“Deirdre’s brother is going to help us put them together on Saturday.”
“You were lucky to find Deirdre,” said Gladys, referring to the teen Noelle had hired to help.
“Yes, it was a good idea you had—calling the school and asking them to recommend someone. Dee’s been a good helper, and I think her family can use the money.”
Noelle finished unpacking the groceries and sat down at the table with her mom. “So, what should we have for supper?”
Gladys shrugged. “I had a big lunch. Whatever you want is fine.”
“How about a salad and grilled chicken breasts?”
“That sounds lovely. What did Pastor Thorn have to say today?”
Noelle stiffened, and then consciously relaxed her muscles. She didn’t want to upset her mother. “He asked Nick and me to decorate the church for Christmas.”
“Well that makes sense.”
“It does?”
“Of course,” said Gladys. “You own a Christmas themed store, and he owns a Christmas tree farm.”
“That’s true.”
“And I don’t know anyone who loves Christmas more than the two of you.”
“Maybe we just love it because of our birthday.”
Gladys smiled, a faraway look in her eye. “I remember meeting Nick’s mother when the two of you were born. If you and Nick had come any closer together, that doctor would have been in real trouble.”
Maybe that’s when the rivalry thing had started between them, Noelle mused. They both wanted to be born first. Of course, Nick won that, too.
Noelle rose and went to the refrigerator. “I think I’ll start supper.”
“You know, I still miss Lydia after all these years.”
Gladys and Nick’s mother had become quite close when their children were small. Lydia had died of cancer when Nick was six. His father had died in a car accident a couple of years before that. He’d been raised by his Uncle Larry, on the Christmas tree farm. Nick had taken it over a few years back.
“I know, Mom. I’m sorry.”
“Ah well. That’s old news.” Gladys sighed. “What can I do to help you?”
“Why don’t you set the table,” she suggested as she took out the ingredients for the salad.
Nick And Noelle
Chapter Two
Early Saturday morning, Nick pulled up in front of Noelle’s shop, right next to her sporty little car. It was an old brick building, in the heart of the town’s “historic” downtown. Although, a town of this size wasn’t really big enough to differentiate between the historic district and anywhere else. He figured that without the tourist trade, Noelle would never be able to keep a specialty shop like this running here.
With a sigh he shut off the truck’s engine. Working with Noelle was not going to be easy, but he was determined to do it, so he may as well get started. He owed Noelle’s family a lot for all they had done for him over the years. He couldn’t repay them by always being at war with her. He tried to think of himself as an honorary brother, but somehow that role had grown increasingly difficult.
At that moment, Noelle came out of the coffee shop next door carrying three large Styrofoam cups. She looked great. But then she always looked great…hair up, nails done, designer clothes. That was everyday stuff for Noelle. Sometimes he wondered what she’d look like in a pair of old, ripped jeans and a tee shirt, her long blonde hair hanging down her back.
She was at the shop door, struggling to get her keys out of her purse and to hang on to the coffees.
Nick jumped down from his truck and came up behind her. He reached around to take the keys from her. “Noelle, let me help you.”
Too late, he realized she hadn’t heard him coming. As he grabbed the keys, she started, losing her hold on the coffees and dumping all three down her front.
He felt like a complete idiot. This was not the way to start their new, cooperative relationship. “Are you all right? Did you get burned?”
“No,” she said.
He may have though, because the look she gave him could have left scorch marks. They stooped to pick up the now empty containers and Noelle’s purse, lying in a puddle of coffee.
They both grabbed one of the cups at the same time. Nick tugged. She didn’t let go.
“I’ve got it,” he said.
“No, I do. I’m fine.”
His first instinct was to pull harder and take it from her, but he resisted and let her have it. He was not going to argue with her today, he reminded himself.
She opened the door to her shop and led the way in. They threw the ruined cups into a large garbage can in the middle of the floor.
“Nick, did you want something?” asked Noelle, trying unsuccessfully to cover up her irritation.
“Yes, but hold on. Are you sure you’re okay? The coffee didn’t burn you anywhere?”
“No, the coffee merely warmed me up from the outside, instead of from the inside, thank-you.”
“You’d better get out of that wet coat.”
“I know that,” she snapped, and then turned and went into the back room. “Oh no.”
When he heard her exclamation, Nick followed her. She stood with her back to him, hanging her coat on a peg. “What’s the matter?”
“This blouse is ruined.” She turned around, the wet fabric clinging to every curve. She was wearing one of those camisole things underneath her blouse, which was good, because the white blouse was now completely transparent.
Nick felt his jaw drop.
“I’ll have to go home and change.” As she walked past him, he managed to snap his mouth shut and follow her to the front of the store where she was grabbing her wet purse off the counter.
“Nick, would you mind doing me a favor? Two teens named Deirdre and Drake Simmons should be here any minute. Can you wait for them and tell them I’ll be right back?”
“Sure.”
She was going out in public? Like that? Didn’t she realize she looked like a contestant in a wet T-shirt contest? He had to say something.
“Noelle, wait—”
“What?” She turned back to face him.
He couldn’t put two words together in his brain, never mind make them come out of his mouth. This was definitely one of those times when it was hard to think of Noelle as a sister.
