a conglomerate. Dad’s been manager there almost my entire life. He loves the life, but never could afford to buy a place of his own. This is the closest thing and I think it suits him.”
“Was he raised on a ranch?”
“No, actually his father was an accountant. Grandpa’s retired now. But Dad wanted to be a cowboy since he was about four to hear him tell it. And my mother was raised on a ranch in Texas, so she supports him in every way. Even though I’m a bit biased, I think they are a darling couple.”
Nick was quiet for a moment. “I remember my mom and dad together. They always seemed to mesh perfectly. I don’t remember ever hearing them fight.”
Annie wanted to hear more but knew talking about his past brought sadness so she remained silent.
“I called my dad this morning to wish him a Merry Christmas,” Nick said. “I’m going to see him before I head back to work.”
“That’s good. I hope you two reconnect.”
Jason and Penny Tolliver welcomed Nick and Lucky into their home. Before long Nick felt as if he’d known them a long time. They were interesting and funny and the day seemed to fly buy. They even had a gift for him–a warm woolen scarf.
“I can use this,” Nick said. “It’s colder here than I expected.”
He had brought a tray of mixed nuts for the Tollivers. For Annie, he gave a pretty gold necklace with a heart on it. It was the kind that opened and when she opened it she saw a small picture of Lucky.
“So you won’t forget him if his owners show up,” Nick said.
“I would never forget him,” Annie said, fastening the necklace around her neck. “Thank you.” She’d never forget Nick, either, but didn’t say so in front of her parents.
Her gift for Nick was an all-purpose knife. Suitable, she thought, for anything he might need in his line of work.
It was after dark when they left. Annie focused on driving on the icy roads. The highway was clear, but she was still cautious in case of black ice.
“It’s been a great Christmas,” Nick said as the lights of town appeared on the horizon.
Annie smiled. “It has. I’m glad you spent it with me.”
Nick reached out to take her hand off the steering wheel and clasp it. “I am, too. I, uh, can’t take Lucky home with me. Can he stay with you?”
“Sure. I’ll take him with me. He’s nice company when I have to drive somewhere. And he loves sniffing around at the nursery. So far he goes in the one area I blocked off for him. I don’t want to sell trees or plants already anointed with dog pee.”
“He’s a great little dog. I do think, however, whoever owned him before isn’t going to claim him. It’s been a long time now since we found him. We need to decide his future.”
She knew Nick couldn’t take Lucky with him. And with the lack of any discussion between them, she knew she wouldn’t be going with Nick, either.
“I can keep him. He’s a sweetheart puppy and will be a wonderful companion.”
And something to constantly remind her of Nick and their joint ownership of the dog for a few weeks.
“He already is. Thanks, Annie.”
When they reached Roger’s condo complex, Annie stopped the truck but didn’t turn off the engine.
“I won’t keep you.” He hesitated a moment. “I’m going to be tied up for the next few days. I’ll call you. Drive home safely,” he said, opening the door and slipping out before Lucky could follow him.
“Good night,” she called. She watched as Nick headed around the side of the building.
“So it’s you and me, baby,” she said to Lucky. “Who knows how much longer we’ll have Nick.”
She wondered how he was going to be tied up in Lamberton, but wouldn’t pester him. He said he’d call. She hoped it was soon.
The time between Christmas and New Year’s was quiet at the nursery. She’d given her employees the week off. She herself didn’t have a lot to do. Accounts were current. Plants were mostly dormant in the cold winter months. The few indoor plants she took care of for businesses in town didn’t take long to check on and water.
This was the time she usually spent skiing, but now Annie wanted more to spend time with Nick. Did he ski? He’d said he’d be busy for a few days, but it wouldn’t hurt to call and ask. If he couldn’t ski right away, maybe later in the week.
Roger answered the phone.
“Nick’s not here. Didn’t he tell you he was taking off?”
Annie’s heart dropped. “Taking off? For where? Portland?”
He had said he wanted to see his father again before he returned to work.
Roger was silent for a long moment. “I think he’s heading for Paris.”
Paris! Annie felt stunned.
Doctor Without Borders was headquartered in Paris. Was he returning to work earlier than she’d expected? She thought they’d have at least until New Year’s Day.
“I didn’t know,” she said, holding back tears. “I knew he wasn’t staying long, but thought through the holidays.”
