Postmark Christmas

by Katie Bachand

  Harlow stood a bit straighter and offered a hand and a greeting to one of Harris’ childhood friends – who also happened to be a forward on Minnesota’s professional hockey team.

  “Mr. Randall, it’s so nice to meet you,” Harlow greeted the hockey player who had an uncanny resemblance to Paul Bunyan with his massive beard and matching body.

  “Please, call me Zane. It’s nice to meet you, too.” Zane gripped Harlow’s entire hand in his own and shook. “This is the best event I’ve been a part of at this rink. What a turnout. But then, I’d turn out for this display any day.”

  Harlow tried not to stare at the hole where the missing tooth should have been in Zane’s grin and smiled back at him. “Thank you for saying that. It really means a lot.”

  “So, speaking of charity,” Zane shifted his weight and sent his question to Harris, “how are the letters going this year? I’d love to help again if I can.”

  “They are really pouring in. I am still amazed at the amount we get in. Most of them make me smile. Some of them still make me wish we could do more.” Harris smiled and added a shrug knowing they could only do so much.

  “Count me in for gifts and I’ll do another trip this year – for who’s ever asking for one.” Zane nodded, understanding too well having to balance income with giving. But when it came to kids in need, he never wavered. That’s why he’d come out tonight.

  “Thanks, Zane. I’ll touch base next week to see what we have and give you the details.”

  Harlow had followed the conversation and it didn’t take her long to realize they were talking about the same letters that had been mixed with hers. Letters from kids wishing for things they really needed. Or, she thought, hoping for something they could only dream about, and relying on the magic of Christmas to come through for them. And there she had been, not having a want in the world, and selfishly asking to re-live already wonderful childhood memories with her own letter.

  She’d do something about that, she thought, the next time she could get Harris alone.

  Maybe she could turn her Christmas wishes into something that could be shared. After all, she’d have the time, seeing as she’d be solo for the holidays. The thought nearly made her roll her eyes but she decided she was too happy to let the Christmas blues sneak in.

  When it was time to gather on the rink for the opening ceremonies Harlow and Harris made their way through the crowd and joined Ryan, other charity staff who helped put on the event, and members from the Children’s hospital.

  A massive velvet green bow wrapped the center of the ice where they stood and took pictures after charity and event organizers spoke and thanked everybody for coming out for such a wonderful cause.

  Harlow had only teared up twice as she listened to stories of kids miraculously recovering and of how some of those kids who had since grown up, were some of the most generous when it came to giving back during the holidays.

  The head of the charity told her own story of being given the gift of Christmas when her own prognosis as a child hadn’t had her living beyond her twelfth year. She believed the generosity of caring donations had aided in her recovery. Medicine and miraculous health care for sure, but the giving spirit of others and the magic Christmas had lent to her healing.

  When Harlow had tried to hide a stray tear, Harris had gently circled an arm around her to comfort. Rather than the lust she’d felt earlier, a tenderness had taken over and she worried soon she wouldn’t be able to trick herself out of liking Harris Porter.

  More pictures were taken and hands had grasped in greetings and introductions. New clients were added to their prestigious and growing list. And holiday cranberry martinis were sipped and enjoyed.

  “Harlow.” Harris had walked toward her from a group he’d been talking to a few feet away. His smile melted her heart as his eyes grew with excitement, “Can I steal you away for a minute? There’s somebody I’d love for you to meet.”

  Harlow smiled at the doctors she’d just met and graciously excused herself, then said, “Of course, is it Santa Claus? Because I already know him.”

  Harris’ laugh reached his belly and thought, something close to that. “He’s a close second.”

  They made their way over and Harris began the introduction.

  “Calvin Crane. I’d like for you to meet Harlow Hill. She’s-”

  “Hill?” Calvin couldn’t help himself and cut Harris off, “Of the St. Paul Hills? You’ve got the house on Summit?”

