Mistletoe Bachelors

by Snow, Jennifer

  “I hate you.” Samantha hissed and hung up.

  Madison shut her cell phone and gazed out at the mountains. Of course she wasn’t in love with Cole. She’d only known him a few weeks. Part of that time she hadn’t even liked him. It was the season and the spirit of these wonderful snow covered mountains. She liked him and would like to spend more time with him…but love? Oh well, she’d know soon enough. The next day, they were headed to bachelor number four’s family home in Tuscumbia, Alabama. How romantic could that be?

  Chapter Seven

  If Madison hoped to escape the spirit of Christmas by leaving her British Columbia winter wonderland, she’d gone to the wrong place. Arriving in the small town of Tuscumbia, Alabama the community welcome sign revealed they were entering Plantation Christmas Country, population 1623. Madison had done her research on the plane and had discovered each year, for the entire month of December, the whole community recreated an early 19th century holiday celebration in the town. Traditional entertainment from the era and decorations reflecting the Old South brought the community to life. Pictures on the town’s own website showcased previous years’ events. Avoiding Christmas was not a possibility in Tuscumbia.

  Bachelor number four, Dr. Rod Livingston had been born and raised in Tuscumbia. Each year, he closed his medical practice in New York for two weeks and returned to his family home for the holidays.

  “This should be interesting.” Cole surveyed the town as they drove down Main Street. “There is literally no one around.” Madison shook her head in shock and laughed. At three o’clock in the morning in New York, the city was as busy and crowded as it was any time of day. She glanced at her watch. 4:47 in the afternoon, and the community was a ghost town. “Where is everyone?”

  “My guess would be the annual tree lighting ceremony in the Town Square.” Cole gestured to a sign on the side of the road. Tree Lighting this way. A big arrow pointed the way. “Should we head straight over there?”

  Madison glanced at the town map they’d picked up at the airport. “The Livingston family home is a couple of blocks that way,” She pointed down a side street. “Maybe we should go there first, just in case.”

  “Okay.” Cole pulled the rental car onto the side street.

  Madison gasped. “My God, look at these homes.” Large three-story Plantation manors lined both sides of the street. The space between each was wide enough to squeeze multiple brownstones.

  “Yeah, and I bet they cost a fraction of what your condo on Staten Island costs.” He grinned. “Definitely one of the benefits of living in a small town these days.”

  “But it’s so quiet.” No taxis honked or police sirens wailing in the distance. People weren’t fighting for space on the crosswalks. In fact, she didn’t even see a crosswalk.

  “So, I take it you are a big city girl.” Cole laughed.

  Madison grinned. “Afraid so. Staten Island is the right size for me. Any smaller would be too small.”

  Cole turned the car into the Livingston’s driveway and shut off the engine. Two cars were parked in the driveway, but the blinds were closed, and no light shone through the front windows. “Doesn’t look like anyone’s here.” He peered through the windshield.

  “I think there’s a note on the door.” Madison opened the passenger door. “I’ll go look.”

  At the door, a piece of paper flapped in the breeze. She pulled it from the door. Cole, Madison, Welcome to Tuscumbia. We have gone to the tree lighting in the Town Square. Look for the man in the red suit, and you’ll be sure to find me. Rod.

  That’s nice. Rod must dress up as Santa for these local events. Madison folded the note and tucked it into her coat pocket. She jogged back to the car. “You were right, they are at the tree lighting. Rod must dress up as Santa.” She showed Cole the note.

  “Should we leave the car here and walk?” Cole climbed out of the car and flung his camera bag over his shoulder.

  “Sure.” Madison was enjoying their time alone together, and the idea of an extra few minutes warmed her.

  As they started down the sidewalk, Cole reached out and took Madison’s gloved hand. Heat from his bare hand seared through her thin gloves, and she didn’t even consider pulling away. The action was natural, nice, comfortable.

  “Your hands are warm.” She moved closer to him to enjoy the heat he radiated. The weather forecast predicted temperatures below freezing in Tuscumbia for the duration of their stay, and the air was colder here than Whistler’s milder climate.

