Love Inspired December 2014 - Box Set 2 of 2: Her Holiday FamilySugar Plum SeasonHer Cowboy HeroSmall-Town Fireman

by Ruth Logan Herne

  On his way, he passed by the Morgan house. The lights were on in Fred’s garage workshop, and Jason impulsively switched direction. As he approached, he could hear smooth jazz music, and he grinned when he heard Fred mimicking a soulful high-range trumpet solo with considerable gusto.

  Outside the partially open door, he knocked to get the mechanic’s attention. Fred appeared surprised to see him, but waved him in. When his eyes locked on Jason’s toolbox, he scowled. “Those sets aren’t near done yet. What happened?”

  “Amy fired me.”

  Heaving a long-suffering male sigh, Fred pulled up a couple of apple crates and motioned for Jason to take one. Once they were seated, he fixed Jason with a woebegone look. “The women in this family can drive a man right off a cliff.”

  “Got that right,” Jason growled back.

  Amy’s uncle listened patiently to the entire sad story, nodding and frowning in all the right places.

  “I’ve never been booted in the middle of a job before,” Jason said. “She’d rather have you help her finish things up before the show next week.”

  “No can do.” Holding his lower back, Fred winked. “I think I tweaked my lumbar again.”

  They both laughed, and Jason appreciated the conniving support. “Whattaya think I should do?”

  “Ignore her and finish what you started.” Taking out his key ring, he slid one off and handed it to Jason. “This way, she doesn’t have to let you in.”

  “Thanks.” Pocketing the key, he added, “Now, about the other thing.”

  Scratching a thumb over his stubbly chin, the older man chewed on that one for a few seconds. “Well, now, that depends on what you’re really after.”

  “I’m not following you.”

  “Women are complicated.”

  Jason snorted his agreement. “Tell me about it.”

  “What I mean is it’s best to pick one thing and go full bore instead of spreading yourself too thin.” Jason didn’t respond, and he continued, “Do you want her to stay here so you can see where things go with her, or pass on the surgery ’cause you think it’s a mistake?”

  “Both.”

  Chuckling, Fred shook his head. “You’re not listening, son. To you and me, those two things are one and the same. To Amy, they’re completely different.”

  At first, that made no sense to him. Then he reconsidered it from her perspective, and the pieces clicked into place. “Because one’s professional and the other’s personal. If you don’t mind me asking, where do you and Helen stand on this experimental procedure?”

  “Against, one thousand percent. But Amy and that headstrong baby sister of mine have got other ideas. I guess Connie sees it different than we do, ’cause when she was younger, she was planning to be a big-time ballerina herself.”

  “Then she had Amy,” Jason guessed, getting a nod in reply. “That explains why Amy’s dead set on getting back to it. Her mom missed out, so Amy’s trying to make up for what she lost.”

  “Don’t get me wrong. From the time she could walk, Amy danced the way most of us breathe, and that car crash was a tragedy in more ways than one. It wasn’t easy for her to dust herself off the way she’s done, but she’s making the most of the gifts God gave her.”

  “I thought she felt that way, too,” Jason confided glumly. “Now I’m not so sure. She seems to love teaching those kids, but now she’s ready to give all that up for something even the doctors are warning her might not work.”

  “You’re not seeing it from her angle. If you’d fallen out of a tree in Oregon a couple years ago and were done with logging, what would you have done?”

  “Come back here and make furniture at the mill.” That got him a wise look, but he didn’t understand the significance of his answer. Eventually, it dawned on him. “I get it. I chose that even when I didn’t have to. Amy took over the studio because that was the only way she could still be involved in dancing.”

  “Now you’ve got it.” With a suddenly somber look, Fred asked, “And what about the other thing?”

  Jason blanked, then caught on and grinned. “Are you asking about my intentions toward your niece?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  Since there were all manner of tools only an arm’s length away, Jason straightened up and looked him directly in the eye the way he’d been taught. “She’s the most incredible woman I’ve ever met, and I’d love to get to know her better.”

