Unexpected

by Karen Tuft

  “Well, let me see,” she said. “I have six completed, a few that only need a couple of finishing touches—”

  “Great. I’ll come by first thing tomorrow to get the finished ones, and I’ll pick up whatever you can give me next week.”

  They were under the mistletoe now. This time he didn’t hesitate. He slid his hand around the back of her neck and lowered his mouth to hers. Her remaining hesitance evaporated, and she became open and welcoming. Her generous response, in light of her history and fears, touched Ross and brought down even more of his emotional wall. His lips made a path along her jaw to her ear, and he kissed her there and then whispered, “I will definitely be seeing you tomorrow.”

  Chapter 17

  Life was a dream, and Natalie was terrified that she would wake up. She picked up her pile of research notes and sank onto her living room sofa. She had that ten-page research paper to write for her anthropology class, and the deadline was next week. She needed to concentrate, but right now, all she wanted to do was pinch herself. Or not pinch herself—in case doing so woke her up. She wanted to savor this dream. The dream that had continued the day after Thanksgiving when Ross had taken eight Santas, written her an outrageous check for them, and then cheerfully hung her outdoor holiday lights for her before flying out for a week of business in New York.

  The following Sunday she’d pulled out her checkbook to pay her monthly missionary obligation when the ward clerk had told her to put it away. “No need this month, Sister Forrester,” he’d said. “Donations have covered the amount in full. Merry Christmas early!” When she’d asked who had donated, he’d given her a vague shrug. “Couldn’t say. Bishop said they wanted to remain anonymous.”

  Natalie had spent the entire time she’d been at church looking at ward members, analyzing their behavior toward her, mentally evaluating their financial status, trying to figure it out. By the time she’d arrived home, she’d realized she hadn’t heard a word of the meeting, nor was she any closer to solving the mystery. But it had felt terrific.

  The girls had arrived home from their weekend with Wade in relatively decent spirits. He’d let Emma use his old Honda Accord (he hadn’t traded it in when he’d upgraded to the SUV) and had dropped hints that he might give it to her at some point in the future. Natalie wouldn’t tell Emma that whatever future point Wade had mentioned was probably when pigs flew. Emma was too full of happy anticipation for Natalie to burst her bubble.

  And frankly, Natalie was relieved. Emma had seemed to be under a lot of strain lately, and this week it actually felt like she had her daughter back.

  Being a Friday night, Em was at Kate’s house, along with Tess. Callie was babysitting for the neighbors, so Natalie decided to use the evening to polish the rough draft of her paper. A reread of her notes reminded her of some information she wanted to include, so she quickly circled the paragraphs and marked their location in her pages.

  Grabbing a red pen, she pored over the pages and furiously rewrote sentences. She needed it clean and concise so she could spend as little time as possible on campus typing it on one of the computers there. She really wished she’d been a little more assertive with Wade and his demand for all of the electronic equipment. The computer and printer would have come in handy about now. She could have typed the rough draft, for starters. Think of all the time she would have saved.

  She was curled over her papers, halfway through the rewrite, when her cell phone buzzed. She gave the caller ID a quick preoccupied glance, then bolted upright at full attention.

  “Ross! Hi.” She unconsciously straightened her hair.

  “Hello, gorgeous. My flight just landed, and I was hoping I could drop by to see you later.”

  Natalie looked down at the remaining pages she had left. “No problem.”

  “That’s great. I need to stop by the office for a minute, and then I’ll swing by.”

  That plan was more than all right with her, paper notwithstanding.

  “I was also wondering how your week went making the little Santas,” Ross continued. “Do you have anything for me?”

  She had several Santas and a whole heart load of feelings she was having difficulty controlling, not that she dared tell him. She’d learned from Buck and Wade that men can kiss you, even want you, but not necessarily love you. “Yes, I do, as a matter of fact.”

  “That’s great, sweetheart. I’ll be there in about an hour, then.” His voice lowered, gentled. “It’ll be good to see you.”

  It would be good to see him too, Natalie mused as she resumed her editing, since she thought about him most of the time anyway. But this was the part of the dream that was terrifying to her. She was falling in love with him and falling fast. And no matter how she tried, she just couldn’t see a happy ending between a high-powered attorney and a humble housekeeper. Ross needed someone as educated, elegant, and professional as he was. He’d argued cases in front of the Supreme Court. He socialized with senators and corporate moguls, intellectuals and movie stars.

  What had she ever done?

  But he made her feel wonderful, important. He’d finally confessed to her over the phone that he’d placed her Santas in a boutique. The fact that all of them had sold within a few days had amazed her. When he’d told her what they’d sold for, she’d had to sit down.

  She got through another page of editing before she gave up. The words continually blurred into an image of Ross, his deep brown eyes, the sculpted lines of his face, the intelligent warmth of his smile. She could hear his laughing comments as she’d untangled cords of outdoor lights, could see the banded muscles in his legs as he’d climbed up and down the ladder. Strength. Strength and polish and humor. And more kindness than she’d originally thought when he’d ordered her from his house under threat of police that first time.

