The Christmas Kiss

by Virginia McCullough

  “Yes. I’m at a rest stop in Pennsylvania. I should be there—”

  “Why, Dad?” she interrupted.

  “Why? Why do you think? I’m worried about you. You left without telling me.”

  “Because you would have tried to talk me out of it,” she said, her voice louder now. “I needed to come and see Mom. You know, see what’s going on. I told you that.”

  “I get it. I just don’t want to see you disappointed, or worse, Nic.” He paused, knowing how irrational this all sounded even to his own ears. “I thought I should be there for you. Put my mind at rest.”

  “What about Emma?”

  “She’s looking after the birds we have.”

  She let out a low groan. “I wasn’t talking about the birds, Dad. I mean you and Emma. I know you’re in love with her.”

  That gave him a jolt. He hadn’t expected Nic to come up with that. He didn’t know what to say in response.

  “Right, Dad?”

  “Yes, Nic, but that’s not as important as you. I need to know you’re okay.”

  “Oh, Dad, of course I’m okay. I love you. I like Bluestone River. And Neville, and my job.”

  “So, if that’s true why did you sneak away?” The thing that hit the hardest.

  “I love Mom, too,” she said in a low voice. “We haven’t talked about heavy stuff yet, but I hadn’t seen her since June.”

  “Oh, sweetie, I’ve never said you didn’t have a great mom who loves you,” he said defensively.

  “Please, Dad, I’m not ten years old. I have to work this out with Mom on my own.” She paused. “But I always thought you and I were good.”

  “We are, Nic, we are.” A whole new way of looking at this situation was taking form.

  “Even if I stay with Mom for now, it’s not like I’ll never see you.”

  “I’m sitting in the middle of nowhere, Nic, and I’ve dodged snow and slick roads since I left home.” He shook his head. “Only now, this minute, am I seeing the truth of what you’re saying.”

  “You know, Dad, I don’t want to see you get hurt or disappointed, either. You have the big launch you’ve been working on since we moved into those cabins. And you have Emma.”

  His daughter was making so much sense he was already calculating how quickly he could get back. Since the minute he’d pulled out of Emma’s driveway, he’d forced himself to think about Nic, and how she and Jackie were doing. And, as usual, worrying about her getting caught up in Jackie’s problems. All along, he should have known Nic was capable of handling it herself.

  “Okay. You’re right, Nic. I’ve got to go back and hope Emma will understand.”

  When he heard Nic’s girlish giggle come through the phone, his heart soared.

  “She knows you like her like her,” Nic said lightly. “She’ll forgive you. But get going. Text me when you get there.”

  Parker laughed. “I will. I’ll send you pictures of the launch.”

  “Good. Tell Emma I said hi.”

  With that, they ended the call and Parker calculated the miles back home. If the roads were clear, he’d be there in no time.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  THE WIND RUFFLED the blanket of snow and temporarily blurred the pier and the lake in the early morning light. The drive home had been slow—and difficult. But he’d made it. And in time to get set up for the launch that evening. He’d let Ty and Stacey know he was back, but first, he’d find Emma. He’d seen her car in the lot, partially covered by drifting snow, so she’d already arrived. Parker dropped his duffel in his cabin and went to check on the birds, where he’d probably find Emma.

  He opened the door and stepped inside the dark cabin, his eyes adjusting to the dim light. The low hum of a portable heater was the only sound other than the wind outside. As soon as he could see, he recognized the top of Emma’s head sticking out of the sleeping bag that took up the length of the bench. Her boots were on the floor near the table and her cane hung over the chair. His log was open on the counter, and both cages were covered. Trying not to make noise with his steps, he went farther inside. Emma turned her head on the small pillow, facing him now. It was almost nine o’clock. Late, he knew, for Emma to still be sleeping.

  When she winced as she shifted her body, he guessed she wasn’t resting all that comfortably on the wooden bench. He leaned over and lightly kissed her temple. When a little frown appeared, he kissed her cheek. That did it. Her eyes popped open and a second later a smile lit up her face.

