It Must Be Christmas

by Jennifer Crusie

  It was a simple, harmless question but it dampened the good mood considerably. “I haven’t decided. I need to talk to Janice about that. I’m sure they have plans. “

  “Plans that don’t include you?”

  He smiled. “That might be awkward. I’m just, well, at loose ends a bit. Missing my family. So.” He lightened his voice and smiled down at the baby, who was surprisingly content. “Our Baby Jesus. Still no sign of the Virgin Mary.”

  “Or Joseph,” Charlie added, letting the matter of Christmas drop. “I honestly thought someone would have come forward by now.”

  “I’m thinking someone would have to be in a pretty bad situation to abandon their kid.”

  “Well, I’m sure we’ll hear something soon.” She met his gaze. “I think he’s very lucky we happened by at that moment. It couldn’t have been planned any better. I mean, the night of the tree lighting. Everyone in the square for a good hour or more, and then tons of foot traffic. It was almost as if whoever left him wanted him to be found.”

  What she said sank in and they stared at each other. Maybe the manger wasn’t that random after all. “I’m sure the police have thought of that.” Dave nodded at her. “But you’re right. I mean … remember what you said about that case you handled? Someone trying to…” his voice tightened, “… dispose of a baby wouldn’t put him in a church manger on the busiest night of the season. Know what I mean?”

  Charlie swirled the last bite of meatloaf in rich gravy. “Right. They’d put him somewhere he wouldn’t be found.”

  “Still,” he argued, “it’s winter. What if we hadn’t come along? In these temperatures he wouldn’t have survived very long. Even if the intention was to have him found, there would always be a chance he wouldn’t be.” Dave’s face darkened. “Hell of a big gamble to take with your baby’s life.”

  “I agree.” She looked up at him and asked the question that had been bothering her for the last two days. “Dave, I can’t go on calling him ‘the baby.’ Is it wrong to want to give him a name?”

  Dave chuckled. “Not at all. It’s been getting kind of awkward, actually.” They both looked down at the baby, whose lids were drooping sleepily.

  “He looks like an angel,” Charlie whispered. “Even if he does keep me up most of the night. I can’t resist that little face.”

  “Then name him after an angel.”

  “Gabriel?”

  Dave grimaced. “Too predictable.”

  “Raphael?”

  “The painter or the Ninja Turtle?”

  She made a face, then pulled out her phone and Googled angel names. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. Most of the names have i-e-l at the end. Jophiel. Hesediel.”

  Dave laughed and ate a forkful of mashed potatoes and gravy. “Yuck.”

  “Wait. There are gospels here though. Paul. John. And … ooh. Daniel.”

  “I like that.”

  “Me too.” She looked up at Dave with surprise. “Hey, did we just name a baby together?”

  “Well, temporarily. His birth certificate probably says something else. “

  Right. Reality. Not her baby. Not her life. She had to be careful she didn’t start pretending it was. She put her fork and knife on her plate and wiped her lips with her napkin. “I should get back, I suppose. It’ll give me time to feed Daniel…” She tested the name on for size, “… before I start my appointments.”

  Dave frowned at her. “You’re going now? Without pie? Is it possible to have a meal here without pie?”

  Charlie laughed. “Oh, it’s possible, otherwise I’d be the size of a house. I eat here most noon hours.”

  She realized what she’d just said and hoped he didn’t pick up on it. But then, why would he? It was her own embarrassment speaking, that was all.

  “Your loss,” he said easily. “Pie comes with my meal and I’m going to take full advantage.”

  She opened up her purse to grab her wallet but Dave reached across the table and put his fingers on her wrist.

  “Lunch is on me,” he said quietly. “I invited you, remember?”

  “I don’t mind paying my share,” she replied, still startled by the intimate touch. It was made worse when she looked up and into his dark, chocolaty eyes. They were so beautiful. The kind of eyes a girl could get lost in if she wasn’t careful.

  “Would that make you feel better? So you wouldn’t have to call this a date?”

  Her lips fell open, and she tried to respond but didn’t know what to say.

