One Kiss for Christmas (The Happy Holidays Series Book 4)

by Michele Brouder

  It was only one date, she reminded herself. And Leah lived in another state. There wouldn’t be enough time for them to get involved. Just two young people making the most of the holidays. It might be casual, but it also might be just the sort of thing Brent needed.

  Maybe she wouldn’t have to say anything at all.

  When Donna arrived home from work and parked her car in her garage, Jim walked over. The sight of him—the rugged physique and his impossible height—made her heart skip a beat. He still ticked all the boxes for her.

  “I just wanted to let you know that the cat is going to be all right,” Jim said.

  “I’m glad to hear it,” she said. “Is she still at the clinic?”

  “Yes, for another day or two,” Jim replied. “I can’t thank your son enough for helping Leah out after hours. I’m sure he has better things to do after he gets off work.”

  Donna didn’t say anything about the fact that Brent had nothing to do after work. That work, his clinic, and the animals were his life.

  She smiled. “That’s Brent. He’s always happy to help.”

  “He’s a credit to you, Donna,” Jim said.

  It was beginning to darken outside. Up and down the street, houses were bejeweled in colorful Christmas lights, lending a feel of merriment to the atmosphere.

  “Thank you,” she said. “Did you want to come in? Have something to drink?”

  “I would love to, but Mr. Brenneman invited me to his poker game,” Jim said.

  Donna grinned. “Don’t lose your shirt.” As soon as she said it, an image of him shirtless came to mind and she blushed. As if he were reading her mind, Jim raised one eyebrow and grinned.

  Jim changed the subject. “Leah and Brent are going out tonight.”

  “I heard that,” Donna said. “Are you okay with it?”

  “Sure,” Jim said.

  “Have you told Leah about us?”

  Jim shook his head.

  “I haven’t said anything to Brent, either. Maybe we don’t have to say anything right away,” Donna said. There was no point in telling them their history if it only turned out to be one date.

  “All right.”

  “Okay, then, goodnight, Jim,” Donna said.

  “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  Donna did not sleep well that night. Finally, at one in the morning, she gave it up and got out of bed. She was no stranger to infrequent bouts of insomnia. When she’d gone through menopause, she’d suffered terribly from sleeplessness. A few nights a week for one solid year. She supposed it could have been worse. At least she’d never had one of those awful hot flashes that Christine used to complain about. She’d discovered the best cure was to get out of bed and do something for an hour. Donna usually did housework.

  As she folded laundry at her kitchen table, Donna saw a text flash across her screen. Jim.

  Why are your lights on?

  She typed a quick reply. Because I can’t see in the dark.

  His response was swift. I mean why are you up at this hour of the night?

  I can’t sleep. Why are you up?

  Out walking. Just came home. What are you doing?

  Housework, she responded and thought it sounded lame.

  Can I come over?

  Oh no! she thought. Why would he want to come over in the middle of the night?

  Before she could give it too much thought, she texted an “okay” back to him.

  Mumbling, Donna ran to the downstairs bathroom. She splashed some cold water on her face and pinched her cheeks to give them a rosy glow. Then she gave her teeth a quick brush with a spare toothbrush she kept in the vanity. She ran to her kitchen window and saw his porch light turn on and the door open. He really was coming over! The fool. She looked down at what she was wearing: a pair of striped pajamas and a big, burly housecoat that had outlived its attractiveness but still remained functional and cozy. Her hair was pinned back and she wore glasses. She was not putting on any make-up.

  There was a sharp knock on her side door. She opened it and let him in. A blast of cold air blew in with him and Donna pulled her bathrobe around her tighter, shivering. Jim stamped the snow off his boots and followed her into the kitchen. She laughed when she saw that Jim had thrown his winter coat on over a long-sleeved thermal top and a pair of pajama bottoms.

  Jim frowned and said, “You look hot, Donna.”

  Donna blushed and her pulse quickened. “Jim.”

