Chapter Fifteen

“Don’t worry, Brian. I’ll call you every ten minutes. It’s okay. She’s going to be fine. Yes, I’ll tell her you love her. Bye for now.” Ally hung up Noel’s cell phone and tucked it away in her pants pocket. She’d used it to give the laboring mother’s husband updates from the moment Noel was whisked away to Doc Baker’s clinic in a wheelchair. There was a five-foot artificial Christmas tree in the corner by the window in the clinic waiting room. Ally stood beside it, having moved away from the others to take Brian’s call. She noticed the tree was dark, bent down, and plugged it in. She glanced out the window and saw that it was snowing again. She could see Charlie’s diner just across the street, the neon “Season’s Greetings” sign glowing in the darkened window. Maddie had written the latest sandwich board quote in large letters, and Ally could read it from where she stood.

Christmas isn’t a season, it’s a feeling.

It was a minute before midnight, and Ally noticed another quote. It was painted on the glass of the clinic window just beneath Dr. Thomas Baker, MD. Family: where life begins, and love never ends. Ally looked around the waiting room. There was Tina sitting in a chair, legs crossed, flipping through a movie magazine, smiling at something she was reading. She saw Robbie sitting on the floor on one side of a coffee table. Maddie was on the other; they were playing Connect Four. Maddie dropped in a chip.

“And you win again,” Robbie said.

“That’s five for me, one for you,” Maddie said.

“Thanks for rubbing it in,” Robbie said.

“I can’t help it if you’re a total loser,” Maddie said.

“Way harsh,” Robbie said.

Ally smiled and looked at Jake. He was reading a copy of Field & Stream. There was a fly fisherman on the cover with a fishing rod in one hand, a massive salmon in the other. Jake seemed to feel Ally’s eyes on him and looked her way. He gave her a smile, and she went over to him, sat down next to him.

“It’s after midnight,” Jake said, “which makes it officially Christmas Eve.”

“Yes,” Ally said. “Who would have guessed I’d ring in Christmas Eve in Bethlehem waiting on a baby to be born?”

“Perfectly poetic,” Jake said.

“Yeah.” She sighed. It was a wistful sigh, a contented one.

A middle-aged nurse came out from the back. She waited as everybody stopped what they were doing and gave her their undivided attention. “Mother and baby are doing just fine. Noel gave birth to a healthy seven-pound four-ounce baby girl.” Ally felt her eyes fill, and for some strange reason, her first thought was of Tim and a conversation they’d once had while curled up watching Netflix on the couch.

“I don’t think I want kids,” Tim had said as casually as if he was talking about dessert instead of their future. Ally had remembered feeling suddenly empty when he’d said it. They’d had no discussion, no back-and-forth, nothing. She’d felt a strange sense of rejection, of being cut off from something, a family dream she’d carried since she was a little girl. But, instead of grabbing the remote and pausing the TV, instead of pulling him into a conversation about the matter, she’d just responded in a nonchalant voice: “me either.” But she knew even then she didn’t mean it. Maybe she had felt that way at first, when they were just starting out and she was building her career. But, as time passed, the pull of her childhood dream returned. Ally wanted a family. Children. The whole shebang. Then, why did she just casually agree when Tim broached the subject? Why did she let him think she was on the same side of the issue? Was she just trying to put off the confrontation she knew was coming? Did she fear this inevitable altercation would put an end to the Ally and Tim story?

The subject was never really discussed after that, except Tim would occasionally bring it up when they were out together and they saw a set of parents dealing with unruly kids.

“So glad that’s not us,” Tim would say, or “I don’t know how they do it.” And Ally would always quickly agree and then shift topics, for, deep inside, she knew that—despite the chaos they were presently dealing with—she envied those parents. And she wept for that little-girl dream of family. She never fully understood why she hadn’t stood up to Tim, why she hadn’t spoken her mind. Maybe she was afraid of losing him. Maybe she was afraid kids would wreck her career. Or maybe she was afraid she didn’t have the right stuff to be a mom.

