One Last Gift_A Small-Town Romance

by Nancy Stopper

  The more time Jack spent in town, the harder it was to stay away from him. His happiness was infectious and just being around him calmed her. Why couldn’t he have gotten grumpy and unhappy while off seeking his fortune?

  Each day, he asked her out to dinner and she turned him down. She wasn’t sure how much longer she’d be able to resist his charm and relentless pursuit. But Riley was her focus and had been since the day he was born. Jack wouldn’t understand. She’d just as soon he head back to Boston and never meet her son.

  “Today’s the day, huh?”

  Casey stepped back. She’d been daydreaming and hadn’t seen Jack approach. “What day?”

  “The day we cut the tree. The one for the town green. Did you forget?”

  Well, kinda. She’d been so focused on avoiding Jack that the date slipped her mind. “No, I didn’t forget.”

  She tilted her head and studied him for a moment. Something looked different. In the week he’d been home, his hair had grown a bit long on his collar. Even the lines around his eyes were softer, gentler, like life wasn’t weighing down on him as much.

  Sid had come home from the hospital last night. No doubt it was relief she was seeing in Jack.

  Her eyes raked down his body.

  That was it—he was wearing jeans. He’d worn inappropriate slacks every day since he’d been home. Like he was afraid to let go of a reminder of his real life. Damn, he filled out those jeans nicely. They hugged his legs perfectly, leaving absolutely nothing to the imagination. She trailed her eyes back up his sculpted chest and found his arms crossed and a grin on his face.

  Busted.

  “Are you ready? Ross has the truck fired up. He says the tree is too big for the tractor this year.”

  Casey snatched her fleece-lined jacket off the coat rack and tugged her hat onto her head. Of course Jack had caught her ogling him. She wouldn’t be so lucky as to go unnoticed. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

  Jack reached out his hand. What was he doing? Was he going to try and kiss her again? But instead of curling his fingers around her neck, he pulled something out of her hat and held it out.

  “Here, you might need this.” One of her gloves dangled between his fingers.

  Heat rose on her cheeks. So much for being a calm, cool, and collected adult around Jack. He chuckled while she pulled on her gloves. “Let’s get going.”

  She didn’t wait for him to follow as she trudged up the hill toward the tree Sid had picked out before his heart attack. Jack didn’t say anything during the almost ten minutes it took to climb the hill. Her heart raced as she approached the spot where she’d found him. She hadn’t been back since that day. She stopped when she reached the broken branches and the boot prints in the snow that served as a stark reminder.

  “What?” Jack studied her, a concerned look on his face. His hands landed on her shoulders. “Casey, you’re white as a sheet. Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, uh, it’s just…” She motioned to the ground behind him. “That’s where he was.”

  “Aw, Casey.” Jack pulled her into his arms and she sank into his embrace. The soft fabric of his flannel shirt brushed against her cheek as she settled onto his chest. His heart beat a rapid pace and she rested her hand over it.

  Jack settled his head on top of hers, and the gesture threw her back to the time when he’d comforted her after their other shared tragic event. Jack had held her in his arms while she’d mourned the loss of their son—and their relationship.

  “I can never thank you for what you did to save my father. That’s all anyone is talking about. If you hadn’t gotten here in time…” His voice choked off.

  They stood together for a minute, Casey reveling in the feel of his arms around her. All of the sounds of the lot faded away, and it was just the two of them. The heat of his breath warmed her, and she knew if she tilted her head up, she could brush her lips across his. She buried her face in his chest again. What was she doing thinking about kissing Jack?

  “It’s okay, Casey. Dad’s going to be fine…thanks to you.”

  She let Jack think she was upset about his dad and not about how good it felt to be in his arms, to let him help carry the burden for just a minute. She eased away from him, but he didn’t release her. Instead, his heated gaze pulled her to him.

  She couldn’t resist him any longer. No, that wasn’t right. She didn’t want to resist him anymore. He lowered his head and she stretched onto her toes. Her eyes fluttered closed as his lips brushed over hers.

