Mary's Christmas Surprise (Christmas Holiday Extravaganza)

by Carol James

  “Sure. Anytime.”

  “I may take you up on that.” An awkward silence crept into the space between them.

  “I, uh, hope it was OK that I took Riley with me to the store. I needed some supplies for a project I’m working on, and he loves getting to go in the truck.”

  She’d forgotten how much Ri loved a car ride. “Of course it was OK.”

  “Great.”

  He drummed his fingers on the table. “Well, I guess I better get to work. Thanks again for letting me stay here last night.”

  “Sure. Thanks for letting me stay here, too. What about tonight? Any ideas?”

  He stood and winked. “I’m workin’ on it.”

  ~*~

  Jake followed the sidewalk to the back of the house and climbed the stairs to the garage apartment he was renovating for the Shermans. Mark and Anne had never mentioned how good looking their daughter was. The pictures around the house didn’t do her justice. Most of them were taken years ago when she was just a suggestion of the woman she’d become. But why would they think to call attention to her? She wasn’t available. The huge rock on her finger broadcast that message loud and clear. Besides, he wasn’t looking anyway.

  He dropped the air mattress on the floor. He’d pump it up later. When he’d compared sleeping on it to sleeping at the shelter or in his truck, the air mattress had won, hands down. The renovation of the apartment was pretty much done except for painting the last of the trim and laying carpet in the bedroom. Here he’d have running water, electricity, and heat. The stove and refrigerator in the kitchen were functioning. What more could he need?

  As he headed back down the stairs, Riley met him halfway. “Hey, buddy. You ready to do some supervising?”

  Wagging his tail, Riley barked his “yes.”

  That dog, it was as though he really understood English.

  Jake raised the garage door and flipped on the light. December, and the high today would be in the sixties. A perfect day to work with the door up. His notes and sketches were tacked to the wall behind the table saw. The stable was next on the list.

  He picked up some of the old wood he’d scavenged from the Carters’ ranch when they tore down their old horse barn and built a new one. Most people just threw old barn wood away, and their loss was his gain. Finding this aged wood was like finding an oyster with a pearl in it. He loved planing off the rough, outer layer to reveal the beauty and personality of the wood underneath. Like life. Some of the most beautiful hearts lay hidden under the roughest exteriors. That was one of the things he loved about volunteering at Reclaimed. Chipping off the outer roughness to get to the jewel inside.

  He got out his tape measure and began marking the pieces for the cuts.

  “What in the world are you doing?” Mary had changed clothes and put on a little makeup, although she really didn’t need it.

  “Just working on a project.”

  “Oh. I thought you were leaving.” She avoided looking at him as she peered past him into the garage.

  “Later.”

  “Does my father know you’re using his tools? Do you have his permission?”

  “Yes.”

  “Because he’s very particular about who uses them.”

  “I know.”

  “If he comes home and finds out someone’s been messing with them...”

  He set down the tape measure and the pencil. “Let me show you something.” He headed up the stairs to the garage apartment and gestured for her to follow behind. Opening the door, he motioned for her to enter first.

  She stood in silence and then slowly walked into the kitchen, the bedroom, the bathroom, and then back to him. Wonder filled her eyes. “Jake, did you do this?”

  He grinned. “You like it?”

  “It’s absolutely gorgeous.” For the first time since they’d met, she smiled, really smiled. She was beautiful.

  “I still remember it as my hangout when I was a kid. Fluorescent green and pink walls. Cracked tiles in the kitchen and bathroom. Drop ceilings. Brown and orange shag carpet from the seventies left by the previous owners. And you really did all this?” Her expression was alive.

  “Yep. With your dad’s tools and his permission. He figures when it’s all done, he’ll be able to rent it for some extra income.”

  “Absolutely. It’s gorgeous. I had no idea you were so talented.”

  There was a lot more she didn’t know about him. “Could be I’m just a little better handyman than I am burglar.”

