Montana Secret Santa

by Debra Salonen

  A box the size and shape of an old-fashioned toaster rested in the center of the table. Constructed of a similar metal as the table, it might have disappeared against the backdrop if not for the black rubberized placemat beneath it.

  “Umm… very clean lines.”

  His smile told her the attempt to find something positive to say didn’t hold water.

  “I had the box fabricated off-site. My contribution is inside.” He reached out and hauled the object close enough to give it a thorough once-over. “Tap the red dot.”

  She did and the top retracted like magic. “Whoa. Impressive.”

  He obviously thought otherwise. “Put your hand into the center of it.”

  He didn’t add the words “If you dare” but she heard them. A test.

  She swallowed hard. “Okay.” She closed her eyes, made a fist and drove it straight into the hollow core, and waited.

  Her eyes flew open. “It’s cold. How? I don’t hear a motor running.”

  He tapped his temple. “I got it to maintain the temperature I wanted, but I can’t figure out how to shrink it. And the cost for this prototype…” He let his word linger in the air. “Let’s just say it’s completely, utterly impractical for commercial use. I blew it, Krista. I’m sorry.”

  “Sorry? Jonah, this is the most beautiful, heartfelt gift I’ve ever gotten—heck, it’s the best present I’ve ever heard about anyone getting. You are amazing. I don’t deserve this and I don’t deserve you, but I love you, Jonah Andrews. I think I have since the day Bindi knocked me off my feet and into your arms.”

  *

  “I love you, Jonah Andrews.”

  Jonah heard the words and an eerie calm—the kind he’d learned from a lifetime of experimentation led to a major revelation—settled over him. But he knew his process. He needed time and space to internalize what just happened.

  “Food.”

  She cocked her head. Obviously, not the response she’d expected.

  He tossed the dust cover over his project and grabbed her hand. “It’s embarrassing to admit this, but I feel a little light-headed. I don’t even know what time it is. Breakfast? Lunch? Or dinner?”

  She checked her watch. “It’s almost two.”

  “Lunch then. Let’s go. Do you like fish?”

  She blinked. “We’re going out?”

  “Oh, definitely. I didn’t take time to stock the fridge. I’ve been living on coffee, granola bars, and those ghastly vitamin drinks that taste like flavored paste.”

  “If you hate them, why do you drink them?”

  “Ease and immediacy. When I’m focused on a project, I try to keep distractions to a minimum.”

  She paused to pick up the layers she’d been shedding. He found a certain validation in her unconscious action. He couldn’t wait to take the rest of her clothes off in his big empty bed. But what came next between them was too important to rush. He wanted to savor each and every step—just as he would any other breakthrough.

  “Should I change?” she asked.

  He pulled her tight. “Not for me. I adore you just the way you are.”

  Her blush made his heart bubble over with joy. “I meant my clothes. It was near zero when I left Bozeman.”

  “You can, if you prefer, but it’s not necessary. Some afternoons a cool breeze will blow in off the ocean.”

  “You’re starving. I’ll be fine.”

  He drove the Z4 because the top was down and he knew it had gas.

  As she settled in the butter-soft leather seat, her grin made him ask, “What?”

  “I just didn’t picture you as a BMW guy. A Range Rover, maybe, or a Prius, but not a sexy sports car.”

  He groaned. “That’s because you’ve only seen me behind the wheel of my dad’s old Jeep. Hang on, darlin’, you’re in for a ride.”

  He took the long way. Up and over the ridge behind his development to a fairly quiet but winding road with just enough straightaways to draw a couple of small gasps from his passenger. Once they hit the hustle and bustle that was the Bay area, he kept the high performance car well within speed limits.

  “I should have known you’d be an excellent driver. You have amazing focus and you do everything to the best of your ability, don’t you?” she asked once they were parked in the lot of the Fish Market on El Camino.

  He grabbed his wallet and phone. “Dad drilled in his favorite teacher aphorism from the day I started school—if a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well. Does that make me the biggest geek ever?”

