The Christmas Kiss

by Virginia McCullough

  “Something happened that looks a whole lot like a jumble of misunderstandings. Add some manipulation to the mix and all you get are more questions. Maybe Jackie will keep on doing this.” She shook her head. “You and I can’t move on with this hanging over you.” She nodded to the owl and the crow. “You have so much you want to do here, but...”

  “But?” He peered into her face. Not move ahead? He thought they had a problem to solve. Apparently, she thought differently. “Go on. But what?”

  “Confront Jackie about her games.” She grimaced. “At least get her to be straight with you about what she wants. Be clear about what you want.”

  “I told you,” he said, confused, “I need to talk with Nic before I hash things out with Jackie.”

  Emma took in a breath. “Why don’t you follow Nic? Go up to Vermont yourself and have it out.”

  He dismissed that idea with a sharp look. “C’mon. Why would I do that?”

  “You claim things are settled between you and Jackie.”

  “They are.”

  “Right. You’ve signed all the papers. But what about the emotional fallout?” She moved toward the door. “I mean...until you confront your ex-wife I think Nic will keep on worrying about her mother and fall victim to every complaint. Even Nic will wonder what you and Jackie really want.”

  He was stunned. “Drive off. Just like that.”

  “Better now than later.” She pointed to the crow and the owl. “You taught me well. I can feed them. Will and Bill will help me clean the cages. The board and Mike, any of us, can stand in for you on Christmas Eve. It’s a family emergency, Parker. No exaggeration.” She sighed. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s an emergency for us.”

  His stomach was churning in a kind of disbelief. “But I love you so much, Emma.”

  She stared at him and the seconds ticked by before she answered. “I know. And I love you. But I want you to be sure—one hundred percent—you want to be here with me. No matter what.” She put her hand on the doorknob. “I’m going to leave. Let me know your plans. Please.”

  Then she was gone...gone.

  * * *

  RUBY WAS EASY to spot in a back booth. In spite of her low mood, Emma was amused to see her friend thumbing through magazines and sipping a giant chocolate milkshake like she didn’t have a care in the world.

  “There you are,” Ruby said, looking up as Emma approached. Then she signaled to the waitress and pointed to the old-fashioned shake glass.

  “I already ordered one for you. And you won’t argue.”

  “Don’t worry, I don’t have the energy.”

  “I just got a text from Mike. He and Jason are in Clayton doing some mysterious Christmas shopping,” Ruby said, raising her eyebrows and smiling. “What could that be about, huh? Anyway, I’ve got plenty of time.”

  Emma glanced around at the diner, mostly empty in the late afternoon. “When you picked up the call, I heard loud whirring in the background. I had no idea it would turn out to be the shake mixer. This is the last place I imagined you’d be.”

  Their teenage hangout had always been a little shabby and only got worse as the years passed. But some things never changed, including the demand for milkshakes and malts. Spruced up now, the River Street Diner was bringing in people nostalgic for traditional diner food.

  “You can’t believe the cravings I get for these,” Ruby said, pointing to the glass. “Always chocolate,” she added with a grin. “I have Mike bring one home almost every day. Might as well enjoy ’em now.” Ruby cocked her head. “Enough about that. You’re upset. Start at the beginning.”

  Emma waited for the waitress to deliver the milkshake and walk away. “You know how Parker and I became friends. And last night you saw us dancing at the bridge.” Emma filled in the blanks about all that happened between swaying to the music warm and safe in Parker’s arms and calling Ruby twenty minutes ago. She explained Nicole taking off and the confusion in Parker’s deep blue eyes. His agitation, his constant motion. Her voice quivered with the words, “Only now, it’s sinking in. I sent Parker away. But...”

  “Aw, Em, no knocking yourself over that. You had to be sure. From what you told me, Jackie is good at games.” Ruby flashed a knowing look. “We’ve seen it for ourselves. Nicole can be pretty talkative. She probably dropped a little detail here and there about her dad and his friend. Thanksgiving dinner at our house, tending the birds, the fair at Neville.”