  “Hey, Em,” he whispered. “It’s Christmas Eve morning. Did you sleep here all night?”

  She struggled to raise herself on the narrow bench. “I need to get out of the sleeping bag.”

  “I don’t know how you got into it and had any rest on that narrow bench in the first place,” he said, smiling.

  She scratched her head. “It wasn’t easy.”

  She winced as she maneuvered her body, but managed to unzip the bag so she could get to her feet. A little unsteady and stiff, but she was smiling. “Done. And to answer your question, yes, I stayed here. It’s the crow. He’s sick.” She told him how she decided he had an infection, maybe salmonella.

  “I read your notes, so I know that’s fatal. If something bad happened, I wanted to be here.” She rolled her eyes. “I know, that sounds ridiculous.” She looked at him quizzically. “Wait a minute. Why are you here? What happened? Is Nicole with you?”

  He shook his head. “No, no, you’re not being ridiculous and Nic isn’t with me. Everything’s fine, but I’ll tell you about it later.” He’d also tell her about standing watch over a bird a time or two. Later. “I’ll have a look.” He put his hand on the cloth covering the crow’s pen. “But prepare yourself.”

  She nodded at the cage. “Go ahead. I’m ready.”

  At the first exposure to light the crow used his loud voice to greet the day. Emma let out a gasp of relief. “Wow. He’s on his perch, too.”

  Parker checked the feeder. Only a few chopped nuts and seeds were there. “He must have been hungry again. That means it was some other minor infection, if he’s bounced back so soon.”

  “Good.” She gave him a sidelong glance. “I almost forgot I’m mad at you for leaving so fast.”

  “I’m mad at me, too. And Nic wasn’t happy with me, either. Following her up to Vermont was a very bad idea.” He told her about their talk, and how she ended up reassuring him. “She knows how much I love you, Em. She also wants to work things out with Jackie on her own without me trying to protect her or hovering.”

  Emma nodded along, but pulled on her boots and took the cloth off the owl’s cage. Parker waited for her to react, but she kept herself busy with the birds.

  “Emma? I’m really sorry for taking off like that.”

  “And I kick myself for suggesting it in the first place.” She shrugged. “I was wrong and it seems you were, too.”

  “I didn’t go because of anything you said. I lost sight of Nic being mature enough to sort out her own life.” He moved closer to her and opened his arms. “I love you. I wanted to stay here with you all along. You must know that.”

  Emma stared at him, hesitating. But then she stepped into his arms and lifted her face for a kiss he was happy to give.

  “When did the wind pick up?” Emma asked, as if noticing it for the first time.

  “It was with me all the way back from Pennsylvania. I had to dodge some downed trees coming into town, and later, I’ll clear some limbs and branches on our entry road.”

  “I wonder what it will mean for the launch.”

  “That’s hours away.”

  Emma stepped back and looked down at her sweater and jeans. “I need to get home and clean myself up.” She rubbed her palms together. “Now that I know the crow is on the mend I can hardly wait for tonight to see the pretty lights and the holiday crowd.”<
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  Parker’s phone buzzed. “A text,” he said, frowning at the screen, “from Mike. We’ve got trees down all over. He has a report that a large one is blocking one of the main access streets in town.” He kept scrolling and frowning. “He says he’s diverting the street crews to try to clear those spots, otherwise Stacey and Ty are saying there’ll be no launch.”

  He looked at Emma, noting her determined face.

  “I need to go check the other entry points, Em. Maybe Bill and Will can get in through the back of the sanctuary and bring their chain saws.”

  “You go. I’ll finish up in here,” Emma said.

  Parker dug in his pockets and pulled out his hat and gloves. He shook his head. “Wish me luck.”

  On the way to the blocked road, Parker saw some relatively small branches blocking the driveway into the sanctuary. Those he could move himself and the bigger ones with his chain saw, but from there, it was tricky. He reached Bill Rivera, who said he and Will would find a way to work their way in. But on time? That’s what worried Parker.