  “It’s possible you’re the only one who considers you a geek.” She held up a finger. “Oh, wait, and your brother, too.”

  “That’s right. You met Daniel. He has the people skills I lack.”

  She opened the car and jumped to her feet, facing him with hands on her hips. “What are you talking about? You are miles above him on every personality aspect that counts.” She clicked them off, one finger at a time. “Reliable. Trustworthy. Dependable.”

  “I sound like a Subaru ad.”

  She snickered. “Plus, sexy. Handsome. Kind.”

  “Better.”

  They met at the rear of the car. “Are you ready? They have great fresh fish and their oyster bar is to die for.”

  “Don’t change the subject. I love oysters. Especially barbecued. What were we talking about? Oh, right. Daniel versus Jonah. No comparison in my book, except the obvious.”

  “Which is?”

  “The dogs like him. He has potential, but he’s no you.”

  The absolute conviction in her tone made him smile. But his stomach’s insistent growling ended their conversation until they were seated across from each other on the outdoor patio. The loud hum of car noise from El Camino might have turned off some people, but for Jonah the energy and bustle reconnected him to the real world. As did the delicious smells that accompanied a plate of iced, shimmering bivalves served with lemon and a bottle of hot sauce.

  Once Jonah had a crisp IPA and a second order of oysters under his belt, he felt human enough to tackle the elephant sitting in the chair beside them. “I’m sorry I lied to you about going to Florida, Krista. That was stupid. Juvenile, even. In my mind, I saw myself as some fantastical Santa-like hero dashing home, whipping together this amazing prototype in a day… two tops, and then zipping back to Montana in time to meet your parents and present you with your dream gift.” His cheeks turned hot describing what had to be the dumbest, geekiest move in dating history.

  She’d chosen sauvignon blanc over beer.

  Her lips curled slightly as she took a sip. “That does seem a bit… ambitious, even for Santa. Are all inventors that impulsive?”

  “Diplomatic word for out of touch with reality? Probably to some degree. We tell ourselves the word impossible doesn’t belong in the creative stage vernacular.”

  “In hindsight, it’s probably just as well that the box didn’t work out. You know how they say timing is everything? Your amazing effort would have been eclipsed by my mother’s news. The woman knows how to work a stage.”

  She took another sip before continuing. “Mom rented the perfect house, brought thoughtful gifts for everyone—even my eldest brother’s girlfriend, who is obviously using him to get ahead in the biz…but I digress. Neither Mom nor Dad gave any hint to what was coming until our last morning together. Over caramel rolls and cappuccinos, she told us her medical team has confirmed that she has Stage IV chronic kidney disease caused by the pain killers she took for a back injury that happened while filming, I quote, ‘a worthless piece of shit movie I wish my name could be stricken from.’”

  The tremble in her voice told him how difficult it was for her to share this news. He squeezed the hand resting on the white tablecloth. “I’m sorry. It must have been a shock for everyone. Has she started dialysis?”

  She shook her head. “Not yet. She’s working with a dietician and has an appointment next week with a nephrologist. My sister in New York is moving into Dad’s apartment so he
can go back to LA. We’ll all get tested to see if any of us is a match if… when… it gets to the point where she needs a transplant.”

  “Wow. How’s she handling the diagnosis?”

  “Surprisingly calm. She wanted to tell us before she starts winding down some commitments. Once her diagnosis becomes news, she’ll have to deal with the press. She has a lot of fans. She’s considering sharing this on social media to help others who might be in the same boat. But I know Mom. She’s vain. If her body swells up with retained fluids… I don’t know how that will turn out.”

  “Who’s with her now?”

  She shook her head. “Just Dad. She said they wanted some alone time to think and plan.”

  He looked toward the parking lot and made a decision. “I feel like a road trip. How ’bout you? Pacific Coast Highway is amazing this time of year.”

  “Can I drive?”

  “As much as you want.”

  “What about the dogs?”

  He shook his head. “No room for them.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Who’s going to dog-sit? Your brother wasn’t very happy about me dumping the job in his lap.”

