Christmas on Reindeer Road

by Debbie Mason

  “Hi, is everything all right?” She rolled her eyes at herself. She’d meant to sound a little less happy to hear from him.

  “Hey, Doc. You got a minute?”

  “This isn’t just a hey-how-are-you-doing call, is it?” She pulled out a chair at the table.

  “Afraid not. There’s been a problem at the sch—”

  “Are the boys okay? Is it my boys or yours? Who’s in trouble, Gabe? No one got hurt, did they?”

  “Okay, take a breath. It’s nothing to get overly upset about. We got called out to the high school on a false alarm. Supposedly it was Oliver who did it.”

  She shouldn’t have told him that Marsha had said no to boarding school. She should’ve waited for the weekend. But yesterday he’d asked her outright, and she hadn’t wanted to lie to him. She had dangled the hope that she’d try again, anything to wipe the disappointment from his face.

  “What does Mrs. Jones think?” she asked, forcing a smile for Mrs. Beckett, who was buttering the toast with her tea.

  The older woman winked at her. “Don’t tell my daughter. She thinks I’m daft but she dunks her toast in tea and the soggy bits drop in.” She shuddered.

  That at least was a relief. Gabe’s response wasn’t. “Oliver’s having problems with a couple of the twelfth-grade students, and Mrs. Jones thinks they pulled the alarm and blamed him.”

  “He never said anything to me. Neither did Brooks. I thought they were doing well and fitting in.” She bowed her head, rubbing her forehead. A cup of tea appeared in front of her, and Mrs. Beckett gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze.

  “Take it from me, dear. You’re always the last to know what’s going on with your children, no matter how good a mother you are.”

  “Thanks, Mrs. Beckett.”

  “Sounds like Mrs. Beckett knows what she’s talking about. I’m sure the boys didn’t want to worry you, Doc. Oliver’s not admitting to anything, but he’s not denying pulling the alarm, so there’s not much I can do. Mrs. Jones’s hands are tied too.”

  “I appreciate you being there for him, Gabe. Would you mind telling Mrs. Jones that I’ll be—”

  “I’ll take Oliver home with me, spend some time with him, and see if I can get him to talk. I’m pretty sure I know who’s giving him a hard time. I’ll have a word with Sully—that’s the football coach—before we take off.”

  “Are you sure? Don’t you have to get back to the station?”

  “I work tomorrow so I had a short shift today. I’d planned to work on my car when I got home. Oliver can give me a hand. Unless you’d rather he do his homework. I don’t want to overstep.”

  “Feel free to overstep. It’s obvious I’m failing pretty badly dealing with the boys on my own.”

  “Come on, give yourself a break.”

  “Gabe, I had no idea this was going on. I’d planned to take them out to dinner to celebrate. That’s how clueless I am.”

  “Doc, I have to go. We’ll talk later, okay? I’m going to pass you to Mrs. Jones to give her the okay for me to take Oliver.”

  “Thanks, Gabe. You have no idea how much I appreciate this.”

  * * *

  Mallory smiled as she walked into the heated garage. It smelled like motor oil and pine trees. Bruce Springsteen’s “Glory Days” was playing on the car’s speakers, and Gabe was singing along as he worked under the hood.

  As though he sensed her presence, he straightened, wiping his hands on a rag. “I heard you picked up dinner for us at Zia Maria’s Pizzeria.”

  “Dessert too. It’s the least I could do.” She leaned back to look at the car. “I hear this is your pride and joy.”

  “And you haven’t got a clue what make it is, have you?”

  She tapped a finger on her lips. “A ’ninety-six Corvette with a six-speed tranny and three-thirty horsepower.”

  He laughed. “The boys told you, didn’t they?”

  “It was all Oliver could talk about.” She peeked through the window at the pristine white leather seats. “He really enjoyed spending some one-on-one time with you, Gabe. As far as I know, he never really had that with Harry. Neither did Brooks, but I get the feeling it’s something Oliver feels he’s missed out on.”

  “I think you’re right.” He opened the driver’s-side door and lifted his chin at the passenger side. “You let me sit in your car—seems only fair I return the favor.”

