Christmas Romance (Best Christmas Romances of 2013) (10 page)

“Thank you. That’s great Pizza, but my stomach can’t handle much more.”

“How’s your head?” he asked.

“The throbbing has lessened to a thump-thump.”

“Do you have someone to take care of you, like a roommate, ex-husband, dog or cat?”

“No roommate and definitely no ex-husband. Someday, I’ll have a couple acres of land. I want tons of critters: goats, pigs, ducks, chickens, cats, dogs, and maybe even a turkey. I just need to focus on my career first, and eventually I’ll have all that.”

It sounded as though she loved animals as much as he did.

“People are always bringing me their unwanted animals. I have plenty to spare if you want to adopt a few,” he joked.

“Maybe in a few months, when I’ll have a large enough place to keep them.”

She raised her hand and pointed up ahead.

“See that big green sign on the right? You can drop me off there.”

“Halo, you don’t have to give up a career to have a relationship—or pets, for that matter.”

She didn’t say anything. She didn’t even acknowledge what he’d said. He pulled over in front of Green Hornet Investigations. Before he could ask for her phone number, she’d hopped out of the car, but leaned back in before he could move.

“Thank you for everything. I hope Cleo has her puppies soon.”

He got of the driver’s side and said, “Hey, wait. I want to see you again. We can work around your schedule.”

“Rich, you’re a great guy. I just don’t have time right now for anybody or anything in my life. Thank you again for all your help today,” she said and looked away.

Were those tears on her cheek? If so, then why didn’t she want to see him again? If only she’d give him a chance, she might be able to have everything she ever wanted. He’d never understand women.

Chapter Three

A week later

Ms. Henderson came forward and revealed the dog theft scheme she and Mr. Pemsky had been involved in. She said he came up with the scheme and insisted she’d been an unwilling accomplice. The public became outraged and wanted Pemsky’s head on a dog platter. Mr. Pemsky’s face showed up on every news station bruised, and defeated. The WWDS must’ve exacted their revenge shortly before his apprehension.

Chapter Four

Three months later

A week before Christmas, three inches of pristine white snow fell during the night. The weather forecaster promised the snow would continue to fall through the New Year. What could be better than that?

After Sunshine died a smoky death, Halo used the Seattle transit system. The bus might’ve been cheaper, but cramped her style and slowed down her pet retrievals.

Early that morning, Corny sent her out to find the Smith’s missing Beagle, Henry. The owners believed one of their creepy neighbors grabbed him out of their backyard while he did his business. Mr. Smith said the neighbors always complained about Henry’s barking, which turned out to be a byproduct of the neighbors yelling at each other.

The bus dropped Halo off a block from the Smith’s house and she did a hard-target search—she looked in an alley and behind a couple shops. Halo spotted a Beagle hunkered down in front of a mini-mart. People didn’t usually leave their pets outside for long in thirty degree weather, so that had to be Henry, but she went inside and asked anyway.

“Hey, do you know who owns the dog out front?” Halo asked.

“Huh? What dog?” the pimpled-faced teenager asked.

“The Beagle out front? Do you know who owns him?” she enunciated with care.

“Sorry. I don’t know nothin about no dog.”

Henry howled and the kid jumped.

“Dude, was that, like, a werewolf?” he asked.

The kid looked around, as though he expected a hairy-fanged wolf to appear.

“No, that’s just Henry.” Halo said, and left the kid looking around nervously in his low-rider jeans.

She squatted down in front of the Beagle. His whole body shook from the cold.

“Henry, I’ll get you home soon, but we’ll have to take the bus. Here, let me put these little wool booties on your feet. I knitted them myself.”

Halo crisscrossed her large bag over her head and under her arm and lifted Henry. Wow, twenty-five pounds of dog felt like fifty. The bus driver refused to let Henry on at first, but all the seats were empty, so he changed his mind—all in the Christmas spirit.

Chapter Five

Halo socked away a nice chunk of change for a future gently-used car, but she’d received a huge Christmas surprise. Her parents decided to visit a few days before Christmas and looked immaculate as always—her dad in Armani and her mom in Calvin Klein and pearls.