But, standing in that waiting room just after midnight on Christmas Eve morning, she suddenly felt something as she heard that Chelsea Rose had entered the world. Ally felt she’d been given a second chance. She turned and looked at Jake, and all the rubbish about them being from different worlds seemed to just vanish into thin air. He was a good man and kind and decent, and she couldn’t imagine him in a million years taking all her money and running off with some yoga bunny. He was there in her life, by accident or fate, exactly when she needed someone. And, as their eyes met and lingered together, she could feel that he cared for her, that he believed she was someone special.

Ally thought the kiss that followed seemed as natural as breathing, like Balasana or a movie kiss that came at just the right moment in the rain or under a streetlamp or framed against a glorious sunset. Only, her first kiss with Jake took place in the waiting room of Dr. Tom Baker’s medical clinic early on Christmas Eve morning, the morning Chelsea Rose Rogers came into the world.

Ally thought about how Jake had dreaded December 24th, had been haunted by its memories. She wondered if the kiss had helped him find a new way to remember that day of days. She hoped so. The neon light in the room was too bright, the chairs a little worn, and they had an audience. Ally didn’t care. To her, the kiss was perfectly timed. Later, she wouldn’t be able to recall if she kissed him first or he kissed her, just that it happened so naturally and suddenly, sitting side by side on those cheap waiting room chairs. The kiss was as sweet and soft as Jake’s lips, and, as her eyes closed, she felt a sudden wave of euphoria, a girlish giddiness that took her back to a time when all her romantic dreams were still years ahead of her. When the possibilities of life were endless.

When the kiss was over, Ally opened her eyes and moved back from him. Jake was watching her, a half smile, half-surprised look on his face, as if he couldn’t quite process what had just happened. Ally could see that his eyes were clear on the matter, though. He’d loved it just as much as she had. Then, as if snapping out of some romantic trance, Ally turned to the room. Everybody was watching her, watching them. Jake’s face had turned bright red. Oh boy, Ally thought. I just kissed him.

Tina bailed her out. “This calls for a toast,” she said, getting up from her chair. “Jake, you got any sparkling cider in the walk-in?”

“Believe so,” he said.

“Be right back,” Tina said. She headed to the door, then turned back as if she’d forgotten something. “And no more kissing unless I’m here to witness it.” Ally felt her cheeks flush crimson, but she had to smile. The nurse poked her head through the door again.

“Ally? Noel’s asking for you.”

…

“Ah, there she is. Our mother here’s been asking for you.”

Dr. Baker was standing at the foot of Noel’s patient bed, making notes on his chart when Ally stepped into the doorway. The light was low and dim, and Noel was a big lump of sheets and blankets, cradling a little bundle in both arms. She beamed when she saw Ally, and Ally again felt happy tears well up in her eyes. For that moment, standing in the doorway, the thought of motherhood drop-kicked her right in the heart. Yes. There was no doubt. She yearned for her own little swaddled bundle just like the one Noel was holding on a snowy Christmas Eve morning in Bethlehem.

Dr. Baker nodded to Ally as he headed out of the room. “I’ll leave you three alone.”

“Hey,” Noel said. “Look what I did.”

Ally came over to her and took a seat in a chair next to the bed. Ally gently brushed her hand through the newborn’s fine hair.

“Noel, she’s beautiful. You done good.”

“Thanks,” Noel said. “She’s perfect, huh?”

Ally nodded. “Yeah. She sure is.”

“The moment I saw her, and held her…all that stuff I was worried about just vanished into thin air.” Ally smiled. Will I get the chance to feel that someday? “Here,” Noel said. She handed her newborn daughter to Ally. Ally took the bundle from her and cradled her. She smiled down at the tiny face and nose and fingers. The baby’s eyes were closed; she was breathing with the perfect rhythm of her very first nap. “Ally Henderson, meet Chelsea Rose Rogers.”

“Welcome to the world, Chelsea Rose,” Ally said. Ally moved her finger up to tickle the baby’s tiny fingers, and the baby’s mini-hand clasped it. Ally smiled, looked at Noel as if to say “see what she’s doing?”

“I know your life has sucked lately,” Noel said, “but I just wanted to thank you for being there for me. It means everything.” Ally smiled at her friend and marveled at the teeny fingers gripping hers.

