Claiming His Christmas Inheritance

by C. J. Carroll

  His voice trembled slightly at his last few words. Whether his words were true or not, she instinctively knew he was touched by something. Maybe he’d conjured up images of his mother and their love for each other. Kind of like when actors used real-life experiences to help them bring emotion to a scene.

  Several women audibly sighed in the audience, and there was another round of applause.

  “That’s beautiful. And so romantic. Thanks for sharing,” Calista said. She took the mic from him and approached Tasha. “And what about you, Tasha? What was it about Zed that rocked your world?”

  Laughter erupted in the audience.

  She took the mic from Calista. “Well, I guess, playing off of Zed’s words about feeling he’d found his home...” She turned to him. “For me, it was the first time in my life that I wanted to open the door fully to my heart. It’s not that I hadn’t fallen for guys before—after all, you guys lived with me through my dating journey.”

  “Yeah, we did,” Calista said. “And some of us are still going through therapy over it.”

  The audience roared with laughter.

  “But before Zed, I’d never met someone I could just be myself around without fear.” She realized that the words she spoke were true.

  Calista sighed. “Wow, I don’t know about y’all but I think I’m a little jealous right now. Well, keeping it real, I’m a lot jelly.” She flipped to another of the cue cards she was holding. “Next question... Some people say you should trust God and wait on Him to bring your mate. Others say you must be proactive, using dating sites, stuff like that. What was you guys’ experience?”

  Clueless how to respond, Tasha was grateful when Zed took the mic. “I got this one. To be honest, I don’t think there’s a black-and-white answer to that. God can move in amazing ways. I think a person’s foundation should always be to trust the Lord. But be open to God using circumstances to lead and guide. For Tash and me, I think the Lord used serendipity for our paths to cross.”

  Pride filled Tasha at Zed’s wise answer. And he’d even stayed true to how they really met. She gazed at the enrapt audience. Pride gave way to guilt. They were hanging on every word. The group saw her and Zed as examples of God orchestrating a love story. Oh, Lord, I’m sorry.

  Zed returned to his seat next to her, taking her hand as if he’d read her mind. Whether he had or not, she wasn’t sure. But the gesture helped her get through the battery of other questions that came their way until, mercifully, the Q and A finally ended.

  “Hey, guys, can we thank Tasha and Zed for sharing?”

  The audience clapped, then they received a standing ovation. Once Calista finally settled the group back down, she produced a Cheshire-cat grin. “So we have a little surprise for the newlyweds.”

  Tasha gave Zed a curious look before providing the same to Calista.

  “As we said, since we weren’t able to participate in your ceremony, we thought we’d recreate it here for you.”

  A group of musicians entered the room, carrying their instruments to the stage. And then Pastor Landry appeared.

  “What’s going on?” Tasha mouthed to Calista.

  “Since you never knew your dad, and Pastor Landry is like a spiritual father to you, we thought you could have your father-daughter dance with him,” Calista said.

  Tasha clutched her chest, truly touched at their thoughtfulness. Even so, she wanted to escape the room, as well as from her and Zed’s charade.

  Pastor Landry reached out his hand to her. The musicians began to play “Ribbon in the Sky,” a favorite of hers. Not able to escape, Tasha stood and took Pastor Landry’s hand.

  The stage lights turned a soft pink, with a spotlight shining on the pair. Calista gently led Zed from the stage.

  Pastor Landry looked at her with a mixture of love and pride. Tasha’s heart turned within her. If only she’d had a real father who had felt the same way. She soaked up the pastor’s honest affection for her.

  As they started to waltz, Pastor Landry caught her eye. He spoke softly, only for her ears. “Tasha, since we’re here now, let’s discuss what I wanted to talk to you about when I texted you. You skipped protocol. As a leader, you set an example for others. We don’t want your actions to set a precedent.”

  Tasha nodded. “I’m sorry. Everything happened so fast.” She told him the truth, about their three-month marriage agreement.

