Christmas Romance (The Best Christmas Romance of 2016): The Love List Christmas (13 page)

Chapter Seven

Kady sang along to the Christmas carols as the downtown came alive with festive lights and holiday decorations. Editon’s warm fingers were wrapped around her’s. Snow fell lightly from the sky, dusting the sidewalks and trees with fluffy, white flakes.

“I love Christmas!” Kady exclaimed.

“So do I. I like all the holidays from Halloween on. Spending Thanksgiving with Finn and Keaton, everyone felt like family,” Editon said and squeezed her hand.

Kady looked around. “This is my first Christmas back in Vine Grove, but I’m surprised that Tegan and the rest of the gang aren’t here. I thought they said they were coming.”

Editon shrugged. “The holidays are a busy time for everyone. It looks like they are finished lighting the tree. Would you mind if we stopped by my house on the way to yours? I need to pick up something.”

“Sure. I just want to get home before it gets too late. I don’t want to leave Noah and Mom and Dad on Christmas Eve.”

There was a twinkle in his eyes. “I’m sure they’ll be fine. You don’t need to worry about them.”

“What are you up to? You have been grinning all night.” She put a hand on her hip.

“Nothing at all. I told you that I love Christmas.” He kissed the tip of her nose as they headed back to his truck.

Editon turned the truck into his driveway. As they drew closer to the house, Kady saw that all the lights were on, and there were a bunch of cars parked in the driveway.

“What is going on?” she asked.

“You’ll see soon enough.” He turned off the ignition, got out, and then walked around the side to open her door. “Noah has a surprise for you.”

“Noah? Why would Noah be here?”

“Stop with all the questions! If you follow me, all of your questions will be answered.”

Instead of going to the front of the house, he walked her to the lower level that led to the basement. Editon opened the door to a booming shout of ‘Surprise!ʼ”

She saw her mom and dad, Tegan and all of her new friends from the wine shop, and in the middle of the group, Noah.

Kady walked toward Noah. He grinned from ear to ear. “Welcome home, Mom.”

“What? What are you talking about?” she glanced around the room.

Editon came beside her and took her hand. “Noah’s been coming here every day after school to help me get the lower level of my house finished. He came up with a plan and asked if the two of you could move in here when it was done. With the money Noah’s earned, he’s paid the first and last monthʼs rent.”

Kady’s dad walked to her and put a hand on her arm. “I know this is a surprise, but Noah wanted it this way.ˮ

“It needs a little more furniture and Editon said he’d give me a loan to buy a TV and an Xbox.” Noah kissed her on the cheek. “I know I didn’t cause the fire in California, but this way, I feel that I can help make that up to you. I’ve seen you cry too often and I wanted to make you smile. The night we came back, I believed what you told me. You were right, things got better.”

Kady felt a tear slip from her eye and run down her cheeks. She sniffed and wiped at it.

Noah’s eyes grew wide. “Mom, I thought you’d be happy about this.”

Editon wiped the tears from Kady’s other cheek and smiled at Noah. “She
is
happy, Noah. She’s very happy.”

Her dad cut her off, “I gave my blessings. It’s been great having the two of you living at our house, but let’s face it, there just isn’t the room. Noah needs his own room, and I want my couch back at night.” He chuckled.

She looked around at the pale yellow walls with the navy blue accents. There was a couch and a few chairs with a pellet stove in the corner for heat, and a small kitchen in the corner.

Tegan stepped closer. “I helped the boys with a few decorating choices. Noah and Editon gave me some hints and working with you, I kind of knew your taste. We wanted to get just a few things to get you and Noah settled and then you can pick the rest.”

Kady picked up a carved little wooden bird off the table. “This is from the shop. I loved this.”

“I remembered what you said. That was really the first thing we got for the place.” Tegan gave her a hug.

“You did all this work in just a few weeks?” Kady asked Editon, still trying to let it all sink in.

“With Noah’s help, and then August and a few others came over when they could,” Editon said.

“Even my debate club came over. I told them they could have some meetings here after Christmas. I hope that’s okay.” Noah took the girl next to him by the hand. “Mom, this is Naira.”

The dark-eyed girl stepped forward and held out here hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Randall. Noah and I are in debate club together.”

Kady shook the girlʼs hand and then took note, as Naira took Noah’s hand again. “I think I have missed a lot in the past month.”

“I didn’t think we were going to get it done, but it was important to Noah. He wanted it to be a Christmas present,” Editon said, and then grinned.

“It’s the best Christmas present ever,” Kady said. “But, Dad, are you all right with me living under Editon’s roof? I know you’re old-fashioned, and I don’t want to upset you after all that you’ve done for Noah and me.”

“I think it will be all right,” her dad said and took her momʼs hand.

