by Danni Roan
Audrey knew that his aunts would be pestering James about when he was getting married or at least when he was going to bring a girl out for a visit.
“I think I’d better see if I can get caught up on work,” he said avoiding the invite. “After all I just got back.”
“Are you sure you’re alright?” Audrey finally asked squeezing James’ hand.
“I am now,” James replied squeezing her hand back. “I think I was just a lot more stressed after the season than I realized.”
“You should have stayed at the beach then. You don’t have to worry about me anymore James,” she smiled. “Now I have Holden to do that for me.” She turned looking at her husband who was sipping his coffee in silence. “I’m not that fragile kid I was all those years ago when I lost mom and dad.”
James almost choked on his coffee, coughing and spluttering until Holden pounded him on the back.
“I can see you’re taking good care of her,” James said. “She’s been a great friend all these years, and I’m glad you two are happy.”
A tiny thread of guilt wriggled inside him as once again he refrained from telling Audrey about her parents. Inside he felt like his heart was in a vice as the conflict stirred.
He felt great loyalty to Audrey who had refused to let him drive her away as an awkward, unwanted youth. But did he have the right to drop this news on her and shatter the life she’d put together over the years.
“Well, I’d better get going,” he finally said pushing back from the table. “Who knows what my apartment looks like by now,” he added trying to lighten the mood.
“You’ll call if you need anything right?” Audrey asked.
“I’ll call.”
Audrey stood wrapping her arms around her friend and hugging him tight. “Why don’t you come out to the farm on Sunday?” she said. “Holden and I will be there, and Lisa and Brooks might show up as well.”
“I’ll let you know,” James said with a grin slipping through the door with a sigh of relief.
Closing the door behind him and adjusting his bag James shook his head. He didn’t think he could keep this secret if he went to the farm. The four Alberton sisters would be sure to figure something out, and once they got the scent of something they were like a terrier with a rat.
“Heaven help me,” he said. How in the world was he supposed to survive this? There wasn’t a single person in the world he could tell who wouldn’t think he had lost his mind.
***
“You think you should have told him you’re thinking of leaving the business?” Holden asked stepping up behind Audrey and wrapping his arms around her waist where she stood rinsing the coffee pot.
“I don’t know,” Audrey said turning into his arms. “He seemed really disturbed last night. You don’t think someone told him do you?”
“Who else knows?” Holden said. “You haven’t decided yet. Shoot we don’t even know where we’re going to live.”
“You’re right,” Audrey said laying her cheek against his chest. “I’m really happy, but I’m not sure how to work this all out.”
“It will come to you,” Holden encouraged.
“You don’t mind our current arrangement. I mean we end up spending about three nights a week apart.”
“Would I rather have you in my bed every night?” Holden teased, “yes, but for now we’re doing fine. I don’t think you should give up your business until you’ve explored every option. We’ve only been married a little more than a month, we have time.”
“Where did you come from and how did I get lucky enough to marry you?” Audrey said with a smile.
“I’m just your little Christmas miracle,” Holden chuckled pulling her into a deep kiss.
Chapter 15
James walked down the hall toward his apartment. The Christmas decorations had been stripped away, and the dull gray carpet and off white walls were as unwelcoming as ever.
Most people he knew couldn’t wait to get home, but he really didn’t care. It was always the same. Open the door to an empty apartment and get to work.
Several people had encouraged him to get a dog, but he didn’t feel that it would be fair with the crazy hours he worked.
Pulling his keys from his pocket he looked up imagining that he’d caught a hint of something red flitting around the corner.
Sorting through his keys he looked down noticing a slim box in front of his door.
Slipping the key into the lock James bent reaching for the box only to jump with a yowl as a sharp pain bit into his back pocket.
“Ow!” he moaned rubbing his offending butt cheek and looking around him. Twisting sideways to look behind him he examined his posterior surprised when he didn’t see anything protruding from his backside. Rubbing his rump he picked up the package, turned the key and stepped into the hollow safety of his apartment.
***
Cupid sniggered as he peeked around the corner of the hall, served the goofy string bean right for leaving that girl without so much as a word.
Laughing more loudly as he made his way toward the exit Q adjusted his back pack jingling the arrows inside. He’d probably get an earful from Mrs. Claus for that one, but sometimes you had to shoot first and ask questions later.
Now he had work to do, his big day was just around the corner, and he was looking forward to finding a happily ever after for Brittany even if he had to shoot long shanks a few thousand times.
***
James dropped his bag as he stepped through the door tossing his keys on the table as he entered the kitchen and pried open the box.
Three black roses stared back at him making him blink.
Lifting the first rose, James grimaced again as a hard thorn pricked his finger making him wince.
“Now who sent me these?” he wondered sucking his finger as he carefully placed the roses on the table looking for a card.
At the very bottom of the box he found a card edged in black.
You shouldn’t have left. Q was all the card said.
