One Kiss for Christmas (The Happy Holidays Series Book 4)

by Michele Brouder

  “Nah, there’s no snow forecasted for tonight,” he said.

  “I hope we get a white Christmas,” Donna said.

  Jim’s eyes twinkled in the shadowy interior of the car. “If that’s what you want, then that’s what I want, too,” he said.

  Neither one of them made a move to get out of the car.

  Donna opened her purse and pulled an envelope out.

  “Jim, it’s been awhile since I’ve been in a serious relationship,” she said. Her voice shook as she spoke. “There are things I want to tell you. I wrote you a letter.” She handed him the envelope.

  To lighten up the silence that followed, she added, “I thought it best if I hand-delivered it.”

  Jim let out a bark of laughter. “Donna, you’re the absolute best!”

  He leaned over to her. “There’s a lot I need to say to you, as well.”

  She laid a finger on his lips. “Shh. Leave it now, until tomorrow.” She laughed. “So much has happened tonight.”

  “Hey, the Snowball Festival is over,” Jim said, looking at the clock on the dashboard.

  “Thank God.” Donna said, then yawned, the events of the past few days catching up with her.

  “You’re tired. Go inside, and go to bed,” Jim said softly.

  “Would you like to come over for breakfast tomorrow morning?” she asked. She didn’t know why, but she felt shy.

  “Don’t you have to work in the morning?” he asked.

  “No, I took off this week because of Christmas,” Donna said.

  “Then I’d love to,” Jim said. A slow smile spread across his face. “It’s a date, then.”

  Donna smiled, her heart filling up with hope. “I guess it is.”

  Jim hesitated before getting out. “You know, I planned to kiss you tonight.”

  She smiled and lifted an eyebrow, secretly pleased.

  “But it didn’t work out.”

  “It will,” she said softly.

  “I want it to be special,” he said.

  “It will be,” she said. It took a Herculean effort not to give in to the impulse to reach for him and pull him into her embrace. Instead, she reached for his hand, squeezed it, and said good night.

  Chapter 20

  The following morning, Jim examined his sutures in the bathroom mirror, decided he’d definitely seen worse, and brushed his teeth and went about getting dressed. The door to Leah’s room was closed. He hadn’t heard her come in during the night, but he was pretty sure it had been late.

  Before he headed over to Donna’s house, he reread her letter. Again. Although it wasn’t necessary, as he had it memorized. He hadn’t slept well. He’d lain awake thinking of what Donna had written:

  Dear Jim,

  Since you’ve come back into my life, you’ve turned it upside down in ways I would have never dreamed of. But in a good way. I’ve been alone now for so long that it never occurred to me that I might find love again.

  For as long as you’ve known me, you’ve known that I’ve never wanted to leave Orchard Falls. This is my home. It’s as much a part of me as I am of it.

  There is only one reason I would ever leave, and that reason is love.

  You asked me if I would consider going to California with you.

  My answer is yes.

  If you asked me to go to the North Pole, I would say yes. If you asked me to go to the moon with you, I would say yes. And I would be happy about it.

  I’ve always thought of Orchard Falls as my home. But the truth is, my home’s where my heart is, and my heart will be wherever you are.

  My answer is yes. Yes to you, yes to us. A thousand times yes.

  Love,

  Donna

  Donna had told him to come over at nine. And to bring his appetite. He stepped outside, pulling the door closed behind him and locking it. He glanced up at the gray sky, looking for any signs of snow. He hoped Donna got her white Christmas. Hands in his pockets, he whistled as he cut across the lawn to Donna’s house. Anticipation had left him excited and oddly, content.

  Donna appeared at the door with a spatula in her hand, wearing an apron decorated in holly and ivy over her clothes. Something smelled good. He could hear Christmas music coming from the living room.

  “Jim, there’s no need to knock,” Donna said.

  He smiled, following her into the kitchen. Every burner on the stove was occupied by a pot or a pan.

  “Can I ask what’s for breakfast?”

