Yours for Christmas

by Susan Mallery

  “Then there’s the matter of the children in Sacramento,” the mayor continued. “We have to make sure they have a good Christmas.”

  Bailey arrived. Chloe was with her, the seven-year-old’s eyes filled with tears.

  “Are they really all gone?” she asked as she rushed up to him.

  “Afraid so.”

  Chloe turned to her mother. “Mommy, I don’t understand.”

  “Me, either.” Bailey put an arm around her. Together they stared into the empty trailer.

  “It was nearly full,” Bailey murmured. “People were so generous.”

  She looked devastated. He wanted to go to her and hold her tight. He wanted to make things right. Which meant he was in deeper than he’d realized and he’d better retreat while he still could.

  “I’ll write a check,” he said.

  Bailey and the mayor stared at him.

  He motioned to the empty trailer. “I’ll write a check to cover everything taken. We can go buy more presents.”

  “I don’t think that’s necessary,” Mayor Marsha said. “I think the town can fix this problem.”

  “I agree.” Bailey smiled at him. “But thank you for being generous.”

  He wasn’t. Didn’t she see that? He was trying to buy his way out of a difficult situation. Because he could. Because he couldn’t risk giving anything else.

  “Let me know if you change your mind,” he mumbled and returned to his SUV.

  “Kenny, wait.” Bailey hurried after him. “We have a lot to do to make this right.”

  He shook his head. “Angel and Taryn are back in town. It’s their project. Let them fix it.”

  He didn’t turn around. He didn’t want to see the shock on her face or the hurt in her eyes. He didn’t want the proof that he’d hurt her. Even though he knew he had.

  * * *

  AS BAILEY HAD EXPECTED, the town rallied. The trailer was moved into an empty warehouse with locked doors and an impressive security system. The police department offered to patrol the area regularly. Once word went out, presents started pouring in. The bins filled up so quickly, Bailey arranged times for people to go directly to the warehouse with their donations. During those collection times, one of the guys from the bodyguard school was on hand as extra security. Not that there had been a problem.

  Bailey took the last of the packages that Denise Hendrix had dropped off and walked to the large trailer. Angel, on duty with her today, carried it inside.

  Chloe studied all the toys in place and smiled. “We’re going to do it, Mom. We’re going to fill the trailer again.”

  “I know we are.”

  Her daughter leaned against her. “I’m glad people are helping.”

  Angel jumped down from the trailer, then squatted in front of Chloe. “What do you think about the people who stole the presents?” he asked.

  “I don’t know,” Chloe admitted. “I guess they’re bad. They stole at Christmas. They stole toys.”

  “I agree.” He stared into her eyes. “There are always going to be bad people. But the thing to remember is that most of us aren’t like that.” He pointed to the toys. “How many families have donated toys?”

  “A lot.”

  “Right. And maybe two or three people stole them. There’s more of us than them. Good people can make it right, if you give them a chance. Remember that. Everyone who loves you and your friends came through when you needed help. But more important, people in this town who have never met you wanted to help.”

  “Because they’re nice?”

  “Yeah.” He stood.

  Bailey listened to him explain what had happened with a clarity that made her grateful. She and Chloe had had several conversations on the topic, but she had a feeling this one had been the one to get through.

  Her daughter took her hand. “I’m glad we’re helping those kids in Sacramento and I’m really glad we have such a nice town.”

  “Me, too.”

  Angel walked to the trailer and swung the doors shut. “All right. You two can head out. I’ll lock the doors and arm the alarm.”

  “Thanks.”

  She led Chloe to their car. There were only a couple more days until the toy delivery, but she wasn’t worried. They would make it. Then it would be Christmas and the start of a New Year.

  Usually she enjoyed the holidays. Since having Chloe, they’d become nearly magical. She’d had high hopes for this season, at least until three days ago. Because ever since the toys had been stolen, Kenny had disappeared.

  He hadn’t called her or stopped by. They hadn’t spoken. She hadn’t even caught sight of him in town. Taryn hadn’t said anything, so Bailey knew that he hadn’t been in an accident or gotten sick, but he had disappeared.

  She wanted to tell herself that there were a thousand explanations. The problem was, she couldn’t think of a single one that explained why he hadn’t been in touch with her. If only to say he was busy. Or driving to Bora Bora.

  It wasn’t that he’d left her to deal with the toy drive on her own. It was that she’d missed him. In the past few weeks, she’d grown used to seeing Kenny every day. She liked talking to him and simply being in his company. Her feelings for him had grown to the point where he was part of her world. Letting that go was going to be difficult.

  Ignoring her own bruised heart, there was also Chloe to worry about. So far her daughter hadn’t mentioned Kenny, but it was only a matter of time until the questions started. And Bailey had no idea how she was going to answer them.

  * * *

  TARYN TOOK A sip from her Score mug and shuddered. Kenny looked back at the Keurig in the break room. The used pod was still in place. He raised his eyebrows.

  “Hot chocolate? You?”

  She sighed. “I know. But it’s the season, right?”

  “You drink coffee. Or water.”

  “Now I drink hot chocolate.” She grimaced. “Or not.”