  Fred seemed to appreciate that, and he nodded his approval. “From what I see, you’re a good influence on our girl. She’s a mite serious for someone her age, and you lighten her up. She smiles a lot more these days, and I like that.”

  “That’s good to hear.”

  “But.” Brandishing a heavy wrench that looked as if it had seen plenty of action, he warned, “If that ever changes, you and I are gonna have a problem. Understand?”

  Jason nodded soberly. “Yes, sir.”

  “Good boy. Now, get outta here so I can finish up before Helen starts yelling for me to come inside already.”

  Figuring it was best to get while the getting was good, Jason retrieved his toolbox and made a quick exit. While he mulled over Fred’s advice, he had to admit he was having a tough time letting Amy go the way she wanted him to. He’d never had trouble doing that before, so his newfound reluctance puzzled him. Even with Rachel, once he’d gotten over the initial shock of her bolting like that, he’d counted his blessings that she’d skated before they’d walked down the aisle. Afterward would’ve been a lot tougher for him to recover from.

  Amy was a different story.

  She always had been, he realized with a start. As a boy, he’d been awed by her, and when they reconnected as adults, he just picked up where he’d left off. He didn’t recall many things from that time in his life, but he’d never forgotten the spritely ballerina with the sparkling eyes and dazzling smile.

  Had she remained in his memory all these years for a reason? He’d always believed that God created a match for everyone, and he couldn’t deny it was possible Amy was meant to be his. The kicker was, if a relationship between them was ever going to work, one of them would have to do some pretzel-style bending of a fairly strong will.

  He wasn’t prepared to make that kind of life-altering concession, and Amy had made it clear she wasn’t, either. So where did that leave them? His thoughts spiraled downward from there, and by the time he reached his grandparents’ house, he was as discouraged as he’d ever been in his life.

  As if Granddad’s worsening illness wasn’t enough, now Jason could add losing Amy to the list. Hands down, this was going to be the worst Christmas ever.

  Chapter Ten

  After stewing for a while, Amy came to the conclusion that she’d unfairly pummeled Jason with months’ worth of frustration and resentment. And God bless him, he’d stood there and taken every blow without either retaliating or backing down. He’d held his ground, making it abundantly clear he was doing it for her own good. She wasn’t accustomed to fighting so vigorously with someone and not coming out the winner.

  Unfortunately, this time she might have won the argument, but she’d lost the respect of someone who’d come to mean more to her than she’d fully realized until now. Truth be told, Jason had pinpointed some of her reservations so accurately, it had frightened her. And when she was scared, she puffed herself up like a threatened kitten and lashed out with her claws. It wasn’t pretty, and she wasn’t proud of it, but there it was. He’d treated her with nothing other than kindness and care, and she’d rewarded him with venom.

  At the very least, she owed him an apology. The humble-pie kind best delivered in person. A quick glance at the clock showed her it was still relatively early, and she had plenty of time to go to choir rehearsal, stammer her regret and slink into her usual place in the soprano section.

 
She knew it was best to get things like this over with, so she pushed away from her desk and reluctantly headed for the front door. The night air was cool but pleasant, and it felt good on her face. The view of Christmas lights and decorations up and down Main Street lifted her spirits considerably, and by the time she reached the Crossroads Church, she felt slightly better about talking with Jason.

  He was the most patient, tolerant man she’d ever met, she reassured herself as she climbed the steps. Now that the dust had settled, he must understand how important this opportunity was to her. She only hoped he’d be able to forgive her cold behavior and they could remain friends. Because she had to admit, the shy little girl who still lived inside her adored the burly lumberjack with the generous heart. Perhaps, if they stayed in touch, their paths would intersect again and...

