Blown Away

by Muriel Jensen

  Cole caught the candle before it fell to the floor.

  “Thanks,” Taylor said with a big grin. “And I have enough money! They’re seven ninety-five each and I have seventeen dollars!”

  “Perfect.” Taylor was pushing it with the tax, but Cole didn’t say anything. This was probably a good lesson in shopping. Cole checked the price on a teapot decorated with a hand-painted rooster, while Taylor went to the counter.

  “That’ll be twenty-two dollars and forty-two cents,” the sales clerk said pleasantly. “Would you like me to wrap it for you?”

  Taylor was silent for a moment. “But the price tag says seven ninety-five each. That’s only…fifteen-ninety.”

  The clerk sounded apologetic. “The candles are extra, sweetie. They’re two-fifty a piece. Then there’s seven-and-a-quarter percent sales tax.”

  Taylor’s shoulders fell. “I always forget about the tax.”

  Cole walked to the counter.

  “How about if I lend you the extra?” he said to Taylor, offering him a ten-dollar bill.

  “But I already owe you….” Taylor looked at the bill but didn’t take it.

  “We’ll just tack it on to the price of the door.”

  “Mom’ll get mad at me for letting you give me stuff.”

  “If she does, I’ll explain.” He handed the bill to the clerk. “Can you wrap it for him?”

  “I can,” she said, clearly pleased at the outcome. She headed for a table at the back of the store, then returned in a few minutes with the finished product in a craft-paper gift bag with handles, the front emblazoned with the shop’s name in pink and purple.

  While they’d been waiting for her, Taylor had found a spinning rack of small specialty ornaments. “Here’s Mel,” he said, removing a dog-shaped ornament with Mel’s markings and handing it to Cole. “You should get that if you’re going to buy a tree today.”

  Cole looked through the rack and found an angel with a harp, perfect for Kara, and Santa on a train for Taylor. He paid for all three, then kept the dog and gave the other two to Taylor.

  “Thanks!” Taylor said. “The angel is for Mom, right?”

  “Right.”

  “You’re trying to be a Santa, aren’tcha?” Taylor asked as they left the store. “Giving people stuff to make them happy.”

  “Well, your mom’s doing a nice thing for me. She’s wrapping all my presents. And you’re okay to hang out with.”

  Taylor looked heartbreakingly pleased. “Thanks,” he said.

  “You’re welcome. Let’s check in with your mom and then we’ll get some lunch.”

  “Can we go to Tully’s Restaurant? They have chili fries and chocolate monster sundaes.”

  “You’re not going to get sick all over me, are you?”

  “No. Mom says I have an iron constitution.”

  That proved to be true. After a mild protest that Taylor was taking too much of Cole’s time, Kara gave Taylor money for lunch. The gift-wrap table was swamped with customers, so she waved the two of them off before disappearing into a sea of paper and ribbon.

  Taylor had two orders of chili fries, two large pops and the monster sundae. “No, I have to pay for it,” he said when Cole took care of the bill and pushed his money back toward him. “Mom’ll be mad. She’ll think I wanted to keep the money for myself.”

  “Then buy her something extra for Christmas,” Cole suggested. “And just don’t tell her I bought your lunch.” Then, realizing he was encouraging the boy to lie to his mother, he corrected quickly, “I mean, don’t volunteer anything. If she asks about lunch, let me do the talking.”

  Taylor took a sip of pop and shook his head. “Mom finds out everything,” he said finally. “I don’t know how she does it, but she does.”

  Cole could believe that. He imagined Kara’s life was difficult, having to support a child on her own and manage other people’s children all day. But she seemed to be doing a very good job at both.

  Except for telling Taylor his father was in the military. That seemed wrong to Cole, but then, he wasn’t the person responsible for Taylor’s emotional welfare.

  And why was he worrying about it, anyway? he asked himself impatiently. He was just keeping the boy entertained while his mother was doing a favor for Cole. He had no personal stake in this, much as he liked both Kara and her son.

  Well, like was an insipid word for the way he felt about her, but his need to keep his life emotionally uncomplicated was proportionately strong. He’d just go with that.