  “And we can’t forget that her grandmother stayed in my guest room,” Emma added. “Oh, and the quilt I gave her.”

  Ruby nodded. “Yep, there’s that. Let’s be honest. Maybe Jackie seriously regrets letting Parker get away. Now, it’s probably worse because he met you. He’s really gone now.”

  Emma scoffed. “Yeah, finally, something Jackie and I have in common. Letting go of Parker.”

  Ruby grabbed Emma’s hand. “Sweetie, you’ve completely bedazzled the guy. I see it. Mike sees it. And we’re not alone. Lots of people get it. I don’t believe for a hot minute Parker will change his mind about his ex-wife—or you—because his daughter has mixed-up feelings about her parents’ divorce.”

  Emma wasn’t so sure. “In any case, Nicole is confused.”

  “She’s still a teenager, Em, so of course she’s confused. But at the same time, she’s almost an adult. Parker isn’t trying to keep his family together for the sake of their young child.”

  “It’s true, that ship sailed years ago, Rubes. But according to Parker, he wanted to go to counseling to work on their marriage. Jackie wouldn’t go. Then she met this other guy and wanted out.” Emma sighed. “He’d have put everything into it, if she’d made the effort. What can I say? I fell in love with a loyal type of guy. He takes commitments seriously.”

  Ruby nodded. “Good.”

  “I was honest with him about Neil and me and how we refused to give up. Big mistake.” Emma knew Ruby wouldn’t argue with that assessment. She’d lived it with her.

  Ruby pointed to the shake. “Drink up, Em. My guess is you haven’t eaten all day.”

  She dutifully took a few sips. On any other day the rich chocolate would have been irresistible. Even the aroma of burgers and onions sizzling on the grill couldn’t entice her to order her usual go-to comfort food. She glanced out the window. The day was drifting toward twilight. If he’d listened to her, Parker could be on his way north.

  “I got Parker one of Guy Hammond’s birds for Christmas—the most beautiful goose. Its wings are spread in lift-off position.”

  “You’ll get a chance to give it to him,” Ruby said. “You will. This isn’t over. Not by a long shot.

  “Even if Nicole stays in Vermont,” Ruby said, “I don’t believe she’ll shut her dad out of her life.”

  Emma took some comfort in that. “She gets such a big kick out of teasing him. He’ll always be her nature freak dad. It’s so much fun to watch.”

  “Seems the two of them are like puzzle pieces that discovered where they fit.” Ruby’s expression was full of thought. “And it’s here in Bluestone River.”

  “They need Bluestone River and we need them.” Emma’s shoulders sagged as she exhaled a heavy sigh. “My days have been so full the hours usually fly by, but not today. I soaked in the tub, I sorted a box of photographs, I channel surfed until I came to a movie I’ve seen half a dozen times. My phone was never out of reach.” She’d waited all afternoon for a call or a text from him, followed by a whole train of thought about Parker needing space.

  Ruby jabbed her finger at her. “You’ll call me when you hear from him. Promise?”

  “You know I will.” Emma managed a smile as she slid out of the booth.

  She gave Ruby a big hug. Then, in no particular hurry, Emma turned off River Street and drove the long way home on the streets behind downtown.

  * * *

  PARKER WAITED ALMOST
an hour in his truck, fighting against his growing impatience. Not so much with Emma, but with himself. What he had to say wouldn’t work in a text. Or a call. She needed to see him standing in front of her when he told her what he’d decided. But it was dark now and calling her might be his only choice.

  Restless, he got out of his truck and paced in front of her house. He took off his gloves and blew on his hands to warm them, painfully aware of how ridiculous he was being. Finally, he pulled out his phone and called Mike, happy to hear his cheery, “Hey, Parker.”

  “Uh, I know this is a long shot, but do you happen to know where Emma is?”

  “On her way home from the diner, I think,” Mike said. “Hang on a second.”

  Parker heard the back and forth of muffled voices in the background.

