A Texas Holiday Miracle (13 page)

* * *

E
MMA
FOLLOWED
G
ABE
around like a shadow. He made a pile of twigs, short limbs and logs. Emma worked alongside him. He imagined she had helped Jack in the yard. He vaguely remembered a few of those times.

As he worked, he thought of Lacey’s comment about him getting scared of commitment. She was right. He wasn’t ready for that. It was a little uncanny that she could read him so easily. But then, they had a connection that was all tied up with grief and death. They understood pain and were struggling to find sunshine in their lives. They were becoming good friends, but part of him yearned for much more. He wasn’t sure what that was at this point. All he knew was he liked being around Lacey and Emma.

Lacey came over at noon and they stopped for lunch. She had sandwiches made for them. Afterward, he said, “I’m going to the grocery store to get the things we’ll need for later.”

He felt energized doing something for them.

* * *

I
T
WAS
NICE
to relax and let Gabe do all the work. He had the fire blazing when she walked over and plastic-covered cushions for them to sit on. Emma was hopping around like a grasshopper, helping him. Lacey sat on a cushion, feeling like a queen.

They made hot dogs first, which tasted great after being grilled on the fire. The night air was chilly, but the fire kept them warm. Gabe had all the food on a tray and kept getting up to make sure they had everything they needed. Emma sat in front of the fire between Gabe’s legs. He helped her roast a marshmallow and put it on a graham cracker with a piece of chocolate. Emma giggled and basked in Gabe’s attention.

Gabe made Lacey one and fed it to her. She felt a little naughty as she ate from his fingers. The glow of the fire warmed them, but she was feeling a different kind of glow.

To still the beating of her heart, she suggested, “Let’s sing songs.”

“Which one?” Emma asked.

“Christmas songs, of course.”

She broke into “Frosty the Snowman” followed by “Jingle Bells” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Emma joined in, and when they sang “Deck the Halls,” Gabe’s deep tones echoed through the night with vivid clarity and spine-tingling emotions.

Overhead, stars were showcased in a spectacular winter sky. Lacey pulled her jacket tighter around her as the temperature continued to drop. Emma’s head rested on Gabe’s chest. Chocolate was smeared on her face, but Lacey didn’t worry about that. Emma had found a remarkable man to fill the empty place left by their father. But it was only temporary.

A chill ran through Lacey. She raised the fur collar of her jacket and scooted closer to Gabe. He looped an arm around her, and they sat listening to the snap and crackle of the fire. It was peaceful and relaxing, and Lacey allowed herself to drift into a fairy tale. She could see herself in a beautiful white gown walking down the aisle to a man with dark eyes. But she was old enough to know fairy tales didn’t exist. And she’d told Gabe she wasn’t interested in a relationship.

She’d lied.

Chapter Thirteen

The days passed too quickly for Lacey. Christmas was two weeks away and Emma hadn’t changed her mind about Santa. The Christmas tree stood by the windows looking like a lonely soldier needing a hug. She had considered taking it down, but she would follow Gabe’s advice and go slow.

He ate with them every day without complaining or making a quick exit. Having a man around was nice, especially since he was handsome and made her happy just to see him. It was too late to chide herself for letting her heart get involved. Gabe was a part of her life, but she didn’t know for how much longer. She was grateful for every day and grateful he’d survived the biggest tragedy of his life. Whatever happened next would be up to them.

She still had to make arrangements to visit her mom before Christmas. Time seemed to be running out and she had a lot to do before the big day arrived. The number one goal today was to put the bicycle together. After dropping Emma at school, she hurried over to Gabe’s. He sat on the floor in an empty bedroom with parts of the bike laid out.

She stared at all the bolts, screws and pieces. “When they say you have to put it together, they’re not kidding.”

Gabe looked up from a page of instructions. “It’s really not that hard.”

“I’ll take your word for it.” She held up the bag in her hand. “I brought paper, ribbon and tape to wrap Emma’s other gifts.”

She sat down and went to work. But she kept looking up to watch him, and the way his hands and arms worked with confidence and ease. His hair was really getting long. Today he had it combed back, and it hung past the collar of his T-shirt.

“Have you always worn your hair long?”

He didn’t even look up as he attached the front wheel. “No. I got a haircut about two months after I moved here from the only barber shop in town. It’s run by two old cowboys and they asked a lot of questions. They were just being friendly, but I wasn’t in a friendly mood, so I never went back.”

“It gives you a roguish-outlaw look.”

He sat back on his heels, his eyes gleaming. “You like roguish outlaws?”

“If they have dark eyes.”

He pointed a wrench at her. “You’re distracting me.”

“Me? I’m just wrapping presents.”

“Mmm.” He went back to the bicycle with total concentration, or at least it appeared that way.

She finished the gifts and stacked them in a corner. When she turned around, Gabe stood there with the bicycle completed.

“Oh, it’s beautiful. I have to go to the house to get ribbon to put around the basket. It has to have a red bow. I’ll be right back.”