“Yeah, me, too. But he received a call Christmas Eve and last night told me he was heading for Paris.
“Well, he only had the one duffle bag, so yeah, that’s gone. I would have thought he’d have told you.”
Annie could hear the sympathy in Roger’s tone.
“Well, no need to. Thanks, Roger. Take care.”
She clicked off and sat staring off into space as the tears began to flow. She loved Nick Keller and he didn’t even care enough to tell her he was leaving.
Chapter Ten
The days dragged by. Annie was glad she had few customers to put on a cheerful face for. The tears had stopped.
Marilyn had called that first day and rushed over when she heard the tears in Annie’s voice. She’d been a good friend, trying her best to find a good reason for the way things had turned out.
The bottom line was Nick had been a visitor and had left. Anything else couldn’t be blamed on him.
Annie had seen attraction where there wasn’t any.
She felt silly for even voicing her willingness to leave her home to travel to unknown future with a man she hardly know. She and Jack had been a couple for years and she’d not left when he did. How could she feel more strongly for a virtual stranger?
Lucky kept her grounded. She had to see to the little dog when she really wanted to go to bed and pull the covers over her head and stay there a month.
But several times a day and in the evening they went outside.
Annie took him to the vet’s and made sure he got all the shots he needed. She also got him microchipped and registered him with her information. She bought a large sack of food and a few tennis balls and began playing ball with him. He loved chasing after the ball and always brought it back to her so she could throw it again.
“You’re so smart,” she told him after throwing another ball across her living room for him. She couldn’t wait until spring when they could go to the park and he’d have lots of room to run chasing after the ball.
She wished Nick could see him. She wished Nick would be there in the spring to play ball.
She flat out wished Nick would walk into her apartment right now!
Marilyn called her on New Year’s Eve.
“What are you doing tonight?” she asked.
“Staying in with Lucky.”
“There’s a dance at the Catholic church. Let’s go.”
“Sorry, I don’t feel like it.”
“It’ll be fun.”
“Maybe another time. But not tonight.”
“Sweetie, I know you’re feeling sad, but maybe you should try to brighten your spirits.”
“You could be right, but not tonight.”
“Okay. Call me tomorrow. We can celebrate the new year with Bloody Marys and a movie marathon.”
“Sounds like a plan. Have fun tonight.”
Annie clicked off her phone and tossed it on the sofa. Lying back against the cushions, she wondered what she could do between now and bed time. Not that she was sleeping that well these past few nights. But a final walk with Lucky and then bed gave some structure to her life.
There was a knock on the door.
Had Marilyn come over to try to convince her to go to the dance? She rose reluctantly. She had to make sure she didn’t hurt her friend’s feelings. But she didn’t feel at all like going out.
She opened the door and stared. It was Nick.
“Hi,” he said easily.
“What are you doing here?”
He looked perplexed. “I came to see you. And Lucky.”
“I thought you went to Paris. Roger said you went to Paris.”
“I did. Can I come in?”
She opened the door wide and gestured for him to come in.
Lucky dashed over to greet Nick. His body quivering with excitement.
“Hey, little fellow,” Nick scooped him up. “Whoa, you’re gaining weight.”
Lucky squirmed in his arms, trying to lick his face.
“You won’t always be able to lift him, I think,” Annie said.
Her heart pounded. She hadn’t expected to ever see him again. And here he was, right in her own apartment!
“So, Paris?” she said.
He put the puppy down and shrugged out of his jacket, laying it across the nearby chair.
He turned and reached out to draw her into his arms and kiss her.
It was a magical as ever. Annie kissed him back, filled with delight to see him. She was curious about where he’d been, but for now she’d take pleasure in having him with her.
He ended the kiss and rested his forehead against hers.
“I went to Paris. Now I’m back.”
“Just like that? Paris and back in a week? What did you do in Paris?”
“Turned in my notice, packed up the small place I used as a pied de terre and came back.”
“Turned in your notice? You quit Doctors Without Borders?”
That was the last thing she expected to hear.
“I did.”
“Why? I thought you always wanted to work with them.”
“I did. Can we sit down. I’ll tell you what changed my mind.”
They walked to the sofa and sat, Lucky jumping up beside them. When neither paid him any attention, he turned around three times and collapsed on the cushions and closed his eyes.