  “It’s just lunch,” he finally said, slipping his fingers off her wrist. “Falls under the getting-to-know-you-better category. No biggie, okay? You can get the next one.”

  Assuming there would be a next one.

  “Then … thank you for lunch.”

  “Anytime.”

  Why was this so easy for him and so hard for her?

  With a parting smile, she hefted the car seat and made her way to the doors, out into the wintery air. If anything, it had only gotten colder outside.

  Keeping her distance from Dave was proving to be a challenge. As she started the car and felt the cold blast of air as the fan kicked in, she sighed. It would be easier to avoid him if her heart was really in it …

  * * *

  By Thursday night Charlie was going a little crazy. The last text from Dave sat on her phone, mocking her. Thanks for lunch and talk soon, it said. But there was no talking. He’d gotten her message loud and clear.

  Charlie plumped the pillow she held in her lap and stared, unseeing, at the evening news. She couldn’t make up her mind what she wanted to do. She’d always been a planner, with the future mapped out in front of her. Things fit into tidy little boxes and that was comforting. Reassuring. And Dave Ricker didn’t fit in a tidy box. He was a nice guy and he liked her and she liked him. Which, if she were being honest, was frustrating as hell. He was definitely a more go-with-the-flow kind of guy, unsure of what came next or where he’d go. He wasn’t a long-term thinker. His relaxed attitude drove type-A people like her a little crazy.

  She reached for the glass of merlot she’d poured and took a restorative sip. If Lizzie were here, she’d have some definite opinions …

  Charlie snagged the cordless phone from the base and hit the speed dial. It only rang twice when Lizzie answered. “Dr. Howard.”

  “Hello, Dr. Howard.”

  “Charlie! Hey, girl!”

  Charlie laughed. This was so what she’d needed. Lizzie was driven and borderline workaholic, but she was Charlie’s best friend and always knew how to make her laugh, even with a simple greeting. “Hey yourself. Where are you?”

  “Driving home.”

  “I’ll call you back.”

  “Don’t be silly. Bluetooth, baby.”

  Charlie chuckled. “You’re in a good mood.”

  “I guess. I’m off shift for three days. That works for me.”

  Charlie sank down into the cushions and sipped her wine again. “What? You haven’t taken on extra shifts?” She raised her eyebrows. “There must be a man involved.”

  There was a beat of silence.

  “Liiiizzziiieeee!”

  The warm laughter on the other end made Charlie feel so much better. “Okay. But I’m not spilling because I don’t want to jinx it. Soon.”

  “Killjoy.”

  “How’s the mystery man? Still watching him from the café?”

  “Funny you should mention that.” Charlie stared into the crackling fire, swirled the wine in the glass. “We, uh, actually met.”

  “Oooh, do tell!”

  Charlie heard the blare of a horn through the phone. “You sure you don’t want to talk later?”

  “I’m sure. I’m on my way to pick up my dad and go see my mom. I could use the distraction.”

  Charlie got a lump in her throat. Mrs. Howard had always been good to her, and her early onset Alzheimer’s had hit the family hard. If Lizzie wanted distraction, Charlie would give it to her.

  “We met
when I was decorating the churchyard for the holidays.”

  Lizzie let out a hoot that made Charlie grin. “Wait, you were decorating the church?”

  “I know. Do you want to hear the story or not?”

  Lizzie’s laughter mellowed and Charlie grinned to herself. “Anyway, the next night we hung out at the tree lighting ceremony and we were going to go get a drink when we found a baby.”

  The line went quiet for several seconds. “You found a baby? Did I hear that right?”

  “Yep. An abandoned baby. So our date turned into calling the cops and dealing with social workers.”

  “Well, that’ll be a story to tell the grandkids.” Lizzie’s good humor was back.

  “I’m not so sure, Liz.” Charlie put down the glass and sighed. “I was so stupid, having this crush on someone I’d never met. It’s totally different now that I know him in person.”

  “Different good or different bad?”

  “Both?” She picked at a thread on the pillow. “You know me, Liz. I see men as candidates with potential.”

