'Tis the Season for Love: A Charity Box Set

by Maggie Dallen

  “Coffee drips, stat,” Rhiannon cried when she saw them, handing each one their own source of caffeine. She groaned as she sipped at her own cup and rubbed her tired eyes. “This is way too early for humans to function on the weekend.”

  “Eve, I’m surprised you made it,” Laurie said with a smile. Of the three, she was the only one looking perky. She bounced on her toes, her hair moving with her little spurts of energy. “Last year, I believe we had to drag you out of bed for the Christmas parade.”

  “Not a morning person?” Jordan asked her with a smile.

  She shrugged, looking down at her coffee. “Not really. Especially on Saturdays. The weekend was God’s gift to us anti-morning people.”

  “The morning is my favorite time of day,” Laurie chirped. A smile stretched across her freckled face. “I find it’s my most productive time.”

  “In case you haven’t noticed, Laurie never wakes up on the wrong side of the bed,” Rhiannon told Jordan with a laugh. “She puts us all to shame.”

  “I do not!” Laurie pouted. “You two are perfectly lovely in the mornings. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Rhiannon raised an eyebrow and gave Jordan a disbelieving grin. They both held back their laughter and instead the group migrated toward the street to watch the parade. Eve was uncharacteristically quiet during the entire event. She lingered at Jordan’s side, never bumping into his shoulder or reaching for his hand. Instead, she kept Daisy between them, the dog happily ignorant of her foster mother’s mood.

  He could feel his newly found optimism slipping away as the minutes passed. Apparently, Eve hadn’t forgotten yesterday’s events. If anything, she was colder than during rehearsal last night. A nervous knot began to form in his gut. He tried to stave it off by laughing with Laurie and Rhiannon as they watched the parade, but it kept festering. By the time the big jolly Santa appeared, he was a mass of nerves, eager to get out of there and back to his motel.

  “Can we talk?” Eve whispered in his ear as the final float passed and people began to pack up their chairs.

  He swallowed hard and nodded. Confrontation wasn’t exactly his strong suit. He preferred to ignore a problem and turn on ESPN. It was probably why he didn’t succeed in long-term relationships.

  Waving goodbye to their coworkers, Eve led Daisy into the town park and toward a private bench hidden by icy hedgerows. Jordan followed silently. She sat on the cold wooden surface and patted the space next to her, looking expectantly up at him. Gritting his teeth, he joined her and stared at the untouched snow in front of their boots. He’d only known this girl for about three weeks, but he knew her well enough to know something was majorly wrong. This wasn’t a conversation he was looking forward to, that was for sure.

  “Have you heard from your mom?” she asked suddenly.

  He glanced up at her in surprise and then back at the ground. “No. She won’t call again unless she wants something from me. That’s how it always goes.”

  “Have you offered to get her into a shelter? Maybe get her some help?” Eve leaned closer to him, searching his face. “She’s obviously being abused.”

  “Of course I have.” He sat up straight, hurt crossing his face. “Don’t you think I’ve been doing that for the past ten years? My grandmother tried to do it, too, before she died. And when that didn’t work, her friends from church tried to help her escape. But she went back to that loser again and again, until finally, she had no one left. Not a single friend or family member. She’ll never leave him. Don’t you think I’ve tried?”

  Frustration sprung to life in Eve’s eyes. “Maybe if you…”

  “Forget it.” He stood up, his nostrils flaring. Desperation had turned cold in his stomach. “She doesn’t want my help. When she changes her mind, I’ll be there. But I don’t see that happening anytime soon.”

  Eve stared at him silently, her eyes flashing. He clenched his jaw, feeling anger and hurt boil up inside him. He couldn’t believe what she was suggesting. Of course, he’d tried everything in the book to help his mother. He’d taken on responsibilities no young teenager should have to. Researching shelters, packing their bags for a sudden departure, even squirreling away money to pay for bus tickets out of town. But she’d never budge. She was a prisoner to that husband of hers, body and mind.

