“Let’s surprise Nick and make him some Christmas cookies,” she told the kids. Ryan and the girls enthusiastically agreed. Drake didn’t join in at first. He said he had some homework to do. But soon the happy noise from the kitchen, and the smell of fresh cookies drew him. He joked and sang Christmas songs with the rest of them while frosting and decorating the cookies. It was good to see Drake relax and have fun for a change. Noelle seldom saw the tense, wary look leave his face. She was thankful he had an opportunity to drop his worries, if only for an afternoon.
She also noticed that Deirdre’s stutter had decreased. She guessed that meant the girl was feeling more secure. She paused in rolling out more dough and sent a quick prayer, asking God to help Nick and her find the kids a secure home, so they could heal more fully.
****
When Nick stepped into his house that evening, the first thing he noticed was the delicious aroma wafting through the air. The smell of baking cookies did not normally come from his kitchen.
“Hello,” he called out. Was he in the right house?
“We’re in here,” Deirdre called back from the kitchen.
Kendra rushed out to greet him. She had on an apron that hung to her ankles and smudges of frosting decorated her face. “We’re making Christmas cookies, Nick. Come see.”
With a smile, Nick took her hand and followed her into the kitchen. Drifts of flour, sticky spoons, and bowls of frosting covered the kitchen in disaster, and in the middle of it all stood something truly unexpected—or rather, someone.
Noelle was taking a tray of cookies from the oven. Her face was rosy from the heat, and her blue eyes sparkled. She wasn’t exactly wearing the ripped jeans and old t-shirt he’d dreamed of seeing her in, but worn jeans and a blue sweater that matched her eyes was just as good. And her hair was hanging loose, just as he’d imagined it. It fell in rippling waves to the middle of her back. She looked better than the house smelled.
“Hi, Nick. I expected to have all this cleaned up and be gone before you got home. I guess I lost track of the time.”
“That’s okay.” He didn’t know what else to say, but he was saved by the kids who clamored around him, showing off their creations. The cookies were rolled thin and cut perfectly, so he knew who’d done that part. But the frosting and sprinkles were all the work of the kids. The cookies dripped frosting and shimmered with colored sugar.
“I didn’t mean to take over your kitchen,” apologized Noelle, as if he’d caught her doing something scandalous. “But I remember how much fun my brother and sister and I always had baking cookies. I guess I wanted to relive that with the kids.”
“It was a great idea,” Nick assured her “as long as you don’t take all the cookies home with you.”
“Did you see how many cookies we made? What would my Mom and I do with all these? We’d both look like blimps if we tried to eat all of this.”
“Even Drake helped,” Ryan broke in. “At first he wouldn’t, but he heard all of the fun we were having and he had to join in.”
Drake shrugged. “It was kind of fun.”
“Did you make Christmas cookies with your family when you were a kid?” Ryan asked Nick.
“No, we didn’t go in for baking much. I always liked going caroling with the youth group, though.”
“We should do that. They’re going on Wednesday,” Deirdre said.
Drake rolled his eyes. “No singing for me.”
“That’s what you said about the cookies,” his sister reminded him.
Noelle began running water in the sink and added a squirt of soap. “I think that’s the last batch of cookies in the oven. I’ll just clean up, and then I can go.”
A chorus of protests started when Noelle mentioned leaving. Nick waited until the noise died down and said “You all helped make the mess. Why don’t you all help clean up. And while you do, I’ll run back into town and pick up a pizza.”
Nick’s suggestion met with unanimous approval from the children. “But,” Noelle protested “I have to get home to make supper for my Mom.”
“I’ll stop in and tell her you’re having supper with me. And I’ll pick up something for her if she wants.”
He saw her hesitate, but obviously she couldn’t resist the pleading looks Deirdre, Ryan and Kendra gave her. Drake didn’t exactly plead, but he’d dropped his attitude for the time being and waited expectantly for Noelle’s answer.
“All right,” she conceded “I’ll stay.”
“Well, that’s settled then,” said Nick putting on the coat he’d just taken off. “I’ll get the pizzas.”
“We’ll have this all cleaned up when you get back,” Noelle promised, as Nick went back out into the night.
While everyone pitched in and cleaned up the kitchen, they shared stories of their favorite Christmas traditions. They were wiping up the last of the crumbs when they saw the headlights of Nick’s truck coming back up the driveway
True to her word, the place was spotless when Nick got back with the food, and as they sat around the table eating pizza, he was glad he and Noelle had chosen to help the Simmons themselves instead of handing them over immediately to social services.
After supper, the older kids went to finish homework and the younger two went to change into pajamas. Alone in the kitchen, Nick watched Noelle place about a dozen cookies on a paper plate. “I’m taking these home,” she told Nick. “The rest are all yours.”
As she rummaged around in his cupboards until she found some plastic wrap to cover the cookies, Nick realized that in spite of his resolve to get over her, he was helpless to suppress the longing that built within him. He yearned to have Noelle in his house, doing domestic things, making everything better somehow.
