FRIDAY EVENING KARA’S heart hammered harder and faster the closer she got to Jason’s log home. She could hardly believe he’d once again called and summoned her to drop everything, grab Samantha and come running.
This time he’d requested the vendor quotes. Of course, she couldn’t blame him. She was supposed to have dropped the report on his desk on her way out the door, but a printer snafu and a phone call from her impatient daughter had left her thoughts scattered. Kara had walked right out the door with the printed report in hand.
But she also had some important information for him. After checking around with other restaurants, she knew what she didn’t like about Bigger Wholesales—they undercut their competition with inferior produce, and a lot of money was lost due to waste.
As she made a left-hand turn onto Jason’s road, she wondered if tonight might be a good time to let him know that she’d done a phone interview with the company in Ohio. Her background check had come back clean and now the only thing standing between her and an office manager position with benefits was for her to accept. She should be excited, or at least relieved, but she couldn’t work up any enthusiasm for leaving her family, home or—most of all—Jason. It’d taken years to be reunited and now, in a blink, they were over.
A groan from behind had Kara glancing in the rearview mirror at her daughter, who was squirming in her seat belt. “Sweetie, what are you doing?”
“I dropped Bubbles.” Guttural grunts sounded. “Got him.”
“Maybe you should leave him in the car so you don’t lose him while we’re at Jason’s. We won’t be long.”
“Bubbles stays with me.”
Not in the mood for an argument, Kara let the subject drop. Jason’s driveway loomed in the distance. A nervous energy made her stomach quiver at the thought of seeing him outside the office, where they didn’t have to maintain a professional facade.
She glanced at the clock. Seven on the dot. They were right on time. She turned into the drive and was floored to find the entire house decked out in multicolored, twinkling Christmas lights. Her mouth gaped open.
“Mommy, look at all those lights.”
“They’re beautiful.”
Tears threatened as she wondered if Jason’s Scrooge-like view on life had at last changed. She quickly tamped down her emotions. It wasn’t as if he’d done this for her. He must be planning to invite the investors to his house for a party or some such thing. He probably hated each and every one of the lights adorning his yard.
She glanced down at the gift she’d wrapped for him, wondering if perhaps she’d chosen the right thing to give him. Would he take offense? Still, she just couldn’t run out and buy him any of the traditional gifts, such as a tie, flannel pajamas or a cheese tray. Those things didn’t say “Jason” to her. But seeing the house all decked out with holiday fare reaffirmed her choice of gifts.
Her insides trembled as she pulled the car to a stop next to the porch. Before she had a chance to decide her next move, Santa stepped out onto the porch.
Santa?
“Mommy. Mommy, look.”
When Santa moved in front of her headlights, and stared back at her through wire-rimmed glasses, Kara gaped again. Why in the world was the man she’d commonly thought of as Scrooge all dressed up like the jolliest man at the North Pole?
She swallowed hard, trying to comprehend what was going on here.
“Mommy, doesn’t Jason look neat?” Samantha opened the door and scooted out of the backseat.
Too late to back out now.
He walked down the steps in his black boots and out the walk to greet them. Kara immediately noticed his lean waist had grown into a very plump tummy, with a thick black belt and a gold buckle holding everything in place.
“Ho-ho-ho.” His deep voice rumbled.
“You make a good Santa,” Samantha said, patting his rounded belly.
“And have you been naughty or nice?” he asked, in a Santa-like voice. “Ho-ho-ho.”
Kara couldn’t help but laugh. What in the world had gotten into him?
When she regained her composure, she asked, “Um...are we early?”
“You’re right on time. You and Samantha are my only guests.”
Her eyes opened wide. “You planned all this for us? What about the vendor report?”
“We’ll go over it Monday at the office. Afraid that was just a ruse to get you here.” He smiled sheepishly. “I know how much you enjoy the holidays and I thought you might appreciate the decorations. Do you like them?”
Samantha ran off to check out the various Christmassy figurines lining the porch, leaving the two adults with a little bit of privacy.
Kara gazed up into Jason’s blue eyes and her world tilted off center. Giving a little tug on his cottony beard, she said, “I like Santa best of all.”
“I’m so sorry, Kara. I was such a jerk the other night—”
“We’ve both done things we aren’t proud of. I should have been totally straight with you from the beginning about what occurred after you left town.”