  What? Pausing in the vestibule, she took a moment to let that thought play out. Unfortunately, it dead-ended right there, leaving her with a big, unanswered question echoing in her mind. Did she want more than friendship with Jason? Even if she did, he might not feel the same. And if he shared her feelings, how on earth would they make a serious relationship work? Soon, it would be more than distance separating them. She was as driven as he was easygoing, and she’d probably make him nuts within a month.

  Then again, she reasoned as she went into the chapel, they’d been working together at the studio all this time and after getting accustomed to each other’s vastly different styles, they’d proven to be an excellent team. Then there were those promising kisses under the mistletoe. She wouldn’t mind some more of those. The trouble was, she’d learned the hard way that things didn’t always go the way she wanted them to. If a romance with Jason went awry, she’d lose him altogether. She didn’t even want to consider that.

  Left with a thorny problem and no concrete solution, she took her spot next to Brenda and greeted the other singers around her. Jason wasn’t there yet, so she distracted herself by admiring the decorations the Ladies’ Aid had brought in.

  Evergreen ropes were swagged all around the little church, and each windowsill held a rich burgundy poinsettia and an electric candle. On either side of the altar stood a tall tree, decorated in tasteful white lights and velvet ribbons. Each had a crystal star at the top that caught the light, tossing prisms onto the old wooden floorboards. Simple elegance, she thought with a smile. She couldn’t imagine a more fitting way to deck out this charming country chapel nestled in the Blue Ridge valley.

  Mrs. Griggs called for their attention, and everyone quieted down. A quick glance over at the tenors showed Amy that Jason still hadn’t arrived, and she frowned. As he’d so emphatically told her, he didn’t duck his responsibilities, and she worried that something might have happened.

  Leaning in, she asked Brenda, “Is everything all right with the Barretts?”

  “As far as I know,” she whispered back. “If it wasn’t, Mom would’ve heard about it and told us.”

  Amy didn’t doubt that for a second, and as the soprano line picked up their part in “O Holy Night,” she decided Jason must be working late to finish one of his many projects at the mill. Christmas was coming up fast, and furniture orders had to be shipped soon to arrive on time. Reassured, she put him out of her mind and focused on accurately hitting as many of the notes as she could.

  As a dancer, she’d spent most of her holidays onstage, so the prospect of a Christmas Eve performance was nothing new for her. But back then, she’d been one of the stars, not part of a large group like this. The camaraderie was a novel experience, and she found herself enjoying it more than she’d anticipated.

  Much of the time she’d spent back in her hometown had been like that, she realized with a smile. She couldn’t recall being this content anywhere else, and she knew Jason had a lot to do with that. With his thoughtful, attentive nature, he’d helped to heal old wounds she hadn’t been aware she was still carrying. She only hoped the rest of her stay here would be just as happy.

  Before she knew it, rehearsal was over. Mrs. Griggs reminded them all that next week would be their last practice, and they should plan on arriving early Christmas Eve to warm up their voices and do a few run-throughs before the service began.

  Eager to put her apology behind her, Amy stopped outside and brought up Jason’s number from her list. When he didn’t answer, she assumed he was in the noisy workshop and couldn’t hear his phone. She wanted to speak to him in person, so she opted not to leave a message. That way, he’d see he missed a call from her and could return it if he wanted to talk to her.

  If he didn’t...well, at least then she’d know where she stood with him. After the way she’d behaved, she didn’t deserve his forgiveness, but she prayed he’d give it to her anyway.

  Strolling up the sidewalk toward Arabesque, she noticed a subdued glow in the front window. She’d deliberately left the outside display on, but the studio itself had been dark when she left. Then it occurred to her that Jason must have told Uncle Fred he was going to have to finish the sets for the show. She felt horrible for imposing on a man still nursing an injured back, but she really had no choice.

  Hoping to make things easier on him, she picked up her pace and mentally prepared herself to be as helpful as her meager carpentry skills would allow. She unlocked the front door, quieting the bells while she closed it and turned the dead bolt behind her. When she caught the sound of classic rock coming from the stage, she looked over in surprise.

