A Texas Soldier's Christmas

by Cathy Gillen Thacker

  Zane was completely captivated by him, too.

  As were all the smiling seniors.

  “Umm...is Nora available?” the young woman asked. “She usually collects Liam when she gets off work, which should have been about ten minutes ago. And I’ve got to go to class...”

  The office door swung open. Nora stood there, a light jacket thrown over her uniform, car keys in hand. “Hey, Shanda. Sorry if I kept you waiting.”

  “No problem.” With a smile, Shanda handed little Liam over.

  Zane stood there. Ready to apologize again. Nora sent him a look. “Don’t even...”

  The circle of seniors seemed to agree it would be a bad idea to talk to her now. So, cursing the circumstances—which always seemed to be against them—Zane left.

  * * *

  “WELL, THAT’S A RELIEF,” Nora murmured to Liam as she ducked back into her office, gathered up their belongings and walked out to her red minivan. He cooed as she put him in his car seat. “I wasn’t sure Zane was going to exit so readily.”

  Liam stared up at her, listening intently.

  “It’s a long story,” Nora reassured her baby boy. Finished buckling him in, she shut the door and climbed into the driver seat. “The bottom line is, Zane would not approve if he knew exactly how and why you came into my life. He would tell me that letting someone else out of their familial obligations and adopting you was a big mistake that could only hurt me in the end. And he would be wrong.” Nora drew a deep breath as she turned off Spring Street and onto Wildflower Lane, then into her own driveway. “Because I know firsthand how a child needs at least one parent in his or her life. Every day. I know what it feels like when they’re not,” she said, putting her minivan in Park. “And I am going to be there for you, my darling baby boy.” Whether Zane likes it or not.

  Liam chortled in agreement.

  Nora grinned at her son’s happy acknowledgment, then got out to begin their evening. As always, it began with a leisurely postworkday play session. She read him a few stories—on the premise that it was never too soon to start loving books—then followed that by giving him a relaxing bath. When he was cozy in his pajamas, she sat down in her rocking chair to feed him a bottle.

  He drank it readily, burped like a champ and then fell asleep to the sound of his favorite lullaby. She was just about to ease him out of her arms when a knock sounded at her front door.

  Wondering who it could be, she set her sweetly snoozing son gently down into his Pack ’n Play. She moved soundlessly to the portal. Opened it. And sighed.

  “You again,” she said.

  Chapter Two

  “I thought we should start over,” Zane Lockhart said, capturing her gaze in that intent way that always made her catch her breath.

  Nora wasn’t surprised to see the handsome soldier on her doorstep so soon after their argument. She knew he’d been taught to rectify mistakes, ASAP. Whereas she’d grown up, picking herself up, dusting herself off and pretending whatever had hurt her didn’t matter, because time healed all wounds.

  But sadly, in this case, the passage of months hadn’t fixed anything and might never.

  Keeping her guard up, she stepped out onto the porch opposite him. Across the street, smoke curled from the chimney of a neighbor’s home, scenting the air with burning oak.

  Wary of letting him back in her life in even the slightest way, she stared up at him coolly. “And I think we should leave things as is.” Frustration curled the corners of his lips. “Come on, Nora.” He pressed a brightly wrapped present and a bouquet of flowers into her hands. “Hear me out.”

  She supposed she owed him that much, after all they had once been to each other.

  She set the gifts on one of the rockers on the front porch. Trying not to notice how strappingly handsome he looked in the soft glow of her porch light, she turned back to him and folded her arms in front of her. “I’m listening.”

  His expression sobered. “First, I apologize for any conclusions I might have jumped to.”

  About time, she thought.

  He held her eyes for a long moment. His voice dropped a compelling notch. “And second, I want to congratulate you on your new son.”

  His words were so sincere she couldn’t help but respond. Figuring peace was better than conflict any day, Nora drew an enervating breath. “Thank you.”

  Regret tautened the chiseled lines of his face. “I should have known if Liam were mine, you would have told me.”

  “You’re damn right about that,” she said fiercely, trying not to think how much she had always longed to have his baby.

  And perversely, she still did. But that wasn’t happening any more than a reconciliation, so the best thing to do was end their disagreement, and hence his reason for pursuing her.

  “Thank you for coming by to say that.” Nora shivered in the cold November air. “I accept your apology.”

  “Does that mean I get to come in long enough to see Liam again and watch you two open the baby gift?”

  It’d be rude not to have him come in for a moment.

  Aware she was practically shaking she was so cold, Nora picked up the gift and flowers. Turning toward the door, she led the way inside.

  Acutely aware of him following lazily behind her, she glanced over her shoulder, frowned. “Why is it if I give you an inch you take a mile?”

  He held the door for her. “Must be my easy Texas charm.”

  She made a face and quipped right back before she could think. “It’s definitely something.”

  He had changed into his civilian clothes since she had last seen him. The tweed sport coat and light blue shirt hugged his broad shoulders and muscled chest. Worn jeans cloaked his hard thighs, sturdy Western boots covered his feet.

  Eyes twinkling, he followed her into the living room, where Liam still snoozed contentedly in his Pack ’n Play.

