Christmas Steele (14 page)

“No,” Lacy agreed, shuddering at the thought
of her very drunk grandmother at church. Who knew what she might
do?

“Walk me out,” he said, clasping her hand and
leading her to the front porch. “So, I’m sorry I got your grandma
drunk.”

Lacy laughed. “It wasn’t actually your fault;
you didn’t know the eggnog was apparently filled with so much
alcohol that it was practically paint thinner.”

Tosh sighed. “Still, I feel like I keep
messing up where you’re concerned.”

“Tosh, you’re not messing anything up. You’re
my best friend,” Lacy added shyly.

He smiled. “And you’re mine. Speaking of
which, Merry Christmas.” He handed her a small, prettily-wrapped
box. She opened it to discover two tickets to the
Nutcracker.

“Tosh, how did you know I wanted to go?” she
asked, beaming up at him.

“Maybe it was those twelve times you told me
and the brochure you left on my kitchen counter.”

“That was an accident,” she said.

“Sure it was. Look closely.”

She held the tickets closer, peering at them
in the dim moonlight. “This is for the performance in Chicago.”

He nodded, biting his lip in uncertainty. “I
thought since I’ve already claimed you for New Year’s Eve, we might
as well make a week of it. Will you fly to Chicago with me in a
couple of days after your parents leave? I promise you’ll have
fun.”

“Of course I’ll go,” she said. “You know I’ve
been dying to meet your family.”

He sagged slightly in relief. “Great because
I already bought the plane tickets. Oh, and there’s one more thing.
I found this, and it must be used.” He pulled a piece of mistletoe
from his pocket and held it over their heads.

Lacy smiled and grasped his lapels, pulling
herself aloft so she could reach him. “Silly, you don’t need
mistletoe to kiss me on Christmas.”

“Sneaky you, adding that ‘on Christmas’
qualifier in there.” Resting his hands on her waist, he leaned down
to give her a sweet, lingering kiss that was far more than their
friendship called for. Lacy didn’t protest, though. She was tired
of feeling like she always said no to Tosh when he gave so much and
asked so little of her in return.

At last the kiss ended and Tosh looked at the
mistletoe now crushed in his hand. “This stuff is worth its weight
in gold,” he said.

Lacy laughed and patted his chest. “Good luck
on your sermon.”

“Someday soon we’re going to have to have a
theological discussion about luck and pastors. But not tonight.
Merry Christmas.” He leaned forward to kiss her forehead one last
time and then he walked down the steps.

“Merry Christmas,” Lacy called. “I’ll bring
your present to your house tomorrow. It’s big,” she added.

He laughed, waving halfheartedly over his
shoulder.

She smiled, leaning against the banister
until he was out of sight and then she turned and went back
inside.

Gladys and Sean were gathering their things
as they prepared to leave, too. Lacy hastily retreated to her room,
grabbing Sean’s present and the locket. She paused before leaving
her room, studying the pretty locket. Now that she knew it was from
a child, she felt a little foolish for how much stock she had put
in it. At least Jason would never know she thought it was from
him.

“Sean, can I talk to you a minute,” Lacy
asked. They stepped outside onto the porch and she pulled his
present from inside her coat. “I bought you something.” She
watched, smiling, while he enthusiastically tore into the
present.

“Awesome,” he declared. “I don’t have this
game. Thanks, Lacy.”

His smile faltered when he realized she was
holding the locket box in her outstretched palm. “Is this from
you?” she asked.

“You weren’t supposed to open it until
tomorrow,” Sean said, shifting uncomfortably.

“Sean, I can’t keep this,” Lacy said
gently.

“Why not? I bought it for you, and I meant
it. I do love you, Lacy.”

She could have told him that he only thought
he loved her because he was lonely and she had reached out to him
and been a friend, but she didn’t. She remembered all too well how
it felt to be a kid and have her feelings discounted or trampled.
“That makes me feel really special, Sean, but I’m all wrong for
you. I’m twelve years older. I want you to take this locket back
and keep it for someone more deserving, someone who can wear it
proudly.”

“I don’t have anyone like that. Girls my age
don’t like me.”

