Harlequin Superromance December 2013 - Bundle 1 of 2: Caught Up in YouThe Ranch She Left BehindA Valley Ridge Christmas

by Beth Andrews

  Aaron noticed everyone was in jeans or other comfortable clothes. He was definitely overdressed. He unknotted his tie, slid it from around his neck and stuffed it in his coat pocket.

  He turned and saw that Maeve was watching him. He smiled and shrugged.

  She didn’t smile in return, but as she carried the bread basket toward the living room, she leaned over and said, “You looked very dapper.”

  To the best of his knowledge, no one had ever described him like that. He undid the top button of his shirt, too—and hoped he didn’t look any less dapper to Maeve.

  Food lined the counter. He helped Maeve and her mother carry things to the table. When everything was arranged to Maeve’s liking, she said, “Well, I guess we’re ready.”

  He took the seat that Maeve pointed to. It was at her right.

  “Normally, it’s only my mom, Herm and me for holidays. We’re happy to have so many friends with us at our table this year. Before we start, our family tradition is to go around the table and say what we’re thankful for. Mom is the first to remind me that even when things are tough, there’s always something for which we can give thanks.”

  Maeve looked to her left, and Josie went first. “I’m thankful for my family. For new friends. And for a sign that appeared in the middle of a blizzard and pointed the way to Valley Ridge.”

  Boyd spoke next. “I’m thankful for Josie, Carl, the new baby and for new friends here in Valley Ridge, and for enough work to keep us going.”

  They gave Carl a free pass and skipped to Maeve’s stepfather, Herm. “I’m thankful that when I finally stopped looking for love, it fell into my lap. I didn’t just find my Renie, but her daughter, too. And I’m thankful that Queenie’s mastitis has cleared up.”

  Maeve leaned over and whispered, “His prize milker.”

  Renie said, “I am so thankful that Maeve’s new friends were able to join us. I know how hard it is to feel as if you’ve lost everything, but a few years from now, you might find some hidden blessings in the experience.” She took her husband’s hand. “I know I did. And I’m thankful for...well, every moment of every day.”

  It was Aaron’s turn. He’d avoided family holidays for the past two years. Heck, he’d avoided people in general.

  He was pretty sure that his family’s concern for him was the reason he was in Valley Ridge to help his uncle Jerry. He hadn’t been able to find a way to say no, but he’d resented their interference. Still, sitting here with Maeve, her parents and friends, he felt a bit grateful.

  “I feel very lucky to not be eating a TV dinner and watching the game by myself.”

  He tried to laugh it off, but Maeve shot him a look that told him that he was a disappointment. He could ignore it, instead, he found himself saying, “And I’m grateful to be sharing the day with new friends.”

  He turned to Maeve, anxious to hear what his reluctant hostess was grateful for.

  She hesitated, as if trying to remember a long list. “There are so many things in my life that I’m thankful for. My family. New friends. For having work I love. That we live in a real community—a place where people care about others. I’m thankful for all the weddings this past year, for Lily’s wedding coming up and for all the new babies who will be joining us soon. I’m—”

  She stopped and looked away. “I could go on and on, but let me simply say that I’m thankful. And now, let’s eat.”

  The platters, plates and bowls were passed around Maeve’s makeshift table.

  Carl seemed to find the evergreen boughs that Maeve had used as part of her centerpiece particularly fun. Josie tried to keep him from grabbing them, but Maeve laughed and told her to let him be.

  Everyone talked and laughed, and Aaron was struck with a keen case of homesickness. He missed his pain in the butt younger sisters. He missed his father’s advice and his mother’s worried looks.

  He joined in the conversation when asked, but mainly he observed. There weren’t as many people here as there would be at his parents’ home, but it felt like one of his family’s get-togethers.

  As he was helping Maeve clear the table after dinner, his cell phone rang. Maeve looked at him. “My mom,” he said.

  “You can go upstairs and take it in my room. It’ll be quieter there.”

