Christmas Wishes

by Debbie Macomber

  “You’ve been at the office every night this week. You need a break. Come on, Susannah, let your hair down long enough to have a good time. It isn’t going to hurt. I promise.”

  He was so casual about the whole thing, as if obligation and duty were of little significance. It proved more than anything that he didn’t grasp the concept of hard work being its own reward.

  “It will hurt,” she insisted.

  “Okay,” he said forcefully. “What’s so important this afternoon?” To answer his own question, he walked around her assistant’s desk. Then he leaned forward and flipped open the pages of her appointment schedule.

  “Mr. Franklin canceled his three o’clock appointment,” Ms. Brooks reminded her primly. “And you skipped lunch because of the finance meeting.”

  Susannah frowned at the older woman, wondering what exactly Nate had said or done that had turned her into a traitor on such short acquaintance.

  “I have more important things to do,” Susannah told them both stiffly.

  “Not according to your appointment schedule,” Nate said confidently. “As far as I can see, you haven’t got an excuse in the world not to attend that baseball game with me.”

  Susannah wasn’t going to stand there and argue with him. Instead she marched into her office and dutifully sat down at her desk.

  To her chagrin both Nate and Ms. Brooks followed her inside. It was all Susannah could do not to bury her face in her hands and demand that they leave.

  “Susannah,” Nate coaxed gently, “you need a break. Tomorrow you’ll come back rejuvenated and refreshed. If you spend too much time at the office, you’ll begin to lose perspective. An afternoon away will do you good.”

  Her assistant seemed about to comment, but Susannah stopped her with a scalding look. Before she could say anything to Nate, someone else entered her office.

  “Susannah, I was just checking over these figures and I—” John Hammer stopped midsentence when he noticed the other two people in her office.

  If there’d been an open window handy, Susannah would gladly have hurled herself through it. The company director smiled benignly, however, looking slightly embarrassed at having interrupted her. Now, it seemed, he was awaiting an introduction.

  “John, this is Nate Townsend…my neighbor.”

  Ever the gentleman, John stepped forward and extended his hand. If he thought it a bit odd to find a man in Susannah’s office dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, he didn’t show it.

  “Nate Townsend,” he repeated, pumping his hand. “It’s a pleasure, a real pleasure.”

  “Thank you,” Nate said. “I’m here to pick up Susannah. We’re going to a Mariners game this afternoon.”

  John removed the glasses from the end of his nose, and nodded thoughtfully. “An excellent idea.”

  “No, I really don’t think I’ll go. I mean…” She stopped when it became obvious that no one was paying any attention to her protests.

  “Nate’s absolutely right,” John said, setting the file on her desk. “You’ve been putting in a lot of extra hours lately. Take the afternoon off. Enjoy yourself.”

  “But—”

  “Susannah, are you actually going to argue with your boss?” Nate prompted.

  Her jaw sagged. “I…guess not.”

  “Good. Good.” John looked as pleased as if he’d made the suggestion himself. He was smiling at Nate and nodding as if the two were longtime friends.

  Her expression more than a little smug, Eleanor Brooks returned to her own office.

  Nate glanced at his watch. “We’d better go now or we’ll miss the opening pitch.”

  With heavy reluctance, Susannah scooped up her purse. She’d done everything within her power to avoid Nate, yet through no fault of her own, she was spending the afternoon in his company. They didn’t get a chance to speak until they reached the elevator, but once the door glided shut, Susannah tried again. “I can’t go to a baseball game dressed like this.”

  “You look fine to me.”

  “But I’ve got a business suit on.”

  “Hey, don’t sweat the small stuff.” His hand clasped hers and when the elevator door opened on the bottom floor, he led her out of the building. Once outside, he quickened his pace as he headed toward the stadium.

  “I want you to know I don’t appreciate this one bit,” she said, forced to half run to keep pace with his long-legged stride.

