Kenna parked on the other side of the street and glanced at the mess, knowing what was coming but suddenly unsure of how to prepare the boys. Her gaze stopped on a ladder. The ladder. The one she’d fallen off of right before Tucker had kissed her.
“Come on, Mom! Let’s go see what’s going on!” The boys wrestled out of their booster seats and they all climbed out of the Jeep. Kenna held their hands as they crossed the street and walked down the sidewalk to meet Hank Green. The mayor’s grim expression seemed to make the boys clam up.
“Hello, Mayor Green,” she said, trying to keep her voice bright. “We wanted to come by and see about the pageant.”
“There isn’t gonna be a pageant,” Hank grumbled in his crotchety manner. “A main pipe burst. The whole building flooded. The restoration will take months.”
Benny squeezed her hand tighter. She peeked at his face, noting the strained expression that meant he was holding back tears. “But surely there’s someplace else we could have it.”
“Everything was destroyed.” Hank indicated a large Dumpster near the main entrance. “Had to throw out the set. Don’t even think we’ll be able to save the piano.”
“It’s gone?” Benny whispered. “Everything’s gone?”
“Even the new stable?” Jake asked sadly.
“I’m afraid so.” The mayor’s firm frown seemed to budge just a little as he looked down at her boys. “Where’s Tucker anyway? Isn’t he supposed to be in charge with his mom in the hospital? I thought I would’ve seen him by now.”
Kenna’s gaze wandered back to the ladder again. “I’m not sure. I haven’t seen him in a few days.”
“Well, then, you’d best go on over to the hospital and break the news about the pageant to Birdie.”
“Right. I can do that. The boys and I will stop over there on our way home.” Maybe Tucker would be there. She could at least apologize for what she’d said to him. She’d basically implied she didn’t like him well enough to see a possible future, and that was a flat-out lie. She needed to be honest with him. She’d been so determined to take back her life, to move forward and embrace the future, but then she’d spooked at the first sign of feeling something for someone again.
Kenna said goodbye to Mayor Green and led the boys back to the Jeep. They sniffled the whole way.
“Now I’ll never get to be a wise guy.” Jake climbed into his booster seat and hung his head.
Kenna leaned in and kissed his nose. “Don’t talk like that. There’s always next year.”
“But the stable’s gone,” Benny whimpered. “And it was so amazing. Tucker just built it.”
“And I’ll bet you he can build it again.” Kenna gave each of their knees a squeeze before closing the back door and climbing into the driver’s seat. “I know you’re both disappointed, but we don’t want to make this harder for Miss Birdie, right?” She turned around to look at them. “So when we tell her, we need to put on smiles and tell her even if we can’t do the pageant this year, we’ll make it ten times better next year.” Though she doubted that would help. The woman lived for the pageant.
Jake and Benny seemed to consider that. “Miss Birdie’s gonna be so sad,” her oldest murmured. “She loves the pageant more than anyone.”
“Maybe we could cheer her up,” her littlest blond cherub suggested.
“Yeah!” Jake gasped. “Come on, Mom, you always tell us the best thing to do when you’re sad is to make someone else happy and then you’ll feel happy too.”
Did she say that? She’d kind of forgotten about that philosophy. Kids never seemed to forget anything, though.
“We could go buy her one of those tiny Christmas trees at the farm,” Benny said.
“And we could make ornaments at home real quick,” Jake added.
“We’ll make stars and reindeer and angels.” Benny clapped his hands. “She’ll love a Christmas tree! Everyone loves Christmas trees. It’ll make her feel all better!”
How could she say no to that? “All right.” Kenna took a quick right so she could get onto the highway.
The boys perked up on the drive out to the farm. When they arrived, they found the last miniature tree on the lot—a sad little Charlie Brown number that was missing more than a few branches.
“It’s perfect,” Jake declared as they loaded it in the back of the Jeep.
“It’s even uniquer than ours,” Benny agreed.
Their excitement brought tears to Kenna’s eyes. They had such tender hearts. “All right, you two,” she said with a sniffle. “We’d better hurry up and make those ornaments before it gets too late.”
