“Will you pray, Uncle Randy?” Brighton asked.
Randy caught Holly’s eye and smiled. “Sure.”
They all bowed their heads.
~
“I can’t tell you how relieved I was when I showed up here tonight and saw you.” Randy grinned, aching to reach over and take Holly’s hand. “I guess Wesley didn’t trust me to change diapers after all.”
“Haven’t you changed a diaper before?”
“Just the other day when Wesley coached me.” He made a disgusted face. “I almost gagged.”
Holly laughed. “Well, you’ll eventually have to get used to it if you ever get married. They say the average newborn baby goes through about ten diapers a day. I hope you won’t expect your wife to change them all.”
“Ten diapers a day?” His voice screeched.
“Sometimes more. That’s the average.”
“How can anyone afford all those diapers?”
“I don’t know. But I’m glad we live in a day and age where diapers are disposable. I couldn’t imagine washing out diapers by hand.”
Randy shivered. “I don’t even want my mind to go there. Why are we talking about diapers again?”
Holly laughed and shrugged. “You brought it up.”
“Change of subject. How about a game?”
“A game. A game.” Jaycee jumped up and down. “Can I pick it?”
Randy eyed Holly and cocked a brow. “What do you think?”
“Sounds good to me.” She smiled.
“It could be dangerous,” he warned.
“Let’s play this one. It’s my favorite!” Jaycee held up a box.
“Twister again?” Brighton shook his head. “You always pick that one.”
“Well, you can pick one too. Uncle Randy will let us play two games tonight,” Jaycee asserted.
Randy laughed. “Oh? Uncle Randy will, huh?”
Jaycee’s head bobbed up and down several times.
“That’s fine, but Holly gets to pick the movie tonight.”
Jaycee rolled his eyes. “It’ll be a kissing one. I know it will.”
“Unless you want to go to bed early.” Randy teased.
“Did I ever tell you kissing movies are my favorite?” Jaycee’s face brightened.
Randy chuckled. “Yeah, and my name is Santa Claus. Nice try, kid.”
After an exciting round of Twister, in which Randy was sure he must have broken the “no touching” rule at least a dozen times, followed by an equally exciting game of Pictionary, they plopped down on the couch in preparation for the movie. Randy was so tempted to slip his arm over the back of the couch and around Holly’s shoulders. But he would refrain.
“You guys aren’t going to be kissing, are you? Because that’s what my sister and Wesley does all the time.” Jaycee’s nose wrinkled. “It’s so gross.”
“Nope. No kissing going on here.” Randy held his hands up.
“I ain’t never gonna have a girlfriend,” Jaycee proclaimed.
“Oh, I think you might change your mind once you get older.”
“Nope.” He shook his head. “Never.”
Holly giggled. “Well, then I’m sure there will be a long list of girls that will be heartbroken.”
“I want popcorn!” Jaycee declared.
“That sounds good.” Randy looked at Holly, who nodded in agreement.
“Brighton and me know how to make it. C’mon, Bright.” Jaycee shot up from his chair and raced to the kitchen.
Randy sat up. “I think I’ll put more wood on the fire.”
“Good idea.” Holly smiled. “I’ll go peek in on the girls to make sure they’re still asleep after all the racket we made.”
While Holly was absent, Randy hurried to the kitchen to grab the bag he’d brought. It was very clear he was going to need it.
Fortunately, the movie had been enough distraction to keep Randy’s mind occupied. But now that the children had all gone to bed and just the two of them sat drinking steaming wassail, he was tempted to move in closer. If they kissed at this point, who would even know besides the two of them? He’d better keep that thought to himself.
Instead, he reached into the bag he’d brought and grabbed a fist full of chocolate kisses. “Hold out your hands.” He grinned.
She eyed him curiously, her smile growing, then did as told.
“Close your eyes.”
“You’re pretty demanding. But okay, I’ll play along.”