  Taylor spotted a pet shop with tabby kittens in the window, all sporting big red bows. Catching Cole’s hand, he dragged him over to have a look, then pleaded to go inside and see the puppies.

  Unable to refuse, aware of the need in the boy’s eyes and in the hand that held his, Cole allowed himself to be hauled inside.

  So much for keeping his life uncomplicated.

  ♥ Uploaded by Coral ♥

  CHAPTER SIX

  “MOM, WE HAVE TO HELP Cole buy his tree! He’s never bought one before, and he won’t know what to get. He might buy a dinky little one and ruin the whole thing!” Taylor was adamant that the moment Kara closed up the wrapping table, they had to accompany Cole to the front of the mall where the Boy Scouts were selling Christmas trees.

  “Honey,” she said patiently, “Cole’s had you with him most of the day. I’m sure he needs some quiet time.”

  “But he asked us to help him,” Taylor explained. “He’s never bought a tree by himself since he lived at home.”

  She should tell a white lie and say they had too much to do at home, but she didn’t. Straightforward by nature, Kara dealt with young teens all day; nothing but honesty worked with them.

  “We’ll be happy to help you if you want help,” she offered.

  “I do,” Cole said. “But I was just going to get a small tree for the top of the table.” He winked at Kara, apparently aware that the notion of a small tree would drive Taylor wild. “One of those two-foot artificial—”

  Taylor rose to the bait. “No! See, Mom! We have to help him.” To Cole, he said patiently, “Nothing fake, and it has to be tall enough so you can smell it upstairs.”

  “I don’t have an upstairs.”

  “Well, everywhere in your house, then. And it has to hold lots of lights and ornaments. That makes you feel good when you look at it.”

  That one surprised Kara. She’d despaired of Taylor ever feeling good again. His whole demeanor seemed different since he’d gone shopping with Cole. She was afraid to hope that life was returning to normal—that Taylor would be happy and trust her again, the way he used to.

  Cole nodded gravely at Kara. “I guess it’s clear you have to help with this. When are you going to be finished here?”

  “Another hour, at least,” Kara replied. “We can meet you out front then.”

  He gathered up the packages she’d finished for him. There were still several more to go. “I’ll put these in the truck,” Cole told her, “then I’ve got a little more shopping to do and I’ll be back in time to help you pack up.”

  “If you’re sure…”

  “I’m sure. Taylor, see you later.”

  “Can I come?” Taylor asked hopefully.

  “You promised to help me,” Kara said, certain Cole needed a break from her suddenly gregarious son. She squeezed his shoulder to soften the disappointment.

  “But this is so boring,” he whined dramatically.

  “If you’d help out, it wouldn’t be. Here, put bows on all those boxes. And make sure the sticky notes stay with them, so we know who they belong to.” She waved Cole off. “We’ll see you in an hour or so.”

  He hesitated. “You need another coffee before I go?”

  “No, I’m good. Thank you.”

  As she watched him walk away, Kara told herself that Christmas tree shopping could hardly be considered a date. But she felt inside as though she’d been invited to dinner and dancing.

  Taylor gave her a minute-by-mi
nute account of his day with Cole as he placed bows on packages with careful precision. “We saw the train at the place where Santa talks to the little kids. Cole told me he believes in Santa Claus. Do you think he does?”

  When Kara looked up at him, not quite sure how to answer, Taylor did it for her. “I think he was just kidding. He wants me to believe. Cole helped me buy your present, Mom.” He glanced at her tauntingly. “Want me to tell you what it is?”

  Kara had a terrible need-to-know where Christmas gifts were concerned. Gifts that came early were opened on the spot. She couldn’t stand to see an unopened present. And she was never disappointed Christmas morning when there was nothing to open, because she’d had such fun before.

  But now that Taylor was growing up, she tried hard not to pass that habit on to him.

  “I’d rather be surprised,” she lied, running the edge of her scissors along a length of red ribbon.