  “Thanks.” He pressed the talk button. “Hi, Mom. Happy Thanksgiving. Hold on a second.”

  He climbed up the narrow stairway to the bedroom at the top of the stairs. There was no girly, froufrou decor in Maeve’s room like there’d been in his sisters’ rooms growing up. There wasn’t anything pink in sight. The bed was covered with a predominantly red quilt, with pillows laid neatly at the top. There were two dressers. Both long and low enough to fit under the slanted ceiling. And a door to what had to be the closet. There were two nightstands, and both, not surprisingly, were piled with books. He couldn’t help but notice the title of the top book: The Secret Santa Club. A bookmark was placed midway through the book.

  Secret Santa? Wasn’t that, in essence, what Maeve had wanted to be for Boyd and Josie? Only she hadn’t wanted to get them a small gift, she’d planned on giving them a house.

  “Aaron?” his mom said, drawing his attention.

  “Sorry. There aren’t many of us here at my friend’s, but it’s a small house, so not many feels like a lot. It was noisy downstairs. I can talk up here. How is everyone?”

  His mother launched into updates on his sisters and his dad. She also told him how she’d just gotten back from dropping off her special potato casserole for some elderly neighbors. “I wish I could feed everyone, but this is the best I can do,” she said, reminding him of the thing on the wall that Maeve had pointed out.

  Maybe that’s what fascinated him about Maeve—she seemed to share his family’s need to help people without anything in it for herself. His mother would love her.

  He couldn’t see his mom’s smile, but he knew his mom well enough to be able to hear it in her voice over the phone. He also heard her get more serious as she commanded, “So, tell me who you’re having dinner with.”

  “That librarian I mentioned. Her parents, another couple and their son.”

  “I’m glad you’re having dinner with someone, but I wish you were home.”

  He thought about Maeve’s Thanksgiving table. He was thankful for his family and for the first time in a long time, he wished he were there, too. He realized that this was the second year he’d left his father on his own, surrounded by women.

  He hadn’t understood how much he missed them until tonight’s dinner.

  “Will you be home for Christmas?” his mother asked.

  “I’m not sure. I don’t think Uncle Jerry’s coming back until spring, which means I’m kind of stuck here. And I might not have much background in retail, but I’m pretty sure that’s the busiest time even for a local hardware store. But I promise, I’ll come home soon for a visit.”

  “I’ll hold you to it.”

  “Mom, I want to tell you that while I was giving thanks today, I realized how lucky I am that you all are my family.”

  He heard what sounded like a sniffle on the other end of the line. “Aaron, you almost sound like your old self.”

  “I don’t know if I can ever go back to being my old self, but maybe I can learn to be someone as likable.”

  “Did you talk to—”

  He knew what the next word was. He knew who his mother was going to ask about, and he didn’t want to talk about her. He was in a good place and he didn’t want to ruin that.

  “I’ve got to run, Mom. Pumpkin pie is being served and you know that’s my favorite. I’ll call in a couple of days, I promise.”

  “Love you, Aaron.”

  “Love you, too, Mom. Tell everyone else I love them. Well, never mind. Don’t tell the girls that. It’ll give them ideas.�
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  His mother was chuckling as he hung up.

  Aaron hadn’t heard his mom laugh at something he said in a long while. He hadn’t found anything funny in a long while.

  What do you call a computer nerd who no longer laughs? A memory stick-in-the-mud.

  He groaned and was glad he hadn’t tried that one at the library. He wouldn’t have won his award.

  He sat on the edge of Maeve’s bed and picked up The Secret Santa Club. He thought it might be a kids’ book, something for the library. But it wasn’t. It was a romance.

  Maeve Buchanan read romance. She watched sappy Christmas movies. She liked zombie movies. She bought homes for people in need.

  His thoughts ping-ponged. His mom was cooking for others. His father was spending the day in a house full of women and probably missing having Aaron there to back him up. He was trapped in Valley Ridge until spring. He was bored. He hadn’t been seriously engrossed in a project for a while, despite coming up with ideas. It felt like forever since he’d had something to occupy his curiosity.

