“Ho-Ho!” Ben bounced on Emma’s hip.
“Easy there, Tiger, we’ll see him in a minute. Here, let me take him for a while.” Jake hoisted the toddler to rest high on his shoulders. “How’s the view up there?”
“Yay!” Snow sifted from Ben’s mittens as he clapped his hands.
Jake noticed the continued expression of happiness on Emma’s face. He could almost see the walls beginning to crumble around her. Slowly, she was becoming the woman she used to be. As much as he wanted to take her hand, he kept his own securely on Ben’s knees.
“There are more trees over here,” Sarah pointed and started to run ahead.
“Don’t get too far,” Emma called after her spirited daughter. “I swear, she would keep on going if I didn’t pull her back every once in a while.” Again, she laughed and Jake’s heart swelled a bit more.
“Sometimes you just have to let them go.” He wasn’t sure if he was referring to Sarah or Larry.
“Oh, no, not Sarah.” Emma shook her head. “She will strike up a conversation with a total stranger and most likely leave with them and not think twice.”
“Trust in her.” He didn’t know where this was coming from, but he hoped she picked up on the true meaning behind his words.
“She’s five, Jake.”
“Right, I see your point.” Jake whistled shrilly, and Sarah stopped in her tracks. “Come on back here. We don’t want you to get lost.”
“But this is Santa’s workshop. Who can get lost here?” Sarah returned to his side, looking a little disappointed that she couldn’t be the leader.
“I’m sure you wouldn’t get lost, but we’d like you back with us. Remember, what you do, your brother wants to do and he’s still too little.”
“Oh, yeah, right.” Sarah raised her big blue eyes toward Ben. “How come he gets to ride on your shoulders?”
“I’m giving your mom a break from carrying him. You’ll get a turn next, okay?”
“Thanks, Jake!” Sarah slid her way once more between his hip and Emma’s. She took her mother’s hand and latched onto the hem of his coat.
“I don’t know how you do it.” Emma’s breath produced puffs in the cold air as she spoke.
“Do what?” he asked, casting a knowing smile her way. Her eyes danced like the sun glinting off new fallen snow. This carefree, happy look suited her. He would do his best to make sure she was never troubled by stress and worry again.
“You know what I’m talking about.”
“I don’t think I do,” he teased, knowing darn well what she meant.
“Magic, that’s all I’m saying.” She turned her head to face front as they continued walking down the snow covered, cobbled streets.
The thought of pulling her in his arms was too much. Jake knew he needed a distraction. If he focused on her much longer, he would lose it and do something he knew for sure she wasn’t ready for. The clock was ticking and they needed to find a tree, a few more decorations and leave enough time to get back to town and decorate the community hall.
“Look! There are more trees!” Sarah shot ahead on her mission to find the perfect Christmas tree. Inside, Jake breathed a sigh of relief.
“Slow down!” Emma jogged after her daughter, and Jake quickened his pace to keep up.
“This is it! Right here!” Sarah danced around a tall, full and round tree as if it were a shining star.
“Are you sure?” Jake lowered Ben and slipped off his pack which held his supplies.
“Yes! Yes!” the impish girl chanted, continuing to jump up and down.
“Settle down, Sarah,” Emma coaxed and grabbed the teetering Ben before he plopped into the snow.
Jake pulled out the small hand saw, knelt on the ground and began his task. Every once in a while he would glance at the expectant faces of Emma and the kids. He considered himself a lucky man that she was allowing him this privilege. In a matter of minutes, the tree toppled down and his fan club cheered.
“Not bad, huh?” Jake surveyed the fallen pine and trimmed some of the lower branches. Satisfied, he checked his watch. “Right on time. Let’s drag this back to the sled.”
“We have to get one more. We can’t leave yet.” Sarah pulled on his arm.
“Oh, that’s right, Mr. Nicklaus, you did promise us two trees today.” Emma’s voice sounded flirty and when he looked at her, there was no disguising the gleam in her eyes.