  God, she’d missed him. His lips were soft but firm against hers, gentle as he nibbled along her lower lip before taking her in a more insistent kiss. His tongue traced her lips, and she gasped as he swept inside her mouth. Jack could always kiss, but this was a whole new experience for her. He’d probably had plenty of time to practice. Who knows how many women he’d been with in his time away—hundreds, thousands?

  What was she doing? She shouldn’t be kissing Jack. She broke it off and stepped out of his embrace. “That shouldn’t have happened.”

  Jack grinned. “Oh, yes, it should have. I’ve been wanting to kiss you since the first day I saw you again.”

  “We can’t do this, Jack. People are waiting for us.”

  “That’s not why you think we shouldn’t be kissing. But I think it’s a good idea, and I’m not sorry.”

  “Well, you should be. We can’t do that again. You’re not staying, and I have a home and a life in Oak Grove. It wouldn’t work and you know it.”

  The smile dropped from his face. Finally, she was getting through to him. She was smart to keep some distance between them while he was home. “I guess you’re right. So, where’s this tree my dad picked out?”

  She pointed up the hill. “Up there. See the spruce with the pink tag? That’s the one.”

  Jack didn’t look at her again as he trekked up the hill, but the heat and frustration rolled off him in waves.

  That kiss had left her reeling. She didn’t have time to think about what could have been, what could never be.

  Sid had picked a beauty for this year’s tree—one he had been pruning and training for years. When he’d left the office that day, he’d remarked about the special tree he was tagging for this year. It was like he’d known Jack was coming home after all this time. Sid had planted this tree the year Jack was born, and it held a special place of honor in the Murphy family.

  Jack stopped short and clapped his hand over his mouth. Yep, he knew. She stood back for a moment and allowed him to soak in the significance of the tree Sid had chosen.

  After a few minutes, she stepped up beside Jack.

  “Is this…?”

  “Yep. Do you think he knew? That you’d be coming home?”

  “How could he? I mean, sure, Mom’s been telling me that he’s been dragging the past few months, but he couldn’t have known this would happen…could he?”

  Casey laid her hand on Jack’s arm. “Of course not. But it does make his choice that much more special, doesn’t it?”

  He snaked his arm around her waist, and the two of them stared at the majestic blue spruce. It stood close to twenty-five feet tall. It would be perfect for the town green—the biggest tree they’d ever had.

  “How long are you staying? I mean, now that your dad’s home from the hospital.” Her real question was how much longer would she have to resist him?

  Jack nestled her against his side. “Trying to get rid of me? I’m not leaving just yet. Dad may be out of the woods but Mom still needs help, and the lot’s busier than ever. I can’t leave now.”

  “What about your work? Don’t you have a job in Boston waiting for you?” Of course he did. He ran a successful investment firm. “We’ll be fine if your job needs you.” If only he would head back to Boston and leave her with her peace of mind intact.

  “I know you will, but I’m staying anyway. My partner is picking up the slack, and we hired a new executive vice president. Besides, I’m putting in a couple hours every morning and af
ter I get home at night. I’ll be fine.” He turned her so she faced him and wrapped his arms around her. “But thanks for being worried about me. I didn’t know you cared.”

  Of course she cared. Sometimes too much. Jack didn’t need to know that when she was feeling especially lonely, she’d click over to his firm’s web site to see his face smiling back at her. “My caring was never the problem. You left, remember?”

  He grimaced and backed away. That shut him down for sure. “So, you ready to chop down a tree?”

  Thirty minutes later, using a series of ropes, chain saws, and brute strength, the tree was on the truck bed on its way down the hill. Jack and Casey followed behind, neither of them speaking. Enough had been said—and done—already.

  Chapter Eight

  JACK’S MIND FILLED with memories as he jostled on the front seat of Dad’s truck, with Casey at his side, following the one hauling the tree. Dad should be here, ushering his selection to the town green. Why had he picked that tree? Every year on Jack’s birthday, they had gone up and measured the majestic blue spruce, charting its growth. Dad had snipped and pruned and loved that tree. Choosing it this year was like Dad had known something would happen to bring Jack home.