  Maeve Buchanan was a mystery. She was too good to be true.

  When he’d sold his program, he ensured he’d have enough money to buy whatever houses or toys he wanted for the rest of his life.

  Whereas Maeve would have sacrificed to do what she was planning on doing.

  There had to be another reason. No one gave away their savings to help someone else. Even if she knew what it was like to be homeless, people didn’t really go around buying houses for other people.

  Maybe she wasn’t going to get anything material out of doing it, but she was going to get something. But what? And how else would he understand her if he never knew?

  This need to spend time with Maeve was troubling. She kept intruding on his thoughts. Interrupting his dreams.

  He put the book back on the pile and went down the narrow stairs. The table had been cleared and the pie served. A large piece had been cut for him. Maeve must have heard him come down the stairs. “I poured you coffee, but I can get you something else if you prefer.”

  “No, that’s fine. Thanks.” He took his seat.

  “How is your family?” Josie asked.

  “Fine. Thanks,” he said again.

  Carl must have decided utensils were not a necessary component of pie eating. The kid had pumpkin everywhere, but no one seemed to mind. Maeve had lined the toddler’s seat with a piece of clear plastic and Josie had placed a giant bib on him.

  Carl reminded Aaron of his little sisters back in the day. As Aaron watched the toddler play with the pumpkin puree on his tray table, Carl’s head started to tilt to one side.

  “I think he’s almost down for the count,” Aaron said softly.

  Boyd managed to catch Carl’s head before it hit the pie.

  “Let me clean him up and find somewhere to let him sleep,” Josie said.

  “You’re still on bed rest,” Boyd said. “I’ve got him.”

  Josie looked as if she was about to protest, but Boyd leaned over and kissed her forehead, silencing her. Then Boyd carried the toddler into the kitchen.

  Josie watched the two of them go, and Aaron could see the love in her eyes. She turned to him and smiled. “He’s a good man,” she said.

  “How did you meet?” Maeve’s mom asked. “I met Herm at the diner where I worked. I always tell people he married me for my chocolate shakes.”

  Herm nodded. “That was definitely part of it. Finding a woman who can scramble an egg isn’t so hard, but a good chocolate shake? That’s a rare gift.”

  Josie still looked toward the kitchen where her husband and son had disappeared. “I’ve known Boyd practically all my life. I started kindergarten with him and we were in the same class every year until high school.”

  “When did you start to date?” Maeve asked.

  “According to him, he had a crush on me from early on. He stole cookies from the snack tray for me, and had to sit in time-out. I gave him a kiss after that, and the way he tells it, that’s when he knew I was the one. We started dating our freshman year and were married three months after graduation. He got a job at the plant. Within two years, he was the third shift manager. I started college, and then Carl came along. We had so many problems when I was pregnant with him. This pregnancy has been so much easier, until now.” She patted her stomach.

  Aaron looked at Maeve. She was teary eyed. “Why don’t I go get more coffee.” She sprang up from her chair.

  “Do that and I’ll start to load the dishwasher. You did say I could help,” Aaron added.

  “The dishwasher’s broken.”

  “Boyd could have a look at it. He can fix anything,” Josie said.

  Maeve smiled and hurried to leave.

  Aaron knew she needed a moment. Josie’s story had really touched her.

  She returned and poured a drop of coffee into her cup. “Anyone else want their cup warmed?”

  Boyd came back into the room and sat down with Carl asleep in his arms.

  “I told Maeve that you can fix anything,” Josie said.

  “Maybe not anything, but I’m good with mechanical things. Something not working right?”

  “Her dishwasher. She was planning to do the dishes by hand,” Josie said, sounding like one of Aaron’s sisters when they told on him.

  “I can take a look.” Boyd started to get up, as if he was going to take a look right away.

  “How about tomorrow?” Maeve asked, waving her hand, indicating that Boyd should sit back down. “Finish your pie. Most of the dishes are china and can’t go in the dishwasher, anyway. I’ll do them by hand, and if you can fix it soon that would be great. If not, I’ll call a repairman.”

