Luke's Christmas Love (A Sweet Christmas Romance)

by Maya Stirling

  Why was it that almost everything that had happened since she'd arrived in Montana Falls had resulted in Erin and Luke being brought closer together? What was going on? Because, for sure something was happening. It couldn't all just be coincidence that she and Luke were being brought together like this.

  She heard an unexpected sound; one that she hadn't heard since she'd arrived.

  A cell phone ringing. Her cell phone.

  She fumbled in the pocket of her jacket and saw that it was Bob calling. No doubt he'd want his daily update. She answered the call.

  "Bob?"

  "Erin. What's happening?" His voice sounded hollow, as if he were somewhere else than his office.

  "I had a meeting today with the Mayor."

  "How did it go?"

  "Okay. He's set up some meetings for me." She paused and considered whether she should give Bob the real bad news. She really had no choice.

  "I have to say, Bob, we might have a problem."

  "What do you mean."

  Erin cleared her throat. "There's quite a bit of resistance building to the idea of making a reality show about this place."

  "It's nothing we can't deal with," he replied. "Isn't that right, Erin?" he added. Was he testing her, trying to gauge her commitment to the project? Maybe he'd picked up a hint of her doubts during their previous call. Perhaps he'd had some time to think about it.

  "Of course, Bob. I'm meeting local council members tomorrow. I'm sure I can persuade them," she said. Why had she felt something sink in the pit of her stomach as she'd said those words?

  "I think you'd better," Bob replied, sounding pushy now. Erin felt herself bristle at his tone.

  "Maybe they have legitimate concerns," she said tentatively.

  "Like what?"

  "That the publicity might not be exactly what they want. People seem pretty happy here," she said.

  "Look, Erin," Bob said, his voice taking on an emphatic tone. "There isn't a town in American that wouldn't jump at the chance to have this kind of publicity. Do you know how much money a show like this brings into a town?"

  Of course, she knew. Erin had seen the estimates, looked at the reports. Bringing a show to Montana Falls might bring in a huge amount of money. But, was that what these people really wanted? From what Erin had seen, that was the last thing the good folks of Montana Falls were interested in.

  "I guess you're right, Bob," she said in a flat voice. This wasn't the time to push back against Bob. Not yet, anyway. Erin would see what the council members' objections were and then she'd make up her own mind how to handle her boss.

  "I expect good news tomorrow, Erin," Bob declared.

  She didn't doubt that for a minute.

  "I'll do my best," Erin reassured him.

  Bob's tone brightened immediately. "That's what I like to hear," he said.

  She hung up the call and sighed.

  Bob could be such a difficult man, sometimes. But she guessed he was only trying to look after his business. Erin had always believed that when someone employed you to do a job, then it was your duty to act responsibly. You made your promise to do your best for your employer, and you stuck to that promise. Keeping her word was important to Erin.

  However, there was a nagging feeling at the back of her mind. It had been there since she'd arrived in Luke's police car. And the feeling was even stronger now that she was staying in the house that belonged to Luke's family. It was a sense that, somehow, she'd come to a crossroads; that she had a choice to make.

  She hadn't yet figured what that choice should be. But she knew one thing. There might come a time, very soon, when she would have to be honest with herself about Luke MacAllan and Montana Falls.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  "Did you really enjoy the meatloaf?" Luke's mother asked Erin as she lifted the plate from the dinner table.

  Erin smiled up at Annabelle. "It was delicious. The best I've ever tasted."

  Annabelle looked over at Nicole who was sitting on the other side of the table. "See? I told you she'd like it. It seems like you're in the minority, young lady," Annabelle said to Nicole. Annabelle headed to the kitchen. There had been the promise of a surprise treat for sweet. Erin wondered what it could be. Then she remembered that Luke's father was a baker. There must be some tasty delight waiting in the kitchen, she thought.

  "I guess they don't eat meatloaf in LA. Is that right, Erin?" Nicole asked.

