A Mom for Christmas

by Lorraine Beatty

  “I know we all have to do certain things to meet our goals to get that promotion or earn that raise. We tell ourselves it’s so we can provide a better life for our family or for ourselves. But the problem lies in the definition of better life. If you’re ignoring your family, your friends and your God, then how can that make anything better? Ask yourself what is your goal really costing you? People, jobs, dreams will all fail you. Put Him first always, and He’ll take care of the rest.”

  Beth stood for the final hymn, her mind replaying the things she’d heard. Had she done that? Had she pushed aside those she loved in her drive to achieve her lifelong dream? The answer wasn’t hard to find. She had. A sour feeling formed in her stomach. The buzz and push of people making their way out of the sanctuary pressed in on her. Her mother was talking to a friend. Her brothers and their families had exited the pew on the other end, leaving her a clear path to the side door. Quickly she made her way to the side aisle, but before she could reach the door she heard her name called. Chloe hurried toward her.

  “Daddy says I can take dancing lessons from you. When can I come?”

  Noah stepped forward, resting his hands on his daughter’s shoulders and looking absurdly handsome in a dark suit and crisp white shirt that contrasted pleasantly with his sun-darkened skin. The sky blue tie lying against his chest made his eyes even bluer. But the deep scowl on his face said he still had strong reservations about the situation.

  Ignoring the wince of discomfort his look caused, she looked at Chloe. “I was thinking we’d meet twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, right after school.”

  Chloe frowned. “Not every day?”

  “No, that’s not good for your muscles when you’re starting out. Even I have to take some downtime. And I have a surprise for you. My niece Abby and her friend Hannah are going to come, too.”

  “Really? Cool. Abby’s here today. Dad, can I go find her?”

  He nodded, giving her a loving smile before turning his blue eyes on her. She knew exactly what he was going to say. “Yes, I spoke with Pete and he’s all for the ballet lessons with a few exceptions. But those are things she wouldn’t be learning for a few months anyway.”

  “What time will the lessons be? I need to work it into my schedule.”

  “You plan on watching the entire hour?”

  “Yes.”

  “I wish you wouldn’t. It’s not good for Chloe if you’re hovering all the time.”

  “I want to make sure nothing happens.”

  Evelyn joined them, giving her grandson a light swat on his shoulder. “Noah, stop behaving like an overprotective father. Beth is a professional, and I’m quite certain she knows what she’s doing.”

  Beth stifled a smile at the resigned look on Noah’s face. “Thank you, Miss Evelyn, for the vote of confidence. I’ll take good care of all the girls.”

  Noah set his jaw and made an excuse to leave. After he stepped away, Evelyn slipped her arm in Beth’s and walked her toward the side door.

  Evelyn pulled her a little closer. “We have some things to discuss, dear, and now that you’re part of the little theater we’ll have plenty of time to catch up.”

  Beth wasn’t sure what she meant exactly, but she liked the idea. She had a feeling there was a lot more to Noah’s attitude than she knew. They’d been close back then, and she’d been able to sense his moods—except for the day she’d given him his graduation gift and he’d handed it back. Figuratively, of course. She had to find out why he was still holding an old grudge.

  Maybe by accepting Evelyn’s offer, she could learn more about Noah’s attitude and find a way to repair the damage from the past.

  * * *

  Beth couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this anxious about anything. Not even her first solo performance as principal ballerina had tied her stomach in this many twisted knots. She scanned her small studio again. It was cleaned up and ready for her first students. Abby, Hannah and Chloe would be arriving soon for their first class.

  Beth had conferred with Pete Jones a few more times about things she wanted to teach to make sure she fully understood Chloe’s condition. He’d offered to work with her, too, if she needed any help with her ACL rehab.

  She exhaled a long sigh, clasped her hands together and glanced for the tenth time at the clock, fighting the churning sensation inside. For most of her dancing career she’d been the student, attending daily classes and rehearsals. She’d helped other dancers in her career, but they’d been professionals seeking advice. She’d never taught beginners, especially children. What if she was too technical? What if she pushed too hard or became impatient? What if—

  “Aunt Beth, they’re here.” Abby charged through the door, all smiles.

  “Hi, Miss Beth.” Chloe followed behind, and Hannah brought up the rear.

  “Hello, ladies. You look excited.”

  Hannah giggled. “We’re not ladies. We’re girls.”

  Beth tapped her shoulder. “You are young ladies who are going to learn the first few positions of ballet.”

  Chloe clapped her hands. “On our toes?”

  “Not yet. You have to work up to that. Put your things over there and we’ll get started.”

  Beth’s new sister-in-law, Julie, stopped at her side. “Thank you for doing this. Abby and Hannah were so excited on the way over, I thought my eardrums would burst.”

  “I have to admit I was nervous about this at first, but I think it’ll be fun.”

  “And much needed.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Abby has wanted to take dancing for a while, but the only school near here is in Sawyer’s Bend. I’ve been reluctant to let her attend there. I’ve heard some disturbing things about the kind of dance moves they teach.”

  Beth looked to her sister-in-law for an explanation.

