“Are we ready now?” He set Kenzie to the ground.
“Yes!” she cheered.
Lacie tugged on her own gloves. “I believe so.”
Through the cold night air, the three of them proceeded the few blocks to the center of town, Matt on one side of Kenzie, Lacie on the other, each holding her hand. Almost as though they were a family. They walked along the sidewalk, past homes with inflatable snowmen and Santas in their yards, others with light displays and most with Christmas trees in their front windows.
“Are you guys getting ready for Christmas yet?” He hadn’t thought much about it, but was excited that he’d get to spend this one with his daughter.
“No.” Lacie kept her gaze fixed straight ahead, her expression flat. “We’ve been busy at the shop this week.”
“Well, we’re barely into December.” He shrugged. “You still have plenty of time.”
“Hey, Matt,” he heard as they rounded the corner onto Main Street.
Turning, he saw his brother Andrew, his wife, Carly, and their ten-year-old daughter, Megan, coming up behind them.
“I thought that was you.” His brother looked surprised. Probably because he was used to seeing Matt alone.
“I wondered if you’d be here.” Matt’s gaze moved from Andrew to Carly. “You remember—”
“Lacie...” A smiling Carly moved in for a hug, her blond curls peeking out from beneath her knit hat. “I haven’t seen you in forever.” She released her. “When did you get into town?”
He’d forgotten the two women knew each other. Carly had been a couple of grades ahead of them, but everyone knew everyone at Ouray’s only school.
“Last week. Kenzie—” Lacie nodded toward her niece “—and I are helping Mom at the store for a while.”
“Oh, you two will have to drop by some time then, so we can catch up.” Carly touched her daughter’s shoulder. “Megan, this is my old friend Lacie.”
Bundled up in a purple puffer and purple hat, her strawberry blond hair splayed around her shoulders, his niece smiled.
“Hi, Megan,” said Lacie. “This is Kenzie.”
While the females continued to chat, Megan and Kenzie becoming fast friends, Matt took a step back with his brother.
“That’s Marissa’s daughter, right?” Andrew studied the little girl and Matt couldn’t help wondering if his brother could sense that same familiarity he’d had when he first met Kenzie.
“Yes.” He leaned closer. “And mine, too.”
Andrew stared at him, confused, before looking to Kenzie and back again. “She’s your daughter?” he whispered.
“I’ll fill you in later.” He kept his voice low. “Suffice to say, I only recently found out. Yes, Lacie knows, but Kenzie does not, so mum’s the word.”
“You got it, bro.” A still-looking-stunned Andrew patted him on the back. “Congratulations.”
His heart swelling with pride, Matt rejoined the women. “Hey, we’d better get on down to the tree lighting before we miss it.”
They continued along the street, Lacie and Carly chatting all the way, as were Megan and Kenzie, until they reached the corner of Main and 7th Avenue. The still-darkened Christmas tree was surrounded by revelers singing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
Each of the adults and Megan were handed a piece of paper with the words to the songs they’d be singing. Megan shared hers with Kenzie, even though Kenzie didn’t know how to read. Still, he appreciated the gesture.
After a couple more carols and some hot chocolate to chase away the chill, the mayor thanked everyone for coming then started the countdown to the lighting.
“Ten, nine...”
“This is it.” Matt lifted Kenzie into his arms so she could have a better view. He could tell by the way she kept looking around that she wasn’t quite sure what was going on.
Lacie must have noticed it, too. Taking hold of Kenzie’s hand, she pointed to the tree. “Look, sweetie. They’re going to turn the lights on.”
“Three, two, one—”
Cheers erupted from the crowd, but Matt kept his gaze fixed on Kenzie.
Her gasp and wide eyes when they flipped the switch were priceless. “I want a Christmas tree like that.” She pointed.
“Pretty cool, huh?” He joined his fellow townsfolk in a round of “Oh, Christmas Tree” until he felt Lacie beside him.
“Watch Kenzie for me.” The distressed look on her face tore at his heart. And as she turned to walk away, he was pretty sure he saw tears in her eyes.
What could have happened? Had he done something wrong?
Whatever it was, he had to find out.
He caught Andrew’s and Carly’s attention. “Would you two mind keeping an eye on Kenzie for a few minutes? I need to check on Lacie.”
“Is everything okay?” asked Carly.
“That’s what I intend to find out.” He set Kenzie to the ground. “I need you to stay with Megan and her parents for a few minutes. I promise, I’ll be right back.”
“Can I have more hot chocolate?” She held out her empty cup.
Carly took hold of it. “Of course you can.” She eyed her daughter. “Come on, Megan. Let’s get some more cocoa.”
Matt scanned the area, looking to see where Lacie had gone. Finally spotting her across the street, he made his way to her.
Her back was to him, so he moved in front of her to discover she was crying.
“What’s wrong?” He instinctively put an arm around her.
“I’m sorry.” While people continued to sing behind them, she dabbed at her face with a tissue. “It’s just that Kenzie was so happy.”
“And that’s a bad thing?”
