Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses: A feel good Christmas romance novel

by Jenny Hale

  “Six.”

  “I thought you looked like you could be six. Max is six too.”

  “Did you know that Max will be staying here with us until Christmas? You two will be able to play every day,” Robin said. She looked over at Abbey. “Nick told me that you’d be living here to be on call for my grandmother. What a wonderful surprise to find out that your son will be here as well. Thomas was very worried about leaving his friends until after Christmas.”

  Robin spooned some hot chocolate mixture into the mug and poured hot water over it. Then she mixed it and handed it to Thomas. She grabbed her wine and took a sip. “Now, tell me,” she said to Abbey, “how is my brother? He’s out again on one of his business trips, I’m assuming.”

  “He’s fine, I think.”

  “Well, between conversations about what to do for my grandmother’s care, he sure had a ton to say about you, and he sounded more than fine.”

  “What did he say about me?”

  “He was almost giddy—well, as giddy as Nick can get. But I’ve never seen him like that. He said he can’t keep his mind on his work, and that worried him. You were distracting him,” she said with a smile.

  “Yes, he’s told me that too.”

  Robin smiled wider. “I can understand your pull on him. You have an honest face, and you’re a good listener. Your demeanor puts people at ease. I’ll bet you’re a great nurse.”

  “Thank you. That’s very nice of you to say.” Abbey set her wine down on the counter and Robin refilled it without asking.

  “I’ve only known you a few minutes and I feel like I could tell you anything.” Robin rolled her eyes. “Maybe that’s just me, though. Maybe I’m too chatty.”

  “No, you’re fine. I’m enjoying myself.”

  “I’m going to see Daddy and Max,” Thomas said.

  Robin held up the train car that she’d kept in her pocket. “Want me to join you and we can play?”

  “No, thank you. I can play with Max.”

  “You sure?”

  Thomas nodded, took the train car, and left the room. Robin tidied his spot, rinsing his mug and putting it in the dishwasher. Then she sat down on the tall bar chair, crossed her long, thin legs, and swiveled herself toward Abbey.

  “Listening to Nick talk about you,” she said, the glass of wine dangling from her fingertips, the liquid tilting in the glass. “I took an instant liking to you—before I’d ever met you—because you were able to do something that none of us have ever been able to do: make Nick stop working. Anyone who can do that is someone special.”

  “That’s what Caroline said too—no one can pull him from work. Can you tell me, Robin, why does he feel the need to keep his father’s company going? He’s tried to explain it and I just don’t understand.”

  The question made Robin straighten up a little more, her eyes focused. “My father worked all the time on that business. He built it from nothing, and he made a ton of money. He risked everything for that company—even his family. We barely saw him. My mother was very upset about all his working—I heard their quiet arguments at night. She wanted him to spend more time with us. When Nick was very young, he would walk around in my father’s work shoes; he could knot a tie at four years old. Nick wanted to be with him every moment. So when my father passed, Nick took it the hardest of all. Nick feels that if he lets the business fail, then he’ll fail his father.”

  “But he moved to Richmond for family. And Richmond wasn’t the best location for his business. That looks like a step in the right direction.”

  “Ah, but he was trying to do both at full steam, and what he learned the hard way was that, while my mother put up with it from my father, other women will not. Sarah wasn’t having it at all. And I believe—just my opinion—that it was the reason she left.”

  “Do you think he’s scared?” Abbey asked.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Do you think he’s scared to do something other than what his father had done? There could be lots of reasons he’d be scared,” Abbey said, the words coming out at the same time as she was processing them. “…Scared that he might not be as successful doing something else, scared that he’d let his family down, scared that he wouldn’t have a plan or know what to do.” She realized as she was listing those things that they were all the same reasons she had for not following her dreams. It silenced her as soon as she’d realized it.

  “I’ve never thought of him as anything other than strong, but you know what? You could be right. So, how do we show him it’s okay to do something even if he’s scared?”

