Tidings of Joy

by Shanna Hatfield

  “Calm down you two,” Joy said, her head resting against Drew’s chest while her arms encircled his neck.

  She didn’t even notice that Drew kicked the gate shut or the two animals trailed after him like he was the Pied Piper.

  With great care, he made his way up the back steps and to the door. When it opened, Bacon rushed inside, yipping happily as he raced through the utility room, lost his footing, and slid across the kitchen’s linoleum floor.

  Pete would have marched in right behind them, but Drew turned around blocking the doorway.

  “Sorry, Pete, but we need you to stand guard outside.” Joy gave the donkey a loving pat on his neck before Drew toed the door closed.

  “Where do you want me to take you?”

  “In there,” Joy pointed to the kitchen. Drew walked into a room with a welcoming breakfast nook surrounded by bay windows. At Joy’s continued pointing, he strode through another doorway into a large family room. Overstuffed chairs and a couch grouped around a large screen television on the far wall gave the room a comfy, inviting appearance.

  “The couch?” Drew asked as he moved further into the room.

  “Yes, please,” Joy whispered, fighting the need to close her eyes and sleep. She wasn’t sure how much of what had happened the last few hours had been real and a dream. Maybe if she slept, her mind would clear when she awakened.

  Drew eased her down on the couch then straightened. “Doc said you need ice on that knee. Do you have any?”

  “Check the fridge.” Joy watched him return to the kitchen then leaned forward to remove her boots. The doctor had slit her jeans up to her thigh so he could examine her knee. He suggested she wear sweats for a while. Joy didn’t like that idea, at all, but she’d make do and get past this little hurdle. After all, Christmas was coming and she intended to enjoy the holiday season, even if she had to do it on crutches.

  Pain shot up her leg as she tried to remove her snow boot. Drew returned as she clutched the back of the couch with one fist, willing herself not to throw up or pass out.

  “You didn’t have any ice, so I filled a bag with snow. Figured it would be as cold as ice and would work just as well.” He set a towel-wrapped bundle on her knee.

  “Good thinking,” she whispered, leaning back as the cold made her shiver.

  “Let’s get you settled,” Drew said, removing her boot then helping her sit up so he could pull off her coat. He grabbed a throw blanket off the armchair and settled it over her. “What else do you need?”

  “You’ve done more than anyone could ask, Drew. Thank you.” She pulled his hand down until she could press a kiss to the back of it. “You saved my life.”

  Her thanks clearly made him uncomfortable as he shifted on his feet and gazed down at her. “Oh, it’s nothing that exciting, although it’s a life well worth saving if that were the case.”

  “Really, Drew. If you hadn’t found me, I’d be a frozen, dead lump out there.” Joy yawned as the warmth from the blanket and the comfort of the couch increased her drowsiness. “Why were you here?”

  “I found a letter for you under my seat when I got back to the office.” He reached into his coat pocket and withdrew the letter.

  Joy gave it a glance and tossed it on the coffee table. “You came all the way over here to deliver a piece of junk mail I’m just going to throw away?”

  “Yeah, I guess I did.” Drew hunkered down beside her and brushed the hair away from her face as she fought to stay awake. She recalled him doing that earlier, of how good and comforting it felt. “It’s okay, Joy. Close your eyes and rest awhile. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “I don’t want to keep you, Drew. Don’t you have a hot date or something on a Saturday night?” Eyelids heavy, she let her eyes drift shut and yawned again.

  He chuckled. “Hot date? In Faraday? You’re funny, Joy. A regular riot.”

  The sound of his laughter soothed her. If Drew Miller continued to pluck away at the wall she’d built around her heart, she might have to rethink her vow to never get involved with another man.

  No longer able to fight her exhaustion she fell asleep and dreamed about being held against Drew’s chest. It was the most secure she’d ever felt. Even through his coat, she could feel steely muscle with each movement he made. To her, he was solid, both in form and in presence.

