The Mistletoe Affair

by Judith Gilbert

  She looked pretty, except when she got that soft, dreamy look in her eyes watching Matt or her mother. With love shining in her jade eyes, she changed into the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. Radiant in fact.

  He fought the memory of her sprawled on top of him on that roof, her thighs squeezing his. He wondered if she wore that same sensual look in the throes of passion. She was also the most infuriating woman he'd even met, he reminded himself, forcing the erotic thoughts from his mind.

  Jared didn't know what to make of this enigma, or the fact she'd been divorced for two years. The ‘don't-bother-me-look’ Katherine shot his way when he tried to help, and the way she fought her mother's attempts at matchmaking told him she didn't need or want anyone-especially him.

  Well, she needed him to meet Matt's newest request, although she didn't know it yet. A little favor he did for a friend who normally played Santa would allow him to be intimately involved in making Matt's wish come true.

  “I know where you can find Santa and his schedule for the week.” He provided the name of the mall, the location and the times Santa would appear.

  Matt squirmed in his chair like fire ants invaded his pants. “Can we go tomorrow?"

  Jared didn't appreciate the wary look Katherine gave him, which did not correlate with her words. “Thanks a lot."

  “Yes, we've got to go shopping in the mall, so we'll drop by and visit with Santa.” She turned toward Jared. “You don't need to take us. I can manage this on my own. Thanks."

  There went the enigma again. Thank you on one hand, cold-shoulder on the other. Fascinating.

  “Oh, I had no intention of volunteering.” He enjoyed the tempting picture her full, bow-shaped mouth formed as it flew open to say something, but closed instead. Positively kissable. “But, I would like to take everyone riding around the neighborhoods to see the lights next Saturday night.” Matt almost flew out of his chair in his excitement, begging to go. Katherine rolled her eyes, smiled faintly, and reluctantly nodded in agreement.

  Jared grinned at her unwilling smile, and caught his breath when her tongue licked her lush lips. No, he wouldn't offer to take her to the mall. He couldn't possibly be in two places at once; he had no intention of taking them to see Santa since he was Santa.

  Maybe she'd sit on his lap and tell Santa what she wanted for Christmas.

  * * * *

  After Matt finished his bubble bath, Katherine dried him and the drowned bathroom floor. She dressed him in his favorite teddy bear pajamas and carried him to bed. His warm, chubby arms went around her neck and gave her a hug. He snuggled under the mountain of covers while she lay beside him and read.

  “Do you think I need to tell Santa my list of toys when I see him tomorrow?” he asked.

  She scrunched up her forehead in confusion. “You already saw Santa and told him what you wanted for Christmas. I don't think you need to repeat the list."

  “Maybe he forgot me."

  She rubbed the tiny worry lines between his eyes. “How could anyone who meets you possibly forget you, Matt? You're pretty special.” Since he believed it was important to keep Santa informed of his whereabouts, she wanted to reassure him. “I think you need to tell him whose house you're visiting and everything will be fine."

  He beamed at her. “You know who else said I'm special?"

  “Grandma,” she guessed.

  He giggled. “No. I mean someone new, today.” He paused. “Mr. Randall said I'm special. We're pals. I like spending time with him, ‘cause he really likes me. He's not like Dad."

  Hugging Matt, she wanted to make up for all the pain she knew his father caused him. Why couldn't Paul spend time with his son? Why couldn't he love his son?

  Minutes later, Matt yawned and closed his eyes. Half asleep he cuddled against her on the bed. “You like Mr. Randall?"

  Katherine breathed deeply and lifted her shoulder blades, rotating them back to relieve the tension that question caused. Did she like Jared? Something about him irritated the heck out of her every time she laid eyes on him. Her mother shoving him down her throat didn't help. Jared liked Matt and went out of his way to please him. She certainly liked that.

  Did she like Jared? Well, she didn't hate him. But she didn't want to get involved with a man like him. From what she'd seen and heard, he was cut from the same skirt-chasing cloth as her faithless ex-husband.