  Taking a deep calming breath, he returned to the bench next to Eve. Fighting about it wasn’t the answer. She was only trying to help. Eve was strong, and courageous, and good. She wanted the best for everyone. He couldn’t hold that against her.

  “I’m sorry I lost my temper,” he said in a low voice. “I’ve tried it all; trust me. She’ll leave when she’s ready or she won’t leave at all. That’s the truth.”

  Eve lowered her gaze to Daisy, biting playfully at the snow, and worked her jaw. He wanted so desperately to kiss her, to wipe away the last twenty-four hours and return to that blissful state they’d been in just yesterday. Why did that seem so far away now? Like tens years had passed in a matter of hours.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, reaching for her hand. Her fingers were freezing, so he wrapped his around them. “You’ve been so quiet today.”

  She took her time answering him, her gaze never leaving Daisy. “I’m fine. It’s just been a rough weekend. I may be nearing twenty-six, but I think I’ve still got some learning to do. Life isn’t all rainbows and ponies, after all.”

  He chuckled, deep and throaty, relieved she wasn’t still holding yesterday’s events against him. “I’m just glad you didn’t have to find that out until now. It’s better to keep your innocence.”

  “Is it?” She looked up and met his gaze. “I’m not so sure, anymore. I think it’s set me up for some major heartbreak.”

  “Trust me, it’s better this way.” He reached for her chin, running his thumb along the length of her jaw. She was so beautiful, her long lashes brushing against her cheek every time she blinked. The cold had left a blush in the apples of her cheeks. He wished he could photograph her in this moment and keep it forever. “It’s been so amazing seeing life through your eyes this week. Your family, your friends, this little town. For the first time in a long time, I’ve felt like there was still room for good in this world. You made me feel that.”

  She exhaled, her breath coming out like a cloud. He wanted to know what she was thinking, but Eve kept her emotions hidden behind a solemn stare. She leaned toward him and once again, their lips brushed in a sweet kiss that lingered on his lips like the sweet foam from his coffee.

  “I’ve got to go,” she said suddenly, pulling away. “I’ve got something I have to do.”

  “Do you need my help?” He hoped she’d say yes. All he wanted was to be next to her today.

  Instead, she shook her head, her wooden earrings bouncing back and forth. “I’ve got to break some awful news to someone. I think it best if I do it myself. Can you keep Daisy for another day?”

  “Of course.”

  He looked at her questioningly, but didn’t press her. She’d tell him when she was ready. With one last kiss, she released his hands and left him sitting on the cold bench, the freeze starting to penetrate his clothes. It was then that his phone began to ring.

  “Hello?” he mumbled incoherently. His attention was still focused on Eve’s back as she faded from view.

  “Mr. Davis?”

  His brain registered the high nasal voice of his boss. Swallowing his disappointment he drew his focus back to the present. “We’re almost done here, Marie. I’ll be headed back to Duluth in two days. You don’t have to worry.”

  “I’m not worried,” her condescending voice came over the speakers, sending a thrill of dislike through his system. “Your job is done there. I need you back at the office. These people don’t seem to know how to run an office without you.”

  He blinked hard. “Wait…what?”

  “You can finish up at the Duluth office,” she said, annoyance heavy on her breath. “I want you there at eight hundred hours tomorrow m
orning, sharp. I’ve made some adjustments to the staff around here and I need you to pick up some new tasks. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

  The click on the other end of the line did nothing to wake Jordan out of his brain fog. He stared off into the snow, the phone still pressed to his ears, swallowing down his disappointment. The musical was tomorrow night. There was no way he could make it to Duluth and back in time. But if he didn’t go, Marie would be sure to fire him. He couldn’t risk it.

  He looked down sorrowfully at Daisy and ran a hand over her head. She licked his arm gratefully, her pink tongue lolling out of her mouth.

  “I don’t suppose you can tell Eve for me?” he asked her, wishing very strongly in that moment that he didn’t have bills to pay. If he had all the money in the world, he’d stay in this town forever. Or at least, until Eve got sick of him.

  How was she going to react to the news?