  “A lot of the moms here in Dover have pulled their girls from that school. At the last recital Hannah was in, she looked like a pole dancer. Her mother was furious.”

  Beth was well aware of the suggestive movements popular in today’s world, though she couldn’t imagine teaching some of them to children. “I had no idea that was happening.”

  “How do you teach your daughter Christian values and modesty when the world tells them it’s okay to dance like a stripper? Maybe you should think about opening up a school here. I know dozens of mothers would love to sign their children up if they knew they didn’t have to worry about inappropriate dances.”

  Julie waved goodbye, and Beth focused her attention on her students. But her sister-in-law’s suggestion began to churn in the back of her mind.

  “Okay, ladies, let’s get started. First we have to stretch out all our muscles.”

  She noted with interest what each girl had decided to wear. Abby had chosen black tights, leather dance flats and a purple-and-black leotard. Hannah wore bike shorts and a tank top. Chloe proudly wore traditional pink tights and a leotard with a net tutu to match.

  Hannah chuckled. “You don’t need a tutu to practice, silly.”

  “I don’t care. I want to look like Miss Beth, and that means I have to have a tutu.”

  “But she’s not wearing a tutu today,” Abby pointed out.

  Beth chuckled and gestured to her all-black dance ensemble with a knee-length wrap skirt.

  “You wear what makes you comfortable. And today I’m comfortable looking like a teacher. First we warm up.”

  Watching the girls’ excitement as she introduced simple steps and explained various movements chased away her lingering nerves. They were sweet and eager to learn. She’d take her cues from them and use this first class as her barometer to gauge how she would proceed.

  An hour later the girls were pulling on their jackets and gathering up their things. The warm glow filling her chest as sh
e watched them brought a smile to her face. Teaching these girls had been more enjoyable than she’d ever expected. Their energy and enthusiasm had filled her with joy. The idea of a dance school didn’t seem like the end of the road, but a possible new bend in it.

  Abby and Hannah waved and hurried out the door. Chloe stood at the barre pretending to be on her toes as she waited for her father to pick her up. A flash of light and a soft squeak filled the studio as the door opened and Noah strode in. In his leather jacket, which showed off the breadth of his shoulders, and faded jeans that hugged his muscular legs, he bore little resemblance to the tall, skinny boy she remembered. He grinned in her direction, his blue eyes soft with affection. Her pulse hiccupped. It quickly stilled when she realized his warm welcome was directed at his daughter and not her.

  Chloe ran toward him and gave him a quick hug, chattering about what she’d learned. He gave Chloe a pat on the shoulder. “I’m glad you had fun. Why don’t you wait in the car? I want to talk to Miss Beth for a second. I’ll be right there.”

  Chloe waved and smiled before walking outside.

  Noah finally settled his clear blue gaze on her, and her pulse jumped again. Something in his attitude raised her defenses. “She did very well. In fact, I know you don’t want to hear this, but she’s a natural. I don’t think you’ll have any problem getting her to do her exercises now.”

  “That’s good. I just want to make sure she doesn’t get any ideas when it comes to these dance classes. I don’t want you glamorizing your profession, making it appear all fun and games.”

  Beth set her jaw and crossed her arms over her chest. “I will always answer her questions honestly. I won’t sugarcoat anything, but I won’t lie about the enjoyment and satisfaction, either.”

  “I don’t want her lured into thinking fame is something she should chase after. It only leads to disappointment and ruins relationships.”

  She shook her head. “I never chased the fame, Noah. You know that.”

  A muscle flexed in his jaw, and his eyes narrowed. “Not you. Her mother. How can a husband and child compete with Hollywood celebrity?”

  Stunned, Beth could only watch as he spun around and walked out. Had his wife walked out on him and Chloe? She knew he was divorced, but she’d never thought about what had brought it about. Is that why he was so against anything connected to the arts? It explained a lot. She wanted to ask him what had happened, to help her understand his animosity. Hurrying to the door, she opened it as his car disappeared around the bend in the drive.

  This is what had been the strength of their relationship—the ability to help each other through hard times. Noah needed someone to talk to, to work out his anger. It wasn’t all about her after all. He’d been hurt deeply by his wife’s betrayal.

  But first they had to get beyond their own past.

  * * *

  Noah tried to pay attention to the conversation going on between his gram and Chloe as they ate supper that evening, but they were talking about Beth, the last thing he wanted to hear. He was trying not to think of her, but he’d found that to be difficult. Gram had fixed his favorite—roast beef with homemade noodles—but he was barely aware of eating any.

  He blinked and tried to pick up the thread of the conversation. He knew it had something to do with the first dance class earlier today, but all he could think about was the joy on Beth’s face when he entered the studio. Chloe had been bubbling over with excitement, but Beth’s expression was one of pure delight. Her hazel eyes had sparkled, and her smile was brighter than morning sunshine. He’d been caught off guard by the emotions swirling up from deep inside. All his old feelings came roaring back. He’d reacted by blurting out the truth about Yvonne. He hadn’t intended to, but sharing his concerns with her was as natural as breathing.