On the drive home, Jake and Benny serenaded her with their favorite carols, and once she pulled into the garage, the boys were off.
She caught up to them at the craft cabinet where they pulled out enough construction paper and glue to wallpaper the entire house. “How about you each make ten ornaments,” she suggested, glancing at her watch. “We don’t want to interrupt Miss Birdie’s dinner.”
“Okay! We’ll be quick,” they promised, already engrossed in cutting out shapes.
She gave them a half hour and then corralled them back into the Jeep.
“Remember,” Kenna said as she pulled into a parking spot at the front of the hospital. “This is a quick trip. We’re going to drop off the tree and then be on our way.”
“Yes, ma’am!” Jake saluted her and the two boys giggled as they climbed out of the car. Benny claimed the box of ornaments and Jake wanted to carry the tree “all by himself.” They received plenty of looks walking in.
“Merry Christmas,” Jake said to an elderly couple near the doors.
“Merry Christmas.” The woman and her husband shared a smile. Kenna smiled too. Leave it to her kids to remind her what Christmas was really about. Not the perfect presents or the perfect tree or even having the perfect family all put together. It was about this. Love. Pure and simple.
If only to remind her they were human and not angels, the boys had a little scuffle over who would push the elevator button, but Benny beat out his older brother. All the way up, the boys hummed “Jingle Bells” along with the elevator music. Once they’d made it to the general care hallway, Jake and Benny made a beeline for the nurse’s station. “Where’s Miss Birdie?” they demanded. “We brought her a Christmas tree.”
“He means could you please tell us where to find Miss McGrath,” Kenna corrected.
The amused nurse sent them down the hall to room 302. This time, Kenna didn’t let them run on ahead. “You let me knock first.”
The boys both stuck out pouty lips, but they obeyed.
Even though the door stood partially open, Kenna knocked lightly.
“Come in!” Birdie sang.
The boys bounded past Kenna with their faces full of Christmas cheer.
“Hi, Miss Birdie!” Jake called. “We brought you a tree!”
“With ornaments and everything!” Benny added.
Kenna rushed to the bed to explain. “I’m so sorry to just show up like this, Birdie.”
“Don’t be sorry! This is a wonderful surprise.” The woman planted her hands into the mattress and shimmied herself up to a sitting position. She looked as bright and happy as she usually did. “Come and sit.” She patted a chair that had been pulled up next to the bed.
Kenna scooted into it and decided not to delay the inevitable. “I’m afraid we have some bad news.”
“There was a flood last night!” Jake blurted. “During the rehearsal! Water was shooting out everywhere!”
Birdie’s jovial smile fell. “What?”
“A pipe burst,” Kenna explained. “We stopped by this morning, and Hank said there’s no way we can do the pageant. The set was ruined, and the auditorium won’t be open again for a couple of months.”
Instead of the sadness Kenna had expected to see, determination narrowed the woman’s eyes. “That’s ridiculous. No pageant. Ha! We’ll see about that. We simply can’t have Christmas in Topaz Falls
without a pageant.”
“Don’t worry, Miss Birdie.” Jake approached the bed. “We’re here to cheer you up. That’s why we brought the tree.”
“And look at that tree.” Birdie reached out to touch a few of the branches. “What a fine Christmas tree.”
Both boys puffed out their chests like little roosters.
“You can go ahead and set up that beautiful tree right there.” She pointed to the corner near the bed.
“You got it!” Jake dragged it over and the boys got to work decorating it with their ornaments.
“What is that?” Ms. McGrath leaned closer to look at one. “A star? Oh and what a lovely angel!”
“We made them.” Jake hung the angel on the tree.
“All by ourselves.” Benny held out the box so she could see.
“Well, they’re beautiful. They’re just beautiful. And you boys sure have the right idea with Christmas spirit.” When Birdie turned her attention back to Kenna, her smile had doubled in size. “Speaking of Christmas spirit, let’s chat about this pageant. What did Tucker say?”
