“I don’t fool around on the first date.”
“We haven’t been on a date yet.”
“Exactly. Don’t get me wrong… I want to stay, but if I give myself to someone, I need to make sure it’s not just for a few hours.”
If he had any say, Hanna would be a part of his life for much longer than one night. He wanted to tell her that she’d unleashed a cataclysmic reaction inside him, but he thought better of it. It was too much, too soon to have such strong feelings toward her.
Wasn’t it?
He nodded and stood.
Reluctantly, Julian helped Hanna on with her coat. He walked her to her car and waited to make sure the engine turned over in the cold weather. She rolled down the driver’s window and he leaned in.
“Let’s try that date as soon as my sister feels better. How about tomorrow?”
She laughed. “The flu can last for days. We’ll have to wait and see.”
“But I don’t want to wait.” He kissed her again. Her lips were sweet and warm. He could stand here and kiss her all night, but he’d probably freeze to death. It might be worth it. He finally lifted his head and said, “I want to see you again. So tomorrow?”
She hesitated, and then a brilliant smile escaped her lips. “Tomorrow.”
Chapter Six
Hanna spent every free hour for the next few weeks with Julian and Gabe. She quickly got used to the routine. She and Julian were so happy when the school chose Gabe for a part in the play and Gabe asked her if she would come. It meant a lot that he’d wanted her there. He was an amazing little boy and became a bigger part of her life every day.
Gabe was a snowflake and all the kids were too cute for words. They sang an array of different holiday songs and even did one in sign language.
After the play, when they returned to Julian and Gabe’s house, Gabe ran off toward the back bedroom. He returned with a crudely wrapped packet, and handed it to her.
“What’s this?” Hanna asked, as she ran a hand over the grocery bag wrapping paper. Julian took her coat and hung it by the door so she could follow Gabe into the living room.
“Daddy saw this in a store window and said that we had to get it for you. Open it!” Gabe said. “I wrapped it myself,” he added proudly.
“But it’s not Christmas.”
“No. This is a before Christmas gift. You have to open it now.”
She pulled off a half-pound of scotch tape and finally the paper fell away. Hanna stared at the gift in disbelief. “A Christmas sock… with my name on it.”
Julian came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “You told me that you’d never had a Christmas stocking of your own when you were growing up. Gabe knew Santa wouldn’t know where you were if you didn’t have you sock hung somewhere.” He winked. “So you needed it.”
“You can take it to your home or you can hang it here!” Gabe shouted almost tripping over Cody.
Cody whined and nudged Gabe’s leg. The little boy stopped talking and sat solidly on the floor. His eyes rolled back as a seizure overtook him. This time Hanna knew what to do when he fell onto his back. As Julian cradled him, she cleared the toys and other objects from around the boy’s body.
After a few minutes, Julian said, “Get my phone. We need to call an aid car and get Gabe to the hospital.” His voice was monotone and it scared her.
“I’ll call.” Hanna jumped to her feet and raced to get her phone out of her purse. As she dialed 911, she tried to tamp down the panic in her voice when she spoke to the operator.
Before the medics arrived, Gabe’s seizure ended.
One of the paramedics checked Gabe’s vitals and then said, “He seems to be doing okay. We’ll wait a few minutes to see if anything changes, or we can take him in to the hospital if you’d like.”
After a few minutes, Gabe opened his eyes. He rolled to his side in Julian’s lap and patted Cody. “You’re the best dog ever.” He closed his eyes again.
“I think he’ll be fine,” Julian said. “I don’t think he needs to go to the hospital this time.”
Julian carried Gabe upstairs and laid him in the middle of his bed. He dimmed the bedside lamp before coming back to stand by Hanna in the doorway.
“This is our life. It’s not easy,” Julian said, as he let out a shaky breath.
“Life’s not easy.”
“But some are easier than others. Marion couldn’t deal with it, and I won’t think worse of you if you decide the same.”
“You’ve already made up my mind for me?”
