by Leah Atwood
“There’s nothing like a good man to make you feel
worthy of a happily ever after.”
Maggie Kilcannon
Chapter Three
Alec roared with laughter at the stunned expression on Maggie’s face. For a woman who’d been daring enough to steal his Christmas tree, she appeared quite timid at the moment. Although she’d opened her mouth to say something, not a single sound had emerged. Keeping in character, he patted his stomach and uttered a few ho ho hos. With wide eyes, Maggie scrambled to her feet and scampered away, avoiding all eye contact with him.
Not quite as bold or brash as earlier, he surmised, stroking his fake beard as he watched her slink away into the crowd. She was acting as skittish as a church mouse.
Humph! She was crazy if she thought avoiding him was going to be that easy. Beautiful women like Maggie had to realize the world wasn’t theirs for the taking. Hadn’t Pastor Finley just preached about selfishness? Corinthians said it best. “Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.” She’d only been looking out for herself when she’d nabbed his tree. And that didn’t sit well with him.
He looked around him at all the sick children. All they wanted was a nice Christmas and a chance to live a life. Perhaps he should just let it go since it was the holiday season. Another part of him rejected the notion. Maggie wasn’t getting away with it! No way!
After handing out the rest of the presents to the kids, Alec hustled out of the recreation room and headed towards the private bathroom to switch up his clothes. By the time he’d put on his dark cords and a bright green, festive sweater, he was certain he bore no resemblance to Jolly Old Saint Nick. The last thing he ever wanted to do was disillusion these kids. They were all brave little soldiers fighting against a vicious disease. They needed to hold onto things that were magical and uplifting.
Finding Maggie in a crowded room of partygoers wasn’t an easy task. The room was filled to capacity. He darted his gaze all around the room in the hopes of spotting a fiery mane of hair and an emerald dress. He wasn’t going to dwell on how radiant she looked this evening. It was beside the point. He wasn’t about to allow himself to be swayed by her looks.
There she was! Maggie was standing with a few of the children, making funny faces and throwing her hands in the air. He stopped short several feet away from her, allowing himself a few moments just to gaze at her. She was so full of life, so uninhibited. It was rare to see adults who felt free enough to act this way in public. Maggie Kilcannon was as radiant as a luminescent moon set against a pitch-black sky.
As if she felt the heat of his intense gaze, she turned toward him, her expression suddenly filled with dread. With a quick word to the kids she began walking toward him as if her feet were encased in cement. Almost against his will, he met her halfway.
“I know you must think I’m a terrible person,” she blurted out. “I’m really sorry for what happened earlier this afternoon.”
He crossed his arms across his chest and rocked backward on his heels. “What happened earlier? I’m curious. What exactly did happen from your perspective, if I may be so bold as to ask?”
Wide, emerald eyes met his. “I-I ran off with your tree.”
Alec arched an eyebrow. “Ran off as in stole?”
She began to blink furiously. “Stole is a harsh word considering I made full payment. I didn’t cheat Nate.”
“You paid for something that had already been purchased,” he said through clenched teeth. “A fact you were well aware of.”
She moved closer toward him. “Can you please lower your voice?”
He nodded his head. “Oh, I get it. You don’t want anyone here to know you’re a tree thief.”
Her cheeks reddened and for a moment he thought she might burst into tears. “Listen, tree guy. If you want to look like an absolute jerk at a holiday event for children suffering from cancer and their families, I can’t stop you. But I’m putting you on notice. I will not allow you to ruin this event for these kids. Yell at me. Call the police. Scream at the top of your lungs. Call me every name in the book.” She leaned in so that her face was within inches of his own. “But you will not do it here. Not on this night. Not when the whole point is for them to forget their troubles, if only for one night.”
