“Moving away is on your mind, isn’t it?” Rose met Lindsay’s gaze. “I meant what I said before when we talked about this.”
“I have been thinking about it.” Lindsay’s heart broke when she saw the resignation on her mother’s face. “It’s not an option.” She smiled sadly. “Until last night, I thought it was something I’d eventually be forced to do. Regardless of where I live, Alexis is going to be faced with who I am, and I have lived in this town all my life. It’s my home and hers. I’m not willing to leave you, nor will I ask Nicole to pull up the roots she’s put down,” she said resolutely. “I just don’t know the best way to handle this yet, but I’ll figure it out.”
“I can help,” Rose said brightly. “We can all put our heads together and come up with something.”
“Well, gird up your loins because we’ll probably all be fist-fighting.”
“Oh, honey,” Rose said with a grin. “There are so many ways to fight without getting physical. Let this old broad show you a thing or two.”
“You make me nervous when you smile like that.”
“See? I’ve still got it.” Rose stood and walked to the doorway where she hesitated.
Lindsay smiled up at her. “What?”
“I love you, baby.”
“I love you, too.”
Chapter Twenty-one
“Mom!” Alexis yelled as she raced in the front door with Nicole trailing behind. “I saw a dog having puppies, and they came right out of her butt!” Before Lindsay could formulate a response, Alexis ran into the kitchen and shouted the same thing to Rose.
Lindsay took advantage of the brief moment alone and kissed Nicole quickly. “You let my daughter watch puppies fall out of a dog’s butt?”
“Do you know Tina McCord?” Nicole looked over Lindsay’s shoulder before planting a kiss of her own.
“Young mother of umpteen children, looks like she’s been put through the wringer?”
“That’s her.” Nicole smiled. “Your description was very kind. One of her kids took in a very fluffy stray that no one realized was pregnant. Tina brought her in saying there was something protruding from her butt. With all the fur, it really did look that way. She didn’t know the dog was in labor.”
Lindsay pursed her lips. “I suppose I’m going to have a lot of explaining to do now that Alexis has witnessed the miracle of birth.”
“Uh-huh. She had a billion questions that I deflected as best as I could. We’re also going to have a chat about my role in Alexis’s life because right now, I’m not sure where to step.”
“I know.” Lindsay sighed. “This is all uncharted territory for me, too. Mom and I had nearly the same discussion earlier today. It’s been weighing heavily on my mind. Telling Mom seemed like the biggest hurdle, but Alexis and everyone else are as equally intimidating.”
“There’s always the option not to tell.”
Lindsay couldn’t resist the urge to touch Nicole. She did so without making sure the coast was clear and stroked Nicole’s cheek lovingly. “I appreciate you throwing me that bone. A few days ago, I would’ve snatched it up and ran with it. But my perspective has taken a radical turn in the last twenty-four hours, and I’m fairly certain that avoidance isn’t the answer.”
Nicole appeared to be stunned. She opened her mouth to speak but changed her mind when she saw Alexis running back into the living room.
“Mom, Mrs. McCord said I could have one or all of the puppies if it’s okay with you.”
Lindsay looked back at Nicole and narrowed her eyes. “I’m beginning to rethink my decision to let her go to work with you, even though it’s a bit late now.” She stroked Alexis’s hair. “Honey, we already have Peepers, and he eats more than a horse. He’d probably hate having to share his house with a dog, too.”
But Alexis had it all planned out. “The dogs can stay in the backyard. We’ll build them a house.”
Lindsay knelt and put her hand on Alexis’s shoulder. “When you’re older,” Lindsay raised a finger, “and I’m not talking about tomorrow, we’ll have this discussion again. I have to clean Peepers’s litter box and keep him fed because you forget. That tells me you’re not old enough to care for a dog, so for now, the answer is no.”
“Yeth, ma’am,” Alexis said, dejected.
Lindsay kissed her on the cheek. “Now go upstairs and wash up for dinner.”
Nicole watched her go in amazement. “She’s a great kid. My nieces and nephews would’ve pulled out every stop to argue their case.”
