A Texas Soldier's Christmas

by Cathy Gillen Thacker

  Lynn turned off her phone and set her bag on the floor. “What’s that?”

  “It’s a type of confusion that occurs later in the day. It can be an early symptom of Alzheimer’s or dementia. But I’ve also seen it brought about simply by a change in environment in an elderly person.”

  “So, if it’s just the move back to Texas causing this...?”

  “Then his occasional disorientation will ease as he adjusts to life here at Laramie Gardens and everything becomes more familiar to him.”

  Lynn tapped her fingers, thinking. “And if not?”

  Nora sobered. “Then treatment might be required. Which is why we have a geriatric specialist, Dr. Ron Wheeler, coming in tomorrow morning to go over his medical records and examine him. But not to worry, your dad is in fine spirits this morning. So you should have a nice holiday together.”

  Her expression regretful, Lynn walked with Nora to the door. “I wish I could have convinced Dad to stay with me in New York City and continue to have home care help to assist him in my absence. But he was insistent he return to the place where I grew up and he and my mother spent their entire married life.”

  Together, they moved down the hall. “I can see where that would be comforting.”

  Lynn shook her head sadly. “He’s never gotten over losing her two years ago.”

  Nora recalled Esther, who had worked side by side with her husband at the Laramie bookstore they founded. A kinder, more devoted couple could not have been found. “How long were they married?” She paused just outside Mr. Pierce’s door.

  “Sixty-three years.” Lynn smiled and waved at her dad, who was standing in front of a bookcase of leather-bound classics. Treasure Island, Moby-Dick, A Christmas Carol, Gunga Din, The Catcher in the Rye, Don Quixote... Mr. Pierce had quite the collection. And he was deeply attached to them all.

  “Wow,” Nora said. “I can hardly imagine what it would be like to be married that long.”

  “I know.” Lynn grinned as she headed in to see her father. “Not many couples make it that long these days.”

  Certainly, Nora thought, not she and Zane.

  * * *

  “IS LIEUTENANT LOCKHART coming for the feast this evening?” Miss Mim asked.

  “We invited him to attend,” Miss Sadie said helpfully.

  Nora cradled Liam against her shoulder, all the while keeping an eye on the dining room, where places for all one hundred and fifty residents, and the hundred special guests also in attendance for the buffet dinner at 4:30 p.m., were being set up.

  Nora shoved aside her own need to see the handsome soldier. “I expect he’s with his own family today.”

  “Ah...think again...” chimed in Miss Mim, who’d been matchmaking for the two of them since they were kids who hung out together every summer, when Zane visited his paternal grandfather.

  Every nerve end tingling, Nora turned.

  And there came Zane striding toward her in an olive green shirt, tie, blazer and jeans. He had a huge sheet cake in his hands. “Did your sister, Sage, make that cake?” Buck Franklin asked.

  Zane chuckled. “She did. And she even put the great big turkey on it, just like I asked.” He held it out so everyone could see the decoration adorning the vanilla frosting.

  Nora couldn’t help but compliment, “That was so nice of you and Sage.” His sister was a fabulous chef, as well as café bistro owner.

  Zane grinned and regarded Nora mischievously, his eyes alight with interest. “Consider it the Lockhart family’s contribution for the feast today.”

  It was something, all right.

  Oblivious to the sparks flying between Zane and Nora, Wilbur Barnes stepped in to relieve Zane. “Thanks, son.”

  Miss Patricia led the way across the dining hall. “I’ll make room for it on the dessert table.”

  Suddenly, the world narrowed once again. Zane regarded Liam, who was looking around with a slightly perturbed expression on his cherubic face. “Not to worry, little fella,” he said, patting Liam’s head. “You’ll have a chance to have cake when I bring it next year.”

  As if Zane would be there with them next November, Nora thought irritably. The practical side of her laid down odds he would not. Which meant for all their sakes she had to keep her guard up.

