Race to a Christmas Reunion

by Brenda Jackson

  “What about becoming a teacher? I thought that’s what you really wanted to do.”

  She shrugged. “I thought so too, but changed my mind after my first week in the classroom.”

  He studied her expression, and then saw how she quickly diverted her eyes to look down into her coffee. He had a feeling she wasn’t being completely up-front with him about something. Becoming a teacher used to be all she talked about. He couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to change her mind. He would have to ask Ronald about it later.

  “I think it’s time to call it a night or I might be falling flat on my face right along with you tomorrow,” she said, standing. Then to Ronald and Sheila, she said, “All right, you two, break it up down there. Save all that smooching for tomorrow. Some of us would like to go home and get into bed.”

  A sly smile touched Ronald’s lips. “Hey, I’m feeling you, Lisa. That’s what I’ve been trying to convince Sheila all evening, that we should go home and go to bed.”

  Lisa rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I bet you have. Sheila, please tell Ronald good-night so I can take you home.”

  Sheila stood and smiled. “Good night, Ronald.” She then looked at Myles. “And I’m depending on you to make sure he stays in when he gets home. I don’t want him showing up over at Lisa’s place later tonight. Understood?”

  Myles laughed. “Do you really think I can stop him if he decides at three a.m. that he can’t hold out and wants to see you?”

  “Yes, just throw him in the shower and turn on the cold water,” Sheila said, as she moved to meet Lisa at the end of the table. “That should work.”

  “I can’t believe you’re going to leave me this way,” Ronald said, in what actually sounded like a pout.

  Myles shook his head and wondered if his best friend would start sobbing any minute now. Just in case, he tossed him a cloth napkin. Ronald glared at him and said. “I don’t need a napkin, I need my woman.”

  “Your woman will give you everything you want after she becomes your wife tomorrow. I promise, sweetheart,” Sheila said softly. “Now be good and go home and stay there.” She then grabbed hold of Lisa’s hand and the two women rushed out of the restaurant.

  CHAPTER THREE

  LISA WASN’T SURE how Myles managed it, but he had kept Ronald from showing up. She wished someone had taken the same notion to her sisters. She heard the loud knock on her door, deciding Sheila needed to sleep for as long as she could this morning, she rushed to open her door to find the three of them standing there. She took one look at their expressions and knew they had already heard the news. Myles Joseph was back in town—and had kissed her.

  “Merry Christmas,” she said, waving them in. “But isn’t it kind of early to be visiting?” Everyone had agreed to meet at her parents’ home for breakfast where they would exchange gifts before enjoying their mother’s delicious home-cooked meal.

  Of course it was Sunnie who spoke first. Being the oldest triplet she appointed herself the spokesperson for the three. “Tell us what we heard is not true.”

  Lisa closed the door behind them and leaned against it. “Depends on what you heard.”

  The look they gave her let her know that they weren’t amused by her comment. “Someone is spreading a rumor that you let Myles Joseph kiss you,” Wendy said, not smiling.

  “And right there in church,” Noraine tacked on.

  Lisa crossed her arms over her chest. She wasn’t up to them this morning. This was the season to be jolly, not bossy—and her sisters were the bossiest. They were also very attractive women and more than one man had shown interest, but to no avail. At thirty-one Lisa figured their biological clocks should be ticking, but they were too busy trying to run her life to notice.

  “First of all, I didn’t let Myles do anything. He has a mind of his own and a brush across my lips was his way of saying hello. Personally, I saw nothing wrong with it.”

  “Need we remind you that the man dumped you,” Sunnie said unceremoniously, without sugarcoating of any kind while raking a frustrated hand down her face. “If I were in your shoes I wouldn’t be talking to him, let alone allowing him to get close enough to steal a kiss.”

  “But you’re not in my shoes, Sunnie. None of you are. Myles and I have been friends too long for us to become enemies.”

  “Even after what he did to you?” Wendy asked.