  On his way back to the cabin, he met Mike coming up from the beach.

  “Since we’re trapped, I might as well be here.” He waved his phone in the air. “I’m keeping track of everything by phone and text, anyway.”

  Parker filled him in on what he saw.

  “We can check the boardwalk. See if it’s still walkable. And the lights,” Mike said.

  Parker led the way and he and Mike tested the railings and cleared branches off the planking. Several trees in the woods were downed, but posed no threat. Where lights had loosened or tangled in the wind they straightened them out.

  “I’ll come back here before the launch starts,” Mike offered, “and check this area again. The wind is still coming strong.”

  When they started back, they heard a voice behind them calling their names. It was Stacey, barely recognizable in a long down coat with a hood pulled tight.

  “Hey, guys, I don’t live far, so I walked over. If the worst happens and we have to cancel, I can get home easily enough.”

  “No canceling,” Mike said, looking at his phone. “These guys are working hard. We’ll clear everything no matter what it takes.”

  “That’s bold,” Parker said.

  The three walked to the pier. The lake was frozen over so snow was blowing across the surface, looking like sand blowing over a dune. Emma joined them to find out the status, and then went off with Stacey to help set up the center.

  Over the next few hours, Will and Bill worked with the town crew, and Mike and Parker cleared away and cut up smaller branches.

  Finally, Mike got the word. The town trucks had opened every road, except two farm roads. “Looks like the show can go on.”

  “I never doubted it,” Parker said.

  Mike just shook his head. “We got lucky.”

  * * *

  ABOUT AN HOUR before showtime, a steady stream of cars approached the sanctuary. Hardier folks, including many young families had left their cars on the dirt road behind the sanctuary and took the boardwalk route to the lake. The wind had died down, but snow flurries were adding a fresh dusting of snow. When the roads opened, Emma had hurried home to shower and change into fleece-lined pants and her down jacket, the same way most everyone was dressed that night. The toddlers and young kids could barely move in their puffy snowsuits.

  “Look at all the people enjoying the woods,” Ruby said when she and Jason arrived. “That boardwalk makes the sanctuary so special.”

  Emma reminded Ruby it had all started with her. “You proposed linking the trails from the covered bridge to the back of the sanctuary. The rest flowed from there.”

  Ruby laughed. “Hey, it took a village, my friend.”

  “There’s Dad,” Jason said, pointing to Mike, who was talking with Parker and Ty. The three men had their hats pulled down over their ears and the ends of their scarves blew around in the breeze as they pointed gloved fingers this way and that. Finalizing the logistics, Emma assumed. Mike and Parker left the raised podium set up on the pier and Ty was alone with a mic in his hand. Ty had pretended like nothing happened at the fair and Parker decided to let it go. Emma wasn’t so forgiving, but she kept it to herself.

  “It’s the final countdown to the lights coming on,” Ruby said, squeezing Jason’s shoulder.

  Emma glanced at the crowd gathered by the pier. “I’ll bet we’re already way over two hundred people. Ty and Stacey had set two hundred as the threshold for success. Anything over that is a bonus.”

  “Familiar faces,” Ruby said, pointing to a cluster of people. “Maggie and Georgia and their families, Mrs. Cermak and her husband.”

  “And will you look at that,” Ruby said, her mouth dropping open. “That’s Jim and Ruth Kellerman. Wow. Parker managed to achieve what no one else could. He turned that stubborn old guy into a friendly face in the crowd.” She paused. “Well, maybe not friendly, but at least civil.”

  “I call Parker the Jim whisperer. Must have been that crow he brought in,” Emma said. “The mythical storyteller bird must have whispered magic words in his ear. Maybe softened his heart a little, huh?”

  Suddenly, Ty’s voice booming welcoming words over the loudspeaker quieted the crowd. “We’re so glad you’re sharing a little bit of the holiday with us.” He ran down the long list of people and businesses to thank. Emma could have hugged Ty for including her name as only one among many who’d helped. She and the diner owner who donated the hot chocolate and the florist who made the wreath got equal billing. She liked it that way.

