Christmas To Remember

by Kay Stockham

  “He was the guy who rinsed your eyes, wasn’t he? You talked to him?”

  “Just for a second.” Clay didn’t need to know there had been more than one collision between her and Beau. “It was more me gaping at him in shock, and then telling him to stay away from me, but I took care of things.”

  “How do you figure that when he’s still here?”

  “It’s complicated.” That sounded lame even to her.

  “You’d better uncomplicate it and come up with a good defense because when Mom and Dad find out, you’re—”

  “It’s not like I asked him to come here. And it’s a free country. I can’t make him leave, not without stirring up more talk by trying to attempt it.” She smoothed her damp hair back off her face and rubbed her still-itchy, watery eyes. “Beau and his father are the owners of the electrical company doing the wiring for the development. No, I didn’t know that when I bid on the job,” she stressed, answering the question she figured he’d ask next. “But they are, they’re under contract and they’re going to be here until the project is done. Do you think Beau’s going to screw up a legally binding contract because once upon a time he—”

  “Screwed you?”

  Frustrated tears blurred her eyes once more, but she determinedly blinked them away. “I was going to be a little more tactful, but yeah.” Lifting her hands, she wiped the sweat from her forehead and groaned. “Put yourself in my shoes for a minute. I didn’t plan this. I don’t want this, but what am I going to do? Mama will go over the edge if she finds out.”

  “She’s not going to like this, but she’s not getting worse. It just takes her time to cope with things.”

  “It’s been years. This is going to stir it all up again and people will talk.” Clay was quiet a long moment and Marley could practically see his mind working through the mess.

  “Okay. Something in your favor is that she hardly goes anywhere anymore. Maybe she won’t hear about it.”

  “With the likes of Kallie and Mr. Chang around? I don’t think so.” She swooped down and grabbed a knot of crabgrass by its roots, tossing it into the wheelbarrow a few feet away. “Most people won’t remember or connect the name, but Mama and Dad’s friends certainly might.”

  “I don’t think Mom’s friends are just going to call her up and tell her about that guy after what happened. They’d hesitate because of her breakdown and not want to be the blame for a relapse.”

  Like her. “Maybe.” Rubbing a spot of mud caked to her hand, she glanced at him. “Did you know she’s seeing Dr. Bourke now?”

  He frowned. “I thought she saw Dr. Myners?”

  “She told me Bourke yesterday. And there was Dr. Ramsey for a little while before that. I could’ve sworn she went to see him not that long ago. Clay, I’m telling you, she’s acting different, even compared to before. More…distant. Out of it. I can tell, and I can’t believe you can’t.”

  “Will you get off it, she’s fine.”

  Marley released a heavy sigh and wished she could believe him. “Nothing is fine. Everything’s about to blow up.”

  Her brother nodded, his expression grim. “Probably so. With him in town, I’d say it’s only a matter of time.”

  “I’ll talk to Beau again. See if I can—”

  “No,” Clay muttered. “You don’t talk to him anymore. At all. Got it?”

  “If I don’t talk to Beau, how do I convince him to leave?”

  He ran his hand through his hair. “I don’t know,” he said with a groan. “All right, do it. But if you do talk to him, make sure it’s not in sight of Kallie, otherwise the whole town will know.”

  Not what she wanted to hear.

  “Mar, I’ll stand by you, okay? And if he gives you any trouble I want to know about it. I mean it. In exchange, you can help me with Angel.”

  She smiled sadly. “Clay, I’d love to see the two of you together. I really would. But she needs time.”

  “She’s had time. I screwed up, all right? I know that. I regret that I said all those things to her. But she was dating that jerk and shoving every gift he gave her in my face.”

  “She grew up with nothing. Nothing. Can’t you understand why material things appealed? It doesn’t make her a bad person.”

  “I understand that, and I know that’s not all there is to her, but it’s taken time to calm down and process things after she treated me like that.”

