Sweet Christmas Kisses (18 page)

“What do you mean?”

“In truth? Maine wasn’t my first choice.”

He blinked in disbelief. “But why not? Just look around,” he said, sweeping his arm across their surroundings. “It’s a winter wonderland!”

“Yes, it is,” she said softly. “It’s just that, initially, I had our sights set on a vacation locale a little closer to home.”

“Oh? Where was that?”

“Asheville.”

“North Carolina? How far is that from where you live?”

“Only a couple of hours. A short drive. And,” she said with a sigh, “an economical one.”

“I don’t get it. What made you come here?”

The last person Carol wanted to think about on such a romantic afternoon was Jim. He’d been so cruel to her in so many ways, and there were too many hurts she was still getting past. Tears welled within her in spite of herself. She blinked, turning away.

“Carol?” Paul asked softly.

She turned back toward him and tried to keep her voice from breaking. It betrayed her by cracking pitifully anyway. “He found another girl, Paul,” she said as tears streaked from her eyes. “Someone younger and prettier, than me.”

Paul lightly stroked her cheek and gazed at her, his voice growing husky. “No one,” he said surely, “could be younger…or prettier…than you.” He stared at her deeply, and his perusal warmed her through and through. She’d never had a man look at her that way, like she was someone special, just as she was.

He settled back in his seat and tugged her up against him, making her feel safe and comforted in the wintery winds. As they paraded around the lake and through the town, they sat in silence, with only the steady
clip-clop, clip-clop
of the horses to keep them company. It was the perfect rhythm to accompany the beating of Carol’s heart. She’d never felt so removed from reality and yet so completely at home at the same time. It made her life in Virginia seem far away, and this world here very appealing. She settled her head on Paul’s shoulder, giving in to his comfort and strength, knowing this couldn’t last forever. She was just grateful to have experienced it once. Being treated so grandly by a marvelous man.

Later that evening, guests sat at elegant candlelit tables, enjoying their Christmas Eve meal. Amy cleared Zach’s and Velma’s dinner plates with a pleasant smile.

“I’ll be right back with dessert.”

“No dessert for me,” Velma proclaimed. “Pauly’s stew is always delicious. I couldn’t eat another bite!”

Amy shot a perplexed look at Zach, who immediately jumped in. “Come now, Mama Bear, surely you’ve got room for one more little thing?”

“Huh?”

“You really should try the trifle,” Daniel said, breezing by on his way into the kitchen for more coffee.

“Yes, the trifle is good,” Amy agreed.

“I’m partial to the chocolate mousse myself!” Beth called from across the way.

“Hmm, and the pumpkin pie is delicious,” Carol said.

“Very tasty,” Will chimed in.

“Extra good!” Ashley added.

Velma set down her napkin and eyed them all suspiciously. “Is something going on?” she asked slowly, turning her eyes back on Zach. He shrugged with the utmost look of innocence.

Everybody else just stared at her. “Well, okay!” she finally conceded. “I guess I’ll have dessert.”

There was a communal sigh of relief as everyone went back to their business. Seconds later, Paul arrived from the kitchen with something under a silver dome on a tray. “House special,” he said, setting it before her. “Compliments of the gentleman.”

Velma stared at Zach, agape. “You didn’t?”

He nodded smugly.

“You made me a coconut cream pie?”

“Huh?”

Her face warmed into a bright, beautiful grin, causing her to look several years younger. “I’m just teasing, you big hunk!”

All eyes were on them as Zach stood and lifted the dome’s lid. Underneath, a dark ring box sat open, exposing a pretty solitaire offset by emeralds. “The green reminded me of your eyes.

“Velma,” he said, taking her hand. She brought her other to her heart. “I don’t want to walk through the North Woods without you.”

The hush in the room was palpable as candles flickered and snow pinged against the windowpanes. Velma stared at Paul. “You were in on this?” He nodded. “Well, I suppose you told him I generally say no.”

Zach’s face fell as everyone’s heart broke for him.

“Except for this time!” she said, leaping up out of her chair and into his arms.

