by Leah Atwood
But I’m stronger now. The memories didn’t haunt her as they once had, and she’d moved on. She’d even allowed herself to have close friends. Gingerly, she opened the lid of her jewelry box and lifted out the top tray. Removed the letters she’d saved, and Aubrey’s first ultrasound. She fingered the two boxes—one held the matching teardrop ruby earrings and necklace, and the other the ruby and diamond bracelet.
Tori and Damien would approve of her wearing them tonight. If they could, they’d probably ask why it had taken her so long in the first place. They would also approve of Donovan. Not that there was anything to approve of. Yet. They were only friends.
Moving toward the possibility of more.
She’d address that train of thought later, as it had come out of the blue. Donovan had swept into her life in a serendipitous force that made her realize how lonely her life had become. All the candy cane wishes and volunteer work in the world couldn’t wholly fill the void of her heart. It helped, but a piece remained empty.
Humans weren’t made to journey through life alone. An innate need for companionship was built into everyone, and to suppress it caused depression and a heartache that grew deeper with time. She knew that firsthand. Her friendship with Donovan changed her. She could think about their laughter and conversations, and a smile would appear. The days weren’t so long, and the nights alone weren’t so dark and dreary.
She opened the silver-foiled box. The earrings and necklace stared at her, beckoning for her to wear them. They’d sat in there neglected too long. Her fingers trembled when she unhooked the first earring. It took her three attempts to slide the post through the hole in her ear. She put on the second earring, and then the necklace. Emotions assaulted her when she saw herself in the mirror. They were beautiful. Tori’s taste had been impeccable, and she’d known the styles Zoe loved.
The blue rectangular box stared at her, daring her to open it. She’d never worn the bracelet, not even to try it on. Gulping, she closed her eyes and lifted off the top. She felt for the piece of jewelry and took it from the box. She opened her eyes and wrapped the bracelet around her slim wrist. The precious metal was cold against her skin.
Lowering her gaze, she set her eyes on the bracelet for the first time since she’d seen it in the store. In those first weeks after the deaths of Damien, Aubrey, and Tori, she blamed that bracelet for their deaths. If she hadn’t loved it so much, Damien never would have gone to town to purchase it for her. It took time, but she eventually accepted the drunk driver alone held responsibility.
She forced the painful memories from her mind. Tonight was for celebration, not mourning. New beginnings instead of past hurt.
Donovan would arrive soon to pick her up. She grabbed her lipstick and powder, placed it in her evening bag. On afterthought, she spritzed perfume on her wrists, a light scent with an undertone of vanilla.
The doorbell rang, and Zoe grabbed her shawl from where she’d draped it over the bed. She’d always loved this shawl and looked forward to wearing it every Christmas. It was dressy, yet warm and flexible, much more comfortable and less restrictive than wearing a winter coat.
When she opened the door, her eyes widened. Donovan wore dress pants, a white shirt, and a red scarf underneath a beige cable knit sweater. He carried off the festive dress code perfectly and could have walked off the cover of a men’s magazine.
“You clean up nice.” She mentally kicked herself. “Not that you don’t always, but tonight you really…” She shut up when the heat of a blush rose from her neck to her cheeks. “You know what I mean.”
“I do and thank you.” His eyes shifted over her and then locked with hers. “You’re gorgeous.”
“Thank you.” Unaccustomed to compliments from men, she tucked her chin for a second, then regained her confidence.
“This is for you.” He handed for a poinsettia. “It’s not real because I know they could harm your cats, but I thought it would look great on your balcony and you wouldn’t have to worry about the weather affecting it.”
“You’re so thoughtful. I love it.” She set it on the foyer table until later, touched at the effort he’d put into the offering.
Snowball jumped up and sniffed the fake plant. Unimpressed, he leaped down and rubbed against Donovan’s pants, leaving a plethora of white fur as evidence of his affection.
Donovan glanced down at the patch of white and gave a polite smile. “I can tell people I was snowed on.”
She laughed, relieved he wasn’t angry or annoyed. “Like every prepared cat owner, I have a lint roller. Hold on a second, and I’ll grab it.”
Minutes later, his pants leg was fur-free, and they were on their way.
Her stomach knotted as they neared the convention center. Nothing about the night so far said date, but the undercurrent between them screamed that tonight signaled a shift in their friendship.
She tried not to think about it. She’d enjoy the night, have a delicious meal, and listen to the music. Then she’d go home, change, and head back out to place the candy canes around town. Without Donovan’s help. The gala wouldn’t end until eleven, which set the candy cane schedule behind. Since he wanted to pick his son up first thing in the morning, he’d decided not to join her later tonight.
The four-story-high Christmas tree outside the convention center announced their arrival before the building ever came to view. This year’s theme revealed strands of bright, multi-colored lights and colorful baubles in every shade of the rainbow. At the top, a large, three-foot-tall star stood proudly. On opposite years, there’d be white lights and traditional red and cream ornaments with an angel at the top.
She couldn’t tear her eyes from the tree. Despite the pain Christmas brought, she loved the holiday. The beauty of remembering Jesus’s birth brought it all into perspective. “Do you put an angel or a star at the top of your tree?”
