A Stonecreek Christmas Reunion

by Michelle Major

  “That was Mommy’s favorite. She wanted to get a puppy and name it Blue.”

  “Is that so?” Maggie asked but before she could warn him about how much work a puppy would take, Joey let out a small squeal.

  “There it is,” he called. “It’s Freddie’s friend.”

  He kicked up snow as he ran and then stopped in front of a pint-size tree that looked just as pathetic as the one he’d chosen for himself. “Do you love her?” he asked, beginning to brush snow from the branches.

  “I hope he’s directing that question at me,” Griffin said from directly behind Maggie. She whirled around, her cheek brushing the collar of his coat. The way he was looking at her left her breathless as warmth flooded her body.

  “He’s talking about the tree,” she said, pushing at his chest. It was like trying to move a slab of granite. She turned back toward the boy, trying her best to ignore Griffin and the way her body reacted to his nearness. So much trouble.

  “I do love the tree,” she told Joey. “What do you think we should name her?”

  “Fiona,” he answered after a moment. “Freddie and Fiona will be best friends like me and Emma.”

  “You’re my best friend,” Griffin told her, his breath tickling her ear. “I don’t know how I ever got through life without you.”

  “You shouldn’t say things like that,” she admonished, even as her heart skipped a beat.

  “But it’s the truth.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek, the spicy, minty scent of him doing crazy things to her senses. “You’re some kind of miracle worker with Joey. I haven’t ever heard him talk so much. He sounds happy.”

  “He is,” she assured him. “Or at least he will be again. We have to believe that.”

  She glanced at the boy, who was having a sincere conversation with the pine tree then turned to face Griffin, lifting a mittened hand to his cheek. “He’s been through something terrible, but he has you. It sounds like Cassie was a great mom, so he also has a foundation of love in his life. It won’t be easy, but I have faith in you to see him through.”

  Griffin sucked in a deep breath as he studied her face. “Thank you,” he whispered, his eyes crinkling at the corners the way they did when he was truly happy. “This is the first time I’ve believed that since this whole thing started.”

  “Griffin, can we cut her down now?” Joey asked, his eyes dancing with delight. “I want to bring her over to Freddie.”

  “We sure can, buddy.” Griffin stepped forward. “After we make the big introduction and load them into the back of the SUV, how about we stop for hot chocolate and a cookie in town?”

  “Yes,” Joey answered immediately, pumping his fist in the air. “Can Maggie come?”

  Griffin raised an eyebrow in her direction then gave a pretty decent imitation of a courtly bow—at least in Maggie’s opinion. “Ms. Spencer, would you care to join Master Joey and I post–tree cutting as we raise a hot chocolate mug in celebration of the honorable Freddie and Fiona?”

  She laughed despite her immediate reservation. It would certainly set the gossips on a tear if she was seen with Griffin and his new charge in town. Especially on the night after everyone knew she’d been out to dinner with Christian.

  As Griffin studied her face, his smile faded. “If not—”

  “Of course I’d love to,” she answered. “But only if you promise we can get extra whipped cream.”

  Joey clapped his hands and Griffin’s gaze seemed to soften once again. “As much whipped cream as you can handle.”

  Chapter Ten

  Jana studied her reflection in the mirror above the foyer table that afternoon. The house was empty and the sunlight streaming in from the picture window in the adjacent living room seemed to highlight every one of her wrinkles and laugh lines. She practiced a smile then groaned at the crow’s feet fanning out from the edges of her eyes.

  Never before had she so appreciated the old adage that youth is wasted on the young.

  As a car engine sounded from the drive, she slicked on a coat of lip gloss, furtively wiped at her mouth with the back of her hand then quickly reapplied the subtle shade. It was silly that she wanted to look her best for an outing to the foundry Jim used to cast his sculptures.

  She hadn’t seen him since the kiss they’d shared in his studio the previous week, although they’d spoken several times to discuss her ideas for the sculpture. To her surprise, each phone call had lasted close to an hour. She felt like a teenage girl again, sitting on the edge of her bed with butterflies flitting across her stomach as she discussed everything and nothing with the boy she secretly liked.

  If Griffin or Marcus noted her preoccupation, neither of them mentioned it. She guessed they were too busy with their own schedules to pay any attention to her. That was the amazing thing about reconnecting with Jim. For the first time in years—maybe decades—Jana felt like someone truly noticed her.

  Her marriage to Dave Stone had been mainly a happy one, other than his rift with Griffin. But the vines had driven her husband, made him restless in a way she couldn’t seem to satisfy. Although she’d never confirmed it, she was almost certain he’d cheated on her. In their later years together, the marriage was much more a platonic partnership rather than any bit of a love affair.

  Jana had been satisfied, or at least she thought she had. Something new was unfurling inside her. She didn’t believe in regrets, yet life seemed to be giving her the do-over she hadn’t even realized she wanted.

  She opened the front door just as Jim started up the steps. “You didn’t have to—” She stopped, her gaze catching on the bouquet of red roses and stargazer lilies he held.

  “These are for you,” he said with an almost bashful smile.

  “Oh,” she breathed, reaching out a hand to take the lovely blooms from him.