  There was Jason, a paintbrush in either hand, applying the faux marble finish she’d chosen for the fireplace. Normally, he looked happy while he was working, but tonight he wore a grim expression, as if he was putting in his time and couldn’t wait to leave. That was her fault, but the upside was that since she’d done it, she was the one person who could undo it.

  Before she had a chance to reconsider, she walked through the wings and paused behind him. He didn’t acknowledge her presence in any way, and she swallowed hard before saying, “That looks really nice.”

  “It’s what you said you wanted,” he said, not looking at her as he continued painting. “I’m just following orders.”

  Flat and emotionless, somehow his words still had a bite to them. At first, she didn’t understand why, but she quickly figured it out. Jason always spoke to her with warmth in his voice and a twinkle in his eyes. While she knew the cold shoulder was well deserved, she couldn’t bear communicating with him this way. “Could you stop for a minute?”

  “I have to keep blending or the paint’ll dry the wrong color.”

  “I don’t care.”

  Pausing midstroke, he angled a look back at her. “Seriously? I thought everything had to be perfect for the show.”

  “It will be.” Hearing the confidence in her tone, she realized she truly meant what she’d said. “You’ll make it perfect, because that’s what you do.”

  Setting the brushes across the top of an open can, he stood and faced her. “I try.”

  “I know you do,” she assured him quickly. “Jason, please forgive me for the way I acted yesterday. I was feeling overwhelmed, and I took it out on you. That wasn’t fair, and neither was comparing you to Devon. You’re nothing like him, and it was wrong of me to accuse you of being otherwise.”

  Gazing down at her, his eyes shone with compassion. “You’re scared about the surgery, aren’t you?”

  “Terrified,” she confirmed on a shaky breath. “But I’m more scared of not giving it a chance. I mean, what if it works?”

  “What if it doesn’t?”

  “That’s the problem,” she agreed solemnly. “I’ve never had to make a huge decision like this that could mess up the rest of my life. One minute, I’m sure going ahead with the procedure is the right thing for me, and the next I want to call Dr. Fitzgerald and back out. I’m so confused, it’s like I’m spinning in circles.”

  Grasping one of her hands
, he reeled her into his arms and held her tightly against his chest. With his heart beating a steady cadence under her cheek, Amy felt as if nothing in the world could possibly harm her. Part of her wanted nothing more than to stay right where she was, but the tug of a dream left unfulfilled was pulling her in another direction.

  Tipping her head back, she gazed up at the man who’d done so much for her. He’d brought the very best part of her back to life, and the thought of leaving him behind was almost more than she could stand.

  Cupping her cheek in his callused hand, he leaned in to brush a gentle kiss over her lips. Then he rested his forehead against hers and sighed. “This surgery is really what you want?”

  The acceptance in his tone, despite the misgivings he’d so loudly stated, touched her deeply. “Yes, but I’m still petrified.”

  “That’s ’cause you’re a smart cookie.” He ticked the tip of her nose with his finger. “But if it doesn’t work, I hope you know there’s always a place for you here in Barrett’s Mill.”

  “With you?” The words slipped out on their own, and she felt her face reddening in embarrassment. When would she learn to think first and blurt later?

  Thankfully, Jason met her slipup with a chuckle. “Well, I’m not going anywhere.”

  It wasn’t a yes, but it wasn’t a no, either. Normally, she detested getting a wishy-washy maybe, but considering the circumstances, she’d have to take what he was willing to offer her. For now, it was enough to know he didn’t hate her and would support her decision, even though he didn’t understand it.

  Some days, that was the best a girl could hope for.

  * * *

  “There’s my girl!” Stepping out of a rented convertible, Connie Morgan all but smothered Amy in an enthusiastic hug. Eyeing her critically, she smiled. “You look wonderful. I wasn’t sure you’d like it here after so many years away, but it seems to agree with you.”