Her mom kissed Halo’s cheek and took her hand in hers.

“Darling, Halo,” her mom gushed. “We’re so proud of what you’ve accomplished this year. You’ve really found your niche in life. All those other jobs were just a prequel to your becoming a pet detective. Corny told us that you rescued a sweet Beagle and returned him using the transit system. How resourceful.”

“Well, I didn’t have a choice but to use the bus, because Sunshine died,” she explained.

“I know, dear. I’m so sorry. You loved that pretty little yellow car. Honey, your little home looks very festive. The tea lights give off such a warm glow to your little home. Oh, and what beautiful doilies.”

Halo watched her mom as she glanced around the apartment. Yes, her apartment could be considered small, but the studio had her style written all over the place. From the tiny, live Christmas tree in the corner, to the blinking, large colored lights hung around her windows.

“I made the dollies, the curtains, and the sofa cover myself,” Halo volunteered to fill the awkward silence.

“They’re lovely, darling.”

“Well… I hope you’re hungry. I have a fresh turkey breast in the oven and I’ve made cornbread stuffing, mashed sweet potatoes and gravy—just like we had when I was a kid. I made a batch of Spritz cookies for dessert, too,” she said, getting into the whole family get-together spirit. Who could resist Spritz cookies with red and green sprinkles? Not her.

Her dad looked uncomfortable, and her mom spoke up.

“Oh, that’s what smells so scrumptious. You’ve always been creative. I’m not sure where you got that trait from—not me. I’m sorry, darling. We can’t stay for dinner. Your Dad and I have a plane to catch in a couple hours. We’re spending the holidays with the Krutcher’s in the Bahamas this year.”

“Are you sure you can’t stay for dinner?” Halo asked.

“Sorry, we’re in such a rush this year.”

Cripes, she’d be eating turkey leftovers through the New Year.

“Why don’t you come downstairs and we’ll show you your Christmas present,” her mom said with excitement in her voice.

“My present is downstairs?” Halo would’ve’ loved an hour with her parents over a present anyway.

“Come see for yourself.”

Halo’s mom took her hand and led her to the door. Her parents were definitely in a hurry to leave. She loved her parents, but their expectations were much higher for her than she could ever achieve. Having a cardiologist and a pediatrician for parents put pressure on Halo to be something great, like a brain surgeon but she hated the sight of blood.

Halo grabbed her hand-knitted blue hat, blue gloves, and wool coat, and then trucked down to the curb in front of her building. She wondered what they’d come up with this year? She usually received savings bonds, which she’d cash in to pay her rent.

In a dramatic gesture, her mom spread her arms wide, indicating Halo should look at the car sitting in front of them.

“Halo, darling, your dad and I thought you’d appreciate a new car over savings bonds this year. What do you think? I made sure the Honda was a nice bright yellow.”

“This…this is mine? You bought me a car?” Halo looked from her mom to her dad and they both nodded. The four-door Honda had all-weather tires, fabric interior, and an automatic transmission. Perfect. She’d have wheels again.

Halo gave both her parents bearhugs, not caring that she got their perfectly tailored clothes wet.

“Thank you, Mom and Dad. The Honda is wonderful… perfect and incredibly generous. I wish you didn’t have to leave so soon,” Halo said and meant it.

“Oh, honey, we’ll get together after the holidays and you can tell us all about your pet adventures,” her mom said, and kissed Halo on the cheek.

“Now take care of that car. We’re not buying you another one,” Halo’s dad said as he headed toward his car. He turned—teary eyed and said, “I’m proud of you, honey.”

“I love you both,” Halo said, and wiped her eyes.

“We love you, too,” they said in unison.

Before they pulled away, Halo saw her mom kiss her dad on the cheek. She hopped up and down in the snow and then climbed into her new car and took the yellow bullet for a spin.

In the last couple months she’d driven by Rich’s vet clinic, hoping to get a glimpse of him. She couldn’t do that in a bus, but in her new car she circled twice. She wondered if he’d done the same.

