by Mimi Barbour
Rage rumbled through the voice of the man who limped over to drag her from the ditch. “What the hell is wrong with you lady? Are you nuts, standing in the middle of the road?”
Knowing from many arguments with her son that the defensive role didn’t work, she quickly chose the offensive. “Me? The speed you were driving, in these conditions, you could have killed me.”
“Unsurprisingly, the urge is still there.” His droll tone hinted at temper reined in, but just.
Sara, still clutching her flashlight, shone it up into his face and saw a man looming over her who clearly had a great deal on his mind. Lurking behind the visible anger, she sensed worry and what looked like fear. That alone helped her to forgive his rotten attitude.
In a placating manner that was so Sara, her hand reached out to touch his arm. “Look, I’m fine, and I’m sorry for scaring you. But I have an emergency. My car is stuck in a snowdrift around that bend, and I couldn’t get phone service there. Useless old phone that it is. I hoped that if I came to the straight stretch, I might get a signal. I guess I became so engrossed, I didn’t even notice your headlights.”
For a moment, she didn’t think he’d accept her explanation. The man ignored her and repeatedly ran his hands through his wind-blown hair, his agitation obvious. Then, as her words registered, he grabbed her arms, she supposed to shut her up, and interrupted in a voice that normally she’d never have put up with.
“What kind of an emergency? Late for a party?” His sarcasm grated, but before she could volley back, he continued, his voice breaking with emotion. “I have a thirteen-year-old, runaway daughter who could be roaming these woods. The silly twit has no survival skills of any sort for this kind of weath—”
“Amy Watson is your daughter? Oh my goodness, she’s my emergency also. My dog found her in the bush, and we’ve brought her to the car, but I’m scared she’s in the first stages of hypothermia. I was desperate to get help before I run out of gas. She needs to be indoors.”
The chauvinistic brute disappeared, replaced instantly by a frightened father who unthinkingly lowered his forehead to touch hers in a way that tore the heart right out of her. A sucker for any kind of male emotion, Sara wrapped an arm around the stranger and held on for a few seconds. Her voice gentled. “She’s fine, just a swollen ankle on top of being frightened and cold. Come with me, I’ll show you.”
The first step she took would have landed her on her fanny without his assistance. “Dear Lord! You are a menace, aren’t you? Look! Don’t move for a minute until I turn off my car and get my medical bag. Then I’ll help you.”
As she waited, she sifted through the pithy responses she should have made after his smart-ass remark. Instead, she said nothing and shone the flashlight to help him see his way better. On his return, she couldn’t help but notice how young he appeared and—well—dark. From his full eyebrows and longish hair, to his eyes and his heavy jacket, and when she added his personality into the mix, it looked to be a long night.
Sara, aware her eyes were a dead giveaway to her thoughts, looked away. “I hope Amy isn’t scared with me being gone so long. She was pretty upset by the time I found her.”
“Lately she’s become emotional over every little thing. Trust me, I know.”
“It’s called puberty. As a doctor, I’m sure you’re aware of the phenomenon. It happens to teenage girls.” Her snippy tone came out without any thought of how it would sound to a virtual stranger. Between her and Kai, they tended to ‘dis’ each other, as he called it, ‘push buttons’ to her way of thinking, and her response had come automatically.
His head swivelled, and he eyeballed her innocent expression before answering. “I’m an administrator, not a practising MD. But I do know what that means. And, I’ve given her a lot of slack. Obviously too much, since she thought she could pull off a stupid stunt like she did today. ”
“I think she’s sorry for running away. She’s been frightened, and that in itself is a huge lesson.” Involved in the conversation and not paying attention to her next step, Sara, arms windmilling, instinctively grabbed at the person nearest to stop her imminent fall. Rather than stop herself from landing on her backside, she hauled him down with her.
“Lady, you’re a hazard. It should be mandatory every time you leave your house for you to strap on a blinking yellow light.” She noticed he’d taken the brunt of their misfortune by twisting, trying to save her at the last minute.