  As the seniors gathered around them eased off to give them a little privacy, she nodded at the brash fabric knotted around his neck. “Where did you get that tie?” she quipped. “Pick it out yourself?”

  He held out the brown, orange, gold and green silk. Then gazed admiringly at the upside-down design. “Neckwear sporting a traditional cornucopia is hard to find.”

  Nora rolled her eyes. “I’ll bet.”

  He chuckled, knowing—as always—he was doing a great job of getting under her skin.

  Figuring she had no choice but to brazen her way through this situation, Nora cleared her throat. She had a job to do here, and her first order of business was getting rid of him. “Seriously, it was nice of you to drop by, but doesn’t your family want you to spend the holiday with them?”

  Stubbornly refusing to take her hint, Zane shrugged his broad shoulders. “Mom served her dinner at noon. She didn’t want any football games interrupting the family meal.”

  Trying not to think how much his nearness disturbed her, Nora returned, “I thought Lucille didn’t allow any televised sports at holiday get-togethers.”

  One corner of his sensual lips slanted up. Dark silver eyes glittering warmly, he leaned closer and teased huskily, “I like the way you remember every little thing about me...”

  She recalled way too much all right, Nora thought, flushing self-consciously.

  Like the way he kissed and touched her. The way he smelled when he first woke up, or was fresh out of the shower. The way he looked at her when he thought she wasn’t aware, like he wanted to hold that moment in his heart forever.

  A riptide of sentiment swept through her. Followed swiftly by a physical longing that was just as intense.

  “This particular memory was about your mother,” Nora fibbed, lifting a nonchalant brow.

  He chuckled at her sassy tone. “Yes, well, Mom’s softening a bit in her old age. She allows a game or two to be on as long as we all have dinner together—uninterrupted—first.”

  Nora let her gaze rove over his tall, solidly built frame. Told herself she wasn’t affected. Nope. Not one little bit. “Ah.”

  “Anything we miss, she figures can be recorded and watched later.”

  She didn’t want to kiss him again, either. Not today. Not tonight. Not ever. “Smart woman.”

  Oblivious to the ridiculously out-of-bounds nature of her thoughts, Zane sighed and shook his head.

  “Who, unfortunately, understands very little about the superstitious nature of sporting events. Luckily for me, the guys here do know how much viewer participation it takes for any team to win,” he announced, grinning when Nora groaned. “So they have told me, they are all in, and will be ready to cheer on my teams with me.”

  Which meant Zane would be here for hours. As would she, since she was pulling a double today. It was all Nora could do not to stamp her foot in dismay.

  “Just don’t let things get too rowdy,” she warned.

  Zane grinned in all innocence and gave her a once-over that quickly had her tingling from head to toe. “Who, me?” he said.

  Chapter Three

  Nora didn’t know what was worse. Having Zane underfoot during the Thanksgiving feast, paying attention to her. Or having him underfoot, blissfully unaware she was even around.

  All she knew for sure was that he was a hit at the table he was sitting at during the meal. Even from the other side of the dining room, she could hear the bursts of laughter in response to whatever stories he was telling.

 
And he was an even bigger hit in the TV room, watching the football games. Enough of a man’s man to appeal to all the guys and enough of a charmer to appeal to the ladies.

  Luckily, she had a lot to concern herself with. Three bottle feedings and a number of diaper changes for Liam. A lot of families, and lonely residents, to speak with. By the time her second shift ended at eleven that evening, she was worn to a thread.

  Aware the last football game was just about over, she decided to duck into her office and wait until Zane bid adieu to his new pals and departed. With a sleeping Liam snuggled safely against her chest in his BabyBjörn carrier, Nora sat down on the love seat in the corner of her office and let her head fall back against the cushions.

  The next thing she knew she was snuggled against something big and solid and warm, struggling to wake up.

  Blinking, she looked down. Liam was still snoozing in his BabyBjörn. It was to her left that...

  Oh, my heaven!

  She struggled to sit up.