  Zane paused to regard her son with a mixture of longing and tenderness that further stirred her emotions.

  Nora set the flowers on the coffee table, then perched on the edge of a chair, the present on her lap. She gestured for him to have a seat on the sofa.

  “Going to guess what it is?”

  She couldn’t—wouldn’t—make too much of this. Ignoring the faint flutter of her heart, Nora tilted her head to one side. “Something the clerk at the baby boutique in town picked out for you?”

  He flashed a cheeky grin. Not the least bit put off. “I’m more invested than that.”

  She certainly hoped not. Because to have him invested in her life—in Liam’s—was the path to heartache, all over again. Doing her best to keep her guard up, Nora undid the ribbon.

  Inside the box was a completely adorable red velvet Santa outfit, complete with cap and knit booties that looked like little black boots.

  Zane turned his attention to the Pack ’n Play. Observing Liam, his expression grew tender once again. “I know Liam is a little young to know what the holidays are all about, but seeing as how this is his first Christmas—” his voice roughened slightly “—I figure he ought to celebrate it up right.”

  Nora knew as an adoptive parent, versus a biological one, she should not be having postpregnancy hormonal shifts. But having Zane back in her life, even temporarily, was causing a seismic shift. She jerked in a quavering breath, still not daring to look her ex in the eye. “It’s lovely,” she murmured back huskily. “Thanks.”

  He reached across the chasm of space between them, clasping her delicate hand in his rougher one. “So we’re good?”

  Yes, Nora thought, her pulse racing despite herself. And no...

  Luckily for her, she was saved from having to answer that by the ringing phone.

  She rose to get it.

  The news on the other end was not good.

  * *
*

  “YOU HAVE TO go back to work now?” Zane asked.

  Aware she had no time to don her scrubs again, Nora grabbed a belted cardigan-style jacket instead, looped the chained badge over her head and settled the ID between her breasts. She paused to pull on her favorite pair of Western boots. “It’s an emergency with a new resident. Unfortunately, I don’t have time to wait for a sitter to get here...so I’m going to have to take Liam with me.”

  He followed her back to the Pack ’n Play. “Is that going to be a problem?”

  Gently, Nora eased her son into a fleece jacket and cap. “No. He goes to Laramie Gardens with me every day.” It had been part of her employment deal, and the only way she would go back to work so soon. “I just usually have a sitter there with me. To keep an eye on him between feedings.” Which she usually did herself.

  “Want me to go along and help?” Zane asked.

  An extra pair of hands was always helpful, particularly when an infant was on the scene. Nodding, Nora collected the diaper bag and her purse, then gathered her son in her arms. “Actually, yes, if you wouldn’t mind. At least until I can get reinforcement.”

  Together, they hurried out to the drive. Luckily, Liam seemed more dazed than unhappy to be woken up. Not always the case.

  The pickup truck Zane had driven forever was parked behind her. “I’ll follow you over there,” he called.

  Short minutes later, the two of them were walking into the home for senior citizens. Just before they entered the doors, Nora handed Liam, who was still strapped snugly into his infant carrier, off to Zane.

  And not a moment too soon, it appeared. At the other end of the hall, a determined Russell Pierce was slapping a jaunty brown felt fedora on his head. In a safari shirt, khaki cargo pants and a worn leather jacket, he bore a striking resemblance to Harrison Ford. With a physical vigor belying his eighty-five years, he was arguing with the night charge nurse, Inez Garcia. “I’m telling you, nice as this visit has been, I have to go close up The Book Nook, and then get home to have dinner with Esther and the baby.”

  Wordlessly, Nora directed Zane to take Liam into the community room, where help awaited him. “Hey, Mr. Pierce,” Nora said, sauntering closer.

  “Well, hello there, young lady!” he said. “I was just about to call you. The rest of your special order came in.”

  “Great.” Nora smiled and gently took his arm, attempting to orient him. “Do you know where we are?”

  He looked around. Suddenly confused.

  “Laramie Gardens, Home For Seniors,” she said.

  He squinted, uncertain.

  “Will you let me walk you back to your room so we can take your blood sugar and talk a moment?”

  Mr. Pierce hesitated. “I still need to get home to Esther,” he said more urgently than ever.

  “I know you miss her and want to be with her,” Nora said softly.

  He nodded. Tears glistened.

  Nora fought the lump rising in her throat. She put her arm through his, and together, they walked back toward his room.

  An hour later, all was calm.

  Nora went in search of Zane and the baby, hoping they were still in the community room. Only to hear sounds of what had increasingly become the norm.

  “Yes, but it isn’t fair,” Wilbur Barnes said.

  “All the activities are female oriented,” complained Kurtis Kelley.

  “We want an equal-opportunity holiday around here!” Buck Franklin reiterated gruffly.

  “Hey! We gave you fellas ample time to weigh in on the scheduled activities,” the always-elegant Miss Sadie said.

  “You all refused,” retired librarian Miss Mim pointed out.

  Nora crossed the threshold.

  Zane stood in front of the fireplace, a wide-awake Liam cradled in his arms. The two of them were a picture of contentment. Leading Nora to secretly wish for the impossible...

