"Okay." Jake rushed to open his truck door.
Lindsey dumped the coats and bags on the floor, crawled into the backseat and went through several contortions to get the car seat latched down. The whole time she worked inside, little Katie talked his ear off. He didn't understand half the words she said, but he got dadda, hungry, cookie, and church. For the life of him he didn't know how the last one fit in with everything else, but he nodded and smiled. It was all Katie needed to keep talking and patting his face.
"Okay, hand her to me." Lindsey reached for her daughter. She strapped her into the car seat, wrapping a blanket from the bag around her little body.
Katie didn't like going back in. She squirmed and kicked at the blanket, her little eyes threatening to tear up again. "No car!"
"Hey, little one, how about we get something to eat?" Jake reached across Lindsey to grab Katie's hand. It had turned cold in the few minutes outside. He gave it a little squeeze. "Do you like pancakes?"
"Yes, pease!"
"Okay, then sit tight and let's get going. I promise all the pancakes you can eat when we get there."
Chapter 2
Lindsey watched Jake talk to her daughter. He was a natural with kids. It helped calm her worries about taking a ride from the good looking stranger. Katie was clearly smitten. If only she'd stop calling Jake Dadda. He didn't look anything like her ex-husband Steven, but Katie had only been a year old the last time she'd seen her father.
Don't go there. She pushed Steven into the past where he belonged.
"Thank you for your help." She let him open her door. "I'm sorry to bother you though. You can drop us off anywhere in town."
"It's no bother. That semi was going way too fast. I take it you're not used to driving through Wyoming in the snow?"
She couldn't stop the shaky laugh, or calm the rest of her body. Her hands and nerves were jittery. Lindsey wasn't sure if it was from riding with a stranger, the accident, or the caffeine. She'd driven all night without stopping for anything but the bathroom and gas, and now her body was exhausted and wired all at the same time.
"Are you sure you're okay?" he stood with the door open. He offered her his hand, and she gladly accepted the help climbing up into the huge truck. Jake hovered between her and the door waiting for her answer.
"Really, I'm fine. Just shaken up and tired." She looked closer at him. His eyes calmed her a little more. They were a deep brown. The opposite of Steven's icy blues. "And no, I'm not used to driving in the snow. Not on the highway at least." She wanted to explain more, but she bit down on her lip. He didn't need to know that she'd grown up in the snow but had always used the snowmobile to travel when needed. Her dad, and then her husband, had always done everything else.
"Pa-cakes?" the little voice made them both laugh.
"Right away, Princess." Jake closed the door and made his way to the driver's side.
Lindsey watched as he pulled himself in with one smooth movement. It was clear the man worked hard. He wasn't big and bulky, but there was strength in his shoulders and arms.
Jake glanced her way. Lindsey redirected her focus out the front window, hoping he couldn't see her blush through the redness left by the airbag. Why am I blushing?
"Can I ask where you're headed?"
"West Virginia. I have a brother there."
"That's a long drive. Trying to get there in time for Christmas?"
"Yes." Lindsey glanced in the back at Katie who had finally calmed down. The ache in her heart forced her to look away. Katie deserved so much more than what Lindsey could give her. Moving to West Virginia was her way of getting those things.
"Are you always so quiet?" Jake kept dividing his attention between the road and her.
Lindsey shrugged. This man took her by surprise. He kept asking questions like he was worried for her wellbeing. The sadness started to rise. Had anyone worried about her since her mother died?
Stop it. You've been on your own for a year. You're strong and can do this by yourself.
And yet, she was running to her brother.
Jake was silent the rest of the drive into town, leaving Lindsey to her regrets and fears. Luckily, they pulled off the highway and into the quaint little town before Lindsey could get too depressed.
"This is Saratoga?" she took in the rustic storefronts on the main street. All the shops were decorated for Christmas. There were trees, garlands, wreaths and plenty of festive bows. Lights had been strung across the street and she found herself excited to see them lit up at night.