In a matter of minutes she had returned. She threaded a ribbon around the white basket and finished it with a big bow.

“Do you put a bow on everything?”

She straightened with a piece of ribbon in her hand. “Yes.” And before he could stop her, she caught his hair and looped the ribbon around and tied it.

“Take it out,” he said in a warning voice, moving closer to her.

“No. I like it.” She took a step backward.

“Take it out.”

“No.” She stood her ground for a split second before he grabbed her. He held her hands up to his face. Their eyes met and everything faded away except the feelings between them. His head dipped and his lips captured hers in a time-standing-still type of kiss. The laughter and playfulness turned into serious emotional need. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body into his, loving the feel of his hard angles against her softer ones.

The kiss went on and on until they finally sank to the floor. His hand slipped under her blouse and touched her breast. An ache shot through her—a familiar ache she welcomed. She ran her fingers through his hair, loving the thick texture and the scent of manly shampoo.

Just when she thought the world would spin away, her cell phone rang. It took a moment for her to realize what the sound was. Gabe pulled away, back in total control.

She crawled on her hands and knees to her purse and found her phone. She couldn’t let it keep buzzing. It could be about Emma. It wasn’t. When Lacey saw it was her mother, she wasn’t going to answer, but one look at Gabe’s face and she knew the moment had passed.

“Hi, Mom.”

“You haven’t called about Christmas.”

Christmas was the last thing she wanted to talk about right now. “I was thinking next week one day. When can you be free?”

“Christmas Day.”

Lacey wanted to pound the phone on the floor, but instead she replied, “You know that’s out of the question unless you plan to come to Horseshoe.”

“I guess I’m pushed aside for any old day.”

Gabe put tools back into his toolbox, and Lacey was very aware of the frown on his face. Her mother’s words went right over her head. “How about next Wednesday?”

“You know it’s hard for me to get off during the holidays. We’re so busy.”

“Whatever, Mom. I’ve told you what I can do. I don’t know what else to say except that I love you and I’d love to spend some time with you.”

A heavy pause followed. “Wednesday will be fine. You can pick me up at work and we’ll go to a nice restaurant.”

“That sounds good. I’ll see you then.”

Lacey clicked off, stunned that had been so easy. Three little words had worked magic. She glanced up to see Gabe staring at her. She wondered if they would work on him. But she would never put him in that position.

“Your mom, huh?” He closed the toolbox with a snap.

“Yeah, she’s finally agreed on a day for us to visit.”

“I’m glad you’re trying to work things out.”

She disliked the stilted conversation. “Gabe, could we talk?”

“I thought we were talking.” He wrapped his arms around his knees and stared at her.

“I mean about what just happened between us.”

“Lacey...”

“I’m attracted to you. I think you know that, and I don’t want to lie about it or pretend I’m not.”

The silence stretched before he finally said, “I’m attracted to you, too. I like touching you, holding you and kissing you. And I shouldn’t. I still have a long way to go for full recovery, and I don’t want to hurt you.”

She crawled on the hardwood floor to him and sat beside him. “You really do need furniture. Do you know that?”

A smile touched his lips. “You have a knack for lightening a mood.”

“Because there shouldn’t be a mood. We’re both adults. What happens between us is our business, and I think we’re mature enough to handle it.”

He stretched out his legs and leaned back on his hands. “I can’t get serious about anyone right now. I have a past I’ll have to face someday. I don’t want you caught in the middle.”

She tickled his nose with a piece of ribbon. “You worry too much. Now, I have to go. It’s my day to help out at school and I have to change. Do you mind if I leave the bicycle and gifts here until Christmas Eve?”

“No problem. But I’d better put them in the closet in case the kiddo comes in here.”

After everything was stored in the closet, Lacey said, “I’ll see you later.”

She didn’t try to kiss him or touch him because she knew he was struggling with his feelings. She was, too, but somehow she knew what she wanted. Only time would tell if it was real or just the result of being thrown together as next-door neighbors at a time when they’d each needed someone.

* * *

T
HE
NEXT
FEW
days were hectic. The kids in Emma’s class were rehearsing for the Christmas program. The girls were told to wear red and the boys were to wear black pants and white shirts. Emma wanted a new dress for the occasion, so they decided to go to the mall on Saturday.

Lacey only saw Gabe at mealtime. He was building a storage shed in his backyard. He seemed to have a need to stay busy. Lacey understood that, but she felt he was putting distance between them. That made her sad, but she was learning the hard way to go slow.

On Wednesday, when she drove to the school to drop off Emma, Mrs. Fillmore was waiting outside. Lacey had wanted to get away quickly so she could leave for Austin to see her mother. Emma had been exceptionally good the past week, so Lacey couldn’t imagine what the teacher wanted.

Lacey kissed Emma, who ran off to meet Jimmy.

“Hello, Lacey.”

“Good morning, Mrs. Fillmore.”

“I know you do a lot for Emma’s class, but I’d like to ask one more favor. Most of the mothers work, and I’m not getting any assistance for the Christmas program. I need someone to help me get the children on the stage where they need to be. It just takes a little patience.”