  “I like him. I think he's a good man.” Not good for her, but the memory of lying atop him on the roof snuck into her mind. Hmm, he'd give her a hell of a ride though.

  She kissed her son goodnight.

  He yawned again and rolled to face the wall. His voice muffled with sleep as he said, “Good. ‘Cause he's got horses and wants to show me how to sit on ‘em."

  Damn, caught again.

  * * * *

  Katherine stood in her nightgown and robe and studied the photos lining the mantle in the living room. A smile tugged at her lips when she spotted the one of she and her dad decked out for fishing. Next to it stood the photo of the first fish she'd ever caught. She laughed at the goofy expression on her six-year old face. The fish looked like a very large minnow, too small for eating, and she'd begged him to let her keep it. He'd given in to her and allowed her to carry it around until all the neighborhood cats started following her. She laughed again until tears formed in her eyes. The fish stank so badly that he took it away from her. They held an elaborate funeral for it so she'd stop crying. She touched her finger to the glass framing the photo and rubbed the smile on her father's face. “I really miss those summer fishing trips, Dad."

  She turned from the pictures and gazed out the window at the moonlit star-filled night, wishing she hadn't stopped fishing after her father died. But she couldn't shake the loneliness when she thought about trying to go fishing without him.

  The teakettle whistled and she hurried to the kitchen. She prepared two cups of herbal tea. Taking them back to the living room, she placed one on the coffee table beside her mother's chair and rested hers on the carpet.

  Sitting cross-legged on the floor, Katherine reviewed the lists they'd worked up earlier for the party and inhaled the tangy scent of honey and lemon as she sipped her tea. She looked up when her mother entered and took a seat. With her legs curled up under her, Grace looked almost exactly as Katherine remember her mother twenty-years ago. At fifty-six, her Mom was still an attractive woman, she realized in mild surprise.

  “You want to review these?” Katherine held up the list of invitees to the party.

  Her mother nodded. “Oh, yes. We don't have much time, because I doubt Matt will put up with a naked Christmas tree for very long."

  They both chuckled. Katherine could already hear his, “You know what?” followed by Jared's attempted rescue.

  After reviewing the list of names they'd prepared earlier, she looked at her mother. “Okay, we have a headcount of twenty-five so far.” Instead of smiling, her mother closed her eyes, and her chin quivered. “Mom, what's wrong? If you're too tired, we can do this some other time."

  Her mother glanced at the grandfather clock in the corner as it chimed. “Heavens, it's only nine-thirty, child. I'm not tired in the least. My neighbors look forward to this yearly get together, and I'm excited about having them over. I thought we'd do it Tuesday. I know that's only four days from now, but everyone's just waiting for the ‘official date’ so they know when to show up."

  “Well, let's hop to it and get this done.” Katherine tore the papers from her notebook, trying not to notice that Jared's name stood out at the top. “I'll leave the lists on the end-table for you to review in case we've forgotten anyone, or you decide you want to change what I'm making for the party."

  Katherine glanced at her mother who stared blankly at the window. What was wrong? Was she missing Dad? She looked so far away at times. Her mother couldn't be worried about the expense of the party; Katherine had always paid this for her parents.

  “Why don't we do something festive with the tree?” h
er mother said. “Maybe buy new decorations and follow a classic color scheme of white, gold and cranberry."

  Katherine pointed to the five boxes scattered around the living room. “What's wrong with using what we have?"

  “What's in those boxes is a hodgepodge of decorations we've bought or made over a time-span of thirty-years. We need a change.” Her mother's eyes filled with tears.

  “But it's tradition. I thought you'd want to keep everything the same."

  “I understand why you would want that, but it can't ever be the same, dear. That time is gone.” Her mother popped a tissue from the box and wiped her eyes. “The one constant in this house is love. That will always remain."

  Tears burned Katherine's eyes as her mother continued. “I appreciate your coming to help early this Christmas, but I'm concerned that you're trying to live in the past, Katherine. Christmas traditions are one thing, but I've often thought you're putting your whole life and Matt's little life on hold, waiting for your lost love to return."

