A Heartwarming Christmas: A Boxed Set of Twelve Sweet Holiday Romances

by Melinda Curtis

  “Don’t even think about it, Lia.”

  She pushed her hair out of her face and her shoulders back.

  “Fine. I’ll take the couch.”

  ~*~

  Lia couldn’t stop pacing. Poor cell reception during a storm was something she was used to, but with the snow having stopped an hour ago, she was getting frustrated. She checked her text messages. No response.

  “Come on, Molly,” she muttered as she looked in on Jax again. Storm was curled against him, keeping him toasty warm, no doubt. She walked back to the kitchen waving her cell in the air. Still at one bar.

  “Pacing isn’t going to make a call go through,” Quinn said, setting some water to boil on the stove.

  “But I’m responsible. I left her to close up. I have no idea if she made it home alright. Not to mention, I’ll need to figure out how to get to Holly Haven by early morning for feedings and cage cleaning. Pray the generator doesn’t fail.”

  “Hey, they’ll be okay. From what you said about Molly, it sounds like she has a good head on her shoulders. And this can’t be the first snow storm you’ve weathered.”

  “No, but I was living in town. We have plows and sand trucks that keep the main roads clear. I didn’t think about that when I decided to live off a beaten trail.”

  “But what about the wider, graveled path leading to the main farm? Didn’t my grandfather use it for work, even after storms?”

  “He had a big truck and plow. Remind me to get one the next time I can afford it, if that ever happens. The snowmobile isn’t of much use if the snow is too deep or powdery…or if it gets buried because I didn’t put it under cover, like now.”

  Quinn guided her to the couch and lifted her socked feet onto the coffee table.

  “There’s nothing you can do about it right now. Tea or coffee?”

  She let her head fall back against the plaid cushion.

  “Tea. Thank you.” Her phone chirped and she sat up to read the message. “Thank God.”

  “I take it that’s good news,” Quinn said, returning with two mugs and sitting down next to her.

  “Tate, our town vet, is with her. Seems he stopped by the Haven to check on us and ended up riding out the storm there. Molly said she’d stay until I make it there tomorrow. I don’t know what I’m going to do when she leaves for college.”

  “What do you mean? You ran the place before she started helping, right?”

  “Yes, but I’ve almost always had a volunteer. What I really need is permanent staff so that we can take care of more animals at once, around-the-clock. That was my plan five years ago. And now, I’m really worried about how long I can keep the place going without a grant coming through or a miraculous influx of donations. When I first started, I invested some of my own money to get Holly Haven up and running. I did eventually get a small grant, but it was spent building the outdoor aviaries and some needed additions and supplies inside the facility. After my father died, I inherited this half of the farm, the cabin included, and some money. Most of it was used to keep the place running this past year. I kept thinking I’ll get another grant, but it hasn’t happened. The townsfolk here do donate supplies, which help, but animal rehab and care is expensive.” She took a sip of tea and turned her face towards him. “I’ve put my life into that place and now I’m so close to losing it it’s scary. I don’t think anyone I know gets it the way I know you do. I’m sorry you lost your business.”

  “Thank you. I guess putting your heart and soul in something doesn’t mean it’ll last forever. Nothing does. Especially not money.”

  “I have to stay positive. Some things are forever, Quinn. Things that matter. My parents loved each other until my father died. Their marriage and love were essentially forever. Memories are forever too.”

  “Memories don’t put food on the table and, trust me, not all marriages last that long.”

  “Quinn,” Lia said, taking her feet off the table and shifting to face him. “Not every animal I try to save makes it. That doesn’t keep me from trying to help the next one I find injured. If I let that depressing, energy-sucking low I feel when an animal dies keep me from moving on, think of all the others who would miss out on a second chance at life.”

  “You really love what you do. Why animals?” Quinn asked. He pushed a strand of hair across her forehead.

  “I don’t know. I’ve always loved them. I identify with them. They’re not materialistic. They don’t judge. They respect the world around them. Simply watching them grounds me. They just want to love life and ensure their offspring survive. Isn’t that what we all want deep down?”