“No… I’m just saying that I’ll understand. It’s really difficult on some days. I’m not sure I’ll get through it… I’m tired of doing this alone. I need you Hanna. It’s hard for me to admit it, but… I need you right now.” He opened his arms to her. “Stay with me… us, even if it’s for a few hours.”
Hanna came into his embrace. Julian held her tighter than ever before. His arms trembled as he buried his head and kissed her hair. She could tell he was close to breaking. She was glad she was there with him…for him.
That night, she slept on Julian’s bed with Gabe between them. She held Julian’s hand as Cody softly snored on the floor.
Sometime during the night, she woke. Over Gabe’s angelic form, she watched them both as they slept. This was a first. Everything felt right, and she knew she belonged. At that moment, everything in her life became crystal clear.
When she arrived at work, Hanna poured a fresh cup of coffee before she knocked on her boss’s door.
“Hey Fred, do you have a few minutes? I have a few things I want to talk to you about.”
Fred frowned. “You’re not quitting are you? You can’t do that to me at Christmas.”
“No, you big lug, I love it here, you know that, and you’ll probably be stuck with me forever. But you know all those times that I’ve covered for you when your daughter’s braces popped off or she broke up with her latest boyfriend?”
“Yes…” he drew out the word and eyed her suspiciously.
“Well, you’re going to help me make something work out and then you get to play Santa.”
Chapter Seven
“Are you going to tell me what the heck you’re up to?” Julian asked with a twinkle in his eyes.
“No. Now be quiet and finish decorating your cookies for Santa.” She mirrored his smile.
“We have to hurry and get the cookies decorated.” Gabe said in one long sentence without taking a breath. “Last year… I didn’t see Santa, but he liked the cookies with the sprinkles best. Here Daddy, put more sprinkles in the gingerbread man’s hair,”
“Yes, sir,” Julian said with a salute, as he removed the shaker from the table to apply a thicker coat of red candy sprinkles.
Gabe looked around. “Hanna, how come you didn’t bring Cody?”
“Could it by Christmas? You just noticed he wasn’t here? Man, you must be excited. Cody told me that he was busy for the evening,” Hanna said, as she took the blue frosting squirt tube in her hand.
“He can talk to you?” Gabe asked.
“Of course,” Hanna said. “Just like he talks to you.”
“He doesn’t really talk,” Gabe clarified. “He only talks dog, but I kinda know what he’s saying.” Suddenly he stopped decorating his cookie, and his head popped up. “Did you hear that?”
“No. What did you hear?” Julian asked.
“It sounds like sleigh bells. Is the TV on?”
Julian looked over his shoulder and into the living room. “Nope. It’s not on.”
“There it is again!” Gabe shoved his chair back and ran into the other room.
Hanna and Julian moved to the living room window behind Gabe.
“It’s Santa!” Gabe cried and pointed through the glass. In the corner of the yard by the garage was a Santa in full red suit with a large bag over his shoulder. He shook a string of sleigh bells in his hand.
Julian looked at Hanna with a raised eyebrow, but didn’t say anythin
g and played along.
“Hardly anyone ever gets to see Santa. You better go and see what he wants,” she said.
Gabe looked around and then ran toward the kitchen.
“Where are you going?” Julian asked.
“I gotta get the cookies,” Gabe answered as he ran back into the room and slid to a stop as Julian opened the door. Santa stood in front of them on the porch.
“Do I have the right house? Does a little boy named Gabe live here?” the man in the suit asked.
“I’m Gabe, Santa. We made your favorite cookies.” He handed him the plate.
Santa slid a cookie off the plate and took a big bite, then bent down and set the plate on the porch steps. He dropped to one knee. “Gabe, I’m here because you wrote me a letter.”
“You got it?” Gabe’s eyes grew wide.
“Of course I did. I get every letter boys and girls write to me. Well, I usually never come this early in the evening because there are so many kids to deliver presents to, but I have something very special for you this Christmas, and I can’t have him in my sleigh any longer. He’s soooo good at doing the things that he’s asked to do, he’s making all the reindeer jealous.” He stood and called out. “Elf! Bring Gabe his present.”
