All I Want for Christmas

by Denise A. Agnew

  “I have this huge headache,” Abby said.

  “Does it have anything to do with that boyfriend of yours?” her uncle asked as he poured himself another glass of wine.

  Abby glanced sharply at him, wondering when he’d taken to reading minds. “I think I’m trying to catch the bug that’s been going around.”

  Aunt Cassandra sighed. “You haven’t been taking care yourself, have you?”

  Abby absorbed her aunt’s stoic demeanor and the carefully veiled look in her uncle’s eyes. “I eat very well.”

  Aunt Cassandra took a sip of her seltzer. “Doesn’t she look thin, Dick?”

  Shaking his head, Uncle Dick chewed his steak thoughtfully before replying. “Why, no, Cassandra. I think she looks very fine.” He winked at Abby.

  Abby’s stomach jumbled and pitched. Damn him.

  Aunt Cassandra jerked her gaze away from him, clearly perturbed. “You’ve probably been wondering why we came out on such short notice.”

  “We want you to come back with us,” Uncle Dick said, his smile as insincere as ever.

  He really hasn’t changed much.

  Abby’s headache pounded again, refocusing her attention on her growing discomfort. “What?”

  They stared at her blankly.

  “You don’t honestly believe I could just drop everything I’ve worked for here and take off?” she asked when they didn’t elaborate.

  “Why not?” Her aunt asked, holding her glass in midair.

  “Because I’ve spent considerable time on starting a business. With Becca’s help I’ve made it a success. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do. What I have to do.” She was surprised at her own candor when so often she’d collapsed under the weight of her aunt’s profound disapproval.

  In the middle of this thought flew another. Nick. If she couldn’t be with him, if he left the area in six months and went back to his life, she couldn’t tuck tail and run when she had stability and friendship here in Russel. When she had everything that she needed.

  A sinking sensation in her stomach made Abby wince. Everything she needed, everything she thought she wanted felt empty without Nick beside her.

  “Does your reluctance have anything to do with this boyfriend of yours?” Cassandra asked.

  Abby swallowed hard and licked her dry lips. “He’s here temporarily. When he leaves I’m staying in Russel.” Her stomach rolled and pitched again. Oh, God. She couldn’t be sick right here in the restaurant. Slowly, she stood. “Uh, I need to powder my nose. I’ll be right back.”

  Abby walked toward the restroom, hoping she would make it before she embarrassed herself. She knew what she could blame for her altered medical condition. Nerves, anger, and depression. All wrapped into one giant Chinese roll. It had happened to her before. She also knew her stomach distress revived whenever she censored feelings and pretended all would turn out fine.

  Well, it wasn’t fine. Not by a damn long shot.

  She glanced toward Candace and Nick’s table and caught Nick’s attention. Abby looked away and pressed on to the restroom. When she arrived, she barely made it to the stall before she lost what little dinner she’d eaten.

  Nick had seen Abby crossing the dining area, her hand pressed to her stomach and a grim expression on her face.

  “She didn’t look too happy,” Candace said.

  He turned his gaze back to Candace, who was tucking into her vegetarian lasagna with extraordinary relish. Usually the slim woman ate with a daintiness that bordered on ridiculous.

  “When she comes out of the restroom, I’m going to see if she’s all right,” he said.

  Candace’s fork stopped halfway to her mouth. “Why?”

  “Why? Because I’m worried about her.”

  “I’m sure she’s a big girl and can take care of herself. Besides, you said she was here with her aunt and uncle.”

  Nick felt his irritation rise like high tide, slow but inexorable. “What does that have to do with me being worried about her?”

  She gave him a smile he long ago recognized was meant to pacify him. “I’m sure if there’s anything wrong, her aunt and uncle will take care of her.”

  Nick finished his desert, barely noticing the rich chocolate cake. “You said there was something you had to tell me.”

  Candace’s grin spread across her lips with a candy-coated curve. Nick thought this was ironic. Candace had never been sweet a day in her life. “I’m staying over for Christmas. I thought you could wrangle an invitation to Beggar Point.”

  Nick wondered if he’d heard her right. “Come again? How did you know that?”