  Lisa didn’t say anything for a moment. Then she moved away from the door and crossed the room to sit down on the sofa. “I would be the first to admit that I was hurt by what Myles did, but I’ve moved on. I suggest the three of you do the same.”

  They looked surprised. “Us?” Noraine asked.

  “Yes, the three of you need lives. If you had your own, then you wouldn’t have time to be such busybodies in mine.”

  There was a moment of silence in the room, and then Sunnie said, “We worry about you, Lisa, because we love you.”

  Lisa knew they truly did. “And I appreciate your care, concern and love, but you’re worrying for no reason. I’ve gotten over Myles. Besides, he’s probably leaving Chiefland as soon as the ceremony is over today.”

  “No, he’s not,” Noraine said as she came to sit down next to her on the sofa. “I heard he’ll be in town until right before New Year’s Eve.”

  Lisa gave a quick shake of her head. “I’m sure you heard wrong.”

  “And what if I heard right?”

  Lisa was not sure whether she liked the thought of Myles hanging around, but she had no intention of mentioning her apprehensions to her sisters. “Then I’d say this is a free country and Myles can do whatever he wants. I would also say that he and I are friends. I’m happy for his success and don’t hold anything against him.”

  It was Sunnie who came to sit down on the other side of her. “Have you forgotten who you’re talking to, honey?” she asked in a soft voice. It was the voice Sunnie would use whenever she wanted Lisa to know that she had thoroughly thought her words through. “We’re the ones who helped you pick up the pieces of your heart the morning after Myles left. It was our shoulders that you cried a bucket of tears on, while chanting how much you hated him in one breath and how much you loved him in the other,” she reminded her.

  Lisa remembered that day. She had to admit that her sisters had been wonderful and had kept her pitiful state from their parents. They had helped her put on a happy front around them, refusing to let George and Lilly have reason to say We told you so.

  “Okay, I will be the first to admit I was hurt, but it’s been five years and like I said, he plans to leave Chiefland. If not today, then eventually.”

  “But we’re worried about what he plans to do while he’s here and if he has included you in those plans. We don’t know if you’ve read the tabloids lately but he dates a lot, considers himself a playboy,” Wendy said.

  “He probably enjoys the role,” Noraine tacked on.

  “And we don’t want him to think he can drop into town and make a play for you,” Sunnie said, bringing up the rear. “I bet he figures that he can break down your defenses. You’re probably nothing more than a country bumpkin to him now since he’s sampled the city treats Charlotte has to offer.”

  Lisa didn’t want to hear any more, mainly because her sisters might have a point. The old Myles wouldn’t do her that way. But did she know the new Myles? The one who was now a wealthy race-car celebrity?

  “We want to know that you’ll be able to handle him, Lisa. You’re still young and naive when it comes to men. Myles is the only boyfriend you’ve ever had. For some reason you’ve refused to get serious about anyone else.”

  It was on the tip of Lisa’s tongue to point out that they weren’t knocking down any doors to get serious about any men, either. “Look, I’m a big girl. Thanks for your concern but I can handle my own business. I don’t need the three of you telling me how I should handle Myles. I’m not stupid.”

  Sunnie shook her head sadly. “No, you’re not stupid, but you’re a woman who’s stil
l in love.”

  * * *

  “I NOW PRONOUNCE you man and wife,” Reverend Hall said smiling. “You may kiss your bride.”

  As soon as Ronald pulled Sheila into his arms, Myles looked at Lisa and mouthed, This ought to be interesting.

  And it was.

  It took several cleared throats and concentrated coughs before Ronald released Sheila from his arms while beaming proudly. He didn’t appear the least embarrassed that he’d practically gnawed her lips off in front of a church full of people.

  When most of the attendees left for the reception, which was to be held at the Chiefland Civic Center—Sheila’s parents were paying top dollar to have it open on Christmas—the wedding party stayed back for pictures. And it seemed the bride and groom had wanted a slew of them.

