Christmas with the Sheriff

by Victoria James

  “Thanks.”

  Chase stood there, wanting to say more, but everything felt so awkward. He wanted to cut through the bull until all that was left was the way they were. He stuffed his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket. “I want to ask you for a favor.”

  She nodded. “Of course, anything.”

  “I want to move. I want to list our house and find something else,” he said, motioning to the school. “Do you mind if we walk over to stand by the school while we talk?”

  “Sure, of course,” she said, falling into step beside him. He had an insane need to reach out and grab her hand, and if he were sappy, he’d love to think that this was their everyday reality. Walking to school to pick up their little girl and Maggie would run out, the smile on her face and the security in her eyes that of a child who’d never known the pain of having a parent walk out on them. Crap. Two days back in town and the woman he’d dreamed about since he was a teenager was now making him crave all those naive dreams he’d had when he was a boy, when he’d vowed to himself to do better than his parents had done by him. Thanks to Sandy, he’d failed Maggie, and all his dreams had turned to hell.

  “I didn’t know you were thinking of moving.”

  He glanced over at her as they stood a bit further away from the group of waiting parents. “I mean, I don’t want you to have to work over Christmas or anything. It’s not a rush. I know you’ve got your agency back in the city, I just thought—”

  “Hey, I’d love to,” she said, her hand on his arm. His muscles flexed at the friendly touch, causing an avalanche of unwanted feelings. “I didn’t realize you were thinking of selling the place.”

  He scraped his fingers through his hair. “Yeah. I think it’s time to close that door on Sandy, you know? I feel like I need a new place. A fresh start. It’s been long enough.”

  “Does she ever call?”

  “Nothing. I stopped waiting for her to come back after a year.”

  “God, I’m so sorry.”

  He shrugged. He didn’t want to talk about Sandy. He didn’t want to be standing out here in a crowd. He wanted to be alone with Julia. He wanted to hear everything about the last five years. Her job, her life back in the city, and if he were brutally honest with himself, he wanted to know if there was a man in her life.

  He glanced over at her and she was still staring at him with those green eyes of hers. “It’s okay. I’m over it. And I’ve done my best to make sure Maggie is over it, though sometimes I think I’m deluding myself. A kid will never get over a parent walking out.” He knew that from personal experience. That hole, that bullet wound that could never properly heal, because the bullet remained inside. That’s what it was like.

  “Maggie is happy and well-adjusted, it’s so obvious.”

  He nodded. “I hope so. I did my best. That’s part of the reason I want to find a new place. I want her to have a home that’s only filled with happiness.” He tossed aside the memories of that first year. He’d been a wreck. She’d been a wreck. But they’d managed. He learned how to be a single dad, and the two of them were their own little family. And the way his little girl looked at him made him feel like he’d done okay. It had taken two years to win back the trust that Sandy had robbed Maggie of, and if he ever saw her again…

  “Well, it’s easy for me to pull up a bunch of listings.”

  “I know the place I want.”

  “Really?”

  He nodded. “On Tall Pines Street, there’s a log house that looks like it needs some work. But it has a view of the mountains. It’s got a huge backyard for Maggie. Four bedrooms. Big old front porch. It’s out of town but a short drive in for me. It’s vacant and it has been for almost a year.”

  “It sounds perfect, Chase. How about I look it up and call the listing agent to make an appointment?”

  “I bet you can already guess who the listing agent is,” he said with a groan.

  She smiled. “Marlene Mayberry?”

  “The one and only.”

  “This should be fun,” she said with a laugh. “It seems she still has the real estate market cornered in Shadow Creek.”

  “The Mayberrys still own half the town. No sign of retiring yet. Maybe if they can convince one of their kids to move back to town, they could pass off some of their assets and step down.”

  “I don’t think any of their kids could stand living under their dictatorship,” Julia said under her breath.

  He nodded. “You’re probably right.”

  “I’ll talk to Marlene and set something up. What’s your schedule like?”