Editon smiled. “Your dad said that it would be all right if I married you ‘pretty soon.’ I’m not sure what
that
time frame is, so I didn’t want to upset him.” Editon reached in his pocket dropped to one knee and opened the box. “I know it’s speeding things up. I was going to wait for a few more months, but I just can’t. Kady, will you marry me?”

She stared at the ring box and then looked at Noah.

“You deserve to be happy, Mom. Editon’s a great guy. If you want to say yes, please do it. Say yes.” Noah smiled.

She looked back at Editon and said barely above a whisper, “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”

He slipped the ring on her finger, stood, and enveloped her in a giant hug. Then he took her face and kissed her. “I love you, Kady.”

“I love you, too.” She grabbed him and kissed him again.”

All of her friends and family applauded, then came up to them one by one and gave them hugs.

“I jumped the gun saying the house was the best Christmas present ever. Now, I think that you have added to that.” She tipped her hand from side to side. It was a gold band with Native American carvings intermixed with colored stone.

Editon rubbed a thumb along the ring. “I wanted to give you a reason to stay in Vine Grove, and I hope that reason can be me.”

“The night I left California, I thought I’d hit rock bottom. I guess I had in a way, but you know what that means, there is nowhere to go but up. That night, when we came home to Vine Grove I realized I had everything that was important. I had my mom and dad, and Noah.” She gave her son a big hug.

Editon looked down at her. “Did you notice that you just referred to Vine Grove as home? I guess that we were always waiting for you to come home and for me to have a second chance.”

She grinned at him. “I don’t think you ever got the first chance, so technically, this is your first chance.”

“When it comes to you, every chance is the first chance. I can’t tell you that it’s going to be easy in the next year. I’ll have a lot on my plate with building the new community center. You may not see much of me for a while.”

“I know where to find you,” Kady said and then added, “Why don’t we have the wedding reception there when it’s finished?”

Editon frowned. “I don’t know how long it’s going to take to build.”

“I can wait. I’ve waited this long to find love, I can wait on the community center.”

He laughed. “Only if you let me make it the first event booked there.”

“It’s a deal,” she said. “Want to shake on it? My dad taught me to always shake on a deal.”

“How about a kiss instead?” He grabbed her and kissed her until they were both out of breath. When he stepped back, he said, “I knew that Christmas was always my favorite holiday.”

She kissed him. “I looked for so long, and I found that what I really wanted was a home for Christmas.
The people of Vine Grove and you gave me that.” -

Christmas was great, but Kady was looking forward to all the others holidays throughout the year, as long as she could spend them with Editon.

Christmas Country Wishes

Angela Ford

“It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air.” - W.T. Ellis

Chapter One

“He’s
my
father, not yours!”

“Excuse me?”

Dakota stopped midway at the kitchen doorway. She’d had enough of her younger sister’s constant ‘I’m better than you’.
Normally, she ignored Sabrina’s pitiful comments. But that remark stopped her from storming out the door this time. Dakota’s eyes widened and she turned to look at her sister in shock.

“Why would you say that? You can be so cruel at times.”

Sabrina said nothing. She just stood there against the rich cherry hardwood cabinetry in their family kitchen. Her expression told Dakota there wasn’t an apology to follow. Sabrina, three years younger, acted as if she were the only child of Neil and Francine Timmons. She easily portrayed the spoiled rich brat. Neil Timmons had made his fortune in real estate but he was the only one in the household besides Dakota that didn’t flaunt it. Her mother and sister certainly did. She’d always thought they were pretentious but never admitted it aloud. She loved her dad. She’d always thought she was more like him and nothing like her mother or sister. A modest, simple girl no matter how much wealth surrounded her.

“You never apologize when you’re cruel to me. You think you’re better than me. I would never say something so hurtful to you.”

Dakota turned to leave when she heard her sister finally speak.

“But it’s true. He’s not your biological father. He’s mine.”

Dakota stopped as Sabrina continued.

“Ask him. Ask Mom. You’re not a true Timmons. That’s why you’ve never belonged here.”

Dakota’s eyes welled with tears. She wondered how one person could be so cold and heartless. She slammed the door behind her and hit the unlock button as she walked toward her car. Even her car was modest and economical, and she’d bought it herself. Her mother and sister drove the new shiny, expensive ones in the driveway but she’d refused her father’s gift on her sixteenth birthday. Dakota had saved the money she’d made babysitting since she was twelve. In her prestigious neighborhood, it had been easy to save five thousand dollars by the time she turned sixteen. She bought an older car that finally gave her freedom.

How dare she be so cruel!
Dakota turned the ignition for the second time and prayed her beloved car would start. She definitely needed to get away from her sister and that remark.

Not now, baby. Please start for Mama
.