"Yep. We've got a fair amount of tourism in the summer, but it's fairly quiet in the winter."
"It's cute." In fact, she thought it looked like something out of a Hallmark movie—small, quaint, homey. She almost wished she could get a miracle like the people in those shows, but that's not what she had prayed for.
After a couple more minutes, Jake left the town and turned down several streets on the outskirts.
"Here we go, the Wilson Hotel." He pulled into the drive of a massive Victorian house fully decked out in Christmas glory. "We finished repairing and painting the outside right before the snow season started. Inside still needs work, but Mom will have a place for you until we get your car taken car of."
"It's beautiful." She sighed and wondered if something that stunning could be for real.
Jake couldn't help but stare at Lindsey. There was something about her he couldn't figure out. She acted strong, but her eyes were so vulnerable it caused him physical pain.
He opened her door before moving to get Katie. The little ragamuffin had fallen asleep. Her blond curls framed the round face making her look like an angel. He carefully unbuckled the restraints holding her in.
"I can get her." Lindsey spoke softly beside him.
"I've got her." He lifted the child and rested her head against his shoulder. Now that the adrenaline had faded, he noticed the baby shampoo smell of Katie's hair. He took a deep breath.
"You're really good with kids. Do you have any of your own?" Lindsey closed both doors and walked beside him toward the front porch.
"No, just a sister quite a bit younger than me." Jake led the way into the parlor. Most of the furniture was still pushed into the center of the room from where he'd moved it to paint. The smell of fresh paint still hung faintly in the air, but it wasn't too bad. He led the way down a little hallway toward the back of the house and the kitchen. "We can ask my mom where to lay Katie down."
When they stepped into the cozy country style kitchen, his seventeen year old sister jumped up from her chair.
"Jake, about time..." Her boisterous greeting died on her lips when she noticed their guests.
Her outburst had been enough to wake Katie. The girl's head popped up and she stared around the room. She took in the strangers, marked her mother standing beside him, and then focused all her attention back on Jake.
"Dadda," she placed her hands on both sides of his face. "Pa-cakes?"
Jake laughed. "She really does have a one track mind. Jessica, Mom, Dad, this hungry girl is Katie, and this is her mom Lindsey. They got in a spot of trouble on the highway."
Jessica moved closer. "Did she call you dad?"
His dad stood up. "Is there something you need to tell us, son?"
"No." Jake felt his face heat up. Surely, his family knew him better than that.
"I'm so sorry." Lindsey reached for Katie. "She's been calling him that ever since Jake pulled her out of the car."
Jake passed Katie over. "Don't worry about it. Let's get her something to eat." He gave his mom a hug. "Sorry I didn't call, but I didn't think you'd mind guests for breakfast."
"Of course not, dear." His mom wiped her hands on her apron and moved to shake Lindsey's hand. “My name is Marion.”
Lindsey stared at the floor. "Sorry to interrupt your family breakfast. I told Jake he could drop us off somewhere in town."
"Nonsense." Jake's dad waved her farther into the room. "I raised him better than that."
Lindsey sank into a chair. Jake noticed her hands had finally stopped shaking. He pulled out two plates and piled one with pancakes, and the other with bacon, sausage, and some scrambled eggs. Jessica put the maple syrup on the table at the same time he placed both plates in front of Lindsey.
"Goodness, I can't eat all of that." Lindsey looked up at him, but was quickly distracted by Katie grabbing a sausage.
"Looks like Katie's glad to help." Jake watched the gratitude blossom on Lindsey's face. "There's plenty. Mom will have a place for you to rest while I get TJ to bring your car into town."
"Thank you, Jake."
Her soft reply did something funny to his insides. Sort of like indigestion, but nicer. He tried to shake it off. Women never seemed interested in the farm boy, and anyway, she was just passing through.
