Christmas Kisses: An Echo Ridge Anthology (Echo Ridge Romance Book 1)

by Lucy McConnell

  “No!” Emma yelled. She yanked Addison away, scurrying into the room. Mason used all of his strength and was able to shove Beau away from them and pull the door closed. “Lock it, Mom,” he demanded.

  “No! Not without you.”

  Beau grabbed Mason, and in one swift move, wrestled him to the ground. Mason’s head hit the tile floor with a thunk. He saw black, but could only think of his mom and sisters. “Lock it!” he pled.

  The door popped back open and his mom yelled, “I’m calling the police, Beau!”

  His stepdad slammed Mason’s head into the floor again. The pain was so intense he was dizzy and ready to spew.

  “Don’t you dare,” Beau commanded. He jumped up and reached for Emma. She slammed the door on his arm and he cried out in pain, but didn’t stop.

  Through the haze, Mason could hear his mom begging the police to hurry. All he knew was the door to the bedroom was open again and Beau was going to hurt his mom and sisters. He held onto the wall and shakily pulled himself to his feet. His stepdad’s broad back was to him. Beau strode confidently through the bedroom, toward his mom and sisters who were scuttling away as fast as his mom could move with two little girls clinging to her.

  Mason ignored the pain in his head and the fact that he couldn’t see through one eye. He pushed himself across the floor on leaden feet and launched onto Beau’s back. Wrapping his arms around his stepdad’s neck, he held on for all he was worth.

  Beau flailed and hit at him, but Mason refused to let go, clenching his hands together and squeezing. Gradually, Beau’s movements slowed and he sank to the bedroom floor, gasping for air and half-heartedly hitting at Mason and muttering curses. Sirens, men’s voices, and doors opening and closing came through the haze, but Mason could only hold on and pray he could keep his family safe.

  Mason felt his arms being pried off and his strength left him. He collapsed onto the bedroom carpet.

  “It’s all over, son. You’re okay,” an unfamiliar man’s voice soothed his fears.

  Police were everywhere. His brain slowly registered that help had come. Someone took his arm and lifted him up. He sat heavily on the bed. They handcuffed Beau and hauled him out of the room. Mason’s mom wrapped her arms around Mason and rocked him like he was a little boy. “You’re okay. Oh, sweetheart, you’re okay.”

  “Momma,” he croaked, unable to hide the tears running down his face.

  Addison’s little arms wrapped partway around his waist. “You’re my hero, bro.”

  Mason half-laughed. He hugged them both close and then reached for Maryn who was sucking her thumb and watching him with wide eyes. “I’m never going to let him hurt any of you.”

  His mom’s eyes narrowed. “Neither am I. I’m pressing charges, filing for divorce, getting a restraining order, whatever it takes.”

  “Thanks.” He nodded, hating how choked up he was.

  “I’m sorry it had to come to this. I’ve been thinking I should divorce him, but I kept dealing with everything a day at a time and… I guess I was scared to be alone again. I wish I would’ve been braver and got us out. I’m so sorry he hurt you and I’ll never let it happen again.”

  Mason nodded, too emotional to speak. His mom didn’t know how brave she had been and things were going to get better now.

  The police quietly interrupted, asking for statements. Mason was surprised that one of the worst days of his life no longer felt that way. He hated that he’d had to fight Beau, but it was a good feeling to know he could protect his family and to know that his mom would protect him.

  An older lady told him she was an EMT. She doctored up his cuts and kept checking his eyes and worrying about a concussion. He downplayed the ache in his head, not wanting to go to the hospital and leave his mom and sisters for a second. Finally, the lady gave his mom a bunch of warning signs to watch for and encouraged them to hurry to the hospital if anything manifested itself.

  Addison fell asleep on his chest and Maryn crashed in his mom’s lap before the police left. The officers finally filed out and Mason and his mom laid the girls down and then sat at the kitchen table. She kept touching his face or his arm as if to reassure herself he was okay. They discussed the few presents she’d bought for the girls for Christmas. He’d been stashing money from his job and his mom had hidden her Christmas bonus from Beau so maybe tonight he could run to Target and buy a few more things and some special food for tomorrow.