  He picked up his phone, used an app to pay the bill and leave a tip and then reached for his keys. “Here’s Daniel’s latest text, “Just met my date for NYE. Sweet Jesus. Don’t rush back. Dogs send their love. They said to tell you they like me better.” The string of emojis included a pile of poop, a bouquet of flowers, a champagne flute, and a gust of wind.

  She stared at the phone, obviously hashing over the pros and cons of his impromptu plan. When she looked up, she said, “So, you’re off the hook, and I don’t have anything on my schedule until January fourth. Let’s do this. It’ll give us time to talk about”—She made a back and forth motion—“…us.”

  Did that last word carry a fatalistic hue? He hoped not because he had a second box in his workshop that he planned to pick up when they returned to his house. He’d probably only slept ten or twelve hours since leaving Montana. They’d hit the road in the morning, after a good night’s sleep, hopefully, in each other’s arms.

  Chapter Fifteen

  At Jonah’s travel app’s suggestion, they booked a room in Cambria, a small town on Highway 1 midway between Monterey and Pismo Beach, rather than trying to push straight through to LA.

  Krista told herself she wasn’t the only one dragging her feet. None of her siblings had rushed to Mom’s side, either. Krista wasn’t even sure this visit was necessary.

  Her mother was a strong person and she’d made an effort in the past couple of years to stay in shape—more because of her clothing and cosmetics line than out of any real desire to be fit. Despite the annoying few symptoms such as fatigue, back pain, and sleep issues that sent her to the doctor in the first place, Mom said she felt fine.

  But, realistically, everyone knew her life was about to change—big time.

  “I think this is the place,” she said, putting on the blinker to turn left into a collection of white and yellow bungalows across the street from the ocean. “I like the idea of walking on the beach before dinner.”

  “Me, too. I haven’t been to this part of the Central Coast in years. I either drive to Half Moon Bay or Santa Cruz or fly down to Santa Barbara.”

  She let the “zoom car,” as Jonah called it, idle in the waiting zone while Jonah hopped out to take care of registration. She’d let him make all the arrangements so far—even booking a hotel a short drive from Mom’s. Normally she was the one taking care of things for other people. The shock of Mom’s diagnosis had made her question a lot things she took for granted—like the importance of her career.

  Jonah’s attempt to make her happy and satisfy her dearest wish by creating a new sort of packaging material had left her rattled. Is that really what he thinks I’m all about? Have I let Blue Sky fill too many of the gaps in my life? Take the place of things she didn’t think she’d ever have—a loving relationship, kids, pets?

  Her life was going to change. She planned to be available when her mother needed her. She and Jonah had been bouncing around ideas to create a charity in her mother’s name. He seemed to think Mom’s celebrity would appeal to the Big Sky Mavericks Foundation. Krista would have her hands full when she got back to Marietta. If Blue Sky’s new intern decided she wanted to become a full partner, Krista would be all for it.

  I can’t control everything—hell, I’m lucky if I can control anything. And that’s okay as long as I’m present and I put people first.

  The way Jonah did.

  With a jaunty wave to the clerk behind the desk, he leapt through the doorway, like a superhero. “Follow me,” he called, jogging to a parking spot designated for room number four.

  How could she not? Seeing that stainless steel box silently doing its job. Just for her. She’d known a love so intense, it left her a little unnerved. Especially since he had yet to say the words “I love you, too, Krista Martin.”

  Last night, in his bed, had been a revelation she hadn’t seen coming. She’d expected to experience a quick, needy, life-is-short-then-you-die passion, but Jonah had slowed things down every time she started to spin out of control. Her blunt “I need you now” had earned a “No. You need a massage.” She’d been too shocked to argue.

  His hands! The hot oil! Tension fled from spots she hadn’t known were there. Pockets of grief released a gully washer of tears. She’d wept in his arms until she felt limp as a rag doll. Only then had he kissed her and made love with such tenderness, his hands and body spoke the words his lips failed to say aloud.

