The Fireman's Christmas

by Meg Lacey

  "It's geeky when everyone else is into video games and stuff like that."

  Since there was nothing Tessa could say to that, she went back to the original subject. "What about the book?"

  "You could do a secret garden, a holiday garden for fairies. We could have little places for fairies to hide among the plants and decorations. We could make these little fairy figures and dress them up."

  Tessa tapped her pencil on her sketch pad. "Hmm."

  "Never mind. It was dumb idea."

  Tessa was thoughtful, remembering Beth Simmons's suggestion of involving Alison in a project. "No, I like it."

  "You do?"

  Tessa flipped to a blank page and started sketching. "I really do. Let's see now…We could do an L-shaped stone wall as the backdrop and add some old-fashioned garden flowers, shrubs and trees. We can do it as a winter garden."

  "Oh, wait," Alison continued, really getting into it. "We can do more than winter. What about adding fall and summer and—the fairies could dress—"

  "For each season?" Tessa interrupted, beginning to see the possibilities.

  Alison was almost bouncing in her seat. "Wouldn't that be awesome?"

  "Hmm," Tessa said, tapping her pencil against her lips. "Let's see, we can still get the autumn flowers easily, spring probably at a greenhouse, but summer might be a challenge."

  "We can paint the branches and add fake leaves and flowers or something, couldn't we?" Alison was really getting into the idea. "And we can do snow and glitter for winter, stuff like that."

  "Alison, this sounds great, but it would be a ton of work in a very short time. We'd only have four or five weeks, because the show runs in six weeks and I'd have to set up in advance and have our exhibit approved and…I don't know if I can pull it off."

  "I could help, if you want. And maybe Eric would, 'cause he's older. Maybe I can find some other people. Or you could just do your own thing. It doesn't matter to me," Alison added, covering her previous enthusiasm with a bored look. "I don't really care."

  "Oh, no," Tessa said in a light tone as she recognized Alison's turnabout as a way to disguise her insecurity. "You came up with this great idea, so now you're stuck, kid."

  Alison shrugged. "I guess I could."

  Tessa reached into her tote bag, pulled out some gardening books she'd bought the day before and placed them on the table. "Are you sure you'll have time to work with me, since you're back in school?"

  "I guess so."

  Tessa hid a smile at Alison's attempt at nonchalance. "If it's going to take away from anything you might be doing after school or on the weekends, like sports or clubs, then you can stop."

  Alison shrugged. "I'm not doing much of that yet, just soccer."

  After a moment Tessa asked, "How's high school?"

  "Okay."

  "A lot of your friends from middle school are there, too, right?"

  "Some. Some I wish weren't."

  Tessa stopped sketching and glanced at Alison. "Why?"

  Alison buried her face in one of Tessa's gardening books, staring as intently as if she'd never seen a plant before.

  "Alison?"

  "Look, this flower is pretty."

  Tessa glanced over. "Those are coral bells—see the shape? They grow during summer into fall."

  "So we could use them for our garden?"

  "We can. Good choice, Alison. They're happy flowers." Tessa waited a moment, and then asked, "Are you having a problem with anyone?"

  Alison hesitated, continuing to look at the book. Finally she said, "Marti has been my best friend since the third grade, but now she's hanging around with some new girls she met at the beginning of the year."

  "Did you meet them, too?"

  "Yeah. They know a lot of people at the high school, not just freshmen. They get a lot of attention from everyone. And somehow Marti made friends with them."

  "Ahhh." Tessa nodded. "The queen bees, if that's what you call them now. I never fit in with them."

  Alison turned to her with a stunned look. "You didn't? But you're so…I mean, you look like a model—tall, slender, really pretty with beautiful clothes."

  Tessa laughed as she looked down at her khaki shorts and light blue denim shirt. "Yes, I look ready for the runway at the moment."

  Alison smiled. "It doesn't matter what you're wearing. Somehow you just always give that impression."

  "Well, thanks for the compliment."

  Alison shrugged. "I hope I'll look as good as you one day."

