A Christmas Bride for the Teacher

by Indiana Wake

  “You’re not going to take this off with blotting paper, are you?”

  Jonathan laughed.

  “Not a chance.” He reached for the handkerchief in Lynne’s hand. “Let me.”

  Then he gently drew the fabric across her chin. The ink was already dry and wouldn’t budge, but Lynne let out a sigh and tilted her head toward him, closing her eyes. There was a smile on her face, and Jonathan couldn’t think of another time when he had seen such a beautiful sight.

  He couldn’t stop himself from kissing her. It was meant to be a brief kiss and then he would pull back, but then Lynne sighed against his mouth, her lips molding to his. Her hands pressed to his chest, but she didn’t push him away. If anything, she seemed to be tugging him closer.

  Jonathan wouldn’t have been able to pull back if he tried. He encircled Lynne with his arms, sinking into a deeper kiss. Lynne’s arms went up around his neck, her fingers sliding through his hair.

  “Jonathan.”

  It was the murmur of his name against his mouth that had Jonathan coming back to reality. He shouldn’t be doing this. If anyone walked in on them now… Lynne’s reputation would be ruined. It was very difficult to do, but Jonathan managed to break away, stepping out of Lynne’s reach.

  Lynne blinked her eyes open, looking perplexed. She looked startled, her mouth redder from his kiss.

  It was difficult not to go back to her for another kiss. Jonathan dragged his hands through his hair with a rattled sigh.

  “Lynne, I… I shouldn’t have done that.”

  “Done what?” The confusion was fading from Lynne’s eyes. “You shouldn’t have kissed me.”

  “I should’ve asked you first, not just taken advantage.” Jonathan was shocked to see that his hands were shaking. “I’m sorry, Lynne. I won’t touch you without your consent again, I promise.”

  Lynne was silent, her eyes wide. Then she approached him, smiling as she cupped his face in her hands.

  “I didn’t mind. I liked it.”

  Then she gave him a kiss of her own, a sweet one that had Jonathan leaning into her. He wanted to pull her back into his arms, but Jonathan kept his hands by his sides. Lynne drew back, her eyes shining up at him with such warmth that Jonathan’s knees almost buckled.

  “I think it’s best I go back home and clean up.”

  She gathered her books, giving Jonathan a smile. “But I want to carry the tutoring on. I don’t want you to back away just because you’ve kissed me.”

  She wasn’t running away. Jonathan couldn’t speak, so he nodded. Lynne reached for her coat and hat.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow as usual.”

  Then she was leaving the room, giving Jonathan one last look and smile before she disappeared from sight. Jonathan’s legs gave way and he sagged into his chair. That he hadn’t expected. Lynne hadn’t pushed him away. If anything, she had welcomed his advances.

  Perhaps there was some hope, after all. Christmas was coming up, and Jonathan had a pretty good idea what he was going to give Lynne as a present.

  There was just the question of if Lynne would accept it.

  Chapter 7

  Lynne could feel the tension as soon as she got back to Wayne’s house. It had been building for the past two weeks since she had announced she was going to stay behind after school to be tutored by Jonathan.

  Greta had become considerably colder toward her, which had Lynne confused. But her sister wouldn’t say why, she just gave Lynne glares and kept her distance.

  Though she had accepted her sister’s warning it didn’t ring true and Lynne had no idea what was really going on. How she wished Greta would just talk to her.

  Wayne was oblivious to the tension between the two sisters, talking away to Lynne as normal. The twins were happy and enjoyed playing with Lynne. Lynne adored the boys. But every time John or Ronnie was around Lynne and Greta came into the room, she directed them immediately elsewhere. Lynne wasn’t sure what to make of that.

  Whatever was going on, Lynne knew Greta was angry with her. And she was doing exactly what her parents did when they were displeased. She gave the person she was angry with the silent treatment, and tried to isolate them. Lynne had experienced it too many times before to not recognize it now.

  Despite her animosity toward them, Greta was more like her parents than she cared to admit.