  Joy awoke with a start. She opened her eyes and took in the muted light provided by the lamp on the end table across the room. Had she fallen asleep again while watching TV? A turn of her head confirmed the television wasn’t on. She started to move and jolting pain made her gasp.

  “What’s wrong, Joy? What do you need?” a deep voice rumbled from the darkness beside her.

  She squeaked in fear before the face moved into the light and she realized it was Drew, the mailman.

  He moved from the recliner to his knees on the floor beside her in one smooth motion. Bacon raced into the room, yipping and whining, as he jumped onto Drew’s lap and pressed against his stomach.

  One big hand rested on the puppy’s head as Drew leaned forward. “Are you okay?”

  Disoriented, Joy tried to gather her thoughts. She remembered falling down the steps and hurting her knee. The long, agonizing moments she helplessly waited in the snow, unable to get up, came back to her. If Drew hadn’t shown up when he had, she undoubtedly would have frozen to death in her own backyard, just a few feet from the house. Her elderly neighbors wouldn’t have heard her calls for help and even if they had, none of them could have made it through the snow and icy walks to offer assistance.

  The sudden realization of how close she came to dying in the storm hit her. Tears burned her throat and stung her eyes before rolling down her cheeks.

  “Hey, now. Is the pain that bad? I’ll call Doc. He said to let him know if you were in a lot of pain.” Drew set the puppy down beside him and reached for his phone on the coffee table.

  “It’s not that,” Joy said between sobs. “It’s you… me… snow… Dead!” she wailed.

  Aware she made no sense, none whatsoever, she was surprised when Drew lifted her into a sitting position and slid behind her, cradling her in his powerful arms. “Shh. It’s okay, Joy. You’re safe. Everything is fine. Don’t cry. Please, don’t cry.”

  Joy attempted to rein in her tears, but found she couldn’t. Most men would have run from the room and not looked back. But Drew just held her and murmured words of comfort as she cried.

  When the sobs subsided, Drew turned her toward him then his weather-chapped thumbs brushed the tears away from her cheeks. He reached over to the coffee table and snagged a handful of tissues from the box she kept there, handing them to her.

  She dabbed at her nose and eyes, embarrassed by her emotional storm and how hideous she must look. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Don’t apologize, Joy. It’s fine. You’ve had quite a day,” Drew assured her. He moved, tenderly helping her rest against the soft cushions of the couch again before he took a step toward the kitchen. “Do you need a drink? Something to eat? My mom sent over soup and a few other things.”

  “Your mom?” Joy asked, confused.

  “She and my dad own the café. When I told them I wouldn’t be there for dinner, she sent my brother over with a box of food. Drake was quite impressed with Pete.”

  “Pete isn’t in hiding? You two actually saw him?” Joy asked, shocked the donkey would let anyone see him. Then again, he acted protective of her. He was probably marching back and forth across the backyard on patrol for strangers.

  Drew grinned. “Pete’s a softy, once you get to know him. It’s Bacon you have to watch out for. That one is ferocious if you get between him and his dinner.”

  Joy laughed. “He is at that. Please tell your mom thank you for me, and your brother, too. I’ve eaten in the café a few times. The food is always wonderful.”

  “How about I bring you a bowl of soup? It’ll only take a minute to warm it up.”

  “That sounds great. Thank you.” Joy le
t herself relax as she wiped away the last of her tears and blew her nose. She flicked the switch to the lamp on the table beside her and looked at the clock across the room. Almost ten. It seemed late to be eating dinner, but she was hungry and the doctor told her she should take the pain pills with something in her stomach.

  The idea of getting herself to her bedroom and ready for bed made her weary just thinking of it, but she knew she’d be more comfortable in her bed than on the couch. The first order of business, though, was to eat something then convince Drew to go home. She’d monopolized far more of his time than anyone had a right to.

  He returned with a bowl of soup and a dinner roll on a plate in one hand and a glass of milk in the other.

  “Hope this is okay,” he said as he set the milk within her reach on the end table then placed the plate on her lap. “Mom sent some of her famous banana pudding, too. She said she thought you’d ordered it before.”