“Well, there are moments that certainly haven’t sucked,” Ally said. “This being at the top of the list.” Noel’s smartphone hummed in Ally’s pocket. “That would be your husband. I’ve been using your phone to give him regular updates.” Ally slipped out the phone, handed it to Noel, and took the baby to the window.

“Hey baby,” Noel said into the phone. Ally looked out and watched the snow falling on Bethlehem as she slowly rocked baby Chelsea on her shoulder. Her life had taken such a strange detour, yet something about that moment, the town, the whole strange world she’d dropped into seemed oddly…perfect. And, as she held the warm newborn in her arms and looked out on the glimmering square, she suddenly felt that home had a whole new meaning for her. She whispered a quote she’d once seen on a calendar one of her yoga clients had given her for her birthday. It was by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.

Where we love is home—home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.

“Ally?” She looked over at Noel. She was holding up the phone. “Brian wants to see his daughter.”

When she finally crawled back in bed at Peggy’s, Ally scarcely slept a wink. Surprisingly, she missed having Noel in bed beside her. She was still amped up from the excitement of winning the bake-off, a first kiss, and the arrival of Chelsea Rose.

She slept less than an hour, then rose early on Christmas Eve morning to find that Peggy had made her a breakfast of waffles, eggs, and orange juice. They watched the TV on the kitchen counter as newscasters speculated if, perhaps, they might be able to reopen the airports Christmas Day. Weathercasters gave it a fifty-fifty chance. Peggy sat at the kitchen counter with Ally and reminisced about what it was like growing up in Bethlehem. She talked of how she met her husband when they were both three years old, how he first proposed to her at six, and then again at least once a year until she finally said “yes” when they were eighteen.

“It was graduation night,” Peggy said. “The graduation dance. And we weren’t even dating. I was with David Doane. David was heading off to college in the fall, and I was going with him. He was such a catch. Was going to be a lawyer. And then Charlie Nelson walks up to me and asks me to dance.”

“And what did David Doane think about that?” Ally asked.

“He didn’t even know. He was out behind the gym, drinking with his buddies. He was so sure he had me in his hip pocket. He got a little cocky. So, Charlie walks up, a boy I’d known most of my life, and I say ‘if you’re going to propose again, Charlie Nelson, you can just forget it. I’ve already decided I’m going to marry David Doane.’ Well, Charlie just gives me that grin of his and says ‘I wouldn’t marry you if you were the last girl in Bethlehem, maybe the whole damn state.’”

“Wow,” Ally said. “That’s a little harsh.”

Peggy smiled. “I knew he was still in love with me. It was written all over his face. I told him that he was being rude and to please leave me alone. And he said that he’d just come over to tell me that he couldn’t wait until I left town, that it would be cause to celebrate.”

“He must have really loved you,” Ally said with a smile.

Peggy laughed. “I said ‘thank you for your kind words, Charles. Have a nice life.’ He turned to walk away and suddenly ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You’ by Frankie Valli came on. That was our song. We had our first kiss to that song when we were fifteen at the freshman dance. So, we look at each other, and I can’t help but smile. Charlie says ‘One last dance? For old times’ sake?’”

“Sounds pretty romantic,” Ally said. “Like a movie.”

“Yes,” Peggy said. “It was. So, Charlie takes my hand and leads me out onto the middle of the dance floor. And, right when they got to the part that goes Oh pretty baby. Don’t bring me down I pray. Oh, pretty baby… The lights go out. Some prankster no doubt was responsible. Well, then I felt Charlie move in until his face was right up next to mine. And then—he kissed me. It wasn’t like the little peck he gave me when we were fifteen. It was a real kiss, and I don’t want to be crude, but, as he pressed against me, I could feel how much he really liked me.”

Ally gasped, a little surprised at Peggy. “And? David Doane?”

Peggy laughed. “He was history from that moment on. Charlie and I left together, and I didn’t even think about my date until later. We walked all over town, ended up climbing the old water tower at the south end of town. We watched the sun come up, and Charlie told me he loved me and wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. That was in May, and we were married three weeks later.”

“Wow,” Ally said. “That’s some story.”

