Chapter Ten

Sunshine and crisp air greeted Friday morning. The night before, Addison and the twins had helped Nell decorate the sleigh in green garlands, red silk poinsettias, and jingle bells. Nell had fashioned Santa hats for the Percheron geldings and draped red blankets trimmed in white faux fur over their broad backs. Excitement charged the air. Even Nell stepped a little more spryly.

Addison settled like a mother hen with a chick tucked under each arm, making sure the heavy quilt was tucked in tight around the six-year-olds.

Nell climbed aboard the sleigh’s high seat and gathered the reins. She called over her shoulder, “You youngsters warm enough?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Joey and Julie answered in unison.

“Good, ’cause here we go.” She flicked the reins and encouraged the horses down the long drive to the main highway. “Step up, Chipper. Atta good boy, Bud.”

The bells jingled merrily as the sleigh moved smoothly over the snow. They hadn’t gone far before Joey bounced up in the seat and shouted with exuberance, “There’s another one.”

Ahead of them, a sleigh moved sleekly across the snow. “Lots of folks don’t like driving their cars on icy roads. You just might see a few more sleds before we get to town.”

Nell guided the horses alongside the smaller luge. She waved and called, “Howdy, Ethel. Good to see you out and about.”

The older woman laughed and returned the greeting. “You, too, Nell.”

Addison felt as if she had entered another dimension. The scenery was more beautiful than she remembered, or perhaps like most teenagers she hadn’t bothered to notice limbs of spruce and oak trees bent low under the weight of snow that reminded her of huge tufts of cotton, or how long white ribbons of snow decorated miles of split-rail fences. So clean, so decent, so miraculously untouched by ugliness or pain.

How sweet the children are, she thought, watching them as they craned their heads and pointed and giggled.

The clip-clop of the large hooves and the jingle of the bells were right in sync with Addison’s heartbeat. She had mixed emotions about the prospect of bumping into Wade. She hadn’t heard from him in two days, not since the kiss. What had happened that night was simply one of those fleeting moments when two bruised people came together because the moment dictated it. She told herself it wouldn’t happen again because she would be more in control next time. Her thoughts drifted to Gracie. Who was she, and what did she do to hurt Wade so deeply?

“Nell, who was Gracie?”

Nell sat tall and straight on the sleigh’s high driver’s seat. She held the leather reins in able hands. “I don’t recall a child by that name living at Hope Ranch.”

“I should have said who was Gracie to Wade—an old flame, perhaps?”

Nell maneuvered the horses across a bridge and then again to travel on the road’s snowy shoulder. “That’s a question for him. Wasn’t my business then and isn’t my business now.”

And that was that.

By the time Addison had finished thinking about Sheriff Wade Grey, Nell was saying, “Whoa!” as she pulled the horses to a stop in front of the doctor’s office. “We’re here, Addison. The twins and I will meet you at BB’s Café after you’re finished.”

Addison climbed down from the sleigh. She glanced around. “Where will you park the horses?”

“Behind the sheriff’s office.” Nell pointed. “Which reminds me—I’ll take the twins in and introduce them to Millie.”

“Wait.” Addison reached into her purse and withdrew the envelope addressed to Santa Claus, North Pole. “Would you give this to Sheriff Grey and make sure it gets delivered?”

“Sure will. When you’re finished, don’t forget to meet us at BB’s Café. Maybe a cup of Brenda’s special hot chocolate will put the smile back on your face.” Nell urged the horses forward to leave Addison standing alone and feeling a little lost.

Addison glanced around. The town reminded her of a scene from a Norman Rockwell painting—almost too good to be true. Ruby’s reminder not to be a grinch failed to bring a smile to Addison’s lips. Disaster number four came to mind—meeting Wade Grey! She hoped meeting his twin sister wasn’t about to be disaster number five.

A gust of icy wind drove her up the steps of the red brick building and into the waiting room. A beautifully decorated tree stood in one corner. A myriad of Christmas decorations added to the room’s cheerful ambiance. Curious patients glanced up from their magazines. Some openly stared, others went back to reading. The woman behind the desk greeted her with a warm smile. Addison glanced at the name plate: Lucy Grey.

“Hi, I’m Addison James. I have a one o’clock appointment.”

A distantly familiar face stared at her. “Yes, we saw the sleigh. It’s good to see Nell out and about. She’s been a bit of a recluse lately.” She handed Addison a clipboard. “If you’ll fill out the forms, Doctor Montgomery will be with you in a few minutes.”

“Excuse me for asking, but are you related to Sheriff Grey?”