  “I called Mason about business and he mentioned it.”

  Red-hot anger surged into his system and he tossed his napkin on the table. He glared at the last mouthful of cake as if it was to blame for Candace’s conniving. “You mean you weaseled the information out of him.”

  At thirty-eight, his older brother had brains, but when it came to women, he didn’t always recognize when they meant to manipulate him. Even his lovely wife Anna knew how to point him in the direction she wanted him to go.

  Candace pouted. “You don’t want me to join your family?”

  “At this point, I don’t think there’s room.”

  She sniffed, clear anger punctuating the noise. “You’re lying. They’d have room for one more. I’ve seen those cabins before.”

  Candace’s colossal emerald ring gleamed on her right hand as she twirled the stem of her wine glass. He wanted to rip the four-carat honking jewel off her finger and throw it at her.

  “Do you and that little mouse really have some grand passion? Can she do it for you the way I have?” she asked.

  “Abby and I are close.”

  Candace’s smile appeared as painful as a skull’s grimace. “You didn’t answer my question. Do you know what you’re missing by screwing that woman? She’s just a little bookstore owner, Nick. I’m an executive assistant of a division in your company.”

  He laughed, the sound far from genuine amusement. “God, Candace. I can’t believe what a snob you are. I always knew you had that edge, but I didn’t know you’d toppled right over the cliff face.”

  “I’m very disappointed in you, Nick.”

  “Well, I’m disappointed as hell in you, Candace, so the feeling is mutual.”

  Tilting her head back she created the effect of looking down her nose. “Very clever, Nick. Well, I hope you’ll be happy with the little bitch.”

  Nick’s anger rose to a fever pitch. He couldn’t speak or everyone in the restaurant would get an ear full of what he thought of Candace Petersburg’s superciliousness and deceit. Candace looked away.

  Nick looked in the direction of her glance and saw that Abby had left the bathroom and was heading back to her table. He hesitated to leave and check on her, even though worry ate at his gut. “Obviously you don’t understand I’m serious. This Christmas you’re not invited. Get that through your head.”

  Without preamble, Candace stood, almost knocking over her wine glass and his in the process. She snatched her purse off the table and glowered down at him. “We’ll see about that.”

  As she walked away, her slim fitting pantsuit hugging each curve with loving attention, he took a gulp of his water. No, he wasn’t proud of himself. He’d let Candace provoke him and he’d lost control. That never happened. Ever with a capital E.

  Nick sat at the table trying to absorb the crazy evening. By the time he left to see if Abby was still in the restaurant, he discovered the table empty. Nick hurried outside hoping he might catch up to her in the parking lot, but she’d left.

  Nick’s concern blossomed, and yet he didn’t want to intrude on her privacy by driving over to her house uninvited. Sitting in his car, he retrieved his cell phone and called Abby’s house. Her aunt answered on the second ring. He quickly explained who he was, but she didn’t seem intent on making friendly conversation. Especially when he cut right to the point.

  “I saw her at the
restaurant and she didn’t look well. Is Abby all right?” he asked.

  “She’s resting now. She says she’s coming down with something. Please call back tomorrow,” she said, her voice tinged with exasperation. “It’s very late.”

  She hung up. He swore, long and blue and colorful. Seemed women were kicking his butt in several directions tonight.

  Relenting, he clicked off his cell phone and stared into the night sky. He had a very bad feeling about this. A very bad feeling.

  As Nick drove up to Abby’s home early Christmas Eve morning, he appreciated the hush that surrounded Russel. Traffic flowed lightly around the area, a fine frost covered the ground, and low clouds threatened snow. Perhaps they’d have a white Christmas this year. The idea made Nick feel better, though apprehension tightened his muscles. It was as if he were sixteen and meeting his girlfriend’s mother and father for the first time.

  As he’d crawled from bed this morning his feelings for Abby, if it was possible, had increased. He had to see her. He had to invite her to dinner tonight before...

  Before what?

  What exactly did he feel? A steady, burning attraction for Abby? Damn straight. Concern for her well being? Absolutely. No matter what he felt, he couldn’t sit in the car all day and contemplate the scenery.