  He grunted. “Non-stop, but you get me a time and I’ll make it happen. Can you try and get something soon? I was thinking since it’s vacant, maybe I could surprise Maggie with it for Christmas.”

  Her mouth opened. “By Christmas? That’s so much work. You have to pack and—”

  “I’ll hire a company.”

  She nodded. “Of course. I think that’s so sweet of you, it will make for an unforgettable Christmas, and you both deserve it,” she said, her voice lowering to a whisper. “Okay, I’ll give them a call and be careful not to let on that we really want it and hopefully we can get in to see it tomorrow.”

  We really want it. He knew she didn’t mean anything by it, but for a second he let himself imagine what it would be like to be there as a family, all three of them. He shrugged that thought off. He needed to get a hold of himself. And as for deserving an unforgettable Christmas, well hell, no one deserved it more than Julia. “You’re sure you don’t mind working while you’re here?”

  “This isn’t work, trust me. This is fun. It’ll give me something to do. And I’m showing Gwen and Lily a retail space tomorrow too—and of course when I called the office to book the appointment, I found out that Marlene has that listing as well. Looks like I’ll be overdosing on the Mayberrys soon, thanks to all of you.”

  He barked out a laugh. “Sorry about that, though I gotta say, I’m really happy for Gwen and Lily, glad they’re finally going through with it.”

  “I know, me too. All we need is Jack to come home.”

  He nodded. He missed his friend. He heard from Jack every now and then, a quick email, nothing more. Only Chase and Gwen had been around after Michael and Matthew died, the only ones there to offer Edward and Cassy support. But he didn’t resent Jack, and he knew his friend was going to have to face hell when he finally came back to town, especially when he saw Lily again.

  Julia turned to a group of women, her gaze narrowing as she looked back up at him. “Is that your personal fan club over there, Sheriff?” Her lips had turned up into a mischievous little smile and he searched her eyes for even a spark of jealousy. Of course it wasn’t there and how pathetic was he for wishing? He glanced over at the three women who made a habit of being around wherever he was.

  He shrugged. “No fan club.”

  “Chase, I remember exactly what you were like before Sandy,” she said, lifting her brows and pursing her lips. How freaking happy was he that she was teasing him? Back when they all hung out together, one of his favorite things about Julia was her ability to tease. She had a sharp wit and she observed things like no one else he knew.

  He crossed his arms over his chest, smiled down at her, and then took a step closer because he couldn’t stand back. Chase had waited forever for this woman, and now she was back, even if it was only for the holidays. He heard her breath catch slightly and her green eyes lit in a way that told him she was very aware of him as well—and hell if that didn’t make him as happy as a teenager asking a girl out on a first date. “Really? And what exactly was I like?”

  She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes, an adorable smirk on her face. “You had your blondes-only club as I recall.”

  He choked down his laugh. Yeah. That had been after he discovered all brunettes reminded him of Julia. And he hadn’t wanted to go to bed with a woman while he was thinking of his best friend’s wife. So he’d stuck to blondes. No way in
hell would he ever tell Julia that. “Well, I was young and cocky.”

  She nudged her chin in the direction of the women. “So it’s merely a coincidence that those women are all blondes?”

  He nodded and rolled back on his heels. “What can I say, that’s who I attract I guess. It’s the cross I bear.”

  Her squeal of laughter made him smile, as did the way she leaned a little closer to him.

  He fisted his hands and shoved them into his pockets, because he didn’t trust himself to not pull her in close. “And the whole cop thing seems to appeal for some reason.”

  She gave him a sidelong glance, turning away just as he caught a glimpse of something in her eyes. “I couldn’t imagine why. So they’re part of the Sheriff Donovan fan club?”

  “No fan club.”

  She looked down for a moment. “Chase, you always had a fan club.”

  “I’m not into the whole dating scene.” Her head snapped up and he held her gaze. He wanted her to know that. He wasn’t a guy who was carefree anymore. He didn’t consider himself single, not with a daughter, and hell, there was no one he wanted more than Julia.

