The Christmas Promise (Heartsong Presents)

by Kimberly Rose Johnson

  “Blondie? You already have a dog in mind?”

  Pete cringed. He hadn’t meant to say that. Maybe calling her was a mistake. He didn’t know what had possessed him to contact her before he knew if the animal needed an adoptive home. It probably had to do with the fact that he really wanted an excuse to spend time with Keira. To see if what he’d been feeling was real. Although it didn’t matter, since he shouldn’t go there again with a single mom. What was he doing? He was just setting himself up for heartbreak again.

  He cleared his throat. “Maybe. I found a dog on the side of the highway last night. My assistant is trying to locate the owner, but for now I’m keeping the animal with me. She’s a beagle. I’m guessing she’s around three years old, and she is housebroken and very well mannered. I’m hoping we’ll find the owner.”

  “Then why call me?”

  “Because that way I’ll know what kind of dog would work best for you and your son.”

  “Oh.”

  Did she sound disappointed? Had she hoped he’d called for another reason? “Okay, I’ll keep you posted, but please consider allowing me to meet your son. It really would help in finding the best fit for him.”

  “If you’re going to the festival tonight, Cody and I will be there for the lighting ceremony. I decided to close at four so he can see Father Christmas ride in.” The line went dead.

  Pete looked at the phone a little surprised, then set the receiver down. In retrospect his questions had been somewhat obnoxious. Keira had every right to be annoyed with him. Even though he may have been premature in calling, he was doing it for the good of all involved. Too many people adopted animals with good intentions only to find out later they were a bad match.

  He frowned. From what he understood, there’d be hundreds, if not thousands of people in the village for the festivities. No way would he be able to find the pair. Maybe he should plan to be at the store before closing to guarantee he’d be able to spend time with her. He glanced over at the beagle sound asleep at his feet. Blondie really was a sweet dog. Whoever had lost her was probably full of worry. He’d call the shelter and let them know about her, just in case the owner checked there.

  In the meantime he had work to do to be ready for tonight. He intended to make a good impression. There was no reason he couldn’t be friends with Keira and her son. He ignored the sirens going off in the back of his mind, warning him that he was playing a dangerous game. Now to call the shelter.

  “Hello, this is Pete Harding from the clinic in Leavenworth. I found a beagle last night along the highway and wanted to see if anyone has come by looking for her.”

  “Hi, Doc. Let me check.” Dogs barked in the background and he could hear muffled voices. “Nope. Let me get your number, though, just in case.”

  Pete gave the number of the clinic and hung up. The idea that this dog could be someone’s pet bothered him. He’d hate to turn the animal over to Cody only to have the owner finally show up and want her back. No kid should have to go through that. There were plenty of dogs that needed a good home.

  * * *

  “Go ahead and take off, Holly.” Keira grabbed a disinfecting wipe and cleaned the counter. “As soon as I tidy up, we’re leaving, too.”

  “Are you sure? I could keep the store open until the normal closing time.”

  “Thanks for the offer. But I don’t want to leave you here alone.” She also didn’t like the idea of lost revenue, but it would be bad business to have an understaffed store. No, it’d be better to just hang a note on the door and close early. “We’ll be working long hours until Christmas. Go and enjoy the festivities.”

  “Okay, thanks!” Holly draped her apron on the peg beside the storage room. “See you tomorrow.”

  “Bye.”

  Holly stopped outside and spoke briefly with someone before walking away.

  Keira looked closer. “No. It can’t be.” What is Pete doing here? Did he really plan to attend the Lighting Festival with them? She never imagined he’d take her up on her comment.

  After tossing the wipe in the garbage, she wrote the note for the door and frowned at her wobbly handwriting. She had to get it together. With paper and tape in hand, she walked to the door, flipped the sign to Closed and taped the note to the window. Her hands shook and she clamped her jaw. A man should not have this effect on her, especially one who wasn’t interested in her. She stepped outside. “Pete,” her voice croaked.