  Robin was using the term “we” as if there were some reason Abbey would be involved in changing him. “I don’t think we are going to do anything, but you can if you’d like.”

  “Why?” Robin asked and then trailed off, immediately clasping her perfectly manicured hand over her mouth. “Are his feelings one-sided?” she said through her fingers.

  Abbey thought about Nick’s eyes—how curious he’d been when he looked at her, that smile lurking, just waiting to come out and knock her off her feet. She thought about how sweet and tender he could be, how it felt to kiss his lips. Did she just have stars in her eyes? She wanted to text him right then and find out how he felt about her exactly, but she didn’t. He’d been pretty clear, telling her to direct all questions to Richard.

  “You’re quiet. It is one-sided,” Robin said.

  “It’s not that,” Abbey tried to explain. “He made it pretty clear that he didn’t want to talk to me. He told me if I have any questions to direct them to Richard. I have to plan a party for a hundred people here. I’ve never done that before. I want to do a good job, make him happy with what I’ve chosen, and have it all completed in a timely manner.”

  “I’ll help you plan the party. I do it all the time. You just weigh in on what you like design-wise and I’ll help with the rest.”

  “I don’t feel right asking you to do that. This is your Christmas holiday. You need to spend it with your family, not do a job that I’m being paid to do.”

  Robin laughed. “Nick hired you as a decorator. He only threw the party on you because he didn’t want to do it himself, and he knew that when it came down to it, you’d be great at it. I know him too well. You and I can plan the party together. Nick won’t care one way or the other who gets it done as long as he can tick it off his list.”

  “What about your time that I’m taking? You need to enjoy your family.”

  “I will! It doesn’t take long to plan it—a few things here and there. You’ll do all the ordering of supplies. We’ll be able to do it while our boys play tomorrow. Easy.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Abbey had gone herself to pick up Max after school. She took a moment to admire the exterior of Nick’s home as she drove up to it. All the exterior trees were lit in their white lights, the trees by the door lit as well, the dark green spruce wreaths on every window, their dark cranberry bows popping against the brick exterior. It was such a beautiful, Christmassy contrast to the muted daylight through the gray sky.

  She parked the car and got out, tugging the scarf Nick had bought her a little tighter to keep out the frigid temperatures. Max had his coat on, but she had to zip it up as he got out. They weren’t even to the steps before the huge front door opened and Thomas stood there in his socks.

  “Hi,” he called out in a very matter-of-fact way.

  When they got to the top of the steps, meeting him at the door, Max smiled at his new friend, and they ran inside. Abbey went back to the car to get some extra toys she hadn’t yet unpacked, although, from the looks of it, the boys were already keeping themselves busy.

  Richard met her in the drive and insisted on carrying everything in for her. She didn’t feel comfortable when he did that because she wasn’t employing him, but he assured her that he’d do it anyway. She liked Richard. He kept his personal thoughts separate from his profes
sional life, but she could tell that a lot of what he did for the family and for her was simply because he cared. He was very quiet but thoughtful—it came through in his actions. He said he’d put it all in the living room. Then, just before he walked away, he told her that Nick was home.

  Abbey immediately went to his office and knocked but no one answered. She’d had enough experience by now to know that he was probably busy. She hated when he didn’t answer the door, so without another knock, she opened it. She couldn’t wait to see him. To her surprise, the room was empty. Taken aback, she slowly closed the door, wondering where he was.

  She found Robin and Caroline in the kitchen. “Nick’s home,” she said. “But he isn’t in his office. Have you seen him?”

  “He was on a phone call, but I assumed that he went to the office after. I was helping Caroline with her sewing,” Robin said.

  “Is he with James?”

  “James isn’t here. He went to do a little Christmas shopping.”

  “Okay,” she said. “Well, I’ll check on the boys.”

  She made her way to the living room, but when she got there, she had to close her gaping mouth. Nick was not only in the living room—where he never went—but he was on the floor on his back while the boys were building a train track over the top of him!