The flashlight in her hand was caught between their two bodies and illuminated their faces. At the same moment, they both stopped trying to push away from each other. Instead their gazes caught and held. Shivers broke out all over her body, which had nothing to do with the fact that she lay partially buried in a foot of snow, but all to do with a stranger’s arms cradling her. His eyes—not black at all—replicated her all-time favourite ring, one she’d cherished for years, a brilliant aquamarine.
Neither of them moved for what seemed like forever, but was in fact probably only a few seconds. In that time, she felt as if he’d seen into her very soul with a disconcerting gaze that had her stomach flip-flopping and her breath catching in her throat.
Lordy, lordy, she thought, giddy as a young girl. He’s rather smashing. His raised eyebrow finally caught her attention, stopped her ogling, and brought her back to earth.
“Sorry! Look, the car’s just there, you can see the headlights.” She nodded towards the side of the road where a faint glow sent strange shadow images into the trees. Then she breathed a sigh of relief when he lifted her off of him, and with one smooth move, rolled to his feet. Like any gentleman, once he stood, he reached down to help her up.
She ignored his outstretched hand, knowing with her luck, she’d have another blunder. Then he’d really have something to tease her about. And she was right. Not only did her feet slide out from under her, but if he hadn’t thought quickly and one-armed her against his body, she’d have landed once again on her backside.
Horrified, she tried to push his hands away.
“Oh for heaven’s sake.” He wrapped his free arm around her and all but carried her to the car. Once there, he opened the front door and shoved her in like a victim in a kidnapping. Pegi, not liking this at all, lunged forward, warning the stranger with a menacing growl.
“Stop, Pegi! Don’t bite him—yet. But keep that thought in case I change my mind.” Sara didn’t care if he heard her loudly whispered words.
Amy sat forward. “Sara, are you alright. I got worri… Daddy?" Her father had opened the back door, slid her feet over, and pushed his way inside. “You came to find me?”
“You sound surprised.” The brusque tone in his voice didn’t cover the relief that Sara heard loud and clear.
“I am. I didn’t think I was important enough for you to leave your office for so long.”
"You didn’t think at all. Why would I give anyone else the joy of wringing your neck? As your father, I relish the privilege.”
Sara couldn’t hold back another minute. “Stop it you two. Squabbling like a couple of kids. You’ve devastated your frantic father, Amy. Of course he’s searched for you and in this horrible weather.” Then she pointed her gloved finger toward the man whose name she still didn’t know and hesitated. “What’s your name?”
“Mr. Watso—“
“Dad!”
“Jack. And I wasn’t quite that frantic since I knew my little girl has a sharp head on her shoulders, and in normal circumstances, could look after herself very well.”
“Really, Dad? Do you really believe that? Don’t kid around, okay? I pulled a dumb move and could have been seriously in trouble if Pegi hadn’t found me.” The sob that escaped had both the man and the dog moving towards the youngster.
Just in time, Sara grabbed the collar to keep her pet in the front seat and watched as the man scooped his daughter onto his lap and hugged her with a moan breaking his restraint. “You scared me, kiddo. This time you really had me worried. Don’t ever take off like th
at again.”
The crying teen buried her face, and her arms clung to his neck as she sobbed brokenheartedly. “I was just so lonely. And it’s Christmas. And my friends are all together without me. A-and you didn’t care.”
“What can I say? I’m an unthinking jerk. There were so many loose ends at the office, and I’d decided if I could finish them all early, we could have the rest of today and tomorrow to celebrate. But then everything fell apart…” He stopped when he heard her loud sigh. “You’re right. Same old excuses. I’m really sorry, baby. No more work. I promise.”
“I’m sorry to have worried you." The youngster’s voice wobbled, but her sincerity rang true. “I guess I understand how important your job is right now while you’re setting everything up. You explained it to me—ad nauseam—a-and I know I promised to cut you some slack. It’s just that the new house isn’t home to me. And not having anyone around was driving me crazy. I hate spending all day alone. Hold it!” Her voice rose shrilly. “Before you remind me that I have all the toys other kids would love to have, it’s—”
“No, I’ll never say that again. While I drove around looking for you, I realized something radically awesome.” Sara watched in the rear-view mirror as the teen smacked her father’s arm in the way young girls do when they’re being teased. “It dawned on me that I would hate to be treated like I was nothing but a hindrance. Especially since it isn’t true. You alone colour my world, little girl. You always have. Without you everything would be—hmmm—yucky grey!”