“Nick, I have to hurry.”
“Um…Your coat?” he croaked.
“My coat is soaked. It won’t do me any good. Don’t worry. My car should still be warm.” She pushed the door open.
“Noelle—”
“Now what?”
He didn’t know what to say or where to look. He pulled off his own coat. “Here, take mine.”
She pushed it away. “I don’t need…”
“Noelle, for once in your life don’t argue with me.” He tried to put every ounce of authority he could muster into his voice.
It worked. She rolled her eyes but allowed him to help her into the coat. “I’ll be right back. Just stay until the kids get here, okay?”
“I’ll stay. Leave the coat on.”
“Really, Nick I’m not going to catch pneumonia,” she called over her shoulder as she walked out.
Nick welcomed the blast of cold air that hit him before the door closed behind her. Pneumonia was the last thing he was worried about her catching.
He had only a few minutes to regain his poise before the door opened again, and two teens stepped in. The girl looked a bit nervous, but her brother positively radiated with surly teen attitude. Two smaller children trailed behind them. They must be the helpers Noelle was expecting. What were their names again?
“Hi,” said Nick. “Noelle asked me to tell you she’d be back in a few minutes.”
The kids stared at him.
“She was carrying in some coffee,” he explained. “I was going to help her with the door, but…”
“Oh, t-that’s what the mess on the sidewalk was,” said the oldest girl. “Are you …um… a friend of Noelle’s?”
“Possibly,” Nick replied. “I’ve known her since we were kids, but after the coffee incident, I’m not sure she’ll want to claim me as a friend.”
The girl laughed, and the older boy even softened enough to smile. They were a ragged looking bunch, wearing clothes that had seen better days. The eldest boy was in serious need of a haircut, and the youngest boy looked like he’d gotten one from a very inexperienced stylist.
“W-we can get started without Noelle,” said the oldest girl.
“I’m Nick, by the way.” Nick offered his hand to her.
She took it shyly. “I’m Deirdre. This is …um… my brother, Drake,” she said, indicating the long haired teen. “We’re twins.”
Drake stepped forward and shook Nick’s hand. Nick couldn’t help but notice the wary look in the boy’s eyes, and he wondered about their home life. Stooping down, Nick addressed the two younger children. “And who do we have here?”
“I’m Ryan. Pleased to meet you, Nick.” The boy shook Nick’s hand, and Deirdre looked him with pride.
“I can read,” announced Ryan. “I’m learning at school this year.”
Before he could respond to that, Nick felt tiny fingers tugging at his shirt.
“I’m Kendra,” said the girl, the smallest among them, Nick thought she couldn’t be more than five. She was cute as could be with blonde curls and light brown eyes.
Ryan was also fair haired as well as tallish and thin, but Nick figured he couldn’t be more than six or seven years old. Drake and Deirdre were darker than their siblings, with dark brown hair and eyes. “I’m pleased to meet all of you, too,” said Nick. “I thought Noelle was only expecting two people, though.”
Deirdre blushed. “Sh-she was but …um… Dad had to work and we couldn’t f-find a sitter on short notice. Do you think Noelle will…um…mind?”
She looked so distressed that Nick felt moved to reassure her. “No, I’m sure it will be fine.”
“Can we get started?” Drake shifted from foot to foot, impatient.
“S-sure,” She showed her siblings where to hang their coats in the back.
“Oh no, Noelle’s new coat is a mess,” Nick heard Deirdre exclaim from the back. New? His guilt went up a notch.
The kids trailed back out into the store. Drake leaned against the counter. What do we need to do?”
“Um…Noelle wanted some help putting up these shelves.” Deirdre indicated a jumble of metal on the floor.
He knelt and starting sorting through the pieces. “Do you have a screwdriver in this place, Dee?”
“I’ll check,” she disappeared into the back.
“I think I have one in my truck. Phillips or flathead?” asked Nick.
A few minutes later the guys were wrestling with the shelves and Deirdre was settling her younger siblings in a clear area of the floor. She handed them crayons and coloring books.
****
Noelle checked her reflection in the hall mirror before leaving home for the second time that morning. She hoped her day wouldn’t continue as it had started. If she had her own personal dictionary, Nick’s picture would be next to the word frustration. He had frustrated her by his rivalry all through school. When he grew out of his skinny boy’s body and into the one he had now, and began to show the character of a confident and honorable man, she knew a totally different kind of frustration. She wanted a new kind of relationship with him, one that didn’t involve a never ending battle of one-up-man-ship. But she didn’t know how to go about it.
It was torture, having all those new and tender feelings about him and knowing that he never even noticed her, except as his rival for whatever honor they competed for that week. But she couldn’t stop competing with him because then she’d lose his attention all together. His last triumph was beating her out for valedictorian, by a hundredth of a grade point.
Noelle had been furious. This was their last contest, she knew, and he had won it. He’d forever be the one with the last prize. She’d hardly spoken to him for a week before graduation. And then, by the time she’d realized how badly she was behaving, it was too late. He had left town for a summer job.