  “Blueberry pancakes and scrambled eggs,” she said. “Bacon. Sausage.”

  “Sounds great. Can I do anything to help?”

  “If you want to make the coffee, that would be great,” she said. “We’re almost ready to eat.”

  Whistling along with the music, Jim moved around the kitchen, making the coffee, while Donna tended to the pans on the stove. It felt natural, like they’d always been like this. As if they’d spent years puttering around the kitchen together, making breakfast.

  As Donna served up two plates of food, Jim poured the coffee. Once seated at the kitchen table, they sat down and tucked into their meal.

  Jim scooped scrambled eggs into his mouth. He was hungry.

  “Does it hurt?” Donna asked, indicating the cut on his forehead.

  “Nah, not at all,” he said.

  They made small talk while they ate their breakfast. They decided they’d like to do Christmas dinner together. Once they settled on the venue—Donna’s house—they went over the menu. Jim helped himself to a second stack of pancakes, and Donna poured more coffee.

  “I’ll have to go see how Sarge is doing,” Donna ventured.

  “Do you want me to go with you?” Jim asked. Sarge could be spiky and he wanted to spare Donna getting caught in the crosshairs.

  Donna shook her head as she added a bit of sugar and creamer to her cup. “No, that’s all right. Best to go and get it over with or she’ll hold me up in the line at the grocery store for the rest of my life.”

  “If you change your mind, let me know,” he said, dousing his pancakes with maple syrup.

  She smiled. “Thanks, I will.”

  Once breakfast was finished, Jim helped Donna clear the table and load the dishwasher. When all was cleaned up, Donna poured two more cups of coffee and they sat back down at her kitchen table.

  “It’s time to talk,” Jim said.

  Donna nodded. “It is, Jim.”

  Jim looked at Donna and cleared his throat, trying to dislodge the lump that had formed there. “Donna, your letter is something I will cherish for the rest of my life.”

  She smiled warmly at him. “I meant every word I said. I’m looking forward to going to California with you.”

  He laughed. “I appreciate that more than you can ever know, but it’s not necessary.”

  Donna’s smile disappeared. “You don’t want me to go with you?”

  Immediately he reached for her hands and took them in his. He spoke quickly to reassure her. “It’s what I wanted to tell you last night. I’m going to turn down the job, Donna. I’ve changed my mind.”

  “Why?” she asked, her eyes widening.

  “Lots of reasons. I just retired from the workforce, so why would I want to go back to that grind? And I’ve decided I want to spearhead a campaign to build a small homeless shelter here in Orchard Falls.”

  Donna sat up straighter in her chair. “That’s a great idea, Jim. And so needed.” She paused and asked, “But are you sure? I don’t want to hold you back.”

  “No, Donna, you would never hold me back. No, I’ve been thinking about this. I’m staying put. At first, taking the job in California seemed like the answer, but then I realized that the location wasn’t the problem. The problem is me getting used to the fact that my military career is behind me. If I left, I’d just be transferring the same set of issues from here to there.”

  “No matter where you go or where you live, you always take yourself with you,” Donna added. “And that includes all your baggage.” />
  “But most of all, Donna, I can’t leave you,” Jim said. “Not again. And it makes me love you more, knowing you’d give up Orchard Falls for me, but I won’t ask that of you.”

  “So you’re not going to California,” Donna said. She sighed and then grinned. “I guess I’ll unpack my bikini then, and cancel my order for a surfboard.”

  Jim burst out laughing.

  They were both quiet, each lost in their own thoughts, trying to navigate the turn their lives had taken.

  “I’m afraid you’re stuck with me.” Jim laughed.

  Her eyes filled with unshed tears. “I’m happy about that.”

  “You know, Donna, I’ve done all the talking and you’ve hardly said anything,” Jim said. “I don’t mean to dominate.”

  Donna laughed out loud. “Oh, Jim, you’ve been dominating conversations since I met you.” Once she stopped laughing, she looked at him with warmth in her eyes. “And I wouldn’t have you any other way.”

  “Whew! That’s relief!” Jim joked.