  Jack glanced over at Casey furiously typing on her cell phone. Who was she texting? He couldn’t help but be curious. Jealousy gnawed at his gut at the thought of a boyfriend receiving those messages. Was she serious with someone? No one at the lot or in town had mentioned a boyfriend or husband. Come to think of it, they hadn’t mentioned Casey’s private life at all.

  Her eyes met with his. She typed a few more words and then slid her phone into her pocket. “I’m really excited about the tree lighting and sidewalk stroll this year.”

  So she didn’t want to talk about who was on the other end of her conversation. That was fine. He could play along. “I was in the new Mug ’n Muffin last week. I love the North Pole scene on the window.”

  Her eyebrows rose. Did she expect him to spend every minute he was here at the lot or holed up at home? She chuckled. “Hardly new. I think it’s been open almost three years now.”

  “Well it’s new to me. It’s a nice place. I also ran into Lucas Bennett. He said he was on the crew that came for Dad.”

  Casey covered her heart with her hand. “I’m so glad they did. If he’d been out there any longer, I just don’t know…”

  She didn’t need to say the words. They’d been lucky that Casey had responded so quickly. “Lucas said Dad wouldn’t have made it if not for you.”

  Color rose on her cheeks. “I did what anyone else would have done. I took CPR after…well, I took it a while back, in case I ever needed it. I never thought I’d be using it on your Dad.”

  Jack slid his hand across the seat and covered Casey’s. “I’m glad you were there for him. I’m not quite ready to let him go yet.”

  Casey’s eyes grew misty. Jack really wanted to clear the air with Casey, once and for all. “Casey, I, uh…”

  As if she suddenly noticed their clasped hands, she pulled hers away and wrapped her arms around her middle.

  Jack ignored the interruption and continued. “I really want us to talk. It’s been so long. We meant something to each other once. You at least owe me one dinner for old time’s sake, don’t you think?”

  She stared out the window, and Jack wasn’t sure she was going to answer. Finally, she sighed. “I guess you’re right. Let me make a couple of calls and we can meet up somewhere tonight.”

  No way was he letting her back out now that he’d gotten her to agree. “I’ll pick you up. How about seven? We can go to J.J.’s.”

  Casey pulled her phone out of her pocket and tapped her fingers on the screen. A minute later, it vibrated. She glanced at the screen and then typed a couple more times. “Okay. Pick me up at seven.”

  Jack grinned and focused his attention on the rest of the drive into town.

  He parked Dad’s truck next to the one hauling the tree a few minutes later, opposite the spot where the tree would sit. Casey hopped out before he could stop her. “I’m gonna run across and let the fire department know we’re here.”

  The door slammed, cutting off his response. Two firefighters stepped out of the bay as Casey approached. One of them wrapped her in a hug. She laughed and sank into the embrace. Jack’s heart raced. She wasn’t his girlfriend. He had no right to get jealous, but that didn’t stop the feeling from coursing through him.

  He opened his door and a cold wind whipped through him. Snow was in the air. Maybe if things went well with Casey, they’d find themselves snowed in at her place for the night. Cuddled up under the covers, a fire in the fireplace…

  Jack shook away the fantasy and reached for Dad’s coat. Dad had been wearing the same fleece-lined jacket and hat for years. It had become a tradition, and who was Jack to mess with tradition?

  A few minutes later, the fire engine pulled around and Casey hopped out of the cab. She coordinated with the guys on how to position the tree in the stand and how they would secure it in place. Lucas climbed onto the engine and grabbed hold of the ladder. Jack stood back and watched. Casey had always had a take-charge attitude. She just hadn’t been willing to muster the courage for the one leap he’d needed—to leave town with him.

  “Mom, Mom.” A fair-haired boy with a backpack slung over his thick winter coat cut across the green. Jack looked behind the child. Where was his mother? Who was the boy looking for?