  His mom brushed his hair away from his face, cringing at the bruises and swollen eye. “I know you want that new lacrosse stick honey, but, oh, I hate to ask you this, but I just don’t have enough. Could I give you part of the money then you could use some of your savings for the rest?”

  “Sure. That would be great, Mom, thanks.” He gave her a hug, amazed at how small she felt in his arms.

  “Sorry, that was lame of me to tell you what you’re getting. It’s just been hard.” She leaned back in the kitchen chair and tears leaked out of the corners of her eyes.

  “Oh, hey, Mom. It’s great. I’d rather get presents for Addy and Maryn. That’s way more important.”

  “They’ll be so excited.” She gave him a small smile but sighed at the same time.

  Mason couldn’t resist hugging her again. “It’s going to get better, Mom. With Beau gone we won’t have so many… expenses and between both of our jobs and Dad’s pension we’ll have plenty for what we need.”

  “Maybe not enough to get you to those recruiting workshops though.”

  Mason shrugged. “If I’m meant to get a scholarship they’ll find me, right?”

  Emma squeezed him tighter. “You’re so much like your Dad, always focusing on the positive.”

  “Thanks.” Mason studied the chipped linoleum flooring. “I can hardly remember him.”

  Emma traced a hand down his cheek. “Just look in the mirror. You’re as handsome, kind, and brave as he was.”

  Mason ducked his head and muttered, “Thanks,” again. He hoped Kaitlyn saw him that way, though it still seemed pretty hopeless to date someone who was as wealthy and beautiful as her. At least he was going to take her out in two days. He didn’t want to tell his mom right now, but after Christmas he’d have to explain that he was spending his half of the money for his lacrosse stick for a date with the most beautiful girl in the world.

  CHELSEA AND DREW SET THEIR LAST LOAD of presents on Mason’s front porch and sprinted across the wide street. They found a good hiding spot behind a large tree in Mason’s neighbor’s yard. It was freezing cold and she shoved her hands under her armpits, her gloves not keeping them warm enough. Drew wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in front of him. He rested his chin on her hair. “You fit perfect, you know?”

  Chelsea snuggled back against him. The door finally creaked open. Mason’s mom looked around and then her eyes lowered. A small squeak came out, but she didn’t move. Mason appeared behind her.

  “What?” He protectively pushed in front of her then he also looked down. “Oh, Mom,” he said. He gave her a hug and then jumped into action, picking up boxes of presents, clothes, and food, and lifting them into the house.

  Emma spotted the lacrosse stick before he did, lifted it up, and squealed in delight. “Mason!”

  He came out onto the porch and just stood there. Then he blew out a breath and picked his mom off the ground, swinging her into the air. “The STX Stallion! And it’s got a Hammer head!”

  They both laughed and hugged there on the porch.

  Chelsea could hardly catch a breath. Tears clogged up her throat and stung her eyes. Drew’s arms around her were the only thing keeping her from floating away. The joy across the street was the most amazing thing she’d ever been a part of.

  Mason and Emma finished hauling the boxes inside and closed the door. Chelsea didn’t want to move, she savored the feeling of what she knew would be an amazing Christmas for Mason, Emma, and those girls. They deserved so much happiness. Chelsea had heard from her neighbor about Beau getting arrest
ed this afternoon. She was sick that he’d hurt Mason, but so proud that Emma had been strong enough to press charges against her husband. She was tougher than she looked and Chelsea was thrilled that Mason and those darling girls would be okay. She smiled, better than okay when they opened all those presents tomorrow morning.

  Drew carefully turned her in his arms. He brushed a tear from her cheek. “Feels pretty good.”

  “Amazing.” She shook her head. “I don’t know how to thank you. You don’t even know Mason but you were willing to give so much.”

  Drew chuckled. “I was just trying to look better than Chayton.”

  Chelsea leaned back slightly, studying the depth of his brown sugar eyes. “Really? Is this just a competition to you?”

