by Steena Marie
Melissa nodded her head. “Let’s make it a date then. You can give me some pointers on how to handle your mother this year. She’s driving me nuts with the Tree Lighting festival. I wish you were organizing it again this year.”
Becky laughed. “Like that was going to happen. As long as my mother lives and breathes, she will continue to run that festival regardless of what you or I have to say about it. You do realize I was just her puppet last year, right?”
“I figured.”
“She’s not bad though, is she? Extra grumpy or harsh?”
Melissa shook her head. “No, nothing like that. She just can’t make up her mind.”
That didn’t sound like Norma at all. “Want me to talk with her?” she offered.
“No. I’ll be fine. Oh, don’t forget that article you were writing for the paper. It’s due Tuesday.”
Article? Becky’s brow furrowed as she thought about what she obviously promised.
“You do remember, right? You were going to do a thing about homemade stockings, I think.”
Becky smiled. “Right! I do have that written down. I just thought it was for my website. Oops.”
“Do you want to reschedule?”
Becky shook her head. “No. I’ll have it done, don’t worry.”
“I’m not the one to be worried. Norma wanted me to post her article on changing the lights on the tree but I told her the spot was taken. Specifically by you, so…”
“So basically you’re telling me I want to make sure it’s done otherwise I won’t hear the end of it from my mother. Got it.” Becky groaned.
Melissa’s cell phone rang so Becky headed into the living room, where everyone else was.
“Things going okay?” Matt went to her side.
“Just peachy.” She took a look at her tree and pushed everything else to the side. Today was about being with friends and family, of placing smiles on faces and starting new traditions.
“What happened to all the popcorn I made for the tree?” Off to the side was a large bucket of popcorn she’d filled last night. Except, the bucket was no longer full.
“Don’t look at me.” Matt held up his hands. “I told Ryan not to eat the popcorn, but he’s a growing kid.”
“Ryan.” Becky gave her stepson a mock glare as she placed her hands on her hips. “I wanted to string that for the tree.”
“I’ll help make more.” Ryan held his hands behind his back and attempted a somewhat innocent look.
It didn’t work.
“His father is just as much at fault,” Nikki said.
Becky flicked a popcorn kernel stuck between the hem of Matt’s sweater and t-shirt. “I see that. Guess I know what you’ll be doing after lunch, eh?”
“I’d better help too,” Abby volunteered. “I didn’t realize it was all for the tree.”
Becky couldn’t keep the smile from growing on her face. “That settles it then. While the moms relax after lunch, the rest of you will be put to work. I don’t know about you,” she turned to Nikki, “but I’m exhausted. Picking out the perfect Christmas tree is a lot of work.”
She sneaked a glance behind her while everyone laughed to find Melissa at the counter, her hands in a fist as she stared down at her phone.
“What did you say to Wade before he left?” she whispered to Matt.
He shrugged. “Not much. Just mentioned I had to run into town to pick up a few things and he volunteered to do it for me. Which I figured he’d do anyways. Why?”
“That might have been a mistake.” She didn’t like the look on her friend’s face. Her face was flushed and she kept blinking as if warding off tears. “Maybe you shouldn’t have gotten involved.”
“He was just going home to get his pills and take a little nap. His shoulder was killing him, he said.” Matt leaned past her to look into the kitchen. “Is she okay?”
Becky shook her head. “I’m not sure home was where he was headed.”
Chapter 2
NIKKI
If Nikki hadn’t been in the holiday mood before Becky’s big tree-cutting festivities, the day of apple cider, freshly baked treats, and of course, tree trimming certainly did the trick. The truth was, she’d been looking forward to the Christmas season more than usual this year. She looked across Becky and Matt’s spacious living room to where the men and the children were stringing a giant bowl of popcorn to use on the tree.
This year, Christmas was going to be different. Not only did she have Ryan, who was still young enough to actually want to do all the traditional holiday things with her, but she had Parker, too. Her heart warmed just watching her fiancé and her son together. It still amazed her how well things had worked out after she came back to Halfway.
