Christmas Steele, A Lacy Steele Mystery Bonus Novella

by Vanessa Bartal

  Chapter 13

  Before Lacy could confront Sean about his too expensive and inappropriate present, Tosh claimed her attention.

  “Lacy, I need to go. I have to get ready for the Christmas Eve service, and something tells me you won’t be attending.” He turned to look at her grandmother. She was smiling dreamily, draped on Mr. Middleton who didn’t look like he minded at all.

  “No,” Lacy agreed, shuddering at the thought of her very drunk grandmother at church. Who knew what she might do?

  “Walk me out,” he said, clasping her hand and leading her to the front porch. “So, I’m sorry I got your grandma drunk.”

  Lacy laughed. “It wasn’t actually your fault; you didn’t know the eggnog was apparently filled with so much alcohol that it was practically paint thinner.”

  Tosh sighed. “Still, I feel like I keep messing up where you’re concerned.”

  “Tosh, you’re not messing anything up. You’re my best friend,” Lacy added shyly.

  He smiled. “And you’re mine. Speaking of which, Merry Christmas.” He handed her a small, prettily-wrapped box. She opened it to discover two tickets to the Nutcracker.

  “Tosh, how did you know I wanted to go?” she asked, beaming up at him.

  “Maybe it was those twelve times you told me and the brochure you left on my kitchen counter.”

  “That was an accident,” she said.

  “Sure it was. Look closely.”

  She held the tickets closer, peering at them in the dim moonlight. “This is for the performance in Chicago.”

  He nodded, biting his lip in uncertainty. “I thought since I’ve already claimed you for New Year’s Eve, we might as well make a week of it. Will you fly to Chicago with me in a couple of days after your parents leave? I promise you’ll have fun.”

  “Of course I’ll go,” she said. “You know I’ve been dying to meet your family.”

  He sagged slightly in relief. “Great because I already bought the plane tickets. Oh, and there’s one more thing. I found this, and it must be used.” He pulled a piece of mistletoe from his pocket and held it over their heads.

  Lacy smiled and grasped his lapels, pulling herself aloft so she could reach him. “Silly, you don’t need mistletoe to kiss me on Christmas.”

  “Sneaky you, adding that ‘on Christmas’ qualifier in there.” Resting his hands on her waist, he leaned down to give her a sweet, lingering kiss that was far more than their friendship called for. Lacy didn’t protest, though. She was tired of feeling like she always said no to Tosh when he gave so much and asked so little of her in return.

  At last the kiss ended and Tosh looked at the mistletoe now crushed in his hand. “This stuff is worth its weight in gold,” he said.

  Lacy laughed and patted his chest. “Good luck on your sermon.”

  “Someday soon we’re going to have to have a theological discussion about luck and pastors. But not tonight. Merry Christmas.” He leaned forward to kiss her forehead one last time and then he walked down the steps.

  “Merry Christmas,” Lacy called. “I’ll bring your present to your house tomorrow. It’s big,” she added.

  He laughed, waving halfheartedly over his shoulder.

  She smiled, leaning against the banister until he was out of sight and then she turned and went back inside.

  Gladys and Sean were gathering their things as they prepared to leave, too. Lacy hastily retreated to her room, grabbing Sean’s present and the locket. She paused before leaving her room, studying the pretty locket. Now that she knew it was from a child, she felt a little foolish for how much stock she had put in it. At least Jason would never know she thought it was from him.

  “Sean, can I talk to you a minute,” Lacy asked. They stepped outside onto the porch and she pulled his present from inside her coat. “I bought you something.” She watched, smiling, while he enthusiastically tore into the present.

  “Awesome,” he declared. “I don’t have this game. Thanks, Lacy.”

  His smile faltered when he realized she was holding the locket box in her outstretched palm. “Is this from you?” she asked.

  “You weren’t supposed to open it until tomorrow,” Sean said, shifting uncomfortably.

  “Sean, I can’t keep this,” Lacy said gently.