  "Well, I wouldn't say its as popular as it used to be." Erin smiled at Luke's father, John. His green eyes had a kindly, patient expression. John MacAllan had the look of a man who understood the important things in life. "Seems like everyone I know has some kind of crazy diet they're following," he concluded.

  John leaned his elbows on the table and steepled his fingers thoughtfully. "There's no substitute for good, wholesome food. Everyone needs a little treat from time to time. Life can't be all about staying pure and healthy," he said with a shake of his head.

  "You must enjoy being one of the town's bakers," Erin suggested.

  John's brows lifted and he tilted his head. "The best baker in town, even though I say so myself," John said. He looked across at Nicole. "Isn't that right, Nicole?"

  Nicole just lifted a shoulder nonchalantly. "If you say so, pa," she replied. Erin could see that the disinterested daughter act was just that. An act. She had no doubt that Nicole was proud of her father. She recalled the care with which Nicole had dealt with the delicious cakes in her coffee shop. Obviously, John had passed on a love of tasty food to his daughter.

  "Have you always been a maker?" Erin asked John.

  "All my life," he replied. Of course, he'd been a baker all his life, Erin told herself. Why had she even asked that question? In this town, everyone probably had a job for life.

  The kitchen door opened and out came Annabelle carrying a flat cake tray. Upon it was laid a round cake big enough for everyone. Annabelle laid the tray on the table. On top of the smooth, white icing was a beautiful green piece of holly that looked like it was made from sugar.

  Nicole let out a cry of appreciation.

  "What's in this?" Erin asked.

  John smiled, looking at his handiwork with pride. "It's a fruit cake, with cinnamon and marzipan. All topped with sweet icing."

  Erin could already feel her mouth watering. She was sure it tasted amazing.

  Annabelle cut a slice and laid it on a plate, handing it to Erin. Erin cut into the piece of cake with a fork and placed a morsel in her mouth. It tasted fantastic.

  John lifted a brow. "Good?"

  Erin opened her mouth a little, and some crumbs tumbled out. She laughed and caught the pieces of cake in her open palm. "Great," was all she could say.

  Everyone tucked into the cake, and the conversation continued with Luke's parents telling Erin about how they'd met.

  "John had just taken on his bakery after his father had passed," Annabelle explained as she carried on cutting more slices of cake. In spite of a temptation to reject the offer of more cake, it was just too tasty to refuse.

  "My mother and father ran a dairy farm. They supplied to John's business. When I came in one day with my parents to see how John wanted to continue with them, I met him." Annabelle smiled at John. "And one thing led to another. Within a year, we were married."

  Erin could see by the way the couple looked at each other that their love was as strong now as it had ever been. They looked at each other with obvious adoration.

  Erin had never seen her own parents look at each other quite like that. She knew her parents loved each other. There'd never been any doubt about that in Erin's mind. But, the way John and Annabelle drank in the sight of each other was truly something that touched Erin's heart. She lifted another fork full of tasty cake to her mouth and wondered what it must be like to still love someone like that after thirty years of married bliss.

  After the dinner was complete and the table cleared they all retired to the living room. Erin sat by the fire and thought about Mrs
. Kennedy. Was she comfortable right now? Had she begun to recover from the shock of seeing her precious home flooded? Erin hoped so. Mrs. Kennedy had been so kind to her, that she hated to think the kindly woman would be spending even one moment worrying about the future.

  Annabelle and John sat alongside each other on the long sofa, while Nicole disappeared up to her room. Scoot sat at their feet, looking thoroughly bored with everything.

  "Luke said he might call in, this evening," Annabelle announced. Erin felt a tingle of anticipation as she heard that.

  "Really?" she said trying to contain her suddenly burning curiosity. "Did he say when?" she couldn't help asking.

  Had Annabelle smiled when Erin had asked that question? It certainly seemed that way to Erin.

  "He's so busy, these days," Annabelle said.

  Erin wasn't sure just how busy Luke was. Maybe it was the time of year. If this was what it meant for him to be run off his feet, she wondered what on earth the quiet times would be like. Maybe he spent most of his time in the station twiddling his thumbs, she told herself. That thought almost made her laugh and she covered her mouth with her hand, just in case Annabelle might notice.