  He turned to face her. “Hi. I didn’t know how I’d find you later, so I thought I’d wait for you here.” His cheeks tinged pink and for the first time since she’d met him he looked uncertain. “I hope that’s all right.”

  Keira nodded and opened the door. “Come inside while I lock up.” Her heart raced and she willed her hand to stop shaking as she locked the door. Ignoring Pete the best she could, she called out to Cody, “Time to go upstairs.”

  Cody appeared in the doorway holding a Hot Wheels car in each hand. “Is it time for the festival, Momma?”

  “Just about.” She looked over her shoulder at Pete. “This is Dr. Harding. He’s going to come with us tonight.”

  “And Aunt Susan?” Cody trotted to the stairs.

  “Yes.” She moved toward the stairway and looked over her shoulder at Pete. “You coming?” She turned and headed up without a backward glance, but heard his steps following close behind.

  “If it’s okay with you, your son can call me Pete. I don’t know why, but I’ve never liked being called Doctor. I guess I always think of a medical doctor when someone says that, and since I’m not...”

  Keira stepped over the threshold and waited for Pete to enter. “Sure. I need to change. If Susan comes, will you let her in?” At least she’d had time to pick up the clutter before work today. There was one thing to be thankful for.

  “Okay.” Pete stood with his hands in his pockets in the middle of the room, looking out of place in her small apartment.

  Keira frowned. Too bad there wasn’t more than one main living area. But this was it, a single room attached to the kitchen where the breakfast dishes still sat in the sink, waiting to be loaded into the dishwasher. Why hadn’t she done them this morning?

  “Have a seat. I’ll be quick. Cody, maybe you can keep Pete company.” She hustled to her room and slipped out of the German costume, then pulled on a pair of jeans and a red sweater. After running her fingers through her hair, she applied lip gloss. “What am I doing?” she whispered. There was no reason to primp for Pete.

  Keira flung the door open and stopped. Cody and Pete were on the floor playing cars. “No sign of Susan?”

  “Nope.” Pete glanced up, then made a car sound and raced his Mustang past Cody’s Jeep.

  Keira frowned. Pete’s concern about getting hurt and missing his girlfriend’s son came to the forefront of her mind. She didn’t want Cody to become attached to Pete and get hurt the same way. Of course that was ridiculous. They’d never be around Pete enough for that to happen.

  A knock at the door drew Keira’s attention and she opened it.

  “You ready?” Susan looked past Keira and her brows rose. “What’s he doing here?” she whispered.

  “He’s coming with us.” Keira ignored the shocked look on Susan’s face and looked over her shoulder. “Grab your jacket and mittens, Cody. Aunt Susan’s here.”

  The boy jumped up and clapped his hands. “Yay!” He snagged his coat from the back of a chair and slipped into his boots. “Let’s go, Mr. Pete.”

  Mr. Pete? Made sense, since he’d been taught to address his Sunday school teacher in the same manner. Keira grinned. Her son was too cute. She squatted down and zipped up his jacket. “You ready?”

  “Let’s go!” Cody jumped up and down.

  “Okay. Okay.” She slipped her hand around his and motioned for her guests to go out first. “Be
careful on the stairs, Pete. They can be slick.”

  “Thanks for the warning.” He gripped the railing with his gloved hand, but took the stairs with ease.

  Susan still wore the boot chains that she kept on her shoes whenever snow covered the ground. “So, Pete, not to be rude or anything, but what are you doing here?”

  “Susan!” Keira would’ve slugged her if she weren’t going down the stairs and out of reach.

  “Hey, I’m just curious.”

  Once they all stood safely on ground level, Keira noticed Pete’s puckered brow. She didn’t blame his hesitancy. It wouldn’t be good to get Cody’s hopes up about a dog. She shook her head slightly and looped her free arm through Susan’s. “Cool it. I said I’d explain later,” Keira whispered.

  The foursome strolled out of the alley and up the street toward the gazebo and park where the festivities would take place.

  “I can’t believe all the people.” Keira gripped Cody’s hand tighter. No way did she want to lose him in this mob of tourists.