  He’d forced himself to listen to Chloe and keep his eyes away from Beth. He’d slammed his defenses into place. He couldn’t forget that she was driven and focused and had only one agenda in her life. One that didn’t include family and friends.

  “Noah. Noah. Yoo-hoo.”

  He jerked his head up. Gram was staring at him. “Sorry. I was thinking about...work. What were you saying?”

  Gram peered over her glasses. “I was reminding you that there’s a board meeting for the little theater this evening. Your presence is required.”

  Chloe groaned. “Does that mean I have to go, too? Those meetings are boring.”

  “Maybe so, but you can’t stay here all alone. You can use my tablet while you wait.”

  A mischievous grin appeared on her face, putting a sparkle in her eyes. “Can I watch videos of Miss Beth?”

  He still didn’t like the idea. The more she watched the clips, the more time she spent with Beth, the greater the risk of her latching on to a dream that could only bring heartache and disappointment. But he couldn’t keep her a baby forever. “Okay, but I’m going to put your spelling words and your study guide for the test on Friday on there, too, so you can spend part of the time looking at those.”

  A half hour later he pulled out of the drive for the short trip to the little theater. For a man who vowed to steer clear of any artistic endeavors, he found himself hip-deep in them. First his gram sweet-talks him into taking part in her renewed theater project, then Beth comes back to town and gets Chloe involved in dance classes.

  He really needed a nice steel rod to insert into his spine. Either that, or he had too many women in his life. Problem was he loved them too much to turn down their pleas for help.

  Except Beth. He couldn’t deny he felt something, but he was absolutely sure it had nothing at all to do with love. It was merely an emotional muscle memory being reawakened. It would settle back down soon enough.

  Noah opened the back door of the old building to allow his gram and Chloe to enter. The board usually met in a small room at the back. He never had much to add to the proceedings. His lack of creativity put him at odds with the other members, and only reminded him of high school and being the misfit. The only time he’d felt he belonged was when he’d become friends with Beth. But he did it to please his gram, and he tried to act as the practical, business-minded member.

  He stepped into the cramped space and froze.

  “Miss Beth.” Chloe darted between the members and into Beth’s arms.

  Noah stared at Beth, his emotions tilting between surprise and dread. What was she doing here?

  His gram hurried toward Beth, too, patting her cheek and smiling before directing her to be seated. In his stunned state, he waited too long to choose a seat and ended up having to take the chair next to Beth. He leaned toward her slightly. “Why are you here?”

  “I’m taking Allison’s place. You?”

  “I’m on the board.” She met his gaze with an insincere smile that created a kink in his chest.

  Gram was sorting through her papers, and Chloe had curled up in a chair in the corner, busily tapping away on his tablet. He had a feeling she was watching videos of Beth again.

  “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. We have some new business to go over, and I want to get right to it before we address the other issues. Beth, my dear, would you stand?”

  Her chair squeaked as she moved to rise, and Noah reached for the back to pull it away.

  He didn’t want to look at her, but he couldn’t help it. Her smile was warm and genuine now as she touched each member with her gaze.

  “I’d like you to meet our new dance coordinator, Miss Bethany Montgomery. I’m sure you all know some member of the Montgomery family. There are a bunch of them here in Dover.” She paused as the members chuckled. “And you may know that Beth is a professional ballerina. She’s home now and has graciously agreed to take Allison’s place.”

  His gaze traveled around the room as the board gave Beth a round of polite applause. Gram looked delighted. Smug, a
ctually, which raised a flag in the back of his mind. She then introduced the other board members: Shelby Durrant, who owned a small stationery shop on the square, Todd Newsome, the new president of the bank and David Atkins, an attorney.

  “I’m sure her knowledge and expertise will add another level of excitement to our humble production,” Gram said after she had introduced everyone and turned back to Beth.

  “Thank you all,” Beth said. “I’m looking forward to being a part of the Christmas Dreams musical.”

  “Noah, dear. Why don’t you show Bethany around and introduce her to everyone. I’ll fill you in on our discussions later.”

  Trapped, he had no recourse but to agree. With a stiff smile and a wave of his hand, he gestured her to precede him. Once outside the small room, he stopped, only to have Chloe bump into him from behind. “Where are you going?”

  “I want to look around, too.”

  “Not happening.” He took her hand and marched her to the steps along the side of the stage. “See those nice comfy seats? Pick one, open your homework and get busy.”

  With a barely stifled groan, a roll of her big blue eyes and a dejected droop to her shoulders, she stomped down the wooden steps and threw herself into a seat, scowling at him above the tablet. Anticipating her next comment, he pointed at her. “Homework. No videos.” It earned him another glare.

  A soft snicker to his left drew his attention. Beth was covering her mouth with her fingertips, her eyes bursting with amusement. “What?”

  “I thought you said you couldn’t say no to your little girl?”

  “Not all the time.” He faced her. “What changed your mind?”

  “I missed the theater. I thought it would be good to help out and keep busy.”

  “You don’t have enough to do with working for your mom and teaching dancing?”

  “Teaching only takes two hours a week. And I don’t work full-time at the office. That leaves a lot of free time. Even with daily workouts.”

  “So what happens to this show when you’re all healed up and you run back to New York?”