  “Why not? I bought it for you, and I meant it. I do love you, Lacy.”

  She could have told him that he only thought he loved her because he was lonely and she had reached out to him and been a friend, but she didn’t. She remembered all too well how it felt to be a kid and have her feelings discounted or trampled. “That makes me feel really special, Sean, but I’m all wrong for you. I’m twelve years older. I want you to take this locket back and keep it for someone more deserving, someone who can wear it proudly.”

  “I don’t have anyone like that. Girls my age don’t like me.”

  “They will,” Lacy promised. “I was just like you when I was your age, but things change. People change. Someday you’re going to have a line of girls around the block, jockeying for the chance to be with you. I hope when that happens you’ll choose wisely and be very happy.” She insistently shoved the box against his chest until his hand curled around it.

  “But if I take this back it means I didn’t get you anything for Christmas,” he said, looking genuinely upset by that thought.

  “You did,” Lacy said. “To tell you the truth, I’ve been a little sad this Christmas, and this locket meant a lot to me. I set it beside my bed and knew that someone somewhere in the world loved me. That’s a special gift, and I’m thankful for it.”

  He seemed slightly mollified by that. “Okay,” he said at last. “I guess it wouldn’t have worked anyway since you have a boyfriend.”

  “What boyfriend?” she asked.

  “The cop,” he said.

  “We’re not—“ she was about to give the standard denial she used whenever someone thought she and Jason were together, but then she thought maybe it was kinder to let him believe she was attached. “What made you think he’s my boyfriend?”

  “The way you look at each other. It’s like the way your grandma and her boyfriend look at each other—all mushy.” He grimaced, shaking his head, and Lacy laughed. Perhaps he wasn’t quite ready for romance after all if the thought of being mushy with someone was still repellent.

  Gladys arrived on the scene then and claimed him. “Will you play my new game with me?” he called as his grandmother led him toward her car.

  “I’d love to,” Lacy called. “As long as you let me win again.”

  “Okay,” he said, giving her a genuine smile and a wave, he got into his grandmother’s car and disappeared.

  “That was nice of you,” a voice behind her said. Lacy squealed in surprise as she spun in time to watch Jason emerge from the darkness at the edge of the porch.

  “What are you doing back there?”

  He hopped the railing and came to stand beside her. “I finished my call and came back to talk to you. The door opened, and I thought it might be you and the pastor. So I hid to eavesdrop.” He gave her an unrepentantly wicked grin. Lacy had no reply to that, which was good because he wasn’t done speaking. “And I’m glad I did. I learned some things.”

  “What did you learn?” she asked, uncomfortable as she remembered that she hadn’t denied to Sean that Jason was her boyfriend.

  “I learned you’re sad.”

  “You already knew that,” she said.

  He shook his head. “You always have this wounded, vulnerable air about you that makes me want to simultaneously fix you and punch your ex, but this is different. This season has been hard on you and I didn’t realize.” He took a step forward and clasped her hand. “I also realized that I’ve been killing myself working overtime so my coworkers can spend time with the people who are important to them. But as a result, I haven’t been able to spend time with someone who is important to me. I haven’t been here for you much lately, Lacy, and I’m sorry about that
.” He gave her hand a squeeze.

  Her eyes welled up, but before she could tell him that was the sweetest thing he had ever said to her, he continued speaking, obliterating all of her warm feelings.

  “I also learned you thought the locket the kid gave you was from me.”

  “I never said that,” she said, snatching her hand from his.

  “You didn’t have to; I read between the lines.”

  “You were one of many possible candidates,” she said.

  “Aren’t I always?” he said ruefully. “But in order to clear up the mystery of your Christmas present, here it is.” He handed her a small, neatly wrapped box. She stared at it uncertainly. “It’s not live snakes,” he said. “You can open it.”

  She looked up at him. “Who is the mystery blond?”