  “They always are.” Cole stopped in front of her and placed both hands against her rosy, cold cheeks. “You are beautiful,” he said. His gentle gaze was a new source of heat, and Madison warmed through to her core. The kindness and sincerity in his eyes were something she hadn’t seen in a long time. How had she been dreading spending the season with him? At that moment there was nowhere she would rather be. Her eyes pleaded with him to kiss her, and she didn’t have to wait long for his response.

  He slid his hands from her face to encircle her tiny waist. He pulled her closer into the warmth between them and lowered his lips to hers.

  Madison sighed. She could forget about getting relief from her romantic feelings in Tuscumbia.

  As they rounded the corner onto Main Street, the Town Square came into view. The large crowd gathered in the town center was incredible. If the welcome sign’s population number was correct, all 1623 residents were attending this Christmas tradition, plus two. From a distance they could see the Santa Village, set up to the right of the thirty-foot evergreen tree the town’s residents decorated. The multi-colored lights had been added, and the children hung huge snowflakes and candy canes to the tree’s large branches. Madison had never seen a community activity quite like it.

  “That looks like our guy right over there.” Cole gestured to the big man dressed as Santa sitting in a big chair in the middle of Santa’s Village. A photographer poised ready to take his photo with a little girl who wasn’t impressed by the whole situation. She wailed and struggled on Santa’s lap until the photographer shrugged and snapped the unflattering photo anyway.

  To the sound of groans and complaints from the children waiting their turn, Madison and Cole made their way to the front of the line. Cole waved to Santa. He motioned for them to approach.

  “Hi Ro…Santa.” Madison extended a hand to Santa. “I’m Madison Grey from Women’s World Quarterly, and this is Cole Harris.” Madison smiled.

  “Oh yes, I remember Rod mentioning something about being interviewed for a Women’s magazine. He said you two would arrive today. Nice to meet you both,” the man said in a jolly deep voice.

  “You’re not…” Confusion clouded Madison’s face. Hadn’t Rod’s note said he was playing Santa at the festivities?

  “Of course not, I’m Kris Kringle.” He gave a belly-shaking laugh and winked at the children in line. He motioned for the next one to approach. Lowering his voice he said, “Rod is over in the fenced pen area with the other reindeer. He’s Prancer this year.” He pointed to the fenced off area to the right of the Santa hut.

  Madison and Cole turned. All eight of Santa’s reindeer grazed in their own pen labeled with a gold nameplate. Prancer was in the middle. Cole laughed at the sight of the eight men dressed in brown reindeer suits and antlers, baying in the pen for the attention of the children onlookers.

  “Cole, stop laughing.” Madison scolded, collapsing in a fit of giggles. She buried her face in Cole’s shoulder, and her body shook with laughter.

  “Can’t you picture a set up like this in Rockefeller Center?” Cole wrapped an arm around her.

  Rod noticed them and waved them over with his left hoofed hand.

  “Uh, I think we’ve been spotted.”

  Madison moved away and wiped the tears from her eyes. She struggled to compose herself as they made their way to the reindeer pens.

  Rod disappeared through the back curtain on the pen and gestured for them to meet him on the other side.

  �
��Madison, Cole, please give me a second to change out of costume, and I’ll be right with you. Why don’t you wait for me inside the café?” He smiled and gestured to the small bakery and café next to the ice rink.

  Madison smiled and nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Thank God, he was changing first. She didn’t think she could sit across from him dressed like that. Those leggings left nothing to the imagination.

  Cole opened the door to the café, and the smell of homemade apple pie and cinnamon lattes filled the shop.

  Madison’s stomach growled.

  “Hungry little lady?” Cole whispered, as his own stomach let out its own cry for food.

  Madison laughed. “I hadn’t realized I was until the smell of the homemade goods.” She scanned the display case. Muffins, cakes, pies and cookies tempted her from behind the glass.

  “Just take a seat anywhere folks. I’ll be right with you.” A short, petite, blonde waitress called to them from a table in the corner where she jotted an order on a pad of paper.