Her boss’s daughter came around from behind the garage. A big grin showed the red and green bands of the girl’s braces as she led the dog toward the house. Cody wagged his tail. He was decked out with a big red bow tied around his neck
“Cody!” Gabe cried and ran to him. The dog jumped up and licked his face. “Is he mine, Santa?”
Santa pulled out a long strip of computer paper taped together. “Yep. It says right here.” He pointed. “Line one-thousand and forty-eight. Cody. Dog for Gabe Barrows. Care to check it twice?” He dangled the list loosely between his fingers.
“Mine?” Gabe asked again.
“All yours. Ho, Ho, Ho and Merry Christmas! I hope this will be your best Christmas ever.” Hanna’s boss handed Gabe the leash and then winked at her and Julian. He gave Hanna a big hug before he walked off to join his ‘elf’ daughter.
The three of them brought Cody into his new home. When Gabe was out of earshot, Julian asked, “Is this for real? But you said—”
“I know what I said about Cody being promised to other clients, but I changed my mind. He’s my dog. I get to decide where he lives and he needs to live here, with you and Gabe.” Hanna stood on her toes and kissed him.
“But what about the money and your sister’s college tuition?”
“We talked about it and she agrees that this is the best scenario. She cares about Cody too. I called in all my favors and found dogs for the other two families, so it’s a win-win situation. They will pay me a finder’s fee which will cover Carla’s classes for next quarter, and it will give her the time to get her financial aid straightened out. She needs to begin figuring out her own problems and not rely on me to fix everything for her.”
“I can’t believe you did this.” Julian took her hand and squeezed tight.
“The times I’ve been here and he’s experienced a seizure I was able to see all the hours of training I did with Cody pay off. If you haven’t noticed, I’ve grown very attached to Gabe. He’s starting to feel like my own son.” Hanna looked up at him. “Which is a good thing, because I think I’m in love with his dad.”
Julian’s eyes widened for a second as he gazed at her.
Not sure what to say, she continued, “Sorry, if this is too much too soon. I know how much you were hurt by your ex.”
“And the two of you have very little in common, which is why I’ve been convincing myself for the last week or two that I need to take a second chance.” He dipped his head and gently kissed her. “Because I’ve fallen in love with you too.”
Her heart swelled to bursting as Julian took her into his arms and kissed her deeply.
When they broke the kiss she asked, “So, you’ll let Gabe keep Cody? I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before. I wanted it to be a special surprise for both of you.”
“It was.” He brushed her hair behind her ear and stepped back. “Since we’re starting new Christmas traditions, I have something we need to do.” Julian took her hand and led her toward the tree and the fireplace. “When you were here a few nights ago, Gabe and I bought you a Christmas stocking. You never had a chance to hang it on the mantel.” He lifted it off the table and laid it in her grasp.
She paused, and wiped at the tear sneaking down her cheek. “I haven’t had very many happy Christmas memories.”
“Before now, I hope.” Julian leaned close and whispered, “That’s why we start new memories, right here, right now.”
Gabe jumped up off the floor and ran toward them with Cody at his heels. “Hanna! Daddy and I made a space for your sock, right here next to mine. Hang yours here.” He pointed to an open section where a new, shiny brass hook had been installed.
Hanna hooked the stocking’s loop over the hook and watched as it swung down.
Gabe tugged at her pant leg until she knelt down. Julian followed her down to sit on the carpet beside them.
“I know that Santa brought Cody to me because it was what I wanted for Christmas. But, he’s not really my dog, he’s yours.” Gabe’s big brown eyes shone bright. He’d definitely thought through what he was saying . “But, if you move in here with me and Daddy, then we can both be with Cody.” Gabe swiveled toward his dad. “Pleeease, Daddy. I want Hanna to live here with us. Then we can share Cody and neither of us will be sad that he’s not with us.”