  “If you’re going to complain, wait until we’re inside and settled. As I recall, you get testy on an empty stomach.” His smile could have caused a nuclear meltdown, but she was determined not to let it influence her. Nate had a lot of nerve to come bursting into her office, and as soon as she could catch her breath, she’d tell him so.

  “Don’t worry, I’m going to feed you,” he promised as they waited at a red light.

  His words did nothing to reassure her. Heaven only knew what John Hammer thought—although she had to admit that her employer’s reaction had baffled her. John was as hardworking and dedicated as Susannah herself. It wasn’t like him to fall in with Nate’s offbeat idea of attending a ball game in the middle of the afternoon. In fact, it almost seemed as if John knew Nate, or had heard of him. Hardly ever had she seen her employer show such enthusiasm when introduced to anyone.

  The man at the gate took their tickets and Nate directed her to a pair of seats right behind home plate. Never having attended a professional baseball game before, Susannah didn’t realize how good these seats were—until Nate pointed it out.

  She’d no sooner sat down in her place than he leaped to his feet and raised his right hand, glove and all. Susannah slouched as low as she could in the uncomfortable seat. The next thing she knew, a bag of peanuts whizzed past her ear.

  “Hey!” she cried, and jerked around.

  “Don’t panic,” Nate said, chuckling. “I’m just playing catch with the vendor.” Seconds after the words left his mouth he expertly caught another bag.

  “Here.” Nate handed her both bags. “The hot dog guy will be by in a minute.”

  Susannah had no intention of sitting still while food was being tossed about. “I’m getting out of here. If you want to play ball, go on the field.”

  Once more Nate laughed, the sound husky and rich. “If you’re going to balk at every little thing, I know a good way to settle you down.”

  “Do you think I’m a complete idiot? First you drag me away from my office, then you insist on throwing food around like some schoolboy. I can’t even begin to guess what’s going to happen next and—”

  She didn’t get any further, although her outrage was mounting with every breath she drew. Before she could guess his intention, Nate planted his hands on her shoulders, pulled her against him and gave her one of his dynamite-packed kisses.

  Completely unnerved, she numbly lowered herself back into her seat and closed her eyes, her pulse roaring in her ears.

  A little later, Nate was pressing a fat hot dog into her lifeless hands. “I had them put everything on it,” he said.

  A glance at the overstuffed bun informed her that “everything” included pickles, mustard, ketchup, onions and sauerkraut and one or two other items she wasn’t sure she could identify.

  “Now eat it before I’m obliged to kiss you again.”

  His warning was all the incentive she needed. Several minutes had passed since he’d last kissed her and she was still so bemused she could hardly think. On cue, she lifted the hot dog to her mouth, prepared for the worst. But to her surprise, it didn’t taste half bad. In fact, it was downright palatable. When she’d polished it off, she started on the peanuts, which were still warm from the roaster. Warm and salty, and excellent.

  Another vendor strolled past and Nate bought them each a cold drink.

  The first inning was over by the time Susannah finished eating. Nate reached for her hand. “Feel better?” His eyes were fervent and completely focused on her.

  One look certainly had an effect on Susannah. Whenever
her eyes met his she felt as though she was caught in a whirlpool and about to be sucked under. She’d tried to resist the pull, but it had been impossible.

  “Susannah?” he asked. “Are you okay?”

  She managed to nod. After a moment she said, “I still feel kind of foolish….”

  “Why?”

  “Come on, Nate. I’m the only person here in a business suit.”

  “I can fix that.”

  “Oh?” Susannah had her doubts. What did he plan to do? Undress her?

  He gave her another of his knowing smiles and casually excused himself. Puzzled, Susannah watched as he made his way toward the concession stand. Then he was back—with a Mariners T-shirt in one hand, a baseball cap in the other.

  Removing her suit jacket, Susannah slipped the T-shirt over her head. When she’d done that, Nate set the baseball cap on her head, adjusting it so the bill dipped low over her forehead.

  “There,” he said, satisfied. “You look like one of the home team now.”