  Pastor Landry seemed momentarily stumped. His surprised expression finally gave way to a serious one, with a hint of kindness. “While you skipped protocol, and entered this most unusual agreement, I’d encourage you, now that you’re married, to open your heart, regardless of the three-month thing. Maybe this could be more—maybe the door was opened to force you to deal with your heart and disappointments.”

  Tasha tried to speak, but emotion choked out her voice. She’d been down the road of repeatedly opening her heart, only to have it stomped on and left for dead. She wasn’t interested in an instant replay. Ever.

  The song finally ended. Pastor Landry kissed her forehead, like a real father would have done. Then he bowed and left the stage. Tasha started to follow him, but Calista stopped her.

  “Not so fast. We’ve got a special song for the bride and groom’s first dance,” she said. She nodded toward the musicians. As the song began, Tasha recognized her favorite love song, “Because You Loved Me.” In the past, she’d repeatedly said she’d have the song at her wedding—when she had still believed in and hoped for love.

  “Zed, please join your lovely bride.”

  Zed approached Tasha. With one hand he clasped hers, and his other went around her waist.

  Tasha gazed into his beautiful eyes as she fought her mixed feelings. Since childhood she’d dreamed of a moment such as this—her first dance with her husband. And ironically, now she had it, but she really didn’t because of their relationship facade. Tears stung her eyes and dripped down her cheek.

  Irrational anger filled her. While she should have applauded his amazing acting, it only upset her more. She didn’t deserve this—to always live in a fantasy world, without real fulfillment as she had once wanted. Now she just wanted to be done with this arrangement and get on with her life. Zed was like the proverbial carrot, cruelly dangled in front of her, never to be captured.

  She couldn’t wait to really start her life—after their three-month fiasco was finally over. Then she could finally supplement her wedding planning by adding the wedding venue business to it.

  She was fine on her own. She’d learned to love herself and found the greatest love story of all in her relationship with the Lord. She needed nothing else. Yes, sirree, I’m more than fine alone.

  She wiped her wet cheeks and held her head high. Feeling new resolve, she decided she’d prove to herself that Zed wasn’t all that and she still had control of herself when it came to him. She gave him a serious smooch. There. She’d done it. And she felt nothing. Nada. Zilch. Zero.

  It was only when she came to, splayed across the stage, that she realized she’d fainted.

  * * *

  Zed hovered over his wife as she lay crumpled on the church recreation hall center stage floor. Her eyes fluttered rapidly, like an overworked moth. Her gaze finally fixed on him.

  “Tash, are you all right?”

  Tasha licked her lips. Her scrutiny went past him to the others surrounding her, including the pastor and Calista.

  Tasha tried to sit up. “I’m fine. I didn’t eat much today. Sometimes I have trouble with low blood sugar.”

  Zed gripped her upper body and slowly pulled her up. Thankfully, he’d caught her before she’d hit the ground. He’d been able to gently lay her on the floor.

  “Calista, why don’t you get Tasha some water,” Pastor Landry said. “And maybe a piece of the cake we made for them, to help with her blood sugar.”

  “I’m on it,” Calista
declared stoically, as if she’d been given orders by a drill sergeant.

  Zed drew Tasha to himself, as an anchor to steady her. He didn’t care whether she liked it or not. She needed him. Period.

  To his surprise, she gently laid her head on his shoulder, obviously grateful for his support.

  Pastor Landry went to the podium to address the concerned crowd. People’s voices carried like an overactive beehive.

  “Folks, everything is all right. Tasha is going to be fine. We’ll give her a moment to get her bearings and then we’ll let the newlyweds cut their cake.”

  Zed led Tasha to her seat on stage and sat beside her. Her brown curls, pressed against his face, smelled faintly of jasmine. He imperceptibly moved his nose a little closer, to take in the wonderful scent of her.

  His heart was dancing hard. In the commotion with Tasha, he’d ignored the way his chest thrummed, but now...

  It had started at that kiss. He’d been startled by Tasha’s gesture. Something real had happened during the embrace.