“Alexis knows that no is no.” Lindsay laced her fingers through Nicole’s. “Mom raised me that way. Her no stood, and if I argued, it opened up a whole new arena of nos.” Lindsay grinned. “That’s your first lesson with Alexis. Your decisions have to be consistent. If not, she’ll never take you at your word.”
Nicole smiled impishly. “I’ll just make it a point never to say no.”
“And you’ll find yourself grounded from a great many things by me.”
*******
After dinner, Rose made it a point to leave early. Nicole cleaned up the kitchen while Lindsay got Alexis ready for bed. As she loaded the dishwasher, she found herself smiling at how easy it was to slip into the domestic role. Peepers walked around her ankles, reminding her of two kittens that wanted and needed her attention. They’d been fed, but Nicole realized that they needed her interaction. She’d adopted them, and it was her responsibility and the joy of having a pet. Not only was she neglecting them, she’d allowed her laundry to pile up, and there were other things in her own home that needed her attention. Splitting her time was going to become an issue if she didn’t get a handle on it.
The cause of the dilemma sneaked up behind Nicole and kissed her ear while wrapping her arms around her waist. “Thank you for cleaning up.”
“It’s my pleasure.”
Lindsay’s breath against her neck sent a jolt of desire through her that was compounded by the words whispered. “I can think of much more pleasurable things to do.”
“Me too,” Nicole said with a moan. “But tonight we need to spend some time talking.”
“Totally overrated if you ask me.” Lindsay was grinning when Nicole turned in her arms.
“Those pleasurable things you speak of will only be better if we get things in order first.” Nicole kissed her quickly, though she wanted it to linger.
With a long sigh, Lindsay took her by the hand and led her to the living room, where they settled on the couch together. “Thank you for being the one strong enough to keep us centered.”
“I’m not as centered as you think. Right now, my center—”
Lindsay laughed as she clamped her hand over Nicole’s mouth. “Don’t start. You know where talk like that will lead us.”
Nicole took Lindsay’s hand and kissed it. “Okay, let’s be serious for a moment. Where are you going with what you said earlier?”
“I don’t know yet. I need you to help me figure it out.” Lindsay stared down at their joined hands. “I think the priority is to talk to Alexis first.” She met Nicole’s gaze. “You were absolutely right when you said this is happening fast. I’m already thinking in terms of us being us for a long time, a lifetime. We’ve been very honest with each other, so I hope you’ll understand when I say that I worry I’m being too caught up and premature.”
“I understand exactly what you mean.” Nicole squeezed her hand. “If I were a man, all you’d have to tell Alexis or anyone else for that matter is that we’re dating. But things being as they are, it’s far more complicated than that. And if you’re wondering, I’m looking at everything as long-term. I…” Nicole began to ponder the statement Rose made just twenty-four hours earlier—You love her, don’t you. With Lindsay, she did something she’d never done before. The fall began during their first meeting, and that simply wasn’t logical to her. Making Lindsay believe something that was illogical even to Nicole would be difficult if not sound phony and trite.
“We’re caught in the
same spiral.” Lindsay smiled as though Nicole had spoken aloud everything that went through her mind. “It’s hard to accept as legitimate, I know.”
Nicole sighed softly and stroked her face. “You are so very amazing and incredibly special.”
Lindsay leaned in and kissed her. “I feel the same about you,” she said against Nicole’s lips.
Nicole had to reluctantly push her away. With a smile, she said, “Now that that’s established, may I make a suggestion regarding Alexis?”
“Of course.”
Nicole licked her lips. “I think we should put off saying anything to her until after the holidays.” Nicole held Lindsay’s hand against her chest. “I’m being selfish here. If she surprises us and reacts negatively, the holidays are going to be tense. I don’t want this time to be unpleasant for her and our first Christmas together to be tinged with sad memories.”
Lindsay rested her head against the back of the couch. “I don’t think that’s selfish at all. She’s out of school three weeks for Christmas. Maybe after the celebration is over, we can tell her then. That way, she has some time at home to adjust.”
