Dixie was right. He couldn't hide from the doubts she'd planted where Janice's motives in this were concerned. He felt terrible for not trusting her. But his brother, that was another matter. He didn't trust Cory further than he could throw him.
Still, if Bebe had been in a bad way since the miscarriage, he supposed it was possible that Cory had come for Janice because his wife had needed a doctor. Not likely given the fact he'd never played the attentive husband before. But possible.
Could he have made a mistake? Could old hurts and jealousy have stolen what little good sense he had and the most incredible thing that had ever happened to him?
“Who's there? That you, Blake Ferguson?”
Blake peered into the darkness toward Miss Estelee's house. What was she doing out on her porch on a cold night like this? “Yes, ma'am. It's me.”
“Well, come closer. Don't make an old lady holler.”
Blake sighed. “Yes, ma'am.” There was no denying a request from Miss Estelee. He walked up her sidewalk to stand before the porch.
“Come on up,” she said.
He walked up the steps. “Why are you sittin' out in the cold, Miss Estelee?”
She rocked a steady rhythm in her rocking chair. “Good for the circulation. So, you got yourself in some trouble tonight.”
“Word travels fast.”
“Doc told me.”
He should have known. They'd probably been at the Snow Ball when Doc got the call to come to Cory's.
“Well, what do you have to say for yourself?”
Blake was taken aback. “Meanin' no disrespect, Miss Estelee, but I'm not sure we should be discussing this.”
“That's where you're wrong, Blake Ferguson.” She rocked forward and shook a short, crooked finger at him. “And twice you've been wrong in an evenin'.” Her chair squeaked when she rocked back and said, “I've took a likin' to that young lady doc. She's from good people. You got no right to be sullyin' her name.”
Blake rested his hands on his hips. The last thing he needed right now was a dressing down from Miss Estelee.
“She didn't do them things you said.”
Hell, he knew that now, but . . . ”How do you know?”
“I know.”
Here we go, he thought. She's about to launch into a discourse on the latest antics of the Ridge's supposed resident angels.
“Pride comes before a fall. That's what the Good Book says. I reckon you fell good and hard. Mmm-hmm.”
He took a step back. “If that's all, Miss Estelee, I should be gettin' home.”
“Oh, that ain't all. Trust is a precious thing. Once it's broken, it takes a heap of fixin' to get it back. That is, if a body cares to get it back.”
Blake puzzled over her words, trying to decipher their meaning. “Are you talking about my trust being restored?”
“Yours was never broke.”
She said the words that only confirmed what he already knew. Dread filled his heart at hearing it out loud. “I have to go.”
He walked down Miss Estelee's sidewalk out onto the one that ran parallel to Ridge Road. He looked to the left. Another two blocks and he'd be home. He could shut himself away there and nurse his wounded ego. Maybe not show his face in town for a few weeks until everything blew over. He looked right, back toward the lights of town, his brother's house, and Janice.
His sigh was heavy. He turned right and retraced his steps to his brother's.
Chapter 13
Janice was gone. She'd apparently left town immediately following the fiasco the night of the Snow Ball. When she hadn't returned by Christmas Eve, Blake took himself to Doc Prescott's and faced the music.
“I don't know where she is and if I did, I wouldn't tell you.”
“Sir, I know what I did was unforgivable, but I want—I mean, I have to try to make it right.”
“I'm sorry, but you lost that right when you broke my grandniece's heart.”
Blake sat in the chair situated in front of Doc Prescott's desk. He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, so that he could look into the older man's eyes. “Doc, I love Janice.”
“Is that so? Do you treat all the women you love with mistrust? I shouldn't have to tell you trust is not something that comes easily to Janice. If you'd taken the time to get to know her as you should, you'd know that.”
The doctor wasn't saying anything Blake hadn't repeatedly beaten himself up over in the past week. “Can you at least tell me when she left?”
“When I returned from taking your brother to the hospital, she'd packed her bags and was gone. Although why I'm telling you even that much is a mystery, because it was your actions that took her away from me. I think you should leave, and take that cat with you. She complains incessantly. Nothing I do consoles her. She found a home with Janice and is lost without her.” He ended with a sneeze.
Blake looked around the office and found Angel lounging on a stack of files. As if aware of the attention, she meowed. He knew how she felt. He was lost without Janice, too.
Walking over to where she sat, he scooped her up into his hand. At the door, he turned back to Doc Prescott. “I have no right to ask anything of you, but if she calls, will you tell her I desperately need to speak with her?”
“She won't call.”
“What makes you say that?”
“She sent me a postcard from the airport saying she was taking a trip and that I shouldn't worry. She also said she wouldn't contact me until she returned.”
“Where did she go?”
“As I said, I don't know.”
Think, Blake. Think. In the time they spent together, had she mentioned a trip she'd planned? Where did she say she was going before she'd decided to spend the holidays in Angel Ridge?
“Was there something else?” Doc Prescott prompted.
“Skiing.” Blake re-entered the office and began pacing. “She said she'd planned to go skiing before she decided to spend her vacation here.”
“Yes, well, that certainly narrows the field.”
“Oh! I didn't know you had company.”
