The Fireman's Christmas

by Meg Lacey

  The twins giggled. "We are. We're pretending we're Alison."

  Now it all made sense to Tessa. Shaking the last of her inertia away, she took control. "Boys, take Alison's things off right now or you will be sent to bed without supper."

  The threat of no food worked. The twins stripped faster than a porn star and dropped the clothes on the floor. "Now pick them up and hand them to your sister with an apology and a promise never to do this again." The boys tried their innocent smile, but this time it didn't work. Tessa gave them the stone-face stare that mothers learn the minute they have children. Resigned, the boys picked up the clothes and handed them to Alison with a reluctant "Sorry."

  "Repeat after me," Tessa said. "I will never take Alison's clothes again under pain of having no cookies for six months."

  "Six months!" the twins yelled.

  "Six months," Tessa replied in her sternest voice and stood with arms crossed as they repeated the promise. "Kyle, Kevin, go to your room and get ready for bed."

  "Bed!" they wailed. "Already?"

  "Go."

  "Eric, Josie, Emma, go back to what you were doing." Tessa watched as the children trailed away, leaving her with Alison.

  Tessa walked over to Alison and tried to take her hand, but Alison jerked it away. "I want to go to my room."

  "Alison, I'm sorry. I don't know what I've done to make you think I'm using you, but…"

  Alison gave Tessa a surprisingly adult look, but said nothing. Tessa tried again. "Alison, please, let's talk about this."

  "There's nothing to talk about. I'd like to be excused to put my things away."

  Since Alison wasn't going to speak to her about her accusation, Tessa tried a new topic. "Your brothers were just teasing you. Try not to take it so hard."

  Alison glared at her. "I hate my brothers."

  "I can see why. But they're just little boys."

  "Quit taking their side. They're dumb and totally clueless."

  Tessa couldn't help smiling. "I have news for you, honey—some of them don't change even when they grow up."

  Alison sent her a stormy but interested look. "Really?"

  "Really. Go ahead, take your things upstairs. If you feel like coming back later, we can make popcorn balls."

  Alison merely shrugged her shoulders and climbed the stairs, heaving a dramatic sigh.

  Tessa watched Alison leave, tempted to go after her, but knowing the best thing to do was leave her alone. Still, she was very disturbed by what the girl had said. How many women tried to get close to Danny through Alison, she wondered. Tessa bit her lip. And then there was the flirting accusation, which involved too much truth to deny. She could deny it to Alison, but she'd have a harder time denying it to herself. Not that she was the only one at fault; Danny had to take his share of the blame for the situation. Hard as they tried, they couldn't seem to kill the sparks between them. She was much better off trying to stay away from him. Under the circumstances, though, she had no hope of making that a reality. Maybe his date tonight would change the situation. But even as Tessa thought that, she prayed it wouldn't. Finally she gave up, as a pain began pounding in her temples. Tessa squeezed her eyes tight for a minute and then rushed to the kitchen to find a pain reliever. She had one hell of a headache!

  Somehow they all made it through the evening, with Alison relenting and joining everyone downstairs. Tessa figured it wasn't fun to be a martyr when there was no one around to see. She had allowed the twins to come down in their pajamas, and Alison reluctantly forgave her brothers when they finally made a sincere apology after five attempts. But she was still cool to Tessa, which made Tessa's head start pounding again.

  After the children had gone to their rooms for the night a few hours later, Tessa tried to settle down with a book. It was no good. She kept listening for the sound of a car pulling into the driveway. She threw the book down and restlessly wandered the house. She loved this place. It was a bit worn and as messy as her condo was neat and orderly, but that didn't bother her. This house felt happy and well loved. There was a warmth that lingered even when no one was there, inviting everyone to put their feet up and relax. It was completely different from the homes where she'd grown up and the homes she had shared with Colin. They'd been more like stage sets where she was just another display prop.

  When she finally heard a car door slam she forced herself not to race to the door and peer outside. As footsteps sounded on the porch, Tessa flung herself into a chair and picked up her book. She didn't look up even when the door squeaked.

  "Hi," Danny said.

