Operation Christmas (6 page)

The evening flew by but Madeleine noticed Jess never asked her to dance and wondered if the artificial arm might be the reason. Although he rarely left her side, he seemed adept at finding ways to be in deep conversation or inviting her back to the buffet table or getting a drink or something; anything but dance. She loved dancing. When a favorite slow number spun out over the room, she forced the issue. “Care to dance. I promise not to step on your toes.”

He tipped his beer to his lips to avoid an answer. When she let her hand rest on the prosthetic arm, he stiffened with a quick reply, “Next time. There’s a guy over there I need to catch before he leaves.” He took off in the direction he pointed the beer bottle where a bent elderly man shrugged into a jacket held by his wife.

The night had gone well until that point. Alone for the first time since arriving, she glanced around the room. Tamara waved her over to the table where she sat in her wheel chair. “Finally,” she said as Madeleine approached. “Girl talk.”

“Love the color of your dress.” Madeleine pulled out a folding chair and settled next to Tamara.

“Thank you. It reminds me of the waters around the Middle East. Incredible color.”

“What did you do in the military?”

“Special Ops. Army.”

“Really. How brave of you.”

“Uh-huh.” She pushed out a laugh. “Not always, hon. Didn’t feel too brave when an attack about ended my life. Luckily, I only lost my leg thanks to a band of Marines nearby with big-time artillery. They drove off the insurgents and got me on a helicopter. Jess. He’s former Marine. Field lieutenant. Saw lots of action.”

“We’ve not talked about his time in the military.”

“That’s Jess. Doesn’t talk about that either. Most guys don’t. Us girls are more open, but that’s our way.”

“You must be glad to be home.”

“Not sure.” The honesty of the answer made Madeleine still to listen close to Tamara’s reply. “Oh, I like being safe and all. Just can’t find my groove. Biggest perk is being home with Baby. That’s my husband, Jamal,” she said with a show of white teeth and a head jerk toward the man who had been hovering near Tamara earlier. “He’s gets his jollies working high-rise construction. That man can stand on a girder sixty stories up and enjoy the sight while sneezing. I don’t need that much excitement but can’t seem to find anything that’s somewhat physical. You know, something to get my juices going. Right now, I’m working in a dental office as a receptionist to keep busy. Uh-huh, boy, you talk about excitement.” She laughed.

“Kids?”

“Nope. Can’t have kids. Collateral damage you might say, but all’s cool. Between Jamal and me, we’ve got more nieces and nephews than time to entertain. How come you wear a wedding band? I somehow thought you were single. I’ve got to admit I’m a little confused.”

Madeleine fanned her fingers. “My husband was Army, too. Died in Iraq.”

“Aw, honey. So sorry. Jess didn’t mention that part. Uh-huh. See what I mean. Where’s that crowbar so I can take it upside his head. Um, um,
girl
. And here I thought you were a newbie to all this injured vet stuff.”

“Well, I am. Sorta. Never joined a support group.”

“You should. No one understands like we do.” Tamara assessed Madeleine for a moment. “Jess is a good guy, Maddie.”

Madeleine blinked. No one called her Maddie other than a few high school friends. “I know. I like him. As a friend.”

“How long you widowed?”

“Two years the week before Christmas.”

“Um, um. That’s a bitter pill. Sorry.”

“I’m coping.” Madeleine saw Tamara make a pointed look at her wedding ring.

“Uh-huh. Well, trust me, all the sorrow in the world won’t change a thing. So I try to look ahead with a smile. Did you know studies show the act of smiling sends these crazy-party endorphins jumpin’ and a jivin’ into the blood stream? Jess, he’s got a great smile.”

“I’ve noticed.”

“Well, if you’re ready to move on, you’ll not do better than Jess. That boy’s downright nice from
all
angles. Inside and out. Jess, he thinks I’m worse off without a leg, but honestly? He’s worse off. All I do is walk with my leg, and I pretty much got that covered with this.” She patted her titanium leg with affection. “But an arm and hand! Um, um. That sounds like major frustration to me because I love to cook. Nope. I’m better off. I’m tellin’ you that boy’s got determination.”

