“I know.”
“So why did I find you at the top of this ladder?”
“Because…Because we forgot, and when Pastor Thorn reminded me, I felt bad and wanted to get it done right away. I did call you, but you weren’t home.”
“This is about you, isn’t it? You and the ridiculous standard you think people hold you to.”
She bit her lip and nodded, unable to meet his angry stare.
“Do you know what went through my head on the way here? Do you know what I imagined?”
“What? That you’d finally be rid of me?” she mumbled, her gaze still locked on the floor.
His hands tightened on her waist. “Will you be serious for one minute?”
“I thought I was.”
Obviously, she’d gone too far, because his fury boiled over and he shouted at her “Of all the irresponsible things for you to do, Noelle. Do you enjoy driving me crazy? Do you enjoy making me worry? You’re going to be the death of me. I swear I’ve never met anyone as infuriating as you.”
Noelle cringed and put her hands over her ears. “Stop it, Nick, stop it.”
His tone changed from anger to something she couldn’t identify. “Noelle, look at me.”
Slowly she lifted her head until her gaze met his gaze. He let go of her waist and cupped her face in his hands.
“I don’t want to get rid of you. I couldn’t stand it if you got hurt.”
Noelle thought her heart would break right through her chest, it was pounding so hard. Slowly he brought his head down to hers and kissed her tenderly.
Then he seemed to realize what he’d done and he hastily stepped away from her. “I didn’t mean to do that.”
“You didn’t?”
“I’m sorry Noelle. Look, I’ll put the ladder away. You can go home.” He seemed just as anxious to get away from her as he had been to get close to her a few seconds ago.
She was so confused. “You can’t keep doing this to me.”
He began to fold up the ladder, shutting her out as if she weren’t even there.
“This is the third time you’ve done this. You kiss me and then you just walk away.” Noelle felt sobs welling up in her chest and she tried unsuccessfully to choke them back.
Now it was he who couldn’t meet her eyes. “I said I was sorry.”
“It may not mean anything to you, but you’re breaking my heart.”
Her cry of misery echoed in the empty sanctuary, and Nick froze. Slowly, he put down the ladder and turned to her. “What did you say?”
Tears were running down her cheeks now, but Noelle didn’t care. Every time he rejected her, her heart crumbled. She had to finish this now. “I said you’re breaking my heart. If you don’t love me, then stop kissing me. You make me hope for something I can’t have.”
“What do you hope for Noelle?”
“For you, of course. I’ve been waiting for you since you kissed me that first Christmas after graduation.” Her throat filled up with tears and she couldn’t say any more. What was the use anyway? She was just embarrassing herself, throwing herself at a man who found her troublesome at best. The kisses were strange aberrations, but that’s all they were to him—aberrations.
Noelle turned and fled the church blindly. In the parking lot she fumbled with her keys, trying to unlock her car door. Sobs wracked her body, making it hard to hold her hand steady enough. Then from behind, strong hands gripped her shoulders, turning her around and pulling her into his embrace.
“Just let me go Nick,” She pushed at his chest, trying to get free, but he held her tightly.
“Noelle, listen to me.”
“Why? So you can tell me what a mistake you made?”
Still holding her against him with one arm, he took her chin in his other hand and forced her to look at him. “You said to stop kissing you if I didn’t love you. But I do love you.”
Noelle stilled in his arms. “What?”
“I said I love you.”
“Do you mean it?”
“Yes, absolutely.”
She searched his face and found the answer she wanted in those gorgeous brown eyes. They were warmer than she’d ever seen them. Looking into them was like drowning in hot chocolate. Noelle felt the feather soft touch of the year’s first snow flakes on her cheeks. “I love you, too Nick.”
He brushed the snowflakes from her face. “So can I kiss you now?”
In response, Noelle turned her face up to his, inviting his lips back to hers. “Yes, Please.”
****
Those few flakes of snow turned into a blizzard. Children rejoiced as school was cancelled and they got to start their Christmas vacation early. But the roads were cleared by Christmas and Nick thought the glistening snow and the frosted trees made for stunning scenery as he drove into town. He was invited to Gladys’ house for Christmas dinner. It was in some ways a replay of Thanksgiving, minus Uncle Larry, who had extended his Florida vacation.
He brought his pies into the kitchen where Gladys, Noelle and Natalie were making dinner. Noelle flashed him a smile from the corner where she was making the punch. Gladys kissed his cheek and took the pies. And Natalie, predictably, started in on fixing Noelle up with someone.
“Nick, help me. She’s too picky. She won’t go out with anyone I suggest.”
“Don’t worry about it Natalie.”
“But she’ll never find someone by herself.”
Nick winked at Noelle and saw Gladys turn away to hide her smile. “I think she already has.”
Natalie shrieked and dropped the potato she was peeling. “Noelle, why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I knew you’d react like this.”
“Well, who is it? Do I know him?”
Noelle glanced at Nick. “I think you do.”
“Where did you meet him? How long have you known each other? Is it serious?”
Nick answered for Noelle. “She met him in the hospital and they’ve known each other forever.” He caught Noelle’s gaze and held it as he finished. “And yes, it is serious. Very serious.”
Her eyes softened at his last words, and he couldn’t look away. He didn’t think he’d ever get used to her looking at him like that.
She cleared her throat. “Um, I think I’ll just go get the ice ring for the punch.”
A grin spread across his face. “Let me help you with that.”
“Hey, wait. I still don’t know who it is. And when was Noelle in the hospital?”
They stepped into the garage and Nick shut the door behind them, cutting off Natalie in mid-rant.