He turned her hands around so that her palms faced upward, then gently ran his fingers over them with his free hand, and he noticed she took a small intake of breath at his touch. He leaned close and whispered in her ear, and a smile played on her lips. “I want to give you something.” He then deposited the chocolates into her hands.
“May I open my eyes now?”
“Yes.” Randy grinned.
She giggled when she looked down at her hands. “Kisses?”
“Well, since I’m not allowed to give you the real thing…” He shrugged.
“Ah, you are so sweet.” She looked at him sheepishly. “I want to kiss you too.”
His eyes widened. “You do?”
“Very much so. Actually, I’ve wanted to ever since you made a fool out of yourself in Walmart.”
His grin stretched and he chuckled. “I did, didn’t I?”
“But it was endearing.”
“I’d happily be a fool for you.”
“You’re so cute.”
His lips twisted. “I picture cute as something small and helpless, like a baby.”
“We always called the guys cute that we thought were handsome.” She laughed. “It was meant as a compliment.”
“So why didn’t you just say handsome?”
“Because handsome wouldn’t accurately describe you. Yes, you are handsome, but you’re also fun and quirky and excitable. The word handsome just doesn’t sum all those things up.”
“But cute does?”
She nodded.
“I think you’re cute.” He winked, gliding the back his hand over her upper arm. “And I think I want to kiss you even more now.”
She glanced down at his hand and swallowed. Her gaze flickered to his lips, and he knew she desired the same thing. But he wouldn’t take a kiss without her permission. Instead, he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. That was forbidden too, of course, but it wasn’t a kiss on the mouth.
“Randy, I…” Her chest rose and fell, then she lifted a hand to his cheek.
A crackle in the fireplace distracted him momentarily, then he covered her hand with his own. “May I?”
She nodded ever so slightly, and that was all the permission he needed. He leaned toward her, his hand slipping behind her head. The moment his lips met hers, he knew he was in trouble. Her kiss was slow and tender and sweet, but he desired more when they broke apart.
“Holly…” his voice was hoarse. He coaxed her onto his lap and dared to claim her mouth again, delighting in the fact that she’d planted one of her hands on his chest, and allowed him to deepen the kiss. He took his sweet time kissing her thoroughly, not wanting the blissfulness to come to an end.
A jostling of the door drew their attention and Holly jumped to her feet. “I shouldn’t…we shouldn’t have.”
He stood from the couch as well. “Holly, it’s okay. We’ll keep it between us, alright?” He kept his voice low.
She nodded.
They walked toward the kitchen and greeted Shannon and Wesley. He shook his head at his brother. “Did you plan this?” He pointed back and forth to himself and Holly.
“I think Shannon was a little worried about you watching the kids alone, so she asked Holly.” Wesley smiled. “I think she thought I would cancel you but I figured many hands make light work.”
“Say what?”
“It’s an Amish saying, something Mammi Judy says every so often,” Shannon explained.
“I like it,” Holly chimed in.
“How did ever
ything go?” Shannon asked Holly.
She tugged in her bottom lip and glanced at Randy. “Good.”
“No problems?” Wesley’s brow arched.
Randy shook his head, his gaze flickering to Holly. “None at all.”
Wesley’s eyes moved back and forth from Randy to Holly, then back to Randy again. “Is there something you’re not telling us?”
Randy hoped he was the only one who noticed the pink tinge on Holly’s cheeks. “Nothing to tell. I think I’ll walk Holly out.”
“Good idea.” Wesley looked at his wife. “I don’t know about you, but I’m beat.”
“We won’t keep you from your bed then,” Randy said. “You ready to go, Holly?”
“Yeah, I’m ready.” She smiled, as she pulled her beanie over her tresses.
Shannon leaned in and gave Holly a hug. “Thank you so much. We forgot to grab cash from the ATM. Do you mind if we pay you at church on Sunday?”
“Oh, I wasn’t expecting to get paid. The kids were good, and it was fun,” Holly said.
“Still. Wesley insists.”