James shook his head. Who was Q? Surely this was supposed to be delivered to someone else. He checked the box again but no address was visible.
Shaking his head James tossed the note on the table with his keys and headed for the shower. Maybe he could wash some of the cobwebs away.
Flicking on the stereo for a little noise he made his way to his room. It was time to get back to the real world. For a fleeting moment he wondered what Brittany was doing, and if he would hear from her soon. More than likely though she’d already forgotten all about him and her holiday fling.
Chapter 16
Candy Alberton put on her best dress and fixed her hair. Tonight Nick was taking her up to the hotel for a nice dinner.
Valentine’s Day was just around the corner, but she knew they would have to be home before then, so they had made a date for tonight.
She smiled, applied her bright red lipstick and smacked her lips together. She loved her work, but sometimes it was nice to be the one on the receiving end of a romantic gesture. Playing matchmaker over the years had proven tricky at times, and she wasn’t getting any younger.
“You about ready?” Nick called from the kitchen.
“Almost,” Candy called back slipping her silver necklace over her head and heading out the door.
“My, don’t you look nice,” she said looking her husband up and down. He looked handsome in his charcoal gray suit and bright red tie. “You’ve lost some of that winter weight I see,” she teased stepping up and kissing him.
Nick chuckled. “You my dear are stunning as always. He pulled a rose from behind his back offering it to her with a grin.
“You really pulled out all of the stops didn’t you?”
“You deserve it.”
“I don’t know,” Candy said grabbing her light wrap. “This thing with James, it’s such a disaster.”
“I’m sure it will all work out honey,” Nick said escorting her out the door. “Besides you’ve got Q
on your side.”
Candy laughed. “I hope he behaves himself.”
“I don’t,” Nick laughed. “It’s always more fun that way.”
Candy slapped him gently on the arm. “You’re terrible.”
“I know, but there’s no one to put me on the naughty list, so I don’t care.”
A few minutes later they arrived at the hotel dining room. Soft music was playing and the last rays of the sun set through the wall of windows that faced the sea painted the room in shades of gold.
Nick helped Candy to a chair then took his seat.
“Good evening,” Brittany stepped up to their table with a smile offering them menus. “I’m Brittany, and I’ll be your server today.”
Nick’s grin widened.
“Can I take your drink orders?” Brittany asked. “Or do you still need a few minutes?”
Candy opened her menu then gasped as the tiny pineapple pendent swung free from under Brittany’s collar.
“Oh, did James give that to you?” she blurted before thinking.
Brittany looked down at the little ornament and sighed. “No, he left it behind when he disappeared,” she said simply. When he left me behind she added mentally.
Nick reached out and squeezed his wife’s hand. He could see the worry on her face in an instant.
“I knew he’d gone somewhere, but didn’t he leave you a note or tell you where?” Candy said.
Brittany shook her head a tear springing to her eye. She didn’t want to talk about this. Not even with this sweet old couple. James was gone. If she had meant anything to him, he would have said something.
“I think I’ll have strawberry lemonade,” Nick announced a little too loudly changing the subject before both women could react. “Yes, strawberry lemonade and a kiwi tea for the wife.” His bright eyes bore into Candy’s, and she nodded forcing a smile.
As Brittany left Candy pulled her phone from her bag texting a message as fast as she could.
The reply came back almost immediately.
Don’t worry, I’m on it! Q
***
Brittany hurried home from her shift in the restaurant. She’d hoped a change from the breakfast shack would shake her out of her blues, but meeting the older couple had only made things worse.
The job she had loved so much, the one that would help her realize all of her dreams seemed empty now. She kept telling herself that it was silly to think she had loved James. She’d barely known him a week, but her heart wouldn’t listen.
Opening the door to her room she was surprised to find a bouquet of white roses and a simple note.
Love don’t come easy, but it is always worth it!
Brittany laughed the man from the rain storm must have sent these to make her feel better. She wondered if she ever would. Turning the simple card over in her hand she noticed the address on the back.
Hurrying to her drawer she pulled out the billing information she’d taken from the front desk the day that James had practically vanished into thin air. Scowling when the two addresses matched.
Was it worth going after him? Would demanding an answer really make her feel any better?
Slowly she paced the floor, turning the little card over in her hands as her thoughts raced.
Anger, disappointment, sorrow, and a glimmer of hope mingled in her heart. The little card grew warm in her hands, and she clutched it to her heart feeling as if some tiny bit of that warmth permeated rekindling the fire she’d felt a short time ago.
As she began stuffing clothes into a carry on, her mind made up, Brittany’s phone beeped.
Scrolling onto the messages a single word appeared. BELIEVE was spelled out in capital letters adding fuel to the flame that already burned within. One way or another she was going to find out what had happened to tall dark and dorky.
Chapter 17
James stared at his computer screen not seeing it. He had been working his way though emails and other correspondence since he’d gotten home but his heart wasn’t in it. His heart was back on a tiny tropical island with a golden skinned girl with a bag full of pineapples.