  The boy slammed into Casey, wrapping his arms around her waist. Casey’s demeanor immediately changed, and her expression softened as she looked down on the boy with love—a boy who Jack now had no doubt was her son.

  Jack collapsed against the truck as he watched mother and son interact. Her face lit up when she laughed at something the boy said. She tousled his hair and wrapped her arm around his shoulder before shifting her attention to the tree. The boy yelled to a couple of the firefighters who greeted him with thumbs ups and waves.

  Casey had a son?

  Jack scanned the park for some evidence of the boy’s father, but he didn’t see anyone else. Just Casey and her son.

  “Jack!”

  Jack shook the fog out of his head and yelled up to Lucas on the ladder. “Yeah, whatcha need?”

  “Hook the ropes in. We’re ready to lift the tree.”

  Right—the tree. Jack could worry about Casey and the secrets she’d kept from him later. It would do him good to focus on the work and not dwell on who else had put their hands on Casey, had kissed her and loved her…Damn it. He had no claim on Casey to feel what he was feeling. He’d left, telling her he was never coming back. And until last week, he hadn’t. She had every right to move on. Why, then, was an ache building in his chest?

  He rigged the harnesses, and the firefighters slowly raised the tree, spun the ladder, and had the huge evergreen positioned over the footers in no time. Jack hurried over to help, and Casey stepped up beside him. “I hope we left enough room for the base. I think I underestimated the size of the tree.”

  How could she act like she hadn’t just turned Jack’s life upside down in the past few minutes? Well, let her keep her secrets…for now. But tonight was a different matter. “It’ll be close, but it should fit. Can’t wait to see it all lit up and decorated. When’s the lighting?”

  “Saturday night. It’s become an all-day event, with musicians playing in the gazebo during the day. All the stores will be open, serving hot chocolate and cookies and hosting crafts and projects for the kids. It’s topped off by the tree lighting just after sunset.”

  Jack couldn’t mistake the sparkle in her eye as she spoke. Casey had always loved Christmas, dressing up in outrageous sweaters and wearing jingle-bell earrings the entire month of December. She was like a kid at, well, Christmas. What traditions did she have now? Did she and her son leave milk and cookies for Santa? Did they open a present on Christmas Eve or save them all for Christmas morning? It surprised Jack that he wanted to learn these things about Casey. Abou
t her son.

  He and Casey guided the tree into the stand and, with the help of the ladder truck, secured the trunk in place. No way was that sucker going anywhere until they cut the ropes securing it in place after the holidays. After Jack was back in Boston. Just a few days ago, the thought of returning home excited and motivated him. Now, the idea of losing the slower life in Oak Grove didn’t sound so good.

  The boy stepped up beside Casey. “It looks great, Mom. Who’s that?” He pointed his thumb at Jack.

  She snatched his finger down. “Stop pointing, Riley. That’s Mommy’s old friend, Mr. Murphy.”

  “Old friend?” Jack smacked one hand over his heart in mock outrage and extended his other to Riley. “I’m Jack, Sid and Jackie’s son.”

  Riley’s eyes widened. “You’re Grandpa Sid’s son?”

  Jack’s gaze landed on Casey. Of course his parents knew about Riley. No way they didn’t, living in this small town. But more than that, their relationship with him apparently encompassed family endearments. He raised his eyebrows as he mouthed the question over Riley’s head. “Grandpa?”

  She shook him off. That was just another in a long list of questions he’d have for Casey when they went to dinner tonight. No way was she getting out of it now. But her having a son explained some of the shared looks between his parents, Casey’s secrecy around the lot, and why she always left on time and never accepted one of his invitations.

  What had changed for her to finally agree to dinner? Did she realize he would meet her son today and accept the inevitable? He might have left her behind when he moved to Boston, but that didn’t mean he didn’t care about what had happened to her. He wanted to get to know this boy who looked like the spitting image of his mother. He shook the boy’s hand. “I sure am, buddy. But I call them Mom and Dad.”