As she gazed into the mirror, she wasn’t really seeing herself. She was thinking back to the Christmas of her freshman year in college. She’d been happy to be home and excited about the church’s Christmas party for the older youth. She knew a lot of the friends she hadn’t seen since the summer would be there.
“Noelle, wait up,” Janey Larson had called. Noelle turned at the door of the hall and waited for her friend to catch up. Janey, a tiny tornado of a person, swept the taller Noelle up into a tight hug. “We’ve all missed you around here,”
Noelle gladly returned her friend’s hug. “I’ve missed all of you too. I couldn’t wait for tonight so I could see everyone.” The two girls hurried into the crowded room and soon there were hugs all around as she was welcomed back into the group.
“Is anyone else coming tonight? From out of town, I mean,” Noelle asked her friends.
Janey mentioned a couple of their classmates. “And of course Nick’s here,” she finished, gesturing to across the room where her un-dearest friend stood talking with some of the guys.
The sight of Nick filled Noelle with guilt. She dreaded talking to him. What would he say when he saw her? Would he remind her what a poor sport she’d been?
It turned out that Noelle didn’t have to worry about what Nick might say because he didn’t talk to her all night. It had to be deliberate. He couldn’t accidentally overlook her in this small group.
Why wouldn’t he talk to her? Was he that angry with her? Was he worried that she’d be rude to him? She had to find out. She watched him out of the corner of her eye. He looked good—very good—in a new pair of jeans and a blue and white striped button-down shirt.
Noelle tried to speak to him all night, but they were both surrounded by others, and she didn’t find a single chance to talk to him by himself. She thought she might have to ask him in front of everyone else or forget about the matter. Then the party started to break up and, as Nick returned the CD player to one of the Sunday School classrooms, Noelle saw her chance. She slipped out and followed Nick to the dark education wing.
He had set the CD player on a shelf. When he turned and saw her there, she said “Nick, I’m sorry I wasn’t very nice about you winning valedictorian. I was a brat. You worked hard and you deserved it.” She held out her hand to him.
He just stared at her hand, and she thought for a minute he wasn’t going to accept it. Was he going to throw her bad behavior right back in her face? Then slowly, he reached out and took her hand. Instead of shaking it, as she expected, he pulled, drawing her to him until they were separated by only inches.
He looked into her eyes, his expression unreadable, and her heartbeat sped up. He let go of her hand and slipped his arms around her waist.
“Nick, what…?” Before she could finish her question his mouth covered hers.
Farm work and playing sports had given him a lean, hard body. In comparison, his mouth was soft and moved gently against hers. She slipped her arms around his neck and let him pull her to him more tightly.
He deepened the kiss, and a million butterflies took flight in her stomach. Then, just as abruptly as he’d pulled her to him, he set her away. She struggled to breathe. He gazed at her, his eyes dark and intense. He caressed her cheek, touched her hair…and walked out, without saying a single word to her.
She stood there, knees shaking, head buzzing for countless moments. By the time she pulled herself together, he was gone.
The next day she went to his Uncle’s house, intending to demand an explanation, but he had already left again for college.
She’d never found out why he’d kissed her like that all those years ago. She’d had boyfriends since then, but none of them had been able to top Nick’s kiss—not even close. Now here she was, years later, still stuck in old habits with no idea how to change them, no matter how b
adly she wanted to. Even when the guy made her dump coffee all over herself, she was still waiting for him to kiss her again. Yes, Nick was the very definition of frustration.
Noelle sighed and grabbed her purse. She didn’t have time to stand around daydreaming. His coat hung over the back of the couch where she’d laid it when she came in. It was denim with a thick fleece lining and it smelled of pine—a definite plus to living on a Christmas tree farm.
If she were smart, she’d grab another coat and get this one back to Nick ASAP. But the smell was heavenly. She shrugged into it. He probably left as soon as the kids arrived, and he’d never know she’d worn it for more than the trip home. She wrapped it around her and inhaled the scent of pine and Nick.
****
Nick looked up from the shelving unit he and Drake were putting together when he heard the door open.
Noelle walked in, wearing a fresh designer outfit, new lipstick, and—his old coat? Surely she had more than one coat to choose from in her closet. Why would she wear his?
Noelle raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Nick, you’re still here?”
“Yes, I wanted to apologize again.”
“You don’t have to. It was an accident.”
Deirdre appeared at Noelle’s elbow. “Um, I hope you don’t mind, but…” She explained about having to bring Kendra and Ryan to work with her.
“It’s okay for today,” Noelle told her, “but let’s try to avoid it in the future. There are just too many breakables in our stock. It’s not really a good place for children to play.”
Even as she said this, Kendra was reaching for a porcelain angel placed on one of the built in wall shelves. Noelle took the angel down and showed it to her. “It’s pretty, isn’t it?”
The little girl nodded. “She’s a pretty doll. Can I play with her?”
Noelle shook her head. “I’m sorry, honey. This angel is just for looking at, not for playing with.” She set the angel back on the shelf, and Kendra reluctantly went back to her coloring book.
Noelle turned her attention back to Nick and Drake. “Wow, those shelves are really going together fast. Dee, help me move the finished ones.”
Nick and Noelle Page 2