  “You drive like a girl,” he said opening the driver’s side door for her.

  She stuck out her tongue. “You mean safe and respectful of other drivers? Thank you.”

  “Exactly. But we have to hurry.” He opened the trunk to grab their bags. “According to the desk clerk, the restaurant we want to eat at is up the street a few blocks. It doesn’t take reservations, so we need to get in line early.” He held up his hand before she could protest. “We can get there via the beach.”

  They tossed their bags in the lovely, ocean-facing suite, grabbed hoodies, and headed toward the water.

  “I’ve been thinking about the chocolate box you made for me,” she said, her hand safely in his as they strolled along the damp packed sand, dodging waves as the tide returned.

  “You’ve figured out my crucial mistake?”

  “I don’t think you made a mistake.”

  “But it’s too big and too expensive. There’s no practical commercial application.”

  She stopped. “Take the word commercial out of the equation and what do you have?”

  “Practical application?”

  “Exactly. It’s too big for individual shipments of chocolate, but what could a box like that hold? A human heart? A liver? A transplant kidney for someone like my mother?”

  His look of shock pleased her, but she didn’t gloat. “I’ve seen how they transport organs on TV shows. I don’t know for a fact that they use beer coolers and ice, but that’s what it looks like. And while I’m sure that mode is practical and cheap, your box maintains a pre-set temperature for a much longer period, doesn’t it?”

  “The solar-powered battery recharges itself indefinitely, even given sporadic access to sunlight.”

  “So it’s possible that your box has a higher calling—saving lives.”

  He tilted his head and smiled. “You’re a genius. Why didn’t I think of that?”

  “Genius? Mom’s diagnosis got me thinking about the fragility of life and how things can turn on a dime. One minute you’re healthy and planning for the future and the next you’re faced with the reality that you might not have a future. If… when… Mom gets to that point—and if none of us is a match—I’d like to know her donor organ will arrive in pristine condition.”

  He didn’t say anything for a good minute, but she could tell he was thinking hard on the matter. She waited patiently, hoping all the checks and balances in his
thought process came to the same conclusion she’d had—his chocolate box had all kinds of life saving applications.

  “I love you, Krista,” he said, dropping to one knee on the damp sand. “Will you marry me?”

  *

  Jonah pulled the jeweler box he’d been carrying with him for two days waiting for the right time to pop the question. Was this that moment? Maybe. Maybe not, but his instincts said, “This woman is your soul mate, man. Don’t let her think otherwise.”

  When she didn’t say anything, he added, “I’ve never said those words to another living soul outside of my family. I’ve never been sure I had it in me to love someone. But you make me want to trust in feelings that don’t really make sense—that’s a scary thing for a scientist. But sometimes you have to go with a leap of faith.”

  He opened the box. “This isn’t a traditional engagement ring. I went straight to work when I got here. I did not pass Go or a jewelry shop. To be honest, even popping this question seemed like a long shot. But Mom overnighted this—along with my Christmas present—without my asking. She’s the true genius in the family. She knew how much you meant to me before I ever dared admit it to myself.”

  She stared at the pretty blue-green stone without a word.

  Because he didn’t know what to say at a moment like this, he told her the story behind the ring. “Mom said it was her beginner engagement ring. That’s what she and Dad called it. They fell in love in college and were reluctant to go into debt for a diamond, so they pooled their money and went shopping for something that would have meaning to them both. A Montana sapphire. They lucked out and found a jeweler with a big heart. The price of the ring was more than they had, but the jeweler gave them a break. A few years later, Dad wound up coaching the jeweler’s son and helping the boy through a rough time in his life. The jeweler told Dad, ‘My investment paid off. I knew it would.’”

  She looked up, blinking back tears. In a rush to stave off her probable “No,” he said, “Dad bought Mom a diamond for their tenth anniversary. Mom swears she loves it best, but in her note to me, she wrote that this ring brought them together in Montana and she’d be honored if we chose to keep it.”