  Lisa found, more often than not, she was paired with Myles or was squeezed close to him for several group shootings. And each time she tried convincing herself that, as she had told her sisters earlier that day, any feelings she once had for him were in the past, and what she was experiencing around him was due to overwrought hormones. Although she was convinced that was the case, her pulse rate still went up whenever he was within five feet of her, which was most of the time.

  “Hey, how about taking a picture of me and my wedding partner,” Myles surprised Lisa by asking the photographer. “I’ll pay for it.

  “Certainly, Mr. Joseph,” the man said, smiling brightly, and it was easy to tell he was a racing fan.

  Before she could recover from Myles’s request, he had pulled her into his arms and plastered her to his side while they looked into the camera. She tried ignoring him. It didn’t help matters that he looked excruciatingly sexy in his black tux and white shirt.

  The photographer wanted several different poses and Myles was happy to oblige the man. She decided not to make a fuss and go along with things, wondering what Myles intended to do with the photos when he received them.

  Mrs. Bonner clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention. “Listen up, folks. We’re about to leave for the reception. There will be more pictures so it would simplify things quite a bit if you remained partnered for a while so I won’t have to look for anyone. That means—” Mrs. Bonner said, smiling over at the bride and groom “—you two will remain together, although I doubt anyone would try to pry you apart.”

  Lisa thought so, too, especially with the real serious look on Ronald’s face. He hadn’t let Sheila out of his sight since they had been presented as man and wife. If anything, she figured the wedding planner needed to worry about whether Ronald and Sheila would actually make it to the reception.

  “Are you ready to leave for the reception?”

  Lisa almost jumped. Myles’s warm breath was close to her ear. “Yes, but I drove my car, so we can meet up there.”

  He shook his head as if that suggestion wouldn’t work. “You heard Mrs. Bonner. You and I are supposed to stay together. Besides, if we ride over in one car, that will give us a chance to talk.”

  She glanced up at him. “About what?”

  “A number of things, but mainly the hard glares I’m getting from your family.”

  She raised her eyes to the ceiling. “Really, Myles, when did my family’s attitude ever bother you?”

  He met her eyes. “I didn’t say they bothered me. I said we need to talk about it.”

  She took a deep breath. First her sisters and now him. Everybody had one thing or another to say. Her parents had tried cornering her before the start of the wedding, but she had dashed off, saying Sheila needed to see her.

  “Fine, I figure it’s about time anyway,” she said, walking ahead of him out of the church. In two long strides he caught up with her and took her hand into his.

  “Hey, slow down, will you?”

  She didn’t say anything. She couldn’t. The feel of her small hand encased in his brought back memories of a time when holding hands had been as much a part of their lives as eating. She almost pulled her hand back but rationalized that he was only holding her hand and it was no big deal.

  By the time they made it to the parking lot it was a big deal. It reminded her of all the things she had missed over the past five years; things she had been denied because of him—the companionship of a man who cared about her. What her sisters had said that morning was true. Since Myles had walked out of her life, she hadn’t wanted to get involved with anyone else, refusing to share her heart and risk another heartbreak.

  Myles had been quick to kick her to the curb when the opportunity came racing his way, no pun intended. For the past five years she had convinced herself that it was okay; that she had loved him enough to want to see him chase after his dream, even if it had meant leaving her behind. But there was one thing that teed her off each time she thought about it…which was the reason she tried not to dwell on it.

  Not once had he returned to Chiefland. He had left without looking back. He hadn’t called her on her birthday, Christmas, New Year’s Day or Valentine’s Day. It was as if once he had left town he hadn’t felt he’d left behind anything of value.

  She pulled her hand from his, no longer wanting to feel the warmth. He looked at her, but her attention had moved to the car they had approached. It was a beautiful steel-gray convertible.

  She glanced at him. “Is this your car?”

  He opened the car door for her. “Yeah, it’s my personal wheels.”

  “Nice.”