  "Oh, honey, you already do." It was so heartbreaking to see this young girl on the verge of womanhood, knowing she had so many wonderful and painful times to experience on the way. Tessa wanted to hold Alison tight and soothe away her fears, but she sensed that would be unwelcome.

  "Alison, the thing about high school is you have to try to fit in without losing yourself. You have to be true to your personality, values and interests. That can be very hard. It's always tempting to pretend you're someone else."

  "You think Marti has the right idea?"

  Tessa risked smoothing Alison's hair back from her face. "No, I don't, but I understand why she's doing it."

  "But she's been practically ignoring me for those other girls."

  "I wouldn't worry about Marti, Alison. It's easy to be dazzled when you're not sure who you are yet. If she's a real friend she'll be back."

  Alison didn't look totally convinced, but Tessa felt she'd given her something to think about. She steered the conversation back to their design. "What about a secret entrance to get into the garden? Any ideas?"

  "A tunnel?"

  Tessa laughed. "I can just see all the little old ladies crawling through it at the show."

  Alison giggled. "Maybe it wouldn't be such a good idea. Oh, I know—how about an old wooden door that's propped open?"

  "We could have old-fashioned roses or bushes on each side," Tessa agreed, starting to sketch again. "We could actually only do one larger display, but as you walk through the garden it changes from fall to winter to spring to summer every few feet. That way we can build the garden structure one time and make the plants change as we walk the path."

  "It has to be a brick path, like those old paths you see in movies."

  With key elements decided, Alison and Tessa started checking the garden books and designing the garden layout. They decided that Tessa would pick Alison up the next day and they would look for plant sources while Danny stayed with the other kids. Tessa couldn't wait to tell Danny all about it, which surprised her. There was no way she could see him appreciating a fairy garden with the enthusiasm she and Alison were showing.

  As usual, he surprised her with his support for the idea the next day when she arrived to pick up Alison.

  "You're going to enter that new holiday show? Good for you. What are you going to do? I couldn't understand Alison's note." He pulled it out of his pocket, peering at it. "It's something about elves or trolls…."

  "Fairies, it's about fairies. It's a Secret Fairy Garden. Alison is going to help me with the display. She's trying to find some other people, too, since we don't have a lot of time."

  "Alison's going to help?" Danny raised an eyebrow. "I know what a brat she's been to you. What did you do, give her a magic potion?"

  "I know. I was as surprised as you are when she got excited about it. The secret garden was her idea."

  "Let's hope her interest holds," Danny said with a doubtful look. "So who else can help you? Rhonda?"

  "Rhonda is already on board, and so is this woman I met at the hospital, Beth Simmons. Rhonda said you know her?"

  "She's my fire chief's sister—adopted sister, really."

  Tessa nodded and told Danny more about her plans and the short time frame she had to complete the project.

  "I can ask around the firehouse and see if anyone knows people good at doing crafts. I can also call Connie. She's good with her hands and loves to—" He stopped suddenly.

  With a skeptical arch in her voice, Tess
a said, "Connie?"

  Danny practically scuffed his feet as he avoided Tessa's gaze. "Maybe that wouldn't be such a great idea."

  Tessa's expression grew even haughtier as she agreed. "Maybe not."

  Danny quickly changed the subject. "Hey, you don't have room at your condo, so you can make this house your staging area. We can put everything under the deck in the back until we're ready to assemble the display."

  "Thank you. That's a good idea and would help a lot." Tessa was surprised by his enthusiasm, especially after Alison came down the steps and joined in the conversation. Soon Eric and Josie, followed by the other kids, wandered in, and before Tessa knew it, she had a team assembled at no cost to her—not that she expected any help from the little ones, but it did add to the excitement. By the time they finished their impromptu meeting it was as if she'd been run over by a freight train. She was amazed at how fast things were coming together. Now she just had to find the plants and materials to do the job.