  “Hi,” he waved carefully from under the track.

  “Hi,” she said, kneeling down beside him. “What in the world…” The sight of him like that made her want to kiss him right there on the spot.

  “I had a very stressful time in New York. When I got home, I came to see you but you were gone, so I thought I’d come in here and relax.” He smiled and eyed his half empty beer on the side table.

  “Thank you for using a coaster,” she said with a grin. “You came to see me?”

  “You’re welcome and yes. I was in New York all alone, working in between trying to find a house, and I kept feeling uneasy. I couldn’t place it, but it was driving me crazy. I went through the motions, but something was different this time. All I wanted was a distraction. My work wasn’t holding my attention.” He winked at her. “When I couldn’t find you, I figured I’d get a beer and kick back.”

  “That’s not like you.”

  “No, it isn’t. And it feels very weird. Even weirder when being under a train track.”

  “Pity you can’t reach your beer,” she said with a grin.

  Thomas sat on his knee and added another piece.

  “Yes it is. Thomas had other ideas.”

  “That perfectly good beer going to waste…” She walked over and sat down on the sofa next to it, picking it up between her two fingers and pretending to inspect the label. It was some kind of fancy microbrew. “I didn’t know you drank beer.” She tipped it up to her lips and took a swig. It was good.

  “Get your own beer,” he said, but his eyes were affectionate.

  “I just wanted a taste.”

  Carefully, he pulled himself from under the track and the boys moaned in disapproval. “Sorry, boys,” he said. “I’ll play again soon.”

  “You don’t have time to play,” she said. She handed him his beer and tried to keep her hands at her sides when all she wanted to do was put them around his neck.

  “I got the company I was after in New York. After that, I decided to take a little time off for Christmas.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Yes.”

  “I didn’t expect you back so soon,” she said, leading him out into the hallway.

  “I found a house very quickly. Well, I just stopped looking after the first showing. I don’t really care where I live as long as it’s in a central location and decent.”

  “You found a house?”

  “It’s an apartment.”

  “Are you drinking beer?” Robin interrupted their conversation, the tapping of her heels reaching a crescendo against the floors as she neared them.

  “Yes. I drink beer on occasion,” Nick said to his sister.

  “What occasion?” she teased. “Never mind. I’m not going to talk you out of it. That’s a good thing. It’s better than having a phone in your hand.”

  “I’m taking some time off for Christmas,” he explained.

  “I can’t believe it,” Robin said dramatically. “James should be home soon. We should have a big dinner.”

  “Whatever you like. Just let Richard know. I need to do a little work today to tie up a few loose ends. It shouldn’t be too long. Then we can all eat dinner.”

  “May I cook?” Abbey asked, and they both looked at her.

  “Certainly. If you want to. It’s a big crowd,” he said with a smile.

  “I’m up for it. I’d like to cook you some of my favorite foods. Would that be okay?”

  “I’d love it,” Robin said. “Surprise us!”

  Nick agreed.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes,” Nick said. “I can’t wait to see what you cook.”

  “Great! I’ll go get started.”

  * * *

  The bag of odds and ends Abbey had requested from Richard was still on the counter when she finished up each of the dishes. She had it all on the bar of the kitchen buffet-style as everyone came in. She pulled a bag of white hamburger rolls from the grocery bag and opened the twist tie, leaving them at the start of the buffet. There were paper plates, napkins, hot dogs, hamburgers—with or without cheese—baked beans, potato salad, and her famous green bean casserole.

  Max ran in ahead of Thomas. “Yummy, Mama!” he said, reaching up for a plate at the end of the counter. The others followed.

  “Grab a napkin and fork with your plate!” Abbey said with a giggle as she looked at them. They were all scanning the bar with inquisitive faces. “Ketchup and mustard are at the end of the line.”

  “It’s like being at a picnic!” Caroline said with excitement. But then nobody moved. It was as if they didn’t know where to begin.