Lindsey had never felt so welcome in her life. The house was just as beautiful inside as the outside. She caught a glimpse of two sitting rooms and a dining room on the way to the kitchen. They smelled faintly of paint, and the furniture was covered, but the rooms had still felt warmer than her house with Steven ever had. Maybe it was the soft wall color, something between an off-white and caramel.
By the time breakfast was done, she knew it didn't have anything to do with the half finished house that made her feel good. It was the warmth from the family that had permeated the air inside the cozy home. Jake's parents laughed with each other, talked to their children like equals, and bent over backward to make sure she and Katie had everything they could think of. It reminded Lindsey of the year she and her mom lived alone. After her father died, and before she married Steven.
What would it be like to always live in a home so filled with love? Lindsey couldn't imagine, but she wanted that for her Katie.
Marion ate quickly and started making biscuits while the rest of them finished up.
“Why are you making biscuits? I couldn't eat anything else if I tried.” Lindsey sighed and cut up another pancake for Katie.
“Oh, I make them for the whole week on Mondays. I'll freeze them and then pull some out as needed. It's good practice for when we open for business.”
“When are you going to open?” Lindsey wiped Katie's mouth and tried to keep her from sliding off the chair.
“I can take her out to the other room if you'd like.” Jake moved over to Katie's side. “I think we have some blocks or something she can play with.”
“That's okay. I'm sure you have other things to do.”
“Yep, but it'll hold. We'll just be in the front room.” Jake had knelt down at Katie's level and it did funny things to Lindsey's heart. This stranger paid more attention to her daughter than her own father ever had.
“I think I'll join you, son. We can talk about the next project while the little one plays.” Jake's dad followed them out.
“Can I help with the dishes or something?” Lindsey gathered plates from the table and moved toward the sink.
Jakes' mom took them from her. “You're such a sweetie, but no. You're our guest. Sit back down and visit for a while. We'll get to these after we finish the biscuits. Where are you coming from?" Marion continued to roll out dough while she asked questions.
"Northern Idaho."
"Did you grow up there?" Jessica put the first pan of biscuits into the oven.
"Yes, I've never lived anywhere else. Never really traveled at all in fact."
"Why not?" Jessica grabbed another cookie sheet and placed the dough her mom had cut onto it.
Lindsey shrugged. How much did she want to tell them? She watched the mother and daughter working together as if they'd done it all their lives. It made her miss her mom even more. What would it hurt to let someone in? She could tell them the basics; let them glean from it what they would.
"My dad died my senior year of high school, so I didn't go away for college. My mom needed me. I married pretty young and never got a second chance to move away."
Marian nodded. "I'm sorry about your father. The marrying young is small town life for you. Most of us around here have similar stories."
"That's why I'm going away for college, no matter what. Like Jake and Josh did." Jessica moved to the sink to wash the breakfast pans that had been soaking.
During breakfast, Lindsey had learned the Wilson's had one other son between Jake and Jessica. He was currently serving in the Air Force to help pay off his college loans.
"Can I ask what happened to your husband?" Marion sounded more concerned than nosey.
Lindsey waited for the fear to well up, but it didn't. She didn't mind telling Marion about Steven. In fact, it might be nice to talk it out with another woman.
"He...I thought—“ A lump formed in her throat. Maybe this would be harder than she thought.
"It's okay, you don't have to tell me if it's too hard to talk about." Marion wiped her hands clean and sat beside Lindsey at the table.
Jessica kept washing dishes, but noticeably slower. Lindsey took a deep breath and tried again.
"He left a year ago for a new job in Seattle. I wanted to go with him, but he said it would be easier if he went first, found a place and got settled in before we joined him." Lindsey swiped at her eyes. "After he left, we talked on the weekends. He said he was too busy during the week. I kept asking when Katie and I could join him, but he said it was taking longer to find a place big enough for us in the city that we could afford. He said we needed to sell our house before we could all move. We listed the farm and I waited. Five months out he stopped calling and didn't answer or return my calls. I was so worried. I finally called his office and the secretary didn't believe me when I said I was his wife. The Steven Ford she knew wasn't married."
