Читать книгу Christmas on 4th Street: Christmas on 4th Street / Yours for Christmas - Сьюзен Мэллери - Страница 10
ОглавлениеNoelle opened the store the next morning with an expected burst of anticipation and enthusiasm. Sadly, she knew the cause. In a perfect world, she would be able to fool herself for at least a few days. But she’d never been very good at convincing herself of anything that wasn’t true. She had always had a streak of realism that now reared its ugly head.
She had a thing for Gabriel. The handsome, wounded doctor pushed all her buttons. He was funny, nice, kind and elusive. Or in the feline vernacular—catnip.
She didn’t know why it had to be like that. Why couldn’t she be wildly attracted to some normal, local guy who’d been living here for fifteen generations and wanted to get married and have five kids? She supposed one of the reasons was that she hadn’t met anyone like that.
“Well, if I do, I’m all over him,” she murmured as she went through her pre-opening ritual. She turned up the heat, made sure the trains were running, checked the selection of Christmas music on her iPod and then moved toward the cash register. She had just finished counting ones, fives and tens when someone knocked on the still-locked front door.
Her stomach gave her a name before she even looked up. Sure enough, Gabriel stood there, right on time, still tall and, worse, smiling.
“Hi,” she said, unfastening the lock and letting him in. “You’re here.”
“As promised.”
“That’s nice. Where did you park? I like to save the spaces out front for customers.”
He shrugged out of his coat. There was a light dusting of snow on his hair and he wore a navy sweater that brought out the deeper blue tones of his eyes. He could have stepped out of one of those funny “woman to woman” Christmas cards.
“I walked.”
She stared at him. “Down the mountain? It’s, like, five miles or more. Are you insane? It’s freezing cold and snowing. You can’t walk that far in this weather. Oh, my God, I’ve hired a crazy person.”
He dropped his coat onto the counter and put his hands on her shoulders. “Breathe.”
“I’m not going to faint.”
“No, you’re going to pop a blood vessel. Breathe.”
She was less interested in breathing than the feel of his large hands holding her. If only he would pull her closer or maybe cop a feel, she thought wistfully.
“I’m staying in town,” he said. “My parents rented a little apartment for the holidays. It’s not much more than a studio. They decided to stay at Gideon’s when they saw how much room he had, so I took the rental instead.” He dropped his arms to his sides and shrugged. “It’s plenty big enough for me and they get more time with Carter.”
She decided not to comment on the sudden lack of hands on her arm and instead focused on the conversation. “It was getting too intense?” she asked.
He grimaced. “My mother carted photo albums with her. Last night we relived our childhood, year by year.”
“There had to be happy times.”
“There were. When we were younger, we moved around a lot. Once my dad became a drill sergeant, we settled.”
Which didn’t exactly say when the happy times were. “Camp Pendleton?”
He smiled. “Don’t let my dad hear you say that. That’s in San Diego and it’s the marines. We’re army. We were at Fort Knox, Kentucky.”
Somewhere she had never been. “I’m sure it was lovely.”
“That’s one way to describe it.” The smile faded. “My dad and I were never close. He was a tough guy and I wasn’t a tough kid.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I got through it then and I’ll get through it now. It’s only for a few weeks, right?”
She nodded, thinking how much she wanted to tell him to be grateful he had family at all. She’d never known her dad—he’d run off before she’d been born. But that had been okay because she’d been raised by her grandmother and her mother. The two women had been warm and loving and she’d had a blessed and happy childhood.
Even after she’d moved to Los Angeles for law school, they’d stayed close. The two women had driven out to spend every summer with her. They’d been there to celebrate with her when she’d landed her first real job at a prestigious law firm in Century City and had screamed and celebrated with her when she’d passed the bar.
Only they’d been killed during a twenty-five-car pileup on I-10 while driving back to Florida. Noelle missed them every day of her life and would give anything to have them back.
But she’d also learned that telling people that only made them feel guilty. That Gabriel would have to figure out for himself the need to appreciate what he had, while he had it.
“All right,” she said. “Let’s get you settled. I’ll show you where to put your stuff. I need you to fill out a W-4 for my accountant and then I’ll give you a tour of the store.”
Fifteen minutes later, it was official. Gabriel Boylan was an employee of The Christmas Attic.
She walked him through the basic layout. “I keep baskets up front,” she said, showing him the stack of lightweight oval baskets. “Most of what we carry is small. Encourage the baskets. Otherwise, when a customer gets her hands full, she tends to head for the register.”
“Makes sense.”
“You can see we have sections. Ornaments and home decorating over there, the nativities on that wall.”