Amusement seemed to glitter in the older woman’s eyes as she squinted through thick glasses. “I’m Lucy Grey. You’ve made quite an impression on my son. You probably don’t remember me, but I was the nurse who tended Ruby Raye when she jumped off the barn and broke her arm. You kept telling her not to cry.”

Great! Disaster number five: giving Wade the wrong impression of me.

“I’m sorry. I sort of remember. I mean, I remember Ruby jumping off the barn.” It was a long time ago.

The woman laughed. “It’s okay that you don’t remember me. Due to failing eyesight, I’ve given up nursing and now manage my daughter’s office. Please be seated. Dr. Montgomery will be with you shortly.”

Addison took a seat. She completed the paperwork and returned the clipboard to Wade’s mother. Minutes later, a nurse escorted her to a waiting room and helped her onto the exam table.

She flipped through a magazine while she waited. A quick rap on the door and it flew open as a petite young woman breezed in. “Good afternoon, Ms. James, I’m Ava Montgomery. It’s nice to meet you.”

Addison wasn’t sure how much more of this gushiness she could tolerate. All she wanted was to get the stitches removed and leave Meadow Creek. She stared at the almost childlike face with a small nose and sweet mouth. “I thought you and Wade were twins.”

Crap! Where did that come from? “I’m sorry, I—I…” She fumbled for words.

Ava washed her hands and drew on a pair of rubber gloves. “Don’t worry about it. We get that all the time. We’re fraternal twins. He’s tall, I’m short, and while we have the same gray eyes, we really don’t look alike.” She winked. “Although Wade constantly reminds me that he is older by two minutes.”

Addison’s tensed shoulders began to relax with Ava’s friendly banter. “Wade told us about the accident. You were very lucky. If you like, we can x-ray your arm through the cast to make sure the bone is knitting together properly. Fortunately, we can do it right here in the clinic.”

“Of course. That would be great.”

Ava reviewed the chart to check the date of the accident. Then she carefully applied a solution to remove the bandage over Addison’s eye.

Addison’s frown deepened. “The stitches are itching like crazy.”

“Ah, that’s a good sign.” Ava pulled the dressing free and tossed it in the hazard waste can. “Would you like to see what it looks like before I begin removing the sutures?”

Addison accepted the mirror. She gasped at the puckered line of stitches. Tears welled in her eyes. “I never dreamed it would look so terrible. There’s so many of them.”

“I’ll be quite honest with you, Ms. James—ˮ

“Addison, please.”

“Addison—the surgeon did an excellent job with creating small, close-knit sutures.” She patted the incision gingerly with the tip of a finger before clipping through the tiny knots. “However, once I remove them, the scar will look raw and unsightly for about a week.”

Addison spoke through a flood of tears. “My career is over.”

After the last stitch was removed, Ava measured the area and relayed into her voice recorder, “Ten point sixteen centimeters.”

“What is that in inches, Doctor?”

Addison hated the sympathy she saw in Ava’s eyes when she said, “Four inches. Addison, it won’t look this bad once it’s completely healed.”

She sniffed. “You don’t understand, Doctor. A model with the smallest flaw, much less a four-inch hideous scar on her face, is unemployable.”

Leaning on all her emotional strength, Addison’s voice still quivered. “My agent recommended a plastic surgeon who is supposed to be the best. He’s in Las Vegas, and his name is Gustavo Reinhardt.”

Ava removed the gloves and tossed them in the waste can. “A little medical advice—check his credentials and his reviews before assuming he’s the best. In the meantime, keep the area clean and dry, and if you need me, please call.”

Addison sat on the exam table. Her shoulders slumped forward. “Nell doesn’t have internet, and my cell phone doesn’t work at the ranch. How do you suggest I check Dr. Reinhardt’s credentials?”

“The library has several computers, and most of the restaurants have wi-fi. If you like, I’ll be happy to check and even do a referral to get you a quicker appointment if you decide to use him. I can assure you that with ten days before Christmas and then New Year’s, it may be several months before you get an appointment, especially if he’s as good as your agent claims.”

Addison stood from the table. She collected her purse and jacket. “Of course. Thank you. Perhaps I should return to New York as soon as I can book a flight.”

Ava escorted Addison down the hall to the x-ray room. She laid a hand on Addison’s arm. “Please stay…for Nell. As her doctor, I can’t divulge the extent of her medical condition. As a friend to someone I love as much as my mother, I know Nell’s health is failing. She’s had two heart attacks in two years. From what Wade tells me, your being here has been like a booster shot of happiness for Nell. He also told us about her financial situation, the survey markers, and that you plan to take over organizing the festival.”