Madeleine sipped her wine and glanced Jess’s way. No one would find her saying different. And so opposite Danny in looks and body stature, which surely was a good thing. The love of her life since sixth grade had met her at eye level. It felt odd being with a guy so much taller than her average self. She put Tamara’s advice to work with a big smile when Jess eased into a chair next to her, snagging the tablecloth with his prosthetic arm. Wine spilled into Madeleine’s lap. A small gasp left her throat as she scooted back her chair.

Jess cursed under his breath and grabbed a napkin, then halted his instinct to help dab up wine from her crotch. His eyebrows shot up right before he gave her the most mischievous grin.

“I’ll handle it.” She grinned back, pressing the white napkin into her upper thigh and between her legs.

“Sorry about that.”

“It’s nothing.”

“You ready to take off? See if that wet spot freezes to your leg.”

She let out a hearty laugh. Between Jess and Tamara there had been no shortage of opportunities to pump crazy-party endorphins into her system. “It wasn’t very much. I think it’s already dry.” She pressed the spot again and showed him no red wine stained the napkin.

They said their goodbyes. Madeleine promised Tamara they’d stay in touch. Do lunch or a Java Hut caffeine run sometime.

Jess didn’t talk much until they were almost to her house. Okay, technically, her parent’s house, which meant she wouldn’t be inviting Jess inside. It amazed her to think such a thought. She rubbed her thumb against her wedding band before slipping her fingers into leather gloves.

The car wasn’t even in Park before he stated her name in such a way she understood he didn’t want her to bolt off. Adrenaline and a good dose of uncertainty hit wondering if he intended to kiss her. Could she give him one kiss and not feel guilty? A friendly thank you token for a good time that didn’t say more would follow? She already found herself dealing with feelings of betrayal for having had such a good time. After two years of mourning, she instinctively knew this wasn’t a healthy sign.

“Do you like to be called Maddie or Madeleine?”

Not the question she expected. She grinned, remembering Tamara called her by the nickname. “Some people call me Maddie. My family uses my full name. I’m not sure why.”

“I like Madeleine. I’ll stick with that.”

She saw him appreciating the Christmas decorations on the house. The front door had a small stoop and sat in the middle of a mid-sized two-story Colonial. White Christmas lights decorated the bushes, while a floodlight beamed against a dark red door with a wreath. He turned to her. “I had a good time tonight. Would you like to go to the mall tomorrow and soak up some more Christmas spirit? We could grab a bite at Brickman’s.”

Madeleine loved Brickman’s cozy interior and fabulous salad bar. She also appreciated Jess didn’t pressure her for the kiss she fretted over. The awkward uncertainty of dating made her move her head in a slow shake. “I’ve plans for tomorrow,” she fibbed. “But I had a great time. Your friends are awesome. Loved Tamara.”

“Me too. I told you she was special. How about dinner after work Monday?”

“Uh, busy. Christmas.” She made an apologetic shrug in hopes the busy season would be excuse enough.

“Ah, the gentle brush-off.”

“No. Not at all.” Her words were defensive. But Jess wouldn’t be winning any awards for tact and putting her in a tight spot. He gave her one of those “
yah, right. I wasn’t born yesterday
” looks. She tried to keep her chest from heaving under the rapid beat of her heart. “Look. I’m not ready to date. I don’t remember how to date,” she said in a breathless whisper more for her benefit than Jess’s.

“Maybe it’s just me, but it seemed we were hitting it off tonight.”

“We did.”

“There’s no pressure here, Madeleine. All I’m asking for is get-to-know-you talk over food. Tonight was noisy.”

She opened and shut her mouth. There
was
pressure.