  “Ruby met Em at the diner late this afternoon,” Mike said. “Ruby tells me Emma left first, but Em didn’t say anything about making another stop.”

  “So, you don’t think she went away for the weekend or anything.”

  Muffled voices again.

  “No, no. She wouldn’t leave town without telling Ruby,” Mike said firmly. “My hunch is she’ll be there soon.”

  “Good. I need to talk to her. Right away.”

  “Uh, well, like I said, she shouldn’t be long.”

  Parker saw headlights sweep across the road to the drive. “I think she just turned in. Thanks, man.”

  He stood and met her as she left her car and walked toward him. She nodded at his truck. “Are you leaving? Have you heard from Nicole? Is she okay.”

  “Nic is fine. I talked with her right before I drove over here. She’s warm and safe in Jackie’s house. She beat the storm.”

  Emma swiped her hand across her forehead. “Whew...you must be so relieved.”

  “You bet I am.” He glanced at the door behind him. “Uh, will you invite me in?”

  That seemed to startle her and she started toward the stairs. “Sure. How long have you been waiting?”

  “Not too long.” He heard his flat tone. But it matched his mood. Every part of him resisted what he was about to do.

  “Why didn’t you call me?”

  He smiled sadly and peered into her face. “I needed to see you. A phone call wouldn’t have been good enough, Em.”

  She nodded, and fumbled through her key ring as if flustered. “I’m surprised to see you.”

  “Did you think I’d leave for Vermont without letting you know?”

  “No, not really. But I was watching my phone. I wasn’t sure...” She didn’t finish the thought, but turned to open her door. They stepped inside the entryway. She shrugged out of her coat and kicked off her boots.

  He stayed on the mat as is. If he got comfortable in her house, he might not do what he knew he must. He was close enough to her to breathe in the sweet scent of her hair, but he didn’t take her in his arms. That wouldn’t be fair to Emma. He had no choice but to keep his distance.

  “So, tell me,” she said. “What’s going on?”

  “A lot’s happened, but I’ll give you the bottom line. I’m going to Vermont.”

  “Now?” she blurted.

  “But I wanted...needed...to see you first. It seems your instincts were right. I realized I can’t settle things with Nic over the phone.” He stared beyond Emma into her house. The fireplace, the view from the patio doors, the way the place seemed to invite people in. He shook off those thoughts in order to keep going. “I also need to find out what’s happening with Jackie. I won’t feel right until I see her.”

  Emma crossed her arms. “What about Ben?”

  “I don’t know. Nic seems to think he’s gone, but I’m not sure Jackie is giving her the real story.”

  “And the launch?” Emma searched his face for answers. “Oh, and the two birds?”

  Nodding, he said, “It’s a bad time for this, but like you said, I’ve done the work. The center is ready. I’ve let Ty and Stacey know what’s happened. They have the launch covered. And, Em, I know you can take care of the birds until I get back or...”

  Emma’s features pinched in hurt and confusion. “Or, what?”

  He couldn’t say. He hadn’t thought that far ahead or figured out anything except getting to Vermont. “I’m not sure. I don’t want to hurt anyone, especially you, Em.”

  “All right,” she said in a cool tone. “But let’s not pretend I’m an expert about those birds. I know the basics. I’ll do my best.”

  Parker looked away, not wanting to meet her eye. “If I’m going to go, I probably should be on my way.”

  “I hope you get some answers,” Emma said. “And watch the weather.”

  “I will.” He gave her a quick hug and then turned away to let himself out.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  “YOU TWO ARE good for my heart,” Emma said to the owl and the crow as she pushed the workroom door closed behind her. The bitter wind was blowing fiercely. At the moment, her one consolation was being certain that no matter what happened with Parker—even if he walked away from her—she wouldn’t abandon what had become a passion.

  Should she be proud or angry that he felt free to leave on a moment’s notice because he knew she could care for these two patients? It seemed she was a little of both. She’d thought about Parker through a sleepless night and a restless day, but she showed up this evening, as he trusted her to.

