It Really IS a Wonderful Life: The Snowflake Falls but Hearts in Love Keep a Home Warm All Year Long

by Linda Wood Rondeau

  “To make sure, better take her to the bathroom and rinse her eye.”

  Dorie took Emma’s hand. “Josh, you stay here with Dr. Wellington while I take care of Emma.”

  “I don’t want to.”

  Gabe slapped his napkin on the table. “Look, mister. Mind your mother. Now stuff your mouth with your dinner instead of using it for backtalk.”

  Dorie hesitated. Should she leave Josh alone with Gabe? Josh gulped his food and seemed unscathed. When she returned with Emma, Josh had finished most of his dinner and sat rigidly against the back of the chair. Dorie eyed both Josh and Gabe. “Any more trouble?”

  Gabe looked in Josh’s direction. “Nope. We’ve come to an understanding.”

  Sass and tears faded as Gabe’s tone lightened. He told jokes and sang silly songs, a minstrel on his stage. They laughed and giggled their way through the remaining meal, even enjoying Black Forest cake for dessert.

  Both Emma and Josh had fallen asleep by the time Dorie pulled into her driveway. Gabe hopped out before Dorie slipped the transmission into park. “Need help getting the kids in?”

  “No. You’re welcome to come in while I’m putting them to bed.”

  “I should get going. I have to do a colostomy reversal first thing in the morning.”

  “I understand.” She didn’t, though, since there was still a lot of evening left.

  Gabe headed toward his Volvo. “See you at rehearsal tomorrow night.”

  Dorie roused Josh out of his stupor and pointed him toward the house. Then she put Emma on her shoulder and closed the car doors. “Goodnight, Gabe. Thanks for dinner.”

  “My pleasure.”

  With that, the date ended.

  Gabe got into his car and drove off without even an attempt at a goodnight kiss. Once inside, Dorie pulled off Emma’s coat, carried her upstairs behind the plodding Josh, and tucked her into bed. By the time she made it to Josh’s room, he’d already gone back to sleep. She covered him up, brushing a quick kiss on his cheek.

  Downstairs Dorie opened a pint of double-chocolate-brownie ice cream from the freezer, grabbed a Cinderella soup spoon out of the silverware drawer, and dug in. So what if the handsome Dr. Wellington didn’t think Dorie Fitzgerald worthy of a third date. So what if her first post-Devon romantic episode ended before it started. Double-chocolate-brownie ice cream never failed to lessen a disappointment.

  Like Scarlet O’Hara, she shrugged it off. “After all, tomorrow is another day.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Jamey’s sixth sense told him something was very wrong. Neither Gabe nor Dorie had shown for Monday’s rehearsal yet. Odd that they’d both be late.

  He approached Danny Riley. “Any word from our missing cast members?”

  Danny raised his brows. “You two men need to settle this outside of practice. Theatre romances are common, but I’d rather not deal with a love triangle.”

  “Curious is all.”

  “Gabe’s office called. He had an emergency. Dorie called and said she didn’t feel well. That’s all I know.”

  Jamey muddled through rehearsal, distracted by thoughts of an irresistible woman. Gabe seemed equally enthralled with Dorie. Would he finally settle down? Not likely. Jamey could count on one hand the number of girls Gabe had dated more than twice. He’d dumped every available girl in Midville by now. Dorie had hitched a ride on a train speeding toward Heartbreak City.

  Should I warn her?

  Not that Jamey offered anything better. Gabe’s reputation suited him. He wore his bachelor persona like a challenge. Women flocked to him and the attention boosted his fragile ego. Jamey’s friends described him as a brooding loner. Not that he minded the rep of a brooding loner. Except for Evie, few women bothered to flirt with him. That was fine by him—less likelihood of entrapment. So why did Dorie’s name ring through his mind like a haunting melody?

  Aunt Gillian waved and crossed the room. “There you are, Jamey. I have a favor to ask.”

  “Anything short of a loan. I’m low on cash flow at the moment.”

  Her whole body jiggled with her laugh. “Can you help with the play I’m directing for the Midville Community Church?”

  “I’m swamped right now—”

  “You’ve met Dorie, right? I’ve cast her son, Josh, as Amahl. I was hoping you might coach him.”