“Including gourds?”
“You think I’m kidding. You need to go check it out.”
“I will.”
“The bears are over there, with all the kid stuff close by. We have some books, but mostly send people looking for Christmas books over to Morgan’s.”
“Don’t you want to have Christmas books here?” he asked.
“No. Not with a perfectly good bookstore less than a block away. I’m not stepping on any toes. What if every other store started carrying ornaments and teddy bears?”
“Or this,” Gabriel said, picking up a Santa pin from a display.
She leaned close and moved the hidden switch on the back. Santa’s nose lit up.
Gabriel stared at the bright nose and slowly shook his head. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Something along the lines of, ‘Why Mrs. Smith, your mother, aunt, granddaughter will love that pin, I’m sure.’”
He nodded and turned off the switch, then returned the pin to the display. “Point taken.”
She was pleased with his response and even more excited to see there wasn’t any blood on the bandage.
“Then there’s the bear section.”
He followed her around the corner and came to a stop. “I saw this before, but it seems bigger.”
“I’ve put out a few more. Bears sell.”
Three large sets of shelves rose to the faux rafters. Each shelf was crowded with different stuffed animals, mostly bears. Brown bears and white bears, bears that were fuzzy and plaid. Some played music and some you just wanted to squeeze.
“I have a layout in the stockroom,” she said, leading the way. “That will help you when you have to put things out. And now I’ll teach you the mysteries of the cash register.”
Gabriel learned the system quickly. Noelle had chosen a credit card service that didn’t give as many reports, but was a whole lot easier to deal with on a daily basis. Right at ten, she unlocked the front door and let in a couple of waiting customers.
The next few hours passed quickly. There was a steady stream of business. Just before noon, a pretty woman came into the store. She had short brown hair and looked to be in her late fifties. Noelle was about to greet her when she saw Gabriel staring at the woman. Something in his expression told her this wasn’t just any customer.
Noelle walked over. “Hi. Welcome to The Christmas Attic.”
Gabriel glanced between them. “Noelle, this is my mother, Karen Boylan. Mom, this is Noelle Perkins. She owns the store.”
“It’s lovely,” Karen said, unbuttoning her coat. Underneath she wore a bright purple sweatshirt with a shell logo and the words Blackberry Island. In smaller print, the sweatshirt proclaimed Stay for the Wine.
“Great color,” Noelle said. “Where is Blackberry Island?”
“Washington State. Just north and west of Seattle. Norm and I went there a couple of years ago. We did the whole west coast, heading north through the summer. Then we drove home. It was a very nice trip.”
“It sounds like it.”
Karen turned to her son. “Your dad and I sent you a few postcards.”
Gabriel nodded. “Right. They were great.” He looked at Noelle. “I should run those errands now. Before it gets too busy. I’ll be back.”
He was gone before she could ask what on earth he was talking about. Seconds later he was in his jacket and heading out the front door.
She opened her mouth, then closed it when she saw Karen’s face had settled into lines of deep sadness.
“That was my fault,” his mother said. “He’s running away from me. I don’t want you to think badly of him.”
“I won’t,” Noelle said, then glanced around the store. It was quiet, at least for the moment. “Why don’t I fix us both some tea?”
She led Karen into the back room and filled two mugs with water. After putting them in the microwave, she turned to Gabriel’s mother and offered a slight smile.
“How are you settling in for your stay?”
Karen blinked several times and drew a breath. “Fine. It’s beautiful here. What a sweet little town. Norm and I have traveled a lot and we’ve never been anywhere like this. I’m excited about all the festivals.”
“Me, too,” Noelle told her. “I moved here in the spring, so this will be my first Christmas. I hear it’s crazy busy. There’s a parade on Thanksgiving and the day of giving. I plan to throw myself in the center of all of it.”
“That’s a good attitude.”
“Thanks.” Noelle noticed the other woman’s earrings. “Are those garnets?”
“Yes.” Karen touched the earrings. “They’re part of a set that’s been handed down in Norm’s family. There were only boys in his generation so I was fortunate enough to inherit them. There are several other pieces—a necklace, bracelet and ring. I love them.” She twisted her hands together. “Have you known my son long?”
“Not at all. I met him shortly after he arrived.” She thought of the umbrella incident and grinned. “He’s a good guy, though.”
“I think so. His father... Growing up, the boys weren’t as close to Norm as I would have liked. There were a lot of rules. I suppose I should have stepped in more. Been a buffer. Norm tended to run the house the way he ran his recruits.”
The conversation was that awkward combination of vague and intimate, Noelle thought, grateful when the microwave beeped and she could busy herself making tea.