“I think that’s up to Hanna what she wants to do,” Julian said, brushing a hand up her arm.
“Is that what you want?” Hanna asked Julian. She held her breath waiting for his answer.
“It’s definitely what I want.” Julian pulled Gabe into his lap and looked down at him. “I love Hanna, Gabe.”
“I love her too, Daddy.”
“Then I guess it’s unanimous.” Her gaze met Julian’s. His smile melted her heart. “You know, for the sake of the dog.” He winked at her. “Hanna Acker, I want you to be a part of my life. Make this the best Christmas ever and say that you’ll move in with us.”
“Yes! Yes! A thousand times, yes!” Hanna cried.
Cody grabbed them both around the neck and pulled them down for a big kiss on each of their cheeks.
“Santa’s right! This is the best Christmas ever !” Gabe shouted as Cody joined in on the excitement.
“Santa’s always right, and this is the best Christmas ever.” Hanna ruffled Gabe’s hair before she pulled Julian in for another sweet, long kiss.
All of her new Christmas memories were just waiting for her around the corner .
Note From Author
I am the happy owner of a sweet, goofy nine-year old rescue lab named Duke. I have had such a great experience with him; I wanted to bring awareness to others with information regarding adopting shelter/rescue animals into their lives. I wanted to write three short-sweet Christmas stories involving dogs and how they bring so much into our lives.
The first, Central Bark at Christmas is about a man and woman who find an abandoned dog at the dog park and come together in search of a home for him. The second, Christmas Gift that Keeps Wagging adds light to seizure dogs. The third will involve soldiers on deployment and trying to get his beloved pet home.
Learn more about Seizure Dogs
National Epilepsy Foundation: http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/livingwithepilepsy/healthandwellness/Seizure-Dogs.cfm
4 Paws for ability: http://4pawsforability.org/seizure-assistance-dog/
Epilepsy.com http://www.epilepsy.com/articles/ar_1084289240
About the Author
Jennifer Conner is a best-selling Northwest author who has over thirty short stories on ebook and three full-length books in print. She writes in Contemporary Romance, Paranormal Romance, Historical Romance, and Erotica. Shot in the Dark hit Amazon at #1 in Romantic Suspense and Christmas Chaos was #2 in the Romance cate
gory. Her novel Shot in the Dark was a finalist in the Emerald City Opener, Cleveland, and Toronto RWA contests. Jennifer is an Associate Publisher for the indie e-book company Books to Go Now that resides in the Seattle area.
One Horse Open Sleigh Race
Karen Hall
Chapter One
London 1819 Berkeley Square
“Reverend Smythe is dead?” Cameron, “Cam” Hunt, the ninth Earl of St. Cloud stared across the desk at his bailiff. “Good God, Arwine. It’s two weeks until Advent. Where will I find another rector on such short notice?”
“The late Mister Smythe was never known for his sense of timing,” agreed Thomas Arwine. His weather-beaten features settled into a frown. “Rather bad manners, if you ask me.”
“Not to mention, extremely poor taste,” Cam growled. “What killed him?”
Arwine cleared his throat. “It would seem the late Mister Percival Smythe died yesterday evening after enjoying a rather large bottle of brandy given to him by a parishioner.”
“You mean he drank himself to death?” Cam muttered another oath more appropriate for a gaming hell than a London townhouse library, squashed his unfinished letter and tossed it into a nearby basket.
“So it would seem, my lord,” Arwine said. “I had George ready the carriage first thing this morning so I could come and tell you. We left as soon he could see the road.”
“Thank you for that,” Cam said. He rose and crossed the room to stand by the fireplace. “Has anything else happened in my little corner of Surrey, Arwine? Please tell me everything else is well in Huntingdown and at Heart’s Ease.”
At the mention of the St. Cloud country-seat, Arwine stood a little straighter. “Everything at Heart’s Ease is as you would have it, my lord. And naught else is amiss in Huntingdon.”
Christmas is in the Air Page 12