  They crossed the street and got as close as possible, but found themselves stuck in the masses.

  “I can’t see, Momma.”

  Keira picked him up. “How’s this?”

  “No. Higher.”

  “I can’t get you any higher.”

  “You want to ride on my shoulders, big guy?” Pete reached toward her son.

  Keira held Cody closer. “He’s fine.”

  “Higher.” Cody stretched toward Pete.

  The little traitor! Keira’s stomach lurched. There was no sense in creating a scene. She allowed Pete to take Cody and watched as he carefully maneuvered her child onto his shoulders. Then it struck her. Maybe Pete had changed his mind about her. Maybe this was his way of showing her he was willing to take a risk on a single mom. Then again, maybe he really was just trying to help them find a dog.

  Cody clapped. “I can see! Thank you, Mr. Pete.”

  Pete chuckled. “No problem.”

  Keira sidled up to him and, standing on tiptoe, spoke into his ear. “Cool it. I don’t want Cody to get attached to you.”

  He whipped his head toward her and whispered, “You’re right. If you want I can leave now.”

  She saw horror in his eyes. Of course he’d be sensitive to this issue. After all, he’d experienced it firsthand himself. She hesitated. “Don’t leave. I’m overreacting. Sorry.” She sighed. “Cody has a prime seat.”

  “I understand. You’re being a protective mom.” He ducked his head and mumbled, “And I’m a protective pet lover. I’d do almost anything to make sure a dog is in the right home where he’ll be safe and loved.”

  So that was his angle. The truth stung a little. She’d hoped he’d changed his mind about seeing her, but at least now she knew why he was here and it wasn’t for her.

  “Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t like you, Keira. As a friend, of course.” He kept his voice low. “I hope you don’t mind, but I made reservations for a sleigh ride later this evening. I thought it’d be nice to get out of town, away from the crowd.”

  Keira’s pulse raced. She couldn’t leave the village. All the sleigh riding companies were outside the village. They’d have to drive, and fresh snow covered the streets. She sighed. Regardless of his motivation, she wanted to accept. It’d always been a dream of hers to ride in a horse-drawn sleigh. She opened her mouth but no sound came out.

  “What’s wrong?” Pete’s brows pinched together.

  “I’m sorry. We can’t.” Just then the countdown for the lights began, and then the village was aglow. The crowd erupted in applause.

  Cody squealed his delight. “Look, Momma! It’s Father Christmas!”

  Keira looked up at her son’s shining face and then at the man holding him. The child she understood, but the man baffled her. How would she make Pete see why they couldn’t go on a sleigh ride without looking like a fool? Her stomach churned once again. This night was not turning out like she’d pictured.

  Chapter 5

  Pete swung Cody off his shoulders. “Who wants roasted chestnuts and hot chocolate?”

  “Me!” Cody raised his hand high.

  Pete chuckled and looked to the women. He wasn’t sure what had happened, but Keira, who already seemed leery of him, looked ready to bolt. “Susan, you’re welcome to join us for the sleigh ride.”

  Susan glanced at Keira with raised brows. “That sounds like fun, but—”

  “I said we can’t go,” Keira snapped.

  Pete would’ve stopped and questioned her right then and there, but the crowd moved them along. The next thing he knew, Susan took his arm and spoke into his ear. “I don’t know you very well, but my brother says you’re a good guy so I’m going to help you out. Don’t push Keira to go anywhere. She never gets in a car during winter. Never.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Why would someone go to such extremes? Something was definitely off with that woman. Thankfully Keira was taking Cody’s picture with a nutcracker character and wasn’t privy to their conversation.

  “Since her husband was killed, she’s changed. If you don’t want to upset her more, forget about the sleigh ride....” Susan casually stepped away from him and swept up Cody in her arms as he leaped toward her.

  How did she survive being so isolated? Pete grasped Keira’s hand and pulled her toward the man selling chestnuts. “This way.”