“They will,” Lacy promised. “I was just like
you when I was your age, but things change. People change. Someday
you’re going to have a line of girls around the block, jockeying
for the chance to be with you. I hope when that happens you’ll
choose wisely and be very happy.” She insistently shoved the box
against his chest until his hand curled around it.

“But if I take this back it means I didn’t
get you anything for Christmas,” he said, looking genuinely upset
by that thought.

“You did,” Lacy said. “To tell you the truth,
I’ve been a little sad this Christmas, and this locket meant a lot
to me. I set it beside my bed and knew that someone somewhere in
the world loved me. That’s a special gift, and I’m thankful for
it.”

He seemed slightly mollified by that. “Okay,”
he said at last. “I guess it wouldn’t have worked anyway since you
have a boyfriend.”

“What boyfriend?” she asked.

“The cop,” he said.

“We’re not—“ she was about to give the
standard denial she used whenever someone thought she and Jason
were together, but then she thought maybe it was kinder to let him
believe she was attached. “What made you think he’s my
boyfriend?”

“The way you look at each other. It’s like
the way your grandma and her boyfriend look at each other—all
mushy.” He grimaced, shaking his head, and Lacy laughed. Perhaps he
wasn’t quite ready for romance after all if the thought of being
mushy with someone was still repellent.

Gladys arrived on the scene then and claimed
him. “Will you play my new game with me?” he called as his
grandmother led him toward her car.

“I’d love to,” Lacy called. “As long as you
let me win again.”

“Okay,” he said, giving her a genuine smile
and a wave, he got into his grandmother’s car and disappeared.

“That was nice of you,” a voice behind her
said. Lacy squealed in surprise as she spun in time to watch Jason
emerge from the darkness at the edge of the porch.

“What are you doing back there?”

He hopped the railing and came to stand
beside her. “I finished my call and came back to talk to you. The
door opened, and I thought it might be you and the pastor. So I hid
to eavesdrop.” He gave her an unrepentantly wicked grin. Lacy had
no reply to that, which was good because he wasn’t done speaking.
“And I’m glad I did. I learned some things.”

“What did you learn?” she asked,
uncomfortable as she remembered that she hadn’t denied to Sean that
Jason was her boyfriend.

“I learned you’re sad.”

“You already knew that,” she said.

He shook his head. “You always have this
wounded, vulnerable air about you that makes me want to
simultaneously fix you and punch your ex, but this is different.
This season has been hard on you and I didn’t realize.” He took a
step forward and clasped her hand. “I also realized that I’ve been
killing myself working overtime so my coworkers can spend time with
the people who are important to them. But as a result, I haven’t
been able to spend time with someone who is important to me. I
haven’t been here for you much lately, Lacy, and I’m sorry about
that.” He gave her hand a squeeze.

Her eyes welled up, but before she could tell
him that was the sweetest thing he had ever said to her, he
continued speaking, obliterating all of her warm feelings.

“I also learned you thought the locket the
kid gave you was from me.”

“I never said that,” she said, snatching her
hand from his.

“You didn’t have to; I read between the
lines.”

“You were one of many possible candidates,”
she said.

“Aren’t I always?” he said ruefully. “But in
order to clear up the mystery of your Christmas present, here it
is.” He handed her a small, neatly wrapped box. She stared at it
uncertainly. “It’s not live snakes,” he said. “You can open
it.”

She looked up at him. “Who is the mystery
blond?”

His answering smile was so smug she was sure
he wasn’t going to tell her, but he did. “She’s our district FOP
representative. I have the unfortunate duty of being our local rep
this year which, hallelujah, ends in a week. But there’s a lot of
last minute business to tie up, so Jenna and I have had a lot of
meetings lately.”

“She’s very pretty,” Lacy said, carefully
keeping her tone neutral.

“I’ll tell her husband you think so. He’s a
friend of mine. They’re having a baby in a few months.”

“That woman is pregnant?” Lacy asked,
incredulous because of her near-perfect figure. “I hope I look that
good when I’m pregnant.”

“I have a feeling you’ll look even better,”
Jason said. He tapped the present in her hand, reminding her to
open it.

She did, gasping in surprise when she saw a
ring. “It’s beautiful,” Lacy said, feeling uncertain and
overwhelmed. She hadn’t expected a ring.

