The Fireman's Christmas

by Meg Lacey

  Right now he wished he'd never heard of Tessa Doherty, or her family.

  Chapter Five

  Tessa glanced at her watch as she and her children trudged up the sidewalk to Danny's. She was earlier than she'd said she'd be—eight-fifteen instead of nine o'clock. She hesitated before turning the handle and stepping inside. The house seemed very quiet, unusually quiet.

  "Where'd they go, Mom?" Josie whispered.

  "Maybe aliens took them. Better watch out." Eric muttered. poking his sister in the ribs.

  "Shhh," Tessa whispered, her finger to her mouth. She looked around. "I guess they're still asleep."

  "Wish I was asleep," Eric grumbled.

  "You shouldn't have stayed on the computer all night," Josie said.

  "I didn't."

  Josie plastered a smug look on her face. "Did, too. I peeked under the door and saw the light."

  "Eric Doherty, were you on that computer after I said lights out?"

  Eric glared at his sister. "Tattletale."

  As Josie started to reply, Tessa jumped in again. "Never mind, we'll talk about this later, Eric. And Josie, I'll speak with you later also about spying on your brother. Now both of you go upstairs and get some more sleep." Convinced her stern mother act had them suitably cowed, Tessa turned and headed toward the kitchen.

  A few minutes later Danny tracked her down there. "I smelled coffee."

  Tessa jumped and spilled a few drops of hot coffee on her hand. "Ouch. Warn me next time."

  Danny reached over her shoulder to grab her hand and thrust it under the cold water. "Sorry, I didn't know you were going to scald yourself."

  With her back against him, Tessa felt his flesh on hers as their legs touched and she jerked forward, slamming her hip against the counter. "Ouch."

  "What are you trying to do, kill yourself this morning?"

  "What are you wearing?" Tessa demanded.

  "I'm not wearing 'jammies,' if that's what you're asking," Danny teased as he released her.

  "You'd better be wearing clothes," Tessa said over her shoulder as she tried to recover her aplomb, although the sensation of his hard body against hers was still with her as she went back to pouring coffee into her cup.

  "Why don't you turn around and see?"

  Tessa sighed, then turned and surveyed the ratty bathrobe falling open over a pair of running shorts and a T-shirt that said Firemen Burn Hotter. Her lips quirked into a smile she quickly controlled. Danny Santori didn't need any encouragement to be outrageous.

  "Nice shirt. And even if you don't sleep in jammies, you own a bathrobe, I see."

  Tessa took a sip of coffee, screwing up her face as the liquid burned her tongue. What is it about this man that keeps me tripping over my own feet? She glared at Danny, daring him to make another comment, but he studiously ignored her, walking past to get a coffee cup from the cupboard.

  "You said you weren't coming until nine."

  "I know. I'm sorry. I forgot that I have an appointment with a vendor, so I had to come early. Where are your kids?"

  "We were all up late watching a movie. Then Emma was crying because her big sister was living in another room and didn't love her anymore. After I settled her down, the boys decided to make a commando attack on Alison's room to scare her. That started another uproar, and then—"

  "I get the picture," Tessa interrupted.

  Danny poured coffee and leaned back against the counter, looking both at ease and very sexy at the same time. "So what time will you be home?"

  "Home?" There was silence for a moment as Tessa met his eyes before correcting him. "Oh, here to get the kids, you mean? About seven-thirty." Tessa winced as she recognized the tone as the same one she'd used with her ex-husband when he was pushing her to do something she didn't want to do.

  "See you then."

  Walking toward the hallway, Tessa nodded and waved, still feeling Danny's gaze boring into her back. She'd known what he meant, but the little tingle in her stomach at the word home made her curl her emotions up in a ball like a porcupine. She almost ran to her car, knowing that if she didn't escape quickly she'd be tempted to go back in and…and what? What was something she wasn't prepared for at the moment.

  * * *

  LATER THAT AFTERNOON, Tessa was on her hands and knees in the dirt, digging a hole. She sat back on her heels eyeing the depth, then glanced at the potted zinnias she planned to put there. Carefully she removed a flower from the pot, working the roots free of the plastic. After placing the plant in position she filled in the hole, gently patting the soil around the stems much like a mother soothing a fussy child.

