John taps away on his phone, oblivious to the conversation. I feel my phone vibrate in my coat pocket and take it out. I respond to his text, fighting a smile while I do it.
“Look at all this bearded goodness!”
The voice can only belong to my other best friend, Selah. I lift my eyes to spot her dark hair a dozen feet away. She’s staring at John and Tom with a grin on her face. Standing beside her, Kai, her fiancé, is sporting a nice level of George Clooney style scruff. They got engaged this past summer, but I suspect they might be one of those couples that stays engaged for years. Or elope, and not tell anyone. I covertly eye their fingers for wedding bands, but find none. I love weddings, but who am I to talk? Gil and I have no plans to get married.
“Damn. It’s a real live lumbersexual convention right here on the sidewalk.” Selah purrs.
John visibly bristles at her words.
“Oh, Paul Bunyan, I don’t mean you. You’re the real thing. All seven feet of you.” She teases him good-naturedly.
Even Hailey and Diane laugh at her nickname for John.
“Why didn’t I come up with that one?” Hailey mumbles to her friend.
“Holy cats, you’ve procreated.” Selah’s eyes focus on Diane’s belly. “You lucky, lucky woman.”
Diane looks up at John and back at Selah in confusion.
“We haven’t met. I’m Selah, the obnoxious friend.” She sticks out her hand.
“Oh, I’ve heard all about you.” Diane shakes her hand and adds, “All good things.”
Selah’s laugh is deep and throaty. “Then you haven’t been talking to Quinn.”
I observe our little group. Selah’s right about the facial hair. Gil has started growing his winter beard. He’ll shave it before the spring semester starts. Along with Kai, Quinn sports more scruff than usual. Only Ryan is clean-shaven. I guess beards are taking over the world.
Selah hugs Ryan and gives Quinn a half hug so she doesn’t squish Lizzy. It’s the closest ever Selah’s come to holding her. I laugh as Lizzy lets go of Diane’s finger to grab the fringe on Selah’s cape/poncho. Despite her overstated dislike of children, Selah smiles and tickles Lizzy’s nose with more fringe, causing the girl to giggle and lean in for more.
“When did you arrive?” I ask Kai. We might all live in Portland, but we rarely find time to get together. Kai spends a lot of time in Africa and travels the world for his non-profit work, taking Selah with him when she’s not teaching.
“Yesterday. Selah finished her grades and we drove up in the evening.”
“Are you settled in the house?” I’m happiest when my little cabin on the beach is filled with my favorite people.
“We are,” Selah says. “We even brought a tree with us over on the ferry. Kai strapped it to the top of the car like he’s a Norse God. I swear he lifted the thing with one arm.”
She may notice other men, hell, we all notice good looking men like John and Tom, you’d have to be blind not to, but her heart is firmly held in the hands of Kai. He might even give the island guys a run for handsome. I know for a fact he looks amazing in a suit.
“Did he chop it down himself?” John asks. If it were John’s tree, the answer would be yes. Knowing Kai, he bought the most expensive tree on the lot. I hope it fits in my living room.
Christmas at my beach cabin with my closest friends is my gift to myself this year. Even if our Christmas is a few days early so everyone can make it. We’d asked Ben and Jo to join us, but they’re spending the holidays in Florida with her family. As Jo put it, it’s the last chance to go to Disney World with sullen teens, and who wants to miss out on that fun. Selah’s comments on their trip involved the words “sea of germs” and “hell portal.”
“Baby, it’s cold outside,” she sing-says to the group. “I’ve done the strolling part of this evening, now how about some sipping?”
She’s right about the cold. I tuck my plaid scarf tighter around my neck. Sitting on the bluff, Langley is exposed to the wind. A few flurries dance through the air.
“We have dinner plans.” John drapes his arm around Diane. They stop walking, so we all stop.
“We do?” she asks
“I made reservations at Cafe Langley.”
“You did?”
“I did.” He smiles down at her.
“We have plans, too.” Tom interrupts.