“A workman is worthy of his hire,” Wesley added.
“Hey, what about me?” Randy feigned offense as he slid his arms into his coat.
“I have a feeling Holly did all the work.” Wesley smirked. “How many diapers did you change?”
“Okay, okay, point taken.” He put his gloves on and looked to Holly, who was doing the same. “You ready to brave the cold?”
She nodded.
They said their final goodbyes, waving to Shannon and Wesley as they stepped out onto the porch. “I should have turned on our vehicles ten minutes ago, then they’d be nice and toasty.”
She shook her head. “Nah. Mine takes forever to warm up. I’ll be almost home when the heater is finally useful.”
He opened her car door, but refrained from pulling her into his arms lest prying eyes were watching. “M’lady.” He’d used his cowboy accent again.
“Why, thank you, fine sir.” She bowed, then slid into her car.
“See you tomorrow night?”
“Lord willing, I’ll be there.”
He stared after her vehicle as it pulled out of his brother’s driveway, then jumped into his own. Tomorrow evening couldn’t arrive soon enough, but until then he’d be replaying their kisses over and over again in his head and likely be dreaming about them when his head hit the pillow tonight.
SEVENTEEN
Holly’s brisk jog trickled to a slow walk as the treadmill came to an eventual stop. She blew out a breath, wiped her forehead with a hand towel, then stepped off the exercise machine. She stopped for a moment when the dizziness hit, then gulped down a quarter of the water in her bottle.
She would need a shower before she dressed and prepared for the evening’s festivities. She couldn’t wait to see Randy tonight. How she would refrain from kissing him again, she didn’t know. It seemed like once they’d started down that path, deviating from it—or halting altogether—would be nearly impossible. Kissing Randy had felt even better than she had imagined—and she had a pretty good imagination. Dad would likely be disappointed, but he’d left the relationship decision making to her. After all, it was her life. And she was quite certain Randy would be her life mate.
She’d been pondering that since their kisses last night. Soon she’d need to share her secret with him. Well, it wasn’t a true secret since her family knew, but nobody other than her parents and siblings and maybe one other person were privy to her personal matters.
Worry threatened to take hold of her. What if Randy changed his mind about their relationship once he knew the truth? If he were to, he’d have every right end things between them. She knew he deserved more than what she could give him, but there were some things in life that one didn’t have much control over. You just had to live the best you could and leave the results up to God. Which is why you shouldn’t worry about it, Mom had reminded her in the past.
But she did worry about it. Because she desired to be open and honest with Randy. Because she feared what his reaction might be. Because losing the man she’d fallen in love with would completely break her.
~
Randy’s pulse quickened the moment he spotted Holly’s vehicle entering the church parking lot. Since he’d never been to a church singles group event, he’d waited in his car until Holly arrived. Spending another evening with her would be a dream. If only they could steal away for a few moments and indulge in a kiss or two. Did Holly regret kissing him last night? Or did she, like him, relive those few precious moments over and over again in her mind?
He stepped out of his car the moment her vehicle rolled to a stop, then walked over and opened her door. The moment he did, his senses filled with everything Holly. Her gentle but intoxicating perfume. Her bright smile that rarely seemed to dim. Her fabulous wardrobe that complimented her complexion perfectly. “You look gorgeous.”
“Hi to you too.” She smiled, taking his hand as he assisted her exit from the vehicle. “I hope you brought a scarf. It might get cold tonight.”
“Uh-oh.” He grimaced.
They headed toward the entrance of the fellowship hall. “I’m sure it’ll be fine. At least you brought a warm coat.”
He glanced down at his wool trench coat. “That, I did. I’m not overdressed, am I?” Although his coat was a little fancy, he’d worn jeans and flannel underneath.
“It’s perfect for caroling. And it looks great on you.”
Her compliment warmed him from the inside out.