  "Something funny, Erin?" Annabelle asked.

  Erin shook her head. "Not really. I was just thinking that Luke's seems to be real popular in town."

  "He's worked hard to get where he is," John stated proudly. "He put in long hours as a deputy. When Silas, his boss, passed, there was no-one more qualified than Luke. He's spent a long time getting to know the town, and I think everyone respects him."

  Annabelle smiled at John. "I think what John's saying, Erin is that the town trusts Luke."

  "You both must be so proud," Erin said, although she could already see that in the way their eyes lit up at the mere mention of Luke.

  Annabelle patted John's arm which was hooked through her own. "We do, don't we dear?" she said looking at her husband.

  John nodded, a slight hint of moistness in his eye.

  A question had been hovering in Erin's mind all evening. It seemed as if now might be a good time to gently probe for an answer.

  "Does Luke have many friends?" she asked. Well, that hadn't been very subtle, had it? Erin told herself she probably could have worded that better.

  "There were some high school buddies," John said. "They still see each other from time to time. I think Luke goes fishing with them sometimes."

  Erin could see that Annabelle had actually understood the question even if the true meaning had flown right over John's head.

  "As far as girls are concerned," Annabelle said glancing at John, "Luke's so busy, he hasn't had much time for dating. There was one girl in high school for a while, but she left Montana Falls years ago."

  Annabelle gave Erin an odd look, almost as if she wanted Erin to ask another question. Perhaps some kind of follow up question about dating over the Christmas holiday? But, Erin wasn't going to fall into that trap. Not so easily, anyway.

  It was past eight o'clock. Through the window, Erin thought she saw a flash of light cut the darkness, perhaps the headlights of a car. A minute later she heard the door open and the sound of footsteps.

  "Hello?" she heard Luke call out from the hall.

  Annabelle and John stood as Luke appeared at the door. His gaze went immediately to Erin, and he smiled. "How was dinner?" he asked.

  "Lovely. I was just talking with your mom and dad," she replied. "They've been telling me all about you."

  Had his face paled slightly after she'd said that?

  "Are you hungry, son?" Annabelle asked.

  "Not right now, mom." He glanced across at Erin. "I'm finished for the night. Don's taken over at the station."

  Luke peered across at Erin. "I wondered if you'd like to go to the Christmas fair in the Town Square," he said.

  What a question? Of course, she would love to go out with him, she told herself. She felt a sudden excitement at the prospect of seeing what it would be like down in the square.

  "That would be nice," she replied trying to sound casual.

  Luke smiled, obviously pleased that she'd agreed so quickly.

  Erin stood. "Just give me few minutes, and I'll get ready."

  The way Luke glanced at his parents made her think he'd just won the biggest prize imaginable.

  Erin raced upstairs and went to her room. She looked at herself in the mirror and concluded that there wouldn't be enough time for makeup.

  Then she remembered she didn't have any proper outdoor clothing. All she had were some of her smaller items, the ones which had survived the flood at Mrs. Kennedy's.

  Nicole appeared at the door. "Going out?"

  Had Nicole been listening from upstairs the whole time? Erin frowned. "Luke's taking me to the Christmas fair."

  "He is?" Nicole said looking pleased with the news.

  "But I just realized I don't have enough outdoor stuff to wear. My own stuff got soaked in the flood."

  "No problem. You can wear some of my gear." Nicole scrutinized Erin briefly. "You and I are just about the same size. Come on."

  Erin followed Nicole to the other bedroom. A few minutes later Erin was all togged up in heavy jumper with a cozy looking twisted rope pattern, multi-colored scarf, and a thick brown woolen coat. Nicole popped a bobble hat on Erin's head and examined her handiwork.

  "Pretty good," Nicole announced.

  "Luke must think I got lost," Erin said.

  Nicole lifted a brow. "I think he's willing to wait," she said. Erin wondered what Nicole meant by that, but she was more eager to get downstairs than to ask Nicole to explain.