“Let your mom tell her,” he said as he pulled Noelle to him. “We have better things to do.”
With a smile, Noelle wrapped her arms around him and said “Merry Christmas, Nick.”
“It certainly is.”. He dropped a kiss on her mouth just as the door opened., and Natalie barged in.
“Come on Noelle, you have to tell me who…oh.” Natalie froze as her gaze passed from Noelle to Nick. She shook her head and went back into the kitchen. As she was shutting the door, Nick heard her say “Mom, I hope you don’t want that ice ring anytime soon.”
He and Noelle burst out laughing. He recovered and mingled kisses with her giggles.
Finally, she sighed and said “I think we shocked Natalie.”
“She deserved it. What was she thinking, setting you up with Austin Summers?”
“We should probably go in and face the music. Natalie’s probably broadcast the news to the whole town by now.”
“Good. Then everyone will know you’re taken.”
“I didn’t know you were the jealous type.”
“Where you’re concerned, I intend to be.” And he meant it. He never dreamed it would be possible for Noelle to love someone like him. But now that he had her heart, he wasn’t giving it back—ever.
He brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear and eased away from her. “I’ll get the ice ring.” He pulled it out of the freezer and grabbed Noelle�
��s hand. She opened the door, and sounds of laughter and happy conversations washed over them, blending with the wonderful smells of the meal. But still they hesitated to step through the door.
Noelle smiled at him. “Merry Christmas, Nick, and happy birthday.”
He smiled back. “I don’t think we’ve gotten along this well since we were born. But this is definitely a trend that I intend to continue.”
Epilogue
December, One Year Later
Noelle stepped onto the stool and reached up to place the star on the top of the Christmas tree—on her and Nick’s tree. It was their first Christmas together as husband and wife. Nick reached out and lifted her off the stool. They both stepped back and took a look at the newly decorated tree. It stood by the window of the living room in the farm house. Now that Nick had someone to look after him, Larry had decided to permanently move to Florida with the understanding that he could visit in the summer when it got too hot in the south. So, after they were married, Noelle moved into the farm house, and the place had finally received the feminine touch it had been missing all those years.
Sighing and snuggling up against her husband Noelle declared “The tree is beautiful.”
Nick stroked her hair, hanging loose down her back. “Not as beautiful as you,” he told her.
The compliment both pleased and embarrassed her so she chose to ignore it. “I have a present for you.”
“It’s too early for presents.”
“Not for this one. It can’t wait until Christmas,” Noelle insisted.
She put the stool away in a closet and brought back a small, wrapped gift box.
“Why do I have to open this now?”
“I really don’t think you’ll want to wait for Christmas to open this one.”
“But I didn’t get you anything.”
Noelle laughed. “I don’t know about that. Will you quit arguing and just open it.”
Nick pulled off the white satin bow and tore away the shiny red foil paper. He opened the box and found a Christmas ornament inside. “Is this from your shop?”
She nodded. “I had it engraved. Read what it says.”
Nick hooked his finger through the thread loop and lifted the ornament. It was a silver picture frame. On the top part of the frame ‘2008’ was inscribed.
“Oh, I get it. It’s one of those ‘first Christmas together’ ornaments. But honey, you put next year’s date on it.”
Noelle couldn’t keep from smiling. “I know. Keep reading.”
He read the bottom words and sucked in his breath in surprise. “It says ‘baby’s first Christmas.” He looked at her for confirmation. “Our baby?”
Noelle’s smile spread into a happy grin. “Yes, our baby.”
Still dangling the ornament from one finger, he hugged her tightly and spun her around.
“Nick,” she shrieked “You’ll knock down the tree.”
He put her down and flashed her a sheepish grin. “Sorry. I probably shouldn’t be doing that to you anyway.”
Noelle tried to look stern, but she knew she failed completely. “I guess I don’t have to ask if you’re happy. I know we didn’t plan this, but…”
“But the best gifts are surprises. And this baby is the best gift I’ve ever gotten.”
Noelle’s heart melted. She couldn’t believe they’d spent so many years competing and arguing. Who knew how wonderful things could be when they cooperated? “Why don’t you hang the ornament on the tree? I baked Christmas cookies today. We could have some now.”
“You baked cookies?” He quickly put the ornament on a prominent branch of the tree. “Can we have them with hot chocolate?”
Noelle felt another laugh bubbling up inside her. If she were any happier she’d explode. “It must be true that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”
“Hey, I’m going to have to make sure I get my fair share of those cookies, if you’re going to be eating for two.”
“You’ll get fat,” Noelle teased as she led the way to the kitchen.
“Well you’re going to get fat, too. I’ll just be keeping you company.”
“Hey watch it, buddy. Comments like that could get you a night on the couch.”
“Oh, yeah.” Nick’s eyes were full of mischief as he pulled her close and kissed her thoroughly.
Noelle sighed. “I might let it go. But just this once.”
A word about the author…
Kara Lynn Russell at a glance: • Married to a guy who puts the happy in my ever after. • Mother of four (and still mostly sane) • Live in a small Wisconsin town in the heart of dairy country. • Currently work at the local public library. I got into library work by hanging around until they decided to put me to work. • I love reading genre books: romance, fantasy, and mysteries. I have a special fondness for those with a Christian slant. • I write romance and children's stories • I love making lists • Best motivation to write: Avoiding housework!
Contact Kara Lynn at [email protected].
Visit Kara Lynn at karalynnrussell.googlepages.com
Nick and Noelle Page 9
