Come Home For Christmas

by Matthews, Susanne

  Leah nodded.

  Mabel turned to him. “No, but it should be here anytime. Ted radioed he was about five miles away. I’ll be glad when he’s off the road. We can always use the extra money from the overtime, but … I doubt anything else will be moving tonight, not even the plows. The weather channel says we can expect over twenty inches before it’s over.”

  “Does that mean Santa won’t be able to come either?” Leah asked, her lower lip trembling.

  “Of course he’ll come,” Mabel said. “He lives at the North Pole, and on snowy nights, Rudolph’s nose guides him. Why this kind of weather is his absolute favorite.” She turned to Ethan. “You got a package coming in on the bus?”

  “Not a package,” he said, trying to curb his anticipation. “Krista’s coming home for Christmas.” He’d hoped to be able to say that for years, and now that the moment was here, he had to pinch himself to be sure he wasn’t dreaming.

  “Krista Jacobs? Halleluiah! That’s wonderful news. I never understood what happened that summer. I expected you two would end up together … Poor thing. I saw all that nonsense about her divorce in the tabloids. Mama wouldn’t even put them out on the rack. Well, coming home to family when you’ve been hurt like that is always good. It must’ve been hard on her losing her mom and stepdad like that. He doted on her something fierce. At least she had folks back east. I suppose they’re all gone now, too.”

  Ethan nodded, knowing the lie was something his dad had led people to believe. He didn’t kid himself for a second. As much as he’d prayed Krista would come back one day, he knew she wasn’t here because she wanted to be, but because she had to be. When he’d discovered his father’s deception, he’d asked Cal Knight, a trainer with the Flames, to talk to one of the league lawyers and get the real scoop on her divorce, not sure how he could get her to come home so he could fix things.

  As awful as it was, he’d been thrilled to discover she’d been screwed, left with nothing, and was in need of not only money but a job. He was offering her a fistful of money, which he hoped she wouldn’t take, and a “job” he hoped she would. He prayed she wouldn’t be too angry to listen to him and blame him for his father’s actions when she learned the truth.

  “Daddy, can I have a candy cane?” Leah asked pointing to the one Mabel was offering her.

  “Sure. We’ll pick up something for supper at the store. Maybe pizza.”

  “Hawaiian?”

  “If that’s what Krista likes, yes; otherwise we might have to get you a small one and something else for her.”

  “Okay, as long as I get Hawaiian.”

  “Determined, isn’t she?” Mabel asked, and laughed. “The bus is here.” She handed Leah the candy. “I’ll watch her while you go meet Krista.”

  “Thanks.” He bent down to Leah’s eye level. “Just one candy cane,” he said holding up one figure in front of his daughter’s eyes. “I’ll be right back.”

  Pursing his lips, he headed toward the bus bays, hoping he’d made the right decision. Ted opened the bus door and stepped out to assist the passengers. He saw Maggie Smith and Edna Frump get out, their arms loaded down with packages. His eyes fixed on the door, he exhaled the breath he held when Krista stepped off the bus.

  The first thing he noticed was that her curly hair, the color of fall leaves on the oak trees his great grandfather had planted near the main house, had been replaced by straight, dark brown hair that reached her shoulders. His uncle used to say that hair was proof she belonged on the ranch. He’d like to think that was still true.

  The darker hair changed her, made her appear paler, more fragile, but the silver-blue eyes he remembered were the same. The gray tweed coat she wore seemed too big for her. Had she been sick? Maybe it was just a four hour flight followed by a three hour bus ride that had taken the roses out of her cheeks, but he’d bet that bastard, who’d probably used her as a punching bag if his friends were to be believed, had something to do with it.

  Hurrying over to the door, he smiled at her, hoping he looked friendly and not nervous. He wanted to take her into his arms, but suppressed the urge, knowing she would be as skittish as a new filly. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her. He’d forgotten how tiny she was—no more than five foot tall to his six foot three—and he’d filled out a lot in the last ten years.

  “Krista,” he said, his voice husky despite his best effort to curb his emotions. “Welcome back.”