  “Good,” he said, “’cause I wasn’t gonna tell you. Cole says nobody should open presents until Christmas Eve.”

  “Really.” Kara was happy that Taylor seemed to like Cole, but no way would she let either of them influence this particular tradition.

  “We bought a new chew toy for Mel at the pet store,” he went on, relentlessly applying bows. “We had lots of stuff for lunch, and he didn’t make me get anything healthy or tell me to have an apple instead of a sundae. I like that. And he let me do my own shopping. He just came to help when I didn’t have enough…money.” Taylor had been chattering on, but that last word was added lamely as he glanced guiltily at her.

  “For what?” she asked, afraid she knew the answer. “For my present? Oh, Taylor, I told you I didn’t want—”

  “I didn’t get anything big!” He raised both hands and took a step back, as though arguing with her required a little distance. “I found something perfect, but I forgot…well, I needed a little more money, so Cole lent me some. I’m gonna work hard, Mom, don’t worry.”

  “Honey, I know you intend to, but when you borrow from me, you forget—”

  “This is between him and me,” Taylor interrupted. “I’ll pay him back. I promised.” He picked up a soccer ball that had been left to wrap. “I think Dad’s going to like him.”

  So, Kara thought. Cole was Taylor’s friend and therefore not a threat to his dream of a reunion between her and Danny.

  “Taylor, your father and I are divorced,” she said quietly but with firmness. “He’s not coming back.”

  “He might come back to see me,” he insisted. “And when he does, I think he’d like Cole.”

  “Everybody probably likes Cole,” she conceded. She handed him a box for the ball. “Put that in here and stuff some tissue around it so…”

  Of course, he had to toss it as she spoke. Jared, who was coming back from a brief break, reached to catch it in midair, but he lost control of it and it went sailing into the crowd of shoppers.

  Jared and Taylor took off in laughing pursuit, and the next thing she knew, the runaway ball—and the kids—were on the down escalator. She wanted desperately to follow, but couldn’t leave the gifts unattended. She prayed fervently that the ball wouldn’t trip anyone.

  A few minutes later, Jared and Taylor reappeared on the up escalator, looking grim. Kara felt a moment’s panic, afraid to think what might have happened, then she spotted Loren Ford behind them, the ball tucked under his arm. They marched in a column to her table.

  “Tell me that you were wrapping this for someone,” Loren said as he approached her, “and that our students were not playing soccer with it in the middle of the mall.”

  “Did it hit anyone?” she asked anxiously, taking the ball and checking for smudges.

  “No,” Jared said quickly. “We caught it right at the bottom of the escalator.”

  Kara felt great relief. “It escaped,” she explained to Loren with a reasonable smile. “We were putting it into a box and it…got away from us. I sent the kids after it.”

  Loren handed the ball to Kara. “Well, that’s comforting. I wouldn’t want to read in the paper that we’d knocked a shopper unconscious.”

  “No, sir.” Jared took the ball from her, and he and Taylor went to wrap it. Then, with skills a diplomat might envy, he encouraged Kara, “Tell him how well we’re doing, Mrs. Abbott.”

  A perfect diversion, Kara thought. “We’ve made a little over two hundred dollars,” she said, pointing to the cash box stashed under the table. “Next weekend should be even better.”

  He nodded his approval. “Good work,” he said. “I guess you’ll be taking it easy once you get home tonight.”

  Taylor looked up, his expression eager. “We’ve got a date,” he piped up.

  Loren put his hands in the pockets of his tailored leather jacket, his forehead furrowed. “A date? I thought you weren’t interested in dating.”

  “It’s not really a—” Kara began, but Taylor interrupted.

  “We’re going to help Cole buy a Christmas tree. Cole likes Mom and me.”

  Loren looked a bit confused and none too pleased. “Who is Cole? Not…?”

  “I’m right here,” Cole said suddenly, joining them with an armload of packages that he placed on the table. He offered his hand to Loren. “And yeah, it’s me. Small world, huh?”

  Loren stiffened slightly but he shook Cole’s hand. “Well,” he said. “It’s been a long time, Winslow.”