  “Yeah. You do. Which is no fun at all.”

  Charlie giggled a little. “Right. And this guy? I don’t know if he’s a candidate. He’s got a kid and just moved to town, and I’m not sure he’s even staying or if he even wants to be a father again…”

  The sharp bark of laughter on the other end cut Charlie off. “You already talked about that stuff? Honey, you’re more involved than you realize.”

  That’s what she was afraid of.

  “Crappy thing is, Liz, that I want to spend more time with him. He … he floats my boat, if you know what I mean.”

  Lizzie laughed again. “Yeah, I know what you mean.” Charlie wondered what the heck her friend was being so close-lipped about. Maybe this developing romance of hers was serious. If Charlie had learned anything, it was that Liz would tell her when she was ready. She always did.

  “Charlie?”

  “Hmm?”

  “I think you should have a torrid affair. I mean, you never have. A no-strings, great sex, live in the moment affair. That’s assuming this guy is torrid affair material?”

  She thought back to Sunday morning on the living room floor and how badly she’d wanted to rip his clothes off even though they’d kept it strictly to kissing. “He is.” The words came out slightly strangled.

  “Sister, you are leaving out some pertinent details.”

  “You could always come for a visit. Maybe over the holidays.”

  There was a beat of silence. “Tempting, but I think I’ll be kind of occupied over Christmas. It’s Dad’s first one without Mom at home and Ian will be around…”

  “Ian. So that’s his name.”

  “Long story.”

  “Whenever you’re ready.”

  Lizzie chuckled. “Damn, I’m glad you called. Really glad.”

  “Me too.”

  “Listen. You do what you’re comfortable with as far as things go with the mystery man. I’m just saying … not every guy needs to have a wedding registry above his head and tick all the right boxes, know what I mean? Sometimes you can just go with it. In fact, this might be better because you could go into it without any expectations from each other. For Pete’s sake, have a fling, Charlie. You’ve never done anything spontaneous in your life, other than moving to Jewell Cove. And look how that’s turned out for you. It’s a little slow for my speed, but I know you love it there.”

  She did, and she was glad Lizzie recognized it. Her family certainly didn’t.

  “The torrid affair might have to take a backseat. I’m looking after the baby temporarily. He’s a bit small, and it’s not for very long.”

  “You’re looking after a baby?” Liz’s voice came across the line loud and clear. “Are you crazy?”

  Charlie laughed. “I’m exhausted. But it’s good practice.”

  “Better you than me, sister.”

  “I’ll think about what you said,” Charlie promised. “Thanks for the pep talk. I needed it.”

  “Next time I want better details. But I’m here at Dad’s, so I’d better go.”

  “Love you,” Charlie said, missing her friend desperately.

  “Love you back. Text me a pic of the mystery man. I want visuals.”

  Charlie was laughing as she clicked off the phone.

  Lizzie had certainly given her something to think about. She was right. Charlie had never done anything spontaneous. Plus they were attracted to each other. It could work.

  Or … not. Things were rarely that straightforward, were they? Besides, as alluring as the idea was, Charlie wasn’t sure she knew how to go about having a “torrid affair,” as Lizzie put it.

  Chapter Seven

  It was all going fine until Friday at eleven o’clock. Routinely she and Josh closed up shop on Friday afternoons, with one of them remaining reachable during the afternoon through the answering service in case of a patient emergency. That rarely happened, since anything urgent automatically went to the closest hospital or the nearby walk-in clinics. Today their last appointment was at eleven thirty, which meant they might actually wrap things up by twelve thirty or one. She’d thought to do some Christmas shopping at the town shops, maybe grab some decorations for the cottage. Instead Josh poked his head inside her door when she was between patients.

  “Hey. It’s Robin’s birthday today. I said we’d take her to lunch once we wrap up here.”

  Charlie liked Robin. She was even impressed that Josh knew it was her birthday and was making an effort. But she really, really didn’t feel like going to lunch and having to make small talk.

  “Where?” she asked, knowing she couldn’t really say no.

  “Breezes?”