This time last year, Nikki wouldn’t have even been able to imagine such a festive scene full of love playing out. A tear came to her eye and she wiped it away quickly before anyone noticed. She’d been really emotional lately and although she hoped that meant what she thought it did, it was way too early to tell anyone else.
“My feet are killing me. Here, hold this.” Becky appeared next to her and handed her a tray before she sat heavily onto the couch next to her. “Oh, that feels so good,” she moaned. “I swear, I’m not even that pregnant yet and this baby is doing a number on my feet. I didn’t think it was possible to swell so much.”
Nikki laughed. “It’ll get better.” She put the tray full of cookies and squares on the coffee table in front of her.
“You’re lying.”
“I am.” Nikki laughed harder but then added, “But you’ll love every minute of it, I promise. How could you not?”
Becky’s hands went to her stomach. “Right? I still can’t believe it.”
“Well, believe it—you’re finally going to be a mama. And I couldn’t be happier for you.” The two shared a quick hug and Nikki had to blink hard to keep the persistent emotions at bay.
Over Becky’s shoulder, Nikki spotted Melissa pacing by the kitchen window. She was trying to look busy, but it was clear to anyone who bothered to notice that she was waiting and watching for Wade to come back from town.
“Hey.” Nikki pulled out of her friend’s arms. “Do you think Melissa is okay? I mean, I know they’ve been through a lot, but do you think Wade’s settling in okay?”
Becky shook her head and then shrugged. “Honestly? I don’t know. I mean, they seem okay. Mostly. But every once in a while…”
Her gaze drifted to their friend, too.
“I know what you mean,” Nikki said. “I just wish there was something we could do to help make it easier.”
“Maybe we can.”
Becky had that look in her eye. That look that Nikki had come to be wary of in the past. That look that meant she may have just gotten herself a little too involved in Melissa’s life. Not that sometimes meddling wasn’t warranted. It was. Especially if it could help ease some of the suffering their friend was obviously going through.
Reluctantly, she looked at Becky. “Okay, I bite. What are you thinking?”
Becky laughed, no doubt because of the worried look on Nikki’s face. “Oh, relax, Nic. It’s not a big deal. And I promise I’m not planning some elaborate scheme that’s going to get us involved in the middle of their domestic life.”
Nikki raised her eyebrow.
“Seriously, I’m not.” She lightly smacked Nikki’s arm. “I’m not. Get that look off your face.”
Nikki joined in Becky’s laughter. “Okay then. What?” It didn’t matter what Becky said, Nikki knew she was going to regret getting involved. But at the same time, she couldn’t sit by and do nothing.
“All I’m thinking is that we distract them.”
“Distract them?” Nikki reached for the shortbread on the tray in front of her. “What exactly do you mean by that?”
“With Christmas,” Becky said, as if it clarified everything. “We’ll just keep them all really busy with the holiday season and they’ll get so wrapped up in everything they’ll f
orget that they’ve been apart for the last ten years.”
Nikki took a moment to mull it over. But only a moment. “That’s your plan? That’s it?”
“Don’t knock it. I think it could work.” Becky helped herself to a cookie as well. “And I realize it’s not a big, fancy plan, but it doesn’t need to be. Not really. I mean think about it—this will be the first Christmas they’ve been together in a very long time.”
“True.”
“And maybe they just need to remember what it’s all about. Besides, the magic of Christmas and all that.”
She hated to admit it. She really hated to admit it…but… “I think you might be onto something.”
Becky flipped in her seat and stared at her. “Seriously?”
“Seriously.” Nikki laughed. “It’s actually so simple it could work. Christmas is a magical time. And maybe this year…” She drifted off before she could give away her secret but it was too late. Becky was way too perceptive.
“This year what?”