  “Cole saved Mom’s life when she was stuck in the tree.” Taylor was beaming up at Cole. “She would’ve died if Cole and Mel hadn’t saved her. Mel’s a German shepherd and he’s really great.”

  Loren nodded. “Yes. Your mom told me and I also read about it in the paper.” He turned to Cole. “You’re quite the hero.”

  Cole shrugged. “All in a day’s work. If you ask me, keeping all those kids in order at school is pretty heroic.”

  Kara thought that was a considerate thing to say, but Loren only seemed annoyed.

  “Hardly the same, though, is it?” he asked grimly. “Gives you the edge when it comes to women.”

  Kara saw something subtle change in Cole’s eyes. “I’ve never really noticed.”

  The atmosphere became charged.

  “Come on, Loren,” Kara teased. “A man who can deal with kids has a major appeal for women. Taylor, let Jared finish wrapping that and you help me pack up.” She pulled out the cash box and handed it to Loren. “You want to take care of this?”

  “I guess I’d better,” he said, “since you’re not going right home. See you Monday.” He walked away.

  She wasn’t sure why Loren’s behavior made her annoyed with him, Taylor and Cole, but it did. “He is very good with the kids, you know.”

  Cole picked up the heavy roll of wrap. “Why did you turn down his invitation to the Christmas Ball?”

  “Because I didn’t want to go with him,” she replied, dropping odds and ends in a box and handing the box to Taylor.

  “Why not? You said women find his type appealing.”

  “I can appreciate his work without being attracted to him.” She handed him her car keys. “Thanks,” she said a little stiffly. “As soon as Jared’s finished, I’ll fold up the table.”

  Kara hadn’t exactly been honest with Cole, but she knew he wasn’t ready to hear the truth yet. I’ve known you just a week, Cole Winslow, but you’re the answer to my prayers. Why would I be interested in anyone else?

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  COLE BOUGHT an eight-foot grand fir. It was long-needled, beautifully shaped and very fragrant. Kara and Taylor had dragged him through the entire lot, skipping the rows with trees under five feet, and pointing out the advantages of the different types. Kara showed Cole how to bend the needle to determine how fresh the tree was. Then she made sure he took each tree he was interested in and stood it up, turning it to check for bald spots or short branches. The lot smelled like heaven.

  “A lot of people like blue spruce,” she said, “because of the space between the branches, but I pref
er Scotch pine. They’re so bushy you don’t see the wires from the lights. And by the time Christmas comes, you get some natural spacing anyway, since the tree opens up as it dries.”

  “You ever think about becoming a Christmas tree farmer?” he asked her as they hauled the grand fir to the trailer to pay.

  She shook her head. “I don’t know a thing about growing them—just decorating them. Christmas was so special for my friends and their families when I was a child, and my grandmother always made me something special. But my parents never fussed over the holidays. I want Taylor to have the kind of Christmas I always wanted.”

  “He’s definitely hot on getting just the right tree,” Cole told her.

  Taylor was intently studying a twelve-footer that was probably headed for the lobby of an office building.

  “I don’t know what the two of you did today,” Kara said, “but he’s so enthused. Thank you for spending so much time with him.”

  “I had a good time, too,” he said, rapping on the door of the trailer. “He’s a great kid. Your husband’s a jerk for hurting him like that.”

  She nodded. “That’s what finally made me leave. I could have tried to save our marriage until our fiftieth anniversary, but that wouldn’t have done Taylor any good.”

  “I don’t think he’s mad at you anymore. He took great pains finding you just the right Christmas gift.”

  Her expression became playfully threatening. “Incidentally, don’t fill his head with that ‘nothing should be opened before Christmas’ nonsense. I mean, it’s okay for him, but I want to be free to peek whenever I feel like it.”

  “You’re welcome to,” he said, “but that puts you on the naughty list—doesn’t bode well for Santa’s visit.”

  After Cole paid for the tree, the lot attendant tied it up and helped Cole put it in the back of his truck. “Thanks,” he said as he headed off toward another customer. “Hope your family has a great holiday.”