  “Except you got to sit in the driver’s seat,” she said even while she walked around the car to the other side.

  “Yes, because I actually have a deep appreciation for cars. You, on the other hand, don’t. Oliver does. I’d be surprised if he didn’t have you waiting outside the DMV on the morning of his birthday.”

  “I’ve already been warned. Something else to be terrified about,” she said as she slid in beside him. “It’s a cute car.”

  “Doc, there is nothing cute about my car.”

  She laughed at his offended expression. “I’m sorry. It’s a hot car, sexy too.” He didn’t have to know she was referring to him. He looked both hot and sexy in his long-sleeve black Henley and well-worn jeans.

  “I feel the same way about your car.” There was something about his sidelong glance that made her wonder whether he was referring to her or her car.

  Most likely her car, she decided, thinking there was nothing hot or sexy about her black pants and puffy blue winter jacket. Her hair was also a windblown mess and whatever makeup she’d put on this morning had worn off.

  She self-consciously smoothed her hair. “I’ll let you take the Jag out for a drive before I sell it.”

  “Are you kidding me? You’re selling the Jag?”

  She shrugged. “It’s not like I want Oliver driving it. Marsha let him drive with her in her nineteen-sixties Cadillac, but it’s like a boat and hasn’t got much get-up-and-go left. It’s not like I can afford two cars so I thought I’d buy a nice, practical van. From your expression, I don’t have to ask what you think.”

  “A van.” He shuddered. “I told my wife we had to stop at three kids. No way was I driving around in a van. Then she showed me an SUV, and I was willing to be persuaded.”

  He looked deep in thought, and she didn’t want to remind him of what he’d lost by asking if they’d tried to have more children so instead she said, “Isn’t an SUV a van?”

  “Seriously, Doc, we have to educate you. Don’t buy anything unless you let me check it out first, and definitely don’t accept any offers for the Jag without running them by me. Did you want to trade it in before or after Oliver’s birthday?”

  “His birthday’s next weekend so that would be a little fast. He can’t drive on his own anyway, so maybe I’ll wait until spring.”

  “Probably a good idea. I don’t mind taking him out once in a while.”

  “If you’re sure you don’t mind, I’d really appreciate it. I have a feeling I might make him nervous.”

  “Maybe in exchange you can help me out with Teddy’s birthday party. It’s on the twentieth. He wants a Christmas theme.”

  “Why am I not surprised.” Mallory laughed. “I’d love to help. Um, will Diane and Karl be there?”

  “No, not at the kids’ party. They’re coming for dinner the next night. They’ll probably do their Christmas exchange with the boys. They’re planning to go to Florida for the holidays.”

  “Do the boys mind?”

  “No, not at all. We lost Lauren ten days before Christmas, and Diane has a hard time with the holidays. We all do, really. All except Teddy, I guess.”

  “That makes sense. He was very young when Lauren died.”

  “Yeah, but it’s not fair to him. I’m going to try harder this year. Get the twins onboard too.”

  “I don’t know if this is something that would help, but instead of putting the emphasis on the anniversary of Lauren’s death, what about doing something special on her birthday to celebrate and honor her life? When was her birthday?”

  He smiled. “December twenty-firs
t.”

  “That’s perfect. You can celebrate her birthday and then celebrate Christmas.”

  “You think you’d be able to help me out with that too? I’m not really good with this party-planning stuff.”

  “Well, you’re in luck. I love party planning, and I’d be honored to help you plan a celebration of Lauren’s life. I’m thinking of doing the same next spring for Harry. There’s so much that Oliver and Brooks don’t know about their father, so much they missed out on, and I want to try and fill those voids. Hopefully I can get Marsha onboard.”

  “Have you spoken to her again? Oliver told me you said you would.”

  “I know I should just let it go and tell him it’s a definite no so we can move forward. But he was so disappointed that the words were coming out of my mouth before I could stop them.”

  “You know you’re a pushover, don’t you?”

  She buried her face in her hands and groaned. “Is that what Oliver and Brooks think?”