  “Mr. Crane, it’s very nice to meet you. I would be one of those Hills. Hopefully that’s a good thing,” Harlow said, looking to Harris with an intrigued eyebrow and got a small shrug in return.

  Harris continued with the introduction when Calvin Crane simply laughed at what he assumed was her joke. “Calvin is the COO of Pro Feed, a company we will be working very closely with over the next couple of months – hopefully longer.”

  “We hope the same thing,” Calvin added. “It’s really great to meet you, Ms. Hill.” Calvin nodded excitedly. “Our family is from up north and would travel down to St. Paul every year for a Christmas weekend. We’d do a play, great restaurants, and drive around and see the lights. We always drove down Summit and especially loved The Hill – your house. How lovely to meet you in person.”

  Harlow had been skeptical at first, wondering who this crazy man was, but after hearing his reasoning, a soft spot began to form. If he loved her house, it almost automatically made her love a little bit of the crazy in him.

  “Thank you for saying that. It’s really nice to be a part of such a fun memory of yours,” Harlow said, but changed the subject, hoping to get it off of her, “What type of work will you be collaborating on?” She looked from Harris to Calvin.

  “Hopefully something that will help farmers embrace technology a bit more when it comes to feed, storage, and distribution,” Harris said. “It really could be a huge benefit to both of our companies. It’s in the early stages,” Harris looked to Calvin to show comradery, “but I think if we push hard, straight through the holidays, we’ll make really good progress.”

  Calvin’s enthusiastic nod was hard to watch and not laugh at. Harlow tried her best to cover her humor with a wide smile and matching nod. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em, she thought.

  It was enough to get Harris to hide a laugh in a fake cough behind his drink. The action only made him laugh harder and earn a concerned pat on his back from Calvin. But the concern only reached his gesture, as he was completely on board with the timing.

  “Absolutely,” Calvin confirmed, “we have a team working day and night with Brandon – he works with Harris – to ensure we don’t lose a single day in December. We even have some people working on Christmas Day.”

  The comment halted the amusement, though she’d tried to hide it. “Wow, really?” Harlow hoped the question would keep him talking but she only received another nod.

  If that was the case, she thought, the time she had with Harris wouldn’t be much, and it would definitely end before Christmas.

  The sadness swept through her quickly and she could only stare and try for a pleasant smile to hide her true feelings. Which, she realized, was that she wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Harris.

  In fact, she admitted, not knowing if it was the man or the magic of the holidays, she found herself falling head over skates.

  CHAPTER 18

  Winter, Harlow decided, was giving her the perfect amount of glittery snow to carry out her Christmas wish-list with Harris in snow-globe fashion.

  They’d skated in circles, twirling, racing, and gliding to an overhead speaker that gave an old crackly record feel to the music as it billowed out over the park. When Harris had challenged a young boy to see who could reach the end first, Harlow had caught up to them, announcing the young boy victorious, and they laughed so hard they both fell over the made-up finish line.

  When Harris grabbed Lisa’s husband, Steve, for a beer, the two girls made their own figured cuts into the ice a
nd gossiped about work, and as women do, their men.

  “So, you and Harris seem adorable together,” Lisa said, transitioning from a conversation about Sally and Ryan and how they both wished the two would admit their feelings for one another. Their logic was simple – they were too cute not to be together.

  “I don’t recall a question in there. Was that a statement, or are you fishing?” Harlow asked with a smirk and linked her arm through Lisa’s so they could skate in sync, side-by-side.

  Lisa held tight to Harlow’s arm and grinned her response. “I am simply stating the obvious and leaving the floor – or rink – open for comment.” Lisa paused but only for a second. “Because come on, if you can’t see how cute you two are together, you’re blind. And I’ve seen the way he’s been sneaking looks at you. Skating close to you and finding excuses to take your hand. Frankly, it’s adorable.”