  "There now. Don't be upset. You'll like it here. You'll grow big and strong. You're an important part of this environment. Look around. This is a cottage garden, full of happy old-fashioned colorful flowers. Right behind you is cosmos. You'll be such a nice pair." She pointed to the right. "And there's larkspur and next year foxglove will bloom. You'll be happy here."

  "Who are you talking to, dear?"

  An elderly woman with faded blue eyes, leaning on an old-fashioned wood cane, stood just outside the door. Tessa flushed, embarrassed to be caught talking to her plants.

  "I, uh…"

  "Don't worry, dear, I talk to them, too. My friend Barrett told me I must speak with them every day. Do you know Barrett, Tessa? If not I'll introduce you. He's a florist and creates the most wonderful displays. He's a delightful character and has been in Warenton forever."

  Tessa smiled. "I did meet him last week at a seminar. He's very talented."

  "He helped me design this flower garden." Mrs. Deerfield glanced around, the love evident in her eyes. "It's been my salvation throughout my life. This is the first year I haven't been able to take care of my own garden. It's this hip, you see. I can't bend down anymore."

  Tessa stood and brushed off her legs. She smiled as she took in the brilliant colors juxtaposed against the old picket fence that surrounded the garden off the back door of the weathered brick house. "It's a lovely place, Mrs. Deerfield."

  "It's been in my family for a hundred and fifty years. My husband was a doctor, just like my father and grandfather. Daddy built that wing of the house for his clinic. My husband used it, too. Then he built another wing onto the house—to balance it out, he said."

  "It's so peaceful out here. You're very lucky."

  Mrs. Deerfield glanced at the sky.

  "You need to run along. It's going to storm any minute."

  Surprised, Tessa looked up, noticing the dark clouds for the first time. "I didn't realize."

  With twinkling eyes, Mrs. Deerfield smiled. "You were too absorbed in your conversation, I think."

  Tessa chuckled. "You're right. Well, don't worry, I can work in the rain."

  "I wouldn't hear of it. My garden isn't going anywhere. You run along and have fun with your children. That's important, too."

  "But—"

  "No sass from you, young lady. Now, scoot!"

  Tessa placed an impulsive kiss on the old lady's cheek, then obeyed. She gathered her gardening tools and containers before heading to her van. Looking at her watch, she realized it was only four o'clock. She could get some pizza and salad and have dinner with Danny and the kids.

  Danny and the kids.

  That sounded so homey, so like a family, that she hesitated and then decided she kind of liked it. Putting her van into gear, she drove to the nearest pizza parlor. After placing her order at the counter, she sat down to wait.

  "Tessa?"

  She glanced over her shoulder to see Rhonda. "Hey, Rhonda, I didn't see you when I came in."

  Rhonda jerked a thumb. "I was in the bathroom freshening up. I'm meeting a guy here for dinner. If you haven't had this pizza, it's the best in the world. One bite and you'll swear you've died and gone to heaven."

  Tessa smiled. Rhonda was in full exaggeration mode. Her energy for life was one of the things Tessa loved about her. "I've only been here a few times. I usually stop at a place closer
to my condo."

  Rhonda plopped into a chair. "Honey, if you're going to use the calories make the most of them, that's what I say."

  "Thanks, Nurse Rhonda." Tessa grinned at her friend. "As usual, you've hit the nail right on the head."

  "Of course I have. So how is life with the delicious Danny? That's what all of the nurses call him. They fight over who will take the emergency when we know he's on a run."

  "Oh, stop it."

  "I'm serious, Tessa. Many have thrown their thongs at him, but haven't scored more than a polite smile and a wicked twinkle." Rhonda nudged Tessa with her shoulder. "How are you doing in that department?"

  Tessa gave Rhonda a cool look. "I'm there to babysit. I'm helping him and he's helping me. Period, end of story."

  "You'd better come in to the hospital, girl. I think you need a checkup."

  "Doherty," the man behind the counter called as he finished cutting the pizza. "You're up."