  An opportunity or a temptation?

  Chapter Twelve

  Midweek already. Dorie managed to worm out of Monday’s practice, but she’d have to face Gabe soon or quit the play. She checked The Weather Channel for any hope rehearsal would be cancelled.

  Just her luck—they predicted above-average November temperatures and not a cloud in the sky. Besides, Josh was looking forward to rehearsal tonight. Dorie rinsed the dinner plates while the kids started The Little Mermaid.

  Mom arrived fifteen minutes early. “I’ll do the dishes, Dorie. Why don’t you sit with me a minute? We haven’t talked in a few days.”

  No, they hadn’t. Not since that heated conversation regarding one Dr. Gabriel Wellington. Dorie grabbed a soda from the fridge. Anything to keep her hands busy. She’d already downed a whole pot of coffee by herself.

  “You seem fidgety tonight,” Mom said. “Too much caffeine or is something bothering you?”

  “Josh is excited about rehearsal. I’d rather not go.”

  “Does this have anything to do with Dr. Wellington?”

  Dorie popped the tab. “How did you know?”

  “Mothers sense these things. I’m not surprised. I told you—”

  “Yeah. I know. You warned me. Gabe’s not reliable. The kids acted up at The Pines, but kids are kids. It’s funny. During dinner I thought I would tell him we shouldn’t see each other anymore. Then he left before I could say anything at all. You would think I’d be glad he hasn’t called, but I feel—”

  “Rejected?”

  “Yeah.”

  Mom rose and served herself a glass of water. As always, she found a menial task when silence became awkward or she wanted time to order her words. “I don’t abide gossip, Dorie, but I think you should know that Gabe has been engaged before. It was last year, to a woman with three children. When they broke off the engagement, he told his mother that he and his fiancée wanted different things in life.”

  “That’s the one serious relationship you told me about?”

  Mom nodded.

  “And you don’t think he told his mother the real reason his engagement ended?”

  “I always suspected the kids overwhelmed him. Some men can’t compete with children. They want all the attention for themselves.”

  “I thought when he corrected the children he meant to be protective, like …”

  “Like Devon?”

  Dorie’s eyes moistened as she fell into her mother’s embrace.

  “Devon was a wonderful husband and father. You can’t bring him back by trying to find a man who reminds you of him. If you do, you’ll see things that aren’t there. You’ll look for anything that will make Devon alive to you again.”

  “Do you think I’m doing that with Gabe?”

  “Give yourself time. You won’t dishonor Devon’s memory by loving another man. Don’t contrive it either. God knows who that man is and when to bring him into your life.”

  Mom was right. Although Dorie had seen Gabe as nothing more than a fling, she did entertain fleeting thoughts of what a future with him might bring. Now, any thoughts of Gabe, good or bad, seemed moot apart from the play. He’d never call again. And it was for the best. “I’ll try to sneak away as soon as Josh is done with his part.”

  Josh came into the kitchen with his coat on and his scarf wound around his face. “Come on, Mom. I don’t want to be late.”

  “Yes, sir.” Dorie saluted and marched to the coat closet. “Isn’t this kind of fun, you and me in a play together?”

  “Well, I won’t know until I try it, will I?”

  Dorie tugged his knit cap over his ears. “How you’d get
so smart?”

  “Mom! Don’t!”

  No amount of little-boying would stop her son from growing up.

  ***

  This time Dorie welcomed Evie’s take-charge persona, offering to introduce Josh to the Stanton boys. She leaned in toward Dorie as Josh hung up his coat. “I have bios on all our regular actors, like Gabe and Jamey. If you want, I’ll e-mail them to you. It might help with your publicity articles.”

  “That would be great.” Now she could avoid any unpleasant cast interviews, especially Gabe’s.

  While Josh went with Evie, Dorie glanced over the assembling cast. Gillian Davidson pored over her script, mouthing her lines. Mom described Gillian as a senior ball of fire, a woman with a huge, golden heart. She might be the best first choice for a cast interview.