  He studied his business partner. Something was different, he thought, but he wasn’t sure what. Taryn was wearing one of her stylish suits with stitching and darts and whatever made it contour to the shape of her body. She was barefoot, as per usual. Her ridiculous high heels looked good, but she only wore them walking into or out of the office. During the day she was barefoot.

  She looked happy, he thought. But there was something in her eyes. Maybe a secret? Not that he was going to ask. Right now he was a big believer in everyone keeping their thoughts to themselves.

  She set down her mug and walked to the bowl of fruit on the counter. She picked up an apple, washed it, then took a bite.

  “So what’s new with you?” she asked when she’d chewed and swallowed. “How’s it coming with the toys? I heard the town has responded as you’d expect from this ridiculously nice place. Toys are pouring in by the bucketful.”

  The one thing he didn’t want to talk about. No—the toys were symptomatic. Bailey was the real subject he wanted to avoid. Yet he wanted to hear how she was. It was less than a week until Christmas. Was she settled in her house? Was Chloe excited about her presents? What were their traditions? And how was he going to make it through without being with the two of them?

  “Kenny?”

  He saw Taryn frowning at him. “What?”

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “That’s a complete guy response. Talk to me like a human being. What’s going on? Are you feeling all right?”

  “Sure. Never better.”

  She didn’t look convinced. “You didn’t answer me about the toy drive.”

  “You seem to have all the answers.”

  She dumped her mug into the sink and quickly rinsed it, then picked up her half-eaten apple, grabbed him by the hand and dragged him into her office. When they got there, she bumped the door closed with her hip and positioned herself in front of him.

  “What?” she demanded. “You’re not getting out of here until you tell me what’s going on. And don’t think I won’t beat it o
ut of you.”

  “Nothing’s going on. I don’t know what’s happening with the toy drive because I’m not doing it anymore.”

  “Why not? I thought you were helping Bailey?”

  “You and Angel are back. Why don’t you take it over?”

  “Bailey said she wanted to finish it with the Sprouts. I thought you felt that way, too.”

  He paced to her window, then turned back to her. “It’s stupid. The whole thing. I said I’d write a check. We could have just bought the toys.”

  “Now you sound like Jack did six months ago. Money doesn’t always solve the problem. Besides, people like to give. They like to be a part of the solution. What’s wrong with you? Is it your family? If you want to go with them to Bali, you know we’ll be fine here.”

  “It’s not that.”

  “Then what?”

  She asked the question gently. While Taryn was all about the threats, in her heart, she was a marshmallow. She took care of all of them—she had from the very beginning. Taryn was the glue that held Score together.

  She walked up behind him and put her hand on his arm. “Kenny,” she said softly. “Tell me.”

  He continued to stare out window. “I can’t do it. I can’t. When I lost James...” He swallowed. “I loved him and it was like he died. Only worse, because I knew he was around and I couldn’t be with him anymore.”

  She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him. He pulled her against him and hung on.

  “I could have sued for visitation,” he continued, remembering long talks with his lawyer. “I had a good case. But what was the point? He was three. He would forget me. What would happen when he was six or eight? I would just be some guy he had to spend time with. It’s not like I was his real dad.”

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

  “Me, too. I can’t go through that again, Taryn. I can’t love some kid only to lose her. When those toys were stolen, it changed everything. I’d started thinking that bad stuff couldn’t happen here. Stupid, huh?”

  “No. There’s something about this damn town. It makes you crazy. Worse, it makes you hope.”

  “You’ve got Angel. You can relax.”

  “I know, but I want you to be happy, too.” She looked up at him. “Bailey isn’t anything like Natalie. She would never deceive you. She’d never hurt you.”

  He stared into her violet-blue eyes. “I agree she’s a better person, but she’s also still a mother. Chloe comes first and if things went south, I’d lose both of them.”

  “So that means you’re not even going to try?”

  “I won’t take the chance.”

  She shifted so she was standing in front of him—both her hands on his chest. “Kenny, you would run into a three-hundred-pound defensive end without blinking.”

  He shrugged. “That’s just physical pain. The body heals. The heart’s not such a sure thing.”

  “I agree there’s a risk, but the reward could be everything you’ve ever wanted. Don’t you want to be the one person Bailey can depend on? Don’t you want to be with her always? Don’t you want to watch Chloe grow up into a beautiful young woman and walk her down the aisle, then hold her babies one day?”

  It was like she’d stabbed him with a knife. He could see that as clearly as if it was happening right in front of him. Bailey and Chloe and the third generation of redheaded Voss women.

  He allowed himself to dream for just a second, then he shook his head and physically stepped back. “I can’t.”

  “You won’t. There’s a difference.”

  “Not a big enough one to matter.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  BAILEY, TARYN AND the Sprouts stood on the sidewalk by the shelter in Sacramento. All eight girls were solemn as the director thanked them for their help.

  “So many of the families we work with don’t have enough money to buy Christmas presents,” she was saying. “They’re struggling to keep food on the tables and lights on in the house. This Christmas, when you are with your families and opening your presents, I hope you’ll stop to think about what a good thing you’ve done. Thank you, girls.”