  “Coming from you, I’m going to take that as a compliment – seeing as you and Steve are the adorable champions.” Harlow was amused at her friends’ candid observations.

  “We have a baby now. All the adorable we have is letting the other sleep through one of their middle-of-the-night two-hour shifts.” Lisa’s look was serious. “And let me tell you, the words, ‘It’s okay honey, I’ll take this round, you sleep’ is the sexiest thing Steve’s ever said to me.”

  Harlow laughed at the description of the two parents to precious Layla, and wondered if they realized what a miracle they had made. The beautiful family they had become.

  “You, all three of you,” Harlow said, “are darling. And you’re amazing parents.”

  “Well, thank you. When I wake up from sleep skating I’ll appreciate your words all over again. But seriously, have you thought at all about telling Harris how you feel?”

  The two rounded another curve and Harlow smiled as Harris came into view and returned his wave from the perch at an outdoor bar-top table the men had taken.

  For a moment she simply stared and let the wonderland slow around her, and really look.

  Harris was in jeans and a sweater for their night out. He was casual and not dressed to impress that night. Yet somehow, he was more attractive to her than any of the other times they’d been together.

  Harlow watched his easy smile, and a glance in Steve’s direction acknowledging and laughing at something Steve had said, but not taking his eyes off her.

  Their time together might have been to check things off a list, but the memories he’d shared with her, the dancing and the laughter they’d had together, she hoped he knew just how much the time had meant to her.

  He’d become more to her than somebody that was answering wishes she’d scribbled on a sheet of paper. He was becoming the person she wanted to text during her day at work when something was funny. Who she wanted to call at night while making dinner alone and wishing he was there to cook with her. He, she admitted, was someone she missed having in her home when he wasn’t there.

  Harlow looked at Lisa now and her smile didn’t fade, just fell a little. “I can’t tell him how I feel. Because I know he wants things in his life right now that don’t include me. He needs time to focus on work, and I’m looking for somebody that’s willing to put work aside and spend time at home. Somebody who would be willing to take the entire month of December off, not who would work straight through Christmas day.”

  Lisa listened and they glided in silence until she nodded, and carefully said, “I understand, but I think you should give him the chance to decide that for himself. It is the season for miracles after all.”

  When the four had skated until their feet were numb from the cold, and laughed until their sides hurt, they finally traded their skates in for the warmth of their boots. As they rounded the rink and exited through a wooden gate toward the firepits that circled the rink, they greeted and thanked a group who was just leaving and offering them their warm and crackling fire.

  Harris lowered himself onto a stump, slid another right next to his, and pulled Harlow down next to him and pulled her close to keep her warm.

  “Ice skating.” Harris made a big check mark in the air with his free hand. “Check another off the list.”

  Harlow threw up her hands and cheered, “Yes!” Then held her hand high while Harris smacked hers for a gloved high-five.

  “You two are making me look bad.” Steve joked as he scooted two of the stumpy logs over so he and Lisa could join them. “Cut me some slack over here, huh? We have a baby at home, it’s hard to be magical on three hours of sleep.”

  “Oh, that’s so cute and romantic.” Harlow sighed at Steve’s words, ignoring the fact that he probably felt like a zombie. “You two are embarking on the ultimate romance. Relying on each other when you’re dead tired, loving sweet Layla when she needs you, and you still like each other. That’s hard to do on three hours.”

  The group laughed but how Harlow had described their friends’ romance caught Harris by surprise. He didn’t expect something so innocent, and clearly meant to get a laugh, to rock him like it did.

  But the idea that two people went through so much together, the type of love they shared when they truly cared for the other person, it really was powerful. He’d never thought of it in just that way, but now, images of his parents and their lives growing up had him seeing his own parents differently.

  They’d done that for him and his sisters, given them all of their love. And for the first time in as long as he could remember, he thought, the memories they’d made as a family had nothing to do with money or the growing success of the family business, and had everything to do with his parents love.

