CHAPTER ELEVEN
When Chad and Ashley arrived, Peter hurried to his parents to tell them about his day. He didn’t fail to mention that Lindy had promised to take him to play in the snow after Christmas.
“You’re a brave woman,” her brother told her.
“I want Billy to come, too,” Peter added.
Chad’s brows lifted in question. “Peter invited him,” she said. Although she hoped he would be able to join them, it all depended on his schedule.
With Chad, Ashley, and Peter there, the house was filled with excited chatter about their day and plans for Christmas. Taking hold of Lindy’s hand, Peter brought her over to the nativity her mother had set up on the table by the tree. He stood with wide eyes in front of the figures displayed there.
“I don’t know why the baby Jesus had to sleep in the hay.”
“Because there was no room for his mom and dad at the inn,” Lindy explained.
“Was it cold in the barn?” he asked.
“I’m sure it was warm for Him and his mom and dad.”
“Good.”
That appeared to appease Peter.
“Aunt Lindy,” Peter said, holding on to her hand. “Did you know Santa is coming to our house?”
“Did you write him a letter to tell him what you wanted for Christmas?” she asked, enjoying the way he looked up at her, his sweet, innocent face filled with the excitement of the holidays.
“I don’t write good yet. But I can write my name.”
“I saw that and was impressed. You’re growing up so fast.”
“I like school.”
Lindy knew Peter attended a preschool three days a week, and was amazed with all he was learning. It seemed every week her young nephew blew her away with some new accomplishment.
“Did you have fun with the paper-chain set I mailed you?” she asked.
“Lindy, that was the best,” Ashley told her, joining them. Six months into the pregnancy, she was starting to show a little more every day. It’d been the same with Peter. Ashley didn’t begin to look pregnant until the end of her seventh month. If she were ever to have children, Lindy hoped…Her thoughts came to an abrupt halt. She couldn’t imagine where these ideas were coming from. Children? Her?
“Peter and Chad put together that paper chain in no time.”
“We put it on the Christmas tree,” Peter said. “It’s pretty.”
Lindy had found the paper-chain kit in a catalog and ordered it for Peter, knowing how much he’d enjoy it.
At six, when her mother set dinner on the table, Billy had yet to show. Ellen looked to Lindy, as if to seek her advice.
“Should we wait?” she asked.
Before she could answer, the doorbell rang. Billy had arrived.
Lindy was surprised with how well Billy fit in with her family, especially her dad. It was as if he’d been part of their Christmas traditions for years. Chad and Ashley and Peter planned to spend Christmas Eve with Ashey’s parents. The two families traded off the holidays. This year it was the Carmichaels’ turn for Christmas Day. Christmas morning was reserved for Chad and Ashley and young Peter to set their own family traditions. Then, in the afternoon, they would come for dinner and the gift exchange.
Lindy knew it was a delicate balance when in-laws became involved. She admired her parents, who along with Ashley’s had come up with a workable plan so neither family felt as if they were being slighted.
Chad and Billy chatted away like long-lost friends. It pleased Lindy how accepting her family was of him. Lindy sat next to Billy at the table. He reached for her hand and gave her fingers a gentle squeeze as if to say how pleased he was to be with her.
Naturally, the topic of her childhood letter to Santa arose, and Lindy was the subject of a lot of teasing. Seeing how much she enjoyed being with Billy, she took the joking in stride, laughing along with them.
The hour flew past as if it were only minutes, and all too soon Billy rose, declining dessert. Lindy walked him to the door. With his touch at her elbow, Billy gently pulled her outside and wrapped her in his arms to kiss her. She could easily grow accustomed to Billy’s kisses. If she remained in town much longer, she feared they would quickly become addictive.
Once again, she reminded herself whatever this attraction was between them wasn’t meant to last. With every passing day she struggled to remember this could be only a holiday fling. Every time Billy kissed her, however, it became harder to hold on to that resolve.