  “It’s almost dark now,” Stacey said. “Who wants us to light up the woods?”

  Jason’s hand shot up. “I do.” Then he joined in the chant started by some older kids behind them. “Lights, lights, lights.”

  The chanting stopped abruptly when the white fairy lights on the pier lit up behind Stacey, bringing the first exclamations from the crowd. Then, all two hundred plus people looked behind them and a collective ah rippled through the crowd in response to the intricate outline of lights wrapped around the boardwalk railings and snaking through the woods. Gusts of wind sent lights and tree branches swaying and changing the patterns. The boardwalk light show succeeded in showing the woods in constant motion. The lit-up buildings completed the wonderland image.

  Emma let out a long sigh. “Kind of makes you believe wood sprites and fairies are flitting about, doesn’t it?”

  Jason quickly chimed in. “I don’t believe in fairies.”

  “No?” Ruby landed a kiss on the top of his head. “I didn’t know that.”

  “But I believe reindeer can fly. Some reindeer.”

  Emma and Ruby laughed, but Stacey’s voice grabbed their attention.

  “A day like this is a team effort, but I want to make sure we recognize Parker Davis, our director and a naturalist with years of experience. All the changes you see here came about because of a collective vision. Then we hired Parker to turn our vision into a reality. What a job he’s done.” She held the microphone out to Parker.

  Ruby nudged Emma’s side and flashed a beaming smile. “He’s smart, sweet and about as hunky as they come. You really hit the jackpot.”

  Emma snorted. “You’re right, as usual.”

  Parker promised to keep it short. “I hope you won’t leave today without becoming a member of this facility. And I’m going to ask again and again that you help our board bring the five-year vision to life. With enough help we can make it happen in four years—or even three.” He gestured to the office and invited everyone to stop in anytime.

  “I’d like to speak a little personally now. When I arrived here with my daughter, I was eager to get the renovations started. We had great work crews, led by Bill Rivera and his son Will. That father-son team jumped in today to help our town’s road crews clear the fallen trees and limbs blocking our roads. Ma
yor Mike helped, too, as usual. I’ve come to know a few of you and while you were helping to pull this event together, you also taught me the rich history of this land—and this lake.”

  Parker shook his head. “But that’s not the half of it.” He started chuckling and even without knowing why he was so jovial, pockets of people in the crowd laughed along with him. “Here’s the thing, folks. I hoped I’d like it here, and I do. But I never imagined falling in love with a fantastic woman. As my daughter Nicole says, ‘she’s really cool.’”

  Emma’s hands covered her mouth and cheeks. But even as she couldn’t hide her own laughter, the tingling behind her eyes started.

  “The best part is,” Parker said, “many of you know her. You’ve seen her generous heart in action. Her great photographs tell you exactly how much she loves Bluestone River. I’ve had a close-up view of her dedication to this sanctuary. As a matter of fact she’s involved in treating our injured birds.” He paused. Even Emma felt the anticipation build in the crowd. “And not long ago, I learned she likes to dance.” He put his hand over his brow as if scouting to see where she was in the crowd. Finally, he pointed to her. “There she is. Emma O’Connell.”

  The applause—and cheering led by Ruby—was immediate and loud. Emma didn’t know half the people clapping, but she played her part and turned in all directions and waved both hands.

  “Come on up, Emma,” Parker said, “and be part of the dedication. What we have here today wouldn’t have been possible without you. I’m pretty sure most everyone knows that.”

  Taken by surprise, Emma felt her heart beat faster.

  “Get moving, Em,” Ruby encouraged, touching her back. “For once you’re going to let someone give you credit for what you do around here.”

  The people standing in front of her were friendly and quickly moved aside to make a path for her to get to the pier. Excited or not, she watched the ground with each step and Parker met her halfway. He kissed her cheek and she put her arm through his and went the rest of the way to the pier.

  The dedication went quickly after that. Ty and Stacey rolled a large easel onto the pier.