  Katherine's pulse raced at the chilling and absurd thought. Paul's love was a farce from the beginning, their divorce a godsend. Loving Matt and keeping their family just the two of them was the only sensible thing to do.

  She had herself to blame for her mother believing that she pined for her ex-husband. Thinking Paul loved her, Katherine had married him; later she learned he'd married her to please his parents. She discovered that from the day they said their vows, she'd shared her husband with his mistress. Shamed, she lied to her parents, and to everyone else about the state of her marriage. When it became necessary, she lied about the reason for their divorce. The only ones who knew the truth were she and Paul-and all the women he'd been with. What a secret to share.

  “I'm not waiting for Paul,” she whispered.

  Standing, her mother walked to the window. With a firm hand, she pulled back the curtain and looked out. “I don't believe you.” She paused. “Will Paul be here this Christmas?"

  Katherine hoped Paul would not come and ruin Matt's Christmas. “I don't know if he'll make it or not. Of course, we hope so, but he's very busy."

  Her mother turned from the window wearing an angry scowl. “And you're not busy? If Paul took more interest in Matt, I might understand your hope. I would even encourage it, but he can't manage to spend time with his son. I'm worried that you aren't even trying to move on with your life."

  Katherine avoided her gaze. “I have moved on. I bought a house, and started a business that has expanded to include three partners.” She looked at her mother. “How can you possibly believe I'm not moving on with my life?"

  Her mother narrowed her eyes and stared at her. “That's your physical life, but how have you moved on with your emotional life? How often have you dated since the divorce?"

  “I'm raising my son. Right now he's my whole world."

  “And what about when Matt grows up and leaves for a life of his own? What life will you have after he's gone?"

  She chuckled. “I think I have a little bit of time before that happens."

  “Trust me, Katherine. Life flies away like dust in a whirlwind. That time will come before you know it. What's wrong with reaching out for something new? Not only for Matt, but for yourself, for that woman deep inside you."

  Katherine gasped and automatically thought of Jared. Was this why her mother kept pushing them together? “Mom, I'm not ready for a relationship, or anything permanent, at least not right now."

  “You used to have dreams for yourself, Katherine. Don't you still want a marriage and more babies to hold in your arms?"

  She blinked, a single tear fell from her eye, remembering those innocent dreams that had died. “Of course I do, but I need more time.” Maybe forever.

  “More time to waste moping for Paul?"

  If believing that would keep her mother from matchmaking and throwing Katherine at Jared, what did it hurt to go along with the lie? Hell, Paul didn't want a wife to crimp his style. No danger there. Katherine nodded.

  Her mother grew quiet, crossed the room and hugged Katherine.

  Rubbing the arms that held her so tenderly, Katherine whispered, “I love you, Mom. I'm calling it a night, I'm beat.” She headed up the stairs with questions zinging through her mind.

  Her mother had never talked to her this way. Oh they'd had the normal mother-daughter talk about boys and sex, but nothing like trying to open these old wounds. Maybe she should have confided in her. No why add that burden to her, particularly when she was already still upset. Whatever the reason behind this mother-daughter talk, it had something to do with Mom crying earlier, she knew it.

  * * * *

  Raised voices filtered to the upper floor through a vent from the living room and woke Katherine from a restless sleep. The pain in Jared's eyes haunted her dreams throughout the night and his words, “Not all moms” echoed in her subconscious. Sitting up, she tried hard to make out the muffled conversation.

  Her mother said, “It's almost eleven. Be quiet, or you'll wake Katherine."

  A masculine voice quieted, but the words were still plainly audible. “Why can't you go to the party, Grace? Will you tell me why?"

  Katherine made her way down the stairs and stood where she could see them, but they didn't notice her. She strained to listen and follow the conversation between her mother and a tall, thin-framed man, dressed in a casual pair of gray slacks and a burgundy pullover.