  He gently tweaked her hair. “Probably, but in a good way. You’re a sweet, loving, thoughtful woman who has more empathy in her baby finger than most people have in their entire bodies. Oliver and Brooks are lucky to have you, and trust me, they know they are. But they’re teenage boys, and if you give them an inch, they’ll definitely take a mile.”

  “So we probably should get in there and make sure everything’s under control.”

  “I’m paying Oliver and Brooks to look after the boys.” He held up his phone and pulled up an app. The boys appeared on the screen. The five of them were sprawled on the brown leather sectional eating pizza and watching the big-screen TV.

  “Who’s the pushover now? They’re eating pizza on your couch with their feet up and watching a movie about”—she leaned in to get a look at the television screen—“robots.”

  “My guys are introducing your guys to Lost in Space. Think the Swiss Family Robinson goes to space,” he said at what must’ve been her blank look.

  “We don’t watch a lot of TV. The boys play their music and play video games.”

  “And you read your romance novels,” he said, fighting a smile.

  “Yes, I do. And you play with your car.”

  He laughed, then narrowed his eyes on the screen. “They’re going to eat all the pizza if I don’t get in there and grab a few slices.”

  “Go, go. I’m sorry for keeping you.” She went to open the door.

  “I didn’t mean for you to leave. I thought I’d grab us a couple slices and a couple bottles of beer if you’re up for it. No worries if you’re not.”

  “You want us to eat here? In your car?”

  “Yeah, as long as you promise not to spill anything on the upholstery.” He winked at her and got out of the car. “I’ll be right back.”

  He lived up to his promise. She’d just settled back into her seat after changing the radio station when he appeared at the driver’s-side door. She leaned across to open his door for him. “Are you sure you got enough?”

  He had a pizza box, two beers, paper plates, and napkins.

  He groaned when he settled in beside her, handing her the pizza box. “I leave you for two minutes, and you change the Boss for…who is that?”

  “Keith Urban.”

  “The country guy?”

  “Yeah, the country guy who is singing ‘I’ll Be Your Santa Tonight.’”

  He grinned. “Does bringing you beer and pizza count?”

  “Definitely.” She clinked her beer bottle to his and then put it between her legs to open the box of pizza and hand him a slice.

  “Thanks, and just so we get our stories straight: You’re not here. I told Teddy you needed some time on your own so you were taking your pizza and beer home. Otherwise, he would’ve been out here with us. And I don’t know about you, but by the end of the week I’m ready for an hour of alone time, or, in this case, adult time.”

  She once again clinked her beer bottle to his. “Completely agree. I usually get mine in the bathtub with my book, but this is…” She sighed when he choked on his beer. “I’m never going to mention my book or bathtub in the same sentence with you again.”

  “I have very fond memories of…Pretend I didn’t say that.” He lifted his chin. “Eat your pizza.”

  They ate in companionable silence—or it was entirely possible the silence was due to them both thinking about that night, which she was not about to mention. Instead, she listened to the Christmas carols playing on the radio and focused on thinking only companionable thoughts where Gabe was concerned. She found that difficult. She imagined any woman would when sitting in the close confines of a car with him. Even if that car was in a heated garage.

  Mallory decided that what she needed to curb her romantic fantasies was a dose of reality. “So, did you have any luck getting Oliver to admit who pulled the alarm?”

  “No, but I honestly didn’t expect to. Things haven’t changed much since we were in school. No one wants to be labeled a rat.”

  “Did you talk to the football coach? Does he know who’s giving Oliver a hard time?”

  “Oh yeah, he knows exactly who it is. Ainsley’s boyfriend and captain of the football team, Dirk McFee, and a couple of his buddies.”

  “Why does that name sound familiar?”

  “Dot’s his grandmother.”

  “Oh no, this could get really bad, couldn’t it? Gabe, you absolutely can’t get involved. Dot is already out to get you.”

  “I know. I thought it would eventually blow over, but I was fooling myself.” He told her what the mayor said at the meeting.

  “Okay, we can’t just sit around hoping that Dot will back off now that Owen is busy with the farm. We have to…I’ve got it. You can help me with my in-home visits. While I check on how the seniors are managing at home, you can check for safety issues. It’ll give you the opportunity for some one-on-one time.”