Alec was at a loss for words. Maggie had come out swinging on behalf of her beloved kids. As a result, he felt ashamed. He’d lost his head for a minute and forgotten that this event was sacred. His parents had been attending it for years. Tonight he was filling in for his brother, Jude, who had come down with a fever. He had no business confronting Maggie about the tree here. Not here in this room where there was so much hope and light and laughter. Shame snaked its way through his insides. He felt lower than a snake’s belly.
The tree. His tree. He knew it was the tree from earlier this afternoon. It was standing in his line of vision not fifteen feet away. It had been decorated with ornaments, tinsel, cranberries and popcorn. It was stunning. Perfect, he realized, for this one of a kind event. Suddenly, it all became clear to him.
He swung his gaze back toward Maggie. “You took the tree so you could bring it here, didn’t you?” he asked, a tone of surprise laced in his voice.
“Yes, I did. I work here at the hospital with the kids and their families,” she said, a sheepish expression etched on her face. “And I know that it doesn’t make things right, but—”
“It changes everything,” he interrupted.
She crinkled her nose, drawing his attention to the teeny tiny freckles scattered on the landscape of her face. “It does?” She appeared mystified. And way more adorable than he remembered.
What a fool he’d been to judge her before he even knew the circumstances.
“Let your light shine among others,” he murmured, quoting a verse from Matthew. That’s exactly what Maggie was doing by bringing joy to this group of struggling children.
“Even though your method was questionable, it falls under the category of good works.” He looked around the recreation center. There were so many smiling faces and shouts of laughter. Good cheer filled the air. Nobody in this room knew for certain whether any of the children would win their battle against a deadly, ruthless foe, but for now, faith and brotherhood were walking hand in hand. It hummed and pulsed in the air. If he hadn’t been so focused on Maggie Kilcannon and the Christmas tree escapade, he would have picked up on it earlier. The joy reverberating in the recreation center was at the heart of what Christmas was all about. Faith. Hope. And endless expressions of love.
“What’s happening in this room…that’s all that matters,” he acknowledged. “It’s bigger and more powerful than anything else.”
Maggie nodded. “For what it’s worth, I really am sorry.”
Alec held out his hand. “Apology accepted.”
“Whose hand am I about to shake?” Maggie asked, the corners of her perfect lips tilting upward into the beginnings of a smile.
What would it feel like, he wondered, to kiss those heart-shaped lips?
He shook off the rogue feeling. “I’m Alec Donahue.”
“Maggie Kilcannon,” she said with a grin as she heartily shook his hand.
“Nice to meet you under different circumstances, Maggie.” He held on to her hand for just a few moments more than he should have. She regarded him curiously as he finally let go.
“So what brings you here? Are you a hospital donor or related to one of the patients? Or did someone just rope you in to play Santa?” Maggie asked. “I’ve never seen you around the hospital.”
“None of the above. My folks have always been big supporters of the hospital. I’m in the Army actually. I’m home on leave for a few weeks so I stepped in for one of my brothers.”
Maggie’s eyes widened. “You’re a soldier?”
Alec grinned at her surprise. “Yes, Ma’am. Private first class, Alec Donahue, reporting for duty.”
“Wow. A soldier,” Maggie gushed. She shook her head. “Now
I really feel badly about taking your tree.”
Alec threw his head back and laughed. “So, if I had identified myself as a soldier at Nate’s tree stand you wouldn’t have stolen my tree?”
Maggie wagged her finger at him. “Hey! I thought we settled on the fact that I did not steal the tree.”
Alec held up his hands playfully to ward off her temper.
“Okay. Okay. For future reference, let’s just say it was a tree misunderstanding.”
Future reference? Why had he put it that way? He’d be going back overseas in a few weeks, at which time Maggie would be nothing more than a distant memory. No, that wasn’t true. He would lie awake at night in the barracks dreaming of her infectious grin and her radiant face. Someone so lively would never fade, not even as a memory.
“I like that idea!” Maggie said, flashing him a dazzling grin that left him feeling a little knocked off his feet. This woman was infectious.
“I thought you would,” Alec teased.