  Not really the first time, she reminded herself, as she freshened her make-up and hair. The first time had been at the restaurant when he’d checked on her to see if she was okay. He’d reminded her then of a dark knight. Gallant, aware, and ready to assist. She hadn’t needed any assistance at the time but had still been grateful. It had supported her, enabled her to face Doug squarely and ultimately rise to the occasion.

  She heard the doorbell and forced herself not to run to the door, not to read too much into things too soon. She took a calming breath and opened the door. Snow had begun falling, and his shoulders and hair were dusted.

  “There’s a sight for sore eyes.” Before she could open her mouth to reply, he pulled her into his arms for a bone-melting kiss. She clutched the lapels of his coat and held on. “Utah never looked so lovely and warm.”

  His words felt wonderful and dangerous at the same time. When she knew her legs wouldn’t collapse beneath her, she led him to the couch. “You’ve had a long day, so relax. I’ll go get what I have finished from the garage. I did something different this time, and I’d like your opinion.”

  He eased into the cushions, stretched out his long legs, and sighed contentedly. “I’ll be waiting right here. Just wake me up when you get back. I’m beat.”

  She practically danced into the garage to retrieve the papier mâchè creations. Her heart sang, even as her head tried to issue a stern warning. Slow down, Natalie. Buck had filled in the void when she’d lost her mother. Wade had stepped in as the father her child lacked. She’d felt empty for a long time. It was a huge risk to allow this feeling of wholeness she felt to be anything more than a temporary salve to help her heal. But it could at least be that—a friendship and temporary respite, a chance to heal and believe. Believe in others. Believe in herself.

  She returned to the living room with a half dozen sculptures and sat next to him, carefully placing the Santas on the coffee table.

  “Impressive,” he said.

  “You haven’t even looked at them yet.” She picked up a rustic Santa with a long curling beard, his suit bronze and ochre, rather than red. “What do you think? Not quite traditional, but still. And I came up with this new c
haracter thinking ahead to Valentine’s—”

  “Not the Santas, though I’m sure they’re as remarkable as ever. I mean this.” He rattled the sheaf of papers he was holding.

  He’d been leafing through her rough draft.

  “Impressive? Oh, I don’t think so, but thanks anyway. Any input you’d care to offer?” She reached for her pen and avoided eye contact with him in case he noticed how skeptical she was of his compliment.

  “Really, you’re off to a great start,” he said. “Just a couple of suggestions so far . . .”

  She watched, silently, while he read, pondered, shook his head occasionally, adjusted a word or two, crossed out sentences. He asked her questions and made her clarify her answers.

  When he laid the last page down a little while later, he studied her with fresh eyes. Serious eyes.

  “It’s very good.”

  Well, Natalie thought, “very good” was better than anything Wade had ever said to her and was a lot more believable than “impressive.” “I appreciate your help, Ross. It’s my final exam, and I want to do well. You really think it’s good?”

  “Not good.” He still had that sober look. “Very good. Excellent, in fact. And enlightening on many levels.”

  She smiled, almost willing to trust his compliment. “It was a lot more work than my tap-dancing final was. By the way,” she added with an impish grin, “I aced that one. Of course, it was a class for beginners.”

  He smiled back. “I expect a performance from you, then.”

  “Not on your life. Oh, wow.” She turned as Emma blew through the door with Tess in a flurry of snow. “Look how hard it’s been snowing.”

  “Hey, Bob! There’s almost a foot, and it’s still going strong. You know what that means.”

  Natalie hesitated, then shrugged with a smile. “I guess a tradition’s a tradition. Go make the calls.” Emma and Tess squealed and ran off to the kitchen. “And don’t forget to call Tori and Jim!” When Ross looked at Natalie questioningly, she only said, “I’ll bet you’re hungry. And you’re going to need your strength if you want to go midnight sledding with us. Let’s see what I can throw together.”

  * * *

  During the time it took for Natalie to whip up a tasty and satisfying meal of what she called “whatever spaghetti” and for them to devour it, a horde of people arrived at her house. Natalie’s friends Tori and James Matthews and their young family had joined them, along with a dozen teenage girls, ages thirteen to seventeen, and a few teenage boys, Brett included, which surprised Ross, but it worked to his advantage, since Brett brought along enough ski gear from home to keep both him and Ross warm and dry in the snow.

  “Mom won’t believe it when I tell her you went sledding at midnight.” Brett laughed. “I’m not sure I’ll believe it until I see it, Uncle Mac. It’s not exactly touch football.”

  “Yeah, she’d probably insist you take a polygraph test or ask if you’d suffered a recent concussion.” Ross was personally glad he’d dressed down for the flight home and was only tucking a mildly expensive pair of chinos into the old ski pants he was pulling on instead of one of his Italian suits. The tie had been abandoned long ago. And the verdict on this brand of adventure was still out—but at least he was game.

  Callie’s girlfriends passed around extra gloves, scarves, and mittens, sampling and discarding as they went for the more stylish ones.

  “I just love the first midnight snow party of the season!” Callie exclaimed to no one in particular, her face flushed pink, a purple knit cap pulled snugly down to her sparkling eyes. She was standing next to Ross, and her bubbling excitement and joyous anticipation of an obviously long-standing tradition was infectious.

