by Carla Rossi
****
Noah slipped in the back door of the clinic and went straight to his office to change into scrubs. Once he assessed the patient situation and sent Dr. Salmons home to face the music, he intended to return Skye’s call. His first glimpse of Jane on that stage confirmed what he wanted. He wanted to move forward, and the only way to do that was to find out what the past wanted before it came around and bumped into him again.
Tina caught him in the treatment room. “Glad you’re back. Was it wonderful?”
“It was.”
“Figures. I missed it this year, but I plan to be at their spring show.”
Noah flipped open his laptop and went straight to their electronic records system. “How are things around here?”
“Steady, but no majors. Respiratory distress, a couple allergic reactions. It’s all under control. Dr. Salmons is in room one and you have a couple visitors.”
“Visitors? It’s late and I don’t know anybody. Are they clients? Have I seen their pet or something?”
“They’re friends from California. I didn’t put them in your office because I wasn’t sure. They’re real nice. It’s a woman and her dad. They’ve been on the road and just wanted to stop in and see you.”
Noah froze. It made no sense that Skye and her dad would be driving through Texas two days before Christmas. And why would they be here? In her defense, though, she had been trying to get hold of him.
“Tell them I’ll be out in a minute. I need to check on everything back here.”
Noah steadied himself against the table. He remembered his prayer from earlier. “Guess that really opened up a can of worms,” he mumbled to himself. “When You start moving, You really start moving.”
He slipped into his professional demeanor, made the rounds of all his furry responsibilities, and paused to take a deep breath.
Skye was in Texas. And on the other side of the clinic door.
****
At midnight, Jane left the cast party and headed home. She tossed her dance bag on the stairs and hung her pointe shoes over the bannister to air. No one woke as she loaded her handle bag with plastic forks, napkins, and plates and slid a homemade apple cranberry pie into her mother’s pie carrier.
Noah mentioned pie, so she made him pie.
She doubted she would ever sleep again due to the recent outbreak of uncharacteristic excitement in her life, so why not share dessert with people at the all night animal clinic who would appreciate it? She placed the bag of homemade dog treats for Bridget on top of everything and then took a minute at the hall mirror. Yikes.
She’d managed to shed the costume and put on comfortable jeans, but it would take too much time to wash the whole Sugar Plum Fairy persona off her face. She’d have to replace it with something because, well, who would want to see her tired face without makeup at this time of night? As for the tiara, it was so plastered to her head it wouldn’t come off without pulling several strands of hair loose from her bun. And if she took down the bun, she’d have to wash out six layers of hairspray. A vicious cycle. Therefore, she would drive to the clinic in full character hair and makeup, and if Noah and Tina and whoever else was there wanted pie, they wouldn’t give her grief about it.
Now on to Starbucks for hot tea.
By the time she reached the clinic, she was seriously re-thinking her decision not to take the extra hour and re-do her face and hair. She felt ridiculous, especially when she saw more than a few people in the waiting room through the large glass front, including Noah who was huddled with a man and woman in the corner, so intently discussing something that he seemed frozen in his chair.
She managed to balance everything and breeze through the door when someone saw her coming and jumped to open it. She wasn’t even sure Noah saw her through the crowd at the coffee pot.
Tina squealed from behind the counter and took the drink carrier from her hand. “You look great. I heard you were awesome. What are you up to?”
“Shhh... I don’t want to disturb Noah. That looks serious. I just wanted to bring you all some pie and something to drink.”
“This has to stop. We’re all going to weigh five hundred pounds.”
“It will. I only bake like this during the holidays. Sadly, that includes Arbor Day, Valentine’s Day, Armed Forces Day, maybe any weekday...”
Tina burst out laughing.
“Shhh,” Jane repeated and held up a bag. “Check this out. Homemade gingerbread dog treats for Bridget. Let me know how she likes them.”
“Girl, you’re hardcore when it comes to baked goods.”
Jane glanced Noah’s way. The attractive light brown-haired woman in the fluffy turquoise ski jacket reached out to touch his arm.
“I better go. Tell Noah I hope he enjoys his pie, and I’ll talk to him later.”
“He shouldn’t be too much longer,” Tina said as she lifted the lid off the pie. “He tried to get them to go to his office but they said no, that it wouldn’t take long.”
“Well, I don’t need to be hovering around here looking like this when you have pet parents here possibly getting bad news.”
“Those aren’t clients. Those are friends from California.”
A twinge of terror gripped her heart. She glanced over again. What were the odds she was the ex-fiancée he’d mentioned? And if so, why now?
Noah happened to look her way through the crowd. He paled.
That answered that question.
Steady... steady... You don’t have any facts...
“I’m going to go, Tina. I’m really tired. Have a great Christmas and enjoy the pie.”
“Sure, Jane. Thanks so much. TTYL.”
“What?”
“Talk to you later.”
“I knew that. Guess my tiara’s too tight.”
She made a beeline for the door at the same rate Noah was crossing the room to catch her.
They got there at the same time.
“So close,” she whispered to herself.