  After washing and changing, Lynne came downstairs and found dinner waiting. Greta hadn’t set out a place for Lynne, which Wayne pointed out. When Greta didn’t move, Wayne went to get a plate for Lynne and filled it up.

  Dinner was silent with the exception of the children chattering away, Wayne and Lynne were looking at each other curiously across the table. Neither of them could figure out what was wrong with Greta, but even Wayne was beginning to notice it.

  Greta ate her dinner and stared ahead of her, actively ignoring her sister. She didn’t even respond to her husband when he tried to talk to her.

  Lynne knew the impending storm was coming. It was just a matter of time until it blasted onto the scene.

  After dinner, Lynne and Wayne sat in the lounge with John and Ronnie playing on the floor in front of the fire. Greta was nowhere to be seen, but as soon as Lynne knelt on the floor to play with the twins, she was in the doorway, giving Lynne a dark scowl. She sharply beckoned the boys to her.

  “Children, it’s bedtime.”

  “What?” Lynne looked at the clock. It wasn’t time for the children to go to bed. “We’re only playing, Greta.”

  Greta ignored her.

  “John, Ronnie, bed. Now.”

  The twins started whining.

  Wayne sat forward.

  “Take it easy, love…”

  “Now!”

  That was enough for Ronnie to start crying, and that set John off.

  Greta glared at Lynne.

  “Now look what you made me do!”

  “What did I do?”

  Wayne sighed and stood.

  “All right, fine. I’ll take them upstairs.” He scooped one boy into each arm, cuddling both crying toddlers. “Come on, boys. I’ll read you two a story.”

  Giving his wife a confused look, Wayne left the room.

  Lynne rose to her feet as Greta gave her an icy glare.

  “What was all that about, Greta?”

  “I wanted to have a private word with you, Lynne.” Greta’s voice was almost monotone. “And it couldn’t wait.”

  Something was going on, and Lynne could feel the cold shiver down her back. She squared her shoulders.

  “What is it?”

  “I want you to leave.”

  “What?” Lynne thought she had misheard her. She shook her head. “I beg your pardon?”

  “You heard me. I want you to leave.”

  Lynne searched for a sign on Greta’s face that this was a joke. But it wasn’t. Greta was stony-faced. Confusion made Lynne feel as if her head was about to explode.

  “Why on earth do you want me to leave?” she asked. “What have I done?”

  “Because I think you’re committing atrocities, and I will not have that under my roof,” Greta replied. “Certainly not with my boys about.”

  Lynne found herself giggling. This had to be a joke. But Greta was showing no sign of laughing. This felt like a strange dream.

  “I… I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “I think you do.” Greta’s eyes narrowed. “Jonathan Davey.”

  That was when the penny dropped.

  “You think I’m doing something salacious with Jonathan?”

  “Well, Wayne says you spend several evenings together. And you do come home late.”

  “That’s because he’s tutoring me. We do it after school.”

  Greta snorted.

  “You don’t need tutoring, Lynne. Women don’t need to be tutored.”

  That sounded so much like her mother that Lynne thought she was working the strings behind Greta.

  “Unlike some women, I want to l
earn.” Lynne shot back. “Who better to ask than Jonathan?”

  “You should’ve asked Wayne.”

  “From the way you’re acting, you would have thought I was trying to seduce Wayne.”

  Greta barked out a sharp laugh. There was no mirth in it.

  “Wayne wouldn’t know a seduction if it hit him in the face. It took him forever to realize that I wanted to marry him.”

  Lynne had never heard Greta speak like this. Over the last couple of weeks, her older sister had got colder and colder towards her. She had changed. Lynne had no idea what had happened. Was this all because of Jonathan? If so, why was Greta getting in a twist about a man who had nothing to do with her? For it wasn’t concern over her sister.

  “What’s got into you, Greta? I don’t understand.”

  “I’ve grown up, that’s what’s got into me. And I’m concerned that your time alone with Jonathan Davey is going to make you the talk of the town.”

  “Nothing happened!”

  But Greta was shaking her head.

