Angel For Christmas

by Caroline Clemmons

  “I heard they have a nice band. Figured we’d check out their sound and see if you want to consider them.”

  “Won’t we be too early?” Suzi wouldn’t expect a band to play until at least eight o’clock.

  “I checked. They do a set about now.”

  They were seated at a table barely large enough for two plates of food. A waitress took their order. Remembering Jacob’s caution, Suzi ordered a salad and iced tea. The place was already crowded.

  Five men and a woman came onstage. One man sat at the piano while the others chose bass, guitar, violin, and drums. The woman who stood at the microphone was dressed in a fitted black dress.

  Suzi and Jacob ate while they listened to the group. Conversation was impossible with the band playing and people seated nearby speaking loudly.

  When they’d finished their meal and left, Jacob asked, “What’s your opinion?”

  “Their sounds blended well. Her voice is nice.”

  “Okay, we’re ready for test number two.”

  “Jacob, how can we be shopping? That band is booked. I’m guessing they won’t take off work on the 20th.”

  He grinned, his blue eyes sparkling. “We find the right group then we worry about the details.”

  Every time she’d doubted him he’d done what he said. “Okay, I defer to your judgment on this. That group is definitely better than our children’s choir.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “Ah, I don’t think Brandi Parker would agree.”

  “You picked up on that, did you? She was upset, but calmed down. With many schools cutting music, she’s always a bit defensive.”

  “Music is proven to help students with math. Plus it enriches the soul.”

  “You don’t have to convince me.”

  The next place was so chic Suzi felt underdressed. Jacob, in jeans and tee-shirt under his leather bomber jacket, acted perfectly at home. What would having so much self-confidence be like?

  This group was better than the first. A few couples were dancing.

  Jacob held out his hand. “Might as well give them the full test.”

  She rose, asking herself if she’d wandered into a dream. How would her parents react to her being here with the school janitor? She almost laughed. She truly didn’t care what they would have thought. In truth, she’d always valued Paddy’s opinion far more than that of either of her parents.

  Jacob’s strong arms around her ignited her senses. In spite of the work he’d done that day, he smelled of sandalwood soap and leather and man. She gave into the experience and floated around the small floor. She could imagine the two of them dancing the night away, but then the dance ended and he guided her to their table.

  “You think you can remember this one in comparison to the other?”

  She nodded. “This one is best.”

  “There’s one more and it’s not far.” He helped her into her coat.

  At the next place, they left the car with valet parking while they went inside the restaurant and through the bar.

  She nudged him. “I guess this counts as bar hopping.”

  He grinned at her. “Not since you’re drinking iced tea or ginger ale.”

  “When I was in college I learned to order ginger ale. No one can tell it’s not a mixed drink.”

  “Right.” He held her chair.” Well, let’s see how you like this group.”

  She loved them. There were seven musicians backing the singer. She had a strong voice and sang with warmth and joy.

  Suzi leaned near Jacob’s ear. “If we’re shopping, this is the one.”

  “I agree. Care to dance?”

  “I’d love to.”

  They danced for an hour then sat out a couple of songs.

  She met his eyes. “You’re a good dancer. I’m sort of rusty.”

  “You could have fooled me. I think we made a nice couple, don’t you?”

  “Much better than those two over there.”

  He followed her glance to a portly man sweating profusely as he danced with a woman who wore a miserable expression.

  “I should hope.” He checked his watch. “I’d better get you home. After all, it’s a school night.”

  “Paddy will be checking the clock. She’s been with me all my life and treats me as if I were her daughter.”

  “I can tell she dotes on you in spite of her trying to act like a female curmudgeon.”

  “I don’t know what the term is for a woman who acts that way. I’ve told her she’s too cynical, but she doesn’t change.”

  “Did she never marry?”

  “She said she never met anyone she’d have. Truthfully, she never had much chance to meet a man because she worked for us as a live-in. Other than church on Sunday and women’s Bible study, I don’t think she did much else.”