“Are you joining us?” Diane asks the group.
Tom and John exchange looks.
“No, um, our plans are separate. I’ve had enough festiveness for one evening.” Tom gives Hailey a cautious look. He’s normally so cocky and self-assured.
I don’t know him well, but if I had to guess, he wants Hailey all to himself for the rest of the evening.
“Watch out for the mistletoe. The town is a minefield. Covered with the stuff.” John points above our heads.
Gil rubs his hands together, a devilish glint in his eye. “I say we take full advantage of it. What say you, Maggie May?”
My old nickname always makes me swoon. I rise up on my tiptoes to kiss him. It’s a soft, sweet kiss that ends too soon.
Gil scans the storefronts. “You owe me ten, no wait, twelve kisses.”
I don’t question his math. “Challenge accepted.”
After saying goodbye and wishing us all merry Christmases, the two couples split off and walk in opposite directions down the crowded street.
Another surprise is waiting for Diane at the restaurant. I smile, knowing I did something really nice for John and his wife. After all, this season is about giving.
Chapter 5
Diane
John isn’t a reservation and fancy dinner kind of guy. Yet here we are at a white-cloth covered table at Cafe Langley, my favorite restaurant. Even more strange is they seated us at a table for four. It’s packed in here tonight because of the event.
I’m about to ask him what’s going on when I hear my mother’s voice.
Rather than turn toward her, I stare at my husband. “What did you do?”
He grins at me, but worry dances in his eyes. “I brought home to you, since you can’t really travel for Christmas.”
“You’re my home, John Day. Our home is at the beach. Together.”
He softly kisses my cheek, his beard tickling my skin. “I know, but I can’t replace your parents.”
“Hey sweetheart.” My dad is standing next to the table now, wearing a Nordic sweater in a reindeer pattern. His bald head shines in the candlelight.
“Honey?” Mom asks, sounding worried. Her hair is shorter than the last time I saw her, but still a warm brown with highlights. Her face is thinner, too.
Tears spill down my cheeks as I stand up. “You’re here.”
I’m stunned stupid. “How?”
I hug both my parents as I cry. I’m not even sure why I’m crying.
Hormones? Probably.
Sentimental mush? Probably.
Realizing how much I’ve missed my mom? Definitely.
I’m now a blubbering mess in the middle of the restaurant. Not sobbing, but I do need to blow my nose soon or I’ll get snot all over my mother’s cashmere sweater.
“John called us and invited us to come out to visit you. He made all the arrangements and got his lovely friends Maggie and Gil to pick us up at the airport. She was there to get her friends from the city and brought two cars. Turns out we were all on the same flight. Everything worked out perfectly.”
I gape at my husband. “You planned all this? To surprise me?”
His love shines in his eyes. Making me tear up even more, he hands me a bandana to blow my nose. He knows me so well. I blow my nose loudly, not caring I sound like an elephant, and wipe my eyes.
My mother hugs me again, wrapping her cashmere-covered arms around me from the side. “We’re so happy to be here with you.”
I nod, trying not to blubber again. Instead, I blow my nose once more. Exhaling a deep breath, I smile at the three people I love most in the world.
&
nbsp; “You are all in so much trouble for keeping this a secret from me.” My stern expression falters immediately. I’m too happy to fake it. “I love you so much.”
John tucks me into his side and kisses the top of my head. “I love you.”
He doesn’t need to embellish those words. Those three are enough.
I stare up into his dark eyes. My stoic man who had closed himself off to love after loss. Even though the first time we met he yelled at me and accused me of being a burglar, there was something about him. I didn’t know it then, but he’d captured my heart from that first day. Not that I was ready for him or a relationship. For a while, he was my only friend on the island. Now he’s my best friend and my everything.
I get teary again thinking about how much I love him. I inhale and exhale a deep breath.
“Let’s sit.” I take the lead and settle into my seat at the table. Despite eating ice cream not that long ago, I’m hungry again. I could totally eat a big bowl of pasta.