  “Thanks.” She smoothed the T-shirt over her straight skirt and wondered how peculiar she looked. Funny, but it didn’t seem to matter. She was having a good time with Nate, and it felt wonderful to laugh and enjoy life.

  “You’re welcome.”

  They both settled back in their seats to give their full attention to the game. The Seattle Mariners were down by one run at the bottom of the fifth inning.

  Susannah didn’t know all that much about baseball, but the crowd was lending vociferous support to the home team and she loved the atmosphere, which crackled with excitement, as if everyone was waiting for something splendid to happen.

  “You’ve been avoiding me,” Nate said halfway through the sixth inning. “I want to know why.”

  She couldn’t very well tell him the truth, but lying seemed equally unattractive. Pretending to concentrate on the game, Susannah shrugged, hoping he’d accept that as explanation enough.

  “Susannah?”

  She should’ve known he’d force the issue. “Because I don’t like what happens when you kiss me,” she blurted out.

  “What happens?” he echoed. “The first time we kissed, you nearly dealt my ego a fatal blow. As I recall, you claimed it was a pleasant experience. I believe you described it as ‘nice,’ and said that was about it.”

  Susannah kicked at the litter on the cement floor with the toes of her pumps, her eyes downcast. “Yes, I do remember saying something along those lines.”

  “You lied?”

  He didn’t need to drill her to prove his point. “All right,” she admitted, “I lied. But you knew that all along. You must have, otherwise…”

  “Otherwise what?”

  “You wouldn’t be kissing me every time you want to coerce me into doing something I don’t want to do.”

  Crow’s-feet fanned out beside his eyes as he grinned, making him look naughty and angelic at once.

  “You knew all along,” she repeated, “so don’t give me that injured-ego routine!”

  “There’s electricity between us, Susannah, and it’s about time you recognized that. I did, from the very first.”

  “Sure. But there’s a big difference between standing next to an electrical outlet and fooling around with a high-voltage wire. I prefer to play it safe.”

  “Not me.” He ran a knuckle down the side of her face. Circling her chin, his finger rested on her lips, which parted softly. “No,” he said in a hushed voice, studying her. “I always did prefer to live dangerously.”

  “I’ve noticed.” Nerve endings tingled at his touch, and Susannah held her breath until he removed his hand. Only then did she breathe normally again.

  The cheering crowd alerted her to the fact that something important had taken place on the field. Glad to have her attention diverted from Nate, she watched as a Mariner rounded the bases for a home run. Pleased, she clapped politely, her enthusiasm far more restrained than that of the spectators around her.

  That changed, however, at the bottom of the ninth. The bases were loaded and Susannah sat on the edge of her seat as the designated hitter approached home plate.

  The fans chanted, “Grand slam, grand slam!” and Susannah soon joined in. The pitcher tossed a fastball, and unable to watch, she squeezed her eyes shut. But the sound of the wood hitting the ball was unmistakable. Susannah opened her eyes and jumped to her feet as the ball flew into left field and over the wall. The crowd went wild, and after doing an impulsive jig, Susannah threw her arms around Nate’s neck and hugged him.

  Nate appeared equally excited, and when Susannah had her feet back on the ground, he raised his fingers to his mouth and let loose a piercing whistle.

  She was laughing and cheering and even went so far as to cup her hands over her mouth and boisterously yell her approval. It was then that she noticed Nate watching her. His eyes were wide with feigned shock, as if he couldn’t believe the refined and businesslike Susannah Simmons would lower herself to such uninhibited behavior.

  His apparent censure instantly cooled her reactions, and she returned to her seat and demurely folded her hands and crossed her ankles, embarrassed now by her response to something as mindless as a baseball game. When she dared to glance in Nate’s direction, she discovered him watching her intently.

  “Nate,” she whispered, disconcerted by his attention. The game was over and the people around them had started to leave their seats. Susannah could feel the color in her cheeks. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “You amaze me.”

  More likely, she’d disgraced herself in his eyes by her wild display. She was mortified.

  “You’re going to be all right, Susannah Simmons,” he said cryptically. “We both are.”