  Drew trailed a hand down her cheek. “You’re so much more important than a competition to me.” He lowered his head and Chelsea lifted up onto her tiptoes. Drew’s hands pulled her closer as his lips hovered over hers. “But I think I’m definitely the winner tonight.” He kissed her softly then smiled. “Definitely.” Then his lips were on hers again and the pressure increased. The cold, the joy over helping Mason, and everything else in the world faded but Drew’s lips on hers and his strong body pressed close.

  The door sprung open across the street and they pulled apart. Chelsea hurried to flatten herself behind the tree, hoping Mason hadn’t seen them. She peered around and saw him holding the envelope aloft. The envelope filled with gift certificates to recruiting workshops, the competitive lacrosse team, and the online lacrosse store plus five hundred dollars cash. They’d spent so much time researching and making sure that every dream would come true for that boy and it felt miraculous.

  “Thank you!” Mason yelled in their direction. He took in a shuddering breath and then released the happiest sounding laugh. He clutched the envelope tightly and Chelsea could feel his eyes on them, though hopefully he couldn’t distinguish who they were in the dark. “Thank you so much.” He nodded, pressed his lips together, and slowly went back into the house.

  The light from the little house’s picture window spilled out onto the snow. Chelsea could see Mason and his mom in there unloading food and presents.

  “What a kid,” Drew sounded choked up.

  “The best.” She was forcing back tears again. “Thank you so much,” she echoed Mason’s words.

  Drew grinned and then turned serious as he looked into her eyes. “I want a little more as a thank you from you.”

  “Why Drew Stirling. What could you be thinking of?”

  “A kiss.” He grinned again. “And a promise to go steady?”

  “Go steady? What is this the fifties?” Her heart thumped happily. Drew was going to stay in town and help at Kenworth’s and he wanted to be with her. All of her worries over him not committing faded away.

  “Hook up? Be my girlfriend? Love me forever? What’s the proper terminology?”

  The “love me forever” had Chelsea feeling a bit dizzy or maybe it was the promise of another kiss from Drew. “I think all of the above will do.” She interlaced her fingers in his hair and pulled him down for a kiss. A kiss that promised going steady with Drew was going to be better than even her teenaged dreams of being his girlfriend.

  Drew leaned back and grinned then released her and dropped onto one knee right there in the snow.

  “Drew?” she questioned, but it came out as a squeak.

  “Chels. I know we haven’t gone steady for very long.”

  “Yeah, like thirty seconds.” Her heart was hammering in her chest and she couldn’t even feel the cold anymore.

  “I was going to wait until tomorrow, at your parent’s house, but I already asked your dad’s permission.”

  “Are you joshing me?” Oh, great, she was so befuddled she was using Jessica expressions.

  “No.” He laughed and shook his head. “I’m kneeling in the freezing snow and trying to pour my heart out and you ask if I’m joshing you.”

  “Sorry.” Chelsea laughed, but it came out as a chortled sound.

  “You were my best friend in high school and the years apart only made me love you more.”

  Chelsea blinked quickly to hold back the tears. It felt like she’d been dreaming of this moment her entire life and reality was much better than the dream.

  He took both of her hands in his and stood. “Sorry. Knee was killing me.”

  “It’s okay.” She smiled to reassure him. “Go on. Pretty words are working.”

  He laughed. “I love being around you, Chels. In high school I never thought I was worthy of you so I’d date other girls to try to make myself feel better.”

  “What!”

  “It’s true. You’re so naturally beautiful and fun, plus my dad kept telling me to wait to date you until we were graduated from college. He didn’t want me to ruin our friendship and scare you off when we were too young. He and Mom were always hopeful we’d end up together. Oh, and your brother threatened to beat me if I tried anything with you until after we graduated.”

  “Luckily, John lives out of state now.” She’d never known that about his dad. She’d always thought his parents liked her, but it felt so nice to know they would’ve approved of her and Drew together.