  “It’s what I want for Jax,” he said. “I love woodwork, but what really drove me to make something of it was a desire to provide for my family. Even before I got married, I knew I wanted to be the kind of husband and father my dad had been. He used to tell me that if I loved something enough, I’d find a way to be successful at it. When Jax was born, it was as if a switch was flipped in me and I suddenly understood where my parents and grandparents were coming from. Things they used to say or do would come back to me in a way I couldn’t fully grasp before. Everything revolved around making life good for my kid. But life can slip away easily. It did for me and it took everything with it.”

  “But you’re here now. We’re both here now with a roof over our heads and a warm fire. We have to be positive and thankful for the present and look to the future,” Lia said. She wanted so badly to get through to him and to give him hope. She wished he could embrace life again. For some reason, she wanted him to embrace her too.

  “The future, huh?” The corner of Quinn’s mouth quirked up and he and pulled her to his side. She curled her feet up and let herself rest against him. For all he’d lost and didn’t have, he still felt strong and secure and comforting. She liked being around him. She liked having him here. She stared at the dancing flames and listened to the crackling embers, wishing he wasn’t so stubborn about not staying.

  “If you won the lottery tomorrow, what’s the first thing you’d buy?” she asked.

  “First, I’d get a house and make sure Jax has everything he needs, including college savings. I’d donate some to organizations and shelters helping folks who’ve lost their jobs or homes. Then I’d splurge on a workshop with all the woodworking equipment I could dream of.”

  “Boy toys? You deserve some,” Lia said. He gave her arm a gentle squeeze. Her eyes fluttered shut and almost stayed that way. He felt way too comfortable.

  “What about you? What do you need?” he asked.

  “I need to expand Holly Haven and hire staff, but I’d probably need to get financial advice first, so I don’t make the same mistakes again. I’d donate as well. Then I’d get a truck on steroids, a few extra snowmobiles for my staff and maybe build an addition on this cabin—in the same style you have going—so that it’ll be a comfortable place if I ever have my own kids. I guess if I don’t, I won’t need the extra space...” Her lids felt heavy and his shoulder felt warm and sleep felt oh, so good. I need you, Quinn.

  Chapter 6

  Lia left the Bell, Book & Candle shop and tried not to dance down the sidewalk to the sound of the bells Santa was ringing on the corner and the holiday tunes that mingled every time shop doors opened and closed. Another successful hit. That made five store owners who had loved the birdhouse samples she’d brought into town enough to put one in their shop for sale. Five was all she was able to bring, but it was a start. If they all sold, she’d let Quinn in on what she’d done. If they didn’t sell, she’d simply tell him she’d given them out as gifts…which wouldn’t be that far from the truth. All a person needed was the right kind of inspiration and they could make anything work. Quinn had made it clear he didn’t want to be rescued, but this wasn’t exactly rescuing him. He needed a spark—a chance—and she wanted to give him one so badly every fiber in her rippled with the thrill of the sales.

  She spotted her sister in front of The Tea Pot waving her down.

&
nbsp; “I thought you didn’t have time to go shopping.” Amy handed her a cup of coffee. “I saw you from the window while I was ordering and figured if you didn’t drink it, I’d have two.”

  “Thanks. This is perfect.” She took a sip, knowing she didn’t need the extra caffeine jolt, but wanting the warmth. She walked alongside Amy, stepping to the side briefly to let a group of girl scouts pass by. “I really wasn’t planning on shopping. I didn’t lie. I just had a few…errands.”

  “Well, then what’s this I’ve been hearing about a guy staying at the cabin? I almost rode out there to see for myself, but I’ve been so busy and distracted with work. Tell me this isn’t one of those made-up boyfriend situations just to get everyone off your back about a pageant date.”

  Lia almost spewed her coffee onto the sidewalk. That was the last thing she’d have expected Amy to think. She really was busy if she hadn’t gotten more details than that from their mom. Unless she was fishing.

  “No he’s not made-up and he’s not a boyfriend. He’s Weston’s grandson and he’s staying at the cabin while he helps with some renovations. That’s all. You might remember him from school.”