“Are you sure I said two trees?” he teased, knowing Sarah would take the bait.
“Yes, yes you did, remember? One for the community hall and one for our house. We can’t forget, Jake, not this Christmas!” Sarah turned pleading eyes to her mother as if he would really walk away with only one tree.
“I’m just teasing you, peanut. We’re going to need to hurry if we want to make it back to the community hall to decorate.”
“What about this one?” Emma stood by a full, blue spruce which must have been seven feet tall. She could have been a page out of a holiday catalog, standing there in her field jacket, tall boots and her scarf double wrapped around her neck.
“Mommy, it’s perfect! This one has to be for the house, okay?” Sarah raced around Emma and the tree and Jake snatched up his saw.
“What about you, buddy?” he asked Ben, who rested his head on Emma’s shoulder. “Does this look like a good tree to you?” Ben nodded, and burrowed closer to Emma’s scarf.
“I think he needs a nap,” Emma whispered and Jake smiled at the picture the three of them made together. He knew in his soul, promise or not, he would do anything for Emma and her children. A love like he’d never known continued to fill his heart with each passing minute.
“Well, then I’ll cut this fellow down as fast as I can.” Jake stood true to his word, and in no time was pulling both trees back toward the village. Every hundred feet or so, Sarah had him stop and turn the trees over so the branches wouldn’t become flat.
“Let’s give Jake’s arms a break,” Emma said outside one of the shops. “And mine, too,” she added and set Ben onto a wooden bench.
“Good place to stop.” Jake shook out his burning muscles and nodded at the storefront sign. “The Treasure Box. We should be able to pick up the rest of what we need right here.”
“The rest? What else could we possibly need?” She gestured toward the enormous trees. “Oh, wait, pine boughs.”
“No, not pine boughs. We’ll make those ourselves once I trim the branches at home. C’mon inside and check it out.”
Moments later they emerged, their arms loaded with bags of ornaments, ribbon and candy canes. Emma pointed at the window displays, the happiness in her voice carrying through the air. Again, he was filled with a sense of pride and love for her.
“We have gone above and beyond decorating for dinner, Jake. No one has ever done this much.”
“This will be a Christmas everyone will never forget.”
“I’m beginning to believe it. Now how are we going to get all of this, the trees, the kids and the toboggan back up that monstrous hill?”
“Why, the Reindeer Express, of course.” No sooner were his words out, than a train puffed its way through the surrounding forest and stopped at the station. Emma’s lips parted in surprise, and Sarah shrieked with excitement when he produced four shiny golden tickets.
“Ben! Ben! Look¸ we’re going to ride the train just like in the movie!”
CHAPTER SEVEN
“I hope we don’t run out of time.” Emma stretched to hand Jake a wad of garland, and he wrapped it around the top of the tree. “People like to come early, you know, and get a good seat.”
“Don’t worry.” Jake expertly draped the golden garland, handing the end to her when he reached the middle. “Some of the guys from the station will be here any minute to help.”
“Why?” Emma couldn’t help but stare at Jake. He’d given her a day she would never forget, yet his kindness didn’t stop.
“It’s the season of giving, Emma. When I knew we’d spent to
o much time at the tree farm, I made a call.”
“And they agreed, just like that?” She didn’t try to hide her disbelief.
“Just like that, no questions.” The corners of his mouth turned up, transforming his face into a vision of truth. No matter what he did, Jake Nicklaus continued to be a man of his word.
True to that word, a group of six men walked through the door of the community hall and took to work, no instruction needed. While she and the kids decorated the tree, Jake and his friends hung the paper snowflakes, rolled out the table runners and set out the candle and poinsettia center pieces they’d purchased from The Treasure Box. Each center piece was set atop small beds of pine boughs. By the time they were finished, the community hall transformed into a room full of Christmas spirit.