  “I hope you won’t follow in her footsteps. You deserve a good husband and several children.”

  “Goodness, what brought that on? I’m only twenty-six, not twice that.”

  “Sorry, just rambling. I’d hate your serving the home’s children but never having a family of your own.”

  “What about you, Jacob Porter? You forget I saw your application and know you’re four years older than I am. What’s keeping you from finding a wife and starting a family?”

  “Well, I have a peculiar circumstance. Say, do you have a Christmas tree at your house?”

  “No, since my mom died, we depend on the one at the children’s home to serve as ours. Do you have one?”

  He offered a satisfied grin. “Sure do. Takes up most of my tiny living room, but I enjoy the decorations and the lights. I’m a sucker for Christmas.”

  “Will you celebrate with your brother?”

  “Not this year. But sometime in the future.” His faraway expression appeared sad.

  “Then, I hope you’ll come have dinner with Paddy and me. Well, unless she goes to visit her sister, then you’d be eating with just me.”

  “Let’s get past the gala before we worry about Christmas, all right?”

  “Yes. I’ll be interested in how you manage to get a commitment from the band we chose.”

  “I’ll give it my best shot. I’ll start with your top pick and work down if I can’t get them.”

  “What?” She put a hand to her throat and pretended to be flabbergasted. “That almost sounded like Jacob Porter considered failure. Unheard of since I’ve met you.”

  They stopped at a red light. “Know what, you have a smart mouth.” He leaned over and kissed her. He pulled her closer and increased the pressure of his lips on hers.

  A horn blared behind them.

  He broke the embrace with a grin. “Guess I’d better drive.”

  She pressed two fingers to her tingling lips. For goodness sakes, she’d been kissed before. Why did his kiss melt her bones?

  He parked in front of her house. Naturally, Paddy had left on the porch light. Jacob came around and helped her from the truck then walked her to the door.

  “Now, where was I?” In spite of the light burning near their heads, he swept her into another kiss.

  She clutched his jacket to steady herself. When he broke the embrace, his breath was as ragged as hers.

  He held her away from him. “Better say goodnight before I burst into flames. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “You’ll go to the bank with me, won’t you?”

  “If you wish. Goodnight.”

  She went inside, but watched from a window as he climbed into his truck and drove away.

  Get hold of yourself, Susan Stephens. You’re a responsible adult, a trained child psychologist, so stop acting like a giggly teen-aged girl.

  ***

  Jacob kicked himself all the way home. What was he thinking, kissing Suzi as if he had something to offer her? He wished he could spend a lifetime with her, but he’d already used up his time. Kissing her sent the wrong signals. Tomorrow, he’d be pleasant but all business.

  The next day, Jacob took his lunch late and rushed t
o his apartment to change into a suit. He’d worn the navy one before so he switched to the dark gray for today. With his striped tie, he’d be all right.

  He arrived at Suzi’s house at half past two. Before he got out of his truck, she came out wearing a navy suit that fit in all the right places. Dang, she was one gorgeous woman. Too bad he had to keep his hands off her.

  She gestured to the garage where the door was open and her car waited. He walked with her.

  When he was seated, he fastened his seat belt. “You nervous?”

  “Nothing like when we went before. I was despondent then but now I’m hopeful.”

  “Remember to exclude my name, Suzi, if you can. This is your baby, not mine.”

  “Ha, just like a man to deny his baby. What if I demand a paternity test?”

  He gave himself a mental shake. “You seem in good spirits.” He loved seeing her animated.

  “Jacob, I’m excited. For the first time since before Dad died, I believe the home may be secure. I’m back to being twenty-six instead of eighty-six.”

  How would she feel when he disappeared? “Sorry you’ve had a rough time. I hope your life is easier in the future.”

  “I’ll even take temporarily. I left all the financial stuff with Mr. McConnell. Was I supposed to bring anything else with me?”

  “Not unless his secretary said so. I think you’re good.”