  “I’ll start,” Abbey said, pulling a plastic fork from the cup she’d stuffed them all in, and grabbing a plate and napkin. She pulled a bun from the bag, left it open on the plate, and added a burger with cheese. “Get your burger and then you have all this to choose from.” Max stood next to Nick, trying to reach the plates. “Nick, if you’ll help Max, I’ll make yours. Do you want everything on your burger?”

  “Make it however you like and I’ll try it,” he said.

  “Excellent.” She added onions, tomato, lettuce, mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard. When she closed the hamburger, it was so high that she had to secure it with a toothpick. “Baked beans?” she asked.

  “Yes. Thank you. What is that bowl of yellow…?” he asked as he opened a bun and set it on a plate for Max.

  “Potato salad. It’s my mother’s recipe. Want to try it?” Abbey had her plate and Nick’s teetering on the edge of the counter beside each other as she piled on the food.

  “Potato… Salad. Is there salad in it?” he asked, peering over the bowl.

  “No. There’s mustard, mayonnaise, and relish, among other spices. You might like it.” She scooped up a glop of it and lumped it on his plate. “You’ve been living in Richmond all this time and you’ve never encountered potato salad?” He just looked at her. She tried not to giggle. “I’ll put a little of everything and you can try it all.” His face was priceless.

  The others were slowly filling their plates, watching Abbey and smiling. Robin had set her food down and was leaning into the wine cooler. “What goes well with this meal? Red, maybe? It’s beef…”

  “Anything is fine,” Abbey said.

  Robin pulled out a bottle of Zinfandel and uncorked it. “Who’s having wine?” she asked as the bottle breathed in her hand. The adults accepted her offer, and Abbey poured milk for the kids.

  They all took their plates and drinks with them into the dining room.

  Nick let out a punch of laughter. “What’s on the table?” he asked.

  “A paper tablecloth,” Abbey said as she set her paper pl
ate down on the Christmas tree printed paper. “It’s festive. And at the end, you can ball it up with everything on it—easy cleanup.”

  With another chuckle, he sat down beside her. Abbey looked around at the faces that were there tonight. Caroline was cutting her burger with her plastic knife and fork, clearly being a good sport, her paper napkin in her lap; Robin and James were both helping Thomas get situated; and Max was holding a burger as big as his head!

  Abbey recalled those first nights with Nick, sitting in silence at that huge table. She leaned over to Nick. “Now this is what the dinner table should be like,” she said quietly to him.

  Nick smiled and discreetly pointed at Max as he tried to take a bite of his burger, half the toppings falling out the other side.

  Abbey laughed. “Well, you helped him make it.”

  “I just followed your lead.” He pointed to his own and grinned at her.

  Abbey turned to address the group. “Has anyone tried something new?”

  “It’s my first taste of potato salad,” Nick said. “The jury’s still out…”

  “I like it,” Robin added. “And I like this green bean casserole as well.”

  “When I first started working for Nick,” Abbey said, “he made me dinner and I didn’t know what it was. It was zucchini, wasn’t it, Nick?” She looked at him for agreement. “Anyway, it was delicious. I wanted to share something new with you all. I hope you’re enjoying it. I’ve made apple pie for dessert.”

  “That sounds delicious, Abbey,” Caroline said. “Thank you for all of this.” She dabbed the corners of her mouth with her paper napkin. “When was the last time we all ate as a family?” Caroline asked.

  Everyone looked around at each other and shook their heads.

  “We don’t do this enough,” Caroline said. “Promise me that when your mother gets here, we’ll all get together again. We lead such busy lives. We need to stop and remember our family.”

  Nick stood up, holding his glass. “To family,” he said, and they all raised their drinks. Abbey joined too and asked Max to lift his cup. While this wasn’t her family, it was a great one, and she was toasting to that. Nick added, “And good friends,” as he winked in Max’s direction.