“He’s mellowed,” Karen continued. “But I’m afraid it might be too little, too late. I was hoping this trip would help us reconnect as a family. Gabriel said he wasn’t coming but then he hurt his hand and changed his mind. I took that as a sign.”
She paused. “Sorry. I’m going on and on.”
“It’s fine,” Noelle told her, handing over a mug of tea. “Have you talked to Felicia? She’s great and may know more about where your sons are coming from.”
Karen’s expression relaxed. “I know. She’s wonderful. So intelligent, but still very warm. Being with Gideon can’t be easy—not after all he’s been through. And then dealing with Carter. Not many women would be so accepting of having a thirteen-year-old boy suddenly show up, but she’s embracing it.”
“What do you think of Carter?” Noelle asked.
“I can’t get enough of him. I wish I’d had the chance to meet his mother. Norm is in heaven with Carter. And he’s bonding with Webster, which surprises me. My husband is not a pet person.”
Karen sipped her tea. “So my son is working here?”
“I know, strange, right? It’s just while he’s in town. I think he wants to be distracted.”
“And avoid us,” Karen said, before holding up her hand. “You don’t have to disagree with me. We both know he moved into town to have a little less family time. I accept my part in what happened. Now I have to change it.”
Noelle found herself liking Gabriel’s mother. She’d obviously made some difficult choices and was now accepting the consequences.
“You know,” Karen said slowly, “Gabriel isn’t seeing anyone. At least as far as I know. He’s never married.” She paused. “Oh, dear. I’m turning into a meddling mother. That can’t be good.”
Noelle laughed. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell. And while I appreciate the sales job, I’m not sure Gabriel is my type.”
“You worry he has commitment issues? He’s reached that age where I’m starting to wonder why he’s not married.”
Noelle hadn’t thought of that. “I’m more worried that he’s leaving. I want something more traditional. A husband who plans to stick around.”
Karen nodded. “I understand. Speaking as a woman who’s been married for thirty-five years, when it works, there’s nothing better.”
“And when it doesn’t?”
Karen chuckled. “It helps to have girlfriends who are willing to listen. Are you free for Thanksgiving?”
The change of subject startled Noelle. “What? Yes.” Each of her friends had invited her over, but she’d declined. They were all newly in love and forming family traditions. She wasn’t comfortable being a part of that.
“Please join us for Thanksgiving dinner,” Karen told her. “Felicia is cooking and I’m going to help. It’s just the six of us. Very casual. You seem to understand Gabriel, and I think he would like a friend around.”
Noelle wasn’t sure if she could be considered a friend, but she liked the assumption. With Felicia’s future in-laws and Gabriel in the house, not to mention Carter, Felicia and Gideon weren’t expecting a romantic evening. In truth, Noelle wouldn’t mind being with other people and hanging out with Gabriel would be interesting.
“Thank you,” she said. “That would be nice.”
She made a mental note to call Felicia and let her know about the invitation.
* * *
Gabriel returned about three minutes after his mother left. Noelle put her hands on her hips. “You were lurking.”
“Maybe,” he said, sounding unrepentant.
“She’s your mother and she loves you. Talk to her.”
“We talk.”
“All evidence to the contrary?”
He ignored that and put his coat away. When he returned to the main part of the store, she wanted to say more, but several customers chose that moment to step in from the cold.
A little after noon Ana Raquel Hopkins breezed in with a basket of sandwiches. Ana Raquel, a young and talented chef, had run a food trailer all summer. She’d fed locals and tourists alike out by the park. The changing weather and an unfortunate accident—a car backed into her trailer—had ended her seasonal business prematurely. Now she worked up at the Café with her fiancé and did a sandwich delivery to the local businesses in town.
“So, you’re new,” the petite blonde said as she walked over to Gabriel.
Noelle held in her humor as she watched him deal with the larger-than-life personality that was Ana Raquel.
“Yes,” he said slowly.
“But you look familiar.” She snapped her fingers. “Oh, right. You’re that old guy’s brother. The one on the radio. Gideon.”
“We’re twins,” Gabriel said drily.
“I’m one, too.” Ana Raquel apparently missed the point of his tone as she studied his face. “Not identical, right? Because you don’t look alike. Fayrene and I are identical. Less now than when we were little.”
“Because you’re so big now?”
She grinned. “You’re upset because I said you were old. I’m sure your wife thinks you’re totally hot.”
“I’m not married.”
“Huh. Not ever?”
Gabriel drew a deep breath. “No.”
