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Leon stood in the far corner of the dining room. The shouting and laughter were almost a little too much for him, but he found himself loving it. Kenna must come by her generous heart honestly after watching her siblings, all the way down to the youngest ones, offer to pitch in for her new car.
He’d had no idea she came from such a large family, that lived in such a large house. When he’d reached the end of the winding driveway, his jaw nearly landed in his lap. There stood a sprawling ranch style split-level home on top of a small hill. The parking area and garages were below the house that overlooked a valley full of trees for as far as he could see. The steps led him up to a wide, wrap-around porch. He’d followed the light and the noise coming from inside until he found the double front doors. Lighted snowmen sat beside the stoop, along with stringed lights, small, decorated trees in pots and even a couple of glowing deer that moved their heads.
He’d almost been too afraid to knock, fearing that he had the wrong place. Except the carved, wooden sign hanging over the porch steps read Allender Family. There were trees and a bear carved into the reddish wood that surrounded the name.
Yep, this was the right place. That was the same emblem stamped on all the tree tags.
Before he could knock, the door opened and an older gentleman stepped out asking if he was lost.
Leon explained who he was and that he was sorry for interrupting their holiday celebration, but he hoped to speak to Kenna for just a moment. He’d brought a cheesecake as a gift to her family. Inside his pocket was something special, just for her.
Hopefully, she’d not kick him out before letting him explain.
What he’d not expected was the warm welcome from her family. She seemed pleased to see him, but perhaps she was simply being polite. He couldn’t tell yet.
With the bonus announcement, she seemed to have forgotten he was even there.
Maybe it would be better if he simply left the gift under the tree and let her find it later. It was late in the evening, but he could find a hotel in the next town to stay in and drive back home in the morning.
Except there wasn’t much to drive back to.
He’d really hoped to spend some time with Kenna. Hoped she’d give him another chance. Even dared to hope they might at least be friends, though he wanted more.
“Okay, everyone,” Mrs. Allender shouted over the ruckus, waving her hands. “Everyone settle down.” She set a decorative glass candy bowl in the middle of the table. “Those of you who wish to contribute to Kenna’s car fund, you can either leave your money or a note in here.”
Kenna’s smile nearly lit the room all on its own. She was beautiful when she got excited. He loved how her deep blue eyes sparkled, behind those crazy round glasses. It was like gazing out a window at the morning sky after a rain shower.
At that moment, she turned to look at him and before he knew it, she was at his side, his hand wrapped in her warm ones. “We’ll have dessert now. Would you like to take ours outside on the porch? The stars are amazing tonight and there’s a chance that we might see the Aurora Borealis tonight. I watch the reports so I won’t miss them.”
“Sounds wonderful.”
She bounced on her sneakers. “Yay. I’ll make us some hot chocolate. You grab a plate and pick what you want. There’s always a ton of things to choose from.” She leaned in closer. “Just make sure you get me the biggest slice of your cheesecake.”
He saluted. “Yes, ma’am, I’m on it.”
Leon felt odd just hopping into the fray, but everyone acted as if he’d always been part of their brood. Murry handed him a plate while a lady who must be his wife held out the silverware container. He picked two plastic forks.
“Hold up, Squirt,” Murry said, blocking a younger child with his arm. “We always allow guests to go first. And you,” he pointed to a boy that couldn’t be more than five-years-old. “Get over there with your mommy. You’re not allowed to serve yourself after I caught you sticking your fingers in the cake frosting.”
A small blond boy ducked his head and went to stand with his parents. The next brother in line was Donald if Leon remembered correctly. The rest of them he’d have to learn later. There were so many!
Kenna caught his attention and jerked her head, motioning for him to follow her outside. She walked to the corner of the house. The covered porch extended into a circular split-level deck where a fire was burning in a sunken pit. Several chairs and settees surrounded the pit. She set their mugs on the side table of one and pulled a blanket from a plastic bin. “We’ll be cozy under this.”
Leon set the plate on the blanket between them. She was right, this was cozy. They were perched at the top of the hill, and he had an even better view of the tree-covered valley. Above, more stars had come out, a spectacular display that reminded him of the last time he’d gone star-gazing with his friends. “You’re going to laugh at me, but the last time I was outside at night, I made a wish on a falling star.”
Kenna was all about devouring his cheesecake. He couldn’t stop smiling at her. Between bites, she said, “You’re not supposed to tell what you wished for or it won’t come true.”
“But it has come sort of true.” He took the oatmeal cookie that was still a little warm.
Kenna paused, the fork still clamped between her lips, and looked at him with pinched brows.
He went on to explain. “I was out with Sage and Nikolai Prater. I’d just gotten off the phone with Marcy and was starting to admit that it wasn’t going to work out between us. My wish was that I could meet someone who would mean as much to me as Sage and Nick mean to each other.”
Kenna sighed. “Did you work things out with your girlfriend?” Her tone lowered when she said girlfriend as if she was speaking about some kind of disaster.
“No. She’s back in New York and I’m staying... well, I’ll have to figure out what to do with my life now. Because of her, I don’t have a job anymore.” Kenna’s mouth dropped open, but he hurried on to explain what had happened between him and his uncle.
“See, I’d meant to dig those ornaments out of the trash can,” Leon’s hand rested on the small package tucked inside his coat pocket. “I was so furious with her for messing up my tree. And I’m not one who lets my emotions get the better of me, but...” he shook his head. “It took a while before she understood that she’d gone too far and that I was done. By the time she left, I was exhausted and fell asleep on the couch. When I woke up the next morning, I rushed straight over to the Lakeshore, hoping to repair the damage she’d caused. But Uncle had already spoken to his son about joining his staff to replace me.”
