Chapter 4 #2
“No problema.” Chili got busy wadding up paper and tucking it under the logs. They had the fire going in no time.
The doorbell rang and the door flew open.
“Hello, ladies.” Bundled up in a blue cape that probably came from her shop Hippy Chick, Diana was next to arrive.
“The cook at the care center was making mint brownie bars.” She set her plate on the coffee table.
“Of course I snatched a few, one of the perks of my position.” Diana’s husband Will was the administrator of Gull Harbor Care center and they had a great cook.
“I can feel my waistband tightening already,” Sarah laughed as she took Diana’s cloak.
“Look at this fire!” Sarah’s beautiful blonde friend settled in front of the fireplace. Only Diana could look glamorous in a bean bag chair.
“Time to warm our cider. I’ll be right back.” Sarah disappeared into the kitchen, took a jug of cider from the frig, dumped it into a pan and turned on the stove. Hands on the counter, she caught her breath.
These were her best friends, people who usually made her happy. But this year she had no holiday cheer. Somehow she had to find it. Her boys deserved a fun Christmas. Wasn’t that a parent’s responsibility?
But she was only one parent.
The doorbell rang again and the front room filled with laughter.
Sarah shook herself from gloomy thoughts.
Taking out some cinnamon sticks, she dropped them into the cider and added nutmeg and pumpkin spices.
While she was stirring the mixture, Kate whirled into the kitchen with her baby Quinn.
Such a picture, the two of them together.
“Oh, let me hold him!” Setting down her spoon, Sarah held out her arms. “Isn’t he just the most beautiful baby ever? Two or three months now?”
“Three. Can you believe it?” Kate beamed, the proud parent. Sarah remembered when she’d been like that with Nathan. The first baby was always so special.
With sloppy, sweet gurgles, the warm bundle in her arms chased away any holiday gloom. Sarah breathed in the soothing smell of baby powder. “Will you just look at those lashes, that little nose?”
“Nothing about this boy will be little for long.” Kate slipped a finger into Quinn’s tiny fist and he gripped it tight. The baby gave his mom a gummy smile and Sarah’s heart turned over. A sudden surge of longing took her by surprise.
“He’ll be all boy,” she assured Kate. “Probably tall like his daddy.”
“So where is that vino you promised?” Chili hollered from the living room.
“Mulled cider,” Sarah called back, settling Quinn back in his mother’s arms. “Why don’t you and the baby get comfortable on the sofa? I’ll be right out.”
She watched Kate disappear into the other room, Quinn’s delicate head cuddled on her shoulder.
Yes, Sarah’s baby yearning wasn’t going away any time soon.
But she blocked it from her mind, poured the cider into a pitcher and carried it into the living room.
After filling everyone’s wine glass, she surveyed the plates of cookies and prayed for restraint, that red Christmas dress on her mind.
Kate had brought lemon bars that her mother had baked. “Mom’s all about the baking once the holiday starts.”
“But that’s Christmas, isn’t it?” Sarah offered everyone a poinsettia napkin. “Cookies and traditions. Family and friends.” But she choked on the last words.
Reaching over, Kate gave her hand a warm squeeze. “Oh, Sarah.”
Clearing her throat, she pushed on. “Ryan and I are filling our shelves with Christmas cookies. See what you think of the thimbles.” She motioned to the plate.
“I don’t need any more encouragement.” Choosing a thimble with a dollop of strawberry jam, Diana bit down and groaned.
“Ry–an?” Chili drew out Ryan’s name out in the most indecent way. “So you bake together? You and Ryan?”
“My mother’s getting older.” But not too old to trek over to the library in snowy weather. “She’s working the front counter while I handle the baking.”
“With Ry–an.” Chili chuckled. “What else is going on in your kitchen, Sarah?”
“Oh, don’t be silly.” Her cheeks burned. Time for a lemon bar and she scooped one up. The tart taste exploded in her mouth. They’d definitely have to start on these soon for The Full Cup.
“Who is this Ryan?” Diana looking puzzled. A transplant from Chicago, she’d only lived in Gull Harbor for a couple of years. “Have I met him?”
“Tell her,” Kate urged. “Tell Diana about Ryan.”
Sarah swallowed and took a sip of wine. “Ryan is my brother-in-law. You know, Jamie’s brother.” Maybe someday it would be easier to say her husband’s name.