  “Like what? Are you seriously going to stand there and blame her for dating Damon when you didn’t want to be seen in public with her because of where she came from? Have you forgotten that?”

  Color tinged his cheeks. “I was an ass and a jerk—”

  “Go on.”

  His gaze darkened in anger. “Look, I let so-called friends keep me from seeing how great she was. It was the wrong crowd and now I know better. She’s back, she’s single and I’d like to make it up to her. See if we can figure things out and start over. Mar…I won’t treat her like he did, okay? I…”

  “You what?” she asked when he didn’t finish whatever it was he’d been about to say. “Clay, her mom is still her mom, the way she grew up—none of that’s changed. Before you convince yourself you can handle things, you’d better know for sure that you actually can.”

  He looked away from her. “I can. I know I acted like a jerk before, but everybody should get a second chance. You want one, right? I’d think you’d understand where I’m coming from and be more sympathetic.”

  She stared at him a long moment, able to see the sincerity in his expression. Finally, she caved. “I can’t make any promises.”

  “Just talk to her. Do what you can to get her to hear my side of things.”

  “Okay, I will—if you remember that you’ve promised to help me when the poop hits the fan.”

  “Deal.” Clay gave her a relieved grin. “Now I’ve got to get back to work. I came by to snap some shots of the houses to do a progression article on the big build. Mind if I take one of you working on the finishing touches?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Come on.” He pulled a small digital camera from his pocket and ordered her into a several poses, snapping shots. “Got it.”

  When he turned to leave, Marley stopped him. “Thanks, Clay. It helps knowing that between you and Angelique I’m not going to go through this alone.”

  Her brother grinned. Not a sweet, caring grin, but one she remembered from childhood. Full of mischievousness and…“What?”

  “Nothing. You’re not alone by a long shot, Mar.” He laughed softly. “Besides, I wouldn’t have missed coming by today for anything.”

  She narrowed her gaze, confused. “Why?”

  “Turn around.”

  Marley did, gasping when she spied her reflection in the window. Thanks to the dirt and the water used to rinse her eyes she looked like a raccoon—and he’d taken pictures!

  “Clayton Douglas Pierce, you give me that camera right—”

  “You keep lookin’ like that,” he called, well on the way to his Jeep, “and I won’t have to worry nearly as much about you working out here with him.”

  “Clay!”

  “Call me tonight with an update on Angel—otherwise these get printed.”

  BEAU RODE WITH POP every morning to the job site but because of storms, he didn’t see Marley again until two days later. She rolled in at ten till ten, and he watched from his position inside the house across the street as Marley got out of the landscaping truck and lowered the back gate of the vehicle. Containers of plants, trees and shrubs were inside and between her and the teenage boy, Eli, they had everything unloaded in a matter of minutes.

  Marley wore knee-baring cargo shorts and another Marley’s Treehouse T-shirt. The sight of her toned, tanned legs and body outlined by the clothes was enough to have him straining for a closer look. She was beautiful. Sexy in a wholesome, earthy way. So what had happened between them? What had he said? Done? Why wouldn’t she talk to him?

  Not knowing was drivi
ng him nuts.

  He’d prepared himself for another boring day without her presence, paced around the house repeatedly, and then finally bucked up his courage and stumbled inside. A panic attack struck the moment he entered the dim interior. He’d had to stay by the door of the building to keep from getting sick, but at least he’d managed to spend the last two hours propped against the frame.

  The cold sweats had faded, and he told himself it was progress. But how much? Something about the sight of the two-by-four studs, the supplies, the boxes and buckets and the guys inside…

  “Something wrong, son?”

  He turned from the door before Pop could take note of what he studied, and cautiously made his way to where his old man wired a breaker box. Twice he had to pause and swallow the surge of unease crawling over him before moving deeper into the interior, one small, forced step at a time. “Think I’ll take a walk and get my PT done for the day, stretch my shoulder along the way.”