“Can you stop by the restaurant later?” he asked, knotting his hands at the small of her back and looking down on her.
With his eyes full of warmth and hope, she found it difficult to refuse him. “You’re going to be busy, maybe—”
“It’s always busy. I’ll find time to steal away, even if it’s just for a few minutes.”
Lindy gave in for the simple reason that she wanted to spend time with him, however long he could spare. “I probably won’t be able to get away until after ten.”
“Anytime. I’ll take what I can get.”
Lindy felt the same. Whatever few minutes he had to spare would be worth the hassle. She’d help her mother with cleanup and spend as much time with Chad, Ashley, and Peter as she could. Because Peter would need to go to bed at a decent hour, she suspected they wouldn’t stay much later than nine.
Once Billy left, Lindy helped her mother clear the table and dealt with the leftovers. Peter was vying for her attention as she started stacking dishes in the washer. Her mother shooed her out of the kitchen to entertain Peter.
Her nephew was a precious little boy, curious and eager to learn and grow. Smart, too. The range of his vocabulary shocked her.
“Can you come live with us, Aunt Lindy?” he asked, as he sat at her side with a book in his hand.
“I live in Seattle, remember?”
“But couldn’t you move here?”
“My apartment is there,” she explained patiently.
“You could get an apartment here,” he said, reasoning with her with his head tilted back to look up at her. His dark brown eyes implored her.
“My job is there, too. I go to work each day just like your mom and dad. There are people who would miss me if I left.” How Lindy wished that were true, although she suspected her coworkers at Media Blast wouldn’t.
Peter sighed and leaned his head against the side of her arm. “You could work here. Daddy works here, and Mommy, too.”
Rather than go into details and lengthy explanations, Lindy opened the book. “Maybe someday,” she said, hoping that would satisfy her sweet nephew.
“When Mommy says ‘someday,’ that means no,” he said with a pout.
Lindy laughed. The kid was smarter than she gave him credit. “Are you ready for the story?” she asked, hoping to change the subject.
“Okay.”
The story was one Lindy had from her own childhood, about the donkey in the stable who stood guard over the manger. The much-loved book was held together with duct tape on the binding. As she read the story, she glanced down at Peter and watched as his eyes slowly drifted closed, even while he fought to stay awake. By the time she finished the last page, he was slouched against her side and sound asleep.
Chad sat down on the ottoman in front of Lindy. “Tell me about you and Billy,” he said, not bothering to ease into the subject.
“What’s there to tell? We connected and I’m enjoying his company.”
“Are you two serious?”
Lindy laughed off the question. “No. We’re having fun together while I’m home. That’s it.”
“You sure about that? I saw him watching you at dinner, and sis, I have to tell you, he had the look.”
“The look?” Chad had to be joking. Sure, she’d spent time with Billy, more with him than anyone else—well, other than her parents and Peggy. She’d been home less than a week, and that was far too soon for “the look.”
“Be careful,” Chad advised, his eyes growing serious.
“I think you’re imagining things, little brother. Billy is far too preoccupied with his restaurant. He knows I’m in town only until the first of the year.”
“I’m not worried about Billy,” her brother said. “My concern is for you.”
“Me?” she asked with a slight laugh, finding his observation just short of hilarious.
“Yes, you. I saw how Billy looked at you, but I also noticed the way you looked at him, and it was telling. I know how upset you were over Brian and Celeste. I never said anything, but I was never keen on Brian. I figured in time he’d show his true colors, and he did. I will say this, though, I like Billy. I don’t think you’d be wrong to consider a more permanent relationship with him.”
Her brother’s words gave Lindy pause. Perhaps he was right and she was setting herself up for more heartache. She assumed she’d learned her lesson. This thing with Billy had started out as…what? She couldn’t be sure. It went all the way back to her letter to Santa all those years ago.
Something powerful had happened the day they’d spent in Leavenworth. The sleigh ride, sitting on Santa’s lap…the kisses.
Oh yes, those kisses.
