A Teaspoon of Mistletoe

by Barbara McMahon

  He smiled when he realized she was teasing him. “Not a high call for such in Montana I expect.”

  She looked around the austere living room.

  “I know this isn't your place, but does your cousin object to pictures or paintings?”

  Nick looked at the walls, then back at Annie. “He probably just hasn't gotten around to finish decorating.”

  “And he's lived here how long?”

  “Okay, maybe that's an understatement. He's been in this place for seven or eight years.”

  “And you, do you object to decorating for Christmas?”

  He studied her for a moment. “I haven't decorated for Christmas in years. Usually we are too busy to do anything beyond decorate the clinic we're working out of–if the folks there even believe in Christmas.”

  “You aren't in Kansas any longer,” she murmured.

  “I guess I could get a small tree. But then, unless I find any ornaments Roger owns, I'd have to buy ornaments. That begins to start sounding like a project.”

  “This is your lucky day. We not only have some small trees, we'll decorate with lights and ornaments and deliver. At the end of the holidays, we'll pick it all up if you wish, and reuse the decorations and recycle the tree.”

  The doorbell rang just then.

  Nick rose and went to get the pizza. Annie scooped up the puppy who started after Nick.

  “You stay here, no running away again,” she said petting him and smiling at him. She could feel his little tail bumping against her. He was certainly the happiest of puppies.

  Nick put the pizza box on the small dining table. “I'll get paper plates. What do you want to drink?”

  “A soft drink is fine. Can I help?”

  “Nope, this is easy.”

  The pizza was hot and delicious. For a few moments conversation was halted as they dug into the concoction.

  When the first pangs of hunger had been satisfied, Annie looked at Nick. “I think this is my favorite meal. I sometimes believe I could eat pizza seven days a week.”

  “Ever try that?”

  She laughed. “No, common sense prevails. But I do like this meal.”

  “It tastes even better when you haven't had it in years.”

  “Tomorrow is the first present wrapping party. Do you want to come?” she asked a few minutes later.

  “What time?”

  “Seven at the community center. We stage all the toys in one of the breakout rooms, away from prying eyes of curious children who try to see what's going on. But the main room is where we set up the tables and wrap.”

  “I'll be there,” Nick said. “I'm interested in seeing how it works. We might be able to do something like that wherever I'm assigned next Christmas.”

  Annie left soon after they finished eating.

  She was already planning to find the perfect tree for Nick. She'd get Joe to deliver it when it was ready.

  Christmas was drawing closer every day. For some reason she felt a special need to make it a special holiday for the visiting doctor.

  The next morning Annie entered the coffee shop and drew a deep breath. She loved the various fragrances that permeated the air–coffee, steamed milk, cinnamon rolls and other bakery delights. Grateful the line was short, she soon ordered. Looking around, she saw Nick sitting at a table near the far wall. Smiling she headed in his direction. He had a portion of cinnamon roll still on his plate. She knew he'd already consumed some of it from the satisfied look on his face.

  He watched her approach.

  “Good morning,” she said, “Is this seat taken?”

  “Not at all. Join me.”

  “You're a bad influence,” she said, shrugging out of her jacket. “I ordered the cinnamon roll to go with my coffee. I believe it has a gazillion calories.”

  “You'll burn them up in no time as cold as it is outside.”

  “Let's hope so.”

  Her order was called and she quickly picked it up and returned to the table.

  “Are you going to be home this morning?” she asked as she bit into the delicious roll.

  “After about ten. I let the puppy out and fed him, now I'm on my walking routine. I plan to go home after that. Still no calls from anyone to whom the pup might belong.”

  “Depending on how the morning goes, I can deliver your tree before noon if that works.”

  “You do know it won't be safe on the floor with that puppy.”

  “I know. It's a small tree, prefect for the table near the window. I hope he doesn't knock against it and knock it over. But if so, we'll manage.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  When they finished eating, Annie rose to head for work. Nick escorted her outside and waited until she got into her truck.

  Annie watched as he walked down the sidewalk, aglow from spending time with him at the start of her day. She'd make the coffee shop her first stop from now on!

  Annie arranged for Joe to deliver the tree once it was decorated. She focused on the paperwork that needed handling. By mid afternoon she was all caught up. She wandered out into the nursery to check on things. If Joe had needed her, she knew he would have let her know. There were a couple of people in the tree lot. And another in the accessories section of the open air nursery. With Mac still out sick, she needed to be more available for customers.

  As the day wound down, anticipation began to rise. She couldn't wait to see Nick again. To introduce him around and have him be part of the present wrapping tonight.

  Entering the community center shortly before seven, she was instantly greeted by others already inside. She put her jacket on the coat rack on one wall and headed toward the first table.

  Glancing around, she didn't see Nick. She hoped he was still coming.

  “Hi Annie, good to see you,” Marilyn greeted her. She had been a friend of Annie's since they'd been in high school and Marilyn's family moved into town when her father had set up his dentistry practice.

  “Hi.” She gave her friend a hug. “Looks like we have a lot to wrap tonight,” she said, looking at all the toys on the table. Marvelle Pointe was handing out rolls of wrapping paper to those already at the table.