  Seconds later, he stood at the front door and waited for someone to answer the doorbell.

  When the door swung wide, relief flooded him. Dressed in a wool sweater and dark pants, Abby stood at the door, her expressive eyes wide with surprise. “Nick.”

  “Hey. I thought I’d stop by and make sure you were all right.”

  As if in shock, she stood with her mouth hanging open for a few seconds before she said, “Uh, of course. Yes. I’m fine.”

  “I called last night and your aunt said you were ill and couldn’t be disturbed.”

  Immediately Abby’s eyes turned stormy. “I wasn’t feeling well, but I would have taken your call—” She stopped and drew a long breath. “Sorry, come in from the cold.”

  As he went inside and followed her to the living room, he rushed to say, “I hope I’m not interrupting your breakfast.”

  “No, we’re finished.”

  A man sat on the couch perusing a gardening magazine, his legs crossed. Uncle Dick-head.

  Nick’s temperature rose. Before Abby could say a word, the man looked up and then a woman appeared at the kitchen door wearing an apron.

  Nick discovered he couldn’t be objective about these two people. At the sight of Abby’s uncle, distaste lodged in his stomach. This man had harmed Abby in a foul way. Nick assessed the tall, bony individual in conservative slacks and green sweater. He had a short gray beard. Her aunt moved into the room, her appearance mild and calm. Nick could see the resemblance between Abby and Aunt Cassandra, who was dressed in a plaid skirt and white blouse.

  When her uncle saw Nick standing in the entrance to the living room, his eyebrows rose slightly, and the woman’s mouth fell open a tad.

  Nick produced his brightest smile. Maybe a little Santa charm would wipe away the cautious expressions on the two older people’s faces. “Good morning.”

  “Aunt Cassandra, Uncle Dick, this is Nick Claussen.”

  Nick shook hands and noted their tepid handshakes.

  “I’ve got something to do upstairs. I’ll be right back,” Abby said in a rush and quickly left the room. Her feeble smile as she glanced at Nick expressed discomfort.

  A thoroughly awkward silence filled the room as the couple eyed Nick.

  “Your flight was pleasant, I hope,” Nick said, impatient to fill the void with small talk. He sat in a chair not far from the couch. “The ride into Denver can be bumpy.”

  “Very pleasant,” Aunt Cassandra said as she sat down on the couch and her husband dropped down beside her.

  Another yawning silence.

  “The BMW is yours?” Uncle Dick asked, settling back onto the couch. His question proved he’d looked out the window.

  “Yes,” Nick said, leaning his elbows on his knees, curious about the man and woman who had been responsible for so many of Abby’s childhood heartbreaks.

  Uncle Dick broke into a pleasant smile. “Always have liked BMWs, but Cassandra here won’t let me buy one.”

  Aunt Cassandra sniffed. “They’re expensive.

  “How is it you can afford a BMW five hundred series on a Santa salary?” Dick asked.

  Smiling despite the razor edge he detected in the question, Nick said, “My real job is CEO of Claussen Resorts in Denver.”

  Their eyes widened so much it was almost comical.

  Aunt Cassandra glanced at her husband, then said, “Abby told us you were a managing director of some sort.”

  Nick nodded. “Essentially I’m both.”

  Aunt Cassandra’s grin widened. “How wonderful. Why would you want to come to a small place like this to play Santa Claus?”

  “It’s a long story. I’m on sabbatical for awhile.”

  “Like an extended vacation,” she said.

  “You could say that.”

  “And you met our Abby in the mall while she was doing that...elf thing?” Dick asked.

  “Yes,” Nick said, being deliberately obtuse.

  After a few minutes of sedate conversation, Nick easily detected their narrow outlook on life. Insinuating themselves into Abby’s life on short notice didn’t surprise him. Though he couldn’t say anything. His parents had done the same.

  Abby came downstairs not long after, looking less pale and less nervous. Damn it all. She looked luscious.

  “I’m about ready to head for work,” Abby said as she stood at the entrance to the living room. She looked as skittish as a horse walking a narrow trail. “We’ve got a long day ahead.”

  “How long will you be staying in the area, Nick?” Aunt Cassandra asked, ignoring Abby entirely.

