“I’ll be more careful. I promise.” More kissing was definitely on top of his Christmas wish list. She rewarded him with one on the cheek before joining the rest of the family for dinner. He’d have to add “on the lips” to the list to avoid any confusion regarding what kind of kissing he wanted.
The Fisher’s dining room table was covered in a ruby red tablecloth and winter white runner with silver snowflakes. The tiered cake stand centerpiece displayed a bounty of red and silver ball ornaments instead of desserts. More decorative ornaments and mason jars filled with water, evergreens, cranberries, and floating candles were strategically placed amongst the feast of food Rick’s mother had prepared. His grandmother’s antique French soup tureen sat at one end. Clam chowder on Christmas Eve was a tradition on his mother’s side of the family for as long as anyone could remember.
Ben added another chair while Josh set a place at the table for Andrea. It wasn’t long before everyone was busy filling their bellies with chowder, homemade sourdough rolls, and steamed baby carrots glazed with brown sugar.
“Ivy gave me a dog for Christmas,” Josh announced.
“I was actually going to ask you if you could walk him tomorrow, Jules,” Ivy said, reaching for a second helping of caesar salad.
“No problem. Just let me know what time you want me to come by.”
“I thought you hated dogs,” Ben said to Ivy with a mouthful. Julianna’s eyes went wide as if it was inconceivable someone could dislike any creature in the animal kingdom.
“I never said I hated dogs,” Ivy replied with a defensive edge. “We were waiting for the right time to get one.”
“What’s different now compared to a year ago?” Rick asked.
Ivy glanced at Josh, whose tight jaw was a dead giveaway for bad news. Everyone stopped eating while they waited for one of them to answer. “We’re leaving Christmas Town,” Josh said.
Their mother gasped. Their father sat back in his chair like he had lost his appetite. Rick couldn’t believe what he heard. “What about your jobs? Where are you going?”
“I took and passed the entrance exam for the Portland Fire Department. If I interview well and get the job, Ivy is going to enroll in some business classes at the University of Southern Maine.”
“And archery,” Ivy added with a smile directed at her husband.
“Portland,” their dad repeated. His opinion of the matter was still unclear.
“If this is what you want, I’m happy for you,” Rick said, showing his support since everyone else seemed too stunned to do so. He didn’t think it was such a bad idea. Perhaps it was exactly what his little brother needed. Not that he wanted Josh and Ivy to leave, but Josh’s happiness was more important than Rick’s selfish need to have his family close.
“Don’t you get any ideas, Rick. I can’t have all my boys leave me,” his mom said when she found her voice.
“Well, actually …” Ben said, gaining everyone’s attention. “I think I might be moving back to Christmas Town.”
Andrea turned her body toward him. By the look of complete adoration on her face, Rick could tell these two were way more serious than he’d imagined. Ben had hired Andrea after years of fruitless searching for the bell. Apparently he got more than the greatest Christmas present ever out of the deal.
“California is too far away from this amazing woman.” His smile touched his eyes the moment they met hers. “I don't want to be that far from you ever again.”
She pressed a kiss to his lips. This was officially the craziest Christmas Eve dinner in history (even more so than the year their Uncle Howie showed up with a reindeer) and Julianna was here to witness it all. Rick leaned close and whispered, “We’re not usually this exciting.”
Julianna placed a hand on his thigh. “Speaking as an only child, this is awesome.”
Mike Fisher pushed away from the table and rose to his feet. Rick felt like a little kid again, holding his breath before their dad laid into them about the latest trouble the three boys had gotten into. Well, that Josh had gotten into that Ben and Rick hadn’t helped prevent.
He moved behind Ben and put his hand on his shoulder. “Glad you’re coming home, son.”
Rick watched Josh swallow hard as their father made his way to the other side of the table. He motioned for Josh to stand up. For the briefest moment, Rick feared he was going to tell Josh if he wanted to leave so bad, he should go ahead and go now. Josh had inherited some his impulsivity from one of their parents and it wasn’t their mother. But when Josh stood, their father wrapped his arms around him.
“Portland is getting one heck of a firefighter. I’m proud for taking the initiative to do what you think is best, son.”
Rick sighed with relief, and Josh melted into his dad. Julianna wasn’t the only one wiping under her eyes.
After the emotional dinner, the family retreated into the family room for tree trimming. Thanks to the dinner revelations, everyone was a bit more sentimental as they hung the ornaments. That was until Josh told the story behind the handmade spider ornament their mom made Rick the year he’d had a traumatic spider encounter in the shower. Julianna couldn’t stop laughing.
“Just because a spider goes down the drain, doesn’t mean it can’t crawl back up,” Rick reminded everyone.
When the tree was trimmed and the eggnog was flowing, Ben changed the record on the player and asked Andrea for a dance. Josh had his arm around his wife, looking happier than they had in a long time. Rick’s mom sat on the arm of his dad’s chair, holding her phone so she could show him the pictures she took at the pageant.
This was why Rick had been so determined to get the tree here. He had needed tonight to end like this. He loved his job, but he loved his family more.