He envisioned himself coming home to this kind of scene every night, to light and warmth, the aroma of good food and most of all, to Noelle. To walk into the kitchen and see her smiling at him, stopping in the act of taking something out of the oven like tonight. The wave of emotion hit him so hard that his knees felt weak for a moment, and he clutched the back of a chair.
He realized with a sense of total helplessness that he was in love with Noelle Granton, and there was nothing he could do about it.
“Nick, are you all right?” She had paused in the act of tearing a piece of plastic off the roll and was looking at him with concern.
He shook his head to clear it, even though he felt like he had just seen things more clearly than ever before. Perhaps he should try to cloud his head, rather than clear it. “I guess I’m tired, and it just hit me.”
“I’ll be out of your way in just a second. Unless you need me for anything else?”
Anything else? He needed her for everything. “No, I’ll be all right.” A blatant lie. “You go on home.”
She didn’t look convinced, but he insisted she go. Still, when Noelle finally did leave, Nick thought the house lost much of its light and warmth. She could take over his kitchen anytime. As if she’d ever want to.
Nick And Noelle
Chapter Nine
Noelle arrived home that evening with a plate of cookies and a smile on her face.
“Where did you get the cookies?” asked Gladys when Noelle brought them out after supper.
“I baked them with some friends this afternoon.” She offered the plate to her mother then took a cookie for herself.
“Would these friends be the kids you’ve been helping?”
Noelle choked on her cookie. Once she’d cleared her throat she asked “How did you know about that? No, let me guess. Dr. Cooke? So much for patient confidentiality.”
“Don’t be too hard on him. He assumed I knew. What’s the situation there?”
Noelle briefly explained how the kids were afraid of being split up and would most likely run away if social services were called. She also told how she’d followed up on the lead about their aunt and how it hadn’t worked out. “Nick and I have decided to just leave the situation until after Christmas. If we haven’t tho
ught of anything by then, I guess we’ll have to call in social services.” Thinking of that sent Noelle’s spirits plummeting.
“Who are these children, Noelle? You can trust me not to blab.”
With a sigh, Noelle gave in and told her mother everything. She doubted if her mother would know the families involved anyway.
“I hope you’ll be successful in helping them, dear. It’s a good thing you’re doing.”
Gladys changed the subject to the holiday celebrations. She invited Noelle, Nick and the kids to dinner the next Saturday, just a few days before Christmas.
“All of us? Do you mean it Mom?”
Gladys laughed. “Of course I do. I always enjoy having Nick around. And I admit I’m curious about the children.”
“You won’t ask too many questions, will you? Drake is very protective of them all, and Deirdre just worries so much.”
“It sounds like the two eldest have done a good job taking care of each other and their younger siblings.”
“They’re good kids, Mom.”
“I know that, honey.” Gladys’ eyes softened and she reached out and took Noelle’s hand. “And you’re a very good daughter, the best.”
Tears sprang to Noelle’s eyes. “Really Mom? But I’ve been working so much. I haven’t spent much time with you lately.”
Her mother laughed. “I don’t need you to sit around and hold my hand. I know the heart attack scared you, Noelle, but I’m doing fine now. I have lots of friends, and I’m still very active.”
“I guess what you’re saying is, you’ve got your own life.”
“Yes. I really appreciate all you’ve done for me while I was recovering, but I think it’s time for you to get a life, too.”
“What do you mean? I have a life.”
“You have a job. There’s more to life than that.”
Noelle frowned. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that after New Year’s you should find your own place.”
“How will that help me?”
Gladys shrugged. “It will force you to look to friends and neighbors for society.”
“I do that now. I’m involved at church.”
“Your work with the youth group is great honey, but you could do more if you weren’t hovering over me all the time.”
Noelle lowered her eyes and remained silent.
Gladys continued. “I know that David hurt you with those terrible things he said, but you can’t just give up on people because of it.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Yes, you do, and I’m not just talking about dating. Since you broke up with David you’ve been slowly cutting yourself off from people.”
“In the back of my mind,” admitted Noelle “I keep wondering if they really like me for who I am.”
“You can’t let that prevent you from reaching out to people,” Gladys warned. “Remember Jesus and the ten lepers? Only one came back to thank him. But he kept loving people no matter how they felt about him.”
“I know you’re right Mom, but it’s hard. It’s really hard.”
“Noelle Granton, you are not a person who doesn’t do things because they’re ‘hard.’ You’ve always been one who enjoyed a challenge. This is your challenge.”
“All right, Mom,” Noelle quietly agreed. “I’ll start looking for a new place.”
“Good. Now don’t you worry about this dinner with Nick and the kids. I want to do it all. It’s my gift to you.”
Noelle wanted to protest, but then she took a closer look at her Mom. The woman was the picture of health. She radiated an energy that had been missing when Noelle had first moved in. “If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure, dear. You just concentrate on those children and on getting your shop through its first Christmas. Planning this dinner will be a breeze compared to that.”
****
The shop did keep Noelle busy. Holiday shopping was climbing toward a frenzied peak as Christmas drew near. Noelle was glad she didn’t have to worry about her Mom, but she was still worried about the kids. They had yet to find someone to take them. She feared that they would have to call in the authorities after Christmas.
