Her Christmas Miracle: Park City Firefighter Romances

by Banner, Daniel

  “Hi, honey,” she said, coming forward to give him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “Merry Christmas Eve.”

  “Merry Christmas Eve to you, Mom. This—”

  Before he could introduce Jillian, his mom had moved on to greet her with the same hug and kiss. “Merry Christmas Eve, dear.”

  “Same to you, Mrs. … Same to you, Beryl.”

  What was going on? How in the world was his mother so cool and collected? He had to force through the confusion to finish the introductions. “Mom, I’d like to introduce Jillian, buuut it looks like you already know her. She’s my … ” Girlfriend didn’t work, since they were still on their first date. And destiny was way too heavy. “She’s my Christmas miracle.”

  Jillian’s eyes twinkled in the lights of the Christmas tree.

  “Jillian,” said Jak. “My mother, Beryl Finlayson.”

  “I’m so happy for you,” said him mom. “Both of you.” She patted Jak on the cheek and added, “I just knew that if you shaved off that horrible beard you’d find someone.”

  Jillian laughed. “That’s pretty much all it took,” she agreed.

  His mom nodded and said, “That and maybe a little fruitcake.”

  Jak felt his mouth hanging open. “How …”

  “Us little old ladies have to stick together,” answered his mother. “Now sit down. Get comfortable.”

  As his mother sat, Jak handed her the package. “Merry Christmas. Before you open it. I have some good news. I took the wildland job. I leave for California in two weeks.” Vallejo, California, he thought, which is right next to Napa, California.

  “That’s wonderful, dear. I know you’ll do great. You worry about putting out the fires and I’ll worry about praying you safe.”

  Jak was glad his mother supported his decision as he’d suspected she would.

  She added, “Park City never was big enough for you anyway.”

  Jak motioned to the gift. “And since I’m going to be a couple states over, we wanted to make sure you could keep in touch. Right?” he prompted Jill.

  “Right,” said Jill, playing along. “Yep.”

  She unwrapped the present carefully without ripping the paper, revealing a gift box. When she lifted the lid and saw a new phone, she let out a hearty laugh, and looked back and forth between Jak and Jillian. “Now I’m the one who needs an explanation. You didn’t just go out and buy this after the phone screen thing at the convention center.”

  Jillian’s eyes were wide and innocent. Jak entwined his fingers with hers, loving the soft, delicate feel of them and said, “Explanation? Let’s start with the concert.”

  He told his mom about how they’d met at the concert, but from the point in the story when he’d gotten the cardiac arrest call, he was telling Jillian about everything he’d been through in his search for her, including his perception of the meeting in the alley. She was enthralled as he told her about the events surrounding the fruitcake.

  “That’s how you knew I’d show up at Pineapple’s tonight?” asked Jillian, agog. “A piece of fruitcake from a magical stranger?”

  “A delicious piece of magical fruitcake which may or may not have helped my guardian angels guide me to you.” Jak considered. “Or guide you to me, I guess, since you found me. How’d that happen anyway?”

  For the next hour or so, Jillian filled Jak in on her side of the story and he alternated with excerpts from his side of the story. The more Jak learned, the more he felt like it was all choreographed by someone with a much bigger picture than him. His mom just sat back and listened, smiling, and probably knowing much more about both sides of the story than she was letting on.

  When they had finally sorted out the events that had brought them together, Jak’s mom rose from her chair. “Let me make you some homemade hot chocolate.”

  “As delicious as that sounds,” said Jak, “this is our first date, and I don’t want it to be our last so I’m going to see if I can find some live music for us to go ignore so we can get to know each other better.”

  Jillian stood next to him. She took his hand this time. “Homemade?” She asked his mom. “You mean like powder from an envelope, milk, and microwave?”

  “Bah,” said his mom, waving her arm disgustedly. “I wouldn’t feed that to a dog.” She was in the kitchen by the time she finished speaking.

  “That’s good,” said Jak, “because chocolate is toxic to dogs.”