Rick spied Julianna staring out the window at the falling snow. He had spent the day telling himself that he didn’t have time to pursue a relationship with her, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. He crossed the room and took her hand. Grabbing their coats, he led her out the front door.
“Where are we going?” she asked as he pulled her along.
“Fulfilling my Christmas wish,” he replied. At the corner of Christmas Tree Lane and Jack Frost Avenue, he stopped.
“Your family is going to wonder what happened to us,” she said slightly breathless. “What are we doing out here?”
“I just want to make sure you know how boring I am before we go any further.”
Julianna dipped her chin. “I know exactly who you are and you are anything but boring.”
“I don’t take a lot of risks like Josh,” Rick admitted. “I don’t talk fancy like Ben. I’m not cool or hip or poetic. I’m a simple guy. I love being a firefighter. I enjoy serving the community and taking care of people.”
Julianna smiled and grabbed his other hand. Her fingers were cold and he suddenly felt bad for not bringing her some gloves.
“First of all, a guy who doesn’t take risks isn’t boring, he’s wise. Secondly, a guy who shows a woman respect rather than buttering her up with words would not be considered boring, he’d be called chivalrous.”
Rick could feel his cheeks warming. “That’s a fancy word.”
“It is. I’m kind of a fancy talker.”
“I like that about you.”
“I know,” she said with a crooked smile. “I’ll be the fancy talker and you’ll be chivalrous. Now, stop interrupting me.”
Rick pretended to zip his lip.
“Lastly, cool, hip, and poetic guys make me want to burn down sheds. Simple, hardworking, compassionate guys make me glad I got stuck in a tree, locked in a freezer, and … well, burned down my grandpa’s shed. You are not boring, you are heroic.”
Her words settled inside his chest. And as they filled him up, he realized maybe boring had been the wrong word. Lonely might have been a better choice. Rick had spent so much time worrying about living up to his family name and earning his place at the firehouse, he almost missed out on an opportunity to build
his own family.
Josh and Ivy were leaving Christmas Town to start theirs. Ben had found Andrea, choosing love over everything else in his life. It was Rick’s turn to make time for love, and there was only one woman who had stolen his breath like she might steal his heart.
“You were my hero today,” Julianna continued. “And seeing all the trouble I seem to find myself in, I really can use a wise, chivalrous, and heroic guy like you to keep an eye on me.”
“You did find a lot of trouble today,” he agreed, placing his hands on her hips. “But you saved me, too.”
“Well, even heroes need to be rescued sometimes,” Julianna said, wrapping her arms around his neck. She smelled like peppermint. “I’ll kill all your spiders, tough guy.”
He was going to get Josh back for telling that story. “Come here.”
He pulled Julianna across the street, under the garland that hung from the lampposts, and onto the green. When they arrived in front of the gazebo with its hanging mistletoe, he stopped again.
“My Christmas wish is to kiss you again.”
“Here?”
“Anywhere, but here feels right.” He wasn’t promising a wedding by next Christmas, but he was hoping for a real shot at being the only hero she’d ever need.
Julianna stepped under the mistletoe and held out her hand. “Who am I to deny you your Christmas wish when it’s mine, too?”
Rick joined her and took her in his arms. When he kissed her, there was no one but her. There were no work responsibilities, no people to impress. He didn’t need to be lieutenant or captain or chief. Her fingers slipped through the hair at the nape of his neck and he tasted the peppermint he’d smelled a minute ago. It had been a wild Christmas, where nothing had gone as planned, but everything ended up absolutely perfect.
The End
A Note from the Author
Hope you enjoyed meeting the Fisher brothers as much as I enjoyed bringing Rick Fisher to life. Christmas Town is a magical place that seems to bring the most unlikely of characters together. Julianna and Rick might not have much in common on the surface, but they are both loyal and compassionate people who deserve a happy ever after.
If you enjoyed this trip to Christmas Town, I also write romances with heart and humor for Harlequin Heartwarming. My debut novel, The Weather Girl, was published after being a semi-finalist in Harlequin’s So You Think You Can Write contest back in 2013. As a long-time resident of the Chicago suburbs, I followed that up with the three-book Chicago Sisters series, The Better Man, The Best Laid Plans, and The Hardest Fight. The Everhart sisters couldn’t be more different but share a bond that no one can break.
Look for more from me in 2016. My next Heartwarming series Grace Note Records will be based in a small town in Tennessee and centered around a country music record company with big drama!
If you’d like to know when my next book is coming out, you can follow my blog at www.amyvastine.com. Come find me on Twitter @vastine7 or like my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/amyvastineauthor.
An Unexpected Gift
Tara Randel
Copyright © 2015 by:
Tara Randel
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
This book was built at IndieWrites.com. Visit us on Facebook.
150921.175521
Acknowledgments
To my fellow Heartwarming authors. It is an honor to know you.
Praise and Awards
Barnes and Noble Bestselling Author
“Beautifully written...emotionally touching...lots of heart.”