  She couldn't wait to see what the Christmas fair was like. Especially if it meant walking alongside Luke for the rest of the evening.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  "You look cute in my sister's stuff, you know that, don't you?" Luke said as they started to walk away from his parents' house.

  She lifted a brow at him and said nothing, shoving her hands deep into her pockets and gazing along the length of the street. It was cold enough that she could see her breath, but it didn't matter. She was pleased to be walking by his side.

  The snow-covered street looked like something out of a movie version of small town America. Almost all of the houses had strings of multi-colored lights arranged around the edges of the buildings, and there were Christmas trees aplenty on the front lawns. Christmas wreaths hung on doors and flickering beacons lit the way to many of the doorways, ensuring no-one fell on the path to the house.

  As they walked along the street, she noticed that each house seemed to have a different approach to decorating the exteriors. One house had every line of window, doors, and roof lined with candy-colored lights that flickered on and off. She saw a porch which had dangled icicle lamps from the roof. Another house had covered the entirety of two large trees with icy blue lights that made Erin shiver just looking at them.

  She felt a childlike sense of wonder as she walked along the street. Why hadn't he told her about this? She'd had no idea that everyone on the street went to so much trouble to create such a winter wonderland.

  "Why do folks put so much effort into their Christmas lights?" she asked.

  "Partly for the kids. Also because they all think we're in this together."

  Erin squinted at him. "What do you mean?"

  He thought for a few moments and then continued. "For these folks, Christmas is about more than just gifts and food, although, don't get me wrong, those are important," he said with a grin." She saw his gaze take in the extraordinarily bright lights. "For these people, Christmas is about other things. Eternal things. Celebrating the birth of something unique, something that changed the world and is still changing the world. Making it better. Bringing everyone closer together. Bringing light into the world."

  Erin knew what he was talking about. It was the same thing her mother used to say to her as she was growing up.

  "I understand what you're saying, Luke," she said. She sighed and looked at
a house. Through the windows, she could see a family sitting around a huge Christmas tree. A man, a woman and two beautiful young kids, every one of them laughing, every one of them enjoying the moment, everyone of the looking forward to the future.

  Erin understood Christmas now. Understood it better than she'd ever understood it before.

  According to Luke, the street where they lived was a short walk from the Town Hall and the square where the Christmas Fair was being held.

  "I wouldn't have missed going to the fair for anything. I love that kind of stuff," she admitted.

  "You love Christmas?" he asked.

  She nodded. "Everything about it. I always have done, ever since my mom took me to a Yule Log Parade in one of the towns we went to in Oregon. I'll never forget how that felt, seeing all those kids with their happy faces."

  "And you were one of them," he said.

  She nodded. "I guess I was. What about you? Was Santa a big influence?" she joked.

  He smiled. "I was a kid once, don't forget. Although I do remember being disappointed when I finally caught my dad trying to fit into his Santa costume one Christmas Eve. He's never lived it down," he said shaking his head at the memory.

  They walked for a while, chatting about what Christmas meant to both of them. It seemed to Erin that it didn't matter where you were in the world. If you were a kid, Christmas meant so many things. And those memories stayed with you forever.

  After a while, they came to the center of town. As they approached the town square, she saw more and more people converging on the fair. There was a cacophony of sound; music, excited voices; even more excited squeals of delight. Everyone she saw looked alive with anticipation, even though it was a cold night. But, as far as Erin was concerned the cold just made things feel even more cozy, even more enchanting.

  The closer they got to the square, the more excited she felt. She looked at him and saw that Luke felt the same way.

  Then they rounded a corner, and she gasped. The square had been transformed from what she'd seen earlier that day. All of the stands had been uncovered and were brightly lit and busy with excited customers buying food and drink and getting in line to play games at the stalls. The entire square glowed with warm light from trails of radiant illuminations above head height that snaked around the entire square. Lights had been twisted into the shapes of giant reindeer and suspended high above the hundreds of people who milled excitedly throughout the square.