“No.” She sniffed. “But I wanted to make this Christmas special for her and I can’t.”
Because she’d lost her job. “Lace, if this has to do with money, I’m more than happy to—”
“No, it’s not the money.” She drew in a breath. “It’s my mother.” She looked up at him. “She hasn’t celebrated Christmas since my dad died and she’s not willing to make any exceptions.”
He continued to watch her. “Not even for Kenzie?”
Lacie shook her head. “She refuses to let us have a tree or anything that even remotely resembles Christmas.”
“That’s crazy.”
Her tears were gone now. “No, that’s a bitter woman who’s mad at God.”
No wonder Lacie was so upset. Kenzie was just a kid. And this would be her first Christmas since her mother died. Of course her aunt wanted to make it special.
For that matter, he wanted to make it special. He couldn’t let his little girl not have a Christmas. Especially when it was the first one he’d get to spend with her.
He laid his gloved hands atop Lacie’s delicate shoulders. “All right then, we’ll just have to do Christmas at my house.”
“Your house?” Her pretty gaze searched his.
“Yes.” And the more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea. “We’ll have to wait until the play is over, but maybe Monday we can all go to Montrose. We’ll pick up a tree and some decorations and we’ll give Kenzie the best Christmas a kid could ever have.”
He felt her body relax.
And the smile she sent him reached deep inside, warming every part of him.
“Kenzie is one fortunate little girl.”
“Yes, she is.” He touched a finger to Lacie’s cheek. “Because she’s got the best aunt ever.”
Chapter Nine
Opening night had arrived. Matt wasn’t quite as nervous as he’d thought he would be. Still, he prayed things would go well. He did not want to shame his mother’s legacy.
Backstage, he fingered the burgundy velvet curtain just far enough apart to watch as p
eople arrived. There sure were a lot of them. Young and old, families...and he knew almost every one of them.
He continued to observe, his chest tightening when he saw his father enter with Hillary Ward-Thompson, an old schoolmate of Dad’s that he’d recently become reacquainted with. Now Matt was nervous. The only thing worse than failing would be failing in front of Dad.
“I need you, Matt.” Corey Winslow, the play’s stage manager, scurried across the wooden floor, looking even more rattled than Matt felt.
He let the curtain fall closed and turned to face her. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Clare.” He never knew Corey was such a nervous Nellie.
His gaze narrowed. “What about her?”
The petite brunette sucked in a breath. “She’s sick.” The woman cringed. “She can’t go on.”
Can’t go on? How could they perform The Bishop’s Wife without the bishop’s wife?
So much for not being nervous. Between this and his father, Matt’s anxiety level just went through the roof.
He shoved both hands through his hair as he started to pace. “This is not good.” What was he going to do?
“No, it’s not,” said Corey. “But at least we have a backup.”
He whirled to face her. “We do?” Why didn’t he know that?
“Yes. Lacie did this same show last year and played the role of Julia.”
He stared at his stage manager. “Well, why are you standing here then? Why aren’t you telling her all of this?”
Corey smiled and nodded. “Because that’s your job.”
“Oh.” Lacie must have left off that portion of a director’s job description. “Where is she?”
Corey shook her head. “She’s here somewhere.”
He took off, nearly running into Lacie as she exited costuming in her maid outfit. “Lace—” he gripped both of her arms “—I need you.”
“What?” She quirked a brow.
“I mean, get back in there. You need to change.”
She glanced down at her costume before again looking at him. “Okay, why don’t you take a deep breath and tell me what’s got you so stirred up?”
Behind him he could hear the audience growing larger, while backstage people were running around like chickens with their heads cut off.
He let go a sigh. “Clare is sick and can’t go on. Would you please take over as Julia?”
“Oh, no. I hope Clare is all right.” She pressed a hand to her chest. “But yes, of course, I’ll take over.”
He nearly collapsed with relief. Instead, he hugged her like he’d never hugged anyone before. “Thank you, Lace. Thank you.”
“Don’t you think I’d best go get changed?” Her words were muffled against his shoulder.
He quickly released her. “Yes, definitely. Go change.” Turning, he lifted his gaze to the century-old hand-hewn rafters. “Thank You, Lord.”
A short time later, he watched from backstage as the house lights went down, feeling a bit like the captain of the Titanic. “Here we go.”
He wasn’t sure he breathed again until the closing lines were uttered. But the cast had done it. They’d pulled off a flawless performance.
The audience applause was overwhelming. Everyone was on their feet as the cast was introduced, though the loudest applause was for Lacie. And rightfully so. Without her, they wouldn’t have had a play at all.
Then he was called onstage. Still standing in the wings, he looked all around. Nobody had informed him he’d have to do that. He was a behind-the-scenes kind of guy.
Next thing he knew, Lacie and Valerie Dawson were at his side. They each took hold of an arm and escorted him center stage as the crowd continued to applaud.
Blinking, his gaze again drifted upward. I hope you approve, Mama.
Once the introductions were complete, the cast and crew descended the stage to greet those in attendance. Matt shook hands with everyone who passed, overwhelmed by the number of people congratulating him on a job well done.