  She didn’t say anything for a long moment. “Really?”

  He gave her a quick nod. “The last thing I want is for Maggie to be confused. I don’t want her seeing me with a woman that won’t be around forever.”

  Several moments went by and they just stood there. Her hand was close to his and he wanted nothing more than to tug her close to him and finally hold her and kiss the woman he’d wanted for so many years. There had always been something or someone in the way. Even now, there was the memory of his best friend, the man she’d loved more than anything. How the hell could he compete with the memory of the perfect man?

  The front doors of the red brick school burst open and kids ran out, scattering across the yard, interrupting his thoughts. He waved as he spotted the bright pink pom-pom on the top of Maggie’s hat. His daughter’s eyes connected with his and that feeling he always got when she smiled at him, filled his chest. She was running over to them, and he knew she was excited that Julia was there too.

  “Daddy!” she yelled and he picked her in a big hug, but seconds later she was squirming out of his arms to say hi to Julia.

  “I’m so happy you’re here,” she said to Julia who reached out to hug her.

  “I’m so happy to see you too, sweetie.” Julia backed up a step, folding her arms across her chest and even before he looked into her eyes he sensed the distance she put between them. “I should let you two get on with your afternoon off.”

  “Come with us! Daddy said we’re going tobogganing.”

  Julia glanced up at him, and he realized he was actually holding his breath. He may have even been more excited than his daughter. “That sounds like fun, thank you so much for inviting me, Maggie. But I’m going to have to pass this time because I have a few errands to run.” She was frowning, the regret etched on the side of her lips.

  He squashed his disappointment and held out his hand for Maggie, feeling better as her small hand clutched his. He and Maggie had gotten along fine for years.

  “It’s okay, Auntie Julia. Don’t feel bad, you didn’t know. Maybe we’ll see each other tomorrow.”

  “I’m looking forward to it, sweetie.” Julia leaned down and gave Maggie a kiss and then looked up at him. “I’ll, um, be in touch as soon as I get an appointment time.”

  He nodded, watching as she walked through the crowd of people by herself.

  Julia was the only woman he’d trust with his daughter’s heart.

  Chapter Three

  Julia twisted the key in the old lock and then jiggled it as it refused to budge. Gwen and Lily stood silently beside her. Julia gave the key one final jiggle and then felt the mechanism release. She shot them both a quick smile before pushing the old wooden door open. She stepped inside and held the door open for them. The musky scent of the old building clung to the air and a fine layer of dirt seemed to cover everything.

  Gwen stood in the middle of the open space, a stream of dust-filled sunlight highlighting her smile. “Omigod. This is perfect. Beyond perfect.”

  Julia smiled and looked around. Lily was behind the counter, running her hand along the smooth, white marbled top counter. The women had their eye on the old Apothecary building for a few months now and asked that this be the first stop on their search for a retail venue for their handmade chocolate shop. Antique bronze schoolhouse light fixtures hung from the worn patterned tin ceiling and the wide, wooden plank floors creaked as she walked across to join Lily at the counter.

  She placed her listing file on the counter and peeled off her leather gloves. “What do you think, Lily?”

  Lily looked up at her, a smile gracing her pretty face. “I think Gwen’s right. This place is perfect.”

  “It is so charming,” Julia said, looking through the large, lattice window that faced Main Street. Across the road was the Shadow Creek Book Nook. It had been there for as long as she could remember, the only bookstore in town. Mr. Palmer was in the window, only the top of his gray head visible as he bent over the life-size stuffed Santa who sat in front of a fake brick fireplace reading a book. It was the same display year after year, but no one ever grew tired of it. It was like an heirloom Christmas tree ornament, forgotten throughout the year and then cherished and prized as it made its appearance for the holidays.

  Gwen walked over to them and Julia tore her eyes from the comforting image in the window. “Can we see the kitchen?”