“Wow. You’re brave. Because seriously, you’re reaching the age when people start to ask questions if you’ve never been married. Like is there something wrong with you.” She paused expectantly.
Noelle stayed by the counter, where she could keep an eye on customers while watching the show.
“There’s nothing wrong with me,” Gabriel said, his teeth clenched.
Ana Raquel tilted her head. Her long ponytail slipped across one shoulder. “If you say so,” she murmured, her voice making it clear she wasn’t convinced. She turned back to Noelle and handed over two bagged lunches. “Be careful with that one,” she said in a loud whisper. “I think he might not be right in the head.”
Noelle nodded solemnly. “Thanks for the warning.”
Ana Raquel left.
Noelle did her best not to burst into laughter as she passed over one of the bags. “I forgot to mention I provide lunch, or she does.”
Gabriel stared at the bag. “She cooks?”
“Yes, and incredibly well. She and her fiancé wrote a cookbook. A Fool’s Gold Cookbook. You can buy it anywhere in town.” She pointed to the small display in front of the cash register.
He walked over and picked up the book. “This is her?”
She waved the sack lunch. “Trust me, you’ll love it. Their sandwiches are always so interesting. And there’s yummy salad.”
“Not just any salad? Yummy salad?”
“I accept that you have to mock me to regain your sense of power because she called you old.”
“She called my brother old,” he clarified.
“You’re the same age.”
“Not the point.” He took one of the lunches. “You’re sure she’s able to do this without adult supervision?”
“Very funny. You’re going to love it.” She paused. “By the way, your mother also worries that you’re too old to never have been married.”
He groaned. “Please be kidding.”
“Sorry, no. By the way, she also asked me to join your family for Thanksgiving.”
He stared at her intently. “Please tell me you said yes.”
“I said yes.”
“You’ll come early?”
“You’re that worried about spending a day with the family?”
“Holidays are brutal.”
She smiled. “Fine. I’ll come early. Go eat your lunch. Then you need to stock shelves.”
He picked up one of the bags. “We’re having a run on gourd nativities?”
“You’d be surprised.”
He started to leave, then turned back to her. His bandaged hand came up and lightly grazed her cheek. She felt the heat of his touch all the way down to her toes. The contact was as unexpected as her visceral reaction.
“Thank you,” he murmured.
“You’re welcome.”
She thought about mentioning he could thank her in other ways. Like kissing. Or walking around shirtless. But he just headed for the back room, apparently unaffected by their brief contact.
Just what every woman needed for the holidays, she thought dreamily. A man crush.
* * *
Thanksgiving morning Gabriel sat on his brother’s front steps, sipping coffee and ignoring the cold. His mother had insisted he show up for breakfast. The request had been unexpected and he hadn’t had time to figure out a lie. So he’d been stuck arriving at eight.
It hadn’t snowed for a couple of days, so the roads were clear. A good thing considering Noelle was driving up by herself. As he watched the driveway, waiting to see her arrive, he realized they hadn’t discussed a time. Early could mean a lot of things, especially considering dinner wasn’t until five that afternoon.
He continued to hold on to his mug of rapidly cooling coffee, pleased he could almost stand the pressure of the cup against his wound. He was healing. The searing pain was just a dull ache. The stitches pulled when he moved. Good signs. His work at the store hadn’t set him back at all. Not that he cared if it did—he liked what he did at The Christmas Attic.
He’d taken the job on an impulse. Keeping busy meant less time to think—something he appreciated. In his regular job there was too much thinking. Too much worrying. Once a crisis hit, there was only reacting, then later, second-guessing. Folding throws and making sure the teddy bears were in a straight line would get old in time, but for these few weeks, the job was exactly what he needed. A place to retreat.
When he had his flashbacks—the sound of an explosion somewhere out of sight—he was able to stay calm. He kept breathing and the urgent sense of having to go help, to save, bled away with the sound. He was left back in this time and went on with his day.
Now he turned toward the driveway, but no car appeared. Damn.
He wanted to see her, he realized. Not just for the way she would be a buffer between himself and his parents, but because she would make him laugh. She would poke fun at him and breeze in and out with a graceful sway of her narrow hips. She would be endlessly patient, as she often was at the store. She didn’t care that some old lady took nearly an hour to pick out two ornaments with a combined value of less than ten dollars. She wanted every customer to be happy, whatever it took.
Integrity, he thought, finishing his coffee. She had integrity. And long legs, he mused, thinking how good they would feel wrapped around him as he—
Gabriel slammed the door on that line of thinking. No, he told himself firmly. That wasn’t going to happen. For one thing, Noelle was sweet and soft and not the kind of woman who thought sex was a game. For another, there were no secrets in Fool’s Gold. He’d figured that out the first day. If he slept with her, everyone would know. Then he would be gone and she would be left with the consequences. He liked her so he didn’t want to hurt her.