“Nothing.” Nikki pointed to the men and children who were starting to drape the popcorn on the tree. “I think the guys need help.” She moved to stand up but Becky grabbed her arm and pulled her back down.
“I don’t think so.”
Nikki glanced in Parker’s direction in hopes he’d look over and rescue her from spilling the secret they’d promised to keep for a little bit longer. Although, she couldn’t for the life of her remember why they weren’t telling anyone yet.
“Nikki…” Her friend shook her arm, and Nikki looked around for a distraction of any kind.
“Melissa,” she called to the other woman and used Becky’s momentary distraction to jump up from the couch. “You have to come over here and try some of Becky’s cookies. They’re amazing.”
“Nice,” she heard Becky mumble behind her, but Nikki only laughed.
Melissa smiled, but even from across the room, Nikki could see it was forced. Becky was right; they had to do something to put a genuine smile on their friend’s face again. “I’ll be right there,” Melissa said. “I’m just waiting for the hot chocolate. It’s almost ready.”
Nikki glanced back at Becky with a smile, but her friend only shook her head. She may have bought herself a few minutes’ reprieve from Becky’s interrogating, but Nikki wasn’t naive enough to think it would last long.
“Here you go.” Melissa appeared with a tray of hot chocolate. She distributed them to the men and children before she joined the women on the couch.
“Thank you.” Becky took a mug and wrapped her hands around it, inhaling deeply. There was no secret: she loved her sweets and the pregnancy only seemed to enhance their friend’s cravings. “It smells delicious.”
“It’s going to be even better with a bit of this.” Melissa poured a shot of Irish cream in Nikki’s drink before she could stop her. “Sorry, Becky, none for you,” Melissa said. “But have some extra marshmallows.” She tossed some into Becky’s drink and they all laughed. All except Nikki, who stared at her own drink.
“Maybe I could just get some extra marshmallows,” she said slowly and put her mug back on the tray. “Instead of the Irish cream.”
Melissa looked at her in confusion and she had a feeling she knew exactly how Becky was looking at her, but she dared not look. She was treading on very dangerous ground if she had any hope of keeping her secret from her way too perceptive friends. “But you love Irish cream in your hot chocolate,” Melissa said. “I just assumed you would—”
“Oh my God.”
Nikki could feel Becky next to her practically jump in her seat but still she wouldn’t look. She needed to deflect the situation and fast.
“I do.” Nikki grabbed her mug back. “In fact, I think I changed my mind.” She clutched the warm drink and inhaled deeply. It did smell good, but there was no way she was going to drink it.
“Really?” Becky sounded disappointed and Nikki finally risked a glance in her direction. Her friend narrowed her eyes. “Try it,” she challenged.
Dammit. She should have known Becky wouldn’t let it go so easily. Pregnant women had radar for other pregnant women and more than that, they always seemed to want others to be pregnant with them.
Nikki put the mug down with a sigh. “I’m actually not in the mood for—”
“I knew it!” Becky jumped up so quickly her own hot chocolate splashed all over her lap. The commotion alerted the rest of the room and Parker looked over at them. Nikki caught him giving her a quick shake of his head, but there wasn’t really any help for it. Not if Becky was on to them. “You’re pre—”
“We’re getting married.”
“What?”
“You’re what?”
The women stared at Nikki, their mouths open. She glanced to Parker for help but he was bent over chuckling and absolutely no help at all.
“Wait,” Becky said. “We already know you’re getting married.” She grabbed Nikki’s hand and held up her engagement ring that Parker had put on her hand at the Halfway Pumpkin Festival. “That’s not a secret.”
“No,” Nikki said slowly. “But the fact that we’re getting married on Christmas Eve is a secret.”
“What?” Becky shrieked. “But that’s so soon! How can you do it so quickly?”
“And why?” It was Melissa who asked. She glanced up at Parker, who’d moved and stood behind Nikki with his hands on her shoulders. “What’s the rush?” She tilted her head and looked at them suspiciously.