"No!" Marion sucked in a breath and gripped Lindsey's hand tighter.
"A month after that, a guy showed up to serve the divorce papers. Steven didn't give a reason for the divorce. He didn't even ask for visitation rights, much less joint custody of Katie." Lindsey found herself squeezing Marion's hand. “For that I'm grateful.”
Jessica moved close and rested her hand on Lindsey's shoulder. "I'm so sorry."
"Did you ever talk to him again?"
"No. A week after the papers came, the realtor called to say Steven had sold the farm and I needed to move out. They gave me three days!" Lindsey couldn't keep the tears in anymore. "If it wasn't for some of my momma's friends, I wouldn't have had anywhere to go. She died the year before Steven left and we sold her house to finish paying off his school loans."
"Oh, sweetheart." Marion pulled Lindsey into a hug. "You've been through so much. Rest here with us a while. Christmas is so close, you should stay for that too."
The kindness did Lindsey in. She broke down in sobs. It had been so long since someone hugged her without wanting something in return. Not since her mom had passed away.
Chapter 3
Jake stayed hidden on the other side of the kitchen door, his hands fisted by his side while he listened to Lindsey cry. His father was sitting on the porch swing with Katie, and Jake had been sent to get cookies. He knew he shouldn't have listened, but when his mom asked about Lindsey's husband he couldn't help himself.
Now he wished for five minutes with the man. Jake would show him what he thought of such callous use of a tender-hearted woman.
"I can't impose on you for Christmas." Lindsey's voice sounded shaky. "It's my fault I'm in this mess. The signs were there, but I wanted so much to believe he loved me."
He heard his mother murmur something he couldn't hear.
Convince her to stay. The thought came straight from Jake's heart, surprising him at it's strength.
Jessica came barreling through the door. "Oh, I was just coming to get you."
Jake tried not to look guilty, but the heat crawling up his neck didn't give him much hope. "I was coming for cookies. What's up?"
"You've got to help us talk Lind
sey into staying for Christmas."
Hearing his thoughts echoed in her words felt like a confirmation. However, he also knew you shouldn't make anyone do something they didn't want to.
"Maybe she already has plans."
"I didn't think of that." Jessica grabbed his hand and pulled Jake into the kitchen.
Lindsey looked physically and emotionally worn out. She slumped in the chair with circles under her puffy eyes. The seat belt mark was lighter, but she'd have a burn mark for a few more days. She tried to sit straighter, her hand moving halfway to her hair before she let it rest on the table.
"Jessica was telling me she'd like you to stay for Christmas. We'd love to have you here, but didn't you mention a brother?" Jake almost winced. Smooth. He just didn't know how to ease into things, but he'd work on it.
Lindsey looked from Jessica to Jake and back. "Yes, I'm heading to his house. He sent me a key to his apartment."
"Wait, he won't be there?" Jessica asked.
"Not until after New Year's."
"Then you should stay here. There's loads of fun stuff coming up in town. The dance at the resort, and we still need to decorate the tree for the front parlor. I bet Katie would love that." Jessica fairly danced in place.
"I already feel like I'm intruding on your family time." Lindsey glanced at Marion, then refocused on Jake. "Maybe we should see about my car and then I'll think about it."
Jake nodded. "TJ is headed out there now. It'll take him a while to bring it in and look it over. If you want, Dad and I will play with Katie so you can get a nap. You look worn out."
Jessica elbowed him in the side. When he glanced at her, she rolled her eyes.
"What?" he whispered.
"You're hopeless." Jessica threw her hands in the air. "I'll keep an eye on the men while they watch Katie."
Marion laughed. "They'll be fine, Jessica. You need to help me bring the decorations down from the attic." She stood and pulled Lindsey to her feet. "You do need some sleep though. Come with me."
A Merrily Matched Christmas Page 8