“A hunk,” Kate filled in. “All the girls in Gull Harbor High had a crush on Jamie’s little brother.”
“Except Ryan was never little.” Chili chortled. “Que hombre! Tall with big shoulders.” She held her hands wide. With a gulp, Sarah could almost see Ryan filling that space. The heat from the crackling fire was getting to her.
“Ryan always had that attitude,” Kate said, tracing her baby’s face with one finger. Quinn smiled up at her, waving a fist. “He was a bad boy.”
“But that accident. Terrible.” Chili shivered. The motorcycle crash had shocked everyone.
“His leg is fine now,” Sarah was quick to say. “I don’t think he rides that Harley anymore. Ryan’s changed a lot.”
“You hardly notice the limp,” Kate said.
“Makes him more macho, no?” Chili wiggled her eyebrows.
What a relief when the doorbell rang and Phoebe barreled in, cheeks flushed from the cold. “Oh my gosh. It’s freezing out there.”
“How was the driving?” Jumping up, Sarah helped Phoebe off with her jacket and tucked it in the closet.
“Not bad. Roads were salted.” She rubbed her hands together, squishing onto the sofa and cooing over Quinn. “I want one of these in my Christmas stocking.”
“I think Ryder can help you with that,” Chili teased. But Phoebe said nothing.
“Phoebe, do you know this Ryan guy who’s working at Sarah’s coffee shop?” Diana asked.
“You mean the coffee shop that’s really a bakery?” Phoebe chuckled. “Don’t take that the wrong way, Sarah.”
But Sarah was used to the teasing.
“Yes, I know Ryan,” Phoebe said, watching Quinn curl a tiny hand over her finger. “He’s renting the apartment above Branson Motors.”
“Ah, the inside story,” Chili cooed while the others laughed.
During a lively discussion of Ryan’s assets, she wondered who they were talking about. “Ryan is Jamie’s little brother.”
“Not much younger.” Quinn started to fuss and Kate jiggled him in her arms. “Guess it’s feeding time.” Draping a diaper over one shoulder, Kate began to nurse. The beautiful picture deepened Sarah’s yearning.
“Why are we even talking about age?” Kate said, smiling down at the baby. “Carolyn’s dating a man who is ten years younger. Brody doesn’t seem to mind a bit.”
They all laughed. “I miss having Carolyn around,” Sarah said quietly. “It was so good to see her last summer. Do you think she’ll ever move back to Gull Harbor?”
“From Santa Fe and Brody?” Diana asked, her brows arching. “I doubt it. She’s landed a teaching position and loves it. But she might visit over the holidays.”
“Back to Ryan.” Chili waved her glass of cider. “Is he dating anyone?”
Sarah shook her head with what she hoped looked like sisterly concern. “Can’t we fix him up with someone?”
The room fell silent. All eyes swung toward Sarah. “What? What did I say?”
“Why not you?” Kate hooted just as Quinn burped.
Chili shot her a sly look. “Sounds like you two are hitting it off.”
“But not like that.” Heat rolling from her neck to her cheeks, Sarah moved the rocker away from the heat. “That’s crazy, Chili.”
“Why?” Kate wasn’t buying it.
“He’s Jamie’s little brother, that’s why. Ryan’s been a great help to me but...no.”
Finally, the conversation moved away from Ryan. The women chatted like the old friends that they were and never got to the Christmas stories. Sarah popped in some Christmas CDs and strains of Nat King Cole singing about chestnuts roasting on an open fire filled the room.
After her friends had left, Sarah cleaned up the kitchen and went to bed. Taking Jamie’s photo from her nightstand, she propped it up on her knees. So handsome, her husband.
“The boys are doing so well. Nathan and Justin will have a wonderful Christmas. I’ll see to that.” No way would she share her concerns about Nathan and his moods.
“I had book group tonight, and the girls teased me about Ryan. Can you imagine? I would never think of your little brother in that way. He’s doing great with the baking, though. You’d be proud of him. Maybe Ryan’s turned over a new leaf.”
Her voice echoed in the lonely bedroom. Sarah didn’t know what else to say. Kissing her fingertips, she pressed them to Jamie’s confident smile. The glass felt cold beneath her fingers. “Good night, honey.” She set the photo back on her nightstand.
After she turned off the light and snuggled down under her quilt, Sarah couldn’t fall asleep. Images of Ryan clouded her mind.
And it wasn’t in a sisterly way.