  Chloe reached for Bailey’s hand. Several of the girls were wiping away tears.

  Behind them, volunteers unloaded the toys that had been collected. Taryn sniffed.

  “All this emotion,” she grumbled. “It’s just so...” She looked at her Sprouts and smiled. “I’m proud of all of you. You didn’t let one person ruin something special.”

  Allison sighed. “It’s like a Christmas miracle. We delivered toys to needy children. My mom wants us to have this for our project next year.”

  “We’ll talk it with the Grove council,” Taryn promised. “Okay, let’s head back to Fool’s Gold. Rumor has it, there’s going to be a celebration at Brew-haha.”

  Several of the girls cheered. Chloe released Bailey’s hand and walked with her friends. Taryn fell into step with Bailey as they walked toward their cars.

  “I hate all this stupid happiness,” Taryn muttered.

  Bailey grinned. “You need to get over that. Happiness is part of the tradition. It’s good for you.”

  “No, it’s not. Worse, I’m fighting hormones. I cried over a commercial last night. It was horrifying.”

  “There’s so much more to come.”

  Bailey knew that Taryn was holding off on telling people about her pregnancy and couldn’t wait for the news to come out.

  “The toy thing was good,” Taryn admitted. “Needy kids and all that.” She paused. “You want to talk about it?”

  There was no need to ask what the “it” was. Or who.

  “There’s not much to say,” Bailey told her.

  “Are you okay?”

  “No. But I’m faking it as best I can.” She lowered her voice. “I miss him.”

  “He misses you. It’s just...he has some baggage.”

  “I know about Natalie. He told me. So in my head, I understand why he’s cautious. But it still hurts to have him gone.”

  Taryn got to her car and unlocked it. Bailey did the same. The girls climbed in and began fastening their seat belts. When all the doors were closed, Taryn looked at her.

  “Have you told him how you feel? I can’t promise it will make a difference, but it might.” She shrugged. “I’m assuming you’re serious about him. If all you want is something short-term and hot, then tell him that, too. I’m sure he would be interested. Kenny’s a good guy. We all want him to be happy. It would be great if he could be happy with you.”

  Bailey nodded and got in her car. On the drive back to Fool’s Gold, she thought about what Taryn had suggested. While Bailey knew that Kenny was afraid of getting involved with her, she’d never considered that he might not know how she felt. She’d never hinted that her liking had turned into something else.

  Would that change things? Would he be willing to take a chance if he knew she loved him? There was only one way to find out. Unfortunately it meant laying her heart on the line.

  For the next hour Bailey tried to figure out what to do. In between Christmas carols sung loudly with the Sprouts, she considered her options.

  When they reached Brew-haha, several of the parents were waiting. The girls ran inside and shared what had happened at the shelter. Patience, the owner, had hot chocolate and cookies waiting for them. Bailey took Taryn aside.

  “I want to go talk to Kenny,” she whispered. “This is going to go on for at least an hour. Do you mind if I duck out for a bit?”

  “Go,” Taryn urged her. “I’ll stay with Chloe. If you’re not back by the time this wraps up, I’ll take her to Noelle’s store. It’s always fun to watch the shoppers the Saturday before Christmas.”

  Bailey hugged her friend. “You’re the best.”

  “I know. It’s a burden, but one I’ve learned to live with.” Taryn gave her a little push. “Go!”

  Bailey did as instructed. She told Chloe she was going to run an errand, then ducked out of the store and hurried
toward Kenny’s house. It had snowed a couple of days ago, then warmed up enough for the streets and sidewalks to clear. The few snowmen in the yards were melting. But the weather was supposed to cool down again at the beginning of the week and it looked like they might have a white Christmas after all.

  Bailey still wasn’t sure exactly what she was going to say when she got to Kenny’s place, but she rang the bell anyway. She tried not to be intimidated by the large house.

  It took him nearly a minute to answer. When he did, she saw the shadows under his eyes.

  He didn’t speak and neither did she. She took in the old L.A. Stallions sweatshirt and worn jeans. He looked like he hadn’t shaved or slept, for that matter. Was it possible he was missing her as much as she was missing him?

  “I need to speak to you,” she said at last.

  He stepped aside to let her in.

  She walked into the foyer of the big, two-story house. She could see a living room and part of a dining room, but that was all. Not that the house mattered. It was just that now she was here, she was nervous. And scared. But she was also determined.

  He shoved his hands into his front pockets and waited.

  She’d been hoping for a little encouragement, but apparently that wasn’t happening. He still hadn’t spoken. Was he too polite to simply tell her to get out?

  She drew in a breath. “I want to say something. It may not make a difference, but maybe it will. When I’m done, I’m going to leave. I don’t want you to say anything. That should be easy, seeing as you’re not talking now.”

  She paused to see if that comment would spur him to action. It did not.

  “Okay, then,” she murmured. “Here goes. Like I said, I don’t want you to respond. I would ask that you think about what I am about to say. I want you to consider it and live with it and then come to a conclusion.”

  She suddenly realized she hadn’t thought this through at all. How was he supposed to tell her no, in a way that wouldn’t crush her soul? Or be heard in front of the whole town or something?