No Ordinary Christmas

by Belle Calhoune

  Everywhere he looked there were reminders that Christmas was rapidly approaching. Vendors were selling beautiful handwoven stockings that reminded him of the ones he’d had as a kid. Gaily decorated pine wreaths were scattered around the area. The town tree stood majestically in the center of the activity, drawing everyone’s attention to its splendor. He loved the vibe in his hometown—festive, fun, congenial. He’d never found such community in California. Only Mistletoe managed to evoke these warm and fuzzy holiday feelings.

  “There goes your mom, Dante,” Lucy said, dragging him out of his thoughts. She was gesturing toward a nearby tent where his mother was standing and surveying the festivities. She looked festive in her red parka and green leggings, accompanied by a pair of reindeer antlers.

  “Mom,” Dante called out as he stood up and waved in her direction. Surprisingly, she heard him above the din of the crowd and quickly made her way over.

  “Hey, guys,” Mimi said, eyeing the massive amount of food spread out on the table. “You’ve got the right idea. I’m famished.”

  “Come and join us,” Lucy said, beckoning his mother to sit down. “We have plenty of food to share. I think our eyes were bigger than our stomachs.”

  “Don’t mind if I do,” Mimi said, letting out a sigh of relief as she sat down. “I’ve been volunteering in the holiday craft tent since this morning. My feet are killing me.”

  Dante jumped up. “Let me go get you something to drink, Mama.”

  By the time he ordered another apple cider, corn fritters, and some more cheese fries, then returned to their table, a few more friends were seated with them. Nick, Miles, and the Marshall family were now a part of the group. Dante couldn’t be happier as he watched the lively conversation and animated faces. This was what being back home was all about. A place where everyone knew his name. And it had absolutely nothing to do with his fame. He’d grown up in this small New England town and he was one of their own, no matter how far he’d roamed.

  When he sat back down next to Lucy, a funny feeling spread through his chest, as if someone was squeezing his heart. At first he couldn’t place the sensation, but then it dawned on him. It was sheer happiness exploding inside of him. Although he’d been back in Maine for weeks now, it wasn’t until this very moment that he truly felt as if he was home.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Lucy felt a little guilty about being so happy when Stella was probably sitting at home feeling miserable. Nothing she’d said in five separate phone calls could convince her sister to join them at the festival. She was determined to lay low tonight.

  “I’m all right, Lucy. I promise. I’m just not fit to be cheery and holiday-ish right now. I hate missing the event, but the thought of running into Rafe is unbearable.”

  “If you want company I can be there in a flash,” Lucy had told her.

  “Honestly, I’m good. Go forth and spread some holiday cheer around town. Enjoy yourself. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  She’d left it at that. If Stella needed her she wouldn’t hesitate to leave the Christmas Frolic, but she had the feeling she wouldn’t hear from her sister tonight. In the meantime, Lucy was going to enjoy the tree lighting and participate in decorating the town’s tree.

  “Come on, Lucy,” her mother urged as she ended the phone call. “The tree lighting is about to start.” She was leaning on a cane for support and holding on to her dad with her other hand. Her mother winced as she took a step. Lucy knew the symptoms of her mother’s MS were aggravated by long hours on her feet. Lately she brought her cane along with her to give her support when she was fatigued.

  Lucy bit her lip. She wasn’t sure how her mother was going to be able to stand up during the lighting ceremony and help decorate the tree. It broke her heart that she was experiencing so many health issues related to her MS. Even though she’d shown signs of improvement, it was a sneaky disease that tended to rear its ugly head at the most unexpected times.

  Dante made his way through the crowd carrying one of the plastic chairs from the concessions area. “Now you can get off your feet and enjoy a front-row seat,” he said to her mother, then placed it right in front of the tree.

  “This is so thoughtful of you, Dante,” Leslie said, moving toward the seat. When she sat down a look of relief passed over her face. Her dad shot Dante a look of gratitude.

  “Thank you,” Lucy said to Dante. “I should have thought of it myself, but I’m really grateful that you stepped up.” Lucy wanted to give Dante a standing ovation for finding a way to make things more comfortable for her mom.