Carol tucked Ashley in, feeling giddy from the celebratory champagne. What a fun day it had been, right down to that wonderful surprise proposal at dinner. Though she hadn’t known them long, she felt so happy for Velma and Zach. They were clearly suited to each other and would serve each other well as partners and friends in the years to come. Carol wistfully thought of Paul carting that ring box out on a tray. For a moment, when she’d gazed at him, she’d imagined foolishly that he’d been bringing it for her. She’d known in advance it was for Velma. Paul had advised them all of the plan and enlisted their support. It was just hard not to pretend for one split second that a man might feel that forever way about her, then actually stick around to prove it. She even thought Paul had glimpsed her staring at him, and reddened, turning away. How silly he would think her for having such thoughts. Not that she’d ever, in a million years, share them.

“Get your rest now, sweetie,” Carol said. “Santa comes tonight!”

“There’s no Santa. I know that.”

“No one’s ever too old to believe in the Christmas spirit. I still do.”

Ashley scrunched up her face. “Then why won’t you believe in my Christmas moose?”

“What’s so special about this moose anyway?”

Ashley shrugged under the covers. “You never believe in good stuff anymore.”

“I believe in you,” Carol said with a smile. “And you’re pretty special.”

She scooted down under the covers, pulling them up to her chin. “That’s not the same thing.”

Carol kissed her on the head and said nighty-night before switching off the light. Once again, she saw it. Some sort of bright light streaming in a tiny beam through the thick woods. She tiptoed toward the window and peered out.

Ashley sat up partway in bed. “What are you doing?”

“Just watching that snow pound down. Weather’s really picked up out there.”

Down on the ground floor, Carol decided she should investigate. What on earth could it have been? This was the second time she’d seen it. She hunted around the house but couldn’t find any of the others. Locating a large flashlight in the kitchen, she took it to the front hall, where she tugged on her overcoat and boots. Carol walked out the back door and trudged through the snow, which was nearly to her knees by now. The beam of her flashlight dissected the forest, drawing her closer and closer to the faraway light. Something rustled in the bushes, and she turned her beam on a dark shadow skirting away. “Oh!” she cried a second later as a red fox skittered across her path. She held up a forearm to shield her face from the blistering winds. Eventually, she could make out a structure. It was a small brown barn set deep in the trees, with its door slightly ajar. She was nearly to it when a growl came from the woods. Carol swung the beam of her flashlight over her left shoulder to encounter a huge, black bear. “Ack!” she croaked, beelining for the barn. She leapt through the snow, bounding over drifts, then threw herself inside the barn, slamming its door behind her.

“Carol?” Paul asked, looking up from where he stood waxing a vintage automobile.

“It was a bear!” she cried, still huffing and puffing. “A huge, black beast, with huge white teeth!”

“Where?” he asked, walking to her.

“Out there! In the woods! It was after me… I—” She felt dizzy, fearing she’d pass out.

He stepped forward to steady her. “I’ll let you in on a little secret,” he said, looking in her eyes. “That big, old bear was likely more afraid of you than you were of him.”

“I doubt that,” she said, feeling the blood rush back into her face.

“What were you doing outside anyway?”

“I saw a light…in the woods. Through Ashley’s window.”

Paul motioned to the single bulb hanging from a rafter above them.

In the backseat of the old Mustang and under the part of the car still covered by a tarp, Daniel and Amy huddled in their parkas. “Who’s he talking to?” she asked.

“Shh!” he whispered. “They’ll hear us.”

“This was a great idea, Danny. Really great,” she hissed back.

He held her by the chin. “Amy, do you love me? I mean
really
love me?”

“You know I do.”

“Then puleeze stop talking!”

“That’s funny,” Paul said to Carol. “Did you hear something?”

“Only the thump-thump-thumping of my heart.”

Paul patted Carol’s arm, then released her. Now that she was safely out of the wild, she was looking better already. “No harm done, there. You’re okay. The bear’s okay.” He grinned reassuringly. “We’ll all survive together.”

He eyed the back of the car, which appeared to bounce.

“She’s a beaut,” Carol said, admiring the hood. “Sure don’t make ’em like this anymore.”

“Nope, they don’t.” Paul oiled up his rag and put the finishing touches on his wax job, giving it some muscle. “She was my first. Bought her after saving up from my first few jobs in high school.”

“It’s wonderful you kept her all this time. She appears in mint condition.”