  His answering smile was so smug she was sure he wasn’t going to tell her, but he did. “She’s our district FOP representative. I have the unfortunate duty of being our local rep this year which, hallelujah, ends in a week. But there’s a lot of last minute business to tie up, so Jenna and I have had a lot of meetings lately.”

  “She’s very pretty,” Lacy said, carefully keeping her tone neutral.

  “I’ll tell her husband you think so. He’s a friend of mine. They’re having a baby in a few months.”

  “That woman is pregnant?” Lacy asked, incredulous because of her near-perfect figure. “I hope I look that good when I’m pregnant.”

  “I have a feeling you’ll look even better,” Jason said. He tapped the present in her hand, reminding her to open it.

  She did, gasping in surprise when she saw a ring. “It’s beautiful,” Lacy said, feeling uncertain and overwhelmed. She hadn’t expected a ring.

  “I was going to tell you that I bought it because it’s a ruby and the red color reminded me of your hair, but I realized something else while Sean was talking. A fourteen year old kid has more guts than I do. We’ve danced around the issue of us for a long time now. We’re friends, and neither of us is ready for anything more now. I get that. But I have to believe there’s going to be a someday for us, Lacy, when all our issues are resolved and we can explore the crazy chemistry between us. So this ring is a sign of that hope.” He took the ring from its box and slipped it on the third finger of her right hand. “Someday.”

  “I…” she floundered, unsure of what to say.

  He pressed his fingers gently against her lips. “This is my promise to you; I wasn’t expecting a reply.”

  “Thank you,” she said lamely. The words were inadequate, but there was no way to express what she was feeling at the moment.

  He smiled, resting his hands on her waist. “There’s only one thing left to discuss.”

  “What’s that?” His light tone made her wary, and for good reason.

  “Someone broke into my house today.”

  “Are you sure they broke in? Because I thought if they used a key then technically it wasn’t illegal.”

  “You know how I feel about technicalities,” Jason said sternly.

  “Jason, I just…” she trailed off, unsure of what to say next.

  “Lacy, I’m teasing you. I thought it was awesome—possibly the nicest and most fun gift anyone has ever given me. Thank you.”

  She smiled, sagging in relief. “You’re welcome.”

  They studied each other in silence a few beats. Lacy could practically hear the current of attraction crackling between them. “So I was thinking that maybe we could spend New Year’s together.”

  By the halting, nervous way he said it, she guessed asking a woman for a New Year’s date was a big deal for him. “I’m going to be out of town,” she said, hating to reject him when it was something so monumental.

  “Where are you going?” he asked.

  “Chicago,” she answered, not needing to say more. He knew Tosh lived in Chicago.

  “Oh. I guess the early pastors get the hot worms.”

  “I don’t think I like that analogy,” she told him.

  He smiled. “So maybe after you’re back we can go out for a belated celebration. And you could wear that slinky red dress.”

  “That sounds nice,” she said.

  Quietness crept over them again, but Lacy didn’t mind. For the moment she was content just being in his arms. “There’s an old superstition that says the person you kiss on midnight New Year’s Eve is the person you’ll be with for all of that year,” Jason said.

  “I’ve never put much stock in superstition,” she said.

  “Even so, maybe we could make plans to spend next New Year’s together. Apparently your schedule fills up quickly and I need to make advance arrangements.”

  Was he telling her he wanted to be with her for all of next year? And, if so, was she ready for that? “Don’t you want to wait until it’s closer to the actual day? A lot can happen in a year.”

  “That’s what I’m counting on,” Jason said. “Say yes, Lacy, for once just say yes to me.”

  “Yes,” Lacy replied.

  “I can’t believe that worked,” Jason said. “Now kiss me.”

  “Okay, but only because I want to, and not because you told me to,” Lacy said.

  “I knew it couldn’t last, but I’ll take what I can get. Merry Christmas, Red.”

  “Merry Christmas, Jason,” Lacy said, then she stood on her toes and kissed him.