  Tessa stood. "I'll call you later, Rhonda. Good luck with your date."

  Tessa paid for the pizza and picked up the boxes. Blowing an air kiss to Rhonda, she headed for the door to drive to Danny's. As she parked in front of the house, Mrs. Deerfield's prediction came true. Rain fell in big drops onto her windshield.

  Tessa managed to get the three pizza boxes, two bags and her tote bag to the porch without getting soaked. Just as she put her hip to the door to push it open, it seemed to open by itself.

  "Hi, Kyle." Or was it Kevin? No, judging by the haircut it was Kyle.

  "Wow, pizza." Kyle turned to shout, "Kevin, come quick."

  Kevin trailed in from the living room in full Space Warrior regalia, just as Eric, nose leading the way and clutching a book about a computer program, emerged from the other side of the house. All the boys ignored Tessa, focusing on the pizza instead. You'd think no one ever fed them. As each of the three boys reached for a box, Tessa snatched them away.

  "Wait a minute, what happened to your manners? First you say hello, and then I'll hand over the pizzas while we get ready for dinner."

  The three boys looked at each other, their expressions reinforcing what they thought of this picky idea. By shared agreement they turned en masse and said, "Hi," then reached for the pizza boxes. Tessa surrendered them, calling after them, "We'll eat in the dining room. No food for you guys until I get the rest of the family in, too."

  "Okay." From the angelic look on the twin's faces, Tessa expected to find a few pieces of pizza gone. She'd deal with that later. Right now she needed to fix the salad, she thought, walking toward the kitchen.

  "Tessa?"

  Tessa looked up at a stormy Alison leaning over the railing.

  Tessa shifted the bags in her arms. "What's up, Alison? Is something wrong?"

  All teenage attitude, Alison tried to stroll down the stairs, but whatever was bothering her got the better of her as she swung around the newel post in her rush to get to Tessa. "My dad is acting like a Neanderthal."

  Tessa was taken aback for a moment. "He is?"

  Alison nodded so hard that she resembled a bobblehead doll. "He might as well be wearing a leopard skin and carrying a club."

  Tessa swallowed hard at the thought of Danny in a leopard skin. "I'm sure it's not that bad."

  Alison struck a pose. "My life is ruined."

  Tessa tried to hide her smile at Alison's drama-queen performance. She remembered herself at this age and wasn't looking forward to Josie behaving the same way when she was thirteen. "Why don't you help me with the salad and tell me about it?"

  "Yeah, okay, I guess I could."

  With Alison on her heels she entered the kitchen and unloaded her bags. Handing the lettuce to Alison, she started cutting vegetables. "All right, what is this all about, Alison?"

  "Dad won't let me see my friends."

  "Why not?"

  Alison flung her arms wide. "Because he hates me, that's why."

  This time Tessa couldn't help smiling. "Alison, your father doesn't hate you."

  "Then why won't he let me go?" Alison wailed.

  "Well," Tessa said in a reasonable tone, "where are you planning to go?"

  "I told you, just to hang out with friends."

  "That doesn't sound unreasonable."

  "Tell her the rest, Alison." Danny's deep voice interrupted the conversation.

  Tessa turned from making the salad to see Danny standing frozen in the doorway, his face resembling a thundercloud as he stared at his daughter. Tessa looked from one to the other and wished she could pull a vanishing act. She'd been looking forward to a casual fun evening, not being the referee in a family fight.

  "Go ahead, Alison, tell Tessa all of it. Tell her where you wanted to go."

  "To a club," Alison mumbled, her face set in lines of discontent.

  "What kind of club?" Tessa asked.

  Alison rolled her eyes as if commenting on the unreasonable behavior of the adults in her life. "A dance club. It's harmless, nothing big happening there. Just music."

  Folding his arms, Danny said, "It's a weekday, Alison. You aren't allowed to go out on school nights. Those are the rules."

  "It's summer, Danny. School's still out for another week or so." Tessa could have bitten her tongue for interfering as Danny's face made it very clear that her comment was unwelcome, especially when Alison jumped in to agree.

  "Yeah, Dad, Tessa's right. Duh, it's still summer, remember?"