“I’ll be happy to help. It’s next Friday, right?”

“Yes, and thank you. I’m so happy Emma is adjusting after her father’s death.”

“Me, too,” Lacey admitted.

Mrs. Fillmore turned toward the school. “I’ll let you know details next week. Have a nice day.”

Lacey drove home and dressed for the day in a print skirt, silk blouse and leather boots. Her mother would expect more than jeans. She hadn’t told Emma where she was going because Emma would have wanted to go, too, and explaining her mother’s feelings would be difficult. She had Gabe’s number on her phone, so if she was running late or had problems, she could call him to pick up Emma.

As she brushed her hair, she thought she’d better let Gabe know her plans. She slipped on the cashmere jacket her mother had given her last year for Christmas and went next door.

* * *

G
ABE
WAS
BUSY
laying forms so the concrete company could pour the foundation for the shed. He looked up and saw a woman standing near his deck. Who was she? And what did she want? He got to his feet and walked toward her. The closer he got he realized it was Lacey, all dressed up and looking as beautiful as he’d ever seen her.

He wiped his hands on his jeans. “I didn’t recognize you at first.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “Is that good or bad?”

“I’m not sure.” He was honest. “I feel as if I don’t know you.” He looked her up and down. “You’re very different from the woman in jeans who makes me smile.”

She leaned over and whispered, “I can still make you smile.” A whiff of a delicate fragrance reached him, and he wanted to reach out and take her in his arms. He had the urge to get to know this Lacey. And he shouldn’t. He was so tired of resisting when everything he wanted was right in front of him.

She nodded toward the forms. “Are you going to be home all day?”

“Where else would I be?”

“As you can see—” she waved a hand down her body “—I’m dressed to go visit my mother, and I wanted to make sure if I have a problem with getting back—like traffic or car problems—that someone will be there to pick up Emma. My go-to person is you. Can you help me out?”

“Just let me know and I’ll be there.”

She hugged him, and he wrapped his arms around her and held her for a moment. They stood there in the chilly day, and he was never more aware of how much this crazy lady had taken over his heart.

“Gotta go. I’ll see you tonight. Bye.”

She sashayed toward the gate, and he couldn’t stop watching. Resisting wasn’t an option anymore. She was pulling him in hook, line and sinker. And he wasn’t panicking.

* * *

T
HE
TRAFFIC
ON
I-35 was bad, but Lacey was still early for her lunch with her mother. They’d decided to meet at the restaurant. Lacey parked and went inside. Her mother had made a reservation, so Lacey was shown to a table immediately. The restaurant was very upscale with soft music playing in the background. It wasn’t long before her mother arrived.

Lacey stood to hug her. Her mother was a blonde with green eyes, just like Lacey. At fifty-two, she looked more like thirty-five. Her mother had always taken care of her appearance. Today she wore a designer dress with silver earrings, a necklace and high heels.

“It’s good to see you,” her mother said as she took a seat. “I’m not crazy about the short hair, but it’s your hair. And at your age you need to start using more makeup.”

Lacey counted to three and then asked, “How’s Mervin?”

“Fine. He wants me to move in with him, but I’m just not ready for that.”

Her mother never shared these types of things, so Lacey was startled for a moment. Mervin was the type of man her mother should have married. He was in insurance and she assumed he was reasonably well-off.

Lacey placed a napkin in her lap. “Do you mean he wants to get married?”

Her mother glanced up, her perfectly made-up face revealing a wrinkle or two. “Of course, I would never move in with a man without marriage. I jumped into marriage too fast the second time, and I am not doing it again.”

“Do you love him?”

The waiter came with menus and they ordered drinks.

“Love is for young folks,” her mother said as soon as the waiter was out of earshot. “I just don’t want to be alone for the rest of my life.”

Guilt slashed across Lacey’s conscience. Her mother had always lived her life her way, but Lacey still felt guilty for not spending more time with her.

Joyce opened her menu. “The scallops are really delicious here, and I know how you love them.”

Her mother changed the subject quickly, and Lacey let it drop because she didn’t know what else to say. They had a pleasant meal and chatted like strangers, not like a mother and daughter who had their ups and downs.

Lacey decided to talk about the holidays. “I wish you would come for Christmas. I want you to. Does that mean anything?”

Joyce laid her napkin on the table very carefully. “I just can’t be around that child.”

Lacey bit her tongue and prayed for patience. Going on her gut instinct that her mother wasn’t as coldhearted as she seemed, she reached into her purse and pulled out a small photo album she kept of Emma. She opened it and laid it on the table near her mother’s napkin.

“Look at Emma. She has blond hair and green eyes and looks like me.” Joyce picked up her napkin and wiped her mouth, ignoring the photo. “Look, Mom. She’s just a little girl. She doesn’t know about divorce or resentment or regrets. She’s only knows she’s lost her daddy and it’s still hard for her to accept. That’s why she clings to me. I’m the only person there for her. Look at her, Mom.”