John’s arm drapes across the back of my chair. His familiar heat is comforting. The feel of his fingers playing with the ends of my hair grounds me. The tears seem to have faded for now.
I’m still stunned he surprised me with my parents. My own gift for him feels inadequate with this grand gesture. I know after the baby comes, he’ll need guy time. He’ll fret and worry over both of us, to his own detriment. Mom and my grandmother have both agreed to come out to help. John’s aunt is close and a couple of his cousins have volunteered to help us. It takes a village, or in this case an island, to care for a baby.
That’s why I bought him and Tom a trip to go fishing in Alaska next summer. The trick will be getting him to go. Tom’s going to help out with that part. John’ll listen to him. At least I hope so.
“What are you smiling about?” John asks.
I give him a sly grin. “Payback.”
He frowns. “Are you mad?”
“Not at all.” I squeeze his thigh. “I just hate being outdone when it comes to gifts.”
Dad chuckles and lifts up his menu, blocking his face and muffling his voice. “Son, you’re never going to win. These women get competitive. You better watch out.”
Mom sips her wine and nods. “Although, there aren’t any losers in this game.”
Mom’s right. Trying to outdo each other with gifts is like trying to out-love each other. Nobody’s a loser. Everyone wins. Tom and John go fishing for a week. I get a freezer full of salmon and halibut. Win-win.
Chapter 5
Tom
Hailey and I drive home together. She’s nervous and fidgety in the truck, changing the radio station around after a minute or two into each song. Something’s up.
When she reaches for the glove box, I swat her hand away and swerve into the opposite lane.
“What do you need in there?” I give her one of my flirtiest smiles. “Condoms a plenty at home.”
“Ha ha. Are you hiding something?” She reaches for the handle and pulls, only it doesn’t budge. Because it’s locked. Her eyebrow lifts in question.
“I think it’s jammed.” I point out her window. “Was that a coyote?”
There is no coyote. I need a distraction.
She turns her head to look out the back window. When she faces me again, she squints to study me, but doesn’t say anything.
I need to make it home and get her inside, before her death stare makes me blow everything. She can be scary when she puts on that face.
We bump along the dirt road to my house. When we reach the clearing, a few fat snowflakes hit the windshield.
“Ooh, it’s snowing.” She jumps out of the cab as soon as I put it in park. Tilting her head back, she slowly spins with her arms out. Snowflakes land and melt on her coat and scarf, disappearing almost instantly. I lean against the warm hood of the truck, watching her enjoy the first snow of the season.
A certainty swells up within me. I didn’t really have a plan for proposing other than asking my grandmother for one of the family rings. I was stunned when she gave me the one Pops proposed with. Over time she upgraded and changed styles, but this is the one he picked out all those years ago when money was tight and their future endless.
The ring is more of a diamond covered band than one of those rings with a big hunk of rock. It’s far from flashy or a big statement. Hailey isn’t that type of woman anyway. She doesn’t even really wear jewelry. Something simple with a story behind it will be perfect. I hope.
What do I know about rings and women? What if she wants a new ring and a big diamond? My heart begins to race. I could seriously blow this whole thing with the wrong ring.
“It’s always magical.” She sighs and opens her eyes. “What? Why are you staring at me like that?”
I inhale, trying to stuff my rising panic back down. Blowing out a slow, long exhale, I try to give her a confident grin. I feel anything, but confident right now. My palms are damp with sweat. Blood races in my ears. I try to take another breath, but my lungs won’t cooperate. Black spots dot my vision. What is going on?
“Tom?” Hailey rushes over to me. “You’ve gone pale. Are you okay?”
Her voice sounds far away even though she is only a few inches from my face. Her hands cup my head. I attempt to focus on her eyes, but they keep going all soft and blurry.
“You look like you’re going to pass out.” She gives my head a little shake.
I can’t answer her. Instead, I slump against the truck, sliding down until I’m sitting against the front passenger tire.
“Tom.” Her voice is all muffled and tinny. “Put your head between your knees.”