The question likely hadn’t been intended to make her squirm but she did anyhow. “Oh. Uh. Actually, I’m not sure he knows about the flood.”
Birdie folded her hands on the blanket that had been pulled up to her waist. “And why not?”
Because I botched our fling and now he’s avoiding me. “I haven’t seen him for a few days. And he didn’t come to rehearsal last night.” Kenna checked on the boys, who were still completely engrossed in covering the tree with colorful scraps of construction paper. “I’m afraid I may have upset him.”
“I highly doubt that,” Birdie murmured through a sigh. “It’s me who upset him. That’s why he didn’t come to the rehearsal last night. I asked his father to come back to town to make things right with Tucker.”
His father. Kenna remembered the raw pain she’d heard in his voice when he’d talked about the man. “His father came back?”
“He did.” Birdie paused to collect herself. “He wanted to. He agreed it was time. I won’t be around forever, and I can’t stand to see my boy so closed off. He needs to make peace with the grief he never let himself feel.”
So that was why Tucker didn’t show up last night. Not because he was angry with her or trying to avoid her, but because he’d seen his father. God, what had that done to him? “Did they talk? Did everything go okay?” She should’ve called him last night…
“Tucker was shocked to see him.” Worry clouded Birdie’s face. “But I asked him to talk to his dad, to do it for me. So they’re having dinner tonight. I know one dinner won’t fix everything, but I’m hoping it will be a start.”
Kenna hoped so, too, but she also knew how painful it must be for Tucker to face the man who’d wounded him so deeply.
“We’re done!” Jake and Benny stood back from the tree, admiring their work.
“Wow.” Birdie sat there taking it in for a long while. Tears misted her eyes. “That is the loveliest tree I’ve ever had. Ever.”
Benny walked over to the bed and patted her hand. “Maybe it’ll make you feel all better so you can go home for Christmas.”
“You know, I think I’m starting to feel better already.” She snatched a Kleenex off the bedside table and dabbed at her eyes. “And now I have something for you boys.”
“Really?” Jake and Benny shared a look of utter anticipation. They loved surprises.
“There’s a platter of the best sugar cookies you’ll ever taste down at the nurse’s station,” Birdie said. “Why don’t you boys go get yourselves one?”
“Are you sure?” Kenna held them back a minute. “I don’t want them bothering the nurses.” And she really should be going. She should call Tucker. If only to leave a message and let him know she was thinking about him.
“Let them have a cookie,” Birdie said kindly. “Those nurses love it when kids come to visit. And they’ve been trying to pawn those cookies off on everyone who walks in.” She shooed them away. “Go ahead, you two. It’s just down the hall.”
“Come right back,” Kenna called behind them.
As soon as they’d cleared the doorway, Birdie leaned close. “Tucker told me about how the four of you decorated the tree at your house. He cares about you. I can see it when he talks about you. Something changes in him.” She said the words quickly, like she wanted to get them out before the boys came back.
The revelation did nothing to dislodge the sadness Kenna had been carrying around for the past few days. “He cares about you too,” she said, redirecting the conversation. She couldn’t tell Birdie everything that had happened between them. She couldn’t admit she’d knowingly pushed him away. “You should see the Christmas decorations he put up all over his house, just in case you were able to come home.”
“He decorated his house?” The woman’s eyes got watery again.
“He went all out. Lights and a tree. Garlands everywhere. There were even stockings hanging over the fireplace.” Oh, that fireplace. It was seared into her memory. That beautiful soft glow lighting the room while they’d made love. She tried to suppress the craving that rose up but could no longer keep the truth to herself. “I’m afraid I ruined everything with him. I got scared. And I told him we couldn’t have a future together.”
The confession didn’t seem to shock Birdie. She simply rested a comforting hand on Kenna’s forearm. “After what you’ve been through, I know how hard it is to trust. Believe me. But even if you’re not sure you can trust someone else yet, trust yourself. You’re so strong, Kenna. And you’ve made it through some of the worst things anyone could deal with. What is your heart telling you now?”