  “It’s my pleasure,” Dante said. “As kind as she’s always been to me, it’s the least I can do to make sure she has a comfortable spot to watch the lighting ceremony.”

  Mayor Finch stood in front of the tree and announced the official start of the Christmas tree lighting ceremony. “May this tree fill our community with joy and unite us in our quest for peace all over the world. Let there be light!” With a flourish, the mayor gestured toward the tree as it became illuminated.

  Just as the lights on the Christmas tree blazed into being, Dante turned to look at Lucy. A warmth in his eyes caused heat to spread through her all the way to her booted toes. The lights bounced off the tree, giving Dante’s face a special glow. He looked happy. She wondered if her own expression mirrored his. She felt more at peace in this moment than she could ever remember. With Dante by her side it felt like old times. Tender, sweet memories came rushing back to her—moments she hadn’t thought of in years. She felt Dante’s gloved hand reach for hers and her heart swelled. For some it might be a small gesture, but it was one of the ways Dante had shown affection when they were together. It had always given her a thrill, and now was no exception.

  As Lucy stood in front of the magnificent town tree as the lights shimmered and twinkled, she knew that she didn’t want to be anywhere else in the world during the holidays. Mistletoe might be a small dot on the map, but it radiated pure Christmas charm.

  “Not even my recollections can do this justice,” Dante said, looking up at the tree with an expression resembling awe. “Maybe it’s because I’ve been away for so long, but it seems grander. Bigger. Better. Yet at the same time it’s just as I remember it.”

  “Mistletoe outdoes itself every year,” Lucy said. “You’re right. It gets better and better. Maybe we value it more as time passes by. I hope this town tradition never ends.”

  “Dante!” Tess called as she came running toward them clutching an ornament in her hand. “Can you lift me up super high? I want to put this right in the center.”

  Lucy watched as Dante hoisted Tess above his head so she could place her ornament exactly where she wanted it to sit. It was a beautiful miniature sled ornament, which didn’t surprise Lucy at all because of Tess’s love of sledding. Lucy had selected her own favorite town ornament from the collection—the Maine lobster—and was just looking for the perfect spot to hang it. She looked the tree over and noticed an empty patch on the side where no ornaments hung. She quickly walked over and hung up the lobster, stepping back a few paces so she could see how it looked. Just seeing it hanging among the other ornaments caused Lucy to grin so hard her cheeks ached a little bit.

  “It looks fantastic, kiddo.” She heard the deep baritone of her father’s voice, as well as the touch of his hand on her shoulder. Lucy turned around to see him gazing at the lobster ornament with a grin on his face. “You and your holiday lobsters. It wouldn’t feel like Christmas without them,” he said with a chuckle.

  Lucy was known for finding interesting holiday decorations featuring lobsters. Ornaments. Wreaths. Light-up lawn displays. Kitchen towels. Aprons. You name it. She’d purchased it. There was something about the lovable crustacean that she found irresistible.

  “Thanks, Dad. Are you having fun?” she asked, looking up at him. With his salt-and-pepper close-cropped hair framing a handsome, russet-colored face, Walt Marshall was a distinguished-looking man. He was also an absolute sweethear
t. His devotion to her mother served as an inspiration for Lucy. Because of him, she knew there were men out there who were vow keepers and committed to marriage for the long haul. It gave her hope of one day finding that same devotion.

  “I am,” he said, dangling his own moose ornament in the air. “It’s so nice to see your mother enjoying herself. She’s been through so many ups and downs with her illness. She doesn’t walk around advertising it, but she’s been in a lot of pain. It’s improved lately, but she’s my personal shero. Smiling through the tough times.”

  Lucy looped her arm through his and nuzzled her face against the fabric of his wool coat. “Oh, Daddy. I want to be the two of you when I grow up. I’m always struck by how you stand by each other, no matter what. I can only hope to find something half as wonderful.”

  “You will, baby girl. Just be sure you’re ready to receive him when he comes.” With a wink he left her side and headed back toward her mother, who was busy hanging up a few ornaments of her own at the bottom of the tree.