  “Hi Marvelle,” Annie said when the woman put a roll near her.

  “Hi, Annie. You know the drill–plenty of scissors and tape on all the tables. Holler when you need more paper.”

  Marvelle moved to the next table.

  Annie pulled up a stool and selected a toy truck to wrap for some little boy.

  “Wow, look what just walked in,” Marilyn said staring over by the double doors.

  Annie turned to look, recognizing Nick. She waved and he headed in her direction.

  “You know him?” Marilyn murmured.

  “Yes, and you will too in a minute.”

  Annie made introductions and pointed out where Nick could hang his jacket. While he was walking away, Marilyn leaned closer. “He's gorgeous. How long is he staying?”

  “Just over the holidays.”

  “Too bad. He's someone I'd love to get to know.”

  When he returned, Annie explained how the system worked and he picked up a toy to wrap.

  “So Annie said you'll be here over the holidays. Visiting family, Nick?” Marilyn said.

  He glanced at Annie with a questioning look.

  She smiled.

  Marilyn looked from one to the other. “So give,” she invited.

  “Not much to tell. I'm with Doctors Without Borders, on leave for the holidays.”

  “ What made you pick Lamberton?” she persisted.

  “Free place to stay. My cousin's Roger Keller and he offered.”

  “I know Roger. He never told me he had a cousin at Doctors Without Borders.”

  “And why would he, you hardly know him,” Annie said. “It's not as if you two have exchanged family information.”

  “True. But I see him in church most Sundays.”

  “And how often do you chat with him?”

  “At l
east once a year,” Marilyn said with a wide smile. “Okay, point taken. We're glad you're helping out tonight, Nick.”

  “It sounded like worth-while project.”

  “How long have you known Annie?”

  “About three days, right?” he asked, turning to look at her.

  “Yep.” It seemed longer.

  If Marilyn was going to continue her inquisition, Annie wished she ask questions Annie didn't have the answers for so she could learn more about the man who was occupying more and more of her thoughts.

  Just then there was a commotion at the door when four cowboys came in full of high spirits. People from all over the room called out greetings. Nick turned to watch the men. They shrugged off heavy coats, tossing them on a chair near the door.

  In only moments they were picking up presents and heading for open seats along the tables.

  One sat next to Annie.

  “Hey, sweet thing,” he said as he sat down. He leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

  “Hey yourself, Brad. I see you brought your posse,” Annie said.

  “First we do good, then we have fun.”

  “This can be fun,” Annie said, turning to concentrate on the little truck she was wrapping.

  “Brad Henshaw,” he introduced himself to Nick.

  “Nick Keller.”

  “New in town?”

  “Just visiting for the holidays,” Nick said easily. No need to anyone to know more details than that.

  “Join us after this. A few of the boys and me are going to Stella's,” Brad invited.

  Nick raised an eyebrow in question.

  “It's a country-western bar with dancing,” Annie said, as she placed the preformed bow on the present.

  “Nick is with Doctors Without Borders,” Marilyn said. “He might not want to associate with rowdy cowboys.”

  “You here to scope things out?” Brad asked.

  Nick shook his head. “No, why?”

  “I heard Doc Miller is thinking of retiring in the spring. I thought you might be interested in the job.”

  Brad proved to be deft at wrapping the gifts while talking and keeping an eye on all the activity in the room.

  “I didn't know that,” Annie said. “He's not that old, is he?”

  “I think he's wanting warmer weather. I heard his daughter is in Arizona and he might move there,” Marilyn said. “Sometimes in the winter I wish I had kinfolks in Arizona, I'd go stay a few months.”

  Annie shrugged. “It's not that bad.”

  “All this week it's hovered around freezing and this is a warm spell,” her friend replied.

  “So what's a doctor without borders?” Brad asked.

  Nick explained briefly and then spent the next ten minutes answering questions from Brad and Marilyn.

  With all the help the presents received thus far were wrapped and stacked for delivery within forty-five minutes.

  As they began returning the extra wrapping paper and bows to the main table, Brad asked Nick again if he'd like to join him at the bar. Nick glanced and Annie and then nodded.

  “Sounds like fun. I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but it's been years since I've been in a country-western bar.”

  He wondered if Annie would be going, too. Not that it mattered either way. He was getting tired of his own company and some time with others would be a welcomed change. And he might learn something about ranching and cattle.

  Nick had a good head for names and once Brad introduced the others going to the bar, he didn't have much difficulty in remembering them.

  Annie watched the men leave wistfully.

  “You could still go with them,” Marilyn said coming up to stand beside her.

  “No.” She turned to her friend. “What's the point? I don't want to lead any of the local cowboys on and there's no thinking of getting involved with a visitor. He'll be gone right after Christmas.”

  “You could have a fun few weeks until he does leave,” her friend suggested. “You can't still be pining for Jack.”

  “I'm not pining for Jack.” Annie was quick to respond.

  “Well it looks like it from here. He's been gone what, two years?”