  “Very lucky.” He squeezed her hands. “It’s always been you, Chels. You make me laugh and even though you didn’t know it you helped me so much when my parents died. I’ve compared every woman to you and none of them can compete. I love you.” He released one of her hands and pulled a ring box from his coat pocket. Chelsea pulled in short breaths but was afraid she was going to hyperventilate.

  “You l-love me?”

  “I do.” He nodded and took a long breath. “If I’m rushing you, I understand and I’ll slow down, but it just feels right, me being home, being with you again. I don’t want to be apart from you anymore.”

  Chelsea threw her arms around him and kissed him hard. “I’ve loved you my whole life, Drew Stirling!”

  “So you’ll marry me?”

  “Give me the dang ring already.”

  Drew pulled away enough to pop open the ring box. It was a wide band with huge square diamonds inset flush with the white-gold band. It sparkled and shined more than anything Chelsea had seen. She’d never wanted a diamond set up high. This ring wouldn’t get in the way when she played basketball, but it would catch everyone’s attention.

  “It’s beautiful,” she breathed.

  “So are you.” Drew slid her glove off her left hand and the ring onto her finger and then kissed her softly. “Marry me?” he whispered against her lips.

  “Yes,” Chelsea said.

  He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off the ground, swinging her in a circle as they both laughed.

  The door behind them popped open. “Who’s out here?” an elderly woman’s voice cracked on the words.

  “Sorry. We were taking advantage of your beautiful yard for a Christmas Eve kiss,” Drew explained.

  “Oh!” The lady giggled. “I always loved Christmas Eve kisses. Haven’t had one since my Bradley died six years ago. Kiss away.”

  She watched them expectantly and Drew arched an eyebrow at Chelsea. “We’d better make it good.”

  And they did.

  Emma's Homemade Bread

  1/2 cup warm water

  2 Tbsp yeast

  Combine above ingredients and set aside

  3 1/2 cups hot water

  2 eggs

  1/4 cup oil

  1 Tbsp salt

  1 Tbsp sugar

  1 1/3 cups powdered milk

  12 cups flour

  Combine all above ingredients until smooth, add yeast mixture and beat for another minute.

  Let sit 20 minutes, mix good and turn out, form into loaves.

  Raise 1 hour. Bake 350 - 35-40 minutes

  Find Cami’s books on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iTunes and other retailers.

  Tenderness and Terror Series (Clean Romantic Thriller)

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  Run Series (Clean Romantic Comedy)

  Dead Running

  Dying to Run

  CAMI CHECKETTS is a part-time author, part-time exercise consultant, part-time housekeeper, full-time wife, and overtime mother of four adorable boys. Sleep and relaxation are fond memories. She’s never been happier.

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  For Nancy and Francis Christensen, your love story is a perfect example. I’m so thankful to be part of your family.

  THE SILVER BELL CHIMED AS ANIKA FLETCHER entered Kenworth’s department store. She took two steps forward then stopped when she saw a glint of metal. Crouching, she picked up the quarter next to the toe of her worn black boot. She stamped the last bit of snow from her heels and pocketed the quarter. With only fifty dollars left until the next paycheck, Anika needed every last cent.

  “Whatcha got, Mommy?” Four-year-old Megan scrunched her nose and lifted up on her tiptoes.

  Anika smiled at her daughter and touched the end of her little pixie nose. “Just a coin.”

  “We need lots of money so we can pay Beatrice.” Megan’s voice held no trace of concern.

  Anika frowned. Thank goodness her daughter was so even-tempered. The daycare manager, Beatrice, had turned them away fifteen minutes ago.

  “I’m sorry dear, I really am. Megan is such a sweetheart but we can’t let her stay until you pay your bill. You still owe one-hundred and thirty dollars.” Beatrice had given her a look filled with pity before slowly closing the door.

  Anika’s face heated recalling the humiliating conversation. She felt Megan’s tiny fingers wrapping around her hand, and looked down. Megan was like her anchor in the stormy seas. Anika blinked twice, rolled her shoulders back, and smiled at Megan. “It’s going to be okay.”