  “You keep it up and you’ll be healed in no time. Take the cell in case you have a problem and need a lift. Baker’s got his on him, so hit star nine to get him.” His father paused and shot him a level stare. “You’ve been here quite a while today, inside to boot. Sure you’re not ready to let me drive you home?”

  Pop’s shrewd gaze slid over him, and he knew his father had seen the tremors and sweats. “I’m sure. I hope to be here longer tomorrow, and for a lot more than playing gofer every time you need a tool from the truck.” The words came out sharper than he’d intended and Beau frowned. “Sorry,” he murmured, squeezing the tight muscles in his neck. “I’m just ready to get back into things and tired of being in the dark.”

  Pop nodded his forgiveness. “Soon, son. It’ll happen soon.”

  “I remember electrical work. I don’t know how, but it’s all there. Just not people.”

  Pop tossed the pliers aside. “I understand that, but I don’t want to see you having a setback if you strain your shoulder or your leg getting up and down wiring this place. Give yourself a few more days. We’ll be doing the security system soon. If you’re up to it, I’d be glad to have you help.”

  That was at least a week away and they both knew it. Seven days of roaming around the minuscule house, staring at the walls and watching them close in on him. Maybe he could sneak in another few loads of laundry, something that would help Pop out without being too obvious.

  “Go for your walk. The sunshine’ll do you good.”

  Without comment, Beau left the house by the back door and slowly made his way around to the front, hoping that by skirting the side farthest away from his old man, he’d be able to cross the street unnoticed. Maybe if he talked to Marley again the memory of him and her would return, a time frame. Details. Something.

  Eli was in the process of helping Marley dig a hole for a plant she held at the ready. The kid grinned when he saw him. “Hey, man. Looking better today.”

  Marley’s head snapped up in a flash, her gaze wary.

  “Thanks, I feel better. Marley, I was wondering if you could take a break? I could grab some water and—”

  “We’re busy.” She slid Eli a quelling glance when the kid grinned.

  “Just five minutes?”

  She shook her head. “Can’t. We have to get these planted before it rains.” Marley set the plant in her hand near the hole and busied herself positioning the rest of the flowers, arranging them here and there by scooting them inches or in the case of one, a few feet.

  “Marley—”

  “Whoa, sounding desperate, dude,” Eli warned.

  Beau ground his teeth together. He did sound desperate. Maybe because he was. He was tired of waiting for memories that came too few and too far apart. Memories that didn’t make sense because he didn’t recognize the voices and couldn’t visualize the faces.

  He hesitated, hoped she’d change her mind, but when she kept her head down and used a hand shovel to start digging, he took it as his cue.

  Before long he’d come to the end of the graveled construction road and the sign marking the entrance to South Ridge Estates. He should probably turn around and go back so that Pop could take him home, but he didn’t want to. Didn’t want to have to walk by the house where Marley worked, didn’t want to feel the interest and attraction he felt for her and know she hated his guts for something, but he didn’t know what.

  He shook his head, thinking of how good she’d felt the brief time he’d held her hand. The walk helped rid him of the frustration and his leg gradually loosened so he kept going, farther and farther until he’d made it close to home before the muscles began to spasm. Spying a large rock not far off the road, he crossed over the guardrail and headed that way, his thoughts consumed by his lack of memory.

  He wanted to be better now. He wanted to remember now. To do something to get that worried look off his father’s face, to know what he’d done to Marley so he could make up for it.

  The Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in Him.

  The sweat he’d worked up during his walk turned cold. The woman’s voice in his head—Oh, God, her voice. He knew that voice.

  The words rang over and over again in his head, so familiar and yet just out of reach. He heard the love in her tone, the way she’d murmur those words anytime he got upset, anytime he—

  His mother. The voice was his mother’s.

  The awareness came in an instant, a flash of knowledge from the vast sea of nothing in his mind. Beau lifted a shaking hand and rubbed his stinging eyes.

  His head pounded as though the leak of information was poison to his brain. But for the first time since waking up in the hospital, he welcomed the pain. He might not remember anything else, but he remembered his mother’s voice.