“Almost. But not yet. I’ll get her there, though, by April twenty-ninth.”

“What’s April twenty-ninth?”

“Daniel’s eighteenth birthday. The boy doesn’t know it yet, but this is going to be his present.”

Inside the car, Daniel beamed from ear to ear. He gave Amy a silent high five. Despite her efforts to control it, she giggled.

“Now I
know
I heard something,” Paul’s voice boomed from outside.

There was a yanking noise, then the sound of cloth sliding across the surface of the car. Little by little, light invaded their dark space.

“Let me see that flashlight,” Paul said, shining its bright beam into their hideaway.

“Well, I’ll be,” Paul went on. “It seems we have some stowaways.”

Amy gulped.

“What?” Carol asked with surprise.

She peered into the backseat to spy the two teens nervously huddled together.

“Hi, Dad,” Daniel said between clenched teeth.

Paul huffed. “Out of the car. Both of you.
Now.
”

Carol sat on the sofa under a big throw blanket, the lights of the Christmas tree twinkling merrily nearby. The fire before her had burned down to a soft glow, and all was nice and cozy in this warm space. Paul had asked her to accompany Amy back to the house so he could have a father-and-son chat with Daniel. Carol hoped he hadn’t been too hard on the boy. It was tough being young and trying to find alone-time with your girlfriend, especially in a place as bustling as this one. Amy had headed straight up to bed, apparently embarrassed by the whole ordeal. But Carol had told her not to worry. Things would work out in the end. After all, it was the holidays.

Carol eased back in her seat, enjoying the peaceful low crackling of the fire. Her kids had long since gone to bed, and Beth had made her excuses to leave a while ago. Zach and Velma had disappeared upstairs shortly after dinner, and no one had heard from them since.

The back door creaked open, and Daniel entered with a glum look, shaking off his boots. He told Carol a quick good night, then headed up to bed himself.

“Kids,” Paul said, coming in behind him and shutting the door. He shook his head at Carol, then carefully removed his snow-encrusted parka.

“Everything go all right?” Carol asked with concern.

“As well as it could go,” Paul said, sitting down to unlace his boots.

“You’re a good dad. I hope you know that.”

He looked up. “I try, but thanks for saying so.”

He tugged off his boots and set them by the back door. “This has been quite a day!”

“You can say that again,” she said, recalling their magical sleigh ride.

“I think I’ll have a drink. Can I fix you some eggnog?”

“Eggnog would be great.”

The minute he’d gone, Carol leapt off the sofa and rushed to the small mirror hanging by the desk in the front hall. “Oh Gawd,” she mouthed, studying her complexion in the mirror. “I look as white as the snow, and not in a good way.” She quickly pinched her cheeks, first one and then the other, until they bloomed bright pink. She bit into her top and bottom lips too, until each felt plump and moist. Then she gaped at her hair, which was in a tangled mass around her ponytail holder. Yanking out the rubber band, she hung her head upside down. She heard Paul whistling in the kitchen and raked her fingers through her hair in a panic. She flipped her hair right-side up, admiring the sultry way it fanned about her face in the mirror. “Much better,” she told her reflection with a smile before darting back to the sofa. Her bottom met the cushion seconds before Paul entered the room, two eggnogs in hand.

He stopped walking and cocked his head. “You look very lovely.”

“Why, thanks!” she said under the blanket.

He twisted his lips in concentration, then handed her a glass. “Did you…do something different with your hair?”

She casually fingered her tresses. “Just took it down,” she said in a manner she hoped sounded matter of fact.

“Hmm, yes. I see.” He took a seat beside her, and Carol remembered that moment from this afternoon when he’d wiped her tears away. Actually, he’d done that twice. Once in the kitchen, then again during their sleigh ride. Carol wasn’t sure what Paul seemed to like so much about her, but he clearly found something. It was written in his eyes each time he looked at her and smiled. Exactly like he was doing now.

“How’s the eggnog?” he asked.

She took a sip and was overpowered by the bourbon. “Wow! Strong! Strong but good.”

“If you’d like me to add more…?” he offered, reaching for her glass.

She pulled it back. “No, it’s perfect.” She took another sip. “Really good.”

“What are your kids getting for Christmas?” he asked.