Peggy sighed. “Yes. We were married over forty years, had Tina and Jake. Quite frankly, the best kids ever. Jake reminds me so much of his father, except he’s a bit more reserved. I just hope—when the time comes—he doesn’t let true love fly away without at least telling her how he feels.”

Ally gave Peggy a look. She wished the same for Jake. He was a good man. He deserved to find true love.

After breakfast with Peggy, Ally was feeling a little stir-crazy and wanted to head down to Doc Baker’s to check on Noel and baby Chelsea. The late morning air was invigoratingly cold. As she made her way into town, Ally counted back how many days she’d been in Bethlehem. Had it really been only four? It seemed like she’d been there at least a month, and in a good way. As she walked into the square, people called out to her as they passed. She was surprised how many people she knew already, how many names she remembered.

“Morning, George.”

“Morning, Ally.”

“Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas to you, too.”

“How are you, Mrs. Wilkins? Love the hat.”

“Thank you, Ally.”

Ally paid a visit to Noel and heard all about Chelsea’s first day of life. The new mom said she’d been on the phone with hubby Brian most of the morning.

“You need to get yourself one of these,” Noel said, smiling at her sleeping newborn.

Ally laughed. “Maybe I’ll order one on Amazon.”

“I’m serious,” Noel said.

“Think I need a baby daddy first,” Ally said. “Unless Brian has a friend.”

Noel laughed. “All Brian’s friends are idiots.”

“So,” Ally said, “what does Doc say about when you’re getting out of here?”

“He said I can leave later today,” Noel said. “I’m ready. This bed is pretty uncomfortable. Oh, and I heard we all might be able to get out of here tomorrow.”

“We?” Ally said. “I don’t think so, kiddo. You’re not quite ready to travel.”

“I know,” Noel said. “But it’s okay. I’ve kind of grown to love it here. I’ll sure miss Brian, though. I guess FaceTime will have to do for now. We can celebrate a late Christmas when Chelsea Rose and I finally get home. Right?”

“Of course you can,” Ally said. “A late Christmas is better than no Christmas.”

Noel laughed at Ally’s quip. “Oh, and Ally, just so you know. People are saying things.”

Ally narrowed her brow. “Saying things? About what?”

“Jake…and you.”

“Jake and me? There is no Jake and me. What do you mean?” Looks like news of the kiss spread like wildfire, Ally thought. Small towns.

“Well,” Noel said, “almost everyone who’s stopped in to see me has said that Jake hasn’t seemed this happy in a long while. They all think it’s because of you. Oh, and they’re talking about a kiss. Did you kiss him?”

Ally gave herself away with a sheepish smile. “Wait a second,” she said. “Everyone who’s come to see you? Who all’s been visiting you and talking about Jake and me?”

“Lots of people,” Noel said. “There’s Libby and Robbie from the diner, and Doc Baker’s wife Bertie. Tina and Maddie were by earlier. Peggy came really early this morning while you were still in bed. Jake, too. He brought me a muffin. It’s been like a revolving door. And it’s been great. Makes me and Chelsea feel so loved.”

“Wow,” Ally said. “I had no idea. So, they really said that about Jake? That he seemed happier?”

“They sure did,” Noel said. “They’ve noticed that he’s got sort of a new skip in his step, and they’ve been watching you two. They think you guys look good together.”

Ally could feel her earlobes glowing. She wasn’t sure how to feel about that.

“Okay,” Ally said. “I’m going to go, but I’ll be back to check on you and baby Chelsea later.” Ally leaned down and gave Chelsea a kiss on the head.

“See you later,” Noel said. Ally started for the door. “Are you going to Charlie’s?”

Ally hesitated in the doorway. “Yes. Why?”

Noel smiled. “No reason. Tell Jake I said hello.”

Ally shook her head and gave Noel a little wink. “Will do.”

…

It was a little after eleven thirty, and a few snow flurries were dancing about when Ally crossed the street from Doc Baker’s clinic to Charlie’s Diner. Just as she reached the front door, it opened and Amelia stepped out, carrying a to-go bag. She looked wholesomely collegiate in her Colorado State pullover sweatshirt. She smiled at Ally. “Merry Christmas, Ally, and congratulations on winning the bake-off.”