  “Susannah, I didn’t expect to find you home on a Saturday,” Emily said as she stepped inside her sister’s apartment. “Michelle and I are going to the Pike Place Market this morning and decided to drop by and see you first. You don’t mind, do you?”

  “No. Of course not. Come in.” Susannah brushed the disheveled hair from her face. “What time is it anyway?”

  “Eight-thirty.”

  “That late, huh?”

  Emily chuckled. “I forgot. You like to sleep in on the weekends, don’t you?”

  “Don’t worry about it,” she said on the tail end of a yawn. “I’ll put on a pot of coffee and be myself in no time.”

  Emily and Michelle followed her into the kitchen. Once the coffee was brewing, Susannah took the chair across from her sister. Michelle gleefully waved her arms, and despite the early hour, Susannah found herself smiling at her niece’s enthusiasm for life. She held out her arms to the baby and was pleasantly surprised when Michelle came happily into them.

  “She remembers you,” Emily said.

  “Of course she does,” Susannah said as she nuzzled her niece’s neck. “We had some great times, didn’t we, kiddo? Especially when it came to feeding you plums.”

  Emily chuckled. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to thank you enough for keeping Michelle that weekend. It was just what Robert and I needed.”

  “Don’t mention it.” Susannah dismissed Emily’s appreciation with a weak gesture of her hand. She was the one who’d profited from that zany weekend. It might’ve been several more weeks before she met Nate if it hadn’t been for Michelle.

  Emily sighed. “I’ve been trying to get hold of you, but you’re never home.”

  “Why didn’t you leave a message?”

  Emily shook her head and her long braid swung back and forth. “You know I hate doing that. I get all tongue-tied and I can’t seem to talk. You might phone me sometime, you know.”

  Over the past couple of weeks, Susannah had considered it, but she’d been avoiding her sister because she knew that the minute she called, Emily was going to ply her with questions about Nate.

  “Have you been working late every night?” Emily asked.

  Susannah dropped her gaze. “Not exactly.”

  “Th
en you must’ve been out with Nate Townsend.” Emily didn’t give her time to respond, but immediately started jabbering away. “I don’t mind telling you, Susannah, both Robert and I were impressed with your new neighbor. He was wonderful with Michelle, and from the way he was looking at you, I think he’s interested. Now, please don’t tell me to keep my nose out of this. You’re twenty-eight, for heaven’s sake, and that biological clock is ticking away. If you’re ever going to settle down and get serious about a man, the time is now. And personally, I don’t think you’ll find anyone better than Nate. Why, he’s…”

  She paused to breathe, giving Susannah the chance she’d been waiting for. “Coffee?”

  Emily blinked, then nodded. “You didn’t listen to a word I said, did you?”

  “I listened.”

  “But you didn’t hear a single word.”

  “Sure I did,” Susannah countered. “You’re saying I’d be a fool not to put a ring through Nate Townsend’s nose. You want me to marry him before I lose my last chance at motherhood.”

  “Exactly,” Emily said, looking pleased that she’d conveyed her message so effectively.

  Michelle squirmed and Susannah set her on the floor to crawl around and explore.

  “Well?” Emily pressed. “What do you think?”

  “About marrying Nate? It would never work,” she said calmly, as though they were discussing something as mundane as stock options, “for more reasons than you realize. But to satisfy your curiosity I’ll list a few. First and foremost I’ve got a career and he doesn’t, and furthermore—”

  “Nate’s unemployed?” her sister gasped. “But how can he not work? I mean, this is an expensive complex. Didn’t you tell me the condominium next to yours is nearly twice as large? How can he afford to live there if he doesn’t have a job?”

  “I have no idea.”

  Susannah forgot about Nate for the moment as her eyes followed Michelle, astonished by how much she’d missed her. She stood and got two cups from the cupboard.

  “That’s not decaffeinated, is it?” Emily asked.

  “No.”

  “Then don’t bother pouring me a cup. I gave up caffeine years ago.”