Chapter Fourteen
L ater that night, the drive home from Noel’s town square to Frosted Firs Ranch seemed to take longer than it ever had before as Nate, Tucker and Roxie made their way home.
“But I don’t understand,” Roxie said from the back seat of the extended cab. “Why wouldn’t Ms. Jordyn take the Christmas tree award?”
Nate, sitting in the driver’s seat, guided his truck around a sharp mountain curve. “She had her reasons, sweetheart.”
“But what were they?” Roxie insisted.
Nate focused on the road and clenched his jaw, trying to hold back the warring emotions within him.
After Jordyn had driven off into the cold, dark night over an hour ago, he’d stood in the parking lot beside the town square, his mind and heart reeling over the idea of having Jordyn in his life solely as a neighbor and friend.
It was a nice thought, he supposed. After all, a neighborly friendship was all he had wanted with Jordyn initially, but now, he felt very differently. As a matter of fact, he wanted . . .
Wanted what?
The intensity of emotions that had taken hold of him as he’d stood in the parking lot had overwhelmed him at first, but after a moment, everything was all too clear.
He didn’t want to be just Jordyn’s neighbor and friend. He wanted to be more than that. He wanted Jordyn to be in his life on a daily basis and he wanted to be in hers. He wanted Jordyn’s face to be the first he saw every morning and he wanted to know that every day, she would be a part of his and Roxie’s life and home. He wanted Jordyn by his side, tucking Roxie into bed at night, kissing his daughter’s cheek with him, wishing her sweet dreams and knowing, in their hearts, that they would do everything possible to make Roxie’s life a safe, fulfilling, and happy one.
And every night, he wanted to end the day with Jordyn in his arms, grateful that he’d been blessed to spend another day with her. He wanted Jordyn in his heart, in his home, and in his life. He wanted . . .
He wanted everything!
“Her tree was so beautiful,” Roxie said softly from the back seat. “It would’ve looked so great in the town square, and on Christmas Eve, we could’ve all stood around it drinking hot chocolate and having a good time.” Her voice broke. “And she didn’t even tell me goodbye before she left.”
“She was upset,” Nate said softly. “Otherwise, she would have.”
After he had followed her into the parking lot, he’d noticed right away that she was struggling with her decision. The tears in her eyes and slight tremor in her voice were clear indications that she didn’t want to walk away from Roxie or from him. And that perhaps she still wanted to explore the intense emotions between them despite what she was saying.
In his heart, he knew that she did, in fact, want more. But given the reservations he’d voiced, she had gracefully bowed out and chosen to walk away rather than take a chance on his fickle heart and risk breaking Roxie’s.
She’d chosen to sacrifice her own interests because she loved his daughter . . . as much as she loved him, he hoped.
“Jordyn would’ve said goodbye,” Nate whispered, staring straight ahead as the road curved before them. “But she didn’t because she didn’t want to leave you to begin with.”
Roxie was quiet for a moment, then sniffed and said, her voice trembling, “I don’t understand, Daddy.”
Nate turned onto the driveway leading to Frosted Firs Ranch, drove slowly along the paved path to the first Christmas tree lot and parked the truck in front of Macy’s tree. He stared at the Fraser fir in front of him, studied the white silk ribbon that curved around the thick branches and the bright white lights that sparkled among the lush limbs of the evergreen.
Tucker, who had been uncharacteristically quiet as he sat in the passenger seat during the drive home, sighed heavily. He swiveled in his seat, reached into the back seat, unbuckled Roxie’s seat belt, and lifted her into the front seat of the truck, placing her on his knee and hugging her briefly.
“It’s all right, baby girl,” Tucker said, kissing Roxie’s forehead. “What happened tonight wasn’t exactly a bad thing. Actually, it was good in a way.”
Roxie, tears rolling down her cheeks, frowned up at Tucker. “Why?”
Tucker smiled gently, his eyes meeting Nate’s briefly before he returned his attention to Roxie. “Well, because there’s a reason people do the kinds of things that Jordyn has done.”
Roxie frowned. “What things? You mean, not taking the Christmas tree award?”
Tucker nodded. “That . . . and other things.” He tilted his head and made a face, thinking hard, then said, “You know, there’s something else she did, too. At the gingerbread contest, maybe? Do you remember what she did?”
Nate cleared his throat in warning. Tonight had been rough enough without telling Roxie that she hadn’t won the gingerbread contest on her own. “Tucker, it’s not a good idea for you to—”
“It’s okay.” Tucker held up a hand, sending Nate a pointed look, then smiled down gently at Roxie. “Roxie knows what’s up, don’t you, baby girl?”
Nate glanced down at Roxie, who shifted into a more comfortable position on Tucker’s knee and avoided his eyes. “Roxie?” he prompted.