  Annie nodded. For a moment she almost held her breath, waiting for the disappointment and heartache to hit.

  Nothing.

  She glanced at the closed door. When had she stopped loving Jack? Why no reaction now when Marilyn suggested she was still in love with him.

  “I cared for Jack. But he had to go and I had to stay.”

  “I know Lamberton has been home all your life, but that doesn't mean you have to stay here forever. Lots of folks move on.”

  “Like you?”

  Marilyn laughed. “If the right man came along, you're darn straight I'd move on.”

  “Even though this is home.”

  Marilyn tilted her head a little as she studied her friend. “This is a place. I have a home here, but I think if I fell in love, really deeply in love, this home would become a place I lived and my real home would be with the man I loved. Whether we stayed in Lamberton or moved to Timbuktu, home would be the two of us together.”

  Annie pulled on her jacket as she thought about what Marilyn said.

  “Then I guess I didn't love Jack enough. When he wanted to head back east, I couldn't envision a life with him back there. Here, yes. But not in Chicago.”

  “Just don't close yourself off to possibilities,” Marilyn said, giving her a hug as they prepared to leave.

  Annie felt a little sad as she drove home. She'd thought she loved Jack. They had been a couple from high school. He'd gone to the university while she began her business, but they'd still been close. Or so she thought.

  His plans to move to Chicago after college had startled her. Granted he'd mentioned once or twice that he wanted a bigger town than Lamberton, but she'd thought he was just talking. Once he had his degree and settled down with a job in town, he'd be content.

  Two years after he started at the Heller Insurance Agency, he'd asked for, and been granted, a transfer.

  She could still remember the night he asked her to marry him. It was right after he received the transfer–and a promotion. He knew they'd be great in Chicago.

  She'd argued she wasn't thinking of moving out of Lamberton. She has her fledgling business, her family, all their friends.

  All he talked about was the new adventure, the excitement of a major metropolitan city.

  It sounded horrible to Annie–to be in a large city where neighbors didn't know their neighbors, where she'd have no friends, probably no job prospects.

  Pulling in to the parking place at her apartment, she cut the engine. No point in thinking about the past. She would not have liked living in Chicago.

  And Jack loved it. His few letters had shown that. Then the letters tapered off. And finally stopped.

  She hadn't thought about him in several months. He never came back for the holidays, but insisted his parents visit him. Was he too caught up in city life to remember old friends?

  Chapter Five

  Annie stopped by the coffee shop the next morning. She didn't know if she was hoping Nick would be there or worried if he were there, he'd see more into her being there than was warranted.

  It wasn't as if she didn't date. Though truth be told, she didn't very often. If she wanted to attend some event and needed a date, she'd accept the first man who asked.

  But if not, she didn't.

  And she knew nothing could come of spending time with Nick–he'd be returning to Africa before long. And if she couldn't move to Chicago, she certainly would never move to Africa!

  While she was standing in the short line, Nick joined her.

  “Good morning,” he said, nodding to the man behind her. “Do you mind if I join her?” he asked the man.

  “Go ahead.”

  Annie smiled at interchange and then at Nick.

  “So you're up early after a night on the town,” she said, feeling warm
inside that he'd made the effort to get to the coffee shop so early.

  “Yeah, well I learned if it isn't the weekend, cowboys don't stay up too late. They get up even earlier than I do.”

  “Did you have fun?”

  He nodded. “Learned a lot, too.”

  “About?”

  “Life as a cowboy. Or if I filter through the bull they were slinging, I think I have a good idea of how they live. But some of the tall tales they told, if true, should be written up in the Believe It or Not.”

  “Probably most of them were in the not category,” Annie said as they stepped closer to the counter.

  When their orders had been taken, they sat at one of the empty tables and shrugged out of heavy coats.

  “How's the puppy doing?” she asked.

  “I think he's getting too comfortable. I put up some more posters around the condos yesterday afternoon, but no one's called. He's been so good, but he needs to be with his owners, not me. I don't want him bonding with me and have to adapt when I leave.”

  Annie nodded. “Still, it's better than taking him to the animal shelter. He would be in a cage all day.”

  “Maybe it's your turn to watch him,” Nick suggested.

  “I'm working. Though I guess I could take him with me.” She tried to picture the puppy being content in the truck while she made deliveries or worked on the Santa's Workshop.

  She glanced at Nick. “I know, you both can come with me.”

  “What?”

  “Think about it–he can't just sit in the truck if I'm making deliveries or working somewhere. But if you came, when I get out, he'd still have you.”

  “I thought you delivered the poinsettias yesterday.”

  “Now I need to finish up on the Santa's Workshop in the park. It will be open for kids on Saturday.”

  “I thought it was set up,” he said.

  “The basic structure is, but it needs decorating and I need to get a generator there to power the heater so everyone doesn't freeze to death.”

  “The North Pole is cold, that just adds realism.”

  “We don't want to be that realistic. Come on, what else do you have to do today?” Annie wasn't sure why she was pushing so hard, but she'd enjoyed his company the other day. Having him ride along made the time go by faster.