He rested his hand on his thigh. “Dating scares you. I get it. Join the club. I’ve been home almost two years and have been up to my ears with the business. But it’s been more an excuse. I mean...I’ve dated some. Casually. It’s complicated.”

“Tell me about it.”

Conversation steered off into a different direction with Jess explaining how he came to own a business at such a young age. “Dad had a heart attack six months after I came home. It left me no choice but to jump into the tool and die business feet first and see if I could swim. Besides, I didn’t see a lot of options ahead of me. One hand on a computer keyboard is frustrating. Most everything I saw as a career path involved computers.”

“Did you design the company website?”

“No.” He slanted a curious look her way. “You were checking us out?”

“I wanted to see if there was anything about Operation Christmas. There wasn’t.”

“Ah. I try not to mix my personal life with business.”

“Wish my boss saw things that way.”

“Meaning?”

“I don’t think he’s very happy most of the time. He seems to be taking it out on the office staff. I’ve heard rumor he might be having troubles in his marriage. He’s only been married a year so it’s surprising.”

“Well, that would bum a guy out.”

She put her hand on the car door handle. “It’s getting late. I should go. Good night, Jess. Thank you for inviting me. I really did have a good time.”

“Me, too.”

She saw him glance at her lips. “Take care.”

Not wanting Jess to walk her to the door and have one of her parents answer, or worse yet, Grams, she hurried from the car only to find he could exit the car equally fast. He took secure hold of her arm. “In those heels I don’t want you falling on my guard.”

“Thanks. It is slippery.” Light snow fell as they headed up the walk. “Good night. Thanks for asking me.”

“Thanks for going. I enjoyed being with you. Good night.”

Alone with her thoughts as she got ready for bed, she realized the short exchange with Jess proved revealing. Both she and Jess were two years down the road from personal tragedy, yet he seemed more inclined to get on with his life while she preferred to deny herself happiness. His strength and bravery she didn’t doubt. Her readiness to move on she did.

Although Jess definitely filled her with the flutter of sexual awareness, Derek’s offer to “service her” had pretty much ended any thoughts of sex with someone new. Okay, so Derek was a bad comparison and Jess didn’t even come close or deserve to be in the same category as Derek. But unfortunately, she knew her once active sex drive had gotten up and left for some unknown port of depression.

Good grief, maybe she did need a support group.

Chapter Five

Monday morning work held little appeal as Jess sat at his desk with Madeleine on his mind. Instead, he dissected and ruminated over every detail of their Saturday night date like a lovesick teenager denied a second date. Was he attentive enough? Should he have said “the hell with it” and let her see what dancing felt like with a fake hand holding hers? And since when did Jess Grant not kiss on the first date? His phone rang. “Jess here.”

“Hey. I’ve called to pull in a favor.”

Jess smiled at the sound of Tamara’s voice. “It’s yours.”

“I didn’t even ask yet.”

“Whatever it is, it’s yours.”

“Uh-huh. Great. I accept.”

“Uh. Accept what?” he said with a playful, wary tone.

“The job. You mentioned Saturday night your receptionist was leaving. Would you consider me for the position?”

“I thought the receptionist gig in the dental office bored you senseless. Now you want to be unhappy at my place and make me miserable too?”

She laughed. “You’re twenty minutes from home. This place is forty-five. You have loud banging machines, not little drills whirling a hole in my head eight hours a day.
Errrrr
.” She made an irritating sound in his ear. “And what you’re willing to pay is more than I’m earning here.”

This constituted a no-brainer for Jess. He and Tamara had clicked when they first met at the support group. The job might be beyond her abilities but that didn’t matter. Amputees knew better than anyone the emotional difficulties each faced. Her spunk and ability to go on like all the pieces were still in place had taught him a lot. He also knew the job was a jumping stone until Tamara could find something that challenged her. He could see new strength build in her on a regular basis. “Nancy leaves the end of year. That gives you two weeks to give notice then come here to spend a little time together.”

“Boy. You just lit up my universe. How about Maddie? She light up yours?”