  Tessa gave an exaggerated jump that wouldn't have fooled a first grader. She peered over her book. "Oh, you startled me."

  "Good book?" Danny asked as he casually strolled over to stand in front of her.

  "It's great. I can't stop reading it."

  "Do you always read books upside down?"

  "What?" Tessa glanced down. She turned the book right side up. "Okay, you caught me. I wanted to see if you'd notice."

  "Why?"

  Why is right. "No reason. Just a silly impulse." Tessa tried to play off the comment with a carefree chuckle.

  Danny rubbed the side of his nose as he studied her. "You don't do things on impulse. You plan every minute."

  "I do not."

  "Sure you do. If you ask me, you could use more impulse in your life."

  That comment stung. Tessa snapped her book closed and leaned forward. "Unlike you, I'm focused."

  Danny laughed. "I'm focused. I just like to relax and be loose every once in a while." To emphasize his point he unbuttoned his collar button and loosened his tie.

  "I relax. Who says I don't relax?"

  "Are you relaxed now?"

  Tessa clenched her fists, feeling the blood pounding in her temples. First Alison had blindsided her with accusations and now Danny was tormenting her. She wanted to take a swing at the self-confident jerk. Her voice rose, "What's the matter with you? The kids are in bed and I'm sitting here reading a book. Of course I'm relaxed. I'm damn relaxed."

  "Hmm." Danny stepped forward with a smile and lifted her out of the chair to stand on her feet. He retained his light grip on her arms. "How about now?" He pulled her closer. "Or now?"

  Tessa stumbled forward, stopping herself before she was enveloped in his arms. "How was your date with the hot babe?"

  Danny let her go so fast she almost fell back on the chair. "Date. Right. Great, it was great. Connie was great."

  There was silence for a moment, leaving Tessa perplexed by the sudden tension. "I'd better get my kids home."

  "Why don't you leave them here? You'll be back tomorrow anyway when I'm back on duty."

  "Well, I suppose that would be all right."

  "You're welcome to spend the night, too."

  The sexual danger inherent in that remark sharpened Tessa's response. "I don't want to impose."

  At that, Danny made a noise that sounded like a chuckle and a groan at the same time. "I wish you would impose."

  Tessa's breath caught at the almost hungry expression in his eyes. She fumbled for something to say. "I'm sure the Great Connie wouldn't agree to my spending the night alone in the house with you."

  Danny yanked at his tie. "Connie is…"

  Tessa waited, but he didn't go on. "Is?" she prompted.

  "Is, uh, is…" Danny stumbled over his words and looked at the ceiling.

  "Connie is what?" Tessa asked again, praying he wouldn't begin cataloguing her virtues.

  "Is understanding…about other women—my seeing other women, I mean."

  Tessa snorted. "Trust me, no woman is that understanding."

  "No, no, it's all right, really it is. I could ask you out, for instance, and she wouldn't bat an eye."

  With a skeptical laugh, Tessa challenged, "Prove it. Call and ask her. I'm betting she has your gizzards for breakfast."

  "Do people have gizzards? I thought only chickens had gizzards."

  Taken completely off guard by h
is sudden switch of topics, Tessa could only gape at him.

  Danny grinned. "If I hadn't seen you at a complete loss for words, I wouldn't have believed it."

  Tessa attempted to gather her dignity. "Well, I only hope Connie appreciates your sense of humor."

  "Connie and I don't talk a lot when we go out," he said with a provocative look in his eyes.

  Tessa tried to bury the sudden spurt of jealousy his words aroused. "That's…I'd rather not have more detail about your personal life, thank you very much."

  He stepped a little bit closer and whispered, "Jealous?"

  Tessa stepped around him. "Absolutely not. I have no reason to be jealous. Our arrangement is strictly professional."

  Danny folded his arms as he looked her over. "Still time to change it. Tempted?"

  Tessa had finally had enough. "I'll be back tomorrow morning." She stalked across the room and picked up her purse before turning at the door to face him. "You know, I find it very hard to believe that you have the nerve to go out on a date and then come home and proposition me. What type of behavior is that?"

  "Tessa, I was just joking. I wasn't serio—"

  "Then why do it?"