  “About six months.” He looked at Abby. “Maybe longer.”

  Abby caught his glance and held it, and he saw the question there. What could induce him to stay longer? You, he wanted to say. You and your hot, warm body, and beautiful smiles.

  “You don’t have to return to your real job sooner?” Aunt Cassandra asked.

  Nick managed a smile. “Not until I’ve had my fill of Russel.”

  Until he’d had his fill of Abby? The thought bombarded him with a guilt he hadn’t expected. How long could he stay in this little town, working side by side with her then walk away unscathed?

  Anytime he chose, Nick reminded himself. He hadn’t come to Russel looking for a long-term relationship. Everything was transitory here, and he had to remember that. His life, as well as his livelihood remained in Denver. He wanted to know Abby, to make love with her, to give her a touch of happiness if he could. It didn’t mean she was forever in his life.

  Somehow that idea didn’t seem quite so great anymore.

  Shaking his head, he brushed away the disturbing thought.

  He trained his gaze on Abby and grinned. “You know my parents are coming up to Beggar’s Point today? They want you to join us for Christmas Eve dinner, and they’ve invited your aunt and uncle as well.” Nick saw Abby’s surprise and she opened her mouth for immediate protest, so he kept going, “There’s enough room in the two huge cabins to accommodate all of you. You could stay over for Christmas.”

  “I...” She looked from him to her aunt and uncle and then back to Nick again. “It sounds wonderful.” Leveling a smile on her aunt and uncle, she asked, “Wouldn’t that be great?”

  “No offense,” Uncle Dick said, “but we don’t know your family, Mr. Claussen.”

  Nick shrugged and kept a firm tone. “So get to know us. We’re a nice bunch of people.”

  “It’s a deal,” Abby said before anyone could say otherwise.

  Nick smiled widely, happy in two ways. Abby would be with him for Christmas. She’d also stood up for herself. “Mom said for us to come up about seven o'clock.”

  Looking shell-shocked, Abby
’s aunt and uncle didn’t say a word.

  “Walk me to my car, Abby?” Nick asked.

  Once he stood outside by his car, Abby nudged him with her elbow. “You are a smooth operator.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Abby leaned against the passenger side door. “You slipped in this ‘join us for Christmas idea’ knowing I couldn’t refuse.”

  He pushed his hands into his winter coat. “You could have said no. Actually, I’m surprised you didn’t deck me.”

  The wry twist to her lips told him she might smack him yet. “Yeah, I should have.”

  He took her hand and brought it to his lips for a soft kiss. “I was worried about you last night.”

  She shrugged. “My aunt and uncle want me to move back to New York.”

  Nick’s heart stuttered. He didn’t want to hear this. “What?

  “I said no. I think they’re still angry about it.”

  His hand tightened around hers. “Was your uncle pushing the issue?”

  She shook her head. “Actually, Aunt Cassandra was pushing it. Why?”

  Nick’s suspicion didn’t ease. “I was thinking about his motivation."

  Abby’s lips firmed, and understanding clouded her eyes. “I see. I don’t know what he’s thinking. I’m not sure I want to know.”

  “I’m proud of you.” He squeezed her fingers lightly. “I’m proud of what you are and how you’re looking out for yourself.”

  Did he see tears in her eyes? God, he hadn’t meant to make her cry. “Oh, Nick. Thank you. I’ve been so wound up about this visit with my aunt and uncle. That’s why I was sick last night. The tension just got to me.”

  Nick wanted to envelope her in his arms, but hesitated. His gut told him not to push too fast too far. They’d already tested seriously deep waters by almost making love. He worried that Abby would flinch and run away if he did more. “I understand. I’ve been a little crazy about my family coming up here, but now I think it’s a good thing.”

  They stood silently for a while longer, and he enjoyed the warm touch of her fingers in his, glad no gloves came between them. “You’ll love my family, Abby. I can’t wait for you to meet them.”

  She chuckled. “Should be interesting. I hope Aunt Cassandra and Uncle Dick won’t ruin the party.” Her warm fingers slid against his as she shifted. “Why did you invite them?”