Addison shook her head. How was she going to keep her life from spinning completely out of control? She opened her mouth to object. Before she could speak, Ava smiled and said, “If that’s a yes, then sign up my mother and me. We’re glad to help wherever you need us. I’ll be happy to put together a list of names and phone numbers of potential volunteers. And for the older ladies and men who don’t want to drive to the ranch, my brother and my husband and I will act as taxi service. Okay?”

Ava waited in the hallway until the technician completed the x-rays of Addison’s arm.

Addison’s eyes burned with frustrated tears, and then she laughed. Even though she’d rather die than admit it, she was actually relieved not to spend the holiday alone. “Sure. Why not? Okay.”

“Great.” Ava walked her down the hall to the receptionist’s window. “Mom, Addison is taking charge of organizing the festival, and I’ve volunteered both of us to help.”

“Both of us?”

“Oh, Mrs. Grey, you don’t have to. I’ll understand if you—ˮ

“I will only volunteer if I get first choice on location to set up my peach marmalade and candied praline booth.” She laughed. “Had you going, didn’t I?”

“Mom, you’re so bad,” Ava scolded. “My husband and I will gladly set up a petting zoo for the younger children. We have a couple of reindeer, alpacas, miniature ponies, a pair of donkeys, some geese, baby calves, and every year Emmet lends us his Shetlands for pony rides.”

“It sounds wonderful. I can’t thank you both enough.” Addison pulled the sweater cap from her purse. “Will you help me with this?” She pointed to the scar.

As Ave assisted she said, “The bone in your arm has healed nicely. We can remove the cast in about a week.”

Addison adjusted the strap on the sling. “That is great news.” She touched the abrasion over her eyes. “It’s been lovely meeting you.”

Lucy Grey spoke up. Her advice was genuine. “Addison, scar or no scar, you’re a beautiful young woman. If you show you are self-conscious about the scar, then people will gawk. If you hold your head high, people will still gawk, just not as long. Let us know when you schedule your first festival planning meeting.”

“Thank you. I’m a bit nervous about undertaking this project.” Addison stepped outside, bracing herself against the cold. She was genuinely confused about this new direction her life was taking.

She wanted to be happy and part of something other than looking glamorous. With all that had happened, she didn’t know right now where she belonged. She didn’t get to finish her thought because her phone chirped. Wade’s name showed in the caller ID.

“Wade?”

“Come to my office. I’ve heard from Ruby.” He opened the door and stepped out to the porch.

She waved as she crossed the street.

He held the door wide. “Millie is having lunch with Nell and the twins. Once Millie and Nell get together, it’s like everything around them disappears.” He chuckled. “I’m manning the office. Freddie is on a call, and unless there’s an unexpected emergency, we’ll have plenty of privacy to talk.” He escorted her to his desk and handed her a paper sack. “I called Brenda and ordered lunch for us. Tossed salad with avocado and a dab of olive oil, no croutons.” He grinned and added, “And one of Brenda’s chocolate-covered spudnuts.”

Addison smiled at him. “I take it all back, Wade Grey. You are not a good guy. You are the devil in disguise.”

He grabbed the donut. “Just kidding! I know you don’t eat sugar.” He took a generous bite. “Still friends?”

The sincerity in his voice and the way he looked at her made her laugh, which oddly made her cry. “Always.”

He walked around the desk. “Hey, need a hug?” He opened his arms wide, and she filled them.

It wasn’t a sexy hug or even a suggestive hug. It was a feel-good embrace for a friend in need. He just hugged her and didn’t let go until Addison pulled back and sat in the chair. She grabbed a napkin, brushed away the tears and blew her nose. Her hand trembled a little as she removed the plastic lid from the coffee cup. “Aren’t you going to say anything?”

Wade opened his own container. He leaned back and propped his boots on the desk. “About what?”

“This!” She pointed to the scar.

He shrugged. “Just like any other war wound. Gotta wear it with pride.” He swung his legs to the floor and leaned forward, his face serious. “Don’t let me forget to tell you about Ruby’s discovery.”

All her rational instincts warned her not to misinterpret his indifference. She tried to laugh, even though she wanted to reach over and slap his handsome face with its perfect five-o’clock shadow. Instead she focused on the tank of colorful fish. “An aquarium? I haven’t visited many law enforcement offices, but isn’t this a bit unusual?”

He took a bite of his hamburger and chewed thoughtfully. “It was fish tank versus red-and-white polka-dot curtains trimmed with lace. Fish won out. Actually, it was Millie’s idea. With days on end of nothing much to do except watch the traffic go by, Millie gets a bit bored. She says the gurgling sound of the pump and watching the fish swim is comforting.”

“I can understand why. Meadow Creek wasn’t a real happening place when I was a kid. Seems like nothing much has changed.”

They let the conversation meander while they ate.