“Awww, Dad.” Sniffs and hugs followed. Soon, in a little girl voice, Amy continued. “And now, because of me, we’re all stuck in a snowstorm, huddled in a cold car on Christmas Eve.”
Feeling she’d given the father and daughter sufficient time to make up, Sara butted in. “Couldn’t help but overhear, and I just want you to know that we don’t have to remain in the car. If your dad feels up to carrying you, my house is within walking distance. Wanna go for it?”
“Can we? Cool!” Instinctively, Amy flung her hand toward Sara and smiled when it was taken and held for a moment.
Without thought, before letting it go, Sara kissed the back gently. Jack’s startled gaze caught hers. Why she blushed, she’d never know. Something in his look made her lower her eyes and pretend an interest in her furry pet.
"Did Sara tell you I hurt my ankle, Dad? I can’t put any weight on it.”
“Right, I brought my bag with me. Let’s take a look.”
Sarah added without turning around. “We didn’t take her boot off because I thought the tightness of the leather would give the same support as a tensor bandage.” Hoping she hadn’t made a mistake, she glanced back to see if his face showed any distain or anger.
His answer made her relax. “You’re probably right. Can you wait until we get to Sara’s house, Amy? Then I’ll take it off and look at the damage.”
“Sure. No problem. Except I can’t put any weight on it at all. Sara had to piggyback me to the car." Amy grinned with affection, and without hesitation Sara grinned back.
“You’re lucky I didn’t put us both in the snowbank with these silly boots I’m wearing.”
“For some women, it’s all about being modern and looking good rather than practicality.” Jack’s stiff voice caught both her and Amy’s stare.
“You’re kidding, right?” Sara couldn’t stop from challenging his remark. “I’m wearing these silly boots because it was a sad day for me, and I wanted to dress frivolously for once to help cheer myself. I took my son to the airport and thought I’d be spending the night alone, so… Hold it! What time is it??” Her voice broke, the worry coming through loud and clear.
Without hesitation, Jack answered. “Close to seven. Is there a problem?”
“Yes. Kai, my son, promised to Skype me at seven-thirty my time, and he’ll be frantic if I’m not there to answer. He knows nothing would keep me from hearing how his trip went. We must leave now.”
“Yes, okay. Is it very far?”
“About a quarter of a mile. I knew I couldn’t carry Amy myself, but I’m sure for you it won’t be too difficult. There are heavy trees along the sides of the road, might block some of the snow. Make it easier to traverse, but it’ll still be quite a trek.”
“Then let’s get started.” Jack helped Amy to get ready. He took his scarf off his own neck and solicitously wrapped it around her head, tucking it into her jacket as if she were a child. He was unaware that Sara watched until she sighed.
“What?”
“Nothing. Are we ready? I’ll leave the car lights on. As weak as they are, they’ll help somewhat. The turn-off is the second on the right, and the lane goes all the way to the beach. I just had the road repaired and made ready for the winter. Should help some.”
The next while was something Sara would never forget. Between her windmilling falls, Jack’s muttering each time he stopped to assist, and him dropping Amy when Sara would unwittingly upend him—their sombre plodding turned into hilarious antics. At least for her and Amy. Jack—not so much. But the occasional grin did break through, and all in all, he went along with their foolishness good-naturedly.
By the time they reached her front door, not only were they exhausted frozen snow-people, but they needed to get out of their wet clothes and put something hot into their cold bodies. While Jack used his cell phone to inform the local police that there were two vehicles in the ditch but the occupants were safe, Sara had the furnace turned up, the fireplace on and the overly decorated living room glowing like the cover of an old-fashioned Christmas card. Angels and reindeer, her favourite decorations, were placed haphazardly around the room, and the huge blue spruce decorated in a traditional way gave off the most wonderful smell of the season. An overabundance of fanciful ornaments, sparkling glitter and tinsel saved from years gone by caught one’s eye, but it did represent Christmas. Or so Sara imagined.