He turned his head, his eyes registering surprise at the random question. “I used to have an angel, but Brody’s at an age where random things will scare him. This month it happens to be any type of doll or figurine with a face, including angels.”
“So a star it is?”
“Yes. I took him to the store and let him pick one out.” The corners of his mouth tilted upward. “Next year I’d like to return the angel to the top. The one I have came from my great-grandparents. Mawmaw made it during the great depression when there wasn’t money for decorations.”
“I love that. Can I see it one day?”
“Sure. We’ll plan an all-day movie marathon.” He turned and winked right before pulling into the spot from valet parking. “All the Christmas classics. White Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street, It’s a Wonderful Life.”
Amazing, how well he knew her in a short time. “Don’t forget Holiday Inn.”
“Of course not.”
“Are you busy next Saturday?” he asked, then moved up a spot in line.
“No, not until the night at least.”
“Ah, yes, the last Saturday before Christmas. That’s your big candy cane push, right?”
“Right.”
“Let’s plan on then, if that’s okay with you.”
“Fine with me.”
He drove forward and shifted into park. “It’s a date. We’ll have pizza delivered and make popcorn. Bring the candy canes, and we can leave from my house.”
Before she could answer, the valet opened her door. She stepped out and joined Donovan on the carpeted walkway and slipped her arm through his when he offered it.
“It’s a date,” she repeated when the doorman opened the antique brass-trimmed double doors.
He responded with a smile and then they were swept into a winter wonderland. A smaller tree than outside stood in the lobby, adorned with strings of electric candles and cranberry garland. Candy canes strategically filled the branches. At the base, a display of a late nineteenth-century village had been created on a bed of the most realistic fake snow she’d ever seen.
Wreaths with holly berr
ies and scarlet bows hung on the wall, spaced at even intervals. The chandeliers had evergreens elegantly woven among their layers. Hidden machines blew snow across the hallway as a player piano at the far end played traditional Christmas carols.
She hummed to The First Noel and would have been content to stay there and listen all night, but Donovan nudged her and pointed to a sign. “That’s where we’ll be for the evening.”
They entered the room, and Donovan lowered his arm to hold her hand. He guided her through the room, introducing her to his co-workers. She thought back to the many social events she’d attended with Damien. As a husband, she had few complaints about him—after his death, she’d probably been guilty a few times of remembering him with rose-colored glasses—but tonight she remembered one of his flaws.
Whenever he’d had a work function that she attended with him, Damien had a habit of forgetting about her. More times than she could count, she’d sat alone at a table while he mingled and networked. It had annoyed her then, but not to the point of angering her—she knew without a doubt that he loved her and came first in his life. On one occasion, she’d mentioned her frustration to him, and at the next event, he’d barely left her side.
Even so, she liked that Donovan didn’t leave her alone and was an attentive date. She didn’t have to sit at a table making awkward conversation with another employee’s wife she barely knew while wondering when her date would return, or receive the pitiful looks from the happy couple walking by.
He tightened his grip on her hand. “Ready to sit?”
“Yes.” She’d forgotten why she never wore these shoes. They were fine for sitting, but not walking. She’d have blisters in the morning, but if the start of the evening were any indication, they’d be well worth a bit of discomfort.
They found their names at a table on the far right of the room.
Zoe caught a peek at one of the other names. “I know Rita Greene. She volunteers at the shelter, too.”
“That’s Matt’s wife. He’s in charge of printing.” He pulled out her seat for her. “I’m glad you’ll know someone else. They’re good people.”
She sat down, smoothing the skirt of her dress as she lowered herself. Her shawl remained on to ward off the chill in the room. Once more people arrived, the room should warm and then she’d remove it. The small dot on the bottom of her name card drew her attention. Hers was red, Donovan’s green.
Donovan met her gaze and smirked. “Which meal sounds better to you?”
“Whichever one the red dot indicates.” She grinned. “In other words, I still can’t decide.”
The gala began with opening remarks from Leonard Talbot, the oldest living member of the founding family. Zoe listened with rapt attention. The Talbot family legacy would live on for generations to come. She teared up during the slideshow of highlights of the paper throughout the years, from the staff to front pages.
Leaning over, Donovan whispered in her ear. “Did you see that man in the last slide? That’s Earl Dymock on the day he came home from World War II.”
“From church? I thought he looked familiar. He was quite handsome in his younger days.”
“Is he going to give me competition?”
Her heart flip-flopped, and she tried to play it cool. “If he were five decades younger, perhaps.”
Donovan’s smile of approval said it all. “Good to know.”
When the slideshow ended, a score of special guests was introduced and presented with plaques for years of service and other distinguished accomplishments. A round of applause circled the room when Mr. Edwin Talbot, the current Talbot in charge, announced a company-wide Christmas bonus triple the normal amount.
The aroma of savory foods drifted into the room as the caterers prepared to deliver meals to all the guests.
Salads came first, and Zoe took a bite filled with mixed greens, beets, and pecans. “Is this a pecan dressing?”