  Amy took a sip of her coffee and nodded.

  “I do remember him, kind of. He worked around the farm a few hours a day. Kept to himself mostly, at school. A real people person,” she said, crinkling her nose.

  “He’s pretty nice now. Very skilled.”

  Amy grinned.

  “As in with renovation work and making things with wood,” Lia said, slapping her sister on the arm.

  “Whatever you say. Do we get to meet him anytime soon?”

  We, no doubt, meant her and mom.

  “We’ll see. He’s busy. I’m busy. You know how that goes,” Lia shrugged. “Trust me, my personal life isn’t nearly as interesting as Mom’s seems to be. I think she’s really enjoying working for Pastor Eli. Why don’t you go tease her instead?”

  “Trust me, I will. Oh! I see someone I need to talk to. Don’t leave me in the dark. Promise,” Amy said, giving her a peck on the cheek and waving bye as she crossed the street.

  “There’s nothing to leave you in the dark about,” Lia insisted, but Amy was already out of earshot.

  Lia shook her head and hurried to where she’d parked her car, thankful it was no longer stuffed from her move. The call from the elementary school letting her know that they’d run a successful holiday collection drive for Holly Haven couldn’t have come at a better time. A quick swing by the school to pick up the donations and then a stop at the feed store, and she’d be back at Holly Haven in time to show Quinn and Jax around. The kids at the school loved the Wildlife Awareness field trip she hosted every fall at Holly Haven. Her presentation typically stayed outside, given that there wasn’t enough room in her building for all the kids, but they loved meeting her “awareness” assistant, Firefly, and always sent her thank you cards adorned with crayon drawings of Peregrine Falcons and other critters. Jax was going to love his private tour.

  She hoped Quinn would too.

  She wanted to share the shelter with him. She wanted him to see first-hand why devoting her life to rescue and rehab was so important to her. She hoped he’d see that there was no shame in getting rescued. He needed to understand that having someone he could count on was a good thing and that he could trust her. As for scoping the market for his birdhouses, she prayed he’d forgive her.

  ~*~

  Quinn set the safety on his power saw, then brushed the sawdust off the trim he’d been working on. It still needed sanding, but he needed to get another birdhouse completed. He looked over to where Jax was diligently trying to screw two pieces of wood together to make a box. Quinn had pre-cut the pieces and pre-drilled holes for him, but handling a screwdriver with mittens on was slippery business. The shed was pretty chilly, so he figured as long as Jax wasn’t complaining he’d leave him at it.

  “Keep it up. You’re almost there kiddo,” he said as he gathered material for the birdhouse.

  “You got it, Dad. We men are hard at work, aren’t we?”

  “We sure are.” Quinn chuckled as he measured and marked.

  The aroma of freshly cut wood permeated the air and birdsong floated through the window. A cardinal landed on the windowsill, eyed him, then flew off in a blur of red. This felt good. No, it felt great. He was teaching his son to use tools the way Quinn’s father had taught him. He was working with Jax on the same land where Quinn had spent time working with his grandfather. If he’d ever felt a sense of belonging, it was here. But cherishing the moment was one thing, getting too comfortable with the idea was another. This place belonged to Lia. Moving or relocating wasn’t a foreign concept to the Westons. His great-grandparents had broken away from their roots and planted new ones in America. He’d eventually move on and do the same.

  Transplanting. The word reminded him of what Lia said about digging up her Christmas trees so that they could be planted again after the holidays. They’d never gotten around to getting one. He pictured the three of them, Lia, Jax and himself, tree hunting and tree decorating. He pictured them drinking hot chocolate and opening gifts…like a family. He cleared his throat and shifted the hat on his head. He needed to get real.

  “Dad, I need to use the bathroom and I’m hungry,” Jax said, standing up and rubbing his knees.

  “Okay. Break time. Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to home we go!” he said, chasing Jax out the door. Home. He realized, when the crisp air hit his face and the sight of the cabin hit him like a punch to the heart, that he’d sung the same line he used to sing when he’d pick up Jax at the end of a day and head home with him to their apartment in Portland. Home.