“Thank you for your service,” Maggie said, her expression turning somber. “What you’re doing…fighting for our country. It is the very definition of courage and valor. Putting yourself out there to protect our freedoms is awe-inspiring. It humbles me.”
“Thank you,” Alec said, emotion clogging his voice. “It never gets old hearing that what we’re doing is valued and appreciated.”
For a moment their eyes locked, and for Alec, everything else in the room faded to black. All he could hear was a slight buzzing in his ear. Everything felt surreal.
“Maggie. Maggie. We need you over here.” A loud shouting of Maggie’s name brought Alec to reality. A small child tugged at her arm. She bent over until they were eye level with one another.
“Linc. One second, okay.” She stood up straight and shrugged. “I guess I’m being paged. Thanks for being so forgiving about the tree.”
“It was nice talking to you, Maggie. Maybe I’ll see you around.”
“See ya,” she said as Linc dragged her away and toward a group of children.
Maybe I’ll see you around? Ugh. Why had he left it to chance? Why hadn’t he asked her out on a date or gotten her home number? Because you’re only in town for a few weeks, a voice buzzed in his ear. So what? He asked himself. It didn’t mean he couldn’t have some fun and go out on the town with a fascinating woman.
What if Maggie was the one? He’d never been in love before, but he knew that somewhere out there was the woman who would own his heart and soul. What if it was Maggie Kilcannon? How could he walk away from a chance to explore the feelings that were rising up inside him because of her sweet, soulful presence? How could he head back to military service without ever having explored the possibilities? No way. It would slowly gnaw at him, day after day. Somehow he would have to find a way to track Maggie down and ask her out on a date. If he didn’t, he’d never forgive himself for letting the opportunity slip through his fingers.
**
As Maggie said her goodbyes on her way out of the Christmas party, she couldn’t help but dart a glance around the room in the hopes of catching a glimpse of Alec. With his commanding height and dark, closely cropped hair he would stand out in any crowd, she imagined. Those blue eyes of his were electric and full of life. Several times she’d had the feeling Alec could see straight through her like laser beams, right down to all the things she tried so hard to hide from the world. Her pain. The fear. The ache of not being whole. The loneliness. All the loss she’d had in her young life.
It was such a strange feeling, one she wouldn’t be able to explain in a million years.
As she looked around she didn’t catch a glimpse of Alec. He was gone. A huge feeling of disappointment washed over her. He’d been charming and wonderful. Full of forgiveness and tenderness. She couldn’t believe it! There was no sign of the arrogance she’d detected earlier in the afternoon. Judging someone based on limited information was a terrible thing. It led to all kinds of misunderstandings.
“Mags! Mags!” Uncle Gene’s raised voice broke into her thoughts, causing her to lean forward from her position in the back seat.
“What? Did you say something?” she asked.
Uncle Gene and Aunt Tamela exchanged a pointed look.
Her aunt turned around from the front seat. “Your uncle was asking you about Alec Donahue. The two of you talked for quite some time. And there seemed to be some rapport there.” Her aunt sent her a questioning look.
“He’s a good man,” Uncle Gene said in a booming voice. “Great family. He was a fine athlete in high school. Now he’s a soldier proudly serving his country. A fine man indeed,” he said, bobbing his head up and down.
“We met earlier at Nate’s tree stand,” Maggie explained. “I was surprised to find out it was him behind the Santa suit. He’s an interesting guy.”
“So,” Aunt Tamela said in an excited voice. “Did the two of you make plans to go out?”
Maggie slumped back in her seat. “No, we didn’t. It wouldn’t make much sense considering he’s only here in town for a few weeks,” Maggie said in a brisk voice. She didn’t want either her aunt or uncle to pick up on her disappointment. It was best that neither one of them knew how much Alec had piqued her interest. Uncle Gene was a wonderful man, but she knew he would never stop harping on it if she admitted her attraction to Alec. And the last thing she needed was for her aunt and uncle to play matchmaker.