Jake walked over and dimmed the overhead lights. Tiny white Christmas lights twinkled around the room. The glow of the center pieces added warmth to the already cheery atmosphere. To Emma’s surprise, Jake’s friends left before she could thank them, only to appear moments later with instruments in hand. One of them uncovered the piano in the corner and pulled out some chairs. They proceeded to play Christmas carols as people began to fill the room.
“Oh, my gosh,” she exclaimed, placing her hands to her gaping lips.
“What’s wrong, Mommy?” Sarah asked, immediately by her side.
“I’ve never seen anything so beautiful. This is almost...”
“Magical?” Jakes voice said next to her ear.
“Yes.”
“See, I told you Jake was magic. Thank you, Jake, thank you!” Sarah threw herself against him, wrapping her small arms around his hips.
“You’re welcome, peanut, but you had a hand in this, too.” He hugged her back, and Emma’s body swirled with the all-too-familiar feeling only Jake could provoke in her.
“I’m not talking about the dinner,” Sarah piped in.
Jake looked at Emma, and she didn’t know what to say. This was pure magic, indeed. The whole day had been, and she suddenly hated the thoughts of it ending with the Post 518 Group dinner. The way he looked at her sent a shiver of excitement through her as if he felt the same way. She cleared her throat, not sure of the feelings building inside.
“How did you manage all of this?” her voice was a whisper.
“I didn’t, Emma. We did.”
“But your friends-”
“Love to play and never get the chance because they are always working. This is their contribution. It was their idea.”
“Really?” Emma stared in shock at the musicians in the corner who were thoroughly enjoying themselves. They’d even donned red and white Santa hats.
“Why do you find that so hard to believe?” Jake’s voice broke through her thoughts.
“I,” she paused and stared once more at the room around her. She couldn’t voice what she was truly feeling for fear this would all vanish, like Larry. “I don’t know,” she managed, not happy with her answer. “Christmas is so commercialized now, people are so busy and full of themselves and for the rest of us it’s just another day.”
“But it’s not. It only loses meaning if you let it.”
“Everything loses meaning when you’re all alone, Jake.” She fought back tears. This was a happy night. She didn’t want to spoil it with missing Larry. But he was there, front and center just as he always was this time of year.
“You’re not alone, why don’t you see that?”
“You’re not married, you wouldn’t’ understand.”
“You’d be surprised.” Jake moved away, and Emma felt a blast of cool air pass by her face. She looked to see if someone came through the door, but the crowd had died down for the moment.
“Why would I be surprised? Have you been married before?”
“No.” He looked down at her, and that familiar jolt worked its way through her body. “But I can feel, and I have faith in people, Emma. Not everyone is bad, and not everyone is going to leave you.”
“I know. I’ve tried to tell myself that for years now, but I can’t seem to hold onto it. I’m tired and I’m lonely and sometimes I just want someone to hold me.” She caught a breath at the sound of the words which spilled out. She’d never admitted them to anyone.
Jake didn’t flinch. Instead, he leaned forward and folded her in his arms. She immediately felt his strength, his faith, his love, all within the short moments of their embrace. “How was that?” he said when he finally broke away.
“Nice,” she replied, while trying to keep her knees from buckling.
“Good, because you deserve it,” he said, leaving her in a state of confusion as she watched him walk away.
For three years she had mourned Larry’s death. For three years she had shut herself off from the rest of the world. She’d stopped living for herself and only lived for her children. Each day she had been dying inside, and it took such a simple day with a caring man to make her see that. Her kids needed a home and stability, which she willingly supplied. But they also needed a mother who could be happy and enjoy the life she had. This is where she’d been lacking.
Not anymore. Starting tonight she was going to start living. Tonight she was going to open up her heart and her mind to the possibilities around her.
She was going to live.
The music started once more from the far corner, and Emma watched as Jake danced around with Sarah. Emma could hear her daughter’s laughter across the room. Yes, it was time.
The community hall continued to fill with people until there wasn’t an empty chair available. Emma thought she should check on the food. She didn’t order nearly enough for this crowd.
“Wonderful dinner, Emma,” Mrs. Marshall said when she walked by.