She begged her car to start, to get her the heck away from the hurt that had just filled her heart. The knock on her window made her jump. She looked up in relief to see her dad standing there. A peaceful man, his eyes always comforted Dakota. He’d always been the gentle, caring parent, the complete opposite of her mom. She felt a strong connection with her dad and knew she’d inherited his modesty and hard work ethic. She opened her car door and stepped outside.

“She’s given you some trouble this morning?”

Dakota knew he meant her car. He never once told her she should have accepted his gift on her birthday. He respected her decision to buy her own car. But it wasn’t her car that was the problem. It was Sabrina. Neil Timmons loved his daughters. He’d never favor one over the other. Every time the girls argued over the years, he’d soften the argument with a caring tone and a simple explanation of sibling rivalry. But at seventeen, Dakota could no longer accept that reasoning. Her sister would never change. She knew they’d never be close. Their morals and values were too different. And her sister was so cruel. Her words lingered in Dakota’s mind.

“Dad.”

She wondered if she should even bother to mention what Sabrina had so rudely said. She sighed and chewed on her bottom lip, a nervous habit she’d had since she was a young child.

He reached out and touched her arm. “What’s wrong, Dakota?”

She chuckled. She knew her dad noticed her habit. He’d never given her heck for it. Her mother certainly did.

“Sabrina said something horrible this morning. She can be so cruel at times. But this time she was just down-right hurtful.”

Her dad wrapped his arms around her. “She’s only fourteen. I’m sure whatever she said she didn’t mean.”

Here we go again, Dad, always the peacemaker.
But Dakota couldn’t let it go.

“She said you weren’t my biological father.”

There was a long pause. Dakota released from her dad’s embrace and stood back.   “Dad?”

The look in his eyes told Dakota there might be some truth to Sabrina’s remark. “Dakota, we need to talk.”

Ten years later.

Dakota’s fingers gripped the steering wheel tightly. Every time she thought of that morning when she was seventeen, emotions of hurt and anger raced through her veins. She laughed out loud as she noticed the firm grip she’d placed on the wheel.
Get over it Dakota!
She reminded herself that a new Chapter in her life was about to begin. She smiled, turned up the radio, and then pressed the driver’s side window button. The clean, crisp country air filled her senses. The leaves danced elegantly in the air as they fell from the trees. She felt the chilly autumn air, but she could breathe easier than she could in the city. She knew she’d made the right decision when she saw the posting at Country Hospital in Vinegrove, a quaint small town in Washington wine country she’d never heard of before. She drove through the wine country slowly. She didn’t care if she got lost in all its lushness. Each road she passed held an entrance to the best wineries and vineyards. The countryside beauty enticed her. She felt calm and at home. She knew she belonged here.

Her relaxed state suddenly ended and both hands grabbed the wheel to guide her car off to the side of the road.

“Oh No!” She cried out loud as her tires screeched when she hit the brakes and she heard the gravel on the side of the road ding against the rims. She’d managed to come to a sudden stop without landing in the ditch. She pushed the gear into Park quickly and jumped out of her car.

The truck that had just pulled out in front of her had stopped in the middle of the road.

“You scared the heck out of me! Do you not check for oncoming cars before you merge?”

Dakota’s short temper heightened. She stood with her hands on her hips in the middle of the quiet country road. She hadn’t seen another car in miles. The truck door opened and a man stepped out and stood before her. Her anger slowed as she gazed over his athletic build. His T-shirt blended with his muscles beneath it. Perfection crossed her mind as her eyes traveled across his firm, muscular body. Never before had she noticed a man look so damn good in blue jeans. She swallowed hard. Her fierce words had been replaced with an awkward silence. Slowly her eyes moved up to see him remove his Stetson and hold it against his chest. His eyes almost knocked her off her feet. Aquamarine came to her mind first. The piercing blue-green combination was striking. They reminded her of the Pacific tropical seas. And when he smiled, the sun hit his eyes and a tinge of yellow in the iris made a sparkle. She felt like she’d been hit with a touch of magic. His voice brought her back to reality.

“Afternoon, Miss. Please forgive me, my mind was elsewhere. Are you all right?”

Damn! How can I give him shit now? He’s too damn hot and nice.

Dakota smiled. He’d melted her heart instantly. No man had ever done that. She always thought she had control in that department. But for the first time she’d lost all control.

“I’m fine. My mind was elsewhere as well. Let’s call it even.”

She extended her hand for a truce. He obliged and placed his in hers.

Oh God!
Not only did he look good and sound good, his rough yet gentle touch ignited fires within her she’d never experienced in her twenty-seven years.

“That’s kind of you, miss. I’m Tristan Hart.”

The roughness she felt told her he worked with his hands. The gentleness of his handshake confirmed her thoughts; he carried a kind soul. He released her hand slowly which only made her heart ache. She could have held his hand for eternity. Dakota cleared her throat as she shook that thought.