  Chapter 12

  Before Eve had taken two steps into her house, she could feel something was wrong. An odd noise came from the kitchen. A high-pitched keening, almost like the drone of a far off siren. She stripped off her scarf and boots and bolted down the hallway, searching for the source. Sitting at the breakfast bar were her mother and sister. They huddled together as Brianna continued to wale.

  Eve slid to a stop in her thick wool socks. She took one look at her sister’s agony and felt the floor give out beneath her. “What happened?”

  Her mother gave her a warning look, the kind that should’ve sent her running for another part of the house. But, Eve couldn’t pretend to be ignorant, especially when she had a good idea of what was causing Brianna so much heartbreak. She must’ve found out about Aaron and Ashley Lynn. That cheating, lying, pile of scum.

  “I’m so sorry, Brianna.” Eve rushed forward, wrapping her arms around her sister’s shuddering form. If only she would’ve told her sooner or found a way to break the news to her in a better way. “He’s such a jerk. You deserve so much better.”

  Brianna choked on a sob and looked up at her through tear-soaked lashes. “I loved him. We were supposed to get married.”

  Eve nodded and patted her sister on the shoulder, perching her rear on the edge of the next bar stool. This was what sisters were for; to cry with when things didn’t go right. She could fulfill that duty with honor. “I know, Bri. But you’re better off. He and Ashley Lynn deserve each other. They can both be miserable together.”

  Her sister grabbed a napkin and dabbed her eyes, soaking it in a few swipes across her cheeks. Blowing her nose on the corner, she turned to Eve and blinked hard. “Ashley Lynn? What does she have to do with anything?”

  “Well, he was…I mean, didn’t he tell you…?” Eve couldn’t make the words form. She felt like a fly stuck in a sticky trap, her back pinned to the wall. Maybe she’d made too many assumptions. “Isn’t that why you broke up?”

  “No!” She scowled and threw the crumpled napkin. It landed a foot away from the open garbage bin. “He told me he wasn’t sure if he wanted to get married anymore. We haven’t broken up.”

  Shock crossed Eve’s face and before she knew it, her sister had spun her around in her chair and trapped her against the backrest. “Eve Ann Walker, you spill what you know,” she growled.

  “Nothing!” She swallowed and leaned back as far away from her sister as she could manage. The glint in Brianna’s eyes meant murder. “It’s nothing, I swear.”

  “You’re lying!” Brianna snapped. “Tell me, or I’ll pull out your braids one by one.”

  “Girls…” Their mother tried to calm the situation down, to no avail.

  “You’d better say, Eve. I know you know something and you’re not telling. What is it you won’t tell your own sister?”

  “Alright, alright!” Eve threw her hands up and grimaced. “I saw Aaron and Ashley Lynn kissing last night at the church.”

  It felt so good to get that off her shoulders that Eve almost missed the shock that registered on her older sister’s face, draining it of color. She looked to her mother for help, but misery bloomed in her stomach the look of disappointment in her mother’s gaze.

  “Why didn’t you say something last night, my dear?” their mother asked, searching her face for answers.

  “I didn’t…I couldn’t…” The words came out like whispers.

  “You should’ve told me the instant you found out.” Brianna pointed at her, new tears forming in her eyes. “You’re my sister. How could you keep that from me?”

  “I was on my way to tell you.” Eve slipped from the stool, holding her hands up in surrender. “I swear. I just couldn’t figure out how to say it.”

  “It’s not that hard.” Brianna choked on another sob and pressed her hand to her mouth. “Bri – your fiance’s cheating on you with his sleazy ex-girlfriend. There. Easy.” She flew from the room and up the stairs, stomping down the hallway and finally into her old room, the door slamming behind her.

  Eve couldn’t believe what had just happened. This was just what she’d feared. Instead of being mad at the actual bad guy in the story here, her family was attacking her for dropping the bad news. It wasn’t her fault Ashley Lynn had chosen the church as her secret spot and that Eve had stumbled onto it after rehearsal last night. She would’ve rather been anywhere else in the world.