  “I don’t believe you. Just leave, Lynne. Do it while the boys are distracted. I’ll have your bags packed and ready for you tomorrow. You can collect them when they’re napping.”

  “Greta…”

  “Out, now!”

  Greta started toward her. Lynne backed away, and then darted around her sister to the door. From the look on Greta’s face, she was willing to be physical to remove Lynne. And Lynne didn’t want to upset the children.

  Even then, as she staggered out into the cold with no coat on, Lynne wished she understood what was really going on.

  Chapter 8

  Jonathan woke to the sound of banging on his door. He stumbled out of bed to find Gareth banging on his door. Quickly dressing, he hurried over to the mission station. His heart was pounding. Lynne was there? Had something happened? Was she ill? And why hadn’t she come next door to let him know? Why did she go all the way to the mission station and then send a message?

  Whatever the reasons, Jonathan knew he would drop everything to be at her side. Lynne was reaching out to him and he would be there for her.

  He followed Gareth into the mission station and they headed toward the lounge. Mary was with Lynne, sitting by the fire.

  Lynne had a blanket around her shoulders and was cupping a steaming mug in her hands.

  Jonathan was shocked to see that she was soaking wet and shivering, her face pale, her eyes red.

  What on earth had happened to her?

  Gareth approached his wife and whispered in her ear. Mary touched Lynne’s hand, taking the mug from her.

  That was when Lynne looked up and saw Jonathan. With a strangled sob, she jumped up, the blanket falling to the floor as she ran into his arms. Her clothes were soaking wet and she was freezing, but Jonathan tightened his arms around her, rocking her as she burst into tears.

  Jonathan looked up at Mary, who was watching them solemnly. She indicated for Jonathan to bring Lynne to the fire and she stood, taking Gareth to the far side of the room. Jonathan eased Lynne over to the fire and sat her down. He snatched the blanket off the floor and wrapped her in it again, sitting beside her to pull her into his arms.

  “It’s all right, honey.” He kissed her forehead as she sobbed. “I’m here. Tell me what’s wrong.”

  “It’s Greta.” Lynne sniffed. Her voice was muffled against his coat. “She’s kicked me out.”

  “What?” Jonathan drew back. “She threw you out?”

  “Yes.” Lynne swiped the corner of the blanket across her eyes and sniffed. “I had nowhere to go, so I managed to get here.”

  “But… why didn’t you come to me? I was right next door.”

  “I couldn’t.”

  “Why not?”

  Lynne sighed. Her face was pale, her eyes red.

  “There are apparently rumors being spread around about you and me and what we are doing during our tutoring sessions. I didn’t want to ruin your reputation further.”

  Jonathan didn’t know what to say. He hadn’t heard of any rumors, and the rumor mill always came back to him somehow. Nothing had been said about him and Lynne. So what was Lynne talking about?

  “What rumors? No one’s talking about us, and I would know about it if they were.”

  “Greta says there is,” Lynne said miserably. “She says that’s the reason why she’s throwing me out, because she doesn’t want my nephews around me if I’m being scandalous.”

  Jonathan had never heard anything more ridiculous. He barked out a laugh.

  Lynne scowled at him.

  “It’s not funny, Jonathan.”

  “I think it is. She’s talking rubbish.”

  “I know she’s talking rubbish as well, but Greta won’t be swayed. You know what Greta’s like when she’s set on something; you can’t change her mind.”

  “I know. I’ve been dealing with it for years.” Jonathan rubbed his eyes. “I can speak to her about this, if you want…”

  Lynne was already shaking her head.

  “I doubt she’s going to listen to you.”

  She tugged the blanket tighter around her shoulders and shivered.

  “She seems to have something against you, Jonathan, and I’m not entirely sure why.”

  Jonathan knew exactly why. And it was embarrassing to remember. He glanced over at Mary and Gareth, who were at the far end of the room. They were giving them space, but Jonathan still lowered his voice.

  “This should have been sorted out a long time ago, but I guess it wasn’t.”

  “What?” Lynne frowned. “What are you talking about?”