  “I’ll be over first thing,” Boyd promised.

  Aaron was surprised to hear himself asking Boyd, “Are you still planning to stay in Valley Ridge for a while?”

  “We can’t leave until Josie’s had the baby.” As he said the words, Boyd’s forehead furrowed, making him seem years older.

  “Why don’t you come over to the store tomorrow, when you’re done here? I might have some work for you.” Aaron wasn’t sure precisely what job he’d find, but there was plenty to do around the store. He loved his uncle Jerry, but he’d let the place coast into the new millennium. Nothing was computerized, for instance, and fixing that was right up Aaron’s alley. But there were other areas to update, too.

  Boyd grinned. “I will. I’ll come over here first and go straight there. Thank you, sir.”

  “Aaron,” he corrected. “Once we’ve shared a Thanksgiving turkey, first names are fine.”

  Josie shot him a look and he saw gratitude in her eyes.

  It made him uncomfortable. After all, he’d practically stolen a house from her. Granted, she didn’t know about that, but he did, and it made him feel guilty.

  Once everyone had finished their dessert, Aaron helped Maeve’s mother bring the dishes to the kitchen, and Maeve let everyone except Josie take the table apart and move the furniture back to where it should be. Then they all gathered around the TV to watch football. Aaron had never been much of a sports enthusiast, but he enjoyed listening to Herm and Boyd get all riled up over the ref’s calls. After that, the women claimed the television and put on It’s a Wonderful Life.

  “A family tradition,” Maeve explained. “Mom and I watch it together every year.”

  Of course it was and of course they did. Maeve was a female George Bailey.

  He stole glances at her throughout the movie. When the bell rang at the end, he spotted her crying. She was trying to hide it, but he could tell. Then he noticed Josie and Maeve’s mother were crying, too.

  It was like being home with his mom and sisters. He felt uncomfortable. He didn’t know where to look. What to say.

  “What do y
ou call a computer nerd with no sense of humor?” he blurted out.

  “What?” Maeve asked.

  “A memory stick-in-the-mud.”

  They all laughed, but it wasn’t quite as real as the other night at the library. “Not one of my better ones?” he asked innocently.

  “Awful, Aaron. It was awful.” Maeve laughed. “Don’t let your win the other night go to your head. Keep the day job.”

  “Got it. Stand-up is not in my future.” But his bad joke had done its job. The women had stopped crying. After snacking on the leftovers, the guests began to leave.

  As each one opened the back door, the tiny bell on it tinkled. Aaron might not have noticed the sound before, but after watching It’s a Wonderful Life, it stood out.

  He’d bet that Maeve had hung it on purpose with the movie in mind.

  Aaron waited around on purpose, wanting to be the last one to leave, wanting to talk to Maeve alone about the idea that had been swirling around in his mind all afternoon.

  “Well, thank you for coming,” Maeve said once it was just the two of them. “I’m glad you joined us. You were a big help setting up.”

  She eyed the door and Aaron knew that had been a hint, but he wasn’t ready to leave yet. “Let me help a little more. That’s a mountain of dishes.”

  “The kitchen is too small for more than one person.” The look on her face told him she knew that wasn’t quite true.

  “I’ll stay way over to the side. You wash, pass them to me and I’ll dry them and pile them on the table. You can put them away when we’re done.”

  “Really—” she started.

  “Really,” he said, interrupting. “I want to help.”

  She sighed. “Fine.”

  “And I want to talk to you about something.”

  “Oh, what?”

  He didn’t want to jump right into things, so rather than reply he said, “I liked when you had everyone go around the table and say what they were thankful for.”

  She looked up from the glass she was washing. “I guess I’d add that I’m thankful you found some more work for Boyd.”

  “I know you won’t believe me, but I do want to help.” And as he said the words, he acknowledged that he did. “You’re really planning to start some kind of charity that will help people find homes?”