Both men turned to see Miss Estelee standing in the doorway. The doctor rose. “Come in, my dear.” He jerked a thumb in Blake's direction. “He was just leaving. What brings you by?”
“I thought I'd be here for the call.”
“Call?” both men said at once.
“Your grandniece is about to call.”
Blake looked from Miss Estelee to Doc Prescott, staying with the latter. “You knew she was going to call all along,” he accused.
“I knew no such thing.”
The phone rang. The two men just stared at it. No one moved to answer it.
After three rings, Miss Estelee said, “Well, shouldn't someone get that? She might not call back.”
Doc Prescott held up a hand to warn Blake off and beat him to the phone. “Hello? Oh, my dear, I'm so glad you called. Um—just a moment, Janice. I need to clear some riff-raff out of my office.”
Glaring at Blake, he pointed at the door. Miss Estelee stood and took his arm. “Drive me home, would you Blake? My old bones are a achin' somthin' fierce today.”
Miss Estelee ushered a resisting Blake out the door, and Uncle Charles continued the conversation.
“I'm so sorry about that.”
“Is something wrong, Uncle?”
“No, dear. Everything is fine now that you've called.”
She hesitated, as if weighing her words. “I won't keep you. I just wanted to wish you Merry Christmas.”
“Christmas is tomorrow, dear.”
“I know, but I thought you might spend the day with Miss Estelee, and I don't know her number.”
“Well, I had planned to spend the day with my grandniece.”
She sniffed. “I'm sorry, but I had to leave. I just couldn't stay any longer.”
“Dear, I know everything. I know you're hurt, and I wish you'd come home so I can help you through this.”
Surprise laced her words. “You k
now?”
He sat heavily. His chair creaked with the effort. “Yes.”
There was a long pause of silence on the other end of the line before she said, “Do you believe what Blake said about me and his brother?”
“Of course not! How could you think I would?”
“I don't know. I guess I'm not sure of anything anymore.” Her sadness weighted the words into silence.
He leaned forward and braced his arms on his desk. “Well, I'm sure of one thing. Running away solves nothing.”
“What else could I do?”
“Stay here with me, as you promised.”
She sighed, sounding like all the spirit had been drained right out of her. That wouldn't do.
He cleared his throat. “I have something to say to you, Janice, and I'm afraid it won't be easy for you to hear.”
He paused. When she kept silent, he continued. “I know your parents did not set a good example, but I expected more from you. Running away from family at the first sign of difficulty is something your parents would do. I had convinced myself you were nothing like them, but you've proven me wrong.”
“That's unfair, Uncle.”
“Is it?” From the tone of her voice, he guessed that had gotten her hackles up. Good. “You promised you'd go to Christmas Eve services with me tonight.”
“You have Miss Estelee.”
“She insists on going to services alone on Christmas Eve. Always has. I had hoped this year would be different with you here, but once again, I will be there by myself wishing I had family with me.”
“Oh, Uncle Charles,” she pleaded, “I can't face the people in Angel Ridge knowing what they must think of me.”
“Poppycock! You mean you can't face Blake. He hurt you, Janice. Look him in the eye and tell him as much, then get on with your life.”
“It isn't that simple.”
“Of course it is. If you go to the airport now, you can make it to midnight services. Turkey's in the oven for brunch afterward.”
“Uncle—”
“Come home for Christmas, Janice. This is where you belong. Come home.”
After hanging up the phone, he whispered a prayer to the wind. He'd have to leave the rest up to Miss Estelee's angels.
“Are you plannin' to sit around this monstrosity of a house and sulk indefinitely? I don't know who looks more miserable. You or that poor kitten.”
Blake gave his sister a look. She'd been over every day for the past week, bringing food, checking up on him. She was like a mother hen. He wished she'd just go away and leave him alone, but he didn't say it. He was in deep enough with his family without digging in deeper.
“They're saying we might have a white Christmas.”
Blake still didn't speak. He stared into the empty hearth while absently stroking Angel's fur. Unfortunately, Dixie didn't need a partner to carry on a conversation.
“You are coming to Mother's and Daddy's before midnight church services tonight, aren't you? Everyone's expecting you.”
“No one would care if I didn't show.”
“Mother would care, and I will care if you disappoint her.”
“I'll make an appearance,” he conceded, “but don't expect me to stay the whole time.”
“What's the big deal? You and Cory made up, right?”
Blake shrugged. “I didn't deserve his forgiveness.”
“Yeah, well, I could almost agree with you, but after all he put you through in the years previous, he had it coming.”
Blake shook his head, still not believing that all those years Cory had acted the way he had because he was jealous of him. Jealous because he was tall and Cory was short, Blake could build things and he couldn't. He'd always felt inadequate presenting their parents with homemade gifts. By the same token, Cory had hated that the things he gave them were store-bought and soon forgotten.
“You went a little overboard with all the damage you inflicted,” Dixie continued, “but what's done is done. Still, you did the right thing, apologizing. But I digress. Before you come over, be sure to shave that scruff off your face and put on fresh clothes.” She leaned forward, sniffed, and made a face. “Smells like you haven't been out of those in a few days.”
“Anything else?”