  She tugged her hand away, but followed his lead and dragged her entourage along with them. “I’ve never had roasted chestnuts.”

  His eyes widened. “You’ve lived in Leavenworth for how long?”

  “I usually close up my shop after work and hunker down for the night during December. I’m not much for crowds.”

  His heart melted a little with her admission. He understood what it was like to have a fear so overwhelming it affected your daily life. It seemed her husband’s death had profoundly affected her ability to live a normal life. “I understand.” He meant those words, too. His past had shaped him into the person he was and he couldn’t fault Keira for having her own issues. He’d really hoped to escape the throng of people on a quiet ride through the woods, but clearly that was out.

  They stopped, and he purchased a few bags of chestnuts while Susan went for the hot chocolates. They found an out-of-the-way bench to sit on. “Are you sure about the sleigh ride? It’s not that far from here. If I carried Cody, we could walk.” It would be quite a trek, but he was willing to do it for Keira. She deserved to do something fun.

  She hesitated for a moment, but ultimately shook her head. “I’m sorry. We can’t.”

  At least Cody was intently enjoying his treat and not paying any attention to the adults. He’d hate to disappoint the child.

  “Any word on the d-o-g?” Keira asked.

  “Nothing yet. I’ll let you know.” So far Cody had impressed him with his good manners and overall enthusiasm for everything Christmas. The boy was a typical four-year-old overflowing with energy, but he also had a gentle spirit. Pete felt confident that Cody could handle a dog just fine, but sweet Blondie might be too timid for an active young child.

  Keira shifted beside him. “This has been kind of fun.” She plopped a nut into her mouth and grinned. “I can’t believe I’ve missed out all these years.”

  Carolers garbed in Victorian clothing performed in the gazebo and music piped through speakers nearby.

  “Only ‘kind of’ fun?”

  “Hey, I’m taking baby steps.” She nudged his shoulder and smiled.

  “Oh, in that case. Yes, it is nice.” He cleared his throat. “Do you have dinner plans?”

  She held up the hot chocolate and bag of chestnuts. “I’ll make mac and cheese for Cody later if he’s still hungry, or maybe just a bowl of cereal. I’ve never b
een much of a cook.”

  “Cooking is a hobby of mine. You should let me whip you up something. It’d be my treat.”

  “Oh, no. I couldn’t ask you to do that.”

  “You didn’t. I offered.” He nudged her shoulder like she’d done to him a moment ago. “Tell you what. You let me cook for you tonight and I’ll let you send me home with some of your famous chocolates.”

  Keira chuckled. “I’d be a fool to turn down a home-cooked meal I don’t have to prepare.”

  He grinned and stood. “I’ll run to Safeway and pick up what I need, then meet you back at your place in, say, forty minutes.”

  “Sure. Come up the back stairs.”

  He nodded and strode for the clinic, where he’d left his SUV. What was he doing? He specifically avoided women with children and now he’d invited himself to Keira’s place for dinner. Maybe he should call and tell her something had come up. Then again, it wasn’t a date. Cody and Susan would be there. They were just a bunch of friends having a meal together, nothing more. Everybody needed friends.

  * * *

  Forty-five minutes later, Keira chewed her bottom lip and watched out the window for Pete. Where was he?

  “Will you relax?” Susan stood and closed the blinds facing the village. “He’s probably trying to find a parking spot.”

  Keira sighed. “I’m sure you’re right.” She hated that she always thought the worst whenever anyone was late—a habit born from experience.

  Footsteps on the stairs drew her attention. “Finally!”

  Susan touched her arm. “Calm down or you’ll scare him away.”

  Keira shrugged off the touch and scowled at her friend. “I’m fine.”

  “No, you’re not. You’re about ready to jump out of your skin.”

  Keira frowned. Maybe Susan was right. She’d never entertained a man at her home and her stomach felt like she’d just gotten off a roller coaster. Oh, she knew he wasn’t interested, but still she couldn’t help the nerves. She shot up a quick prayer and took a few deep breaths, letting them out slowly.