  His mouth opened and he said, “No, I meant your cheeks are pink, like you’re too warm or something.”

  Donna reddened further and pulled her bathrobe closed at the neck and said, “Oh, oh.”

  Jim took in the sight of her, raised an eyebrow, and smiled. “I see you’re still irresistible, Donna.”

  Donna tilted her head and regarded him with a smirk. “I dress for comfort now, Jim.”

  “Like I said, you’re irresistible.”

  Donna didn’t know if he was teasing her or not. His tone said he was, but his lingering gaze said otherwise.

  “How was your poker game?” she asked.

  He laughed. “I lost my shirt.” He looked around her kitchen. “I had to come over and see for myself. You’re doing housework in the middle of the night? Why?”

  She shrugged. “When I can’t sleep, I get up and do housework for an hour. Then I’m tired enough to go back to bed.”

  “I’ll have to try it,” he said.

  “Housework?” she asked, surprised. “Your mother couldn’t get you to make your bed.”

  “It’s been a long time since I was seventeen.”

  She snorted. “You and me both. Would you like a mug of hot chocolate?” She looked at him and added, “Or would you like something stronger?”

  “Do you make hot chocolate the way your mother used to make it?” he asked, cocking one eyebrow.

  Her features softened. “You remember.”

  “Best hot chocolate ever,” he said. “How could I forget?”

  “Yes, I make it like my mother used to,” she said.

  “Then that’s what I’ll have.”

  Without another word, Donna pulled a small saucepan out from the bottom cabinet and set it on the stove. She pulled out milk, cocoa, and vanilla and set them on the countertop. She was aware of Jim’s eyes on her as she added the ingredients to the pot.

  “I wonder how the date went with Brent and Leah,” Donna said as she stirred the cocoa in the pot with a wooden spoon.

  Jim shrugged. “I didn’t see Leah come in.” He paused and asked. “Is that what kept you up?”

  “I suppose,” she said.

  “We’re probably worrying about nothing,” Jim said. “It may be only one date.”

  “Where does your daughter live?” Donna asked.

  “She lives in California, near Carol,” Jim said.

  “What does she do?”

  “She trains guide dogs for the blind,” he answered proudly.

  “That’s wonderful.”

  “Leah was a dual major in college: biology and communications, but I always knew she’d work with animals.”

  Another animal lover. Donna hoped Brent wouldn’t get hurt if he continued to go out with Leah. With her living on the other side of the country, it would be hard to have a relationship with her. Donna’s son didn’t rebound easily from lost relationships. He’d been crushed when his father had died. It’s just one date, she told herself. Stop worrying.

  Once the hot chocolate was ready, Donna poured it into two mugs and added a little milk and a dollop of whipped cream.

  “Would you like marshmallows?”

  Jim smiled. “No, thanks. I gave up my marshmallow habit back in the fourth grade.”

  She grabbed a few mini-marshmallows and sprinkled them on top of her own mug. When she handed him his hot chocolate, he was grinning.

  “What? I still like marshmallows in mine,” she said.

  “Hey, that’s okay,” he said, taking a sip. He looked up and smiled at her. “
It’s as delicious as I remember.”

  She nodded a thanks and spooned up some whipped cream and marshmallows into her mouth.

  “I wonder how their date went,” Donna mused.

  Jim laughed. “Leah’s a talker. Hopefully Brent will be able to get a word in.”

  Donna smiled and sipped her hot chocolate. “Brent is reserved and doesn’t say much.”

  Jim lifted an eyebrow. “Opposites attract?”

  She tilted her head slightly and regarded him. “Maybe.”

  “How does their dating affect us?” Jim asked.

  “I’ve thought about this,” she admitted. “And I don’t want whatever happens between them to affect us. We’ve got a fresh start and the last thing we need is any drama.”

  “Agreed.”

  “And if it should by some chance work out between them, then that’s great.”

  Jim nodded.

  They sipped their beverages in silence for a few moments.