“Thanks,” Ally said.

“Also, I heard Noel had her baby. That’s so cool.”

“It is pretty cool,” Ally said. “You can stop by and say hello if you like. Everybody else has.”

Amelia giggled. “Maybe I will. Well, bye.” Amelia smiled at Ally and started up the sidewalk.

“Amelia?” The comely coed stopped and turned back.

“Yes?”

“Can I speak to you for a second?”

“Of course.”

Ally moved over to her so as not to be overheard. “I just wanted to say that I think Robbie’s a really cool guy.”

“Robbie?” Amelia appeared a little confused.

“You know who I mean.” Amelia blushed and looked down at her Uggs. “Listen, I know you’ve probably got your choice of boys,” Ally continued, “and maybe you’ve never really thought of Robbie as more than a friend, but, in my experience, the best guys are often the shy ones. It’s obvious he’s smitten with you, but he’s just too scared to tell you.” Amelia looked at her, and Ally wished she could read the girl’s mind. “Anyway, I have a feeling you might feel something for him, too. So, if I were you, I wouldn’t give up on him.” Ally waited for Amelia to respond, but the girl just stood there with a whimsical smile on her glowing face. “So, that’s it,” Ally said. “Merry Christmas.” Ally headed inside the diner, not sure if her little talk had done any good or just made things worse.

…

As always, Jake looked to the door at the sound of the chime. He felt a smile crease his lips when he saw Ally. He’d been looking at the door all morning hoping she’d come through. He’d kept replaying that kiss again and again in his mind and wondering when and if he’d get the chance for another. He wondered what Ally had been thinking. Had she enjoyed it as much as he had, or was it just a spur-of-the-moment thing? Had the kiss meant something to her, or was she just caught up in the euphoria over Chelsea Rose’s arrival?

Ally was in black jeans and a green turtleneck sweater, both of which framed her lovely body perfectly. Her dark russet hair fell loosely down to her shoulders, and she tugged on the sweater sleeves with her fingers as if she was trying to stretch it out a bit more.

Ally lit up when she saw him. “Hey,” she said. “The sign says you serve the best burgers known to man.”

“We do,” Jake said. “But I thought you were a vegetarian.”

“Yeah, there is that,” Ally said, smiling. “You don’t have a veggie burger, do you?”

“Shhh,” Jake said. “You trying to get me killed?”

“Hey Ally!” Maddie came barreling out of the kitchen and threw her arms around Ally as if they were old friends.

“Hi Maddie. You working today?”

“Sort of,” Maddie said. “Mostly just hanging out. Robbie sent me out to see if Amelia had gone yet.”

“I think the coast is clear,” Ally said.

“Okay, I better go tell him. He’s hiding in the walk-in fridge.” Maddie headed back to the kitchen.

“Mind if I take a booth?” Ally asked Jake.

“Sorry,” Jake said. “They’re all nailed down.”

“Ha-ha.”

Jake smiled. “Take your pick.”

“Thanks. Can you join me?”

Jake looked around, checked out his customers. “Sure.” Ally slid into one side of a window booth, and Jake into the other. Libby headed over, gave them each a glass of water.

“Hello Ally.”

“Hi Libby.”

Libby looked at Jake. “Boss? You need to see a menu?”

Jake smiled. “I don’t think so. I’ll have a Charlie’s Special. And how’s the veggie burger today?”

“Best one known to man,” Libby said. Jake looked at Ally.

“I’ll have it, please,” Ally said. “With a side of fries. Oh, and coffee.”

“Coffee, boss?”

“Sounds good,” Jake said.

“I’m on it,” Libby said and headed off.

Ally cocked her head at Jake. “So, you do have a veggie burger?”

“Oh, yeah. We’re a very progressive diner. How’s baby Chelsea?”

“You should know. I hear you brought a muffin.”

Jake smiled. “She’s pretty cute, huh?”

Ally nodded. “Yeah. She’s coming home today.”

Jake raised an eyebrow. “Home?”

Ally smiled. “You know what I mean. Peggy’s.”