  * * *

  ONLY TWO WEEKS REMAINED before the show. Tessa was erecting a trial display outside under a canvas tarp Danny had put up to protect her work while it was in progress. She had just picked up a fieldstone to move over to her wall when Danny strolled under the canvas.

  "Hello."

  Tessa jumped and bobbled the fieldstone. When she lost her battle to hold the stone, Danny grabbed her waist and yanked her backward. The rock dropped, just missing her foot.

  "You okay?"

  "Danny, you have to stop sneaking up on me."

  Danny grinned. "What do you want me to do—wear tap shoes?"

  Tessa chuckled at the thought. "I'd pay to see that."

  "Keep saving, babe."

  Tessa knelt to pick up the rock, but Danny elbowed her aside. "Here, I'll get it. Tell me where you want it."

  Indicating the layer of stones she'd laid earlier, Tessa watched as Danny placed the stone in position. "Thank you."

  "How much longer are you going to work today?"

  "I don't know. My ex, Colin, showed up with no warning to see the kids this morning. He took them overnight and is bringing them back Sunday morning, so I plan to put that time to good use."

  "You've been working pretty hard as it is. Why don't you knock off for the rest of the afternoon? I have something I'd like to show you." Without waiting for her answer, Danny took her hand and led her around the house.

  "Danny. I have a schedule and I haven't finished what I—"

  "Tessa, I understand schedules. I live on one, too. But every once in a while you need to let it all go and cut class."

  "I've never cut class."

  Danny laughed and steered her toward his car. "I'm not surprised."

  "Wait, my bag."

  "Where is it? I'll get it."

  "Right inside the front door."

  "I'll be right back." He jogged toward the house, emerging a minute later with her tote bag. He tossed it in the window at her before bounding around to the other side to slide behind the steering wheel and start the car.

  "Wait, we can't go."

  "Sure we can," Danny said, putting the car into gear and pulling into the street.

  "You can't just go away and leave all your children alone."

  "They aren't here."

  "What? Where are they?"

  "Alison is shopping with a friend and spending the night at her house. Kyle, Kevin and Emma went to a game and are going to dinner with some old friends and their kids. No one will be home until later this evening. We'll be back by then."

  "I certainly hope so. I have things—"

  "To do, I know. Just sit back and enjoy the ride."

  After a bewildered look at Danny, Tessa leaned back and began to savor the scenery and the breeze from the open windows flowing through her hair. Fall was her favorite season. The trees were still carrying some color on this sunny day, but underneath the warmth was a hint of crispness warning of cooler days.

  With an impatient wiggle, Tessa said, "Okay, give, where are we going?"

  "We're almost there," Danny said, turning onto a side road that led toward Chicamongee Lake. He maneuvered the winding road and pulled into a parking spot by a boat dock. He turned off the key and stretched his arm along the back of the seat. "Ready for an adventure?"

  Tessa stepped onto the gravel lot and waited for Danny to join her; surprised to see he was now carrying a large wicker basket. "What are you up to, Danny Santori?"

  "You are the lucky one who is going to help me christen my new baby." Danny waved his hand toward a sailboat and gave Tessa a little push to get her moving. "This beauty is Santori's Gang. I bought it two years ago, but only started restoring her last year."

  "This is the project you've been working on in your spare time?"

  "This is it. Today is the first time I'm taking her out."

  The closer Tessa got to the boat the more impressed she was. The sailboat was large enough to have a cabin for overnight trips but not so large as to be overwhelming. Danny led her proudly down the dock to the stairs onto the vessel.

  "You should have seen it when I first bought it. I almost cried when I saw the condition of the deck and the rails. They're teak and it was a crime to let this beautiful wood go to ruin the way the old owner did."

  "You did all of this yourself?" Tessa asked, looking around.

  "Yep. First I had to fix the hull and then scrape so I could paint. Then I redid the inside…the sleeping bunks, galley and the head. I refinished the deck and all of the decorative wood last. It took months to get the finish I wanted, but I got it done a few weeks ago and put it in the water, even though it's so late in the season."

  "So why haven't you taken the boat out?"

  "I was waiting."