  It was Jim who spoke first. “You know it may be just the two of them enjoying the holidays together and each other’s company.”

  “Right. And no matter what happens, it can’t affect us.”

  Jim grinned. “You seem very protective of our relationship.”

  Donna blushed. “Maybe I am.”

  “Me, too, if I’m honest,” Jim said softly. They sat for a few minutes in companionable silence. He finished the rest of his hot chocolate in one gulp and stood up. “It’s almost two and I’ve kept you up long enough.”

  Jim set his empty mug in the sink and headed out the door, pulling on his coat as he went.

  “Wait a minute, Jim,” Donna called out.

  Jim stood there, holding the storm door open. “Yes?”

  “You never told me what I owed you for the quart of candy cane ice cream,” she said.

  He paused and appeared thoughtful. Finally, he grinned, “One kiss. That’s what you owe me, Donna St. James. One kiss for Christmas.”

  Donna stood there for a long time after he’d left, staring at the door.

  One kiss. That’s all he wanted.

  Chapter 10

  At first, Jim really hadn’t thought there would be any need to tell Leah or Brent that he and Donna had significant history together or that they were trying to make a fresh start. But that was before Leah went out every night that week with Brent. They’d gone ice skating, to the movies, to dinner, and one night they’d gone tobogganing with friends of Brent’s. Leah seemed happy, and that’s what worried Jim. Brent could be the nicest guy in the world, and he probably was no doubt, but the fact of the matter was that Leah lived in California and Brent had a fledgling veterinary practice here in Orchard Falls on the other side of the country. It was hard to see how it could work out. And being a veteran of a disastrous, life-altering long-distance relationship, it was something he felt strongly about. He didn’t want to see either one of them get hurt.

  One evening before Leah was due to meet Brent at the mall to do some Christmas shopping, Jim decided he’d have a quick chat with his daughter. It must be leaning toward serious if Brent was accompanying Leah to go shopping, he thought. Jim would rather stick hot pokers in his eyes than go to a mall. Thank goodness for online shopping.

  “It seems to be getting pretty serious with the vet,” Jim said as Leah stood in the kitchen, bundling up in her scarf and coat.

  “His name is Brent,” Leah said with a smirk. “And you know that.”

  “Okay,” he conceded. “It’s just that you’ve been out with him every night this week.”

  “Dad.” She slung the strap of her purse over her shoulder.

  “I’m just saying, honey. You’ll be going home right after Christmas and I’d hate to see either one of you get hurt.”

  “We’ll be fine,” Leah said. “Brent knows this is short-term.” She gave him a smile and said pointedly, “I know it’s short-term. We’re just keeping each other company over the holidays.”

  Still not satisfied, he decided to drop it. He changed tact. “Has Brent ever talked about his mother?” He eyed her nervously.

  Leah pulled on a glove and frowned. “In what way?”

  Jim shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  Leah broke into a smile. “Do you want us to play matchmaker? Has the lovely Mrs. St. James caught your eye?” Leah joked. “Dad, you dog!”

  “No, it isn’t anything like that,” Jim said before adding defiantly, “and if it was, I certainly wouldn’t need a matchmaker.”

  “Then what do you mean?” Leah asked.

  “I was just wondering if Brent ever mentioned that his mother and I used to know each other,” he said.

  Leah frowned again. “As in, you went to school together?”

  “It was a little more complicated than that,” Jim said.

  “A little more complicated? You better explain yourself,” Leah said, standing still and making no moves to depart.

  Not for the first time, Jim wondered who the parent was. “Actually, we were high-school sweethearts.”

  Leah stared at him with her mouth hanging open. “Was it serious?”

  Jim nodded. “It was.”

  Leah sank down in a chair, the date with Brent momentarily forgotten. “What happened?”

  Jim certainly wasn’t going to get into the details. “I went off to college then off to war, and we drifted apart,” he explained, giving her a heavily edited and condensed version.

  Leah looked at him evenly. “You mean she dumped you?”