“Well, I’m glad it feels like home,” Jake said.

“It does,” Ally said, “thanks to your mom. And just in time for us to leave.”

“Yeah,” Jake said. “I did hear something about that. Apparently, Christmas Day is the best time to fly.”

Ally laughed. “As if we have a choice.”

Libby brought the coffee. “So, Ally,” she said, “what does it feel like to dethrone the cookie bake-off champion?”

“Amazing,” Ally said with a wink at Jake. “But there was never any doubt.”

“Ha,” Libby said. “I like your confidence.” The waitress headed off to another table as Ally noticed Robbie loading up a bus pan.

“Hey Robbie,” she called out. He stopped what he was doing and looked over. “Can you come over here for a minute, please?” Robbie left his bus pan on the empty table and headed over. Jake scooted over, and Robbie sat on his side of the booth.

“Yeah?” he said.

Ally looked from Jake to Robbie. “So, Robbie, I just spoke with Amelia.” Robbie’s eyes widened. “And I think there’s interest on her part.” Robbie looked stunned. He took a sip of Jake’s water.

“What?” His voice cracked. “What did you say to her?”

Jake leaned back in the booth. “Yeah, what did you say?”

“Just the truth,” Ally said. “That I thought you were a catch.” Ally watched Robbie flush crimson.

“And what did she say?”

“Not much. Nothing, actually, but I could tell.”

“Tell what?” The question came from Jake, but Ally kept looking at Robbie.

“That she’s into you.” Robbie took a long breath and leaned back in the booth. Ally thought he looked pale as paste. When he spoke, he stuttered a little.

“How…could you…tell she’s…into me?”

“Just women’s intuition. And my instincts are usually spot-on in that department.”

“It doesn’t matter anyway,” Robbie said. “She’s with that airplane guy. Dustin.”

“Justin,” Ally corrected. “She’s with Justin because you won’t give her the time of day. And Dustin will be leaving soon anyway. We all will.” Ally shot a look at Jake on the last line. He looked away from her, out the window. Just the reaction she was hoping for. Does that mean he’s going to miss me? she thought. “Listen, Robbie. A girl looks for three things in a boy. Number one, someone to make her smile when she doesn’t feel like smiling. Two. Someone to tell her she looks beautiful when she knows she looks her worst. And, three…” Ally leaned in close. “And this is the most important, so listen very carefully. Someone who’s honest with her. She looks for a boy—a man—who’s not afraid to tell her just how he feels.” Ally shot a glance at Jake. His eyes were locked on her. “If you love her, you’ve got to let her know.”

Ally could see the puzzled look on Robbie’s face and wondered if he was getting it all.

“Should I be writing this down?” he asked.

“I think you can remember it.”

Robbie leaned back in the booth. “But Amelia’s going back to college soon. I don’t have time to be all those things.”

Ally sent a wink in Jake’s direction. “Sure, you do,” she said. “Tonight’s the Christmas Eve Dance: the perfect time to make your move.”

“Move?” Robbie said. “What kind of move?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Ally said. “As long as you do it with confidence. Women like confident men.” Robbie sat for a moment, and Ally could see his lips moving like a newbie ventriloquist as he silently reviewed everything she’d said. Then, he just nodded, got up, and went back to work.

When he was out of earshot, Jake looked at Ally. “Wow, you really know your stuff.”

Ally laughed. “It’s the yogi in me.” She noticed Jake was fiddling with a straw, and she could tell he was thinking something over.

“So,” Jake said at last, “speaking of the dance tonight.”

“Yes?”

“You going with anyone?” Jake asked, and this time he looked her right in the eye. Ally left him hanging in the balance for a torturous few seconds while she gathered her thoughts.

“Wow, I’ve never been asked to a dance the day of before,” she said. “I don’t know whether to be flattered or insulted.”

Jake laughed. “Well, these are special circumstances. Didn’t know if you were going to still be here.”

Ally smiled at Jake. “I have nothing to wear,” she said.

“Well, I was thinking that you and my sister are about the same size.”

Ally thought it over. “All right then,” she said. “I guess you’ve got yourself a date.”