“Are you all right? What are you doing here this late? I thought you had a party.”
“I brought you a pie.”
“You brought me a pie?”
“Yes. And tea.”
“You brought me tea?”
“For Pete’s sake, Noah, are we going to do this again? You said you wanted pie so I brought pie. I believe the exact conversation began with me asking you if cinnamon, ginger, and cloves were safe for a dog, and you said my time would be better spent making you a pie.”
“I was teasing.”
“Yeah, I know, but you shouldn’t tease a woman on the edge. You might just get a pie.”
“I’ll remember that. Thank you. If you want to wait I—”
“That’s OK. I can see you’re really busy, and I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“I’m talking with some people I know from California. I’ll introduce you.”
“No!” That came out too loud and harsh. “Sorry. I mean no. I look like I escaped from a circus, and I can tell you’re having an important conversation, so I’m going to head home and sleep.”
He grabbed her arm as she pushed through the door. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Sure,” she said. “TTYL.”
****
‘Twas the day before Christmas
And Jane was confused,
Was Noah for real
Or was she being used?
The ballet was a blessing
She had peace with her dance,
It’d been a season of miracles
With a spark of romance.
Now time to reflect
And sing with great joy,
The birth of a Savior
A new baby Boy...
Jane woke at noon on Christmas Eve. She got up, made a stop at the bathroom, and headed straight for her sister’s bed.
She smacked Mel on the bottom. “Are you still contagious?”
“No.” She didn’t even open her eyes. “Mom changed my sheets at ten this mo
rning—with me still in the bed—and sprayed another can of disinfectant over the whole upstairs. If anything, I’m choking to death.”
“Good. Move over. Sister Cuddle Committee.”
“What’s wrong? I heard you were a triumph in your great return as the Sugar Plum Fairy. You’re the darling of all the social networks. At least in our little circle of friends and neighbors. People are posting pics.”
“Uh-oh.”
“Nothing bad. I’ve been keeping watch.”
“Thanks. And I have to tell you, I had a great time.”
“Good. Glad I could get sick and accommodate you.”
“Not funny.” Jane fluffed her pillow and settled in. “Moving on... do you think you’ll feel up to attending a Christmas Eve service with me tonight?”
“Absolutely. I have to get out of this house.”
“Great. I’m thinking we’ll go to the early one. I know Mom and Dad like us to go at eleven for the candlelight service, but I’m exhausted. And by the way, a handsome veterinarian kissed me on the street the other day.”
Melody sat straight up and felt her forehead with the back of her hand. “Jane? Kissing a boy? How long have I been ill? And why was he kissing you on the street? Couldn’t he find your lips?”
Jane snorted. “You know what I mean.”
Melody sat back on the pillows. “That’s old news anyway. Grandpa already told me. He saw the whole thing from the front window.”
“Aw, man, I didn’t expect to hear that. Did he say anything else?”
“Just that his blood cells look like grapes.”
Jane hopped out of the bed and went to get a bottle of chocolate milk from the mini fridge. “Want one?”
“No, thanks, but I’ll take a juice box. Apple please. Back to the vet. How did you meet this guy?”
“He was on duty when I took Snowball to the animal emergency clinic.”
“So the guy who let our cat die is taking liberties with my sister.”
“Yes, but he didn’t let our cat die. It was time.”
“So what’s the matter? Why are we convening the Sister Cuddle Committee on Christmas Eve?”
“I think it may be over already.”
Mel punctured her juice box and took a long pull on the straw. “What happened?”
“I don’t know. We had this fast connection. Then the kiss. He surprised me at the ballet. Then I believe he had a long sit-down with his ex-fiancée last night. I think she drove all the way from California.”
“How do you know?”
“I just know. And I have to ask myself, why would a woman come all this way two days before Christmas? And the answer is: to get a great guy like Noah back.”
“You don’t know anything for sure.”
“True. I keep thinking if I hadn’t wandered by with that pie, I wouldn’t even have known she was there. Maybe it’s completely innocent and means nothing. I’m not one to torture myself over misunderstandings or perceived situations. I’m going to ask him if I get the chance, but it’s hard, you know?”
“At the risk of sounding like our mother, if he goes back with his ex it wasn’t meant to be anyway, and you don’t want him.”
Jane’s phone chimed from within her room. “Here. Hold my chocolate moo juice.” She grabbed her cell from her room and dove back into bed beside Melody.
“Something from one of your adoring fans?”
“It’s a text from Noah. ‘Pie was awesome. It’s gone. I am also out of cookies—dog and otherwise. I’m picking you up for the eleven o’clock service. Do I have to wear a suit to your church? ’Cause I can’t find mine.’”
Melody put their drinks on the nightstand. “Guess that answers that. You’ll figure it out tonight.”
“Guess so.” Jane texted a response and closed her eyes with her phone still in her hand.
Meeting of the Sister Cuddle Committee adjourned to sleep.
****
Jane smoothed the skirt of her simple gray/silver dress and slipped on a pair of red pumps. She swiped a black fuzzy sweater from Melody’s closet and headed downstairs.