  As Dorie approached Gillian, she spotted Swivel Hips at a nearby table. She and Jamey chirped like two happy songbirds. Susan flicked her hair off her shoulders every which way but normal, far too liberal with her touches. Even her unnatural laugh grated, sounding more like a humpback whale’s mating call. Jamey threw a wave. Should she wave back? Dorie held a hand up in recognition, then quickly retracted it.

  She turned to Gillian, who patted a youth’s chair next to her. “Have a seat.”

  “Could I interview you now?” Dorie asked.

  “Sure, fire away.”

  Dorie harpooned a few prepared questions, and Gillian answered with wit and warmth. No wonder Mom thought so highly of her. Not surprisingly, Gillian was involved with myriad community projects, including hospice and Meals on Wheels. She still found time to tutor at the homeless shelter and coach church productions.

  “For a retired person, you put in a lot of hours.”

  “I retired from work, dear, not from life.” She waved at Susan and Jamey. With any luck, Evie’s bios would include Susan’s. Unfathomable that she was Gillian’s daughter.

  Gillian’s whispers tickled. “Susan is easily distracted. I keep telling her to stop flitting around and to focus on her part. You won’t tell her I told you that, will you? Here she comes.”

  Susan approached and posed with hands on her hips like a pouting teenager. “What do you want, Mother?”

  “Better get your interview while the going is good.”

  “You’re Dorie Fitzgerald, aren’t you? It seems as if I already know you. My mother talks about your folks all the time.” Susan took a seat next to Dorie, pretense fouling the air like over-sprayed perfume. “What would you like to know? By the way, before I forget to mention it, I adore your son.”

  Protective heat gushed. “How do you know Josh?”

  “I teach high-school math and help out with the elementary school’s gifted program.”

  Midville School District consisted of two attached buildings, one for the lower grades and one for the upper. That a high school teacher knew Josh came as no surprise. But Susan, a brainiac? Who’d have thought it?

  “Josh excels in all his subjects. He gets his smarts from his father.”

  “I’ll also be working with Josh for your church Christmas play.”

  “How’s that?”

  “I usually attend Grace Community Church with Jamey. He’s going to help Mom and me with the play.”

  Dorie tried to corral her thoughts. She not only blew her chance with Gabe, she’d spurned Jamey too. Why shouldn’t he find someone else?

  Danny took center. “I’d like Josh and the Stanton boys up front, please.”

  Josh hopped to attention. How easily he mingled with the other cast members, at home in new surroundings. Just like his father.

  Footsteps sounded behind her, then hands came around her face, covering her eyes. Startled, she screeched.

  Gabe stepped in front of her, clearly amused at her near-heart attack. He waved at the crowd. “Everything’s okay. Sorry to interrupt.”

  Danny pointed an accusatory finger and offered a contradicting smile. “Dr. Wellington. Who else?” He returned his attention to the children, positioning them on stage and reading lines with them.

  Gabe pulled up a chair next to Dorie. “So, how’ve you been?”

  Dorie forced a cold smile. “Fine.”

  “I wanted to call you, but I’ve been out of town for a few days. Helen’s father died Monday morning.” Gabe stood, removed his coat, tossed it on the table, and sat back down. It still bothers me when I lose a patient. I went into a tailspin—”

  “Tailspin?”

  “Whenever I feel discouraged, I go into New York City for a couple of days. My kind of bender, you might say. I walk down Forty Second Street. Even though the city glitters, there’s a missing ingredient that I can find only in a small town like Midville.”

  So that’s your solution to your problems? Take off?

  Gabe inched his chair closer. “I wondered if we could do another run at the café. This time, I promise we won’t wait on tables.”

  Dorie smiled as Josh galloped over to her. “We’re done, Mom. Mr. Riley says we can go home.”

  “You were great, Josh. I’m proud of you. Now, get your coat.”

  His little face beamed as he hurried off.

  Gabe nudged her arm. “So?”

  She searched his eyes for sincerity and saw the same look Devon had worn when he asked her out for the third time, as if his future had already entwined with hers. She shook with uncertainty. Something about Gabe drew her in—something like a sparkly stone jutting from the ground, demanding a closer look.

  “Can we go home now, Mom?” Josh raced back to her, his coat half on and his hat sliding over his eyes.

  “In a minute, sweetie.”

  Dorie turned her attention back to Gabe. “I’ll think about it. Right now, I’ve got to get Josh home.”