  ~*~

  Mary backed Mom’s car out of the diner parking lot. She had thought for sure Greg would give her a temporary job, but all the slots during the Christmas break were filled with students. Just as they’d been when she’d worked there during high school. Money was somewhat of an issue, but much less one than needing something to do. She’d been home for less than twenty-four hours, and already she was bored. If she didn’t find an activity to keep her busy during the next few weeks, she’d go crazy.

  Greg had suggested she contact the church secretary, Diane. They were planning some huge Christmas extravaganza and needed volunteers. She’d call the office when she got home. As long as she didn’t have to sing, she was in.

  3

  While pay was not a great benefit of working for a private school, time off was. Having a little extra money from working at the diner would have been nice. But what Mary really wanted was something to fill her time rather than her pocketbook.

  Diane had thanked her profusely for calling, especially when she found out Mary was available to help during the day. “We have plenty of volunteers who can be here in the evenings, but the bulk of the work needs to be done during the day.”

  Happy with the prospect of having something to do, Mary was heading to the church right after breakfast.

  She had no idea where Jake slept last night. But it wasn’t in the house, and it wasn’t with Riley. He’d worked on the carpentry project all day yesterday and then asked if he could “borrow” Ri for the evening. About midnight, an aromatic Riley had slipped into bed with her. Something about his scent painted images of trees and forests. And now at eight o’clock, he was gone again.

  As she jammed her arms into the sleeves of her bathrobe, she ran downstairs to the kitchen. Riley lay with his nose pressed against the crack at the bottom of the back door. Jake’s pickup was in the driveway, but the doors to Dad’s workshop were closed. She walked back to the foyer and then tiptoed up the stairs. The guest room door was open, but she peeked in anyway. The bed was made. No Jake. So, true to his word, he must have found somewhere else to sleep last night.

  She followed Riley’s moan back down to the kitchen. “Need to go out, buddy?” As she opened the back door, Riley ran straight to the garage, flew up the steps, and began pawing on the door. What was wrong with that dog?

  The apartment door opened, and in he went. The image of a deflated air mattress in the corner of the bedroom flashed into her mind. So that’s where Jake was sleeping.

  ~*~

  “Good morning. You must be Mary.” A middle-aged woman with a warm smile greeted her at the double glass doors of the church office.

  “And you must be Diane.” Mary smiled and extended her hand.

  “Nice to meet you. Your parents are in my Sunday school class, and they talk about you all the time. You’re even more beautiful than they say. Have you heard from them? I hope they’re having a wonderful time.”

  “Nice to meet you, too. Thank you so much. You’re very kind. Yes, they’re having a great time.”

  “I’m so glad.” Diane smiled and grasped Mary’s hands. “And we’re especially glad you called. The church is doing a live nativity the week before Christmas, and we need some help painting and assembling the building façades. Follow me.”

  Diane led her through the maze of hallways connecting the various buildings the church had added as it had grown over the years. They walked across the breezeway and through the double doors into the gym. “I’m not su
re where your boss is,” Diane said, and then called out, “Joseph, your volunteer is here.”

  A muffled grunt sounded from the far left as one of the façades moved.

  Diane leaned close. “He hates it when I call him that,” she whispered, “but it’s almost Christmas, and he’s a carpenter. So how can I not?” She laughed.

  From the far corner, a man approached. He was tall with brown hair and a beard.

  Mary’s breathing caught. “Jake?”

  “Mary? What are you...” He looked as shocked as she felt.

  “Oh, my,” Diane interrupted, “I just assumed y’all had talked since you’re both staying together at Mary’s parents’ house.”

  “We’re not staying there together,” Jake blurted out.

  “No, we’re certainly not!” Mary now understood Jake’s insistence that he leave. “Jake was kind enough to find another place to stay temporarily.” She wouldn’t mention exactly how close that place was to where she was staying.

  “Oh, dear.” Diane’s cheeks flushed apple red. “I guess I didn’t choose my words correctly. I certainly wasn’t insinuating... I mean...” As she turned on her heel and walked back toward the doors, her voice followed. “I better get back to my desk and leave you both to it.”

