Jack leaned in and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He turned and walked back into the fire station. Sarah sat in her car not sure what to do.
Did he really just break up with me over Dr. Turner? Or does he truly feel unwelcome in church?
Unworthy? Unworthy of a relationship with God or unworthy of a relationship with me?
These feelings were foreign to Sarah. She’d always led an active religious life. She couldn’t even imagine feeling that way. An hour later she still sat in her car. When it became apparent he wasn’t coming back outside she cranked her engine and drove home.
Chapter Eight
The days were an endless monotony of work and chores. Rita just couldn’t understand what went wrong. That made two of them. Sarah didn’t get it either. One day they were happy and the next they were over. Dr. Turner called a few more times to check on her but that was it. When he finally asked her out for dinner she politely refused. He hadn’t asked again. To Sarah- he was a friend- nothing more.
Christmas was just around the corner- a mere four days away. Her grandmother flew up to visit her parents. All of her closest friends had children of their own- or at least a husband. Due to Sarah’s work schedule she couldn’t go far. She only had Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off. Then it would be back to work for her.
Jeremy was still out of school for the Christmas holiday. He came by to walk Bella every morning because he missed her and didn’t have a dog of his own. Sarah wanted to ask about Jack but felt a little silly putting a sixteen year old in the middle.
Sarah’s knee was fully healed and she was no longer required to wear the enormous brace. She was released from restrictions. Dr. Cooke saw her yesterday morning. His only instructions were to listen to her body. If her knee became sore she was doing too much. Other than that she could do everything she enjoyed. Within a few more weeks it would be as strong as it was before the accident.
Saturday morning Sarah decided to give bike riding a try. It was one of her favorite activities. Bella was out with Jeremy and wouldn’t be back for a while. Sarah rode her bike down the sidewalks and bike paths through the wooded areas. Eventually she came out near the hospital and wound her way around the small town. Before she realized it she was pedaling past the fire station. She glanced in the parking lot spying Jack’s car. Her heart caught in her throat. They hadn’t spoken since their break-up and Sarah just wasn’t willing to leave things the way they were.
She turned her bike around and pulled into the parking lot, securing it in the bike rack outside. She marched her way up the sidewalk to the front door where she didn’t bother ringing the bell. It was unlocked and she merely pulled it open. Frank and Steve stood just inside the TV room. Both glanced at her and grinned pointing towards the kitchen.
“Jack. You’ve got a visitor.”
Jack walked out of the kitchen just biting into a sandwich. He did a double take at Sarah standing there in jogging shorts and a tank top. Her hair was pulled high on her head in a ponytail.
“Hi Sarah. How are you?”
“Not doing very well frankly.”
He was at a loss for words and she decided to continue before he threw her out.
“I thought things were going great between us Jack. Then you go and dump me. You were right by the way. Dr. Turner was interested in me. He actually asked me out- I told him no. That was the end of it. We’re just friends.”
“I see your knee is better.”
“It is. Thanks for noticing. My knee’s better but the rest of me is messed up something awful.”
Sarah stepped forward and stood very close to him. She whispered in his ear.
“You’re the only one who thinks you’re unworthy. The only one who thinks you don’t fit with me or that we’re not a match. I can’t fix that for you. You’re the only one who can, but I want to help. I’ll be with you every step of the way- if you’ll let me. I love you and God loves you- don’t shut us out.”
She kissed his cheek and walked out. He made no move to follow her. Outside she climbed on her bike and rode home. She’d caught him off guard and told him everything she wanted him to know. Now it was up to him- at least she’d have no regrets over things left unsaid.
On Sunday she ran into Dr. Turner at church. He invited her for Christmas dinner with his family. She respectfully declined. She’d bought a small ham, sweet potatoes, dinner rolls and apple pie. She figured her dinner would be a simple one spent at home.
She always exchanged gifts with Marcia and Anastasiya the morning after Christmas. She knew this year wouldn’t be any different. On Christmas morning she was greeted by the Christmas packages her mother sent the week before, the several she had for her friends and grandmother, as well as one for Jack. She’d bought it before he’d ended their relationship. It was a new rod and reel. Not exactly romantic but the right kind of gift for a guy who loved fishing.
The guy at the outdoor sporting goods store assured her it was the best. Now she stared at it propped in the corner beside her Christmas tree and wondered if it had been a waste of both time and money. Maybe he was gone. Maybe he would never be a part of her life. Never be what she needed. Never be who she knew he was inside.
By lunchtime she set to work on her feast for one. She was making fantastic progress and things smelled yummy by midafternoon. She pulled her ham out of the oven and basted it one more time. She looked at it realizing she’d have leftovers for two weeks. Her small ham was easily fifteen or sixteen pounds- what had she been thinking. There was no way she could eat this much meat or all of the other fixings she’d prepared either.
Bella stood up and ran to the front door. She whimpered loudly prancing in the foyer.
“What is it girl?”
Sarah went over and looked out the peep hole. Jeremy stood outside holding a large basket. To his right eight firemen and EMT waited patiently. Jack reached to ring the doorbell but Sarah opened it before he could push the button.
“Hello ma’am. We heard there was someone here in need of rescuing?”
“Yes- I think my heart has just stopped beating. Do you have a cure for that?”
“I think I may have just what you need.”
Jack stepped in and kissed her softly. Sarah wrapped her arms snugly around his waist and squeezed him tightly. Bella whimpered nearby, seated beside Jack’s left leg. He reached down and patted her head.
“I’m back girl- and this time I’m here for good.”
About the Author
Jenny Hammerle is a sixth-generation Floridian and grew up on a working cattle ranch. She’s been bucked off more than a few times…and lived to write about it! On weekdays, she can be found at home with a cup of coffee working on her newest story, coaching a group of cheerleaders, or on horseback gathering cows.
She’s a mother, wife, Christian, pet-lover, and Florida cowgirl turned author!
www.jennyhammerle.com
Table of Contents
Cover design by Scott HammerleCover Image
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Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
About the AuthorJenny Hammerle
Bella's Christmas Rescue: A Holiday Novella Page 7