  ~*~

  The tour of Holly Haven had gone better than Lia could have hoped for. Quinn seemed really interested in all she’d accomplished—only teasing her once about talking to her tenants—and Jax didn’t want to leave the place. The kid was an animal lover after her own heart. Lia closed the door to the shelter and followed Quinn and Jax into the parking lot. Quinn scanned the area then pointed toward one of the gingerbird houses she’d kept for herself and hung from a tree outside Holly Haven.

  “You actually hung one of the birdhouses I made here?” Quinn cocked his head at Lia.

  “I told you I loved them and I meant it. What did you think of the animals, Jax? Who was your favorite? Firefly, Stardust or one of the others?” Lia asked.

  “I liked Igor best, but helping you set Snow White free was really fun and Stardust and Firefly were cool because they’re almost like real-life, small dragons or the pterodactyl toy I used to have.”

  Lia noticed Quinn flinch at Jax’s words. Parental guilt. She and Amy had used it to their tactical advantage a time or two when they were kids. What child didn’t? But Jax clearly had no idea how much pain his words carried.

  “See that spot over there?” she asked, wanting to keep Quinn from dwelling on Jax’s innocent comment.

  “Sure,” Quinn said.

  “That would be the perfect spot for a pigeon loft…not that you have to make one or anything. When the ground thaws in the spring, it’ll be a lot easier to set up the birdhouse and a loft on poles. That way the birds can be safe from predators.”

  “Sounds like a good idea. Spring’s a long time from now, though.”

  “I know. Just thinking out loud, I guess.” Maybe she was getting ahead of herself. She couldn’t blame him for not being able to plan as far as spring when his biggest concern was getting through winter.

  Jax ran to a clearing near the corner of the shelter, plopped down on his back and hummed the tune of “Jingle Bells” as he made snow angels with his arms and legs.

  Lia linked her arm in Quinn’s and led him over to a bench set under her favorite, ancient oak tree that blessed the shelter with shade in the summer. She rubbed her hand along the bark for good luck and sat down. Quinn joined her and they watched Jax as he pressed snow into a ball.

  She lowered her voice just enough to keep J
ax from overhearing. If Jax was his priority, then maybe Quinn would listen to reason if it meant Jax getting to remain as carefree and secure as he seemed to be now.

  “Shouldn’t he be in school?” she asked. “There are still a few weeks before the Christmas holiday begins. You could use the cabin address to set him up and I could talk to—”

  “No,” Quinn said firmly. “He was going to a private, early childhood education center not far from where we lived. I kept him in even after we lost the apartment because the tuition was already paid in advance and I knew he’d be in a safe place with a meal while I job hunted. I’d planned to switch him to public kindergarten, but I pulled him out altogether after his mother tried contacting the center and they accidently gave her too much information. That tends to happen when people realize they’re talking to a celebrity. And I believe I’m still legal, not having him registered in kindergarten yet. He doesn’t turn seven until February and Maine’s cut-off date is in October. I just don’t want to risk her tracking us down until our life stabilizes.”

  “What does she want?”

  “She wants Jax. Can you believe it?” He picked up a fallen twig from next to the bench and tapped it against his palm. “She gives up all her rights to him. I don’t hear from her for six years. Then her career takes off and her agent warns her that her ex is unemployed and his business has shut down and that having an ‘impoverished’ child out there will ruin her reputation and the next thing I know, she’s after Jax because her mommy instincts have suddenly kicked in.”

  “That’s awful.”

  “She’s not getting him,” Quinn said, snapping the twig in half and tossing it into the brush behind them. “That’s why I need to be careful. I can’t afford a lawyer if she tries to take him from me. She has enough money to hire a top notch legal team and no doubt they’d sniff out every bug from under every dead log then twist it out of shape. There was one lady at that private center Jax attended who didn’t like the fact that he was wearing the same clothes daily for the last week we were there. She implied that she was going share her concerns with child protective services. I told her we were moving to live with family and had packed most of his clothes, then I pulled him out. I know not everyone is like that and there’ve been some good people who’ve helped us—including you—but that woman is the kind of person they would use against me.”