If that were the case, Noelle was determined they should have the best Christmas ever before that happened. She had so many gifts for them; she couldn’t fit them all under the tree.
Wednesday night was the night scheduled for the youth group and their families to go caroling. Noelle had changed her mind about going. She’d been caroling before and kept thinking about how everyone huddled together to keep warm. The last thing she needed to do was spend an evening pressed up against Nick. She’d never get over him at this rate.
When she got home from work, she changed out of her work clothes, put her hair into a pony tail and slipped into a comfortable pair of jeans and a green sweater with snowflakes embroidered on it. She had Christmas presents to wrap. She was up to her elbows in paper and bows when the doorbell rang. A few seconds later, Gladys called up to her. “Noelle, someone is here for you.”
“I’ll be right down,” she answered. “Who could that be?” she muttered to herself as she came down the steps. It was a good thing she didn’t try to guess, because she’d never have gotten it right. She stared at the handsome blonde man lounging in the living room.
“Austin Summers?”
He grinned at her. “Surprised, aren’t you?”
“Well, yes. What can I do for you?”
“You were going caroling tonight, weren’t you?”
“Actually…”
“Great.” He stood up. “I can give you a ride.”
“How did you know...”
“I was talking to your sister Natalie the other day, and she said you were going.”
Suspicion stirred in Noelle. “Why were you talking to Natalie?”
“She called about ordering a ham for your mom for Christmas.” Austin’s family owned one of the grocery stores in town—not the one that Gladys usually shopped in.
“How did this lead to the subject of caroling?”
Austin shrugged. “I don’t know. We were talking about Christmas in general, and somehow it came up.”
“Yeah, I’ll just bet it did,” grumbled Noelle under her breath.
“And she said you needed a date for caroling.”
Her mouth dropped open. “She told you I needed a date?”
He laughed. “Don’t be embarrassed Noelle. We all hit a dry patch once in a while.”
She didn’t know whether to laugh or scream. Natalie had gone too far this time. She was just going to set Austin straight and then she’d call her sister and tell her in no uncertain terms what she thought of her matchmaking efforts. Noelle opened her mouth to speak, but Gladys came into the room with coat, scarf, earmuffs and mittens for her.
“Here you go, dear. I want you to bundle up. It’s cold tonight.”
Before she knew what hit her, Noelle found herself swaddled in winter outerwear and on her way out the door with a man she did not want to be with.
****
Nick and the Simmons kids got to the church early, but by the time they’d pulled out the Christmas songbooks from storage, a steady stream of teens and their families began to trickle in to the church basement.
Nick, who was in charge of the event, took time to greet everyone and talk to them for a minute or two. But he kept one eye on the door, waiting for Noelle to appear. Finally, he decided she wasn’t going to show after all. He called for everyone’s attention and began to go over the route they would take and the songs they would use. They were going to visit church family shut-ins and make a stop at a nearby nursing home. The kids had requested stopping at a few other places where favorite church members or family lived, and Nick had included those on the route as well.
He was just finishing up when Noelle walked in. He couldn’t stop the flicker of joy he felt at her presence any more than he could prevent the sharp stab of anger when he saw whom she was wi
th.
He finished his speech and led the group in prayer. As people began to put on hats and gloves and grab songbooks, He made a beeline for Noelle. “Hi,” he said. “I didn’t think you would make it.”
“Oh, I had to. My sister made sure of that.”
It was easy to see that Noelle wasn’t happy about something, but Nick didn’t know what. Maybe she wanted him to make himself scarce so she could spend time alone with Austin. Too bad, because that wasn’t happening. Even though he knew he’d never have Noelle, there was no way he was going to leave her in the clutches of someone like Austin Summers. The man had more girlfriends than a squirrel had acorns.
“I see the Simmons kids made it. I’d like to talk to them for a minute before we leave,” she said.
“Sure thing,” Austin answered, and Nick’s jaw clenched at the proprietary hand Austin placed on her back as they moved through the crowd.
The caroling was going well, and as the night wound down, Nick reflected that he should have considered a career in acting. He thought he’d put on a pretty good show tonight, acting as the fun, in control leader of the group and Christian role model, while harboring thoughts of violence against Austin the whole time.
The way Austin was constantly touching Noelle made Nick see red. Not that he was doing anything inappropriate for a church outing. But those little touches, holding her elbow, as if she couldn’t step off a curb by herself or rubbing her arms like it was twenty below instead of twenty above, were tightening the knot of anger that burned in his stomach.
The only thing that allowed Nick to keep it under control, was Noelle’s complete lack of response to Austin. If she’d cuddled up to him or gazed at him with those beautiful blue eyes, Austin Summers would have been history, right there.
After the caroling was finished, the group went back to the church for cookies and hot chocolate in the lounge. Nick could see that the Simmons kids had had a great time. Drake and Deirdre seemed to have found their niche and for tonight’s family event there were even enough younger kids for Ryan and Kendra to have someone to play with. Nick tried to concentrate on this positive aspect and forget Noelle.
Nick and Noelle Page 7