  “No, I don’t mean that at all. It just didn’t work out.”

  “Huh,” Leah said to no one in particular.

  “Yeah,” Jim said. He glanced at the clock. “You better get going; you don’t want to be late.”

  Leah stood up, leaned over, and kissed her father on the cheek. “Goodnight, Dad. Don’t wait up for me.”

  Jim’s thoughts were interrupted by his ringing phone. Not recognizing the number, he answered it, curious.

  As Jim walked home later that evening after helping out at the soup table, he thought about the phone call he’d received from his old army buddy. By the end of that phone call, Jim had received an offer for the position of managing director for a security firm out in California. He’d told his friend he’d think about it. A little frisson of excitement gripped him at the thought of a new challenge. But Donna immediately came to mind. As much as California excited him—he would at least be in the same state as his daughter—he wanted to give Orchard Falls a chance.

  When he walked up his driveway, he saw the lights on over at Donna’s house. She must be having another bout of insomnia, he thought.

  Once inside, he locked the door and hung up his coat. He texted Donna.

  What are you cleaning now?

  It was few minutes before she responded, Cleaning out cupboards.

  Can I call you? he typed.

  Immediately, she sent back, Yes.

  Jim poured himself a glass of orange juice, picked up the receiver off the wall phone, dialed, and sat down at the kitchen table, the coiled cord of the phone stretching across the room from the wall to the table.

  “Hi, Jim, how are you?” Donna asked.

  “I’m well. Insomnia again?” he asked.

  “Unfortunately. But I’m getting a lot done,” she said.

  “Yeah, but you’re going to be wrecked tomorrow at work,” he said.

  “I know. But that’s the way it is. I’ll just have to soldier through,” Donna said.

  “So Donna . . .” Jim told her about the job offer in California. He could practically hear her surprise over the line.

  She went silent for a moment, then asked, “Are you seriously considering it?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe in a plan-B type of way. Like if it didn’t work out here in Orchard Falls,” he admitted.

  “I appreciate you telling me this,” she said quietly.

  “If we’re going to be friends… or whatever, then no secrets,” he said.

  �
�I agree,” she said. There was silence on the line for a moment before Donna spoke again. “Can I call you back in ten minutes?”

  Frowning, he said, “Sure.” They hung up, and he wondered if she would call back. He looked at the clock and saw it was almost one thirty in the morning. He rinsed his glass out and laid it on the top rack of the dishwasher. As he glanced out his kitchen window, he saw the lights go out downstairs in Donna’s house. Was she going back to bed?

  Starting to feel a little tired, he headed up to his room and got ready for bed. He was just slipping under the bedcovers when his phone on the nightstand rang. He lifted it up on the first ring, hoping it hadn’t woken Leah. “Sorry about that,” Donna said.

  “Have you gone to bed?” Jim asked, getting his own head comfortable on the pillow.

  “Uh . . . yeah,” Donna stuttered. “I am in bed.”

  Jim chuckled. “Just like old times.” During high school, they used to talk on the phone at night until one of them fell asleep.

  “I guess so,” Donna said softly. “Do you want to go to bed and we could talk?”

  “I’m already there.”

  “Oh, Jim.” Donna laughed. “Okay, now let me ask you a question: I see you go out walking at night, and I was wondering why you walk so late,” Donna said.

  He was impressed that she knew his routine. “I like to take a walk to clear my head before going to bed.” He paused and asked, “Did you know that there are homeless people in Orchard Falls?”

  “What?” she asked with the same tone of disbelief he’d felt when he’d seen it firsthand.

  “I’m only just finding this out myself,” he admitted. He launched into his discovery of the little impromptu soup table at the side of the road by the underpass. Donna was shocked. He told her how he’d joined the team of volunteers. “But giving someone a hot bowl of soup doesn’t seem like enough.”

  “It’s a start, though,” Donna said.

  “I just feel I could be doing more,” he said.

  “Like what?”