  Who but Natalie Forrester would have a family tradition like this? Not anyone he knew, Ross was sure.

  The falling snow had slowed by the time they reached their sledding destination, and the clouds had parted in places. The occasional star flashed like a diamond, and the moon wove its pearly light among the contrasting velvets of cloud and sky. Midnight and moonlight. Was any combination more spellbinding? he wondered.

  He listened to the kids’ muted laughs and shouts as they dragged the sleds and tubes up, then zoomed and crashed down the hill. Natalie reminded everyone to keep the noise level down so the neighbors wouldn’t complain, and Brett and the other boys challenged each other to hotdog dares and races. And Ross had to admit after the first few passes he’d taken himself that it was exhilarating.

  He decided to take a hot-chocolate break and watch Natalie head down the hill backward on her tube with Callie in her lap. Emma gave them a spin right as they took off, and Ross took a sip of the steaming chocolate and chuckled. Both Natalie and Callie’s arms waved about wildly. And after all her cautions about noise, Natalie was shrieking hysterically.

  “Having a good time?”

  Ross looked over his steaming cup at Jim Matthews. “Yeah. A great time, matter of fact. Bitter cold out here though.”

  “This is nothing. Last year there was no cloud cover, and it was colder than Hades. Best thing to do,” he gestured to the right, “is to keep hiking up that hill and sledding. Keeps your blood pumping and your mind off the temperature.”

  “I think I’m good for a few more runs.”

  “Glad to hear it.” They both glanced up at a sudden burst of squeals. A tube chain made up of Brett and Emma and several of the others rumbled down the hill like a clumsy caterpillar. Jim cleared his throat. “Um, I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve been assigned to play concerned guardian tonight. Tori’s orders.”

  “It’s been a long time since I had to answer to a protective dad. You’re not going to pull out your shotgun and start polishing it, are you?”

  “Nah, nothing that extreme. It’s just that we think pretty highly of Bob—Natalie.”

  “You call her Bob too.”

  “Yeah, when the nickname started, it just stuck. Anyway. She’s family, you might say. We’re only looking out for her best interest. We don’t want to see her hurt anymore.”

  “I don’t plan to hurt her.”

  “I don’t expect you do. Not intentionally, anyway. What do you know about her?”

  I know she’s amazingly artistic, intelligent, gentle, and thoughtful of others. I know she’s not afraid of hard work, has an adventurous streak, and takes care of her own. I know she’s beautiful and fun and braver than she thinks she is. I know her eyes sparkle like emeralds when she’s happy and turn deep as the sea when I kiss her. I know she fills me in ways I haven’t thought mattered in years. “I know she’s special, Jim.”

  “What do you know about her past?”

  “She’s been married a couple of times. She doesn’t talk about it much, but she seems to blame herself.”

  Jim cursed, emitting a cloud of steam. “Sorry about that. Tori’d shoot me if she’d heard. But when I hear stuff like that, I want to—never mind. Let me tell you what I know about Natalie, let you decide for yourself where the blame lies.”

  Jim proceeded to tell Ross about Natalie’s secret crush on football star Buck Jacobsen, her mother’s diagnosis of cancer, the strain of her mother’s treatments and her eventual death just mere months later, how withdrawn her father had become, grieving for his wife, and how lonely that had left Natalie, grieving herself.

  “Tori did all she could to be there for her, but what does a kid know about that sort of thing? Needless to say, Natalie had it rough and still managed to pull straight As. Tori said Nat didn’t smile much back then. Didn’t want to hang with her friends.

  “It didn’t help that her dad wasn’t coping. He’d work long hours, then go home and drink just enough to numb the pain. While her mom went through treatment, Natalie cooked, cleaned, and did all the necessary stuff. He’s a good guy, don’t get me wrong. I think he got used to it, her doing everything for him. So when her mom finally died, he forgot she was a kid. She’d taken care of so many of the grown-up things.”

  “Where is he now?�
�

  “He eventually remarried and lives in Oregon. They stay in touch; things are good. Natalie seems to like the new wife, though I doubt she’d say differently. Anyway, that summer, Tori decided it was time to get Natalie back among the living. She talked her into going to the dance that kicked off the school year. That’s where Buck got a look at her, and that was all it took. You know Natalie. You can tell exactly what she’s thinking the minute you look at her eyes. Well, Buck saw adoration in the form of a pretty girl and knew just what he wanted to do about it.

  “To hear Tori tell it, Buck swept her off her feet at a time when she just plain needed to be loved, and badly. He made his move, got what he wanted, then left her high and dry when the going got rough.” He waved at Tori, who was giving him eye signals. Natalie was approaching. “It looks like we’ll have to continue this later.”

  Natalie was breathless and, Ross thought, more beautiful than ever, blonde tendrils escaping her knit cap, the moon making her skin luminous. “Come race me, slacker,” she called to him. “A final showdown before it’s time to unthaw the kids. Five bucks says I’m taking you down.”

  Ross grinned at her and fought down the hard ball that had formed in his stomach listening to Jim. He had nieces who were nearly the age Natalie had been when this had happened. He’d flay the skin off any boy who tried it with one of them.