  "Stow the attitude, Alison," Danny snapped. "Just because it's summer is no reason to change the rules."

  Grabbing the bread sticks from the counter, Alison flounced away, but not before she got in one last zinger. "You're impossible. I wish my mother was here."

  "You and me both," Danny muttered, his gaze following his daughter.

  Tessa wasn't sure what to say as she glimpsed the longing in Danny's face. She wanted to take the hurt away, but didn't know how. As she opened her mouth to say something, Danny spoke instead.

  He lifted his slumping shoulders, straightening to his full height. "You're back early."

  Managing a smile, Tessa accepted the subject change and went back to cutting tomatoes. "It started raining and my client insisted I leave. I got pizza for dinner. The boys put it on the dining-room table."

  Danny surprised Tessa with a chuckle. It was rather forced, but it was an instant mood brightener. "You left the boys alone with the pizza?"

  "Yes. Dumb of me, huh?"

  "I'd better rescue it before it's gone."

  "Danny, would you call Josie and Emma, too? We'd better eat while we still have food left."

  Danny hustled out of the kitchen, calling for the girls as he went. Tessa was given a few minutes' reprieve before she had to face Danny and Alison again. She knew Alison was counting on her support, and if she knew anything about kids Tessa knew that Alison would renew her assault after dinner, hoping to catch her father in a better mood. Why couldn't I keep my mouth shut? First it was her room and now dance clubs, of all things. Obviously Danny would rather she butt out, but Tessa had inserted herself into the middle of a family incident through no fault of her own. Kids were so good at playing one adult off the other that the CIA ought to recruit them as secret weapons, Tessa thought.

  She sighed before picking up the salad bowl and paper plates to take into the dining room. Once there, she looked around at the table and saw the boxes open, but surprisingly no pizza gone. She sent Danny a questioning look.

  Danny smiled. "It seems Eric threatened to tie the twins to a tree if they took any pizza before everyone else got here."

  "Eric did that?" Tessa turned an amazed look on her son. "Who are you? What have you done with Eric the pizza hog who can't resist a piece of pizza if it's in front of him?"

  Eric groaned, blushing. "Mom. Cut it out."

  "Eric's a pizza hog," Josie chanted, echoed by Emma.

  "All right, that's enough, young ladies," Tessa said, passing the salad around. "Alison, please pass the pepperoni pizza down here. Dig in, everyone."<
br />
  Silence reigned, except for the crunch, munch, slurps and small burps from the youthful crowd around the table. Tessa glanced at Danny; he was awfully quiet. Then she remembered something and leaped up from the table. "I forgot the wine." Returning, she set the bottle of Chianti on the table in front of Danny along with two jelly jars. "I couldn't find any wineglasses."

  "It doesn't matter." Danny grinned, working the corkscrew, and released the cork with a loud pop. "These will work." He poured the wine and toasted Tessa, "Cheers."

  "Cheers."

  "Can we go now, Mom? We're done," Eric said, with a look around the table.

  "Okay, take your plates into the kitchen, scrape them and throw them in the recycle can." One by one the children left the table, with the last to leave being Alison, who gave her father a pathetic look as she went past.

  "Dad…"

  "I don't want to talk about it, Alison."

  Tessa toyed with her wine as Alison left the room, her feet dragging like a woman on her way to the executioner's block. "Danny, I don't mean to interfere, but don't you think you're being a bit unfair?"

  Danny turned a cold face to her. "Unfair? No, I don't think so. I don't want my barely-fourteen-year-old daughter out at a dance club with God knows whom. Anything could happen to her."

  "I didn't mean that. I meant by not speaking to her and letting her make her case."

  "I did speak to her."

  "To her or at her?"

  With a scowl, Danny looked down at his wine. "I don't know what that means. We have rules. Alison knows that. The rules guarantee a safer life."

  "Surely you can bend them a bit now and then?"

  "Look, I've been father and mother to these kids for the past three years. That's the long and short of it. I'm doing what my wife would approve, even though you don't." With a challenging look at Tessa, he refilled their jars.

  "All I'm suggesting is you talk rationally and explain your reasons."