  Right. And she’d find herself watching the waterfront, looking for Dave. He hadn’t called or texted again this week. Whatever interest he’d had, it had clearly waned.

  “We always go there. If we’re knocking off for the week, what about the pub?” At this time of day, the pub catered to the lunch crowd, and she could take Daniel along with her.

  “I’ll ask. There’s something to be said for Friday-night nachos and wings.” He smiled at her. “So you’re in?”

  How could she say no? “Yeah, I’m in.” She’d just go do the dutiful lunch thing and then her shopping. On Fridays the stores remained open until nine. She’d have lots of time, even if she had to stop and give the baby a bottle somewhere. Truthfully, she could really use some sleep, but she could stand to get out a little too. How did new moms manage?

  But fate stepped in once more, with a last-minute appointment that Josh felt he couldn’t put off. And indeed he couldn’t. The patient was all of five years old, and her mother didn’t have a car for driving to a hospital. While Josh waited for them to arrive and then treated the child for bronchitis, Robin got out the small box of holiday decorations and spruced up the waiting area a bit, adding a small rope of lights along the front of the reception desk, putting a tiny bottle-brush tree on the magazine table in the corner, and hanging a battered synthetic evergreen wreath on the door. Meanwhile, Charlie supervised from the comfy chair in the waiting area, feeding Daniel his bottle and sitting with her feet up for a few minutes. It put them behind schedule, but it was relaxing just the same.

  By the time Josh had sent the patient’s prescription to the pharmacy, Charlie and Robin were waiting, stomachs growling. It was nearly two o’clock.

  The weather had been cold the last few days, but today it had turned sunny and milder, a welcome reprieve from the bitter, raw wind that seemed to seep through the bones. Charlie parked the car in the lot next to the pub, in one of the last available spots. She put Daniel in a borrowed stroller before they all made their way inside, into the welcoming warmth of the bar.

  Their food had just been served when the door swung open on a gust of wind and a group of five blew in with it. Five big, burly men in heavy jackets and thick knitted hats, one with a particular set of dark eyes that immediately found Charlie
and made her traitorous body respond with a jolt of pure electricity. What was with the crazy physical attraction, anyway? All Dave had to do was show up and she got this jacked-up, excited feeling racing through her veins. She had to get a grip.

  It had been easier to put off the impact of her attraction when he was out of sight, to pretend it was all in her head. Not so easy when he was standing there, larger than life, reminding her of exactly what it was like to be in his arms. He kissed like a freaking angel, that’s what. Made her forget all her good intentions.

  “Charlie, you okay?” Robin nudged her arm. “I just asked you to pass the ketchup.”

  “Oh. Sorry.” She offered a weak smile and reached for the squeeze bottle. Her wrap and sweet potato fries smelled delicious but she wasn’t sure she could eat.

  For heaven’s sake. He was just a man. Mortal. Imperfect.

  She looked up. Caught his eye. Held her breath.

  Josh nudged her elbow. “What’s going on?”

  She hadn’t realized she was biting her lip until Josh spoke to her. She released it and pasted on a bright smile. “What do you mean?” She picked up a fry, dipped it in sauce, and took a definitive bite.

  “Last time I saw you with that guy, you were at the tree lighting. Then the whole thing with the mystery baby happened. Now he walks in and you’re wound tighter than a watch. What am I missing?”

  “Nothing.” She deliberately ignored looking over at the corner where Dave and his buddies had taken their seats. “Once the cops left, Dave went home. He came back to the office the next morning and gave me a lift back to my place. That’s all.”

  Josh was so quiet she stopped dipping her fry and put it on her plate before turning to face him. “What?”

  “Did he do something he shouldn’t have?”

  There was a protective note in Josh’s voice that grated on her nerves. She frowned at him. “What is it with the men in this town, anyway? You sound as bad as Todd Smith.”

  But her sharp reply and frown did nothing to deter Josh. “I work with you. I care about you. You’re a single woman. I just like to protect my friends, that’s all. And if this guy is bothering you, I’ve got your back.”