  “Ethan,” she smiled, but her eyes were sad and wary. She offered her hand as if they were mere acquaintances.

  It pained him to realize she probably hated him, but he reached out and shook it, holding on longer than he should.

  “Thanks,” she said. “You look good. The years have been kind. I’d like to say it’s good to be back, but the weather isn’t helping.”

  She released his hand, but not before he’d felt her tremble.

  “I hadn’t expected bad weather…” he said, feeling like an idiot. Bad weather in December was a given. “Where’s your bag? You’ve got more than that? You did say you’d stay five days.”

  She shrugged. “I’ll leave sooner if you want me to, but I don’t know how soon I can get a flight back.”

  “That’s not what I meant,” he said feeling like a jerk. He didn’t want her to think she wasn’t welcome. “Seven Oaks is your home as much as it’s mine. Stay as long as you like.”

  That sounds even worse.

  Her brows furrowed, but she didn’t comment on what he’d said.

  “That’s my suitcase.” She pointed to a tapestry bag the driver had just removed from the luggage area.

  He reached for it. “Thanks, Ted. Merry Christmas. Mabel’s glad you’re home safe and sound.”

  “So am I,” the driver answered. “It’s coming down harder than ever. It’s nice to see you again, Krista. I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you without your red curls.”

  “It’s okay. I should’ve said something.”

  Ethan lifted her bag and noticed her unease. She reminded him of a mustang, accidentally rounded up with the stock, looking for an escape, and unable to find one.

  “Ollie’s plowing the road for us,” he commented, assuming the weather was at the root of her discomfort and hoping to reassure her. “We need to stop for a few things at the store, and then we’ll be good. Got the chains on the tires, too. Shall we?” He indicated the door to the station. “The truck’s out front, and Leah’s inside with Mabel. Don’t worry. We’ll make it.”

  “If you say so,” but the look on her face showed she wasn’t convinced. “Who’s Leah?”

  “My five-year-old daughter. I had to pick her up from a friend’s house. She was at a birthday party for one of the kids in her kindergarten class.”

  “I see, and is your wife waiting at the ranch?”

  “I don’t have a wife, Krista. I had someone in mind for the job, but it didn’t work out.”

  “But you have a daughter…”

  “Leah’s the daughter I chose, just like Uncle Luke chose you.”

  The crestfallen look on her face made him want to kick himself.

  “I hope that turns out better for her than it did for me,” she said sadly.

  “Uncle Luke loved you,” he said quietly.

  She snorted. “Well, leaving me homeless was a strange way of showing it.”

  “You’ll love Leah,” he said changing the subject slightly. “She’s a lot like you were as a kid. She’s Milly Carmichael and Tom Wilkes’s daughter. I was her godfather. When Milly and Tom were killed in a car accident four years ago, I became her legal guardian. I adopted her officially the following year.” He smiled. “I fell in love with Leah the minute Milly placed her in my arms, and when I realized I was all she had, there was no way I’d let anyone or anything hurt her again. She’s a sweetheart. Come on. I’ll introduce you.”

  Pulling open the door, he let her go ahead of him. Mabel had come out from behind the counter.

  “Krista, welcome back. It’s
so nice to see you again.” Mabel threw her arms around her and hugged her.

  From the stunned look on Krista’s face, Ethan realized the warm welcome was the last thing she’d expected. Did she think everyone in the town had forgotten her?

  “Mabel, you look great,” Krista said, returning the hug, barely hiding the shock in her voice. “It’s been a while.”

  “It certainly has. We all expected you to visit—especially for the centennial celebration a couple of years ago, but the invitation we sent to the address your uncle gave us came back.”

  “That’s a shame. We moved out of Ottawa into Kanata around that time. I’m sorry I missed it.”

  She was lying to save face. His dad hadn’t kept track of her. After her wedding, Ethan had searched all the social media sites, hoping to connect with her. He’d found Theo’s, but that site was devoted to his hockey career. The guy was vain, not well-liked by the other players, and it had been easy to see why. He’d sent a private message introducing himself and asking about Krista, but the jerk had never replied and had blocked further contact.