The doorbell rang. Every Trumbull raced for the door—except for Jane who was still on the stairs slowed by her heels. Melody and Grandpa made it there first.
“Evenin’ Noah,” Grandpa said.
Jane pushed her way to the front while Melody made obvious attempts to check him out from head to toe.
“Noah, this is my sister Melody.”
“Nice to meet you,” he said. “Glad you’re feeling better.”
The Christmas lights on the porch blinked at regular intervals and lit his face in an array of holiday colors.
Jane struggled to claim her purse and red scarf from the bench by the door while everyone stood and stared at him as if he were going to do something significant. What they expected, she had no idea.
Grandpa tried to turn on the porch light.
“We don’t need that,” her mother said. “It’s already bright out there, and it takes away from outside lights.”
Noah shoved his hands into the pockets of his dark slacks. Jane didn’t know why, but she loved it when guys wore dress pants with a narrow cuff at the bottom.
“Uh... Jane? Can I have a minute with you out here before we go?”
“Of course.” She slid through the entrance and closed the door behind her. “I told you they were weird. How did you get away from the clinic?”
“Long story. Dr. Salmons is one sneaky guy.”
“You keep saying that.”
The porch light clicked on.
“C’mon.” She dropped her purse in the corner and put the scarf around her neck. “Let’s walk down the street and look at the lights. We have time. The Murray’s house is crazy with decorations.”
Her first few steps were shaky. A case of nerves had settled in her knees and made her legs near useless. Anxiety bubbled in her chest. “Don’t keep me in suspense. What do you want to talk about?”
“I had a terrible Christmas last year.”
“You mentioned it. Your girlfriend broke up with you. What happened?”
“Her name is Skye.”
“Pretty. I like that.”
“We got engaged around Thanksgiving. Her parents and mine decided we should all go skiing near my parents’ cabin in New Mexico around Christmastime to celebrate and talk about wedding plans. My parents are all about appearances. They loved that I was engaged to a people doctor like them. Somehow, it made me and my choices more acceptable to them. They wanted this big trip they could brag about to their friends at their New Year’s Eve party.”
He paused to take a breath. She waited.
“Everyone was arriving and flying in at different times because of full flights and busy schedules. I was the last one in. They were all at my parents’ cabin. The weather was typical but turning. Skye said she’d pick me up. I said to wait until the weather cleared. She started anyway and her mother insisted she come along. They had an accident. Skye didn’t have much practice driving in those conditions. She should have never left the cabin. I should have insisted she stay put.”
“You can’t predict these things.”
“Her mother died at the scene, despite Skye’s medical training. And she was injured herself.”
“That’s devastating, Noah. For her to not be able to help her own mom. To be away from home...”
“I kept calling. The news started to get around. My parents came to get me at the airport and took me to the hospital. It’s a blur. It took several days to get Skye stable enough to travel and to send her mother’s body home.”
“This is horrifying, but how did the relationship end in the midst of all this?”
“Pretty simple. Skye blamed me for everything. If I hadn’t proposed, if I hadn’t flown in late, if I’d arranged for my own car, and so on.”
“That’s the grief and shock talking. Surely she didn’t believe any of that.”
“She did at the time and decided we were through
. The worst part was her mother’s funeral. She didn’t want me there. I loved that woman, and I didn’t even get to say a proper good-bye.”
“Noah, please tell me you understand none of this is your fault. You can’t accept the blame for this.”
“I know that. But when you love someone, you want to ease their pain. You take responsibility for stuff so maybe they’ll feel better. It doesn’t work. I know it doesn’t.”
They reached the end of the street and hadn’t looked at a single festive yard. She took his hand. “We might as well make the block.” They took a few steps in silence. “I don’t want to sound harsh or anything, but I’m sure deep down Skye was really blaming herself. She was driving, she couldn’t save her mom. She couldn’t face that, so you got the brunt of it.”
“Yeah, she told me as much last night.”
There went her knees again... “That was Skye last night?”
“Yep. She and her dad are on some cathartic journey to keep from spending Christmas at home without her mother. They’re trying to move on. Her mother was born in Louisiana so they decided to get in the car and take this trip across the southern United States all the way to Florida. I was shocked when I saw them. I had no idea.”
“But she made peace with you?”
“She’s dealing with her issues. Trying to forgive herself. Letting me off the hook.”
“I’m glad. You needed to be let off the hook for that. Are they still here?”
“Oh no. They’re gone. I won’t see them again.”
“So what now?”
They stopped at the top of her street. “Now nothing. Now everything.”
“Are you about to get poetic again?”
“No. In fact, I haven’t said this much to anyone in years, so listen closely because I’m about done talking for a while.”
“I’m listening.”
“I’m glad I met you, Jane. I’ve learned a hundred things from you in a few short days. Your faith and your relationship with Christ comes through in everything you do, and you don’t have to say a word about it. You live it, and I can see I’m missing something there. I’m a believer. My grandparents made sure I understood things and accepted Jesus into my heart as a child. But I don’t know how to live that anymore.”