Nicole nodded. “It’s a plan then.” She took Lindsay into her arms and deposited a kiss that left them weak and breathing heavily. “I hate to tell you this, but I have to go home now.”
Lindsay put her fingers to her own lips. “After a kiss like that?”
Nicole smiled as she stood. “If I leave you wanting, then I know you’ll constantly be thinking of me.”
“Now that is selfish,” Lindsay said as Nicole pulled her to her feet. “You’re on my mind constantly anyway.”
“My car can’t be parked in front of your house again all night, or people will talk, and Alexis will hear from someone else like Billy Meyers. And I have two kittens that are turning feral and a mountain of dirty clothes in my laundry room.” Nicole laughed at the look on Lindsay’s face. “We have to learn to pace ourselves.”
Lindsay followed her to the front door and put her hand on it to stop Nicole. “Pacing, like talking, is overrated. It downright sucks.”
Nicole took her in her arms and whispered against Lindsay’s ear. “There are things we talk about that turn your blood to fire.”
Lindsay moaned softly. “You do have a point.”
Nicole gave her another soul-searing kiss and stepped out onto the porch before she could recant on her idea to leave. “I will miss you insanely.”
“Don’t make me miss you for long. I’d hate to have to wake up my mother to sit with Alexis so I can walk to your house in the middle of the night.”
Nicole laughed as she went down the steps. She turned and stuffed her hands into the pockets of her jeans. “My sink is still leaking.”
Lindsay laughed. “I’ll just have to come back over and take care of that.”
Chapter Twenty-two
Life for Lindsay and Nicole became peaks of stolen moments and valleys of longing. The six blocks between their houses became a well-worn path beneath their feet. To anyone who paid attention, they looked like someone taking a solitary stroll after dinner…who didn’t return for hours later.
Rose played her part in keeping the secret, as well. Nicole and Lindsay learned her looks of warning over Thanksgiving dinner when one or both would let the mask of nonchalance slip and the love that was blooming between them show so obviously on their faces. They had become thieves, stealing kisses whenever they could, and actors when in the presence of others.
The first weekend after Thanksgiving was a big deal in St. Claire. Nearly every resident made the trip to Millsted Christmas Tree Farm on the outskirts of town where they would hunt for the perfect specimen to decorate. Alexis could talk of little else. So on that Saturday, Lindsay, Alexis, and Rose picked Nicole up at her house for a day of tree hunting.
“I want a big one, Momma.” Alexis was nearly bouncing in the backseat where she sat next to Rose. “This year, we get to cut three trees because Ms. Nicole needs one for her house, too.”
“I already have a tree.” Nicole looked over her shoulder. “I just have to figure out where it is in the attic.”
“It’s fake?” Alexis sounded disappointed.
Nicole glanced at Lindsay, who was laughing softly. “Yes, but it’s very pretty.”
“Momma says fake trees make her sad because they have no smell.”
Nicole looked back at Lindsay. “This is true? Fake trees make you unhappy?”
“They’re just so…not real, and you take them out of a box instead of cutting them down, which is a lot of fun.”
“But it’s already strung with lights,” Nicole argued. “All I have to do is throw on a few ornaments, and kaboom, I’m done.”
“That makes me sad,” Alexis said.
“Nicole, honey, the hunt and the decorating are an all-day affair here. We go to the farm, enjoy some cider and a hayride, and we hunt the trees.” Rose squeezed Nicole’s shoulder. “Don’t let us pressure you into anything you don’t want to do. If you’re happy with a pitiful plastic tree, you go right ahead and decorate it. We won’t laugh.”
“Right,” Lindsay added with a grin. “Why stimulate the local economy anyway? The Millsteds won’t mind if little Jake has to go barefooted this winter because they can’t afford to buy his shoes.”
“Did I mention it has LED lights on the end of each branch?” Nicole huffed. “And it plays music when you push a button.”
“Oh, darling, did you hear that?” Rose looked down at Alexis. “Ms. Nicole’s tree is wired for sound. Um, Nicole, how big of a tree is it—eight, nine feet?”