  “It’s not even chocolate,” called his mom. “It’s powder.”

  In a whisper, Jak said, “We really don’t have to stay here. I’m not going to force—”

  Jillian put a finger on his lips to shush him. Then she removed it and replaced it with a quick peck, making him glow. Whatever Jak had said, had been the right thing.

  “I’d love some homemade hot chocolate,” called Jillian. “Can I help?”

  “I’ll teach you the recipe,” said his mother above the noise of a pot being pulled out of the cupboard.

  As Jillian made her way into the kitchen, she winked at Jak. “I bet you have some great embarrassing stories about Jak too. Maybe some old photo albums?”

  His mom cackled but before she could reply, the doorbell rang.

  As he walked to the door, Jak told Jillian, “Just remember, in two weeks I’m going to live thirty minutes away from your family. And turnabout is fair play.”

  Jak opened the door, and music instantly met his ears. A dozen carolers had broken into “Joy to the World.” He recognized them from church.

  The singing brought the two women to the door. Jak held out his arm and Jillian slid right under it.

  “There’s your live music,” said Jak’s mom. “Any other Christmas wishes?”

  Jak and Jillian both stared at her trying to figure out if she was some sort of Christmas angel. Then Jak looked into Jillian’s eyes. “No. I’ve got everything I need.”

  Jillian grinned and said, “I’m good.” She nestled into his chest and turned to listen to the singers.

  “All right.” His mom started to turn away. “You two stay and listen to the songs. Looks like I’m going to need a bigger pot.”

  11

  Jillian slid a little closer and laid her head on Jak’s meaty shoulder. They had just taken the exit into Parley’s Canyon and would be in Park City in about twenty minutes. Christmas was past, by about two weeks, but winter was still going strong and she loved looking up at the towering snow-covered mountains. Being with Jak on this road trip to move her things to California, it felt like Christmas all over again.

  “I can’t believe we’re almost there,” she said. “Fastest twelve-hour drive of my life.”

  “Has it really been twelve hours?” said Jak. “Feels more like twelve minutes.”

  Every time he said something like that, it made her fall in love all over. “I’m kind of sad it’s already over,” she said. “At least we have the short weekend together then another drive back.”

  “I can’t wait.” He gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. “But I’m glad we’re here because I have some fun plans for us.”

  “Ohh,” said Jillian, truly excited to see what he had in store. She sat up and couldn’t help adding, with mock excitement, “Another date at your mom’s house?”

  Jak laughed and shook his head. “You’re funny. I do have to remind you that you were the one who kept us there after I had excused us.”

  “I love your mom,” said Jillian, rubbing his arm playfully. Oh man, she could not get enough of the hills and mountains of his arms. “I’ve known her longer than I’ve officially known you.”

  Jak rolled his eyes and exhaled, “You might have mentioned that a few times.”

  “So I bet this is exactly the way you wanted to spend your first weekend off from your new job.”

  “Let’s see,” said Jak. “I get to spend every waking minute with you for forty-eight hours straight? Can’t think of anything I’d rather do.”

  Jillian smiled and cuddled into him. “You’re goi
ng to spoil me with all those smooth words.”

  “That’s the goal,” said Jak. They drove for a while all comfortable and warm, then Jak said. “Are you okay with me doing this trip with you instead of your brother bringing you out here?”

  She choked out a strangled sound. “Two weeks back at my parents’ house and we’re already starting to drive each other crazy. Of course I love him, but he’s easier to love when we aren’t sharing a bathroom.”

  Jak let out a deep laugh. “Eight years of living with five other guys; I know exactly what you mean.”

  It was easy to see why Jak loved his old crew so much, and also why they teased each other non-stop. “Do you miss it yet? Even though you’ve only been gone a week.”

  He shrugged and considered for a minute. “I think I’ll always miss it, while also being glad I’m where I am now. I wouldn’t trade those eight years and my relationship with those guys for anything.”

  “Hold on,” said Jillian, pulling out her phone. “Let me get that on tape.”

