A Heart for Christmas (6 page)

“Just wait until you go inside,” he chuckled, and then opened the front door and
ushered Yvette in behind him.

They stopped in the large foyer and took off their coats.  Christopher hung them both in a nearby closet and returned.  “We’re back,” he yelled to no one in particular.

“We’re in here honey,” his mother replied from down the hall.

Christopher led the way past a few rooms and into a large kitchen.  Yvette took it all in, but there was a lot going on.  The room was bright and inviting.  There was a large butcher block island with stools on one side.  The whole surface was covered and in various stages of baking
: there were plates of cookies, metal trays cooling on wire racks and a huge glass bowl full of batter.  The six-person wood farm table a few feet away was fully set, and laden with covered dishes.  Lacey and Margaret were standing in front of the island wearing aprons , and having  a serious discussion on whether to add M&M’s to their next batch of cookies.  Christopher’s father was standing in front of another countertop pouring Adelaide a cup off egg nog.  The scene was so overwhelming that tears suddenly welled up in her eyes.  It was such a long time since Yvette had really embraced the true spirit of Christmas.  Each year, she went overboard trying to make sure she and Lacey got past the anniversary of Michael’s death.  Everything centered on trying to cope.  But seeing Christopher’s family relaxed and enjoying the moment— with people they had just met—made her realize how much her family was missing. 

She felt someone’s fingers close around her elbow.  “Hey, are you okay?”

Blinking back the tears, she saw Christopher.  His body blocked her from everyone’s view.  It was a protective gesture that warmed her heart.  The last thing she wanted was to be caught bawling in the middle of his mother’s kitchen.

“Yes,” she squeaked.  “It’s just…I…it’s beautiful,” she finally managed to choke out.

“Are you two, okay?” Margaret asked from across the room.

“Yes,” Christopher called out while Yvette desperately dabbed at her eyes with the corner of her sweater.

“I was just remarking how beautiful everything looks,” Yvette said moving around him and further into the room.  “I wish I had my digital camera.” 

“You can use mine,” Christopher said moving next to her.

His mother smiled.  “Oh, that’s good thinking, honey.  We’re glad you two made it back safe and sound.”

“Mommy,” Lacey gushed.  She ran over to Yvette and hugged her around the waist.  “Aunt Addie’s got hear a while ago.  Wait till you hear all the things we did.”

Yvette greeted her daughter, and then introduced her aunt to Christopher.

“It’s great to meet you,” Adelaide said shaking his hand.  “I’ve heard lots about you.” She
winked. 

He turned to Yvette with an arched eyebrow.  “All good?”

She couldn’t help but laugh.  “Naturally.”

Next
Christopher introduced her to his father.

Anthony Darcy
was several inches taller than Christopher, with the same muscled physique and every bit as attractive.  His hair was salt & pepper, still sporting the short military cut.  A scar trailed over his right eye, and another along his jaw line.  There was no way she wanted to get accused of ogling Christopher’s father. 
That would be too embarrassing
.  She said to herself.  Yvette extended her right hand.  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Colonel Darcy.”

“Tony is fine,” the older man smiled
, shaking her hand firmly.  “We’ve heard a great deal about you, young lady.  I’m glad to see my son wasn’t exaggerating.”

Christopher turned to Yvette.  “He likes to do his best to embarrass me
whenever he can.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Tony.  You and Margaret have a lovely home, and farm.  It’s so beautiful
here.”

Margaret came over to the group.  “Thank you, dear.  We’re glad you like it. 
We’ve been having a ball making cookies and warming up dinner.”

“I even watched Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” Lacey chimed in.

Christopher and Yvette made eye contact.  He mouthed, ‘I told you so.’  It was all Yvette could do not to laugh.

“She’s
such a wonderful little girl, and your aunt Adelaide and I have become fast friends,” Margaret continued.  “I wish we could’ve met sooner.  We have so much in common,” she enthused.  “I hope you two are hungry, I’ve got all Chris’ favorites for dinner: Pot roast, roasted garlic mashed potatoes and green beans with sliced almonds.  I forgot to ask Chris if you ate red meat so we’ve got a fish dish, and chicken, too.” 

Everyone washed their hands and took seats around the table.  After Anthony said grace, there was a blur of activity as people passed plates and dishes of food around and poured drinks.
Conversation flowed as freely as the food as Margaret and Tony shared stories from Christopher’s childhood, and Adelaide chimed in with tales of Yvette’s exploits.  Yvette shared a few of her own about Lacey that had the whole table alight with laughter.

“I can’t remember when I’ve eaten so much,” Yvette said after the meal.  “Everything was delicious, Margaret.”

Everyone else echoed Yvette’s sentiments. 

“We’ve got the dishes,” Christopher and Yvette said almost in unison.

Margaret and Adelaide began to protest, but Anthony announced that he was going to get the sleigh ready for their ride and that they could relax by the fire with Lacey while the “kids” handled the kitchen. 

After everyone cleared out, Yvette and Christopher got busy clearing the table, putting the food away and loading the dishwasher. 

“You were right, by the way,” she informed him while drying a large pot.

“Told you,” he replied.  He took to cookware from her and put it away.  “They love having company.  I haven’t been back here since before I left for London
so I’m sure they’re really excited you’re here—I am, too.”

“Thank
you for earlier.  I was just so overwhelmed with emotion,” she explained.

“You’re welcome.”

“It’s just that…seeing Lacey and Addie having such a great time with your parents got me choked up.  Lacey would’ve probably gotten worried if she’d looked up and I was bawling.  She’s been so protective and serious since Michael died.  I wish she had more moments like these.”

He moved closer.  “I wish you did, too.”