  “What do you think, Zane? You’ve got enough distance to lend perspective,” Darrell Enlow, the resident peacemaker, said.

  Zane squinted at the group gathered around him. “I’m not sure you want to hear what I have to say.”

  “Yes, we do!” everyone cried in unison.

  Zane looked at Nora. Figuring it couldn’t hurt to get an outside opinion, she encouraged him with a nod.

  He drew a breath, his attention focused solely on the thirty or so seniors gathered around him. “Well, when I hear you argue about whether hand-painting ornaments is an appropriate activity for guys I can’t help but think about all my fellow soldiers stationed around the world right now who are away from their families, who would give anything to be home with their loved ones. In fact,” he admitted, in a low, gravelly voice, “they’d be so damn grateful, they wouldn’t care what they were expected to do as long as they could spend time together.”

  The ache in Nora’s throat came back, full force.

  This was the Zane she had loved.

  The big, strong guy with the heart as vast as the Lone Star State. The man who never let her—or anyone else who was depending on him—down. The soldier who was always ready and willing to render aid to someone else in need.

  Who was helping her out with her son, even now.

  Several throats cleared. More than one resident dabbed their eyes.

  “You’re right,” Wilbur Barnes said finally. “We can do better.”

  Zane shifted Liam a little higher in his arms. Her son reacted by resting his blond head contentedly against Zane’s broad chest. “Which isn’t to say I don’t understand your frustration,” he continued empathetically. “The holidays are a time when it’s just as easy to think about what you don’t have as it is to count your blessings.”

  How true, Nora thought, aware right now she was acutely cognizant of how much she had missed him. And maybe always would...

  “I also know that you-all would feel a lot less lonesome if you were helping someone else,” Zane concluded, his gaze softening as Liam yawned sleepily and cuddled even closer against him.

  Smiling down at him, Zane stroked Liam’s downy soft head.

  The moment so affectionate, so unexpected, it brought tears to Nora’s eyes.

  Zane continued in a tone that was both pragmatic and gentle, “And I’ve got just the idea on how to make that happen.”

  * * *

  “THAT WAS BRILLIANT, getting them involved with the West Texas Warriors Assistance nonprofit,” Nora complimented Zane, as they walked out to the parking lot. Aware this was beginning to feel like a date, when it most certainly was not, she forced herself to put aside her increasingly warm feelings for the sexy soldier.

  He opened the door for her, then stepped back to give her room to settle the sleeping Liam back in his car seat. “My family and the others running it can use the help, especially this time of year.”

  Nora straightened and shut the door. To her relief, Liam continued sleeping.

  Tilting her head back, she looked Zane in the eye. “I know Bess Monroe, the nurse who runs the rehab unit. I’ll call her tomorrow and see what we can do to set things up between us.”

  Zane flashed another flirty grin. “I can help with that, you know.”

  Awareness swept through her. Fighting the urge to touch him, Nora took a step back. “I appreciate your Good Samaritan spirit.”

  “But?” The street lamps brought out the wheat-gold hue of his hair.

  Resisting the urge to run her fingers through the thick strands, Nora frowned. “I can’t go down this road with you again, Zane.” And working closely with him, on anything, would lead to just that. A fact he seemed to know all too well.

  He regarded her with barely veiled bemusement. “Our relationship doesn’t have to end badly. In fact—” he shrugged his broad shoulders laconically “—it doesn’t have
to end at all.”

  Nora tossed her bag into the car. “I think, given the very different things we want in life, that it already has,” she said, casting him a probing sidelong glance. “In any case, Thanksgiving is tomorrow. It will be a very busy day at Laramie Gardens, with all the guests and family coming in.”

  “I’m guessing it won’t be a happy occasion for everyone.”

  Nora dipped her head, acknowledging wearily this was true. For every happy heart, there would be a broken one to mend. “I’m going to need all my energy to see them through it. So we better call it a night.”

  Apparently not quite ready to give up just yet, he watched her climb behind the wheel. “Sure you don’t need my help getting Liam in the house, or seeing you get some dinner?”

  Need?

  No. She could do whatever was required all by herself.

  Want was a different matter entirely.

  * * *

  “I HEARD MY dad had another episode last night,” Lynn Russell informed Nora the next morning.

  Nora ushered the sixty-year-old noted actress into her private office. Although currently filming a television series in NYC, the glamorous redhead had flown back to enjoy the holiday with her dad.

  “He suffered a period of brief confusion last night.”

  “Wasn’t that the second time since he’s been here?”

  “In the course of two weeks. Yes.”

  Lynn settled in a chair on the other side of Nora’s desk. “Do you know why?”

  “We initially chalked the first incident up to simple fatigue. He was exhausted by the plane ride and long drive here. Neither of which is easy for someone his age.”

  “And the one last night?”

  Nora regarded the medical chart in front of her. “We’re not sure. He hasn’t had much of an appetite since he moved in. So his blood sugar was a little off. We got the levels back to normal after he finished eating his dinner. And it was normal again this morning.”

  “So that’s not likely it.”

  “Probably not. But with folks his age, we keep a close tab on that just the same. He could also have been sundowning a little.”