“Dakota Timmons”

“Are you new to this area, Miss Timmons?”

She shook her head to answer his question. For some reason this man made it difficult for her to speak. Dakota silently laughed with her sudden discomfort. Normally, she’d talk the ear off someone, even a stranger. Her mother always gave her trouble for it. She quickly remembered her ways and rambled.

“Yes, I’m headed to Vinegrove Country Hospital to start a new Chapter in my life. The countryside is beautiful. I believe I made the right decision.”

She chuckled and silently confirmed it wasn’t just the countryside that was beautiful. She felt like herself again, no matter how strikingly handsome Tristan was.

“Welcome to Vinegrove. I’m sorry that your first encounter almost forced you into the ditch. Please forgive me. I should know better to keep focused; especially when a beautiful woman should have distracted me instead of work.” He winked. It almost threw her off balance again.

She smiled. “I forgive you, Mr. Hart. You are kind. I like that. There isn’t a lot of kindness from where I come from.”

Dakota laughed as she remembered the city life she’d left behind.

“A city girl, I assume? And please, call me Tristan.”

She nodded. “Yep; well, I used to be. Now I’m a country girl.”

“Welcome to Vinegrove, Miss Country Girl.”

Dakota liked the sound of that and the sound of his voice. She could listen to him talk forever but she knew she had to get on her way. The hospital expected her arrival and she wanted to settle in early before her first shift.

“Thank you, Tristan. I must be on my way. I have an early start tomorrow.”

She began to walk back to her car when she felt him pass her and open her car door.

Startled at first—this never happened in Seattle—but she liked it.

“Thank you. I think I’m going to like the country life more than I’d imagined.”

Dakota nestled into her seat and he closed her car door. He leaned down and rested his arms along the open window.

“Would you like an escort into town?”

“I’d like that, thank you. I’m headed to the hospital first.”

“Allow me then to escort the beautiful lady to the hospital.”

He tapped his hand on her door and stood. Dakota watched him through her side mirror as he climbed into his truck. He drove past her slowly and tipped his Stetson to her. She inhaled deeply and slowly began to follow him. Her mother would have scorned her for talking to strangers, let alone follow one. But Dakota knew she could take care of herself. She knew Vinegrove was only a few miles ahead and she was safe in her own car. She knew she was safer here than she’d been in the city.

The small charming town she drove through welcomed her. She watched the townspeople smile and talk to each other outside the shops. Only a few cars moved along the main street slowly and quietly. She’d been used to endless traffic, horns honking, and people cursing at each other. This was completely different. It relaxed her. She finally felt peace had drifted into her life. She followed Tristan’s lead into the parking lot at the hospital and parked beside him. By the time she turned off her car’s ignition, he had her door open. He held out his hand to help her out.

“Thank you again, Tristan. I’m not used to so much kindness.” She chuckled.

He joined her laughter. “I understand. I only moved here a few months back.”

“Do you have family here?” Dakota wondered if he grew up in Vinegrove. His mannerisms certainly didn’t label him a city boy.

“Yes, I do. The reason I came here, my cousins own the Tanner Vineyard here. My mother and their late father were siblings. We used to visit when I was young but I hadn’t been back here since I was in my early teens. But when my cousin, Chase, called to ask if I’d consider managing their vineyard, I jumped at the chance for some peace in my life.”

Dakota wished she had a close family. Her family was in Seattle. Well, what little of a family she had. She only spoke to her sister on holidays when she’d go home to visit. Dakota couldn’t understand why her parents hadn’t been honest with her about Neil not being her biological father. Her dad told her he respected her mother’s wishes never to speak of it. Her mother basically told her that her biological father was a no-good bum and a one-night stand that had no interest in being a dad. Dakota left it at that. She knew how difficult her mother could be. They were never really close. She always felt Sabrina was her mother’s favorite. They did everything together. They had the same tastes in clothes, social gatherings, and being taken care of
.
Dakota was down-to-earth, genuine, didn’t care about money, and thrived on her independence.

“I’m here for peace too. I’m quite happy to leave the city life behind.”

Dakota didn’t speak of her family too much to anyone. If asked, she simply said she moved out when she finished high school and visited on holidays. She definitely didn’t want to indulge the real reason for her coming to Vinegrove. Dakota checked her watch.

“I’m sorry I’d love to chat more but I should check in with my boss to let her know I’ve arrived.”

“No apology needed. I didn’t mean to hold you up. I enjoyed our chat. I’m sure our paths will cross again shortly in this small town.”

He reached out for her hand and lifted it to his lips.

“It’s been a pleasure, Miss Country Girl.”

Tristan hopped in his truck and tilted his Stetson to her. Dakota watched him drive away. She sighed deeply and walked toward the entrance to Vinegrove Country Hospital.

You’re definitely a pleasure, Mr. Stetson.