~Romantic Times 4.5 Star Review
“Randel’s rich characterizations...the complexity of their relationships will keep readers’ attention.”
~Publishers Weekly
“A heartwarming tale...”
~Blue Ribbon 4.5 Review-Romance Junkies of Honeysuckle Bride
Chapter 1
Faith Sullivan tacked the picture of a grass hut overlooking the crystalline waters of Tahiti on the office wall. Taking a step back, she sighed. “Someday.”
One entire wall of the small office in her family’s Christmas store, Comfort and Joy, held her dreams. Dreams of traveling to exotic ports of call, exploring centuries old cities or climbing mountains so high she lost her breath from both excitement and altitude.
She’d yet to venture from Christmas Town, Maine in her twenty-four years. The youngest of three, she’d taken over running the store for her parents mainly by default. Her older brother and sister had left town years ago, not returning except for an infrequent visit every holiday or so.
“Someday,” she repeated, drawn out of her daydreams by the sound of bells jingling over the front door of the store, announcing yet another customer. Less than a month until Christmas. Now that Thanksgiving was over, people were getting into serious shopping mode, which meant Comfort and Joy would be crazy busy for the weeks to come.
A man closed the door behind him, then turned.
Faith blinked. Blinked again.
Hmm, what do we have here?
A very handsome, blond-haired man scanned the store before he sauntered toward the counter where Faith stood. As he grew closer, her heart began to pick up speed. The same way it quickened when she cut pictures from magazines of far away locales she hoped to visit one day.
“Nice store,” the stranger said in way of conversation, his baritone voice generating waves of pleasure over her skin. Waves of pleasure? Really? Since when did a random customer send her body haywire?
Since he’s handsome and you haven’t had a date in months.
While technically true, it wasn’t from lack of wanting. No man in Christmas Town caught and held her interest. And she didn’t make it a habit to date visitors. Did that once, had the T-shirt proclaiming the disaster. Besides, she wouldn’t abandon her parents or the store, so what was the point in becoming interested in a guy who would eventually leave?
“Thanks,” she said in an airy tone. Sheesh. She cleared her throat. “Are you looking for anything in particular?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact I am.”
Well, at least she’d make a sale. So far today she hadn’t rung up anything worth getting excited over. True, the Christmas rush had just begun, but with the competition of the other stores in town, she had to make the season count.
“What can I help you with?”
He stared at her for a long moment, as if conflicted. Blue eyes, identical to the shade of water in her most recent destination picture, met hers quickly before moving to a spot behind her. A split second later his gaze connected again, this time with purpose.
Curious.
“I’m hoping you can help me find someone.”
Oh. Okay. Usually folks asked for snow globes or angel figurines. Mostly they stopped in to view the impressive miniature village Faith constructed every year. She’d started five years ago, and each year it had grown in size and scope, bringing repeat customers to the store to see what she’d added. To keep interest, she only built the snowy, Victorian town in the beginning of November and took it down in February. No point in year-round exposure, especially since she was trying to talk her parents into making Comfort and Joy less of an all-year Christmas store and expanding to more seasonal stock featuring fine collectibles from around the world.
“I don’t know if I can help but I’ll try.”
“I’m looking for information on a woman.”
Figures. Hottie looking for a lost love?
“I believe she worked here once. Probably many years ago.”
Okay, rethink lost love impression.
“I’m afraid I can’t give out personal information on employees. That wouldn’t be right.” Especially if he was a stalker. Or serial killer.
He stuffed his fingers in his front jeans pockets. “I understand. Even applaud your stand. But I’m wondering if yo
u would make an exception.”
“And why would I do that? I don’t know you.”
“True. But I’m trying to track down my birth mother.”
Of course he was.
“Her name is Tina Reisor.” He pulled his wallet from the back pocket of his well-worn jeans and extracted a small photo. “She was very young at the time, but this is a picture of her.”
Faith glanced at the woman. Yes, she had been young. Early twenties, maybe? The name didn’t sound familiar, yet he seemed to be telling the truth.
“You do realize my parents have had lots of employees over the years.”
“Oh, this is your family’s store? How nice.”
Nice? Clearly he didn’t work for his parents.
“In that case, maybe your parents would know her?”
“They might, but they aren’t here right now.”
“When will they be back?”
“Not for a few days.”
Ever since her father had suffered a debilitating stroke, her mother took him to Portland to see his physical therapist. Usually they would go for a few days at a time, staying at Faith’s aunt’s house since Dad didn’t like to travel.
Disappointment eclipsed the stranger’s face. Faith’s heart went out to him. At least she still had both her parents.
“My name is Faith Sullivan, by the way.” She held out her hand in greeting
“Drew Montgomery.” He smiled, shaking her hand. Another unruly set of chills covered her. Embarrassed, she withdrew her hand and tugged a hunk of hair behind her ear. Would this guy notice her red cheeks? Had she mussed up her hair to no end this morning as she made sure all the stock made it to the shelves? Had her eye shadow dulled? She hoped not.
“Well, Drew, I can ask my folks when they get back. Will you be in town long?”
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