  Tessa could feel herself blushing. "For what?"

  "The right person who would appreciate it."

  "You should take your children. They'd be thrilled to go."

  "They'll go a lot, but there's only one first time."

  "Like sex." Tessa froze. She couldn't believe that had come out of her mouth.

  Laughing, Danny placed the basket on one of the benches. "I remember the girl, but it was over so fast I don't quite remember much else."

  "I thought it was going to be better, too," Tessa confessed, wrinkling her nose.

  Danny studied her for a moment. "Now, that's a subject I wouldn't mind exploring after we get under way."

  "Forget it. That subject is closed."

  Danny sent her a smile that tingled her toes. "We'll see."

  Tessa couldn't leave it at that. "I mean it. Closed subject."

  Without another word, Danny turned and started working with the sails. "Have you ever been sailing?"

  "Unlike canoeing, I've sailed a number of times. My father had a small yacht. Of course, it was generally used for entertaining his clients while we were docked, but we did take it out sometimes, too."

  "Then I'm going to put you to work. How about being the first mate?"

  "Well, it's your boat. You're the captain, so first mate is acceptable, sir."

  "I'm going to remember this moment," Danny said with a grin, "I don't think I've ever heard you so subservient before."

  "You didn't hear it now. You heard me following the rules of the sea."

  "If that's the way you need to think about it, fine by me. I'll hoist anchor and you grab that line." He pointed to the coiled ropes, then stopped her as she moved toward one. "No, not that one. You want the halyard to raise the mainsail."

  Tessa snapped her fingers and moved to one of the other coiled lines. "How easily you forget when you're away from it for too long."

  Danny winked. "Don't worry, they say that having sex again is like riding a bike." He laughed at Tessa's expression. "If that's any consolation."

  "Who said anything about having sex?"

  "You did, a few minutes ago."

  "I didn't say I wanted to…to…start pedaling again."

  With a shout of laughter, Danny moved to h
er and enfolded her in a gigantic bear hug, lifting her off the deck to swirl her around.

  "Danny. Put me down. I'm getting dizzy."

  Still laughing, Danny set her back on her feet and headed aft to raise the other sail. "Get that canvas up, sailor, and let's get out on the water. This kind of weather won't last much longer."

  Perplexed, Tessa stared after Danny and muttered, "Aye, aye, sir."

  They spent the afternoon sailing on the lake, enjoying the sunshine and the refreshing breezes glancing off the water. They worked the sails and the wheel together as if they'd been doing it all their lives. Tessa couldn't remember a time she'd been more relaxed. She glanced over at Danny, and at that moment he turned his head to look at her. Their gazes held, both of them unable to look away. Neither spoke. There was nothing to say. It was a time for connection, whether intended or not. There were no promises, no agreements and no arguments, just contentment. It was suddenly clear to both of them that the only thing to do was move forward and see where the road could lead. Finally Danny broke the silence, his voice husky and warm.

  "What do you say, First Mate, are you hungry?"

  Tessa tried to answer, but it took her a moment. She wet her lips, knowing that Danny was following every movement. "I'm starving."

  "Then we'd better find a place to drop anchor for a while."

  Tessa nodded and scanned the shoreline. "I don't know this lake at all, so you'll have to do the honors."

  "There's a little inlet up ahead. We can drop anchor, find a stump and tie off there."

  Together they adjusted the sheets to trim the boat so they could turn into the inlet and then strike the sails as they moved toward shore. Tessa looked around at the overhanging willow trees that hugged the shoreline. "It's beautiful here, like a little moment out of time."

  Danny turned to her. "I think so, too. I used to come here as a kid. I had this old rowboat and outboard motor. I putt-putted that hunk of a hull all over this lake. This was one of my favorite places. I thought you might like it, too."

  Tessa smiled at him. "I do. I like it very much. Did Laurie?"

  For a moment Danny was silent. "I never brought Laurie here. I've only been here with one other woman." Then with a self-conscious nod, Danny jumped from the boat to the mossy bank.