  He felt a smile teasing his lips. Had Tasha really fainted because of lack of food? Or had she been as blown out of the water as he had by that kiss?

  Tasha chose that moment to raise her head. Apparently noticing something in his expression, she sat back and disengaged from him.

  “What?” she asked.

  Zed tried to play it off. It would serve no good whatsoever to talk about it. For either of them. “Nothing. I’m just happy you’re going to be all right.”

  Her stare remained locked on him until her eyes finally lit up, as if she’d become aware of something. “Oh, wow! You’re gloating.”

  He stared at her, amazed. No woman had ever been able to read him so well. Not since his mother. He searched in vain for an explanation, without success.

  “You think I fainted because your kiss was all that and a bag of chips.” She shook her head in apparent wonder. “You might as well strut and preen across the stage like a proud peacock.”

  “Tasha—” he protested.

  A small grin flirted on her lips, as well. “Don’t deny it. Your man card just got an upgrade, right?”

  He chuckled hard. “Well, your reaction confirms I’ve got skills.”

  Astonishment rolled across her face.

  “I’m just saying.” He’d admitted the truth. He figured he might as well have some fun with it, to get her goat.

  She sat back, pressing her spine hard against the back of the chair. Her lips twitched as if she was fighting the grin on her face. “Well, I’ll have you know it’s true that I sometimes have low blood sugar when I don’t eat.”

  He raised his hands in surrender. “There’s more than one kind of sugar that when it goes missing too long it can make a lady weak.”

  Tasha gave him an incredulous look. “Really? Just, really?” Then the laughter she’d held at bay escaped in billows of joy.

  Chapter Nine

  Just before the New Year, Tasha remembered Zed’s odd gift of the shoebox and Aunt Zora’s letter. She retrieved the shoebox just before bed, then crawled under the smooth-as-butter bedcovers, enjoying the gentle whir of the steam heat coming from the registers.

  She untied the ribbon and opened the box. Inside, besides the letter, were a few shiny marbles, some baseball cards smudged and faded with age and a photo of what appeared to be Zed as a boy. Wearing a sky blue little suit and matching cap, he stood, smiling brightly, in front of a train caboose. Finally, there was a black-and-white photo of a beautiful woman. Tasha guessed it was Zed’s mother. She had the same light eyes and matching dimples. Although she was smiling, the grin didn’t reach her eyes, which were lovely, but infinitely sad.

  Tasha slowly unfurled Aunt Zora’s letter and began to read.

  To my beloved Zed’s wife,

  You must be curious about receiving a letter from a stranger. My apologies. I assume you’ve heard of me from Zed and my lovely will. You probably think I was a little eccentric. Oh, sweetie. I was a lot eccentric. I wear the title proudly.

  In an odd way, I feel like I know you. I’m sure that makes no sense to you. But I believe prayer knows no bounds and can transcend time and worlds. And believe me when I tell you, I prayed on my old arthritic knees many a night for you, hoping the Lord would handpick you to bring into Zed’s life. Even if I had to force my nephew’s hand a bit to make it happen.

  While I’ve done all I can to throw you together, I can’t manufacture love. I can only hope I’ve made the atmosphere ripe for the possibility of it, if it’s not there. But I also realize God gave man free will. Even if Zed walks away after three months, at least he’ll have no regrets in old age that he didn’t give marriage a try.

  Zed is a good man. He’s a little rough and tattered around the emotional edges, due to some hurts and disappointments—but like they say about a house, he’s got good bones. Per my lovely will, I know you two are together for at least three months.

  If you consider Zedrick Grant Evans like a really good book or meal that you want to savor, and get to know him, you will discover treasure. Despite my best-laid plans, I know you don’t have to take my advice. But I promise, if you do, the journey will be as fulfilling as the destination.

  By the way, I realize I’ve assumed much here—that Zed married without love, to fulfill my wishes. If by some wonderful, amazing twist he met someone and fell in love and is happily married, then I am over the moon happy for you both. I pray this letter will serve to give you greater insight into your husband—a man more precious than gold. And yes, I’m biased.