  “We have to stop at the grocery store before we head back, Mabel, so I’m going to steal her away for now.”

  Mabel nodded. “Of course, and you’ve had a long day to boot,” she said patting Krista’s shoulder. “That’s the problem with holidays. I hate traveling to get there, but once I arrive … Ted and I host an Open House on Boxing Day, and we’d love to have you—you, too, Ethan … Will you be coming to the pageant on Christmas Eve?”

  “I’m in it,” Leah said, no doubt deciding it was time she was introduced. “I’m a talking cow named Lulu, but my real name is Leah.”

  “Pleased to meet you, Leah,” Krista offered her hand. “A talking cow? That sounds really interesting.”

  Leah’s eyes glowed as she shook Krista’s hand. “I have six lines—more than anyone else. Dad says you’re my step-cousin. Is that the same as a real cousin because I don’t have any of those either. I’m an ‘only’ and that makes me special. You’re pretty. Did you know my mommy and daddy? I don’t remember them because I was too little when they died. Daddy said your parents died, and you had to go away. Are you an ‘only’ too? Do you have a horse where you live? Where are you going to sleep?”

  The last question had Krista’s face red as a beet, but then she burst out laughing, the action transforming her appearance. Ethan relaxed, grateful for the five-year-old’s curiosity since it had broken the ice.

  “Do you always ask so many questions?” Krista asked, a huge grin splitting her face. “I don’t know what to answer first.”

  “Leah is the undisputed queen of questions, but she usually gives you time to answer,” Ethan said and chuckled, picking up his daughter in his free arm and Krista’s case in the other. “Let’s get out to the truck and maybe she can ask them again—one at a time. We’ll see you Christmas Eve, Mabel, and I’ll let you know about the Open House.”

  Chapter Three

  Krista felt as if she’d pulled an Alice—fallen down a rabbit hole and landed in a completely different world from the one she’d expected. As she watched Ethan buckle Leah into her car seat, she tried to make sense of things. Despite the invitation and the first class ticket, she hadn’t anticipated a warm welcome. In fact, she’d counted on belligerence and barely suppressed frustration at being made to jump through hoops for what was rightfully his.

  Not only did Ethan seem genuinely happy to see her, Mabel had been friendly, and there’d been nothing false about her smile or her invitation. Krista had loved Appleton and its people, and while she knew the rumor mill would have a field day with her back on the ranch, she’d regretted leaving the town almost as much as she had Ethan, even if he hadn’t wanted her after all. It was too bad she’d never gotten the invitation. Theo wouldn’t have let her come, but she could’ve sent a nice letter expressing her regrets.

  After safely tying his precious and precocious daughter into her car seat, Ethan took her case around to the truck’s covered box.

  Screwing up her face and cocking her head to the left, Krista stood back, eyeing the height of the step into the truck with trepidation, not at all sure she was going to manage it with even a semblance of dignity. There was a handle by which to pull herself up, but the step was at least a foot and a half off the ground, and from here, even that handle was beyond her reach. She could try a run and grab, but with this much snow on the ground, she’d likely miss and face plant into the door.

  Ethan came around the truck and hopped up on the step to open the door. “Let me give you a boost,” he said, grabbing her waist and sending a thousand volts of electricity through her as he hoisted her up. “Grab the handle and pull yourself onto the seat. I know it’s kind of high, but it’s the best vehicle for this weather.”

  Fighting to hide her body’s reaction to his touch, a response she suppressed along with her bittersweet memories, she managed to sit on the seat. In spite of her trembling hands, which she hoped he’d put down to nerves, she fastened her seatbelt. He handed her the backpack before closing the door, as if nothing of any great importance had happened—nothing had shaken him to the core.

  “You’re short,” Leah said from the back seat, dragging her back to the moment. “Grandpa said my mommy was a pipsqueak. Daddy says that means she was small and precious. Are you a pipsqueak, too?”