  Jonathan swallowed, Lynne wasn’t going to like it. Jonathan didn’t like it. He looked at the flames, unable to look Lynne in the eye.

  “When Greta and Wayne first arrived, they came separately. I met Greta first. She was sorting out the house, and I came along to help when she had some heavy things to move. I swear, I had no idea that she was about to get married.”

  “You fell in love with my sister,” Lynne murmured.

  Jonathan’s heart hurt when he heard the sad tone in her voice. He sighed.

  “I’m afraid I did.”

  Lynne was silent. Jonathan wished she would say something, anything. Then she did.

  “She’s a pretty woman.”

  Jonathan took a deep breath.

  “At the time, I thought so. It was two weeks of spending time with Greta. Nothing happened,” he added hurriedly. “Greta didn’t act like she was about to get married, she acted like she was interested in me. Then she suddenly turned up on my doorstep with Wayne and introduced him as her husband. She told me that they had just got married.”

  Until that point, Jonathan had had no idea that Wayne existed. And knowing that Greta had been playing both of them pained him. Wayne didn’t deserve it.

  “She led you on.”

  “Yes, she did.” Jonathan rubbed his hands over his face. “I haven’t been so embarrassed or ashamed in all my life.”

  “If that’s the case, why do you live next door to them, still?”

  “Because it’s close to the schoolhouse, and Wayne and I work together.” Jonathan felt like he was ten inches tall. “I can’t fault Wayne for anything, he’s a lovely man. We’re good friends. But he doesn’t know what Greta did.”

  “You’ve never told him?”

  “I couldn’t. It would break his heart. I try to keep my distance from Greta as best I can and I’m never alone with her, but she seems to gravitate toward me. Even with her scowling at me, she doesn’t give an indication that she wants me to stay far away.” He held up his hands. “I’m not being arrogant, that’s how I’m reading it.”

  “I’m thinking the same thing,” Lynne said quietly. She was also staring at the fire. “Greta is behaving in the strangest of ways. At first she tried to put me off you… but there was something strange in the way she did it. Now she’s saying my reputation is ruined, the sister I knew would have stood by me. She would have supp
orted me and the sister I knew would not have led you on when she was meant to be marrying Wayne. That doesn’t sound like Greta at all.”

  “You disbelieve me?”

  “No, of course, I don’t.” Lynne laid a hand over his. Her fingers were still ice-cold. “But I’m concerned about what Greta is up to.”

  So was Jonathan. Greta was giving off very mixed signals, ones that were concerning him. And, from the look of it, they were concerning Lynne. What did Greta achieve by throwing Lynne out the house? Was this because she was scared about the supposed rumors? Or was this for something else?

  It was all making Jonathan’s head hurt.

  Chapter 9

  Having Jonathan there had made Lynne feel better. She needed a shoulder to cry on, a person to listen, and someone who had seen the strangeness and who believed her. Even so, Lynne had been shocked when she heard of what her sister had done. Jonathan had looked torn up about it. Lynne could very well believe that Greta had led him on.

  And yet the Greta she knew would not have done that. What had happened to her sister to make her change so?

  Long after Jonathan left to go home, Lynne lay in one of the guest beds staring at the ceiling and thinking about what he had said. Greta had an ulterior motive, and it was detrimental for Lynne in some way. Was she jealous? Lynne couldn’t believe that. How could a married woman who had a devoted husband be jealous?

  The only way to find out would be to confront her. Lynne still needed to collect her belongings. She would go over after Wayne had left; he didn’t need to hear them fighting. If he knew what Greta had done, he would have his heart broken. Jonathan was right; this would tear the man apart.

  Lynne rose after very little sleep just as the sun was rising. She knew that Wayne headed over to the schoolhouse early, and it was going to be a long walk to their house. Lynne arrived in time to see Wayne walking up the hill toward the schoolhouse. This would be perfect.

  Greta answered the door after Lynne had knocked several times. It was like she was trying to make a point. When she did finally open the door, she stood in the doorway with a dark scowl on her face.