  Epilogue

  Lacy stood in her room, hastily packing for her trip to Chicago. Tosh had told her to bring a few fancy dresses, and after learning how far off base his definition of fancy was, she had emptied her closet in search of the proper wardrobe. Now, armed with something for every occasion, she was hurriedly stuffing items into her suitcase. Tosh would kill her if she was late, but it wasn’t her fault this time. Or maybe it was, but saying goodbye to her parents hadn’t been easy, and it had taken a long time.

  They went out for breakfast—her father’s treat since he had ended up liking Tosh as much as he liked Jason. They had lingered for a long time, enjoying the pleasant conversation. Christmas day had also been pleasant with just Lacy, her parents and grandparents. Even Riley’s call hadn’t been enough to dislodge Lacy’s good mood, especially when her mother thoughtfully carried the phone into the other room to talk.

  Her mother had made a concerted effort to get along with Mr. Middleton. While they weren’t exactly close, they were making strides, especially after she learned how he had stayed up half the night with her mother, holding her hair while she threw up. Frannie Steele did not do well with bodily fluids and, while she blamed her mother’s illness on a virus, she had been glad not to have to deal with it.

  Her goodbye exchange with Mr. Middleton had given Lacy even more cause for hope. “Goodbye, Mr. Middle—Tom,” she had corrected herself, politely extending her hand.

  “Goodbye, Fran,” he had said in his usual reserved way that belied none of what he must have felt at saying goodbye to his daughter as if she were a stranger.

  “Call me Frannie,” Lacy’s mother had replied with a smile. He had smiled in return, and Lacy’s spirits had soared.

  Lacy’s poor grandmother, on the other hand, had spent Christmas day with a miserable hangover, but still managed to have a good time after Lacy and her grandfather managed to convince her that she hadn’t done anything too embarrassing while she was inadvertently drunk. They also convinced her it was their little secret, not telling her that Tosh, Jason, and Gladys had all been witness to her show. Tosh and Jason wouldn’t say anything, of course, and Gladys would hopefully take Mr. Middleton’s proffered excuse and chalk her friend’s odd behavior to being in love. Since the church’s rumor mill wasn’t buzzing about the incident, Lacy thought they might have gotten away with the ruse.

  After stuffing her suitcase to maximum capacity, Lacy stood back to double check that she had everything. Satisfied that she was prepared for every contingency, she began putting away everything she hadn’t packed. That’s when she stumbled across her ring, the one Rob
ert had given her when they first started dating. She held it in her palm, comparing it to Jason’s ring which lay propped in its open box on her nightstand. They were vastly different. Robert’s ring was a cheap knockoff that had turned her finger green. The stone was a piece of glass. Jason’s ring was vintage—real gold and a real ruby. Oddly enough, however, the meanings behind the rings were the same. Both had been a promise on an unknown future.

  In Robert’s case, he had broken his promise. Lacy’s insides twisted with the thought that Jason might do the same. What if she gave him a chance and he broke her heart? How could she survive that kind of heartache twice in a row? She couldn’t. Wasn’t it better not to try?

  She found solace in the fact that Jason wasn’t pressuring her for anything right now. He had said they might be ready for something in the future, but the future was shady and far off. That uncertainty gave Lacy hope that someday she might actually be willing to try love again and maybe with Jason.

  With that thought in mind, she fisted her hand around Robert’s ring. Before she could lose her resolve, she walked to the bathroom and flushed it down the commode, watching as the water slowly swirled the ugly little ring out of sight.

  “Why are you bent over the toilet?”

  She hadn’t heard Tosh enter the house, but she didn’t jump in surprise, even though he had startled her.

  “Are you sick?” he added, looking worried.

  “No, I’m fine. Or I will be.” Jason was right; the past was over, and it was time to move on. Maybe someday she would be ready for something more. But for now there was Chicago and Tosh.

  “Ready?” Tosh asked, his faced breaking into an excited smile.

  “I’m ready,” Lacy replied, placing her hand in his as he led her out the bathroom door.