Lindsay was shaking with silent laughter when Nicole glared at her. “Forty-eight inches,” she said lowly.
Alexis looked up at Rose. “How tall is that, Grams?”
“Let me put it this way.” Rose chuckled and stuck a finger in Alexis’s chest. “You won’t need a ladder to put on the star. Nicole, darling, you do have a star for it, don’t you, or do you use a bottle cap instead?”
Lindsay roared with laughter.
Nicole folded her arms and tried to keep a straight face. “Fine, gang up on me.”
“You take it well.” Lindsay patted her on the arm. “I have plenty of bottle caps at the house if you need one.”
*******
Lindsay joined the steady procession of vehicles as they lined up at the entrance of the farm. There were people in vests directing traffic into parking places. Nicole viewed the spectacle in silent awe. Tractors pulled trailers lined with hay bales and laughing children, while others were loaded down with fresh-cut trees. People roamed the rows with saws, and Christmas music blared from somewhere in the distance.
Nicole watched the commotion. “You weren’t joking about this being a big deal, were you?”
“Momma, hurry up. All the good trees are gonna be gone,” Alexis cried as she plastered her face to the window.
“Hold your horses there, spot.” Lindsay wheeled the big truck into a parking place and unclipped her belt. She grinned at Nicole. “Her eye is almost healed. I’m really going to miss being able to call her that.”
The four climbed out of the truck and took their place in a long line. When they reached the front, a teenage boy greeted them with a smile. “How many tags do you want, Ms. Juneau?”
Everyone turned and looked at Nicole expectantly. She held up three fingers in resignation. After they’d been armed with a saw, tags, and a marker, the hunt was on. Alexis took Nicole by the hand and took off in a dead run.
“There’s always more trees in the back because no one wants to walk that far,” Alexis said breathlessly. Nicole looked over her shoulder at Rose and Lindsay, who seemed quite pleased at not having to keep up with a seven-year-old. Alexis shouted and waved at friends but never slacked up until the crowd grew sparse and the selection grew thicker. “Every tree has a price tag. The red ones cost the most, the yellow ones are less, and the green ones are cheap. Mom says this is the one place she doesn’t care about the price tag.”
Alexis lowered her voice. “But Grams always picks a tree with a green tag.”
Nicole caught her breath and followed Alexis into the narrow rows. Silently, she agreed with Rose. Why spend the money on something you’re going to kill and not even be able to eat? But Alexis had other plans. She circled a tree with a red tag and looked up at Nicole with a broad smile. “This one could be yours.”
“Why this one?”
“Because it’s taller than you,” Alexis said as if the answer was obvious.
“But it has a bare spot right in the middle,” Lindsay said as she walked up. “Besides, we never cut the first tree we see unless it just calls to us. Is this one talking to you?”
Nicole looked at Lindsay, then back at the tree. “All I hear is, ‘get away from me with that saw.”’
“Then we move on. Not too far,” Lindsay called out when Alexis shot off like a dart.
“I’ve been educated on pricing.” Nicole grimaced when she looked at a tag on one of the trees.
Rose cuffed her on the arm. “Ah, we have a Grinch in our midst.”
“Your granddaughter already ratted you out. She says you buy the cheap trees.” Nicole thumbed one of the green tags.
“Only because my space is limited.” Rose lifted her chin high. “At least I don’t buy plastic.”
Lindsay began to snicker.
“I am stalking and murdering a real tree this year, so you two can retract the claws.” Nicole came to a stop. “Claws, I bet Bieber and Bounce will have a heyday with whatever I get. This could be disastrous.”
“Only if you blow a circuit breaker when you spray them with water.” Lindsay shrugged. “I say wire it to the wall and let them be cats.”
“Is that what you do with Peepers?” Nicole said with a laugh.
“When he was a kitten, yes. Now he’s too fat to climb, so he swats the ornaments off the bottom and chews the wrapping paper on the gifts.” Lindsay’s eyes narrowed when Alexis didn’t appear in the row again. As she was opening her mouth to call out, Rose put a hand to her arm.
The Secret of St Claire Page 16