He held the door to the fellowship hall open for her, wishing they could find a secluded place to talk. They hadn’t discussed the kiss at all last night, and he was dying to know Holly’s thoughts on the matter. She didn’t seem to be upset about it. Yet, at the same time, it wasn’t supposed to happen.
What on earth would her father think? Would he change his mind about allowing Randy to court his daughter? Had Holly confessed their tender moments to her father or had she kept them to herself? He hoped the answer was the latter scenario.
But Holly had given him permission to kiss her. He hadn’t—he wouldn’t have—stolen a kiss from her, knowing how she felt. Which was why he’d asked, and why he was ever-so-thankful she’d wanted the same thing.
All of a sudden, he remembered his accountability meeting he had scheduled with her father next week. He smacked his forehead. How on earth could he not confess what he’d done?
“Are you okay?” Holly waved a hand in front of his face.
He blinked, then realized his surroundings. “Yeah, sorry.” He leaned close to her ear. “I was thinking about my meeting with your father next week.”
She nodded, seemingly unworried.
“I don’t know what I’m going to tell him.” He swallowed.
“He values honesty.”
“I’ve never been all that great at keeping the rules.”
“Nah, really?” She giggled. “I never would have guessed.”
“Am I that easy to read?”
“Hmm…let me see. There was the ice skating rink with your then-girlfriend. The incident at Walmart. Your grandparents. Driving up and down the roller coaster road at crazy speeds. And then…last night,” she whispered the last part.
“I guess you have a point.”
“And we’ve known each other all of a week.”
He chuckled. “I can’t seem to help myself. Especially around you.”
“Which is exactly why we’re courting with chaperones.”
“Yeah, because when it’s just the two of us…”
She tugged in her bottom lip, and color rose in her cheeks. “Yeah.”
“I guess I’m not the only rule breaker.” He winked.
A clapping sound stole their attention. He looked at the man who’d clapped, recognizing him as a member of the church who sometimes ushered. “If you would all gather around now, I’d like to say a quick prayer before we start.”
He and Holly moved toward
the front of the room. Each person in their group held out their hand to the person next to them, then they all bowed their heads.
The man in charge led out, “Dear gracious Heavenly Father, we come before You today in adoration and praise and with thankful hearts. You, oh God, in Your love, have sent Your precious Son, Jesus, to this earth for us. Please be with us this evening as we endeavor to share that love with others in the community. Help us to be Your hands and feet. Help us to be that blessing that somebody needs tonight. Please give us safety tonight as we navigate the slick roads. We ask all this in the mighty wonderful name of Jesus. Amen.”
All of sudden, Randy felt like shouting. It was almost like he could feel the Spirit of God in the room with them. It was simply amazing.
“Make sure to grab a snack or two from the kitchen, and a warm beverage, before we head out. We have a list on the table there. I’d like each of you to pick one home in the community that you’d like to stop at. Think of who might enjoy caroling the most. Or maybe just a friend or loved one who doesn’t know the Lord,” the leader said.
Randy turned to Holly. “Do you know whose house you’ll pick?”
Her smile widened. “Yes.”
“I was thinking Wesley’s kids would get a kick out of seeing carolers. I don’t know if they’ve ever seen them before in real life, only in the movies.”
“Good idea. They’ll love it.”
“What about you?”
She shrugged. “Well, we used to go to my grandparents’ house. But Grandpa Remington died a few years ago and we lost Grandma earlier this year, so…” She grew quiet when tears welled in her eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s okay. We all gotta die sometime, right?” She swiped at her tears. “I just miss them.”
That was something Randy couldn’t relate well to, he realized. He’d never had anyone close to him pass away. Not like his sister-in-law Shannon, who’d lost both of her parents in one fell swoop and instantly became sole caretaker of her three younger siblings. No, he’d been quite oblivious to that depth of grief. He’d been blessed, he now realized. What would it be like to experience that kind of pain, that kind of loss? He wasn’t looking forward to finding out.
Unlikely Sweethearts (An Amish Christmas Story) Page 11