  “Oh okay.” Madison couldn’t conceal her surprise. The waitress was bringing them their order?

  She slid into a booth near the window, and Cole slid in next to her. He opened the menu on the table. “Two dollars for a slice of homemade apple pie?” His eyes widened. “In New York, they’d charge eight fifty.”

  Rod entered the café and slid into the booth opposite them. In jeans and a crew neck sweater, he looked more like the picture Madison had seen of him in the medical journal the month before. However, his demeanor was much more relaxed here in Tuscumbia.

  “Have you two ordered yet?”

  “Not yet, but at these prices, I think I’ll have one of everything on the menu.” Cole had yet to look up from the laminated, homemade menu.

  Madison laughed.

  “I know. Before I head back to the city in January, I always take a six-month supply of baked goods with me. It lasts me until my summer visit.” Rod waved to the waitress. “Anita, when you’re ready, could we get a round of apple pies and lattes over here for my fellow New Yorkers.”

  “Coming right up, Dr. Rod.” The woman smiled and cut into an apple pie fresh from the oven.

  “It’s great to meet you, Dr. Livingston.” Madison extended a hand across the table.

  “Oh, please call me, Rod. It’s great to meet you both. I’ll admit I’m a little surprised that your magazine wanted to include me in this article. With my thinning hair and expanding mid section, I don’t see myself as one of New York’s most eligible bachelors.” He shook his head and patted an imaginary stomach.

  Madison shook her head. From where she sat, he was an incredible looking man at forty. He would capture the attention of many women upon entering a room. “Of course you are considered a top eligible bachelor—single, attractive and your charitable work for the city would melt any woman’s heart.”

  He blushed. “Thank you. You are too kind. What do you think of Tuscumbia so far?”

  An image of Rod in his reindeer suit flashed in her mind, and she repressed an urge to laugh. “This place looks wonderful. It’s really something to see the whole community coming together like this.”

  “Yeah, it’s really something.” Cole nodded.

  “It is the best place to celebrate the season.” Pride for his hometown was evident in his voice. “The last four generations of the Livingston family have celebrated Christmas here in Tuscumbia. No matter where we are in the world, at Christmas time, we all come home.”

  “Here you are folks. Enjoy.” Anita placed three of the biggest slices of pie Madison had ever seen on the table in front of them. The waitress winked at Rod and Madison noticed a slight sway of her hips as she walked back to the counter. No doubt for his benefit, and Rod enjoyed the show, his eyes never leaving her curvy hips.

  Cole cleared his throat.

  Rod gave an embarrassed laugh. “Sorry, there’s a history between us.”

  One, Madison suspected he’d like to repeat. She picked up a fork and took a bite of her pie. Delicious. She licked the apple filling off of the edge of the fork.

  “How have your travels been?” Rod asked.

  “Better than I could have imagined.” Cole grinned and brushed a hand across Madison’s cheek to remove a stray lock of dark hair from her face.

  Her face turned a shade of crimson, and she choked on her pie. Her heart raced as Cole squeezed her knee under the table. “It’s…going…good.” She nodded. He had to stop touching her when they were with the bachelors. His effect on her was too obvious.

  Rod looked from one to the other, taking in the scene before him.

  “Good.” He nodded as he took a mouthful of pie. “You two are a couple. That will make things easier.” Rod took a big gulp of his cinnamon latte and sat back in the booth.

  “Oh, we are not…” Madison shook her head. They hadn’t gotten as far as discussing what they were. Friends? Dating?

  “Easier for what?” Cole asked.

  Madison’s protests died on her lips. Cole’s question was more important than her defense of their yet undefined relationship.

  “I was hoping to wait before springing this on you two, because the McMillan family could be here any day, but as of right now we are missing a Bob Cratchet and his wife for the annual Christmas Carol play.” Rod shovelled the last of his pie into his mouth. “We were hoping you two would be kind enough to fill in. There is no one else to ask.”

