A Christmas to Remember (19 page)

She hadn’t bothered with a bathing suit.

Irene floated in her swimming pool, letting the hot Texas sun lull her into a lethargic daydream state. She closed her eyes and listened idly to the chirping birds and the chattering squirrels. Peace and quiet.

Exactly what she needed.

No one could see her way up here on her hillside home. The front of the house looked down on the small town of Everson. She could stand on her front porch and watch the traffic move through the streets, but the back of her house was completely private, backing up to an undeveloped area of small hills and trees. No, she was quite safely out of view, drifting languidly in her own private world.

The rumbling sound of a small plane overhead disturbed her tranquility. As she shaded her eyes it flew closer and then buzzed directly overhead. She made no attempt to cover herself. In fact she was tempted to sit up and wave. She had never been known for her modesty, and if some bozo pilot was out for a joyride he might as well enjoy a cheap thrill. But she didn’t react at all, instead deciding she wasn’t going to let the uninvited visitor ruin her day. She watched as the plane tilted its wings, in a way of a greeting it seemed, and then circled around heading in the direction of the small airfield on the outskirts of town.

In a flash she realized exactly who was flying that noisy, intrusive airplane. Theo Jacobson. She knew he was coming back to town. According to his brother Jake, he was due back in town for the wedding sometime this week. It was just like him to make a splashy return, arriving like some winged warrior mocking her from on high.

Good, she thought defiantly. Let him have a good look. He should get an undisguised eyeful of the woman he hadn’t wanted all those years ago. The woman he hadn’t bothered to acknowledge since. He broke her heart and never looked back. A big fluffy cloud wafted by, momentarily covering the sun. She trailed a hand through the relaxing water, but it suddenly felt too cold. She slipped off the float and pulled herself from the pool. A terry cloth robe lay draped across a lounge chair, and she picked it up, wrapping it around her chilly body. With one more look at the now empty blue sky, she opened the back door and went inside her house.

* * *

“Welcome to the Rise N Shine. My name is Nell, and I’ll be your server today.”

Theo looked up at the waitress standing by the booth at the back of the local diner. She was willowy and tall with a ponytail of thick red hair trailing down her back. Her expression was carefully polite.

“Well hello, Nell.” He added a smile to soften the impact of his wild and wooly appearance. He knew he must look like a grizzled mountain man who’d just stumbled back into town after a long, cold winter’s hibernation. That wasn’t too far from the truth. His full dark beard and unruly mess of long black hair were a testament to the untamed months he’d just spent running backcountry tours up in Alaska. As soon as he’d landed he’d called his brother to let him know he’d arrived and then called Everson’s only taxi to take him into town. He was starving, so he’d had Bo Birdwell drop him at the diner. Later this afternoon he’d meet up with Jake and Marla Jean.

The smile must have helped because she smiled back. “Are you ready to order?”

“Sure, I’ll have the meat loaf and mashed potatoes. And a side of mustard greens.” He took a quick glance at the menu, and then refocused his blue eyes on her again. “And I think I’ll try some of that peach pie, too. What do you think?”

“Good choice. My mom makes the best meat loaf in the world, and her peach pie is my personal favorite.”

“Okay, then. That’s good enough for me. I’m hungry enough to eat a bear. So, Bertie’s your mother?” He nodded toward the Rise N Shine’s owner loudly holding court at the front counter.

“She sure is. And I was just telling her we should add bear to the menu.” They both laughed in the way people do when they’re flirting rather than because something is actually funny. “Are you new in town?”

“Actually, I’m just passing through. I’ll be here for a week or two, and then I’m taking off again to parts unknown.” He gestured out the window indicating the far horizon.

She peered out the window and then looked back at him. Moving closer, she said, “Parts unknown. That sounds mighty adventurous.”

He leaned closer, too, like he had secrets to share. “It certainly can be, Nell. I’m Theo Jacobson, by the way.”

Her eyes widened. “Jacobson? Wait a minute. As in Jake Jacobson?”

“The very one. He’s my big brother. I’m here for his wedding.”

She held the order pad against her breast as she studied him more closely. “I knew you looked familiar. Underneath all that hair, that is.”