  Her father’s comment caused her to frown. Did he think she wasn’t ready for love to come into her life? Was he giving her some kind of warning? His words were something to think about.

  A few minutes later, Lucy made her way back toward the spot where she’d left Dante and Tess. They seemed to be getting a kick out of being in each other’s company. For someone who claimed not to be at ease around kids, Dante sure looked like a pro. And Tess clearly thought Dante wore a Superman shirt under his winter coat.

  “Lucy! Look at this one,” Tess cried out. She was holding up an ornament with Dante’s face on it next to fiery flames and the word Inferno. As far as ornaments went, it was a hot mess. In a million years she couldn’t imagine someone wanting to hang it up on their tree. Except maybe Dante’s mother.

  Dante took the ornament from Tess’s hand and held it up to scrutinize it. “This is the first time I’ve ever seen this. It’s hideous.” With his mouth twisted and his brown cheeks flushed, Dante couldn’t have looked more mortified if he tried. “I need to talk to my agent about my licensing agreements. This is not okay.”

  Lucy burst out laughing. “That must be a collector’s edition.”

  Dante’s eyes threatened to bulge out of his head. “Collector of what? Cheesy ornaments? Tacky tree trimmings?”

  “I wish we had one for our tree,” Tess said, hero worship shimmering in her brown eyes. “Can you look on eBay for me, Lucy?”

  Dante bent down so he was face-to-face with Tess. “Just take this one. You’ll be doing me a huge favor.”

  “Tess will not be engaging in any five-finger discounts, Dante.” She sent Dante a pointed glance. Although he was probably kidding, Tess seemed to be hanging on his every word. Lucy had a hunch she would follow his lead in a heartbeat.

  Clapping rang out as the last of the ornaments were hung on the tree. Lucy took a picture of the final product so she could show Stella tomorrow. By then she imagined Stella would be curious to see photos of the town celebration. Music began to play over the loudspeaker. Christmas music! Couples paired up on the makeshift dance floor as they danced to the upbeat rhythms of holiday favorites.

  “I’d almost forgotten about this part, although I don’t know how I could have. It’s pretty incredible,” Dante said. “I remember how much fun my parents had grooving to Aretha Franklin and Frank Sinatra. And us kids would always find a way to make special requests and then we’d take over the dance floor.” He threw back his head in laughter. They were standing so close she could see the little crinkles on the sides of his mouth as he chuckled. “I remember doing some awful hip-hop moves.”

  A hundred different memories came floating back. The magic of being whirled around the dance floor by her father as snow gently fell from the sky. Her first slow dance with a boy she liked—Dante. Tonight would be near perfect if she could hit the makeshift dance floor with him once again.

  “It wouldn’t be a lighting ceremony without dancing,” Lucy said, tapping her foot along with the beat of John Legend’s “Merry Christmas Baby.”

  “Dance with me then,” Dante said, holding out his hand to her as Tess looked on. Her little sister was practically squealing with delight. She looked as if she might push Lucy onto the dance floor herself.

  Lucy shook her head. “I don’t know. It’s one thing to dance at night in the library when no one’s around, but I don’t want to make a fool of myself. I’m not much of a dancer.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ve got you,” Dante said, pulling her into his arms. “Don’t sell yourself short, Luce. Just pretend it’s the two of us at the library dancing to Ella Fitzgerald.”

  Lucy followed Dante’s instructions and simply gave in to the joy she always experienced when she was dancing. It was freeing to do something she loved so much without feeling self-conscious. What was the worst thing people could say about her? That she had two left feet? It certainly didn’t feel that way as she moved around to the beat.

  Of course dancing with someone as graceful and rhythmic as Dante made it all feel effortless. The way he swung his hips was way sexier than she wanted to think about for any prolonged period. Lucy felt stares in their direction. Most were well-meaning and a product of curiosity, she imagined. A few local friends gave her a thumbs-up that made her wonder if they approved of her dancing skills or her famous dance partner. She didn’t want to do anything to cause people to think she and Dante were an item again. Fielding those type of questions was way too much pressure.