I do as she suggests, tilting forward to rest my head on my knees. Cold air and snow prickle against my exposed skin covered in a thin layer of sweat. I’m hot, but I shiver at the sensation. I practice breathing like it’s a new thing for me.
“I’ll be right back.” Her boots stomp on the gravel in the direction of the house.
I’ve blown the moment big time. At least I didn’t have the ring out before I almost passed out from nerves like a virgin on prom night. Not that I would know. I wasn’t a virgin at prom.
When the world stops spinning, I lift my head. Snow sticks to the tarps and the pine trees across the yard. So much for just flurries tonight. I stare up at the falling flakes. They float and drift down on me. It’s quiet and peaceful out here. I don’t know where Hailey’s gone to, but I think I can stand. I push off the ground. Things are still fuzzy, but the dizziness has passed.
Small yippy barks break the silence. It’s not a coyote’s high-pitched howl. It sounds like–
A tiny fur-ball careens around the front tire, barking at me. I’m sure he thinks he’s fierce. Immediately, he's tugging on the leg of my jeans. The thing growls and chomps at the denim like he’s going to take me down. It’s like a chipmunk going after a bear.
I bend to pick him up, careful to avoid his mouth. He won’t let go of my jeans, until I put my finger in the jaws of death to get him to release. His incredibly sharp teeth graze my skin a few times like tiny knives.
“Hey, fierce little—” I turn the pup over, “—little dude. What’s up with the attack mode? You going to take me down?”
He squirms in my hands, wiggling himself around to chomp on my fingers or sleeve.
“Ouch! Now, you’ve got to stop that.” I suck on my finger where he’s made contact. At least there’s no blood. “Where did you come from? Whose evil puppy are you?”
He’s not wearing a collar or tags. We’re close enough to my sister’s house that he could have escaped from there, but he would’ve had to walk through the woods to get here. I doubt he’d be able to make it.
I tuck him under my arm like a football, so he can’t bite me. I open the door and unlock the glove box to get the ring. The puppy tugs on my coat sleeve. I drop him and the ring box on the floor of the truck. He immediately goes after the box. I’m not worried he can swallow it because it’s bigger than his jaw, but he’s got it be
tween his teeth.
I try to grab the box. He thinks it’s a game, scampering around in the truck. I lean in further to secure the ring, resting on my stomach across the seat to stop him before he gets himself wedged someplace I can’t reach him.
“What are you doing?” Hailey returns. “I went to get you some water, but then I got distracted because I lost something in the house. Why are you lying face down in the truck?”
“Got you!” I make a final lunge for the puppy and wrap my hand around his belly. I shove back off the seat and onto my feet. Holding the tiny dog above my head in triumph, I forget he’s holding the ring box in his teeth.
“Oh! You found Nameless.” She sounds relieved. “What’s that in his mouth?”
Oh, crap.
“Nameless?” I tuck him under my arm again and attempt to extract the cream velvet box before she can figure out what it is. Nameless growls and squirms, but unless I want to get bit again, he’s not giving up his new toy.
“I, um, he’s …” She stumbles over her words. Smiling she shouts, “Merry Christmas! I got you a puppy.”
I stare at her in disbelief. “You got me a poodle puppy?”
Her smile is warm, but a little nervous. “He’s a Labradoodle.”
“You got me a dog.” I take a few steps closer. Now we’re inches apart. “You got us a dog.”
She nods, her expression soft and full of love. “I did. You can name him, though. That’s why I’ve been calling him Nameless.”
I kiss her because I don’t know what to say. I kiss her because I love her.
Nameless uses my distraction to bite my arm again.
I jerk back from Hailey, nearly dropping the puppy. I fumble, but save him from falling.
The box drops onto the ground.
I’m pretty sure my hand is bleeding.
She bends down to pick up the box. The velvet is soaked in puppy saliva. So gross. She holds it between two fingers. “What’s this?”
My breath goes shallow again. Her own expression holds an edge of panic.
Love, Laughter and Happily Ever After: A Short Story Collection Page 13