“So?” she asked.
He hesitated a moment. “I’m not sure where to start.”
She waited, watching him closely.
“Last summer I got sick. I mean really sick. For almost a week they didn’t think I’d make it. The convalescence was long.”
“The reason you’re here, still recovering,” she guessed. He’d mentioned it before. “And if you’re still recovering, I can see it had to have been major.”
“It was. First because after all these years it was the first time I caught what we’d been sent in to help with. For weeks I merely existed while being treated. I was out of it most of the time. Once on the road to recovery, however, I had lots of time to think. When I was awake at least. I slept a lot. Ate whatever was put before me and willed my body to get better.”
She nodded. Not that she’d seen much evidence he wasn’t in top shape since she’d met him. Except how thin he looked.
“Once I regained some of my strength I had a yearning for home. For the good old U. S. of A. So I called Roger and you know the rest.”
“Here you are. I know that part. But not the rest. I thought when I heard you’d gone to Paris that you were ready to take up work again.”
“You changed that,” he said slowly, reaching out to clasp her hand, threading his fingers through hers.
“Me?” she squeaked. That was totally unexpected.
“You and your hometown.”
“I don’t get it.”
“You might not. You haven’t yearned for a place of your own for most of your adult life. You haven’t wondered what it would be to set down roots, know neighbors for years instead of only however long an outbreak or disaster lasts. You haven’t had to worry about what you might be missing from traditions, close ties, family. You have it all. You’re happy here and it radiates from you. I wanted some of that.”
“Really?” she asked.
“Really. I’m thirty-eight years old, Annie. If I don’t make a change now, then when? I don’t want to be too old to be a father. Too old to establish ties somewhere, start traditions that will continue after I’m gone from the earth. I want to have long-time friends, shared memories and a future to look forward to.”
Anne watched as he spoke. His dark eyes looked deeply into hers. She felt the tension in him and the conviction of what he was saying.
“And you found it in Lamberton?”
“No, I found my hope in you.”
“Me?” Her heart began to beat rapidly, her breathing came in short bursts.
“I know we haven’t known each other for long, but for me love hit me like a ton of bricks. I can’t see anyone else but you. I can’t think of anything else but you. I have nothing to offer�
��no job, no home, only the assurance that if you take a chance with me, I’ll do all in my power to make sure you never regret it. Will you marry me?”
“Marry you?” She felt stupid repeating his words, but she was stunned. Was she dreaming?
“I know it’s too soon to ask. We could have a long engagement so you could get to know me better. See what we might build together.”
“I was ready to go to Africa with you,” she said breathlessly.
“What?”
“I know, crazy, right? But I would have gone in a heartbeat if you’d asked me. Now you want to stay here? In Lamberton?”
“If I can get work. Otherwise we might have to find another place. Not too far since I know you’d want to be near your parents. You’d have gone to Africa?” he said in confusion.
She nodded. “I was devastated when Roger said you’d gone to Paris. I thought you’d left for good and hadn’t even said goodbye.”
“I left a note for you. Didn’t he give it to you?”
She shook her head. “No. I haven’t seen him. I called one day.”
“Idiot, you’d think a lawyer would know the importance of communications.”
“You’re here now. And I’m glad.”
“Are you? Would you consider sharing your life with me, Annie?”
“Yes, yes, yes.” She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.
Delight bubbled up and spread through every cell of her being. Nick loved her! Maybe even as much as she loved him.
Sometime later, they moved into the kitchen to fix some food.
“It’ll be next year soon,” Nick said with a glance at the clock. “I’m surprised you’re home on your own tonight.”
She smiled at him. “Who else would I want to be with? If I couldn’t be with you, I was content to be on my own. What if I hadn’t been home?”
“I’d have waited. Or come back in the morning.” He leaned over and brushed his lips against hers in a quick kiss. “I’m glad you were home, though.”
They ate the snack, giving a doggie bone to Lucky when he followed them into the kitchen.
Nick looked at the puppy. “He’s ours, I guess. I can’t believe no one has contacted me about him. He’s a sweet little guy.”
“Who will probably grow into a sweet big guy. I think you’re right, however. With calls to the vets around here and the county animal control, posters, word of mouth–if his owner was anywhere around he’d know how to get him back.
A Teaspoon of Mistletoe Page 9