“I don’t know. It does have a nutty aftertaste. Different, but I like it.”
“Me, too.” She ate the rest, deciding definitively that it did have pecans in it. The dressing reminded her of a deli she’d often frequent when she went into the city.
The entrees arrived, and a member of the waitstaff laid a plate of chicken Provencal in front of her. When she smelled the rosemary and thyme, her taste buds tingled. Donovan’s pork tenderloin smelled delicious as well, but she was content with her meal.
The conversation around the table quieted while everyone ate. The school orchestra began playing, easy-listening numbers to add to the ambiance but not intrude in the meal.
“I can’t get over how well they play,” Donovan commented after he finished his dessert of crème Brulee. “I had nowhere near that level of talent for anything at that age.”
“I’m sure you did.” She furrowed her brows, gave a self-deprecating laugh. “Me on the other hand—it’s safe to say no musical abilities run through my veins. My parents believed every child should play an instrument proficiently, but after two years of violin lessons, they pulled me out and declared me hopeless.”
Donovan raised a dubious brow. “I’m sure you weren’t that horrible.”
“Have you ever heard two cats screeching in a fight?”
He cringed. “That bad?”
She nodded. “I tried the flute after that, and then the piano. I managed Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, but beyond that, I have no musical coordination.”
“But you can sing.” His smiled warmed her. “I’ve heard you singing along in the car.”
“Thanks. Singing is the only musical ability I can lay any claim on, but even then, Tori was the vocalist of the family. She received training from the top teachers in the world.”
The conversation drifted away when Mr. Talbot officially introduced the orchestra and the entertainment portion of the evening began. Zoe got lost in the sounds of the Christmas Canon and too soon, the gala ended.
In no hurry to leave, she and Donovan sat at the table, talking with the Greenes while the room cleared out. Only once the lights dimmed, signaling a request to exit, did they stand and make their way to the lobby.
“Stay here where it’s warm while I deal with the valet.” Donovan stepped outside to start the process of getting his car.
She watched him from her vantage point, contentment welling in her soul. He walked with purpose, spoke with conviction, and dealt with integrity in all that he did. When she saw his car driven to the pickup spot, she walked outside in time to see Donovan hand a generous tip to the valet.
As far as he knew, no one saw the action. It wasn’t a gesture to impress, but given from a generous heart. It was one of the traits that attracted her to him. He also happened to be the anonymous donor of the new bedding at the shelter. The store that delivered it hadn’t removed his contact information. She’d thrown away the slip of paper so his secret would stay safe. Goodness knew he’d done enough of that for her.
Once they’d left the parking lot, Donovan laid a hand over hers, tentatively at first as if afraid she’d pull away.
She had no intention of denying his touch. With his warm hand wrapped around hers, she felt safe from the troubles the world held. She’d been alone a long time with no one to lean on—albeit by choice—but she wanted a new beginning.
With Donovan.
A light snow blew down from the gray clouds covering the night sky, visible in the headlight’s path. If she closed her eyes, she could picture herself in the middle of a Christmas movie, starring her as the heroine and Donovan as the hero.
Christmas movies always had happy endings, didn’t they? They had to—it was their prerequisite. She didn’t know her story’s ending, and the directions of her thoughts should have scared her, but they only filled her with a sense of joyful anticipation. Tonight only confirmed what she’d suspected, that she’d fallen for Donovan. Love hadn’t struck suddenly, but had developed over the many hours they’d spent together.
The wind picked up, and snow fell heavie
r by the time he drove into her apartment complex. She reluctantly let him release her hand so they could get out. A thin blanket of snow covered the sidewalk, not yet enough to crunch under her feet. Donovan wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close to him, blocking her from the wind’s direct path.
“Please don’t go out tonight if this keeps up.” His eyes met hers as they stood outside her apartment door. “It’s too dangerous.”
“I won’t. I love passing them out, but it’s not worth risking an accident.”
“Good.” His voice dropped an octave, and he brushed his knuckles against her hair. “I’d hate to lose you when I’ve just found you.”
Her breath caught in her throat. “Me, too.”
“I don’t want to leave, but the weather’s going downhill quick.” His palm flattened against her cheek.
“Another minute won’t hurt.” She moved her head closer and offered a breathless invitation for him to kiss her.
“No, it won’t,” came his hoarse reply as he lowered his head and met her lips.
Chapter Ten
“Deck the halls with boughs of holly, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la, ‘tis the season to be jolly, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.” Donovan sang at the top of his lungs as he went from room to room vacuuming.
As a single dad, he didn’t have the luxury of a partner to help him clean, and even when Brody was there, he was too young to expect more from him than picking up his toys. Though he hated cleaning, nothing could steal his joy today.
An entire day to spend with Zoe. He’d stopped at the store earlier in the week and purchased the movies he didn’t already have on DVD. His internet could be spotty at times, and he wasn’t going to leave streaming the movies up to chance. He’d also purchased several bags of popcorn, along with several seasoning options. And butter, of course. What good was freshly popped popcorn without melted butter?