  “I did order it and it was delicious. Even if I don’t stay awake long enough to eat it tonight, I’ll enjoy it tomorrow. Thank you.” Joy ate her soup while Drew sat on the floor and played with Bacon. The dog growled and tugged on a piece of rope that had a knot in one end.

  “Where did that come from?” Joy asked as she broke the roll apart and dipped a piece of it in her soup.

  “I had it in the Jeep. I picked it up on the road one day and meant to throw it away. I’m glad I remembered it was in there. Bacon has done battle with it and won several times this evening.” Drew looked up at her with a smile that warmed Joy from the inside out. How was an incredible guy like him still single? Maybe she was still dreaming. Perhaps the whole fiasco from the time she’d fallen had been nothing but a convoluted dream brought on by too much transcription work and too many moments spent watching Drew out her office window.

  “Pull yourself together, Joy,” she mumbled then took another bite of the thick, savory chicken and wild rice soup.

  “What was that?” Drew asked, holding the rope as Bacon jerked and yanked on the other end of it. The puppy had braced his front legs and shook his head back and forth, as though he planned to conquer a mighty foe.

  “Nothing. This soup is fantastic. Does your mom ever share her recipes?”

  Drew shook his head. “Never, at least not that I’ve ever seen. But ask her anyway. There’s a first time for everything.”

  Joy smiled then turned her attention back to eating the soup and dinner roll. By the time she ate the last spoonful and drank her milk, she felt stuffed.

  “I’ll get a glass of water and your pain pill,” Drew said, as though he’d read her mind. He took her dishes to the kitchen and returned with the water and pill.

  Joy swallowed the pill then tossed off the blanket covering her. It was then she noticed someone had propped her leg up on pillows. She started to swing her uninjured leg over the couch so she could get up.

  “Hey, now. Where do you think you’re going?”

  “I, um… I need to, uh…” She bit her lip, trying to decide a tactful way to tell him she needed to go to the bathroom and wanted to get ready for bed.

  “Just point the way.” Drew picked her up and started toward the hallway to carry her upstairs.

  “No, it’s just over there,” Joy said, pointing to a door in the corner of the family room.

  Drew changed direction and carried her to the door. She leaned down and turned the knob, pushing the door open into a short hallway.

  Joy pointed to a doorway on the left. “That’s my room.”

  He moved forward and stood just inside the bedroom door.

  “The light switch is right by your elbow,” she said, trying to see through the dark. Had she picked up all her dirty clothes that morning? Made the bed? She’d been in a rush to get some work done when she awakened and couldn’t remember if she’d done more than take a shower and get dressed before she headed to her office.

  The overhead light clicked on and illuminated the room. Joy sighed with relief. The room was tidy, bed made, and the bouquet of autumn flowers she’d picked last week before the cold snap arrived offered a cheery welcome from the top of her dresser.

  “Nice room,” Drew said, moving farther inside. He glanced to the left and saw the doorway to the bathroom.

  Prepared to toss him out if she had to before she allowed him to help her any further, he set her down close to the counter so she could use it for balance then backed toward the door. “Take your time. When you’re ready to come out, just yell or pound on the wall and I’ll come get you.”

  He walked out, closing the bathroom door behind him before she could protest. In truth, she was too weary to argue. Five minutes later, she pulled on the nightgown and robe she’d left hanging on a hook behind the bathroom door.

  Face devoid of makeup, and pale from the ordeal of her day, she knew she wouldn’t win any beauty contests. Rather than dwell any longer on her situation, she made a silly face in the mirror then opened the door.

  “Are you still here, Drew?” she called as she tried taking a few hopping steps toward her bed.

  He appeared around the corner and hurried to lift her into his arms. He’d turned back the covers on the bed and even fluffed the pillows.

  “Turn down service?” she asked, with a grin. “I’m impressed.”

  “I worked at a resort one summer. You learn a few things,” he said, placing her in the bed. Drew moved with such care, as though she might break at any moment, and it endeared him to her even more.