“That was wonderful, Matt.” Dressed in a stylish pantsuit, her short blond hair perfectly styled, Hillary clasped both of his hands. “I’d forgotten how much I loved that movie, but you brought it all back. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
“See you at the diner?” She tucked her short blond hair behind one ear.
“Wild horses couldn’t keep me away.”
She winked and continued down the line.
Then his father stepped in front of him. “The troop did a fine job. Your mama would be proud.”
Matt hated the disappointment that wove through him. The ache he felt in his heart. He knew what Mama would have thought. Even if the play had flopped, she would have been proud, because she was always proud of her boys no matter what they did.
But Dad? No, he wasn’t proud. If he was, would it have killed him to say so?
Unfortunately, all the praise Matt had received did little to overshadow his father’s remarks. Even as he finished putting the props away ninety minutes later, the pain lingered.
“One down, two more to go.” Lacie was kind enough to stay and help him.
“If I survive.” He shoved the bishop’s desk into a corner.
“What are you talking about?” She perched a hand on her now-denim-covered hip. “The play went off without a hitch.”
“Thanks to you.” He came alongside her. Taking hold of the maid’s broom she had yet to put away, he stared into her beautiful blue eyes.
With one hand still on the stick, she studied him a moment. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why are you so bummed?”
He took the broom from her and laid it atop the desk as she gathered up her things. “I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. I know that the play was a hit.”
Still watching him, she put on her coat. “But...?”
He shrugged into his own jacket as they started for the door. “I’d really hoped I could make my father proud. But he wasn’t impressed.”
After pausing to turn off the house lights, they started down the stairs.
Lacie remained beside him. “Did he say that?”
“Not in so many words.” On the main level, he held the door for her then locked up before joining her on the sidewalk. “He just said that Mama would be proud.”
“Matt, that doesn’t mean he’s not proud.” She continued beside him as they moved toward their vehicles. “Maybe he just doesn’t know how to express it.”
“I wish that were true.” His steps slowed.
“It appears we both have issues with our parents,” she said.
“Sure looks that way. Let’s just hope we never do that to Kenzie.” Thoughts of his daughter lifted his spirits.
Lacie stopped and stared at him, though her expression was unreadable. “You’re forgetting... I’m not Kenzie’s parent.”
How could she even think such a thing? After all he’d learned about her, what he’d witnessed. She was more of a parent than a lot of folks in this world.
“Yes, you are.” Standing there in the cold, their breaths swirling together, he touched her cheek. “You’re the best mother my little girl could ask for.” And a pretty good match for him, too, he was starting to discover.
His gaze fell to her lips. Beautiful lips. Lips that spoke truth and love.
She took a step back then. “I need to go.”
* * *
Lacie hung up her costume in the prop room after their final performance Sunday afternoon. She’d have to do a better job of steeling her heart against Matt. Though it wasn’t easy when he looked at her with those velvet-brown eyes that beckoned her to let him in. Like he’d done last night.
Still, for Ke
nzie’s sake, she couldn’t let down her guard. She’d vowed she’d have no men in their lives and that’s how she intended to keep it.
Matt isn’t any guy. He’s Kenzie’s father.
But what if she opened herself up to him and things didn’t work out? What if he was just using her to get to Kenzie?
No, she wouldn’t put herself or Kenzie through that. And with this year’s play now in the record books, she couldn’t wait to get home and have a quiet evening with her niece.
Returning to the storage-closet-turned-dressing-room to gather up her things, she ran into Valerie.
“Lacie, it sure would be nice if you could stay in Ouray.” Valerie picked up her coat. “You’ve been a great addition to our team.”
The compliment warmed her heart. “Thank you, Valerie. Unfortunately, there’s not much of a market for interior designers in Ouray.”
“No, but there’s always Telluride.” The woman’s green eyes glimmered. “Have you checked with any of the builders over there?”
Telluride. She hadn’t even considered it. But it was less than an hour’s drive from Ouray. “No, I haven’t.”
“Something to keep in mind.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Lacie saw Matt approaching.
“Great job, everyone.”
“Thanks, Matt.” Lacie, Valerie and a couple other cast members responded in unison.
He motioned Lacie toward the stage.
Reluctantly, she joined him.
“Hey, what do you say I take you and Kenzie out for a celebration dinner?”
She glanced at the wooden floor. “Actually, I was thinking a quiet evening sounded kind of nice, after all the busyness here.” Maybe he’d get the hint.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” He paused, hands on his hips. “So what if I pick up pizza instead and we hang out at your mom’s? Maybe watch a Christmas movie— No, I guess that won’t be happening. Unless you want to grab Kenzie and come on over to my place.”
This time of year, Lacie loved nothing more than curling up with a good Christmas movie. Just not with him.
“So what do you say?” Under the bright lights, he shifted from one foot to the other. “I mean, we need to do something to celebrate me surviving the play. Not to mention your incredible performance.” And then he had the nerve to look shy. “Besides, I’d really like to see Kenzie for a little bit.”
The Deputy's Holiday Family Page 9