  Jake raised his eyebrows and gave Mary an I-told-you-so look.

  “I don’t think she meant anything, Jake, but you were right. Even though there’s no possible way something is going on between us, people might jump to the wrong conclusion. Thanks for thinking the situation through.”

  “You’re welcome. And you’re right. There’s no possible way anything might be going on between us.”

  The deliberate cadence of his words and the iciness of his expression surprised her. Even though she’d admitted he’d been right, something about her response hadn’t set well with him. Or maybe it wasn’t her response. Maybe it was Diane’s. At any rate, he sure didn’t want anyone thinking they were involved. And for that matter, neither did she. She was engaged, for goodness sake. Or she would be again as soon as Drew returned to his senses.

  “So, how do you feel about painting?”

  “Painting?” Art was the only class she’d gotten a “C” in.

  “Yeah, the buildings. The ones made with plywood fronts need to be painted tan and then have some lines suggesting stones drawn on them. The ones made with barn wood need to be painted with some different washes. Except for the one I’m working on now. The stable. I want to leave it natural.”

  “I should be able to do that.” For the first time she really looked at the city of buildings rising from the canvas drop-cloths covering the gym floor. They were all different. The sizes and shapes and number of windows varied. Some even had second stories. The craftsmanship was remarkable, especially for pieces that were basically nothing more than a backdrop, scenery for a play. “Did you build all these?”

  “Yeah, I did...with your father’s tools...that he knows I’m using, by the way.”

  “OK, OK.”

  As she smiled, his face softened.

  “They’re great,” she said.

  “Thanks. Once they’re painted, I think they’ll be a good Bethlehem.”

  “Oh, absolutely. Now, point me in the right direction.”

  ~*~

  Jake came around from behind the buildings. He’d gotten them all secured so they should be sturdy enough to withstand the Texas winter wind, although today, just like yesterday, felt more like spring.

  Mary had gotten the three plywood-front buildings painted, and they looked great. Later he’d show her a little trompe l’oeil technique he’d learned in art class to make the façades look as though they were made of stones.

  “Anybody order pizza?” Diane stepped into the gym with a pizza box and two drinks in hand.

  He hadn’t. “Not me.”

  Mary stood and shrugged her shoulders. “Me, neither.”

  “I know. I did.” Diane laughed. “I thought you guys deserved a little break from all your hard work. I’ll set it here on the table, and you can eat at your leisure. But, by the way, it feels like March outside. Not December. A perfect day for a picnic lunch. Bon appétit!” And she was gone.

  He’d been so busy that he hadn’t realized how late it had gotten and just how hungry he was; but as the aroma from the pizza reached him, his stomach growled in response. “I’m ready for a break. How about you?”

  “Famished. And a picnic sounds wonderful.”

  He picked up a small drop-cloth and the pizza while she got the drinks, and then he led her to the grassy courtyard between the gym and one of the classroom buildings. Diane was right. The weather was stellar.

  After they’d settled on the drop-cloth, he opened the box. Half pepperoni and half veggie. Diane had definitely made an appropriate guy-girl choice. Mary took a slice of pepperoni, and he grabbed a piece of veggie. “I’m sure Diane had something else in mind when she ordered the pizza for us.”

  She grinned. “Me, too. But we can change our choices after the first slice.”

  “Deal.”

  They sat in silence for several seconds. The wind put just enough cool in the air to be refreshing. It would feel awfully good to lie down and let the sun warm his tired, aching muscles.

  “So, Jake. Tell me about yourself.”

  “Not much to tell, really.”

  “I don’t believe that. Everyone has a story. You can start by telling me your last name.” She grinned.

  Here we go. “Wolesky. Jake Wolesky.” He’d deliberately avoided giving her that information the other night, but now she’d asked. Piece one of the puzzle.

  “And you’re from...”

  “Austin.” Piece two. As she nodded her head, he could almost see the wheels beginning to turn.