His steady gaze held hers. “I wanted to show you just how much you both mean to me.”
She bestowed upon him her biggest and brightest smile. “Well, Santa, you’ve outdone yourself. Especially today with your father. Thank you for making the effort.”
“No, thank you. You finally talked some sense into me. It was way past time that my father and I patched things up. We’ll never be candidates for a Norman Rockwell painting, but we’ve made peace with each other, and you won’t have to worry about him so much anymore. I’ll be there for him.”
“I’m glad.” She squeezed his arm.
“Let’s go inside,” he said, climbing the steps and opening the door for them.
When Kara stepped inside, Sly ran up to her with a loud meow, followed by a boisterous purr as she rubbed against her ankles. Kara bent down and ran her hand over the feline’s satiny fur.
“Hey, sweetie. I missed you, too.”
As though understanding Kara’s words, Sly paused, lifted her golden eyes and meowed in agreement.
“Wow. A kitty.” Samantha ran over and dropped to her knees.
Sly scampered away to a safe distance before turning and taking in the little girl with a cautious stare.
“Come here, Sly,” Jason called to the cat.
Sly paused. Big, curious eyes checked them out before she sauntered over. In one fluid motion, Jason scooped up the cat in one arm and started to pet her.
“This is my friend Samantha,” he said close to the cat’s inky-black ear. “She’s really nice.” He leaned toward the little girl. “Go ahead and pet her head.”
Kara smiled as Santa did his best to make her daughter feel at home. Her eyes glistened as she took in this tender moment. What in the world did all this mean? She didn’t want to jump to conclusions. She was certain Jason would eventually explain.
In the background, she spotted the Christmas tree exactly as she’d left it. She couldn’t stop smiling. Jason had let the joy of the holiday back into his heart. A happy tear splashed on her cheek. She swiped it away with the back of her hand.
Samantha ran over to the tree and sat on the floor next to it. The sleek feline followed, eventually rubbing against her arm.
“Look, Sly, at all the presents. There’s three with my name on them.” Samantha glanced over her shoulder at Jason. “Can I open them now?”
“Sure. If it’s okay with your mom.”
Kara nodded. As Samantha ripped into her gifts, Jason draped an arm over Kara’s shoulders. “I hope I did okay. I’ve never bought toys for a little girl before. In fact, I’ve never bought toys before, period.”
After Samantha unwrapped a pink plush cat, a jewelry and makeup kit, and an electronic game, Kara said, “Samantha, don’t we have a gift for Jason?”
Her daughter rushed over, removed a wrapped package from Kara’s oversize purse and handed it to him. “It’s your turn.”
“What’s this?” he asked, giving it a little shake.
Samantha shrugged.
“Just a little something,” Kara stated.
He tore off the wrapping paper in much the same frenzied fashion as her daughter. “The angel.” His brow crinkled. “But I gave this to Samantha.”
Kara pressed a finger to his lips, stopping his protest. “This is a very precious gift, and Samantha and I enjoyed having her atop our tree. But it was time she came home where she belongs—with you.” The same place I want to be, she almost added, but held her tongue. A heavy sadness settled in her heart as she blinked back the moisture gathering in her eyes.
Jason disappeared into the kitchen and returned with three champagne glasses. “Here’s some sparkling cider. I thought it would fit the occasion.” He handed each of them a glass and then held his high. “Here’s to the two most wonderful ladies.” He paused, clearing his throat. “May your futures be everything you want them to be.”
Kara clinked her glass with his and forced a smile on her face. “And to a successful reopening.”
She glanced up at him and saw the puzzled look in his eyes. He must have picked up something in her expression. Deep inside, she didn’t want to move away. Living in a city meant there’d be no yard to plant spring flowers, and Samantha would have to go to an after-school day-care center while she worked, instead of staying with her doting grandparents. City life would be very different from what she’d imagined for her and Samantha.
And most of all, Jason wouldn’t be around to drop by on a moment’s notice. Oh, how she’d miss him, and the chance of them being more than just old friends. Sometimes life could be unfair.
Still, she couldn’t discuss her reservations about the move. She had to maintain a positive front not only for Samantha but for herself. Kara stiffened her spine and swallowed down her misery. She’d wait until the day after Christmas to break the news of the move to her daughter. She didn’t want to ruin the holiday.