  “Sure. Sounds good.”

  “You can also volunteer a couple times a week delivering hot lunches to our homebound residents. It’s another nice way for you to get to know them better.”

  “Okay, I can probably do that too.”

  “Great. And maybe we can do cops take a senior for lunch and a holiday shop. That would be fun, wouldn’t it? Do you have any money in your budget for holiday events with the community?”

  “I don’t know. I’d have to check. But I think I’ll be busy enough with the in-home visits and meals-on-wheels thing.”

  “We’ll see how it goes. You should also consider doing a team building event with your staff. A holiday party would be good. Dot wouldn’t be able to stir the pot if your staff was on your side. Maybe I’ll talk to Ruby about it. She’ll know exactly who to target.”

  He gave her a raised-eyebrow look. “I was enjoying our pizza date until you brought up work, you know.”

  “Sorry. I…Are we on a date? I thought we agreed it wasn’t a good idea—”

  “Slip of the tongue. We’re just enjoying an adult—Oh, crap, get down.” He shoved her head into his lap.

  “Gabe, what’s going—”

  “Shh, stop talking, and if you can stop breathing, too, that’d be great.”

  She didn’t understand why he…Okay, as she felt something grow very large and very hard beneath her face, she no longer had to wonder what he meant.

  “Hey, honey, what do you need?” she heard him ask and realized why she was face-first in his lap.

  “The boys aren’t letting me have a turn picking what we watch on TV,” Teddy said from somewhere in the vicinity of the door leading from the house into the garage.

  “Okay, I just have to take care of a few things, and I’ll be right in.”

  “Dad, you sound funny, and your face is kinda red.”

  “I’m okay. Everything’s good. You don’t have to come check on me. Careful there, buddy, there’s some grease on the floor.”

  “I don’t see any grease,” Teddy said, sounding closer than before, which caused Mallory to give a muff
led squeak of alarm and burrow deeper in Gabe’s lap.

  He stifled a groan.

  “Sorry,” she whispered, but he’d turned up the radio.

  “Why are you grinning at me, buddy?” Gabe asked, sounding nervous.

  “My plan is working, Dad. You’re listening to Christmas carols.” There was a pitter-patter of little feet and then the squeak of the door between the house and garage opening. “Hey, guys, guess what? Dad—” Whatever else Teddy was about to say was lost as he walked back inside the house.

  “Okay, that was embarrassing. I’m sorry, Mallory. I—”

  “It’s not your fault, Gabe. I understand that random erections are normal,” she said, trying to sound as clinically detached as possible, but then she ruined everything by laughing.

  “I’m glad you think it’s funny, but do you think you could sit up now?”

  “Sorry,” she said, and went to push herself upright. “Ouch. I can’t.”

  “What do you mean, you can’t?”

  “My hair is caught on something. I think it’s wrapped around the button of your jeans. Just give me a minute,” she said, moving her head up and down as she tried to free her hair.

  “Oh, jeez, I think Teddy’s bringing reinforcements. Hurry, and maybe stop doing that,” he said.

  “Okay, okay,” she said, imagining what it would look like if the boys walked in. She moved her hand to the button of his jeans. “I just need a minute.” She worked his button and then her hair was free and not a moment too soon. As she sat up, still half in Gabe’s lap, the door between the house and the garage opened.

  “See, I told you. Dad loves…Mallory?”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Mallory tossed back the covers and stumbled from her bedroom. She’d spent another almost sleepless night. She’d woken up at three again. She was coming to think of it as the witching hour.

  Reading her latest romance novel hadn’t lulled her back to sleep, possibly because Gabe had once again taken on the role of the hero in her mind. This time he was a big-city homicide detective instead of a small-town sheriff.

  The bath she’d taken before bed hadn’t helped relax her either. Not really a surprise when her explanations to the boys for why she’d practically been in Gabe’s lap hadn’t been warmly received. There was a decided chill in the air when she’d made her way home last night, and it had nothing to do with the weather.