  Danny shrugged, looking helpless as he searched for an answer. "I don't know. It's so tempting to tease you and force you off balance when you're so serious and determined most of the time."

  "You know what, Danny Santori? Alison was right. You are a Neanderthal."

  * * *

  A FEW DAYS LATER Rhonda leaned across the counter in the momentarily quiet E.R. at Warenton General Hospital and asked Tessa, "So what did Danny say when you called him a Neanderthal?"

  Tessa hit the counter with the palm of her hand. "He didn't say anything. He just looked smug and then he laughed. He's probably back there now cleaning his animal skin and oiling his club."

  "You've got to remember, hon, he's a fireman. They're kind of—how can I put this?" Rhonda tapped her front tooth with her fingernail. "They're a testosterone-heavy breed of man. That's why they get the job done, and why we love them."

  "I didn't say I loved Danny." Tessa bristled.

  "I was speaking generally."

  "Oh, sorry," Tessa muttered.

  Rhonda came around the desk and leaned her elbow on the high counter. "But you were pretty quick with the denial there, old friend. So what is going on between you? I've never known you to get this riled up except when you found out about Colin's affairs, but that was understandable."

  "Oh, Rhonda, I don't know what's going on. He flirts with me and I don't mean to, but I respond."

  "Who can blame you? Danny's delicious to look at, funny, charming, financially solvent and most of all unattached."

  Tessa fisted her knuckles on her hips and glared at the smaller woman. "Rhonda, do you think I walked away from Colin to be independent just so I could fall into a relationship with another man, especially one who's like…like…like…"

  "Danny?"

  "Yes." Tessa stared at her friend for a long moment. "Ah hell, Rhonda, what am I going to do?"

  "I don't know, but if it wasn't for all those kids, I would have tackled Danny Santori a long time ago."

  "Oh, that's another problem. Yesterday I had a very unpleasant encounter with Alison." She proceeded to tell her about the incident, waiting until Rhonda stopped laughing at the boys in Alison's underwear so she could continue. "She saw me kissing her father at the picnic, and now she hates me, doesn't trust me, thinks I'm after her father…."

  "Well, aren't you?"

  "No. Not the way she means it. Oh, Rhonda, I'm so confused."

  "Your response I don't know about, but Alison's response seems natural for a child who has lost her mother. She's trying to hang on to her daddy so he won't leave her, too."

  "I know. I understand that and I'm trying to be sympathetic, but she's making it very hard. She's so difficult."

  "Well, she—" Rhonda began, then she broke off and started waving at someone down the hall. "Here comes someone who knows more than we do."

  Tessa turned to look at the petite curly-haired woman practically dancing in their direction. "Tessa, this is Beth Simmons. She's a master's candidate in child psychology and is working here part-time. She's Chief Mike Crezinski's sister. Beth, this is Tessa Doherty."

  "Hi, Tessa," Beth said with a huge grin.

  Rhonda stared at her. "Beth, did you get into the medicine closet or something? You're awfully happy."

  Beth thrust her left hand forward. "I'm engaged. He popped the question a few minutes ago."

  With a smile, Tessa examined the diamond. "That's lovely. I hope you'll be very happy." She started to move away from Beth and Rhonda. "I'll let you two get back to work."

  Rhonda grabbed her arm. "Not so fast. I want you to tell Beth about Alison. Tessa watches Danny Santori's kids when he's working and he watches hers when she's at work."

  "Mmm-hmm." Beth nodded. "So what's up with Danny Delicious?"

  For the second time Tessa repeated the story as an attentive Beth listened. "I was hoping Rhonda might have some suggestions," Tessa finished.

  "Have you told Danny about this?" Beth asked.

  "No. I didn't think it a good idea. It might just make him mad at her and that's the last thing she needs from her dad. I'd like to handle this myself."

  "Good plan. Well, from what I've heard from firehouse gossip, a number of women have tried to use Ali to meet her father. There was a Marilyn someone who taught Alison gymnastics, I think. I don't know what happened, but Ali quit gymnastics and Marilyn turned her baby blues on my brother, Mike."

  "What do you think Tessa should do, Beth?" Rhonda asked.