Chapter Six

Rich tried to curb his anger for the human race by clenching his fist. Who would leave a cloth diaper bag with two kittens in the middle of a busy road? Fortunate for the little ones, a young man pulled over and checked the bag before squashing them under the tires of his Ford pickup. Not knowing what to do with the hungry, cold kittens the good Samaritan brought them to the closest veterinarian office—his. They were adorable, like all kittens. They looked like siblings, with short, multi-colored tabby fur and blue eyes. He named them Tick and Tack. Another couple animals wouldn’t be a problem to add to the McFarland ranch—unless he could find another animal lover to care for them?

Halo… he’d never stopped thinking about her. Three months passed. Would she still be on a dating break or did she already have a boyfriend? He got a brilliant idea. He’d ask Halo to find out who left the kittens in the middle of the road. They could have lunch together and then maybe dinner and then who knew…. Of course, he wouldn’t return the kittens if she found the owners, but he would report the abuse to the Humane Society.

Green Hornet Investigations wasn’t far from his clinic. He’d driven by her office several times, always hoping to spot her. Tick and Tack liked riding in his SUV. They sat in their carrier like little troopers. He’d seat-belted their carrier in the front seat so he could stroke their tiny heads when he stopped. He hated to use animals as leverage, but they’d give him an edge with Halo.

She could be with family, since Christmas would arrive in only two days. He’d find out soon enough. He arrived and unbuckled Tick and Tack from the seat while snow dumped from the sky in a solid sheet. At the last minute he covered their carrier with a small blanket. “Come on cuties; let’s go charm the pants off Halo.”

The door chimed
coo coo
, like the sound of doves and the cheerful receptionist greeted him with warmth.

“Merry Christmas! How may I help you?” she asked with a big grin on her face.

“Hi. Merry Christmas to you, too. My name’s Rich McFarland and I wonder if Halo is available,” he asked as he lowered the kittens to the ground. The receptionist eye’s followed the carrier. She extended her hand for a shake.

“Hi, I’m Brenda. Halo’s aunt. She’s out right now. Can I help you with something?”

Meow…meow.

“Whatcha got there?” Brenda came out from around her desk and knelt down to look in the carrier.

Meow…meow.

“Oh… how cute. Corny, come out here. You’ve gotta see these little kittens. What are their names?” Brenda asked.

“The one with the white speck on her head is Tick and her brother is Tack. They were found in the middle of the road and brought to my clinic,” Rich explained.

A beautiful, smiling redhead came out of an office in the back, dressed in red from head-to-toe, her earrings blinked when she walked.

“Hi, I’m Corny. You’re a vet, huh? Halo told me she met a nice vet a couple months ago. Was that you?” she asked, and squatted down next to the kittens, too.

“We did meet a couple months ago. I’m hoping I’m the one she spoke of.”

She stuck her finger in a slit in the plastic carrier and Tick batted at her.

“They’re darling,” Corny said.

Corny tilted her head and looked up at him. He stuck his hand out a second time. “I’m Rich.”

“Nice to meet you. What can we do for you?” she asked.

Brenda jumped in and answered for him.

“Rich is looking for Halo. Do you know when she’ll be back, Corny?”

Tack stuck his paw through the slit and took a playful swipe at Brenda too. She giggled.

Before Corny could answer, her cell rang. She checked the caller ID and then smiled at him. After a moment she closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. When she opened them again her mouth formed a hard line.

“What’s wrong?” Brenda asked.

“Call Steve. Tell him Pemsky is out of jail and is playing bumper cars with Halo, and that I’m going after her.”

“You need to call the police,” Rich said, as he watched Corny gather her purse and keys.

“My boyfriend is a cop,”
Corny declared.

“Maybe you should wait for him,” Brenda said.

“She won’t be alone, Brenda,” he said, and asked Corny.”What do you drive?”

“A Mini Cooper. Why?”

“Because the snow is coming down thick as a blanket. I have an SUV that’ll get us to Halo faster and safer.”

“Please call me as soon as you know something. I’m scared. What if she’s hurt bad?” Brenda said.