She looked up then, her big blue eyes meeting Nate’s. “I know Ms. Jordyn helped me win the gingerbread contest, Daddy. And that I didn’t win first place all on my own. But Uncle Tucker told me—”
“Did you tell her what Jordyn did?” Nate asked, narrowing his eyes at Tucker.
Tucker made a face. “Really? You think I’d do that?”
“He didn’t do it, Daddy,” Roxie said softly. “I saw Ms. Jordyn do it on my own. I told her when we made gingerbread that you should never push down on the top of your house or it’ll fall apart.” She lifted her chin and sniffed, talking through the tears. “I know Ms. Jordyn helped me win. But Uncle Tucker told me that she didn’t win the contest for me. He said my gingerbread house was really good and that in the end, the contest was between me and Angelina Stone and that I won fair and square at that point.” Roxie looked up at Tucker. “Isn’t that right, Uncle Tucker?”
Smiling, Tucker nodded. “That’s right, baby girl. Ms. Jordyn might have bowed out of the competition to help you out, but you’re the one that closed the deal. Your hard work paid off.”
Nate smiled at Tucker, who smiled back at him, then made an I told you so face.
Chuckling softly, Nate lowered his head back against the head rest and rubbed his forehead, stifling a groan. Tucker might not be the most responsible or dependable man when it came to romantic relationships, but one thing Nate would never doubt about him was that he was a wonderful brother and fantastic uncle.
“Now don’t you feel bad about doubting me?” Tucker asked, raising one eyebrow.
Nate rolled his head to the side and smiled. “Yeah. You got me this time.”
“Every time,” Tucker said, smiling wider. “And don’t forget it. Which brings me back to my original point,” he said, returning his attention to Roxie. “There’s a reason Ms. Jordyn did the things she did, Roxie. And now, I’m gonna let your dad tell you all about it while I go inside, grab a hot cup of coffee and warm up. It’s too dang cold to sit out here!”
With that, he opened the passenger-side door, slid out of the truck, then lowered Roxie into the seat he vacated.
After he left, Roxie, her cheeks still wet with tears, looked up at Nate, her eyes full of questions. “What did Uncle Tucker mean, Daddy?”
Nate smiled gently and reached out, wiping her wet cheek with his thumb. “Well, let’s see. Why do you think Ms. Jordyn broke her gingerbread house to give you a chance to win first place in that contest?”
Roxie blinked, then issued a small smile at the memory of her win. “Because she wanted me to win.”
“And why was that?” Nate asked.
Her expression brightened. “Because she likes me. And she wanted me to be happy.”
“Yeah,” Nate said softly. “People make sacrifices for those they care about.”
And for those they love. He bit his lip at the thought, a wave of longing rolling through him.
Nate tipped Roxie’s chin up gently with one knuckle, searching her expression intently as her eyes met his. “And how do you feel about Ms. Jordyn? Do you care about her, too?”
She smiled wide, her whole expression brightening. “I love Ms. Jordyn! She’s nice and pretty and fun and she likes spending time with me.”
Nate laughed softly. Jordyn, it seemed, had already won over Roxie’s heart, too. “And,” he asked slowly, “how would you feel if Ms. Jordyn spent more time with us?”
Roxie fell silent, her brow furrowing as she considered this. “You mean, like if she came over to visit every day? And maybe joined our Christmas team next year?”
“Yeah,” he said quietly. “But maybe more than that. Maybe we could invite her to join us more often for things other than just the Christmas competition.”
Roxie scrambled up onto her knees and reached across the front seat, her small hands curling around Nate’s forearm and her eyes lighting up with excitement. “Like, maybe we could have her over for Thanksgiving, too? And for my birthday? And for Uncle Tucker’s birthday and yours?”
Nate chuckled and ruffled her blond hair. “Yes. We could invite her to spend all our important days with us. And we could help celebrate hers as well.”
Roxie nodded eagerly. “I’d really like that, Daddy.”
Nate grinned, the pleasurable swell of excitement and anticipation blooming in his chest, making him want to shout with joy. He looked out the windshield, his eyes refocusing on Macy’s tree, and he was able, for the first time in years, to smile softly at the memory of her and the life they’d shared. The grief and regret were gone now, and something else had taken their place.
He smiled wider. He was free. Free to love again. And free to offer his heart to Jordyn.
Roxie scooted across the driver’s seat, laid her head on his shoulder and smiled at Macy’s tree, too. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it, Daddy?”
“That it is, sweetheart.”
“But Ms. Jordyn’s tree is even more beautiful,” she added softly. “I wish we were there at Chestnut Ridge now with Ms. Jordyn and Star.” She looked up, propping her chin on his shoulder and meeting his eyes. “And I wish we could do something nice for her, like she did for me. She really should’ve kept the Christmas tree award, you know?”