  Jak chuckled then pinched his lips together.

  When she put the phone away, he said, “Park City Fire Department was the perfect start to my career, but making the move to the Forest Service and Vallejo was the right move, obviously, because I get to be close to you.”

  “Good thing for both of us I got my dream job at Napa Central Elementary School,” said Jillian.

  Jak nodded. “It’s still crazy to me that you’ll be working alongside most of your grade school teachers.”

  “I don’t know how long it’ll take to be able to call them by their first names,” said Jillian with a laugh. “What I still can’t believe is how perfectly everything has come together for us.”

  “It’s like the Christmas season just keeps giving and giving.”

  “I’ll take it,” said Jillian.

  They reached their turnoff and took the exit toward Emma’s house. Jak pulled his truck and trailer up in front of her place and they both climbed out and stretched. Just as Jillian had her hands as high as she could reach them, Jak scooped her up in a hug and spun her around. Jillian squealed and followed it up with happy giggles.

  He kissed her, and instead of giggling she moaned and kissed him back. Jak broke off and said, “I’ve been waiting twelve hours to do that.”

  “What about the gas station in Reno? That was only nine hours ago.”

  “Oh,” said Jak. “You’re right. Nine hours.”

  “What about Winnemucca? And Wendover? As I recall, we kissed all across the state of Nevada.”

  Jak growled and said, “Well it felt like twelve hours, okay?”

  “Hey,” said Emma from her porch. “You can kiss when you get back to L.A. How about giving us Utah peeps a little love?”

  Jillian ran to Emma for a hug and even picked her up off the ground for a second.

  “That’s better,” said Emma. She asked Jak, “You put out all the wildfires out there yet?”

  “Well,” said Jak, finally reaching the porch. “Considering it’s January, we haven’t exactly hit our peak season yet.”

  Emma raised an eyebrow and said, “So you’re a hundred percent effective?”

  Jak nodded. “Yeah, good point. I’ll go with that.” He gave Emma a hug, then the ladies went inside while Jak went back to grab Jillian’s carryon. Jillian was staying with Emma during the short trip and had already arranged to use her place to freshen up before going with Jak to meet up with his firefighter buddies.

  Fifteen minutes later, Jillian was ready to go. Emma’s boyfriend Matt was in the living room chatting with Jak and Emma.

  “You look amazing,” said Jak, standing when she came into the room. Jillian didn’t think jeans and a sweater were amazing, but she loved hearing him say so.

  “You guys coming with us?” she asked Emma and Matt.

  Matt said, “Go hang out with Sloane Kent’s brother, so I can hear all about sexy Sloane for the next three months? Not my idea of a good time.”

  Emma playfully slapped his arm. “If you would have been there and seen him live, you’d agree with me that he is one beautiful man.”

  Jillian wrapped her arm in Jak’s. “We’ll leave you here to discuss Sloane Kent.”

  Matt grinned. “So kind of you. Maybe I’ll break out my air guitar and drive Emma crazy with it.”

  “Oooh,” purred Emma. “I love that idea. Go on you two. We got this covered.”

  Jillian and Jak laughed as she hurried them out the door.

  They drove toward Pineapple’s, but Jak didn’t take the direct route. He meandered a little through the streets, pointing out places from his childhood, a couple of locations of big emergency calls, and other points of interest around Park City. Jillian had lived there for three years, but being a working college student, she hadn’t really gotten to know the community at all. Learning about it made her feel like she was getting to know Jak even better.

  When they reached Pineapple’s, Jak pulled in to a couple spots at the far end of the lot where there was room for the truck and trailer. After he helped her from the car, he put his arm around her, keeping the cold at bay. She almost told him that this parking lot was where things had really started for them, but she could tell he was already thinking the same.

  At the door to the restaurant, instead of going inside, Jak led her over to the little bench in the alcove from Christmas Eve. “Let’s sit here for a minute.”

  “Gladly,” said Jillian. “I’ll always be in love with this spot.”