  “But I spent a lot of time thinking about things. You. Me. Us. Examining my feelings for you and what it would mean if you were to leave,” Donna explained. “We have a second chance at love. I don’t want to miss that.”

  “I feel so lucky to have found you again.”

  Finally, Donna asked, “Are we exchanging Christmas gifts this year? I know it’s short notice.”

  Jim grinned. “You bet we are. I’ve already bought yours.”

  “You have?” Donna asked.

  “I have,” he said. “This is going to be the best Christmas ever.”

  Chapter 21

  The day before Christmas Eve, Donna found herself on the front porch of Sarge and Ralph’s house. She could hear the muted sounds of a television coming from the front room. After she rang the doorbell, she waited and looked around the neighborhood, disappointed at the lack of snow, but with all the decorations and lights of the neighboring houses, it remained cheery.

  The front door opened, and Ralph broke into smile. “Donna!” He held the storm door wide open so she could enter. She stepped inside and immediately was aware of the immense heat and the ear-piercing volume of the television. Beads of perspiration broke out on her brow. Ralph waved her in to the front parlor. Sarge sat in an easy chair with her leg in a cast elevated on a stool.

  “Well, well, look who the wind blew in,” Sarge said by way of a greeting. She picked up the remote control to mute the volume and set it back down on the arm of her chair.

  “How are you doing?” Donna asked. At Ralph’s invitation, she sat down on the sofa. Donna unbuttoned her coat and loosened her scarf, as she was beginning to sweat with the fierce heat.

  Sarge folded her arms across her chest. “How do you think I’m doing with a broken leg for Christmas?”

  “It’s not Donna’s fault,” said Ralph.

  Sarge whipped her head around to her husband. “She told me to break a leg before the race! What kind of voodoo is that?”

  Ralph laughed, which Donna thought was brave. Or foolish. “That didn’t have anything to do with it.”

  “Easy for you to say—your leg isn’t in a cast,” Sarge said.

  Before their conversation could escalate or deteriorate, Donna held up her gift bag. “I’ve brought you some chocolates.”

  Sarge sighed. “Well, that’s something, I suppose.”

  Donna set the bag down on the coffee table. She looked around the living room, a heavily wallpapered room with sculpted carpeting. There were knickknacks everywhere; every available space was covered with a figurine or something glass or ceramic. Donna thought it must be a nightmare to dust. There was a small Christmas tree on a table in the front window with lights, tinsel, and ornaments.

  “What are your plans for Christmas?” Donna asked.

  “Not much,” Ralph said.

  Donna had an idea, and before she could give it too much thought and talk herself out of it, she blurted, “Would you like to come to my house for Christmas dinner?”

  “Have you lost your mind, Donna?” Sarge asked. “Christmas dinner is for families.”

  Feeling courageous, Donna challenged her. “Oh, come on, Sarge, I’ve known you all my life, and if that doesn’t count for something, I don’t know what does.”

  “May I ask what’s on the menu?” Ralph said.

  “No, you may not,” Sarge said firmly. “Who will be there?”

  Ralph raised an eyebrow at his wife.

  “Just Brent and me, and Jim and Leah,” Donna answered.

  Sarge’s head shot up. “Jim O’Hara? It’s about time the two of you got together.” She rolled her eyes. “That only took forever.”

  Even Donna had to laugh, and Sarge looked at her like she thought she was an idiot.

  “I won’t be able to bring anything,” Sarge said. “As you can see, I’m laid up. Some idiot told me to break a leg before the toboggan race.”

  Donna winced at the memory. She knew Sarge would never let her live this down, but she didn’t care. “That’s fine. Just bring yourself.” She looked over at Sarge’s long-suffering husband. “And Ralph, of course.”

  “What time is dinner?” Sarge asked.

  “Four in the afternoon,” Donna replied.

  “That late?” Sarge asked with a sniff of disapproval.

  “Is two better?” Donna asked.

  “Yeah, it is,” Sarge said. She turned to her husband. “Well, Ralph, what do you think? Will we go to Donna’s this year instead of my deadbeat brother’s?”