He grinned. “So you know Jake?” He wasn’t surprised. Everson was a small town after all.

“Of course. And Marla Jean, too.” She gave his shaggy head of hair another once over. “Maybe you should stop off at her place for a haircut.”

His future sister-in-law owned the local barbershop. “Are you suggesting I look uncivilized?” He leaned back in the booth with an unrepentant grin.

She raised her eyebrows, fully flirting now. “Uncivilized isn’t necessarily a bad thing, Theo Jacobson. I was just thinking you might be worth asking out if I could see what you look like under all that shaggy growth.”

He was thinking Nell was pretty damn cute. He wouldn’t mind spending some time getting to know her better while he was in Everson. He wouldn’t mind that one little bit. After all, he was here to have a good time. Enjoy the wedding. Help Jake with some jobs. Keeping it all easy and uncomplicated.

Which was why he’d been out of his mind to buzz Irene Cornwell’s house on the way into town. Because he certainly didn’t plan to spend the short time he was here reflecting on the time in his life that included her. Some things were better left in the past where they belonged. But the last time he was in town she’d ignored him completely, didn’t even give him the passing courtesy she’d extend to a stranger, and he could admit he’d let it get under his skin. It chafed, and festered, and bugged the hell out of him. He was determined not to let her get away with doing that again. Not that he expected her to run and jump into his arms. He didn’t want that, either. A simple hello or nod of the head would do.

But the image of her floating buck naked in her swimming pool would be hard to forget. As soon as he’d spotted her he’d reacted with something close to physical pain and an old, ancient longing that he thought had died out a long time ago. His body didn’t seem to get the message that she was off limits now. With effort he refocused on the woman standing in front of him. “Are all the women around these parts as bold as you, Nell?”

She laughed. “Hold your horses, mister. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I haven’t asked you out yet, have I? And I better go put in your order.” She winked and turned to go.

He watched her walk back toward the front of the diner, taking his time, admiring the way her waitress uniform skimmed tightly over her perky little butt. This visit to Everson might turn out to be a lot more fun than he’d expected.

* * *

“Well, well. If it isn’t the best man.”

As Theo made his way through the gate and into the back yard of the Hazelnut Inn a soft feminine voice hit him like a nasty punch to the gut. He’d recognize that voice anywhere. Irene Cornwell. He must have been thinking about her so much that she’d materialized right in front of him like a magic trick gone wrong. Shit. Irene Cornwell. Fully clothed this time. Double shit. And she was actually speaking to him this time. Mission accomplished. He could check that off his list. Not just a hello or a nod of her head, but an entire sentence. For some reason it didn’t feel like a victory. It felt like he’d jumped out of his airplane without a parachute. Free-falling, waiting for the impact that was sure to follow. But he wasn’t about to let her see him sweat, so he slapped a cocky grin on his face and said, “Well, if it isn’t Irene Cornwell. How the heck have you been, Ree?”

She sat at an outside patio table with a thick file folder open in front of her and a pair of big, black-framed sunglasses shoved on top of her head. Her long, dark hair was caught up in a messy bun that he guessed was her attempt at looking serious. He allowed himself a minute to stare. She was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, but he would be careful to keep that opinion strictly to himself. Seeing her from a distance had been bad enough. But now, here she was close enough to touch. He was determined not to even consider that idea. Not even if someone offered him a ten-foot pole.

Her smile was bright and brittle. “No one calls me Ree anymore, Theodore. And I’m fine, thanks.”

He laughed thinking how easy it was to get a rise from her. “No one but you ever called me Theodore, and that was only when you were mad at me. I hope you’re still not mad at me after all this time.”

“Don’t be silly.” She waved her hand as if she thought he was being ridiculous. “Of course not.”

He dropped into the chair across from her. “I’m glad to hear that, and this is great. We’re actually sitting here having a conversation. Last time I was in Everson you pretended I didn’t exist.” He kept smiling like he was tickled pink by their unexpected reunion.

Her chin lifted regally. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He didn’t push it when she changed the subject. “Jake will be glad you made it home for the wedding.”

He looked at his watch. “Yeah, I’m supposed to meet him and Marla Jean here at four.”