  The owl looked about the same as he did when she’d examined him the day before, battered and bruised but alert and apparently on the mend. She couldn’t say as much for the crow. First, he hadn’t touched any of the food she’d left for him a day ago. Not a good sign. He usually gobbled it up. Even more troubling, and unusual, he didn’t react to her presence. He always lifted his good wing and made his friendly cawing sound. According to Parker, crows have an unusually good memory for faces, well, good in the bird world, anyway.

  “What’s this?” she said aloud. “Are you becoming a picky eater? We already feed you like a king.”

  He didn’t turn his head in response to her voice. He was off his perch and sitting on the mat. The cage was a real mess, too, which meant she had a huge cleaning job ahead.

  She dumped out the old food, but before refilling the stainless steel tub, she opened Parker’s log. Leafing through his detailed notes about the last few days, she saw nothing out of the ordinary. “Never mind, I’m still going to figure out what’s up with you.” She stared at the crow, but got no response.

  As she went through the log, she settled on two symptoms, lethargy and loss of appetite. Emma took a couple of deep breaths to ease the tension building in her body. Even her hands trembled slightly as she scanned the information and weighed the probabilities that the crow either had a simple infection or the more serious salmonella, likely fatal. She wasn’t ready to accept that. In either case, there was little to do but watch and wait.

  She lifted the crow out of his pen and set him on the mat of the holding cage. No resistance, no sound. “I wish you could talk to me,” she said. “It’s not my fault Parker is gone.” And without any commitment to coming back.

  Well, when she’d first suggested it he’d rejected the idea of going after Nicole. It didn’t make sense, he’d said. Now she wished they’d talked about it more. If he’d stuck around a little longer they might have come up with a solution. And not one that meant he’d head out exactly when snow was predicted for large swaths of the Midwest and New England. If she weren’t so worried about him, she’d say it served him right.

  Her hip ached and her body craved sleep, but frustration produced enough fuel to get through the cage cleaning routine. After switching out the mats she put the crow back in his pen. Then she eased herself down on the bench and rested her back against the wall. Normally, she’d leave and come back in the morning. Christmas Eve morning, she thought. Nothing about the launch or the holida
y would be as she envisioned it. Nothing. She leaned forward and covered her face with her hands and rubbed her eyes. And now she had a sick bird to care for.

  “What am I supposed to do?” she asked, as if the birds could answer her.

  Luckily, the answer to her question wasn’t that complicated. And she already knew the answer.

  * * *

  WITH THE WINDSHIELD wipers barely keeping up with the falling snow and a salt truck close behind him, Parker pulled off the highway and into a gas station plaza filled with semis likely waiting for the roads to be cleared. This is exactly what he’d feared when Nic made the drive. She beat the snow and was safely at Jackie’s house, but here he was catching the tail end of another storm.

  Before leaving the truck, he checked his phone. Nothing from Nic, nothing from Emma. What could he expect? He’d always remember the pained look on Em’s face when he gave her such vague answers when she asked when he’d be back and what would happen next.

  He went inside the store and picked up hot coffee and a sandwich that he took back to his truck. He resisted checking his phone again. Watching the snow come down, Parker was struck by the notion that the vehicle was pointed in a direction he didn’t really want to go.

  He ate quickly and swallowed the last of his coffee and let his head drop back against the headrest. He closed his eyes. When he opened them again, it took him a second to realize he’d dozed off. The wind howling outside the truck had startled him awake.

  Thankfully, it had stopped snowing. Fewer semis were in the rows of parking spaces and more were leaving now. He could be on his way, too, if he wanted to. What he wanted wasn’t the point. This was about Nic. He scoffed. If it was about her, it was time to let her know he was on his way.

  He tapped her number and was prepared to leave a voice message, but then he heard her cheery, “Hi, Dad?”

  “Hey, sweetie, I wanted to let you know I’m on my way. It’s been slow going what with the storms.”

  “On your way here? Vermont?”