She set her fork down on the plate, then placed it on the side table. Turning on the seat so she could face him better, she said, “I’m so sorry. I could tell she’d been there when I came to your apartment that morning. And then I saw.... I thought the worst. I’m used to being teased about my silly little crafts. Obviously, we have the money to buy whatever we need, but it wasn’t always that way. My parents inherited this land, but they’ve worked hard to turn it into a nursery and tree farm. There were years when Murry, Don, and I were just starting school and having to make do with second-hand clothes. Christmas gifts were things Mom made. Crocheted hats and scarves. She enjoyed making ornaments and I loved it too. So I keep doing it. She taught me that it doesn’t matter how little or how much we have. What matters is that we learn to be grateful for whatever place we are in. And be grateful for what we do have.”
Kenna pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders, giving a little shudder. “Those are my best memories. And I still have some of the painted pine cones we made. They’re more precious than any pricey ones we might buy now. It’s the memories that make those old pine cones priceless. I suppose.”
“You’re priceless, Kenna Allender, do you know that? What a treasure you are.” Leon knew that probably sounded lame. Marcy would have laughed at him and called him a nerd or something worse. But he meant it. “Speaking of gifts, I haven’t given you mine, yet.” He pulled the box, about the size of his hand, from the deep pocket of his jacket.
When he handed it to her, she was staring at him with her wide eyes. Her bottom lashes glistened behind her glasses. She pushed them up on her nose and wiped her finger across her upper cheek. “I don’t have anything for you.”
“You’ve already given me many gifts. Which, I meant what I said. I want my ornaments back. Tell me you still have them.”
She laughed. “Yes, they’re in the camper. I swear I’ll give them back.” With a roll of her eyes, she took the silver box and pulled at the bow. “Everything you do and everything you have is so neat and pretty.”
“Pretty?” he repeated.
“Nice. Whatever. You have such classy taste, is what I’m trying to say.”
It was his turn to laugh. “Whatever.” He mimicked her. “Remember I’m the poor boy now with no job and soon no home.”
Kenna held the box between her hands. “You’re so talented, Leon. You’ll find another job soon. Shoot, I think you should open your own restaurant. You could do it, you know?” She lifted off the lid and let out a gasp. “Dasher! You...? But this is a family heirloom. I can’t possibly—”
“Yes, you can. I have several and I know how much you loved the reindeer.” The flying reindeer ornament was hand blown and crafted from the Christopher Radko Gallery.
He’d looked up the values of the ornaments, as she’d suggested, and had been amazed over what his grandmother had left him.
“Kenna, you helped me realize that my priorities were all out of whack. I’d been putting too much importance on the wrong things. And most of all, you’ve helped me to appreciate Christmas and the reason for this special season. It’s not about how things look on the outside, it’s the gifts that come from the heart that matter most.”
Kenna hugged the ornament to her chest. Leon wrapped his arms around her, tugging the blanket more securely around them. “In the short time I’ve known you, Kenna, you’ve grown so very important to me. I don’t want to lose your friendship over a silly misunderstanding.”
She rested her head against his shoulder. “Me neither, Leon.”
“Do you think,” he ventured, hoping, wishing, as he hugged her a little tighter, “that maybe eventually we can consider more than friendship between us?
She stared at him for a long moment, as if waiting for the meaning of a joke to settle in. Finally, she said, rather skeptically, “Wait, you’re being serious. You really mean it?”
“Yes. I don’t make jokes like this,” he defended. “Actually, I’m not one to make jokes at all.”
“True that,” she bobbed her head. “But I’m not your type—”
“Maybe what you’re really saying is that I’m not your type?” He hoped that wasn’t the case, but had wondered if that was why she’d left so quickly.
“What? You’re every girl’s type. Well, maybe not every...but you know what I—”
He couldn’t stand this. Cupping her face in his hand, he drew her in and tentatively pressed his lips to hers. When she returned the kiss, his reservations vanished and he knew she also cared for him. He kissed her deeper, losing himself in her touch, in her closeness. She was perfect in every way.
She slowly pulled away with a gasp and rested her forehead against his. “Wow,” she gave a breathless laugh.
“Kenna, you are beautiful inside and out. You are the kind of girl I’ve wished for. Prayed for, if you want the whole truth.” His hands moved up and down her arm, partly to keep her warm and partly because he was so delighted to be able to touch her and hold her close. “When you left, you took more than just my ornaments. You took my heart. I knew when we were dancing together at the lodge, that you were what I truly wanted in my life.”
Her hand went around the back of his neck, as she leaned in to kiss him again. Light from the back door flooded their little hideaway as Murry sauntered out onto the deck. Kenna quickly straightened, but her eyes glinted with that anticipated kiss as she whispered, “I want you in my life, too, Leon Jovino.”
“Oh hey, there you two are,” Murry said, his voice rather loud. “I found them.” He called over his shoulder. “Honey, come on outside, the sky is beautiful and it looks like we’re going to get a show tonight.” He winked at them, then added, “Tell Mom and Dad to come on, and Don, too.” He patted Leon’s shoulder. “What a cozy spot to sit and get to know Kenna’s new friend a little better.”
Kenna snorted a laugh. “Right. Real cozy.”