She nodded to the back door of the inn. “They’re inside talking to Etta about the food for the wedding reception, but they should be out any minute. We need to finish going over the details of the ceremony.”

“We?” He couldn’t think of any reason she’d be involved in the wedding.

She closed the folder on the table and held out her hands in a “look at me” gesture. “Haven’t you heard? I’m their wedding planner.”

An involuntary bark of laughter escaped his throat. But she looked completely serious, so he asked, “You? A wedding planner? Since when?” Even to his own ears it sounded like he was accusing her of some sinister crime.

She crossed her long legs to one side. “Actually, it’s a fairly recent development. It came to me in a flash. When the Inn opened and I found out Etta planned to hold weddings here, I thought it sounded like something I’d be good at doing.”

“You don’t say? You don’t need the money, do you? So what? You just happened to have some extra time on your hands?” He didn’t try to hide his skepticism.

“Something like that.” She stuck out her chin, looking like she was ready to engage in a battle over the subject. “Why do you find that so peculiar?”

“No reason. Don’t go getting all defensive, Ree. Forget I said anything.” He shrugged as if it didn’t really concern him.

He could tell she wasn’t ready to forget it, though. “I’m not defensive, but you obviously have a strong opinion on the subject. So, please, share. I’m simply dying to hear what you have to say.”

Theo knew he’d be smart to keep his mouth shut, but he plunged ahead anyway. “Okay, and don’t take this the wrong way, but it seems to me that a certain respect for the institution of marriage should be necessary in order to do a good job as a wedding planner.”

The look she gave him clearly let him know his sarcasm had been noted. “Okay, and don’t take this the wrong way, but I’ll have you know my respect for the institution of marriage has increased by leaps and bounds since you knew me, Theo. Besides, you remember how I love a good party. A wedding and the reception aren’t that much different.”

He was about to stick his foot farther into his mouth by saying that her feelings must have improved once he was out of the picture, but he was saved when he spotted Jake and Marla Jean coming out the back door. They were talking about the advantages of a sit-down dinner versus the simplicity of a buffet.

Marla Jean was saying, “I don’t want people to think we’re being cheap, Jake.”

“No one will think we’re cheap. But a buffet is less stressful. Less wait staff to hire. People can help themselves,” Jake said. “Don’t you agree, Irene?”

Before the words were completely out of his mouth, Marla Jean spotted Theo. She ran toward him in a full sprint and jumped into his arms. “Theo, you’re actually here. Oh, Jake, look, it’s Theo.”

Theo laughed as he caught her in mid-jump and spun her around. “That’s the way I like to be greeted. You sure you’re marrying the right brother, Marla Jean?”

Jake reached the two of them just as Theo set Marla Jean’s feet on the ground. “Take your hands off my future wife, little brother.”

Theo turned and grabbed Jake in a bear hug. “I’m glad she’s going to make an honest man out of you, Jake. It’s about time.” His big brother meant the world to him. Growing up, Jake had been the one person he could count on to love and support him with no questions asked. Seeing him happily married to Marla Jean was a cause for real celebration.

“Now that you’re here, everything is going to be absolutely perfect,” Marla Jean said.

“Once Jake asked me to be his best man, you know nothing could have kept me away,” Theo assured her.

“With all the stops you had along the way, we weren’t sure exactly when you’d get here, though. I was so happy when Jake told me you landed this morning. I couldn’t believe it when he said you were flying your own plane all the way from Alaska.”

“Oh, really? You flew in this morning?” Irene asked from her patio chair. “I think I saw your plane.”

Theo smiled widely. So, she realized it was him flying over her house. “It’s a nice view from up there.”

He watched her chin jut out as she declared, “Nice? I’ve heard it’s nothing short of spectacular.”

Marla Jean turned to Irene. “Have you met Theo, Irene?”

“As a matter of fact, Theo and I are old friends.” Irene stood up and walked over to the group.

Jake looked at Theo in surprise. “Is that so? How come I didn’t know that?”

Old friends. Such a catch-all phrase, such a generic inadequate term for what they’d been. But now was not the time or place to squabble over how to define their past. “Yeah, Ree and I go way back. You remember when I got that job working at the Piggly Wiggly after school. Ree was a checker while I was a lowly grocery sacker.”