  When they were in Homer McConnell’s office, he handed each of them a sheaf of papers. “Let’s go over these together, shall we?”

  Jacob sent Suzi a worried look, but she merely smiled at him. The banker covered all the terms. Immediately, Jacob saw that this was a beneficial contract which put the due date for the first payment in February. After that there were monthly payments but no balloon note.

  Jacob asked, “Is there a penalty for early pay off?”

  “A slight one. If you come into funds, you’d be better off drawing interest on the money and paying out the loan.”

  Suzi asked, “Will you take care of informing Mr. Welwood and paying off the other note?”

  Mr. McConnell smiled and mischief danced in his eyes. “With pleasure, Dr. Stephens.”

  After they’d discussed the loan details, Suzi signed where Mr. McConnell indicated. Then he asked Jacob to sign. Rather than make an issue, Jacob signed. What difference did it make since he would only be around a few more weeks?

  That thought brought him a shock. He didn’t want to leave Suzi and Mike or the children at the home. Why did his assignment have to be one that made him care so much?

  Jacob supposed that was the point, but he’d learned to care way too much about too many people. He hoped Gabriel and Michael were happy. He sure as hell wasn’t.

  On the drive back to the home, he was silent. Suzi’s mood was buoyant and she chattered all the way. All he had to do was smile and nod to make her think he was listening.

  He wanted a do-over. Now that he realized all he’d missed in life, he didn’t want to lose the people he cared for. Sure, he’d cared for his brother. He couldn’t remember ever telling Mike that he did, but surely Mike knew.

  Listening to Suzi happily making plans as she drove, he realized loving her would be all too easy. He’d tried to harden his heart toward her, but his emotions had other ideas. At least he could prevent her from learning he wanted to hold her and be near for the next sixty years or more.

  She let him out at his truck. “Congratulations, Suzi. I’ll see you later.”

  As she drove off, he trudged into the home and to his storage room to change back into work clothes. How weird this was—a suit used to be his work wardrobe. Jeans and tee-shirts were for relaxing at home. His world had reversed itself.

  He opened the front door and charged into the hallway. Brandi Parker was speaking to Mrs. Barlow. They stopped to stare at him.

  He nodded at them. “Hello, ladies.”

  Brandi looked him up and down with a predatory glint in her eyes. “You clean up nice, Jacob. Been out job hunting?”

  “Ah, no, of course not. I had an appointment. If you’ll excuse me, I have to change clothes and get back to work.”

  As he hurried down the hall, he sensed their stares following him until he turned the corner. Whew, he was glad when he got to his storage-room-cum-office and closed the door behind him. Now he was certain he hadn’t imagined Brandi’s overtures since he’d met her.

  Soon he was pushing his mop bucket to the bathrooms. The assignment he’d been given by Gabriel and Michael was too important to screw up and risk Hell instead of Heaven. When he opened the door and smelled the boys’ bathroom, he gagged and had second thoughts. Whew. Maybe he was already in Hell.

  Chapter Ten

  Suzi parked in the garage and lowered the door.

  Paddy waited for her in the kitchen, arms crossed over her chest. “Sit right down and eat this sandwich. If the children’s home can’t run without you for ten more minutes, no point in trying to save the place.”

  Suzi hugged her housekeeper and sat at the table. “We’re saved from foreclosure. The banker had the papers ready and we don’t even have a payment due until February. He’s going to give Welwood the news. Oh, I’d love to be a fly on the wall when that happens.”

  Paddy took her seat across from Suzi. “More time won’t help unless you get enough donations to run the place.”

  “Yesterday, Jacob leaked to the newspaper that the dinner was almost sold out and that it would be the premiere event in Serenity Springs this year. This morning, we were swamped with replies and requests for reservations.”

  Paddy’s face showed her surprise. “Well, I’ll be. Maybe you will make a lot of money at this fancy event. You be sure Jacob doesn’t have the chance to run off with it.”