“Alec is missing out,” Uncle Gene grumbled from the driver’s seat. “You’re not only the prettiest young woman in town, but you have the biggest heart. And the voice of an angel. St. Mary’s choir wouldn’t know what to do without you in their midst.”
Maggie leaned forward and patted her uncle on the shoulder. “Aww, I think you’re a wee bit biased, but thanks for the stamp of approval.”
“I may be biased, but I’m also right. Any man in this town would be mighty fortunate to have you by his side, Maggie. And don’t you ever forget it.” There was a wealth of emotion in his voice.
Maggie’s eyes misted over as a warm sensation spread through her chest. Although he could never replace her beloved Da, her uncle was the closest thing she had in the world to a parent. And because he had no children of his own, he’d taken her under his wing as his own daughter. There were no words in the English language to describe how that felt. Sometimes when she looked at him he reminded her so much of her father it brought tears to her eyes.
As the car whizzed past Breezy Beach, Maggie cast a glance in the direction of the vast expanse of ocean. All she could see was miles of onyx colored sea stretched out before her. In the daytime she liked to walk along the beach and stare out across the ocean. More times than not she dreamed about the future. Where would she live? Who would she marry? What was God’s plan for her? Would she ever be able to put the tragedies of her past behind her?
Unbidden, Alec’s face flashed before her eyes. She pressed her eyes closed and imagined what it might be like to be the woman who won his heart. Her face flushed as she imagined being kissed by Alec and bestowing a romantic kiss on his lips in return. She shook her head. It couldn’t be her though. She could never allow herself to love a man whose very life hung in the balance on a daily basis. She’d already lost her parents due to tragedy. Any more loss might cause her to shatter into a million pieces.
Although she yearned to know what it felt like to fall in love with a man, she knew better than to pin her romantic hopes and dreams on someone who was bound to break her heart.
“If you want something badly enough,
you just have to go out and get it.”
Uncle Gene
Chapter Four
Maggie navigated her uncle’s truck into the parking lot of Breeze Point Hospital and scoured the rows for a spot. With a shout of victory, she slid the truck into an open spot and put it in Park, then turned off the engine. The sound of her euphoric giggles filled the car. Some might find her exuberance over a parking space silly, but more days than not, she spent precio
us moments driving around and around in search of an opening. A quick glance at her watch confirmed that she had fifteen minutes to spare before her shift started. That meant she still had time to head to the cafeteria for a mug of her favorite peppermint hot chocolate. Score!
A brisk wind hit Maggie square in the face as she stepped down from the truck and headed toward the building. She tucked her chin into the nape of her parka, wishing she’d remembered her scarf. Breeze Point was dealing with a cold front that had sent temperatures plummeting to a frosty thirty-six degrees. Only a few more feet until I reach the entrance, she told herself as she trudged on.
“Maggie.” The sound of her name being uttered by such a low, husky voice served as a jolt to her system. She swung her gaze up to find Alec standing by the hospital entrance.
Although he looked frozen to the bone, he was still every bit as handsome as the two previous times she’d encountered him. Whoa! Who looked this yummy first thing in the morning? He was wearing jeans and a heavy corduroy jacket with a wool collar.
“Alec! Hey! What are you doing outside in the cold? There’s a perfectly warm entryway right behind you.”
“At the moment I’m shivering,” he said, folding his arms across his chest. He wasn’t kidding either, Maggie realized. His cheeks were a bright shade of pink while his lips had a bluish cast.
“Are you waiting for someone?” Maggie glanced around the lot. “You should wait inside before you freeze your toes off,” she suggested.
Sky blue eyes locked onto hers. “Good suggestion. I think I’m two steps away from becoming a Popsicle.” His low chuckle warmed her insides. She loved the sound of it. It was light and masculine. And she could listen to it all day given the choice.
Alec continued. “I’m waiting for my father to get here. He’s having a few tests run this morning and I’m here for moral support.”