  “Thomas, I told you my daughter's home. Besides, I don't want to leave her alone, and then there's Matt. What would he do if I went to a party?"

  “Bring them along. You know they're welcome."

  “Katherine wouldn't approve, and I can't ask her."

  “You can't stop your life like this either!"

  “Thomas, you have to understand-"

  He shook his head. “I will never understand."

  Katherine entered the living room. The shocked look on her mother's face made her wonder about Thomas. “Where ever the party is, we accept.” She smiled, extended her hand and introduced herself, noting the gray around his temples, the full head of dark hair and his over six-foot frame.

  “I'm Thomas Hughes, one of Grace's neighbors. I'm pleased to meet you, Katherine."

  Her mother seemed flustered and blushed. “Katherine, you don't need to do this. It's just a birthday party the neighbors are throwing at the church for Mrs. Taylor, nothing fancy. I'd be sittin’ anyway."

  “Except for a slow waltz or two,” Thomas added.

  Smiling, Katherine recalled Jared's joke. She felt glad her stunt on the roof hadn't kept Mrs. Taylor from making her seventy-fifth birthday. “Matt and I would love to go."

  Thomas glanced at her mother. “I'd better be going. Pleased to meet you, Katherine."

  Katherine stared at her mom walking arm-in-arm to the door, escorting him out. She wondered from the conversation she'd overheard if he was much more than a friendly neighbor to her mother. She heard the door close and her mother returned.

  “I'm sorry we woke you, dear."

  Katherine bit her lower lip. “I don't know how to ask except right out. Is something going on between you and Thomas Hughes?"

  Crossing the room to her chair, her mother sat down. “No, sweetie. He's the dearest friend I have. His wife was diagnosed with ovarian cancer four years ago. Later, when your father was diagnosed with prostate cancer, Thomas understood the pain and trauma I faced each day. I leaned on him as a friend, and we shared a lot of pain. Both our loved ones died within two months of each other."

  Katherine rubbed her forehead. “I must have met him at the funeral, but I can't remember, everything's a blur. I'm glad you could lean on someone like him, Mom."

  “He came the night before the funeral to pay his respects. He's a dear friend, Katherine, nothing more. Don't play matchmaker, and I won't either. Go back to bed and get some sleep."

  Making her way back to the comfortable bed that beckoned, she didn't recall seeing Thomas's name on the guest list for
the tree-trimming party. She'd pencil him in tomorrow.

  The thought that her mother had lied about her relationship with Thomas Hughes seemed ridiculous. Dad had been dead ten months, and Mom didn't seem the type to fall in love that fast. Besides, what reason would she have to lie?

  * * * *

  “We've been at this shopping mall forever. Do we have to rest again? Santa's gonna leave, and I'll miss him.” Matt dropped his chin to his chest and sighed.

  “He stays late on Saturday. I promise you we'll see him today.” Smiling wearily, Katherine placed her packages on the bench and collapsed next to Matt. “We're almost finished. We need to buy an angel for the top of the tree from the store right over there.” She pointed to the specialty shop behind them, holding out the final carrots for his sacrifice. “We'll have pizza at the food court. Afterwards, we'll go see Santa.

  They'd made a lot of progress in two hours in spite of trips to the bathroom, trips to stow packages in the car and frequent rest breaks on the benches. She'd bought angel hair, beautiful ropes of gold and crystal beads, miniature candle lights with cranberry and gold lamp bases. In addition, she found delicate, white doves and Christmas ornaments of antique white, gold and luscious cranberry spun silk. Everything new, like her mom wanted, rather than the family tradition.

  “We've rested enough,” Matt said as he pulled on her hand.

  Katherine laughed. “Slave driver."

  They stood and he released her hand. He looked up at her and rolled his eyes. “Come on."

  She gathered her packages, and they hurried to the specialty shop. After five minutes of walking up and down aisles hunting for the right angel, Matt gasped and pointed to the top of a display tree way in the back of the store. “Isn't she beautiful?” He pulled Katherine's arm, and they moved in unison.