  “I had to stop at the hardware store on my way here. These were in the window of the florist. The colors looked so bright against the snow.” He shrugged. “It’s probably silly, but I thought you’d like them.”

  “I do,” she said, breathing in the sweet scent. “Thank you.” She held out the bouquet, which did look especially colorful in contrast with the snow that was just starting to melt. The temperature had risen to almost twenty degrees today, though still nowhere near normal in Stonecreek during December. They rarely got more than a dusting of snow in this part of the state. The unexpected storm made for a festive backdrop the week before Christmas, but the monochromatic color scheme it created was unusual. The flowers were a welcome pop of color.

  “Please come in for a minute while I put them in water.”

  She led him into the house, realizing that this was probably the first time he’d ever been in her home. The house she’d shared with her husband. Although other than her visit to the studio, she’d never been in Jim’s house. She could imagine it though—eclectic and a bit cluttered, classic without taking itself too seriously. A lot like the man himself.

  “You have a beautiful home,” he said, as if reading her thoughts.

  She glanced over her shoulder and smiled. “It’s only in the past few years that I felt like it belonged to me.”

  “I thought you and Dave lived here for years.”

  “We did, but his mother was alive for most of that time. She died only six months before him. Mrs. Stone had strong views on the decor of her home. Quite strong.”

  He chuckled. “Even though she no longer lived here?”

  She pulled a vase from an upper cabinet. “I imagine Vivian would feel the same way.”

  “You’re right,” he admitted. “In fact, Maggie is starting to renovate the old house and it’s driving Mom absolutely crazy. She keeps lecturing her on respecting the past, and the quality of workmanship and materials in the good old days.” He shrugged. “The problem is she can’t give up control.”

  “No offense to your moth
er, but Charlotte must have been a saint to deal with her. I can’t imagine Vivian making it easy for anyone.”

  One big shoulder lifted again then dropped. “We managed, but I let my mother have too much influence when I was younger. I’m not proud of that.”

  Her fingers trembled as she unwrapped the flowers and pulled scissors from a drawer to trim the stems. Of course he was talking about her. About the year they’d dated and how his mother had deemed Jana’s blue-collar background inferior for her beloved son. It was old news now. Vivian had to give Jana and all the Stones the respect they deserved, even if it was grudging.

  Jana had more than earned her place in this community. Why did it still sting that the first boy she’d given her heart to hadn’t fought for her?

  “We all make mistakes,” she said, and they both ignored the false cheer in her voice.

  She turned to the sink and filled the vase with water. As she placed the flowers in the glass container, Jim’s arms wound around her from behind. He smelled of clay, even away from the studio, and the scent and the feel of his warmth against her made her knees go weak.

  “How many times can I say I’m sorry?” he whispered, nuzzling her ear then gently kissing the side of her throat.

  “No more apologies,” she said, tipping her head to give him better access. “I don’t want to be beholden to the past.” She flipped off the faucet then shivered as his calloused fingers grazed her neck.

  “Then let’s focus on right now,” he said against her skin. “I want you so damn much, Jana. I’ve barely thought of anything else since you walked out last week.”

  She turned and he immediately captured her mouth with his, kissing her in exactly the way she liked to be kissed. This moment was different than the one they’d shared in his studio. That had been a shock, nerves skittering through her at how he might judge the woman she’d become, no longer young and beautiful.

  But his words and the way he held her—like she was the most precious thing in the world—gave her confidence. As quickly as they’d appeared, her doubts vanished. This felt so right and her heart thundered at the turn her life was taking.

  She’d relegated herself to the back burner of her own life, but here she was in the blue center of the flame. She couldn’t think of anything she wanted more...except maybe leading Jim Spencer up to her bedroom.

  Then she heard the front door open. She yanked away from his embrace, knocking over the flowers with one nervous hand. The vase clattered to the porcelain but didn’t break, and she quickly righted it, refusing to glance at Jim, who’d thankfully taken a few steps to the edge of the island.

  “Mom?” Griffin’s voice rang out from the entry.

  “In the kitchen,” she called.

  The patter of small feet sounded in the hall a moment before Joey ran around the corner into the room. “We got a tree,” he shouted, more animated than she’d seen him since he arrived in Stonecreek. “I named him Freddie. Come and see. Come and see.”

  His cheeks were flushed, his little arms waving in the air as a huge grin lit his face. Jana’s heart lifted at this glimpse of a happy, carefree child unencumbered by the tragedy he’d endured.

  “Who are you?” he asked Jim, skidding to a stop in his stocking feet.

  “My name’s Jim.”

  “Mr. Spencer is Maggie’s dad.” Griffin entered the room, darting a vaguely suspicious gaze between Jana and Jim, as if he knew what they’d been doing moments ago.

  Jana felt her face go hot and spun away from her son, busying herself with righting the flowers.

  “We got Maggie a tree too,” Joey told him, unaware of the underlying tension that suddenly filled the room. “Its name is Fiona.”

  “What a clever idea,” Jana said, trying to keep her voice steady, “to name the trees.”

  “Wait until you see them,” Griffin said. “Are we interrupting something? Where’d you get the flowers, Mom?”