“Today was a start,” she grinned.  “Visiting Winter Wishes was like stepping into a story book.  Lacey is having such a great time.  It’s been so long since I’ve seen her this animated.”  She turned to Christopher.  “You’ve made our week, Chris.”

He reached out and
smiled.  “And you’ve made mine.”

The tension was back,
but this time it was of a romantic nature.  It crackled around them like a new log placed on a roaring fire.  Yvette was the first to turn away.  She picked up her dish towel and resumed drying the dishes.  Christopher did the same.

When they were finished, Yvette watched Christopher wipe the counters off and fold their dish towels over the bar on the oven door.  One time when he looked up, Yvette was watching him.  The smile on his face made her heart beat faster. 
This was crazy.  Wasn’t it? 
She wasn’t a teenager any more.  She was too old to have sweaty palms in Col. and Mrs. Darcy’s kitchen just because their son smiled at her.

Yvette promised herself she wouldn’t even think about how good Christopher looked just wearing a faded pair of jeans and a thick sweater.  Honestly, he could have just stepped off the cover of an Eddie Bauer magazine.  He was that rugged, that good looking and that sexy.
  Just thinking the word “sexy” made Yvette drop her dish towel.  Mortified, her face flamed red, and she bent down to pick it up, but Christopher beat her to it.  He had bent down and scooped up the errant towel before she had even blinked.  All of the sudden, they were both kneeling in front of the sink holding on to a semi-wet towel bedecked with Christmas ornaments.

“Sorry,” she said, quickly.

“For what?  Dropping the towel, or my staring at you in a way that made you blush?”

Yvette was speechless.  She couldn’t have found a word just then if her life depended on it.  All she knew is that she was mere inches away from the object of her consternation and she needed to do or say something.  Fast.

“I guess a little of both,” she said finally.

“Yvie,” Christopher said in a deep voice.

Just then the back door opened and Christopher’s father walked in.  “Who’s ready for a sleigh ride?” he said in a booming voice.

Anthony
glanced between his son, and Yvette.  A mischievous glint came into his eye.  “Unless you two would prefer to go alone?”

Yvette bolted upright so fast she almost toppled over.  In fact she would have, if Christopher had not reached out to stop her. 

“Are you okay
?” He helped her to her feet.  “Dad—”

“What?  His father replied with a grin. 

Lacey ran in with Margaret and Adelaide in tow.  Each decked out in their winter garb. 

“We’re ready,” Lacey announced. 

“Then let’s get this show on the road,” Tony said ushering the group outside.

Christopher glanced at Yvette.  “We’ll be out in a minute, dad.”

“Okay, but don’t take all day.  You know the horses don’t like to be kept waiting.”

Christopher shook his head. 
“Yes sir.”

Yvette glanced at the door.  “Your
father is a riot.”

“He’s got a wicked sense of humor.  Just wait till you get to know him better.”

Regaining her equilibrium, Yvette titled her head to the side.  “Are you suggesting I’ll have an opportunity to get to know him better?”

Christopher didn’t miss a beat.  He said, “Are you saying you want one?”

Did she?  Yvette pondered that for a moment. 
Heck yeah, you do
.  Her conscience clamored in her head. 
You’re ready to see what could happen.  It’s been three years.  Stop being a chicken and take a chance
. 

“Do I have one?”  She blurted out.

A long sigh escaped between his teeth.  “There’s never been a question of you having an opportunity, Yvette.  The question is what you want to do about it?  You must know by now that I like you…a great deal.  And if I haven’t made it obvious to you, I’m saying it now.  I’m asking you out on a date, Yvette Stilwell.  I think it’s time we see where this thing between us leads.”

Before Yvette could answer, Lacey burst through the door.

“Mommy come on,” she practically yelled. 
“Colonel Tony told Ms. Margaret that his chestnuts are freezing, but I didn’t see any chestnuts.”

That spurred Yvette into action.  She yanked her coat on and hesitantly glanced Christopher’s way.  To her relief, his coat was on and he was smiling at her.

“Let’s go,” he said striding out the door after Lacey.

Yvette trotted after them.  The cold air felt heavenly on her warm cheeks. 

Christopher got in first, and then helped Lacey and Yvette onto the sleigh.  He made sure they were settled, and a plaid blanket draped snuggly across their laps before he gave his father the thumbs up. 

Everyone
whooped in delight when the horses snorted and took off. 

The rhythmic sound of the horses guiding the sleigh mixed with the ringing of sleigh bells had a relaxing effect on Yvette.  It was her first ride in one, and she was enjoying it immensely.  Margaret handed out cups, and then passed around a thermos of hot apple cider.  Everyone drank it between bouts of singing.  Occasionally, there was a lull in conversation or Christmas carols that allowed Yvette to ponder her last conversation with Christopher.

You must know by now that I like you…a great deal
. 
Those words played over and over in her head.  In truth, she had gone over almost everything Christopher had said before Lacey came in to get them.  He had not said a word about it since, but his invitation still hung between them.  In fact, she was acutely aware that she owed him an answer…and that his cologne was driving her crazy.

“Are you having a good time?” 

The words were whispered, but Yvette was so focused on Christopher he could have yelled them for all she cared.

“Yes, I am. I’ve never been on a sleigh ride before. This is such a treat for us.
  I’m glad you suggested it.”

“
Me, too,” he admitted.

Yvette glanced across at her aunt. 
“Are you having fun?”

“Oh honey, this is a hoot,”
Adelaide replied. 

“I’m glad you all are enjoying this
,” Margaret said.  “Tony and I don’t get to do this as often as we used to.  When Chris was young, he wanted to come out here almost every night.  He never tired of it.”