He heard footsteps on the porch behind him. He was hoping the person joining him was his brother. Or even Felicia. He could handle the company of either. He doubted Carter was up yet, otherwise he would take the kid.
But no, he thought as his father settled next to him. His luck wasn’t that good.
“Here,” his dad said, handing over a travel mug. “If you’re going to be fool enough to sit out here, you need to keep warm. Your other coffee will be cold by now.”
“Thanks.”
“You waiting on a woman?”
He was, but didn’t want to have the conversation. It would mean explaining why and that would take both of them places they didn’t want to go. His father had spent his life in the military but had seen little actual combat. It was a timing thing. While Gabriel hadn’t been under live fire, except when the field hospitals were attacked, he’d been plenty close to what went on. Gideon had lived it, of course.
Regardless, their father would feel he was one of them and want to talk about it. Gabriel had never been able to figure out what to say.
“Just enjoying the morning,” he told his father.
Norm nodded. “Beautiful country.”
“So it seems.”
“I heard you had a job in town.”
Gabriel opened the travel mug and drank the hot coffee. Warmth filled his stomach. “Just for the holidays.”
“Retail?”
From the tone it was obvious his father thought retail was as distasteful as having to clean up the local dog park.
“I like it.”
His old man turned to him. “You can’t mean that. You’re a soldier.”
“I’m a doctor and I’m not suggesting a career change. I have a lot of time on my hands. This is good, honest work. Different. Seeing people all excited about the holidays reminds me what the fight is about.”
Most of the words were true, he thought with some surprise. He didn’t have enough to fill his day and the store was unexpectedly pleasant.
“Just don’t get any ideas,” his father grumbled.
“About?”
Gabriel knew it was wrong to bait his father, but did it anyway, even as he continued to watch the driveway.
“Leaving. You’re staying in.”
“You asking or telling?”
“Leaving’s not an option,” Norm told him. “You owe them.”
“I’ve paid that debt. I gave the army what they asked in return for my education.”
“It’s not enough. This isn’t about the letter of the law, it’s about the spirit. You have to do the right thing, boy. That’s how you were raised.”
Gabriel drew in a breath, then faced his father. “You’re saying I can’t leave.”
“Yes. Stay and get your twenty. You’ll still be young enough to get some fancy hospital job and earn your millions.” Each word dripped with distaste.
“You think it’s about the money?”
“What else? It’s like those jet jockeys who take their training to some airline. Disgusting. They should stay in until they’re released. Leaving isn’t right.”
“You think service isn’t a choice? It’s indentured servitude, with pay and medical? Once you sign up, you’re in for life.”
“That’s how it should be,” his father told him. “If you’re thinking of leaving before your twenty, you’re dishonoring this family. I should have known you’d be like this. You never understood the importance of what was right. Never understood the history you’d been born into. When I was your age—”
Whichever of the stories he’d been about to launch into was cut short when Noelle drove around the corner. She managed to stay in the middle of the driveway, right until the end. Gabriel saw the triumph in her blue eyes. Then she hit the brakes a bit too hard and went sliding.
He heard her shriek and guessed she was spinning the wheel too hard. Sure enough there was a sweep to the right, then to the left, all in slow motion. Her car came to a gentle rest against a snowbank by the porch.
He stood and started toward her. Norm stayed on the porch, muttering something about female drivers.
Noelle opened her car door and stepped out.
“That is so unfair,” she yelled. “I was careful. I went slow and it was perfect right up until the end.”
“You hit the brakes too hard.”
She glared at him. “You think?” She turned and kicked her tire. “I’m not good at snow driving. Why is that?”
Instead of answering, he put his travel mug on the roof of her car, then pulled her close. She had on a thick coat and a red knit cap. Her long, blond hair spilled over her shoulders. She looked like a model for a ski ad. Ignoring her inability to travel in bad weather.
He wrapped his arms around her and was pleased when she returned the action, holding on to him.
“If you’re going to mock me, don’t,” she told him, staring into his eyes.
“I’m not.”
Behind them, the front door closed. The older Boylan had gone inside. They were alone.
“Are you going to kiss me?” she asked.
There were a dozen reasons not to kiss her and only a couple as to why he should. But the latter were more compelling. Or maybe it was just because a woman like Noelle wasn’t easy to resist. Either way, he lowered his head just enough to brush his mouth against hers.