  Not easy when she was cuddled snugly into the curve of Zane Lockhart’s tall, strong body. But somehow she managed. Turning toward him, she leaned forward and watched his eyes open. Refusing to get lost in the mesmerizing depths, she declared, “You can’t sleep with me in my office!”

  Night supervisor Inez Garcia loomed in the open doorway. “I totally agree.” She shook her head at Nora and Zane. “You-all ought to go home. Pronto!”

  * * *

  “THERE’S NO NEED to be embarrassed,” Zane said, stepping outside with her. The chill from earlier in the day had faded into an unusually balmy warmth. The night air was scented with approaching rain. “I’m sure it’s nothing your nurse-colleague hasn’t seen before.”

  Irked to find the weather shifting as erratically as her moods, Nora stumbled slightly under the weight of the baby still strapped to her chest, his diaper bag and her own shoulder bag. “That’s not the point,” she grumbled.

  Zane reacted as swiftly as usual, easing a palm beneath her forearm, the other around her waist. As soon as she steadied, he tenderly searched her face. “You okay?”

  “Yes,” Nora fibbed, “I’m...”

  He took the diaper bag from her resisting fingers, slung it over one broad shoulder and moved in even closer. “Barely awake?”

  The sad truth.

  She eased away from the hand beneath her elbow. “It was a long day.” A very, very long day.

  He fell into step beside her. Staying close enough to assist her if need be, far enough away not to crowd her. His every action as perfectly gallant as always.

  “Let me drive you both home.”

  When even the gruff sound of his voice had her tingling all over? Not wise. Wishing she hadn’t parked quite so far away from the door, Nora kept her eyes on her waiting minivan. “It’s only two miles.”

  Zane tilted his head at her and Liam. “Plenty of time for you to fall back asleep, jump a curb and hit a tree.”

  She hated it when he was right. A sixteen-hour shift on a holiday, while simultaneously caring for her infant son, was too much. He, on the other hand, looked chipper as could be. But then Special Forces soldiers were trained to get by on very little shut-eye and still perform at optimum ability.

  Using what felt like the very last reserves of her energy, she picked up her pace. “Then how are you going to get to your pickup truck?”

  One half of his mouth quirked up in a smile. “I’ll run back. I haven’t worked out today. It’ll be fine.”

  The wind gusted. With one hand, Nora held back the hair that had blown into her face. Maybe he did want a good run. In any case... With a sigh, she reluctantly gave in. “Fine. If you’re sure you don’t mind.”

  “I don’t.”

  Not daring to look him in the eye, she used her firmest voice to let him know, “Once we get there, I’m not asking you in.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him shrug, his expression inscrutable. “Not asking you to.”

  She turned her head to face him. They locked gazes.

  Damned if he didn’t look serious about that, too.

  With a sigh, Nora traversed the last ten feet to her minivan. Unlocked it via the keypad, then handed him her keys at the same time Liam finally woke.

  Her little angel was not happy about being eased out of his cozy baby carrier, and into his car seat. He let his discontent be known with loud howls all the way home. And Liam was still crying furiously as Zane unlocked her front door.

  “How can I help?”

  Stubborn pride made her want to refuse. However, three months of experience had taught her self-reliance only took a new mom so far. If she wanted Liam to be as happy as possible, and she did, she had to let others assist her in situations like this.

  With a reluctant sigh, she asked, “Do you know how to change a diaper?”

  “Yep.”

  She regarded Zane skeptically. She knew they did not cover that in the military training he’d had.

  His expression deadpan, he explained, “I’ve got five nieces and nephews in the infant and toddler stage. Three brothers, a sister and various in-laws, none of whom are shy about asking me to lend a hand when I’m in town.”

  Which probably meant he knew a lot more than she had given him credit for. “Okay then,” she acquiesced, watching while he followed her and Liam across the threshold.

  She paused to hand over her squalling son. “The nursery is upstairs, next to the last room on the right. His pajamas and a clean diaper are already laid out. If you can get things started up there, I’ll warm a bottle for him and be right up.”