  “Mom, tell her I’m not the bad guy,” she pleaded, turning toward her. “Tell her it isn’t my fault.”

  “Your sister needs some time,” her mother replied softly. She glanced at the ceiling in the direction of Brianna’s room. “She just had her heart broken and she feels like you betrayed her by not telling her sooner. Let her work through her feelings. She’ll forgive you.”

  Betrayed her? If anything, Eve had helped. She would’ve clung to that loser longer than necessary if not for her. She opened her mouth to argue with her mother, but was interrupted by the ring of the doorbell. Hoping it was that dirtbag Aaron so she could tell him off, she marched toward the door and yanked it open with an angry grunt.

  Blinking in the brilliant white snow stood Jordan, his hands stuffed in his pockets. He wore the same thick gray turtle-necked sweater and faded jeans she’d seen on him less than an hour ago at the parade. Daisy stood beside him and she didn’t waste an opportunity to push inside the door as soon as it was open.

  “What are you doing here?” Eve asked.

  While still reeling from her sister’s mess, the sight of Jordan did her heart good. It took the edge off of the sting. She wanted nothing more in that moment than to wrap herself in his arms and bury her face in his broad chest.

  “Bad timing?” he asked, giving her a helpless smile.

  “It’s fine.” She tried to block out her romantic impulses and stepped out onto the porch. It wasn’t fair to her sister to be thinking about such things right now.

  “Good. Hey listen…” He backed up until he nearly fell off the top step. Catching his balance, he chuckled nervously. “Oops. Anyway, I just got a call from my boss.”

  She crossed her arms and stared curiously at him. Why was he telling her this? His boss called every minute of every day. It wasn’t news.

  “She wants me back in Duluth tomorrow morning,” he said with a grimace. Rubbing a hand over his head, his gaze moved up to her face. “She said I’m done here and she needs me to tackle a new project right away tomorrow morning.”

  Eve leaned against the doorframe for support. It felt like her heart had been hit with a tiny ice pick. It caused a spiderweb of cracks to spread, shattering her heart into a million little pieces. First Aaron and now Jordan. He was leaving her. She’d never see him again and her play would be dead without him. It was all over. This was getting to be too much. She couldn’t handle the weight on her shoulders.

  “You’re leaving? Now?”

  He tilted his head to the side, distress written in the tired lines around his eyes. “To tell you the truth, I’m not sure what to do.”

  Biting her bottom lip, she blinked away the tears of frus
tration that formed in the corners of her eyes. Looking up at the clear blue sky, she avoided eye contact and twisted her lips into a frown. “Just go. It’s fine.”

  He blinked twice, as if unsure what she’d just said. “Wait, what about the play? What about us?”

  “There is no us, Jordan.” She found the courage to look him straight in the eye. A storm was building inside her head. It was a flurry of pain and confusion, heartbreak and anger. “There never was. You were only going to stick around for a couple weeks. This was never meant to last.”

  The muscles in his jaw strained as he stared quietly at her. Something like hurt seemed to pass over his face, but in a flash, it was gone. There was no burst of platitudes. No begging or crying. His lack of response hit Eve like a kick to the gut. If there was a sign that she was making the right decision, this was it.

  She crossed her arms over her chest and breathed slowly to keep in the tears. “Don’t worry about our deal. You’ll still get that interview. I don’t break my promises.”

  Jordan cocked his head to the other side, his lips parting slightly. “I don’t want to back out on our deal, Eve. And I don’t want to leave you.”

  “It’s fine, Jordan.” she muttered. “Really. I resolve you of your debt. Go back to work. Think nothing more about it. Daisy and I will be just fine.” Turning to wipe the tear that had fallen down her cheek, she stepped back into the house. She couldn’t take another minute of this. Goodbyes were her least favorite things in the world. “Have a safe trip home.”

  The door swung shut, the Christmas wreath that hung from it swinging dangerously. Jordan stared at it for nearly a whole minute before he turned to leave. Eve watched him go through the living room curtains, her arms wrapped around a squirming golden-retriever pup who didn’t realize the world had just fallen down around them.