Thankfully, it was Parker who answered. “We just don’t want to wait any longer,” he said. “And everyone is already together at Christmas. It’s not going to be a big, elaborate ceremony. Just something to celebrate our love. And of course you’re all going to be there.”
“Of course.” Becky waved her hand. “That’s a given. And it’s going to be fantastic. That’s a given, too. But seriously, we have so much to do. I still don’t understand what the rush is, but we’ll do our best and you know I’ll be in charge of the food. Let’s start planning right now.”
“Actually,” Nikki said. “We have most of the plans made. We were planning on surprising everyone with the ceremony.” When Becky looked disappointed, she quickly added, “But of course I want you to help with the food and all the other details.”
That seemed to appease Becky. Parker kissed Nikki on the forehead and backed away, smart enough to know when to make his exit. The second he was out of earshot, Becky leaned in so the three women were in a semi-circle, and whispered, “Okay, tell me the truth. Are you pregnant? Is that why you’re getting married so quickly?”
There was no help for it. With a sigh, Nikki came clean. “No.” Becky immediately sat back, crossed her arms, and used her eyes to gesture to the mug of spiked hot chocolate she still hadn’t touched. “Well…maybe,” she added and then quickly held her hand up to quiet her friends before they reacted. “We don’t know. So don’t say anything, okay?”
“Is that why you’re moving up the wedding?” Melissa asked. “Because there might be a baby?”
“Yes and no.” Nikki shrugged. “Honestly, I just want to be married already and make it official. But…”
“But you can’t have a baby out of wedlock.” The minute the words came out of Becky’s mouth, she slapped her hand over it. “I mean…that’s not what I…oh, Nikki, I’m sorry. I didn’t—”
“It’s fine.” It was no secret that Nikki’s first child, Ryan, was born out of wedlock but that was a very different scenario. Nikki had been too young, and she’d made a mistake. A huge mistake that they’d all finally moved past in order to be a family. But even though it wasn’t the most tactful way to say it, Becky was spot on. “Yes,” Nikki continued. “I want to do things right this time. And…” Her hand when to her stomach. “There’s no time like now to make it official.”
“So you are preggo?” Becky slapped her knees. “I knew it.”
“Simmer down. I don’t know anything yet. I was talking to Nyah the other day and—
”
“Nyah Henderson?” Melissa’s face was pinched in a scowl.
Nikki nodded slowly. She knew there’d been some tension between Melissa and Nyah—who’d been Melissa’s best friend once—and she didn’t know all the details of their falling out, but since Nyah had come back to town to take over her father’s medical practice, Nikki had gotten to know her and she’d made a new friend.
“Is she your doctor?”
Nikki glanced quickly between her two friends, but Becky only shrugged. She looked back to Melissa. “She’s the only full-time doctor in town right now. I have an appointment with her in a few days to confirm what I already think is true.”
Melissa made a snorting noise and pushed herself up from the couch. “Well, I hope she’s better with babies than she is at saving lives.” Before Nikki or Becky could say anything else, she left them and went back to the kitchen, where she resumed her position at the window, watching for Wade, who still hadn’t returned from his errands.
Chapter 3
MELISSA
Melissa stared at the page in front of her and frowned. With the Tree Festival just around the corner, literally days away, she was getting tired of having to make change after change after change, all because Norma Grant couldn’t get the schedule right.
Everything felt off. Not just this project, but so many other things too. It was supposed to be Christmas, the time of miracles, of happiness and joy and… all that other stuff generally associated with the season, but Melissa couldn’t get with the program.
She needed to get with the program.
Not only was her shop overrun with printing Christmas letters, Christmas cards, Christmas flyers, and anything else under the sun having to do with the season but it was the first Christmas with Wade at home.
Their first Christmas as a family after so long. Melissa should be excited, thrilled to have him home and a part of their lives again. Except…that joy, that level of excitement for the holidays that would normally be there—it wasn’t.