  As he placed a pillow beneath her leg and adjusted her covers, she had not even a smidgen of concern he’d attempt anything untoward. Drew was the epitome of a gentleman and the fact of it was both shocking and refreshing to Joy. The uncouth, selfish lunkheads she’d dated over the years had left her jaded and suspicious. Yet, the kind, gentle man doing his best to make her comfortable was nothing like them.

  “I can’t begin to thank you for everything, Drew. You’ve been amazing and I appreciate everything you’ve done for me today.” Joy removed her robe beneath the covers then tossed it over the end of the bed. She settled back against her soft pillows and blinked to chase away the tears threatening to spill down her cheeks.

  “My pleasure, Joy. It’s a small community, so we all help each other when we can.” Drew leaned down and kissed the top of her head.

  The kiss irritated instead of pleased her. She wasn’t a child and she’d much prefer a kiss on her lips. However, she wasn’t in any shape to be thinking about kisses or romance or any such nonsense. After all, Drew had just basically said he was doing the neighborly thing by helping her. The medication she’d just taken probably made her read things into the situation that didn’t exist.

  Drew was just a nice guy doing what was right. Nothing more.

  Disappointment settled over her as she thought about things going back to the way they were once he said good night and left. He would deliver her mail and maybe offer a polite hello on occasion. She’d watch him out the office window and dream of things that could never be.

  She sighed and brushed away a lone tear that glided over her cheek.

  “Get some sleep, Joy. If you need anything, I set your phone right there by the bed.” He pointed to her nightstand where her phone was within easy reach. “Just text me and I’ll be in here in a flash.”

  “No, Drew. You’ve done enough. Go home. I can’t possibly ask you stay here tonight.”

  “You aren’t asking, I volunteered. You can’t get up to let out Bacon if he whines, and the doctor said you should ice your knee at least once in the night. Unless you have someone hiding upstairs who’ll help you, I’m staying.”

  Joy’s eyes refused to stay open, so she nodded her head. “You’re the best, Drew Miller. I think I’m in love with you,” she whispered as sleep claimed her.

  Chapter Five

  Stunned by the words Joy had just muttered, Drew stared down at her. Her dark eyelashes created crescent-shaped fans on her cheeks and a slight smile rode her lips. Black hai
r rested on her cheek, so he brushed it behind her ear then tugged the covers up over her shoulder.

  She was so beautiful. And she’d just said she loved him.

  That declaration was completely unexpected, even if it was the result of her weary, drug-fogged mind.

  Although the thought of her being in love with him made something unfamiliar and exciting flow through him, he couldn’t let himself hope it might really be true.

  The last thing he’d intended when he’d stopped by earlier was to spend the night at her house. He’d sent up several prayers of gratitude that the letter had gotten lost beneath his seat and he’d found it. If that hadn’t happened and he hadn’t decided to use it as an excuse to see her, she might have died out in the snow.

  Thoughts of that possibility made pain pierce his heart.

  Joy was strong, though. He hoped if he hadn’t arrived, she would have found some way to get herself into the house. Too bad she had left her phone in the kitchen or she could have called for assistance.

  Drew knew she didn’t have any family nearby and he’d heard her tell the doctor she didn’t know anyone in town, at least not well enough they’d come take care of her. So he’d decided to help her.

  In truth, he hadn’t minded at all. Holding her close to his chest as he carried her was one of the best feelings he’d ever experienced. And she fit there so perfectly, too.

  An hour after he’d gotten Joy settled on the couch in her family room, the doctor had called, giving Drew a list of instructions that included how important it was for Joy to stay completely off her leg for the next few days. Doc promised to stop by the house Tuesday. If Joy was making progress, he’d give her the okay to use crutches then. When Drew asked him how Joy was supposed to get around, the doctor laughed and said, “you’ll figure it out.”

  Drew supposed he could take a day or two off work to help her, but no matter how much he might enjoy lending her a hand, Joy was going to want a female to assist her with her more personal needs like getting into and out of the shower.