  Donna tried not to wince again.

  “It’s fine by me, Sarge,” Ralph said.

  “Good. We’ll be there, Donna.”

  Ralph walked Donna to the door.

  “Again, I’m so sorry about everything that’s happened,” Donna said, stepping out onto the front porch. Donna was barely out the door before the volume of the television was back up to its previous setting.

  “Don’t give it another thought. And pay no attention to Sarge. Her bark has always been worse than her bite.” Ralph lowered his voice. “She gets herself all worked up over this toboggan race. I’m telling you, during the run-up to the festival there’s no living with her.”

  Donna was dying to ask how he lived with her the rest of the year, but kept that to herself.

  “Are you sure we can’t bring a bottle of wine or something?”

  Donna shook her head. “Not necessary, Ralph.”

  “One more thing,” Ralph said. He whispered, “What’s on the menu?”

  Donna laughed.

  “I like to think about what’s for dinner. It gives me something to look forward to. And there’s no bigger dinner than Christmas dinner.”

  Donna had to agree with him.

  “Turkey and ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, carrots, turnip, corn, Brussels sprouts, rolls, and of course, all sorts of Christmas desserts.”

  Ralph raised his eyes to heaven. “It sounds wonderful, Donna. I don’t really care that Sarge’s brother is a deadbeat. That’s his business. But his wife is a terrible cook.”

  On Christmas Eve, Donna took extra care getting the house ready for the coming celebration. Since Monday, she and Jim had spent a lot of time together. They’d gone shopping for last-minute gifts and for the dinner they were going to cook together on Christmas Day. Leah had offered to make a few vegan dishes, so there was going to be plenty of food for the six of them.

  Snow fell lightly through the afternoon, but it wasn’t enough to accumulate, melting as soon as it hit the ground. Donna kept looking out the window and biting her lip, wistful. A white Christmas would be the icing on the cake.

  She put some final touches on her Christmas tree with some last-minute ornaments she’d picked up at the Snowball Festival. She arranged some cheery-looking poinsettias in their red-foiled pots on the bay window. She turned on all her Christmas lights inside and out, and they would remain turned on until she went to bed Christmas night. The Carp
enters’ Christmas Portrait played on the record player. It was nostalgic for Donna because it was the first album she’d bought as a kid at Christmastime.

  Jim had put the extra leaf in her dining-room table and had picked up her Christmas tablecloth from the dry cleaners, where she’d dropped it off to have it professionally pressed.

  She made herself some hot chocolate and sat down on her sofa, taking a break to reflect and enjoy the day. As she’d grown older, Christmas had meant different things. Like life, it was cyclic. When she was a kid, it was all about the presents under the tree. Her favorite gift still remained Baby Alive when she was eight. In high school, it was all about trendy clothes and albums under the tree. When she was dating Jim, those Christmases had been magical. Then when she married and had Brent, Christmas and its meaning took on a whole new dimension. It became no longer about her but about other people. Her husband, her parents, his parents, and mostly, Brent. She took on the preparing of Christmas dinner and loved having family at her house, around her table. But the best Christmases were the ones when Brent was little and believed in Santa Claus. Playing Santa Claus had been one of the best times of her life. She thought of her late husband and raised her cup to him. He’d been a good husband and father. The two of them used to take the day off and do all the Christmas shopping in one day. Those had been happy times. But Christmases these past few years, especially since Brent moved out, had been more sedate. This year, Donna was excited about the addition of Jim and Leah. She and Brent had doubled their numbers. And with Sarge and Ralph, it would be even more festive.

  Donna’s thoughts were interrupted by the phone ringing.

  It was Jim.

  “Hey there, how are you?” Donna asked, smiling, feeling satisfied and content.

  “I’m good,” Jim said. “I want to run something by you.”

  “Sure.”

  “I’m at the hardware store. Mr. Brenneman just mentioned to me that he’s not going to his sister’s for Christmas, because she’s gone into the hospital.”