“Hey,” Chad said, interrupting her musings. “I didn’t upset you, did I?”
“No, you gave me something to think about. The thing is, I have no intention of getting seriously involved with Billy. It wouldn’t work, for all the reasons I’ve already mentioned.”
“That’s too bad, because the two of you are good together.”
Ashley came to stand beside Chad, with one hand rubbing the slight mound of her tummy. “It’s time we head out,” she said. “I hate to go, but Peter needs his sleep, and for that matter, so do I. We’ve got two busy days ahead of us.”
Chad stood and gently lifted his son from the chair. Ashley, careful not to wake the sleeping boy, placed his arms in his winter coat. Lindy’s parents helped usher them out the door while confirming the time they planned to arrive on Christmas Day.
Her mother had spent the afternoon cooking, and yawned as she returned to the house.
“Sit down, Mom,” Lindy urged. “Relax. Let me get you a cup of peppermint tea.”
“Thank you, sweetie.” Ellen didn’t argue as she sat in her favorite chair in the family room and reached for her knitting.
All too soon her parents were both settled in front of the television, and Lindy knew this was the best time for her to leave to see Billy.
“I’m going to head out for a little bit,” she said.
Her father nodded, as if it was what he expected. “We like Billy,” he said, letting her know without saying it that he knew where she was headed.
Dressed in her coat and gloves, she felt she needed to clarify the situation. “We aren’t serious.”
Both her parents looked away from the television at the same time and focused their eyes directly on her. Neither said anything. No need, their expressions said it all. It felt like the two of them, along with Chad, had insider information she had yet to receive.
With all the verbal and nonverbal warnings given to her this evening, Lindy should probably avoid Billy. She toyed with sending a text and making an excuse. That seemed wrong, after she’d already agreed. Once in her car and on her way to the Wine Press, Lindy admitted she wanted to be with Billy, and to tell herself otherwise would be a lie.
The parking lot was full when she arrived. That likely meant Billy would be unable to sneak away even for a limited amount of time. Which should be enough to discourage her, only it wasn’t.
Entering the lounge, she found him behind the bar with another bartender, filling orders with an expert hand. When he saw her, he smiled and said something to the other bartender.
Lindy found an empty seat and sat while she patiently waited for Billy. Within a few minutes one of the servers stepped behind the bar and Billy made his way to her.
“Busy night,” she said, stating the obvious.
“Very. It’ll slow down after the first of the year, when the credit-card statements hit the mail and reality sets in.”
So true. Lindy remembered last Christmas when she saw the balance on her own credit card. It was ramen noodles for dinner for the entire month.
“You should take care of business,” she said, looking at the crowded room and how busy the bar section was. “We can connect tomorrow.”
Billy intertwined their fingers and shook his head. “I don’t care how busy we are. I don’t want you to leave.”
His words made a direct hit to her heart—bull’s-eye. Right away her brother’s warning took root. It was time she owned up to the fact that she was seriously in danger of falling for Billy Kincade.
“What are your plans for tomorrow?” he asked.
Her mind was mush. It took her a long moment before she was able to respond. “Peggy phoned before dinner with some crazy scheme she wouldn’t tell me over the phone. I’m meeting her for coffee. Then there’s the Christmas Eve church service with Mom and Dad.”
“Do you think you could squeeze me in?”
Feeling as if she was getting in over her head, she should make an excuse and tell him her day was already full. She didn’t, though. So much for her resolve! Instead, she nodded, knowing she wouldn’t deny him and at the same time herself.
“Give me thirty minutes and I’ll be back.” He slid off the seat and kissed her forehead.
“Okay.”
He left, and within a couple minutes a server brought a glass of red wine to her table. While waiting, she watched the bar crowd and noticed a large party was calling for their tab. After they left, the bar area quieted down, and Lindy was able to hear the Christmas music for the first time.