  “I will, Paddy, but… well, I’m pretty sure he’s not that sort of person. I’m being cautious but I believe he genuinely cares about the home and the children.”

  “Hmmm. Looks at you like he wants to eat you for his next meal. You watch out for that man.”

  Suzi hopped up and kissed Paddy on the cheek. “Be careful not to get too optimistic.” No one could ruin her mood today. As she walked sedately to the school and her office, she was dancing inside.

  Apparently Brandi and Valerie had been conferring. Valerie turned and went to her desk but Brandi stood with her hands braced on her hips.

  “Well, you’ve been keeping our janitor a well-guarded secret. He came by all dressed up and I about swallowed my tongue. That is one handsome man.”

  “I’m glad you think so, Brandi. He helped me with a business problem. In fact, although I can’t elaborate, I couldn’t have managed without him.”

  Brandi tilted her head. “Hmm, interesting. Very interesting.”

  Suzi stepped around the music teacher. “Excuse me, I have a lot of work waiting for me.”

  That was the truth but she didn’t like the speculative gleam in Brandi’s eyes. She’d cautioned her staff about spreading gossip, but she knew people were only human and tales still circulated. By the end of the week, the employees would have decided she and Jacob were a couple.

  Would that be bad? Not terrible if it was true. She touched her lips where he’d kissed her last night. The man definitely knew how to kiss.

  ***

  The next morning, Suzi sat at her desk tackling the endless reports required of the head of the school. One by one she waded through the stack. Voices in Valerie’s office distracted her.

  Mr. Welwood pushed by Valerie and entered Suzi’s office. “What is the meaning of this?” He shook a piece of paper in his hand. “You cannot undo the plans your father and I made?”

  “That’s exactly what I did, Mr. Welwood. My father made some poor choices but I intend to recover from them.”

  Still holding the sheet of paper, he used it to point at her. “You can’t do this. Your father and I had an agreement. We shook hands on it. I sought out a buyer for this property.”

  “You may have heard that a v
erbal agreement is not worth the paper it’s written on and in this case that’s true.” Suzi stood to face the banker. “You defrauded my father, encouraged him to invest in schemes where you knew he would lose money.”

  The banker’s face turned red and his eyes narrowed. “That’s a lie. You can’t prove a word of what you’re saying. I have a reputation to uphold. I contacted a buyer for this property in good faith.”

  “Are you not aware you have an exceedingly bad reputation in this community? You manipulated my father, but I won’t be clay in your hands. Now, since you don’t have an appointment, I suggest you leave.”

  Anger, shock, and back to anger played across Welwood’s face. “Think you’re pretty smart, don’t you? Well, you won’t get away with this.”

  Suzi presented a calm demeanor when she was quivering inside. “I believe I have, Mr. Welwood. Good day.”

  The banker pivoted and stomped out of her office. Suzi leaned back in her chair and clasped her shaking hands. She’d harbored hatred for no one, but she’d make Welwood an exception.

  A few minutes later, Valerie came in. “I watched to make certain he left the premises. Sorry he stormed in but he wouldn’t listen to me.”

  Suzi shook her head. “Don’t worry about Mr. Welwood. I expected a reaction from him when he learned the loan had been paid in full.”

  “Can he do anything? I mean he said he and your father had an agreement. Do you think that’s true?”

  “What I believe is that he influenced my father to make bad investments and put the children’s home at risk. Then, as if he were helping, he told my father he would find an investor to purchase the home and grounds. Or maybe Dad intended to sell the school but keep the cottages and our home. We’ll never know.”

  Valerie wrung her hands. “That Welwood will cause trouble.”

  “He can try.” Suzi put on a brave front, but she worried about repercussions from Mr. Welwood.

  Surely if her father had signed anything, the banker would have brought it with him. Once again she wondered why Dad hadn’t hired a business manager for the school so he could continue teaching at the university.

  About eleven, Jacob stopped by to see her. “Everything going well?”

  She described Welwood’s visit.