  “I guess,” Krista agreed, although she was fairly certain the term was a derogatory one for someone considered insignificant and worthless. Since insults had been Theo’s forte, she was familiar with most of the ones that could be used in public under the guise of affection. His preference had been for Russian terms no one understood.

  Ethan got into the truck and started the engine. “I hope you don’t mind a quick stop on the way home. I need to pick up a few things to see us through. We can’t count on being able to get into town before Christmas Eve.”

  “I understand,” she said nervously. Snow was bad enough, but being snowed in would be even worse. She’d go crazy, caged in like a tiger. She hoped she’d get along with whoever else was staying in the house. The child would be an excellent buffer during the day, but she was probably in bed by eight. When she’d left Seven Oaks, there’d been a live-in housekeeper who spent the evenings with the family.

  Was Jonesy still there? She’d had an apartment on the main floor at the back of the house, and after Mom’s death, Krista had spent hours sitting there talking to her. Mrs. Jones had been away visiting her sister when Krista had been forced to leave.

  As they drove along, Leah chatted away, filling what would have been an awkward silence by describing the various Christmas events scheduled, talking about her role in the pageant, and pointing out the familiar landmarks. Here and there, a store had been renamed or had moved, but for the most part, Appleton was just the way she recalled it.

  “They’ll light the big Christmas tree tomorrow night, won’t they, Daddy?”

  “They will, if the snow lets up. If not, they’ll do it the next day. The rink will be ready then, although it’s going to need some serious work after this snow. Do you remember the first time we were there for the tree lighting?” he asked her. “You didn’t know how to skate and kept falling down.”

  “And you got me this bright orange pylon to push around the ice.”

  “I did that last year,” Leah added. “I’m a good skater now.”

  “I’ve improved, too,” Krista said, chuckling at the memory. That had been her first Christmas at Seven Oaks, and Ethan had been her hero—a persona he’d maintained until he’d turned his back on her. The thought dispelled the happy image.

  “I suppose you would be what with your marketing job with the team,” Ethan continued, obviously trying to make conversation, probably for the sake of the child. Kids had an uncanny knack of sensing underlying tension and emotions.

  Krista noted he hadn’t mentioned Theo and her marriage.

  “I skated whenever the team held a charity or community event,
” she answered determined to be as pleasant as he was trying to be. “I used that pylon thing a few times when the team hosted a ‘Skate with the Players’ day. Last Christmas, we had a party for underprivileged children at the stadium. I fell and broke my ankle, and with what happened … I haven’t been up on skates since.”

  She swallowed the painful memory. She’d fallen because of the sudden pain in her abdomen. Not only had she broken her ankle, she’d lost the baby. Theo’s cruel words had been almost as devastating as the loss of the child, but after the scene at the hospital, he’d agreed to a divorce.

  “Here we are,” Ethan said pulling into the crowded parking lot. It looked as if half the town was shopping.

  “I can stay here and wait with Leah,” she offered, praying no one would recognize her and come over to the truck.

  “No,” Leah cried indignantly. “I want to see the angel and make my wish. You have to make one too, Daddy. You promised.”

  Ethan shrugged his shoulders. “If you want to stay, I can leave the truck running…”

  Leah turned to her, suspicion on her little face. “You like candy and Christmas, don’t you? You’re not a Grinch like Grandpa was?”

  “Leah, don’t be rude,” Ethan said.

  “Well, he was a Grinch, and his heart never got bigger no matter how much I sang and prayed.”

  Krista shook her head, coming to the child’s defense. “It’s okay. She didn’t mean to be rude. No, I’m not a Grinch,” she said unfastening her seatbelt, although Christmas hadn’t meant much over the years. No trees, no gifts, no church services. To try and please her ex-husband, she’d given away most of her soul, and had gotten nothing in return but pain. It would be nice to celebrate Christmas again the way she had as a child.

  Ethan turned off the engine, helped Leah out of the truck, and did the same for her. While she was expecting his touch this time, the sensation was no less intense.

  “I take it we’ll be looking at the Nativity scene in the corner and putting a coin in the angel’s pouch.”