As soon as the door closed on the group, Billy joined her. He looked dead on his feet, with little wonder. He was at the restaurant long before it opened and then late into the night. Those kinds of hours would drain anyone’s energy. She wished there were something she could do to ease his work schedule.
“I wanted to tell you all the compliments I’ve gotten on the website,” he said, as he relaxed in the seat, sitting beside her.
“That’s great.”
“A couple friends asked me who designed it. I won’t pass along your name unless you want me to.”
She shook her head. “I won’t be in town long enough. Sorry.”
Billy took hold of her hand and gazed down at it, as if something were written there that he needed to decipher. “You’re returning to Seattle?” He made it into a question.
“Of course. It’s where I live and work.”
He nodded, as if needing the reminder.
Not wanting the conversation to wander down this road, she changed the subject. “What’s your Christmas going to be like?” she asked, brightly, perhaps a bit too cheerfully.
Billy took the hint. “I’ll spend it with my sister and her family. Your mom gave me the time to stop by in my Santa costume for Peter and that’s about it.”
“What about your mother?”
His eyes grew sad. “She died three years ago.”
“Oh, Billy, I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”
He accepted her condolence. “She never remarried, worked all her life, and just when she was to a point where she could enjoy a bit of leisure time, she came down with this virus that went into her lungs. It was quick. Before we had a chance to realize how serious it was, she was gone.”
“Have you had contact with your dad over the years?” It was a personal question and one he might not want to answer. “I shouldn’t have asked that.”
Billy squeezed her fingers; Lindy doubted he was aware he had. It appeared to be a jerk reaction to her mentioning his father. “Dad remarried after he left us that Christmas and started a new family. It was like he wanted to start over. Mom, Dede, and I were part of a past he wiped from his memory. It was as if we no longer existed. Dede reached out to him a couple times, and he made sure she knew it wasn’t appreciated.”
Hearing this made Lindy want to cry. “What a snake,” she said, angry on Billy’s behalf.
“He’s gone as well. He died in a boating accident on the Columbia River. Another boat slammed into his and his boat sank. His body was recovered several days later. Mom heard about it on the news and told Dede and me.”
Lindy had little sympathy for the man who had wreaked havoc in young Billy’s life.
“The thing is,” Billy said, still looking down at her hand, which was swallowed up in his much larger one, “he did us a favor by leaving. It didn’t seem that way at the time. It felt as if our entire world imploded. We moved in with my grandparents for a while and then later into a tiny apartment while Mom worked two jobs. Both Dede and I had to grow up fast. We learned the value of hard work and a deep appreciation for what we had. We lived in terror of him and his dark moods when he was home. The truth is, we were better off without him.”
Lindy agreed and was forever grateful for the love and strong relationship her parents shared. This same tenderness and concern were what she hoped to find in her own life partner.
Lindy noticed that the bar was as busy as it had been earlier. Billy needed to get back to work.
“I’m headed home. What time should I stop by tomorrow?” she asked.
“Anytime. I’ll be around all day.”
“You aren’t closing for Christmas Eve?”
He shook his head. “We’re booked solid the entire day.”
She sensed he would have liked to close early, not only for himself but for his staff. Turning away business would be difficult, especially when he was still getting his feet under him financially.
“I’ll walk you to your car.”
“Billy, it’s okay. You’re busy.”
“Not too busy to see you safely to your car,” he insisted.
When they started outside, Lindy noticed a light snowfall. “I do so love it when it snows this close to Christmas,” she said, looking up at the sky and the flakes slowly drifting down to cover the landscape.
Billy opened her car door for her, and after she was safely tucked inside, he leaned down and kissed her. “Sleep well.”
“You, too,” she whispered.
Billy stood in the parking lot, snow gently swirling around him as she eased onto the street to drive back to her parents’ house.
As she pulled into the driveway of the family home, her phone rang. She reached for it and hesitated when she saw the name on the screen. It rang a second and a third time before she found the courage to answer.
“Hello, Celeste,” she said, keeping her voice cool and calm.