  Remembered…remembered dark brown hair, almost black, and blue eyes. The way she’d spend every night in her favorite chair, humming and rocking, back and forth. The memory was everything, small in the realm of all he’d lost, but everything just the same.

  His foot slid on a rock, but he ignored the corresponding pain in his thigh as the muscles contracted harder. Two steps later he did it again, and groaned at the stab of pain streaking up his thigh and down into his knee. Almost to the rock, his leg buckled under him.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  MARLEY JERKED the wheel to get off the road when she saw Beau fall.

  He was fine. Fine. So why wasn’t he moving?

  That moment, that split second, tipped the scales of her grudge and turned it into belly-churning fear. She might not like the man—and she really didn’t like him—but she didn’t want anything to happen to him.

  There were poisonous snakes in the area. Copperheads and rattlesnakes who were notorious for sunning themselves on days like this. What was he doing going over there?

  She scrambled out of the truck and ran toward him. Beau had shifted and now sat on the ground with his back pressed against the rock, but she could hear his hoarse breathing overtop of her own once she got close enough. Not taking any chances, she scanned the ground as she ran.

  “Are you all right?” she asked as she drew near. “Is it your leg? Was it a snake?”

  When he heard her speak, Beau’s face tightened. “Thought you didn’t want to talk to me.”

  “A woman’s prerogative. I’m allowed to change my mind so shut up.” She wished the order had come out strong instead of breathless. “What happened?”

  “My leg. No snake.”

  Thank God. Marley reached out to touch him, to smooth her fingers over his tense features and offer comfort, only to jerk them back short of the mark. Curling them into her palm, she grabbed her cell phone from the waistband of her pants and moaned at her lack of service. She’d meant to pick up one of those booster antennae to help with reception in the dead areas, but she’d put it off as an expense she didn’t need. Which meant it was now up to her to get Beau help. “Come on, let’s get you in the truck. Put your arm around my shoulders.”

  A strong breeze blew th
rough the valley and a cloud covered the sun. The loss of the sun’s rays sent a shiver over her despite the temperature of the air. Thunder rolled in the distance. Seconds went by and the sun reemerged.

  “I’m fine.”

  “You’re hugging a rock in pain.” Thunder rolled again. “Come on, before we get soaked.”

  “It’s easing up. I just overdid it and the muscles cramped up. Go on, I’ll be fine.”

  Yeah, right. If he rubbed his thigh any harder he was going to start a fire from the friction. A grimace marred the lean angles of his face.

  Marley fought her impatience and the temptation to do as he asked. “You need to see a doctor and—I can’t leave you here like this.”

  “Why not? You don’t want to talk to me.”

  “I’m talking now, aren’t I? Think of this as your big break to grill me. Are you coming with me or not?”

  His pain-dazed eyes focused on her face with a searing intensity. She looked away. But breaking eye contact had other consequences. Marley glanced down and realized she hovered over him, both her hands resting on his chest and stomach, well able to feel the hard muscles beneath. She jerked her hands away and clasped them tightly in her lap.

  “I’m coming, but no doctor. I’m fine.” The words were muttered, and not at all believable uttered as they were between his clenched teeth. “I’ll ice it when I get home. It’ll be as good as new tomorrow.”

  She highly doubted it, but she wasn’t going to argue for the sake of arguing. By the time she got him on his feet, Marley wondered if Beau had any teeth left. The arduous walk to the truck was an act of sheer will and stubborn determination. Along the way she had to fight hard to ignore the solid feel of his body beside hers, moving against her with every slow, wobbling step.

  Memories resurfaced and brought a flush to her cheeks that had nothing to do with the heat, and everything to do with not being the virginal girl she’d been back then. Beau had been a great-looking guy and they’d been good together. But now…Beau’s years in the military had hardened him, honed him until he was all muscle and man, and despite her anger and all the pain he’d caused her she couldn’t help but notice.