  As the tempo slowed down and the strains of “This Christmas” by Donny Hathaway began to play, Lucy stopped moving. This was slow dancing music. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to dance cheek to cheek with Dante with the whole town looking on. Their tangled past still hung over them, serving as a flashing neon sign for the townsfolk. It was hard to imagine tongues wouldn’t be wagging about them. But hadn’t she decided to live a little and not worry so much about what other people thought? Wasn’t it time she stepped out of the little box she’d created for herself?

  “Don’t leave me hanging,” Dante said in a low voice. His eyes were twinkling just as brightly as the town tree. He was like a magnet, constantly pulling her in. Even when she tried to resist, it was impossible. So why even bother?

  Just standing this close to him caused her pulse to race like crazy. She could see little puffs of air coming out of his mouth because of the frosty weather. He looked adorable and she wanted nothing more than to warm up his lips by placing her own on his.

  Lucy leaned in to him, fitting against his chest as if she was meant to be there. Dante tightened his arms around her. She let out a deep breath she’d been holding. Being in his arms felt like safe haven even though she knew it was foolish to lower her guard. That’s when a person tended to get blindsided. She hated being a bit jaded, but her past with Dante had taught her a few life lessons she couldn’t easily forget. But with every kiss, every time he took her hand in his, every dance, and every lingering look, Lucy felt as if she was tumbling back down the rabbit hole.

  Was it so out-there, ain’t-never-gonna-happen, in-her-wildest-dreams impossible that she and Dante could permanently find their way back to each other? Or was she being delusional in even daring to allow it to cross her mind? The world he inhabited was a far cry from their quaint hometown. Lucy had seen the pictures of him splashed across the pages of Us Weekly. Vacations in Saint-Tropez on supersized yachts. Attending the Met Gala in New York City with A-listers like JLo and Lady Gaga. Dinner dates with Rihanna. Skiing in Zermatt, Switzerland. In her wildest imaginings, Lucy couldn’t place herself in any of those locales. At heart, she would always be a small-town girl.

  She raised her head and locked eyes with Dante. He lowered his head till she felt his lips brushing against her ear. The steady rise and fall of his chest was soothing. A woodsy smell rose to her nostrils. She breathed him in, loving the masculine scent of him. She had the feeling she was wearing her heart on her sleeve with every look in his direction.
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  “What if we really give them something to talk about?” Dante whispered, his lips lingering for far too long on the sensitive lobe of her ear. His mouth was twitching and a look of mischief was etched on his face.

  She swallowed, almost afraid to ask him what he meant. Dante had always liked pushing the envelope. Even though he was now an adult, Lucy could still see the spirited young man peeking out. “I’m scared to ask,” she said. “Remember, I’m the town librarian. I do have a reputation to uphold.”

  “Don’t worry. I won’t tarnish your character,” Dante said, flashing her a wide smile.

  Dante started moving faster to match the increasing tempo of the music. His moves were becoming more intricate and a bit out of her league. Lucy wasn’t sure she could keep up, but he led her through the steps by tightly holding on to her and showing her the way. For the first time in her life, she knew what it meant to be led around the dance floor.

  He spun her around, making her dizzy.

  “Whoa,” she said, tightly gripping the collar of his coat so she didn’t fall on her butt. “Easy there, Fred Astaire. I’m not exactly Ginger Rogers.”

  “You are to me,” he said, smiling at her in a way that made her feel light-headed. And she knew it had absolutely nothing to do with the dancing.

  Dante lowered his head down and pressed his lips to hers. They had a slight sugary taste. Remnants of the pecan twist, she reckoned. It caught her completely off guard as his mouth tenderly moved over hers. Everything else faded away until there was nothing but the two of them. Lucy kissed him back with gusto, despite the prying eyes she sensed were watching them. This, she realized, was living in the moment and relishing her renewed connection with Dante. Kissing him was like fireworks on the Fourth of July. It was heat and flashes of light and pure wonder. Pure magic.

  “See. That wasn’t so bad, was it?” he asked as the kiss ended along with the song.

  “Are you kidding me? You just threw shark bait into the water,” Lucy whispered.