  She sipped her drink. “That’s not a very common name. Are you related to—”

  “My brother.” Piece three.

  “Oh, I see.”

  She had put them all together.

  She moved her gaze from his and stared straight ahead. “I imagine it’s been hard.”

  “It has been...and still is. The media has the memory of an elephant.” He stretched back, folded his arms behind his head, and watched the wispy, white clouds race across the sapphire winter sky. “But it’s been hardest on my parents. Chris was always the golden child. The one who could never do anything wrong. These last couple of years have seemed like an eternity.”

  She lay back and stared at the same Texas sky. “You know, eventually those clouds up there will all be gone. Either new and different ones will have taken their places, or the sky will be clear. The one constant is that it’s always changing. And no matter how bad or long the storm is, clear, sunny skies will always follow.”

  “You’re right. Thanks for the reminder.” When most people put the puzzle together, they threw up a fence. And not a see-through chain-linker. A ten-foot privacy one. But she hadn’t. He wanted to reach over and grasp her hand in gratitude, but he couldn’t. What would she think? He barely knew her...plus she was engaged.

  She turned toward him. “So how did you end up here? In Crescent Bluff?”

  “Reporters were, and still are, everywhere. They wouldn’t leave our family, and especially me, alone. So my dad suggested I take a leave of absence from the firm just to get away from all the media attention. I don’t blame him. No business wants bad press whether it’s about them, a relative, or one of their employees. Anyway, as I said the other night, my dad talked to our pastor, who talked to your pastor, who talked to your parents. And here I am.”

  As she bolted up, her face flushed. “Oh, Jake, I’m so sorry I ran you out of the house.”

  “You didn’t run me out. I volunteered.”

  “I know, but it’s still not right. The only reason you had to leave was because I’m here. I’m moving into the garage apartment when we get home, and you can have your old room back. The one you’re paying my parents for.”

  “You’re not gonna do tha
t. I won’t let you stay in an unfinished apartment.”

  “It’s only barely unfinished. And if you can do it, I can certainly do it.”

  “It’s not whether you can or can’t. Do me a favor and at least let me think I’m being a gentleman. Chivalry’s on its last leg. Don’t help make it extinct.”

  As she shook her head in obvious frustration, he picked up the pizza box and held it toward her. He’d won this round. Time to change the subject. “Another slice, m’lady?”

  “Thank you, kind sir. Veggie this time.”

  “That’ll make Diane happy.” He smiled.

  As she grinned in response, her eyes sparkled like those chocolate diamonds in Mom’s ring. The one Chris had given her after they’d won the championship. And before the wreck.

  4

  Mary pulled the last box of Christmas ornaments from the storage closet behind the laundry room, scooted it across the kitchen floor, and down the hall into the living room. Tomorrow night she’d make some hot chocolate, assemble the tree, and get to work at Christmas-ing up this house.

  Grandma’s old tea kettle whistled on the stove. Mary returned to the kitchen and poured the steaming water over the chamomile teabag she’d placed in one of Mom’s antique teacups. As she breathed in the apple-ish aroma she loved, she was suddenly sitting in Grandma’s breakfast room having a tea party. A white linen cloth covered the table, and matching napkins set off each place setting, while a cut crystal bowl filled with roses and baby’s breath from the garden made a delicate centerpiece. Grandma’s teacakes and crust-less, heart-shaped sandwiches were arranged on a tiered crystal and silver server. They’d sip their tea and eat their finger sandwiches with crooked pinkies. Those tea parties had always been one of the highlights of Mary’s summer visits to the farm. Tea parties and riding on the tractor with Grandpa.

  She sat at the table and sipped the soothing warmth. Jake had borrowed Riley again tonight. He hadn’t said why or where they were going, and she hadn’t asked. They didn’t know each other well enough for her to pry into his personal business. If he wanted her to know, he’d tell her...although he was taking her dog with him. That should give her some sort of rights of inquiry. Tonight, when they returned home, she’d ask.