  Madison’s mouth fell open. He wanted them to act in their Christmas play? “Oh no, I don’t think…” Madison kicked Cole under the table for help with her protests.

  He remained silent.

  Tell me he isn’t going to agree to this. She glanced at him and was relieved to see he looked as terrified as she was. “We can’t. We are here to document your traditions…” Madison explained hastily.

  “Nonsense, what better way to observe than to participate? Besides, you two are stuck here for three days anyhow.” Rod shrugged. “And the play means so much to the kids. It would be a shame to cancel it.” Rod gave a pathetic pleading look.

  Oh no, seriously? Madison sighed. So far on this trip no one was paying any attention to her no’s. First the Christmas decorating, the photo shoot, the skiing—she shivered at the memory. How many people would they be making a fool of themselves in front of? 1623 minus the McMillan family. “Okay, fine. We’ll do it.” She held her hands up.

  Cole shot her a look of panic. “What?”

  Madison smiled. “It’ll be fun.” She had done some acting in a local theater as a teenager. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad, and it was for children.

  “That’s the spirit.” Rod nodded in approval.

  “But I need to photograph the whole thing.” Cole let out a sigh of relief. “I guess that means I won’t be able to be in the play.” He licked apple filling from the corner of his lip.

  “You don’t have to worry about that. We hire a local team to photograph and video the whole thing. The local high school students are doing it for extra credit.” Rod smiled over the rim of his mug. “They can provide you with a copy of any you may want.”

  “Perfect.” Madison gave Cole a smug look. Let’s see how he does out of his comfort zone.

  “Yeah, perfect.” Cole mumbled, draining the contents in his cup.

  Rod winked at Madison across the table.

  She winked back. This should be fun.

  * * * * The rehearsal room, in the basement of the community church was a buzz of activity as parents and children practiced the lines of their scripts and got into their costumes for fittings. In one corner, a group of carollers practiced their songs, and Madison smiled at the familiar sounds. A Christmas Carol was one of her favorite Christmas movies. She loved the original version, and her family had watched it every Christmas Eve. Madison knew almost every line by memory.

  “Wow, I can’t believe how many people are here.” She surveyed the room. Would there be anyone left to watch the production?

  “I pla
y the same part every year,” a man to the right of Madison said. He stood with his arms out at his sides. A seamstress added pins to his jacket.

  “And he has to get the costume let out every year too,” the seamstress teased with a mouthful of pins.

  “That is true I’m afraid.” The man laughed.

  “We are looking for the costume room. Can you point us in the right direction?” Madison smiled at the older man.

  “Down the hall, third door on the right.” He nodded in the direction.

  “Thank you.”

  “I still cannot believe we are doing this.” Cole dragged his feet as they made their way to the costume room for their fitting. “Why on earth did you give in?”

  “What choice did I have?” Madison said, but she smiled at the sight of children dancing in the hallway. She shrugged. “Besides it might be fun.” This sudden wholehearted acceptance of the Christmas season was a shock to her, but this assignment kept making it impossible to remain a Grinch.

  “I think I liked you better when you hated Christmas.” Cole opened the door and entered the costume room.

  Madison chuckled. “Sorry.” She gave a sheepish look. “I guess it’s true what they say. If you can’t beat `em, join `em.”

  “There you two are, welcome! The couple I’ve been waiting for.” Rod Livingston’s mother, Evelyn, greeted them as they entered the room.

  “You must be Evelyn. Great to meet you.” Madison said.

  Cole shied away in the corner. She’d never seen him this way. She grinned. “Don’t pay no mind to Scrooge, he’s just upset he doesn’t get to play the lead.” Madison teased, and Evelyn chuckled.

  “Bob Cratchet and his wife are my favorite characters.” Evelyn pulled Cole into the room. “Now let’s get you fitted.” She placed her hands on her hips and waited for Cole to remove his coat.

  Reluctantly he obliged and slid into the Bob Cratchet costume.

  “Wonderful fit.” Evelyn clapped her hands. “I won’t have to do much work with it at all.” She grabbed a few pins from her sewing tray.