  Liam, who had miraculously slowed down his crying during their exchange, stared worshipfully up at Zane, tears still glistening moistly on his rosy little cheeks.

  She understood the abruptly spellbound attitude.

  Zane had that effect on a lot of people.

  Even on her.

  Zane smiled down at Liam, as fondly as if he were her son’s daddy. Nora’s heart gave another leap.

  “Atta boy,” Zane soothed, running a hand over Liam’s back. “We’ll get you into your jammies in no time...” He headed up the stairs, Liam now quietly compliant in his arms.

  Trying not to think about how nice it would be to have Zane here helping her all the time, Nora went into the kitchen. Three minutes later, she joined them.

  Zane was standing over the changing table, laughing, a big, gentle hand placed over Liam’s bare chest. “Nice shot, fella. You have a future as a comedian.”

  Nora edged closer.

  Saw, too late, the damp arc across Zane’s sport coat, holiday tie and shirt. Smelled the urine. Oh, no. She sucked in a breath of embarrassment and regret. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Really?” Zane chuckled, stepping back to let her take over, as promised. His eyes twinkled merrily. “Because I would’ve thought you would feel it was what I deserved for hanging out on your office sofa, waiting so long for you to wake up that I fell asleep myself.”

  Why did Zane have to possess such a great sense of humor? Take everything in stride? Even the news that this darling little baby wasn’t his, after all.

  Nora lifted an airy hand. Ignoring her mounting desire for him, she professed, just as humorously, “One of the hazards of raising a boy, I have learned.”

  He shrugged out of his sport coat, unknotted his tie, set both aside. “You’ve taken incoming, too?”

  “Oh, yeah. The worst time was my first day back at work when Liam was six weeks old. I was trying to get him changed before we headed out the door. And bam, he hit me with everything he had. I ended up having to completely change both of us.”

  While she finished dressing Liam, Zane unbuttoned the first couple of buttons on his shirt and rolled up his sleeves. “Do you always take him to work with you?�
�

  Nora nodded. “It was part of my condition for returning so early, that I have Liam nearby. I hire student-sitters during my shift to help out with him. But I try to do all his feedings myself, even if it means I stay a little longer to finish up my work.”

  Overhead, without warning, a soft staccato sounded. Was that...?

  Catching her frown of dismay, he confirmed, “It’s raining.”

  Nora gathered Liam in her arms. She looked up at Zane, achingly aware how cozy this all was. How right it felt. And would have been if only Liam were Zane’s baby, too.

  But he wasn’t. The sound of the rain overhead picked up, thundering against the roof. Nora peered outside and frowned. “How are you going to get back to your vehicle?”

  Looping his soiled garments over his arm, Zane shrugged nonchalantly. “I think I can handle a little precipitation. Besides—” he held out the stained fabric of his dress shirt and the T-shirt beneath “—maybe the downpour will help rinse out some of the smell.”

  Nora grinned.

  Only Zane would be able to find the bright side in that.

  Together, they walked downstairs.

  The rain came down even harder. Nora hesitated. Only a heartless woman would send a soldier home on leave out into torrential downpour at one in the morning. Reluctantly, she insisted, “You have to stay.”

  He shook his head stubbornly, shrugged on his damp jacket and turned up the collar against his neck. “I don’t think so.” Zane opened the front door.

  Another wave of guilt and anxiety swept through her. Followed swiftly by a soul-deep emotion that was even harder to rein in. “But...” she protested.

  Their gazes clashed as surely as their wills. His scowl deepening, he said huskily, “You’ll only resent me in the morning.”

  She put out an arm to stop him from shrugging on his jacket. Her hand curled over the flexed muscles of his bicep and she felt a jolt of electricity skitter through her. Face flushing self-consciously, she looked him in the eye, determined to clarify this much. “I didn’t mean in my bed.”

  He regarded her with mounting amusement. Eyes gleaming mischievously, he said, “I didn’t think you meant in your bed.”