  “Thanks.” He closed the door and walked in front of the car to open the driver’s door. He hesitated before starting the engine. He waited until she was buckled in, then said, “Tell me something.”

  “What?”

  “Just now, why did you pull your hand out of mine?”

  Lisa frowned as she thought about the answer to his question. She also recalled something else that bothered her. The comment one of her sisters had made about her being a country bumpkin compared to the city treats he’d been sampling.

  “Lisa?”

  She turned to face him and tilted her chin. “You want to know why I pulled my hand out of yours? Why don’t you tell me the reason you were holding my hand in the first place?”

  Myles met her gaze and asked softly, “Do you really have to ask me that, Lisa?”

  “Yes.”

  He frowned. “Why?”

  “Why not?” she shot back.

  “I like touching you, Lisa. I always have.”

  Lisa’s heart began pounding in her chest as she remembered his touch. She inhaled deeply and quickly decided they were memories she could do without. Memories she needed to make off limits around him.

  “That was then, Myles. This is now. I’m not your girlfriend anymore, remember? I don’t mean anything to you.”

  Seemingly annoyed with what she had said, he started the engine and replied, “You only got that partly right, Lisa. You aren’t my girlfriend, but you do mean something to me. You mean a lot to me, in fact.”

  “Yeah, right.”

  His frown deepened and he glanced over at her, giving her an incredulous look. “You don’t believe me?”

  “Why should I? As I recall, you’re the one who broke things off. You wanted a clean break and that’s what you got. This is the first time I’ve seen you in five years. You left town and didn’t stay in touch. I could have died for all you know.”

  He stepped on the brakes and brought the car to a screeching halt. “Don’t say that.”

  He was angry. She could tell. The only thing she didn’t know was why; especially when everything she had said was true. “Why are you upset? Does the truth hurt, Myles? If so, then good. Now you get to feel my pain.”

  She quickly looked away from his penetrating stare, wishing she hadn’t said that. The one thing she didn’t want him to know was how his leaving had affected her. Even when he had said goodbye, she had held back her tears, refusing to let him see her cry. Just like she was fighting to hold them back now as she remembered that night.

  “Lisa, I—”


  “No,” she said, quickly turning back to him. “It’s Ronald and Sheila’s wedding day. Let’s not ruin it for them by bringing up our past when it doesn’t matter anymore. You moved on and I survived.”

  While the car began moving again, she brushed aside the thought that she had been holding her feelings inside for so long that she was beginning to believe what she’d just said about surviving.

  He turned into the parking lot of the civic center and moments later brought the car to a stop. Without wasting any time she unbuckled her seatbelt and was about to get out of the car when he touched her arm. She came close to jerking back but didn’t. She looked over at him and met his intense eyes.

  “We won’t talk today, but we will talk, Lisa. You can count on it.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  LATER THAT EVENING Myles entered Ronald’s apartment alone. The newlyweds were on their way to Jacksonville where they would spend the night before catching the cruise ship tomorrow for the Bahamas.

  Myles couldn’t stop the smile that touched his lips when he thought of the intensity of his best friend’s desire for the woman he had chosen for his wife. Later tonight, behind closed doors, Sheila would find out whether putting Ronald off for six months had been such a good idea. She had been a beautiful bride and Ronald a hot-and-bothered groom.

  Tossing his tuxedo jacket onto a chair, Myles crossed the room with his hands in his pockets and walked over to the window. Ronald’s condo was located in one of the exclusive areas of town and the huge home he was having built for Sheila was on ten acres of land close to the Suwannee River.

  He stood at the window, gazing out at the darkness, seeing nothing but feeling everything. Feeling more love for a woman than he had a right to feel. More love than she could possibly know he felt. Five years hadn’t destroyed his love for her; it had only intensified it. Seeing her again made him realize that every moment he spent away from her had boosted the emotions he felt. He hadn’t needed to see her to know it. But he had needed to see her for his own peace of mind. He could admit that now.