  So, let me get to the point. My dear sister’s life was hard. It was painful to see Evelyn suffer in her marriage.

  Besides me, she only had Zed to confide in. She ultimately realized she depended on her son, who was just a child, too much for that. Her kid was not meant to bear the weight of her baggage and emotional issues on his young shoulders. It was a role his absentee father should have filled. So Zed might not know the full story.

  While Evelyn knew Zed’s dad’s job was his true mistress, I am sad to say there were rumors that wasn’t his only mistress and that he might have reconnected and had a sustained relationship with a childhood sweetheart from Denver.

  I never brought this up with my nephew because it was unsubstantiated, but living in a small town, such as Vista Peak, I wouldn’t be surprised if Zed got wind of the rumors, too. Whether it was true or not, his mother lived with this possible knowledge, which further added to her burden.

  I tell you this, my dear, so you have some context of the things that have hardened our boy’s heart to love. In his home, he didn’t see an example of true love and how wonderful it can be.

  Oh, and if you’re wondering about the other items in the box, Zed loved trains because of his dad, and the marbles and baseball cards were handed down from his father. The photo of the lady is his mother.

  I kept this box as a reminder of the little boy I knew, who loved his family and longed for a happy home. I pray I’ve given you some insight into my nephew that will help you understand the man you married.

  Sincerely,

  Zora

  The bottom dropped out of Tasha’s stomach. Zed’s wounds might have gone far deeper than she’d ever thought.

  In her past relationships, she’d always been drawn to broken men, feeling she could save them with her love. Her shattered heart was evidence of how wrong she’d been. In therapy, she’d learned that she might have gravitated toward broken men because subconsciously she didn’t feel she deserved better, and the only way she figured she could capture love was by saving a man and earning his adoration.

  A troubling question teased the edge of her brain. Subconsciously, did she think she was Zed’s life preserver, too?

  * * *

  Aunt Zora’s troubling correspondence invaded Tasha’s thoughts the next day, the last day of the yea
r. She decided to walk to the town square to Nate’s Nest, the town diner.

  As she pushed open the door to the diner, the little bell rang, which always made her smile. She loved this little touch from a bygone era. The place felt like home. She and her mother had been coming here since her childhood visits to Zed’s neighborhood to view the Victorians at Christmas.

  After he got to know them during their holiday visits, Nate Sr., the diner’s founder, who never met a stranger, had often quietly comped her and her mother’s meals, aware of her single mother’s strained finances. And Tasha had spent many afternoons after her college classes studying at the diner under the watchful eye of Nate Sr. He’d died a few years before her mother. His son, Nate Jr., now ran the place.

  “Tasha!” Nate Jr. said warmly. He waved at her from behind the counter, where patrons sat if they didn’t want a booth or table.

  While Nate had his father’s lanky frame, he had his Native American mother’s beautiful darker coloring and eyes. His coal-black hair was now accented with more than a few gray hairs. Where did time go?

  To her surprise, he wagged his finger at her, and his expression turned stern. “I’ve got a bone to pick with you, young lady. Why did I have to find out through the grapevine that you married one of Vista Peak’s most notorious bachelors?”

  Tasha blushed. “I’m sorry.”

  A slow smile reappeared on Nate’s face. “While I was slightly hurt, I’m mostly pulling your leg. I’m happy for you and Zed.”

  Nate Jr. scooted from behind the counter and gave her a hardy side hug. “How you doing, otherwise?” His sable-brown eyes looked at her with concern. “I mean really,” he said. “I know the holidays can be hard. I still miss my dad, and I’m sure you must miss your mom. She was sweet as honey on sugar.”

  “I have my moments,” she said. “About the marriage thing—it was sort of a whirlwind.”

  Nate Jr. observed her as if he had more questions but decided against prying. “Well, you’re certainly the talk of the town. Everybody wants to know how you accomplished the Herculean task of capturing the elusive Mr. Evans.”