  “I’ll call you later.”

  “Sure.” A loud clang went off in her head. Not like church chimes signaling the union of two kindred spirits. More like the distant wail of an ambulance.

  ***

  Rage burned Jamey’s cheeks when he saw Gabe and Dorie together. Friendship required him to step aside, but at what cost? Lord, I hope they know what they’re doing. I don’t want either one of them to get hurt.

  His Android blared with Beethoven’s Fifth. He’d upped the volume while in Bargains Galore and forgotten to lower the tone at rehearsal. Danny would have given him a disapproving glare, but most everyone had gone home. He planned to run lines with Gabe after he and Susan finished practicing their early scenes. Funny. He’d always pegged Gabe and Susan together. So much alike—both of them self-absorbed.

  Jamey checked the incoming number. “Hi, Pop. Everything okay?”

  Pop coughed. The length and severity worried Jamey, his father’s strength failing more every day. “Jamey … I want you to do … a favor for your old man.”

  Jamey had put his life on hold these past four years. What else could he give? “Sure, Pop.”

  “The favor’s not for me. It’s for my fishing buddy, John Perkins. His daughter … needs a job. You’ve been on my case for over … a year to bring on a computer analyst … and John’s daughter … has the credentials we need. I want you to hire her.”

  “Why me?”

  “I turned her down … for a clerk position. She was overqualified. At the time … I didn’t know she was Perkins’s kid. She’s a widow … Dorie Fitzgerald. John said … the two of you are in … this play together. So I thought you could ask her.”

  Great. If Dorie thought Jamey had been the one to reject her job application, no wonder she’d lost interest in him. He probably inadvertently drove her into Gabe’s arms. Hiring her now would only make matters worse. Could he be near her every day and not feel the loss his stupid hesitancy had cost him?

  What else could he do? Pop already promised Dorie’s father. Jamey could offer no excuse except the fact Dorie Fitzgerald was the most fascinating woman in the world, and she liked someone else. He could call, but this was something he’d rather do face to face. “I’ll see her Sunday. I�
��ll ask her then.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Sunday blew in like a hot-tempered quarterback. Toasty warm inside, Dorie dreaded venturing out in the cold. She’d seen enough snow in the past few weeks to last a lifetime. Would it hurt to skip church on occasion? Gabe insisted on picking her up, and he had installed car seats in his car. At least she wouldn’t have to brush the snow off the car or shovel the driveway.

  Josh and Emma sat on the couch, coats, boots, and mittens on. Boomer crouched by their feet. Dorie glanced at her watch. Five minutes late. Maybe Gabe was held up at the hospital. Maybe that was a good thing; that way she would have an excuse to stay home.

  At the doorbell’s chime, she buttoned her coat and threw on her scarf. “Josh, Emma, let’s go.”

  The phone rang, and Josh ran to the kitchen to pick it up.

  She opened the door. “Jamey? What are you doing here?”

  Josh galloped back into the living room and handed her the phone. “Dr. Wellington for you, Mom. He told me to get you to the phone—stat. Stat means real quick.”

  Dorie smiled. Instead of an Olympian, Josh might grow up to be a doctor. “Well, come in, Jamey. Gabe? What’s going on? Where are you?”

  “Is Jamey there yet?”

  “Just got here.”

  Gabe’s sigh seemed to come from his toes. “I zigged when I should have zagged. Went into a skid and hit a pole.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Fine. But my car’s not. It’s probably totaled. I’m waiting for the tow truck. Jamey happened by a few minutes after I wiped out. I asked him to pick you up, so you wouldn’t miss church and the kids wouldn’t miss their practice.”

  “That’s thoughtful, Gabe, although it wouldn’t be the end of the world if we did. Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Everything’s under control. I’m afraid we’ll have to cancel our plans for this afternoon. I’ll call you later tonight.”

  He clicked off his cell phone before Dorie could feign disappointment. Not that she wished anything bad on Gabe, but she welcomed a quiet evening at home.

  Jamey tugged his cap. “So now you know why I’m here. I brushed the snow off your car and unplugged the driveway enough that we can get out. Do you want me to transfer the kids’ seats into my car?”