  "Why don't you try getting Alison involved in something you like that she might like, also? What do you do?"

  "I'm a landscape designer." Tessa thought for a moment. "I know Alison is into fashion, like most young teenagers, so maybe I can find a way to use that."

  "There you go. Let her spend time with you so she feels important and starts trusting that you like her for herself."

  Rhonda agreed. "That's a good idea, Beth. Then your only problem will be Danny, Tessa."

  "Why?" Beth looked from one to the other. "How is Danny a problem?"

  As Tessa opened her mouth to answer, the sound of a siren getting closer captured everyone's attention. The phone behind the desk rang and Rhonda leaned over to answer it, listening a minute before replacing the receiver. She turned to the E.R. staff and bellowed, "Rest time is over. Incoming. A three-car pileup on the interstate."

  What had been a quiet space a moment ago now resembled a frantic beehive. Tessa stepped back and bumped against Beth, who was moving behind her on her way down the hall.

  "See you later, Tessa. Good luck." With a brisk wave Beth raced up the hallway.

  "Bye, Rhonda," Tessa called.

  Rhonda looked up from preparing a suture tray. "Hey, I forgot to ask, did you ever reach Colin after he called you the other night?"

  "No, we're playing telephone tag. I'll try him again tonight." With a wave she left the hospital wondering what on earth her ex-husband could want, since he was supposed to be in the Bahamas on vacation. When she tried to call him back that evening there was no answer, so Tessa decided not to dwell on it. If Colin really needed to get in touch he'd find a way, since no one was more single-minded in achieving his own objectives than her ex-husband. It's what had made him so successful in business. And so terrible in their marriage.

  Chapter Nine

  Sitting at Danny's table one afternoon near the end of October, Tessa stared at her bank balance. If she didn't get some new contracts soon, she might have to look for a job and continue developing her business on the side. Either that or dip into the account that Colin's lawyer had finally set up in her name. Tessa considered that account blood money and had vowed not to touch it unless it was necessary for the children. She realized her attitude wasn't logical, as she had definitely earned a stipend after thirteen years of marriage, but that's
how she felt.

  With a huge sigh she snapped the checkbook closed and reached for a flyer her new friend Barrett had given her that week. The flyer advertised a holiday event from the same people who promoted the spring home and garden show. Barrett had recommended she enter the event and consider it money well spent. He was probably right, Tessa decided, reaching for the application form. Once that chore was completed she pulled her sketchbook toward her and started designing. An hour later she stared at her idea and noticed Alison hovering by the kitchen door.

  "Hi, Alison."

  Alison crunched on her apple as she studied Tessa. "What are you doing?"

  "Designing a holiday display."

  Alison sipped her water. "For a client?"

  "I wish," Tessa answered. "Clients have been rather thin on the vine, so I've decided to enter Scents of the Season to find some."

  "When's that?"

  "Right after Thanksgiving. It's going to be tons of work and I'm not sure if I can pull it off."

  Alison moved closer, pointing at the paper. "Can I see that?"

  When Tessa hesitated, Alison hunched her shoulders and extended a sulky lip. "Never mind, forget it."

  Tessa stood up. "Wait, don't go. I hesitated because I think it sucks. Take a look and tell me what you think." Tessa pulled out the chair next to her, then sat and slid the sketch over to Alison.

  Alison studied it for a few minutes. "Is this supposed to be a sleigh ride or something?"

  Tessa nodded. "Pretty lame, huh? I blanked out on an idea."

  Alison took a sip of water. "Why don't you do something magical?"

  "Like what?"

  With a shy expression Alison ducked her head, staring at the sketch. "Did you read that really old book about the secret garden when you were a kid?"

  "Back in the old days before the Internet was created, you mean?" Tessa teased.

  Alison flushed. "Uh, yeah, I guess so. I read my mom's copy from when she was little. Mom loved books."

  "Did she? I do, too," Tessa confessed. "How about you?"

  Alison's tone was defensive. "Yeah, but don't tell anybody. I don't want to come off like a geek or something."

  "It's our secret." Tessa nodded. "But Alison, loving to read isn't geeky. It takes you into new worlds you never knew existed."