“Yes. It's cold in here. Why don't you light a fire?”
He hadn't lit a fire since Janice left. It brought back too many memories of the nights they'd shared in front of the fireplace.
“Fine. I'll do it.”
Blake grabbed Dixie's arm before she could get up from the couch.
“If I wanted a fire, I'd light one,” he said in even, measured tones.
“Sheez. You are like a bear with a thorn in his paw. Reminds of when Cole Craig messed things up with Josie Allen. Fortunately, I am not easily dissuaded from my purpose, and my purpose is to make sure that you don't throw your chance for happily ever after in the garbage.”
“There's no such thing as happily ever after. My long list of failed relationships is proof.”
“Okay. That's it.” Dixie stood so she could tower over him, then lean down to poke his shoulder as she made each point. “You will quit wallowing in self-pity this instant. I'm here to see that you go to her, tell her you're sixty kinds of an idiot, and beg her forgiveness.”
Blake moved out of the line of fire. Cuddling the frightened kitten against his chest, he rubbed his injured shoulder. “In case you haven't noticed, she's gone. She won't be coming back.”
“Get real. She has to come back. She may not come back to Angel Ridge, but she most certainly will return to her medical practice in the city. Instead of sitting around here feeling sorry yourself, you'd be better served coming up with a plan for sweeping her off her feet when she gets back.”
“How am I supposed to know when that'll be?”
Dixie raised her eyes heavenward. “Men. How would you survive without the help of females? Call her office and make an appointment.”
“I don't need to see a doctor, Dix.”
She threw up her hands. “Oh, dear Lord.” She leaned in close, made eye contact, and spoke slowly. “You won't be going to the appointment. You'll simply make the appointment in order to ascertain when she will be back in town.”
He nodded slowly. “Okay. Say she does come back. How am I supposed to get her to talk to me?”
“That's your problem.” Dixie grabbed her purse and headed for the door.
Blake followed. “Dix!”
“Gotta fly. I'm catering the Allen-Craig wedding tonight. Things to do, et cetera, et cetera. Be at Mother's around nine. Or better yet, be at First Baptist around eight-thirty to help me carry out boxes.”
And with that she was gone.
He'd forgotten about Josie and Cole's wedding. He and Cole were old friends as well as colleagues. He should be there, but the thought of watching Josie and Cole begin their lives together made him even more miserable.
He returned to his spot on the sofa, again facing the cold hearth. Angel curled up in his lap.
Meow.
She stared up at him. Dixie was right. She looked miserable, too.
“I know you miss her.” Blake stroked the fur beneath the kitten's chin. She settled down and fell asleep. “I miss her, too,” he whispered.
Christmas Eve. He pulled the jewelry box out of his shirt pocket and opened it to reveal a diamond engagement ring. The one he'd planned to give Janice tonight.
He leaned his head back against the couch. He'd made such a mess of things. His deep-seated jealousy had superseded his better judgment and cost him the only woman he'd ever loved.
He looked up at the Christmas tree, the one he'd brought down from the tall pines the day before he'd met Janice. He remembered again what people said about the trees from up there. That they were magical, and if you topped them with an angel, any wish you made on the trees would come true. He'd told Janice about the legend when they'd placed her tree in her room. He'd heard it all his life, but had never given it much credence
.
It would take a miracle to win Janice back. Dixie was right; he had to take action. He set Angel aside and walked over to stand before the tree, closed his eyes, and for the first time in his life, made a wish.
“Please,” he whispered, “bring her home to me.”
A sharp wind rattled the windows and shook the tree so that the ornaments and bells on it jangled. Blake opened his eyes. He smiled. Miss Estelee would say it was them angels a workin' their magic. The agitated cat was weaving around his feet. She gazed up at him with an expectant look in her eyes. Could tonight be the night he'd finally claim his very own Christmas miracle? For some reason, suddenly, anything seemed possible.
He wasn't wasting any more time sitting in his house alone, waiting for it to come to him. He took the stairs two at a time, Janice's engagement ring clutched in his hand.
Janice drove by the church at twenty minutes to midnight. There were no spaces in the parking lot, so she continued down Main Street looking for a vacant space. After she'd parked the car, she watched families file by as they walked together to church.
Janice continued to watch people pass, but she didn't get out of her car. All she could think was that she'd never had a family to attend Christmas Eve services with at midnight, but now she did. Her uncle would be waiting inside the church, probably saving her a seat. Still she couldn't get out of the car. Worry, fear and hurt kept her stationary.
What would people think when they saw her come in? What would they whisper behind their hands as she walked by? Would Blake be there with his family? Could she endure seeing him again, or would the hurt come along with the tears, forcing her to leave and embarrass herself further in front of the town she'd grown to love?
Janice gripped the wheel and rested her forehead against her hands. She didn't want to disappoint her uncle, but she didn't think she could go through with this. She wasn't ready to face Blake and the town again. The hurt was too fresh. Just the thought of their last encounter brought tears stinging her eyes. As much as she'd cried in the past week, she would have thought there'd be a point when they would simply dry up. Sniffing, she pulled a couple of tissues from her purse.
A Home for Christmas Page 21