“To go for it.” The feelings she had for Tucker were raw and real and deep. That’s why she’d been so scared. But Tucker had reminded her to be brave. He’d helped her out of the empty shell she’d been living in. He’d reminded her what it felt like to smile, to flirt, to feel. She’d feared the intensity between them, but now she was far more afraid of missing out on something beautiful because she was scared to take a risk. “I don’t want to be afraid anymore. But I need your help, Birdie. I don’t know how to show him I didn’t mean what I said.”
“Well first things first, my dear. If we find a way to make the pageant happen, you and Tucker will have to work together again.” She tapped a finger against her chin a few times before letting out a gasp. “Oh! I just got the best idea. There’s a live band playing at the Tumble Inn tonight, which means everyone will be there. You have to make an announcement to the entire town. Tell everyone we need their help to pull off the pageant.”
“I can’t make an announcement in front of everyone.” She couldn’t stand in the spotlight after keeping herself in the shadows for a year.
“Why ever not?”
Birdie seriously didn’t know? “You’ve seen the way they still look at me. The whole town thinks I’m a charity case. No one will listen to me.”
“Did Tucker look at you like that?” Birdie asked gently.
“No.” He looked at her like the brave girl who’d taken on the high school football program. He looked at her with respect. And with enough fire to singe her eyelashes…
“Then simply think of Tucker when you get on that stage.” Birdie squeezed Kenna’s hands. “Trust me. Go to the Tumble Inn tonight. Tucker will be there having dinner with his father. Just trust your heart, Kenna dear, and everything else will fall into place.”
Chapter Twelve
Tucker hadn’t realized there’d be live music at the Tumble Inn, but maybe it was for the best. Then he could sit across from his old man and listen to some country western band from Denver instead of actually being forced to talk, which might be safer for them both.
He crossed through the restaurant, sizing up the crowd. It was packed, so there’d also likely be plenty of interruptions and distractions from the anger he couldn’t quite seem to get a handle on.
“Hey, Tucker.” Lucas Cortez snagged him on his wa
y past the bar. He sat with his brothers at a high-top table about as far away from the music as they could get.
“What’s up?” Lance asked him.
Levi pushed out a stool. “We have a seat here. Got time for a beer?”
Tucker took a glance at his watch. He still had about fifteen minutes before his father would show up. If he showed up. After the exchange between them yesterday, Tucker wouldn’t be surprised if the man skipped town again. It might not be a bad thing if he did.
“I definitely have time for a beer.” He needed a beer. He joined the brothers at the table and signaled for a passing waiter to bring him the same IPA they were having.
“Hey, man, sorry to hear about the pageant,” Lucas said. “I bet your mom is bummed.”
Tucker gave his friend a blank look. “What did you hear about the pageant?” And why the hell would his mom be bummed?
“You haven’t heard?” Levi demanded. “It got canceled. A main waterline into the building burst and flooded the town hall. I thought you would’ve been there when it happened.”
The town hall had flooded? Shit. “Is everyone okay? All the kids?” And the woman he couldn’t stop thinking about no matter how hard he tried?
Lance nodded. “They all got out quick from what I heard.”
“The town hall is toast, though,” Levi said. “They’ll have to gut the place and start over. Hank said the set was destroyed.”
Well, damn, his mother was going to have a fit. And he had to admit, he was disappointed too. No pageant meant he wouldn’t be seeing much of Kenna or her boys anymore. Man, he should’ve been there. But this only proved he didn’t belong with her. Instead of facing her, he’d done what he did every time things got complicated. He’d stayed away. Exactly like someone else he knew.
Tucker glanced at his watch. Five after six. The father he hadn’t seen for fifteen years was officially late.
The waiter finally set down his beer in front of him, and Tucker took a long drink.
Lance looked him over from across the table. “You okay?”
Nope. He wasn’t okay. But he had no idea what to do about it. “I’ll be fine.” For the first time in his life, he wasn’t sure if that statement was true. After being with Kenna, he knew what he was missing. He knew it was possible to let his guard down.
Christmas with a Cowboy: Includes a bonus novella (Longhorn Canyon Book 5) Page 36