It had already been two days, and he hadn’t heard a word from Brittany. He’d left both his email address and his phone number in his note, but it was becoming painfully obvious that she didn’t feel the same way about him that he did about her.
He had been a complete goober once again, believing her sweet kisses had meant something.
He had almost called the hotel twice already, but that would just be adding insult to injury.
Running a hand over tired eyes he tried to put thoughts of Brittany out of his mind, but it wasn’t his brain that couldn’t let her go.
A heavy knocking on his door roused him, and he slumped through the kitchen to open it.
“Delivery!” a skinny man with a large adam’s-apple said. “Bring it in boys!”
As James stepped back four other men, arms completely full of flowers, candy, and sparkling grape juice marched through his door.
“No, No!” he cried raising his hands and waving them to stop. “There’s been some mistake. I didn’t order this.”
“Your name James Hamilton?”
“Yes, but I didn’t order these. I got another delivery a few days ago,” he indicated the wilted black roses from earlier. “But there must be some mistake.”
The skinny man looked at his electronic notepad then up at James. “Boss says these are for you,” he said with a shrug then motioned for the others to follow him back out the door.
“No, wait! “ James tried again, but the men had all but disappeared.
Slamming his door in frustration James looked at the elegant displays of roses, carnations and pink hydrangeas.
A massive box of fine chocolates sat on the table artfully surrounded by the flowers and offset by a bucket of ice and two fluted glasses.
Snatching his phone from his pocket he began a desperate Google search for the erstwhile recipient of these Valentine’s gifts.
When another knock fell on the door he yanked it open already mid-sentence.
“I already told you these aren’t for me…” he froze his mind reeling as Brittany looked up at him one brow raised over an inquisitive gray eye.
“What’s not for you?” she queried, her voice cool.
A slow smile spread over James’ face as a giddy feeling seemed to rise from his toes to the top of his head.
“You,” he whispered reaching out and pulling her into a hug. She felt like everything good in the world all tied up in one package.
Reluctantly James released Brittany who didn’t return his embrace.
“Who’s all this for?” she said her gray eyes hard as she looked at the Valentine’s display. “I thought you didn’t have anyone in your life.”
“I don’t.” James blinked. What must she be thinking? “I guess you got my note.”
“What note?” Brittany turned to him hope stirring in her heart.
“The note I left for you in the bungalow. It was in an envelope with your name on it.”
“I never got a note,” Brittany said some of the pain seeping into her tone.
“But I left it, it was there. I had to come home suddenly,” James stammered.
“So you left me a note, but you didn’t know I was coming?” Again Brittany looked at the flowers questioningly.
“Brittany,” James sagged he could see that she didn’t believe him. How could he possibly convince her? He’d been so thrilled to see her. Shocked but thrilled.
“This is actually the second time I’ve gotten a delivery that wasn’t for me. I was trying to tell the men who brought this mess, but they wouldn’t listen. I thought that was who was at the door when you knocked.”
Brittany walked to the table looking at each of the items. The flowers were already filling the room with their heady scent.
“You have to believe me,” James pleaded his voice sounded hollow.
Brittany turned looking at him wanting to re
ad the truth in his eyes. “Believe”, the word tumbled from her lips like a prayer. “I think you’d better explain then.”
James looked into Brittany’s gray eyes. He wanted to pull her to him and hold her tight. How could he explain his sudden departure? “You’re going to think I’m crazy,” he sighed slumping into a chair.
Brittany took a chair across from James as the smell of flowers filled the air.
“Do you believe in Santa Claus?” James asked. He couldn’t lie, he couldn’t hold anything back. He needed her to believe him or walk away forever.
Brittany listened to James’ bizarre tale unfold her mind screaming run while her heart cried stay.
Was the man crazy? He was convinced that his best friend’s parents were Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and that instead of them dying in a plane crash years ago, they had ended up at the North Pole as the newest incarnation of the jolly elf and his wife.
“I know it sounds crazy,” James said dropping his head in his hands as he finished his story. “I still can’t get my head around it.”
Absently Brittany opened the box of chocolates and grabbed a piece of candy. She needed something to do with her hands and a minute to compose her thoughts.
“Even if this is true,” she said after a delectable nibble. “Why did you jump on a plane and race home to your friend if you weren’t going to tell her?”
“I was,” James said, “but when I got there she was happy and safe and content. Can you imagine, even if she had believed me, what that would have done to her?”
Brittany popped the rest of the chocolate into her mouth. Even if James was crazy, he honestly believed that these people were real.
“And you really think they are Mr. and Mrs. Claus?”
“I don’t know.” James shook his head. “They are definitely the Albertons though. I can remember the first time I met them. Candy and Nick were so kind to me. They never once looked at me with suspicion in their eyes. I was their daughter’s friend and that was good enough for them.”
Brittany’s heart went out to James, her eyes soft as she stroked his hair.