  They sat and assumed the oh so comfortable position of her head on his shoulder and his arm wrapped around her.

  “The last couple of weeks have been the best of my life,” said Jak.

  Jillian agreed. “You’re not sick of me yet?”

  “I would get sick of breathing before I got sick of you.” He turned to look her in the eye. “Jillian, before I even met you I knew you were The One. And everything that happened to allow us to be together made me even more sure. But the real reason I want to be with you forever and ever is because I am madly and irreversibly in love with you.”

  Jak put one hand behind her neck and came forward and kissed her. A firebolt of energy shot through her and she returned the kiss with pleasure. She felt like they were back on that first night, on Christmas Eve, except her feelings for him had grown exponentially over the previous two weeks.

  “Speaking of needing to breathe,” he said a bit later, trying to catch his breath. He twisted his body, so that he was on one knee in front of her.

  Jillian’s eyes went wide. This was really happening! “Will you make me the happiest man on Earth and be the Jill to my Jak?”

  She opened her mouth to scream Yes, but before anything came out, he held up a finger in a wait gesture.

  He continued. “I can’t imagine my life without you. I don’t know how I lasted twenty-six years without you, and I’m still trying to figure out how I survived three months between our first meeting and the night you found me here. I want to be with you forever. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”

  Hadn’t he just asked her that? What was he up to? Then she knew. Keeping her mouth closed, she raised her eyebrows, and waited for him to go on.

  She could tell by his roguish smile that he knew that she knew. “Jillian. I want you more than I want to put out fires. I want you more than I want to grow my beard back.”

  A sharp laugh burst from Jillian’s mouth.

  “I want you more than I wanted oxygen on that day in training when they made us run stairs until our air tanks were empty. I want you more than anything. Jillian, will you marry me?”

  With tears clouding up the world, she said, “You asked three times.”

  “I couldn’t take any chances,” said Jak. “I didn’t want you telling me to come back in a month.”

  Smiling so widely she could barely talk, she said, “I have three answers for you.”

  Jak stayed on his knee, eyes wide, looking as handsome as ever. “I ho
pe three is better than one.”

  “Yes, yes, YES!” said Jillian, practically screaming the last word.

  Jak swept in and kissed her so quickly it took her by surprise. Her fiancé! It felt like he swept her off her feet and they were flying a thousand feet about the city. The cold couldn’t touch her, not in Jak’s arms. Nothing in the world could ever go wrong as long as he held her and protected her. Jillian let herself get lost in his lips and his strong arms.

  She didn’t know how much time had passed until someone nearby cleared their throat. When she opened her eyes, she saw that Jak really had scooped her up in his arms and had been cradling her this whole time. She really had been flying in his arms.

  To the side of them, Emma was sticking her head out of the front door of Pineapple’s. “You guys keep that up much longer, you’re not going to be hungry. Not for food anyway.”

  “That’s fine with me,” said Jillian. “His lips are sweeter than—”

  “Stop right there,” said Emma. “I just wanted to know if it’s safe to come out yet.”

  “It’s safe,” said Jak, setting Jillian softly to the ground.

  As the door opened and Emma pulled Matt out, Jillian asked, “Wait, what are you doing here?”

  More people followed Emma out the door. “We weren’t going to miss the engagement party.”

  “Engagement party?” said Jillian, seeing Beryl come out of the restaurant. A group followed who Jillian recognized from pictures. Charlotte and her new boyfriend, Jace. The rest of the guys from Station 3, and their girlfriends, fiancées, and wife.

  Everyone hugged her and Jak and congratulated them, then Emma was the first to speak up. “So, fastest engagement ever, huh?”

  “Not by a long shot,” said one of the guys. “Tom’s lasted a matter of hours.”

  “That’s a Kent brother for you,” said Jak. “Always has to do it better than everyone else.”

  The guy who she recognized as the captain said, “It’s going to be a race to wedding day between you and Nikola. They got engaged weeks ago.”