“I was going to tell you that I bought it
because it’s a ruby and the red color reminded me of your hair, but
I realized something else while Sean was talking. A fourteen year
old kid has more guts than I do. We’ve danced around the issue of
us for a long time now. We’re friends, and neither of us is ready
for anything more now. I get that. But I have to believe there’s
going to be a someday for us, Lacy, when all our issues are
resolved and we can explore the crazy chemistry between us. So this
ring is a sign of that hope.” He took the ring from its box and
slipped it on the third finger of her right hand. “Someday.”

“I…” she floundered, unsure of what to
say.

He pressed his fingers gently against her
lips. “This is my promise to you; I wasn’t expecting a reply.”

“Thank you,” she said lamely. The words were
inadequate, but there was no way to express what she was feeling at
the moment.

He smiled, resting his hands on her waist.
“There’s only one thing left to discuss.”

“What’s that?” His light tone made her wary,
and for good reason.

“Someone broke into my house today.”

“Are you sure they broke in? Because I
thought if they used a key then technically it wasn’t illegal.”

“You know how I feel about technicalities,”
Jason said sternly.

“Jason, I just…” she trailed off, unsure of
what to say next.

“Lacy, I’m teasing you. I thought it was
awesome—possibly the nicest and most fun gift anyone has ever given
me. Thank you.”

She smiled, sagging in relief. “You’re
welcome.”

They studied each other in silence a few
beats. Lacy could practically hear the current of attraction
crackling between them. “So I was thinking that maybe we could
spend New Year’s together.”

By the halting, nervous way he said it, she
guessed asking a woman for a New Year’s date was a big deal for
him. “I’m going to be out of town,” she said, hating to reject him
when it was something so monumental.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

“Chicago,” she answered, not needing to say
more. He knew Tosh lived in Chicago.

“Oh. I guess the early pastors get the hot
worms.”

“I don’t think I like that analogy,” she told
him.

He smiled. “So maybe after you’re back we can
go out for a belated celebration. And you could wear that slinky
red dress.”

“That sounds nice,” she said.

Quietness crept over them again, but Lacy
didn’t mind. For the moment she was content just being in his arms.
“There’s an old superstition that says the person you kiss on
midnight New Year’s Eve is the person you’ll be with for all of
that year,” Jason said.

“I’ve never put much stock in superstition,”
she said.

“Even so, maybe we could make plans to spend
next New Year’s together. Apparently your schedule fills up quickly
and I need to make advance arrangements.”

Was he telling her he wanted to be with her
for all of next year? And, if so, was she ready for that? “Don’t
you want to wait until it’s closer to the actual day? A lot can
happen in a year.”

“That’s what I’m counting on,” Jason said.
“Say yes, Lacy, for once just say yes to me.”

“Yes,” Lacy replied.

“I can’t believe that worked,” Jason said.
“Now kiss me.”

“Okay, but only because I want to, and not
because you told me to,” Lacy said.

“I knew it couldn’t last, but I’ll take what
I can get. Merry Christmas, Red.”

“Merry Christmas, Jason,” Lacy said, then she
stood on her toes and kissed him.

Epilogue

Lacy stood in her room, hastily packing for
her trip to Chicago. Tosh had told her to bring a few fancy
dresses, and after learning how far off base his definition of
fancy was, she had emptied her closet in search of the proper
wardrobe. Now, armed with something for every occasion, she was
hurriedly stuffing items into her suitcase. Tosh would kill her if
she was late, but it wasn’t her fault this time. Or maybe it was,
but saying goodbye to her parents hadn’t been easy, and it had
taken a long time.

They went out for breakfast—her father’s
treat since he had ended up liking Tosh as much as he liked Jason.
They had lingered for a long time, enjoying the pleasant
conversation. Christmas day had also been pleasant with just Lacy,
her parents and grandparents. Even Riley’s call hadn’t been enough
to dislodge Lacy’s good mood, especially when her mother
thoughtfully carried the phone into the other room to talk.

Her mother had made a concerted effort to get
along with Mr. Middleton. While they weren’t exactly close, they
were making strides, especially after she learned how he had stayed
up half the night with her mother, holding her hair while she threw
up. Frannie Steele did not do well with bodily fluids and, while
she blamed her mother’s illness on a virus, she had been glad not
to have to deal with it.