“I’ll get Amy something to change into,” Sara played hostess. “Jack, Kai’s room is the first up the stairs on your right. Check his closet and see if there’s anything that’ll fit you. You’re a big man, but then he’s a big boy and wears a lot of his clothes baggy so you might luck out.”
“Yes ma’am.” Jack stomped the snow from caked boots and shrugged off his coat. Amy saw his well-groomed suit, soaked from the knees down, and loved the fact that his once perfect tie was wrinkled and hung loosened around his neck.
In no time, everyone spiffed up in sweats, met in the kitchen where Sara began setting out the remains of the huge Christmas dinner she’d shared with Kai the day before. Over the large, wooden, country-styled table, she spread platters of turkey, ham, cabbage rolls, salad and on and on, then plunked three plates with cutlery down and waved her hands for them to dig in. Before sitting down, she filled an extra plate for Pegi who strangely ignored the food.
Sara, thinking it odd since her dog normally wolfed down her dinner, didn’t force her but instead wiped her down and then busied herself with other chores.
“Fill your plates and I’ll heat them up in the microwave,” she said, with a friendly slap on Amy’s hand for picking at the meat without a fork.
As soon as they were all loaded with food and drinks, wine for her and Jack and a wine goblet filled with ginger-ale for Amy, they began their meal. Sara grabbed the fancy candles that she and Kai had used and relit them to give a festive air to their holiday feast.
Pegi hovered close to Sara, not her usual habit, until Sara with a glare and a finger pointing at the mat near the back door where the dog’s supper waited, forced the dog to obey without a word spoken. The large white fur-ball crept to the corner and whined.
“Sara, I love your Pegi. She’s wonderful.” Amy sighed and then glared at her dad.
“Noted and filed, dear daughter. When we’re settled, we’ll look into getting a pet. I was thinking a turtle might be fun.” Jack winked at Sara, but Amy didn’t notice.
“Da-d! Give me a break!” The whine was well practised. So was the pou
t.
Sara winked back at Jack and added. “I have a really small collar you can use to take it for a walk, Amy. Think of all the attention you’ll get at the beach in the summer.”
Amy’s glance swivelled between her father and Sara and then she smiled. “You’re kidding, right?”
Jack answered before Sara. “You think so?” Then he motioned for Amy to turn towards him. “Here, give me your foot. I see you got the boot off between the two of you. Was it very painful?”
Amy lifted her leg onto his knee. “Sara wiggled it and worked it off. It didn’t hurt too much. I can even put a bit of weight on it now.”
After he prodded and poked, he nodded. “Good. Keep it up as much as possible to keep the swelling down. Maybe an ice pack would help also.”
Sara jerked and dropped the knife she held while cutting into a loaf of homemade bread, and quickly turned towards the large refrigerator behind her. “I meant to give her one and forgot.”
Feeling inadequate, Sara organized the pack and handed it over without looking at Jack. As he took the ice, he grasped her hand and used this to force her to look at him. The softness in his eyes surprised and pleased her at first. Then tingles started from where their hands linked, ran up her arm straight to her heart, and exploded into sensations that had her catching her breath. Reflexes kicked in, and she snatched her hand back. What in the world? From under her eyelashes, she noticed him shake his own hand before clenching and hiding it under the table.
Just then the computer let her know that Kai had made his promised call. She moved to where it sat at a workstation on the side of the kitchen and opened the page. At first glance, she noted his annoyance. Before she could speak, he blurted out in his forthright manner.
“Where were you Mom? This is the third time I’ve tried to get through. I was worried.”
“Now you know how it fee—”
“Not funny Mom. I was really worried.”
“No, you’re right. I’m sorry, Kai. There was a snowstorm on the way home, and I ran into a slight problem.”