  Julia nodded, picking up her file. “Definitely.” They walked toward the green swinging door with the small circular window opening. “Fingers crossed this is as nice as the rest of the front.” She stood back and let the women check out the appliances and workspace. The area was small, but considering their needs it might work.

  “I love this place. I get such a good vibe here,” Gwen said.

  Lily walked to the back door. “Me too.” She opened it and there was a small back parking lot and two garbage bins. “It has parking too?”

  Julia nodded. “Yup. There’s enough room for two vehicles, which is great.” They walked around the kitchen, opening cupboard doors and appliances. “So after the apothecary left, it looks like this was converted into a coffee shop, right?”

  Gwen nodded. “Yes, but it never really took off. The owners were from out of town and they weren’t that pleasant and their baked goods weren’t great.”

  Customer service and approachability were everything in a small town. Shadow Creek was all about personal connections and friendly chit-chat. People shopped locally not only out of convenience but for the social connection.

  “All the appliances look great and the work surface is perfect. Even though it’s a little rough around the edges, I think we can make this work,” Lily said, smoothing her hand across the stainless steel island.

  “Yes, according to the listing all the appliances were installed for the previous owners, so they can’t be more than a few years old.”

  “Do you think the rent is negotiable?”

  Julia flipped open the file and scanned the listing details. “Well, according to this, it’s been listed for almost a year, and judging by the condition of this place, we should be able to negotiate a better price. I can list all the deficiencies, all the repairs you’d have to make and hopefully the owner will either compensate for the repairs or arrange for them to be done.”

  Lily frowned. “But if he arranges for them to be done, they might not be what we have in mind.”

  Julia nodded. “True, but I can stipulate that any renovations they make have to be approved by you both.”

  Gwen leaned against the counter. “Okay. So how much do you think we can take off this rent?”

  Julia tilted her head to the side. “How far off are we? You’ve gotten approved for a start-up loan, right?”

  They both nodded. “Yeah, and we are both pooling all the money we’ve saved,” Lily said.

  She
opened the file on the table, looking over the two pages of listing details and drummed her fingers on the counter. She wanted them to get this place. They both deserved it and she felt she owed Gwen. It was the least she could do for being away for so long. “So do you think you could manage if we had the rent reduced by a third?”

  Lily winced. “We were hoping a little more. I guess half would be pushing it?”

  Julia blew out a breath. “That’s tough, but I’ll try my best. We do have a lot going for us, and the likelihood of this place getting rented out in December is minute. It might really appeal to the landlord to have it leased out and off his plate. Of course that does mean I’ll be deep in negotiations with Marlene.” She bit her lower lip trying to hold back her laugh as the women groaned.

  Gwen grimaced slightly, but her eyes sparkled. “So, what do you think, Lily? Should we go for it?”

  Lily didn’t say anything for a moment and then broke out into a huge smile. “Let’s do it!”

  The door burst open, a gust of wind and a shock of red infiltrating the small space. “Woo-hoo. Hello, hello!”

  Julia smiled across the store as Marlene Mayberry graced them with her flamboyant presence. Her dark hair was sprayed and styled until it glistened unnaturally. Her pale skin was merely a canvas for a vibrant display of red lipstick and rouge, blue eye shadow and thick, black mascara. “Well, I knew when a flurry of calls came in for showings, that it must be our very own Julia Bailey. Oh, you city agents never take a break, do you?”

  Julia opened her mouth to reply, but the woman had already swallowed up the steps between them and captured her in a hug, drowning her in the scent of sweet roses.

  “So nice to see you, Mrs. Mayberry,” she said, trying to pry herself out of the older woman’s arms before she choked. Gwen and Lily were practically crying as they attempted to hold in their laughter. Julia quickly looked away from them, knowing their laughter would be contagious.

  “It’s wonderful to have you back in town, my dear. Just wonderful. Even if it does mean having some competition,” she said with a wink that was slightly delayed as her mascara-filled lashes clumped together.