  Harris felt himself pull Harlow a little closer. He held on a little tighter to the woman who had asked for simple Christmas wishes, but instead had given him the greatest gift he hadn’t known he was missing – love.

  CHAPTER 19

  The night sky had cleared as the snow fluttered its last flake and left stars glistening in the sky like a reflection of the snow-covered ground below. Even with the temperature dropping, Harlow and Harris couldn’t bring themselves to part with the night.

  Their logic was simple: they were already freezing and couldn’t feel their fingers and toes, so they might as well enjoy the night a little bit longer before heading in to warm themselves by the fire.

  They walked under the lamplights next to magnificent homes that, when lit up, could probably be seen from outer space.

  “Lisa and Steve are pretty great,” Harris said, grinning while mentioning Harlow’s friends. “If you’re into that perfect-couple, romantic-comedy thing.”

  Harlow’s laugh sang out and it was music to Harris’ ears.

  “I don’t know that anybody has ever described them more accurately. They really are obnoxiously cute, aren’t they?”

  “Beyond irritating,” Harris agreed, exaggerating his joke, but feeling as if he’d been friends with them for years.

  They fell silent and Harris spoke again. “It’s refreshing.”

  “Out here?” Harlow asked, wondering if it was a bad time to tell Harris she might need new toes by the end of the night. And noted the two pairs of socks she’d donned under her boots, favoring practicality over vanity, was one of the best decisions she’d ever made.

  “That too, but I mean Lisa and Steve. It’s refreshing to see two people together who just seem to believe in each other. They have fun, yeah,” Harris shrugged, “but they don’t sugarcoat the hard stuff. They accept it, laugh at it, and work their way through it. Their midnight wake-up routine is comical when hearing them joke about it, but I bet at night when they are both dog-tired it’s not very funny. But here they are, still in love, still doing it.”

  Harris looked at Harlow and stopped their momentum. “I like everything about it.”

  Harlow looked at Harris and decided his eyes were more hazel than brown as she searched his face for any sign that he might kiss her rather than look for more words. She closed her eyes and leaned into his gloved hand as it gently moved a str
ay red curl away from her face, tucking it just under the brim of her stocking cap. His hand lingered on her cheek as he slowly moved toward her.

  “Harris!”

  The two jumped at the sound of Harris’ name.

  The startle and quick embarrassment of being caught in the intimate moment had them pulling apart just far enough to prove they hadn’t been doing anything wrong.

  When they looked out to the shops on Grand they couldn’t help their grins as they watched Santa happily march toward them waving like only the jolly man could.

  “Santa, it’s great to see you. I didn’t think we’d have company out-and-about with us on a chilly night like this.” Harris slid a glance and a grin in Harlow’s direction and loved the red that blushed her face.

  “Oh, you know me, at this time of year I’m everywhere. There’s so much that needs to be done.” Santa winked at Harlow and offered his bright round cheeks in a smile. “How are you doing young lady? I’m happy to be able to see you out and about again.”

  “I’m doing wonderfully, thank you, Santa,” Harlow said, hoping this Santa was real enough to read her mind and know she was thankful he’d sent Harris to fulfill her Christmas wishes.

  Santa winked and she couldn’t believe the warm feeling that came over her as she heard him say you’re welcome. Only he hadn’t said it out loud, but she’d heard his voice clear as day in her mind.

  “Harris,” Santa continued, “I wonder if you wouldn’t take a few of these letters I just pulled out of the postbox and bring them to Nancy on Monday? I have an appointment in the morning that I can’t miss, but I don’t want these letters to be delayed because of me. Would you do that for me?”

  Harris perked, “I would love to, not a problem at all. I hope your appointment isn’t anything serious.”

  Santa leaned in close as if he were about to tell a well-kept secret and said, “Nothing a little Christmas magic can’t handle.” Then he leaned back and held his belly in a Ho-Ho that seemed to light up the whole man.