“Oh, yes,” Mr. Plumbly added from where he sat next to Ida Marshall. “You have outdone yourself, my dear. The mashed potatoes are delicious and the lemon pie is like a slice of heaven on a plate.”
“Why, thank you,” Emma replied and looked curiously toward the kitchen. She never put lemon pie on the menu.
“The decorations are spectacular. This must have taken you all day.” Mrs. Roberts beamed as she turned in a circle in front of Emma. “Much better than the old washed-up decorations from the past, this is so traditional. Brings back my own childhood.”
“Yes. Thank you, Mrs. Roberts. I’m so glad you like it.” Emma continued toward the kitchen, a little more than worried the food would disappear and everyone’s holiday spirit would soon follow. She didn’t want to let everyone down, but didn’t know who was available to make a grocery store run.
“Emma! Can you believe this?” Joyce Templeton grabbed Emma’s arm when she passed through the kitchen doors.
“What are you talking about?” Emma looked around the bustling kitchen. There was food everywhere. “Where did all of this come from?”
“You mean you don’t know? I thought you’d arranged it?” Joyce now looked as perplexed as Emma.
“Mary Flynn dropped the groceries and donated items off earlier.” Again, Emma scanned the surrounding counters. They were a sea of decoratively-wrapped baked goods, aluminum tins piled high with macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes and carved roast beef. “You didn’t see who dropped all of this off?”
“No, it was here when we came to start cooking. As a matter of fact, we had to use the key to unlock the door. Maybe it was a secret Santa?” Joyce laughed and Emma shot a knowing look toward the door.
“Or a certain other Mr. Nicklaus.”
***
“I want to thank you for all of your help,” Emma said as she shifted a sleeping Ben to her other hip and slid the key into the lock.
“Here, let me get that.” Jake reached around her to turn the knob while balancing Sarah, who snuggled tight against his shoulder. They passed through the door, brushing against each other; Emma to turn on lights and Jake to close the door behind them. “Really, you don’t need to thank me.”
“Oh, I think I do.” Emma slowly unzipped Sarah’s ja
cket and carefully slipped it off her daughter’s relaxed arms, then adjusted Ben’s position so Jake could do the same. Coming home with Jake felt so right, his presence brought a sense of peace she hadn’t experienced in three years. They went about removing coats and boots as if they had done this all of their lives.
“There’s no need. I enjoyed myself today.”
“Me, too,” Emma said, and meant it. Motioning toward the stairs, she whispered, “Sarah’s room is the first one on the right. Just lay her on the bed and I’ll be right in once I get Ben settled.” The smile remained on her face all the way to the second floor as the feeling of his embrace returned. He’d been so tender when he’d held her, like a friend...but different somehow.
“I’ll meet you downstairs,” Jake whispered after laying Sarah on the bed and brushing a wayward hair off her face. Emma’s heart swelled over the genuine concern she saw play across his features. It was as if he were dealing with his own child.
On her way to Ben’s room, she chewed her cheek as she allowed visions of them as a family to fill her head. Had Traci been right all along? Could a man like Jake want an instant family? After finding them snuggled together on the couch, there was no doubt in her mind they were all comfortable with each other.
When the children were tucked in, she made a quick stop in the bathroom to brush the hat-head from her hair and check her appearance. She thought she should pinch some color into her cheeks, but the anticipation of Jake waiting downstairs had colored them just fine. She studied herself in the mirror, and noticed a sparkle in her eyes she hadn’t seen since before she and Larry were married.
Guilt tried to overpower her, but she gripped the edge of the sink and willed it away. Not this time, not anymore. Traci was right again. Emma was a young, beautiful woman and waiting for her was a handsome man. She should feel excited and hopeful. There was no room for guilt anymore. Emma would feel Larry soon, and everything would be all right. Jake had said so, and he would help her.
Emma bounced down the stairs, composing herself at the bottom before entering the living room. Jake had turned on the television, but stood when she rounded the corner.
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