Nate nodded, a slow grin making its way to his lips. “Yeah. And I know just what we can do to make it up to her.”
The crowd had left the town square, and cold night air settled over Noel as the Nanas trudged to the parking lot where Carol Belle’s car was parked.
“I can’t believe it,” Carol Belle said, her expression dazed as she rubbed her forehead. “I can’t believe Jordyn actually withdrew Fabio Fraser and refused the Christmas Crown.”
“I know.” Eve groaned. “Trees as perfect as hers don’t come along often, and since Nate’s tree had the second highest score, he’ll win the Christmas Crown by default. Not to mention the uproar and disappointment it caused the other participants.” She shook her head and sighed. “This is a tragedy for our competition! Just unbelievable.”
“Not really.” Kandy, trailing behind the other women, stopped in the center of the empty parking lot and shoved her hands in her pockets. “I don’t think this is a tragedy at all. As a matter of fact, I think it’s the best thing to ever happen to our Christmas competition in all the years we’ve hosted it.”
Carol Belle and Eve halted mid-step, turned and stared at Kandy, their mouths agape.
Kandy smiled. “Don’t you agree?”
Carol Belle scoffed. “No! I don’t agree at all.”
“How could any of this possibly be a good thing?” Eve asked, propping her hands on her hips.
“For three reasons.” Kandy lifted her hand and counted off each reason on her fingertips. “One, tonight’s turn of events was dramatic and unexpected. Nothing fuels gossip better than unexpected drama and nothing spreads interest in an event as well as gossip does.” She winked. “I guarantee participation will increase next year. Two, Jordyn took our advice—our best advice—and chose to live her life the way she wanted. Not only that, but she did so in front of everyone without hesitation, knowing how much her decision would disappoint the town. She’s making her own choices and doing what makes her feel happy and secure regardless of what others think or say.”
“She’s right,” Holly said, nodding at Eve and Carol Belle. “On both counts.”
Carol Belle crossed her arms over her chest. “Well, what about the third reason?”
Kandy glanced at Holly, then Eve, and finally, Carol Belle. “What Jordyn did tonight has inspired me to do the same. I’m going to pursue what makes me happy no matter what others think.”
With that, Kandy spun on her heel and walked to the sidewalk, following Noel’s festive Christmas decorations toward the town square shops.
“But Kandy . . . wait!” Carol Belle bellowed across the parking lot.
“Where are you going?” Eve called.
“It’s cold,” Holly yelled. “You’ll freeze your buns off!”
Kandy smiled, picked up her pace and shouted over her shoulder, “I’m going where I should have months ago, and I’m warmer than I’ve been in a long time!”
And it was true. The surge of excitement pulsing through her veins heated her cheeks and made her smile wider.
It wasn’t long before she reached the string of shops lining the road in downtown Noel and, thankfully, the sign was still on in front of the business she planned to visit. A bell over the entrance chimed as she opened the door and walked inside.
Immediately, the sweet aroma of chocolate and baked goods enveloped her, stirring a sense of nostalgia within her.
“Kandy.” Max Reynolds emerged from his back office and strolled toward her behind a counter stocked with goodies. He smiled, his eyes full of surprise. “After the long day you’ve had wrapping up the Christmas competition, I expected you to be at home with your feet up by now.”
“No.” She smiled. “I had something important to do. And you told me I could stop by anytime.” Hesitating, she glanced around at the empty café, then bit her lip. “Have you closed for the night? Am I too late?”
He studied her for a moment, remaining silent. Then he opened a wooden door at the back end of the counter and walked over, stopping as he reached her. “No,” he said. “You’re not too late.”
The affection in his blue eyes as he stared down at her made her breath catch. He was so close she could feel the warmth emanating from his broad chest. She longed to place her palms against it and feel his heart throb beneath her touch.
The tender attraction surging through her was thrilling and unexpected and she wondered where it might lead if she allowed herself to . . .
“Do you have time for a cup of hot cocoa?” she asked softly.
He grinned. “With a tablespoon of espresso, five mini-marshmallows and crushed peppermint on the rim?”
She laughed. “You know me so well. But I don’t want to keep you from closing if you—”
“I always have time for you. And I’m glad you came. I’ve been waiting for you to decide to stop by for a long time.” He smiled and held out his hand. “Shall we sit by the front window?”
Kandy slipped her hand into his, but her smile faded as she studied her flesh against his. At fifty-eight, his skin was still smooth and youthful whereas hers—
“Kandy?” The tenderness in his tone coaxed her eyes back to his. His handsome expression was almost pleading. “There’s a perfect view of the Christmas decorations in the town square from the window. There’s nothing I’d love more than for you to join me.”
She lifted her gaze to his and spoke before she could change her mind. “Okay.”