  “Jim brought them.” Jana took a breath and turned, raising a brow at her son to let him know she was not open for commentary on the gift. “We’re about to head out to visit the foundry that casts his sculptures.”

  “I want to give your mom an idea of the process as we’re working on a final design for the Harvest commission.”

  Griffin walked to the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of water. “I bet that’s not all he wants to give you,” he said, low enough that only Jana could hear.

  So much for quelling him with an arched brow.

  “Enough,” she whispered then placed the vase of flowers on the island. “I’d like to see your tree,” she said to Joey, reaching out to wipe a speck of chocolate from his cheek. “Looks like you stopped at the bakery on your way home.”

  “Maggie and I got extra whipped cream on our hot chocolate,” the boy reported.

  “She likes whipped cream.” Tenderness was clear in Jim’s voice. His eyes clouded as he glanced at Griffin. “I didn’t realize the two of you were spending time together again.”

  Griffin lifted the water bottle to his lips, his movements casual. Still, Jana could almost feel him bristling at the subtle accusation in Jim’s tone. “Is that a problem?”

  Jim straightened his shoulders, transforming from eclectic artist and ardent kisser to overprotective father in an instant. Even with his defensive stance directed at her son, Jana respected him for it. “I don’t want to see her hurt.”

  A muscle jumped in Griffin’s jaw, the same way it had in his father’s when Dave was frustrated or angry. But her son only nodded. “I understand.” He set the water bottle on the counter. “I promise I won’t hurt her again. She means the world to me.”

  She held her breath as Jim mulled over the declaration. To say Griffin kept his emotions close to the vest was an understatement, so she knew it had taken a lot for him to reveal any bit of his feelings for Maggie.

  “See that you don’t,” he answered finally. Griffin let out a long breath and nodded.

  “Freddie is waiting.” Joey tugged on Jana’s hand.

  She smiled at Jim. “Would you like to meet Freddie?”

  “Absolutely,” he answered and she felt a deep sense of contentment that all the pieces of her life were finally beginning to fit together.

  * * *

  The more time Griffin spent with Christian Milken, the deeper his distaste for the slick CEO became. He’d given him a tour of the bottling operation today, reviewing the environmental practices they employed, including alternative energy and an extensive recycling program. Some of the details weren’t applicable to the technology LiveSoft created but much of the construction initiatives could become a blueprint for how the company built their new headquarters.

  “You’ve been doing this your whole life?” Christian asked, taking in the view of the fields from Griffin’s new office. It was actually Trevor’s old office. Griffin had expected to feel odd in the space. Instead, it gave him a sense of connection with his brother. Trevor had been traveling back and forth between Stonecreek and Sonoma, and seemed happier than Griffin had ever seen him. He was already talking about a partnership between Calico and Harvest, and it came as a huge shock to both of them that they were excited to work together.

  “No,” he admitted without reservation. “I left Stonecreek when I was eighteen to join the army. Did three tours then retired from active duty and worked in the construction industry around the region. I returned to Harvest about six months ago.”

  Christian looked surprised. “You certainly sound like an expert.”

  “I’ve kept tabs on the industry and Marcus has been a great teacher since I’ve been back.”

  “You think after all you’ve seen that you can be happy in this tiny part of the world?”

  “Without a doubt. Stonecreek is home.”

  “It’s so damn small.”

  “So is Timmins.”

&
nbsp; Christian laughed softly. “True enough. I’m not trying to compare the two. They’re equally provincial in my mind.”

  “Are you having reservations about making a choice for the headquarters?”

  “Where we have our headquarters is a part of the branding for the company. LiveSoft is all about helping people to slow down and smell the roses. Our employees are like little cult members with all the meditation and mindfulness. So being in a small town makes sense for growing the business and for the corporate culture.”

  “Why does it sound like the CEO isn’t buying into the branding?”

  “Dude, you’ve got to understand. You’re here now, but you chose to come back. Look at your brother moving off to greener pastures. I love my life in Los Angeles. There are things to do and people to see twenty-four/seven.”

  Griffin wasn’t sure what he found more annoying—this grown man using the word dude or the fact that the company’s leader didn’t believe in what his product represented.

  Christian didn’t seem to notice that Griffin wasn’t captivated by his musings on the good life in LA. “I can hop a plane and be in Vegas in an hour or Cabo in just a little longer. Up here is a different world. It’s like real life.”

  “Isn’t that the point?” Griffin didn’t bother to hide his irritation, and Christian blinked like it shocked him that someone didn’t agree with his opinion.

  “I’m not knocking it...exactly. We all have to settle down at some point. You know I started LiveSoft as a lark, right? My roommate at Harvard was brilliant—makes Zuckerberg look like a slacker. But he wasn’t driven, not the way you need to be to make it these days. He ended up dropping out after the first year, went to Costa Rica to run a tree farm or something. I flew down for spring break junior year and he already had a beta version of the app. It was his brainchild, but I saw the potential in it.”

  “So you partnered with him?”

  Christian was still looking out the window so Griffin clicked on his email, not really caring about the genesis of LiveSoft.

  “Hell, no.” Christian laughed. “I took it from him.”