A Splash of Christmas (6 page)

“Oh, Ben…they're lovely.”

“I'm pleased that you think so.” His gaze skimmed the length of her. “But they're not nearly as lovely as you.”

“How sweet.” In that instant, the sharks that had been gnawing at Faith's belly since she woke that morning, fled. “If I didn't know better, Ben Ward, I'd say you're trying your best to make me fall in love with you.”

“And if I am?”

“You just might have your way.”

“Good.” He leaned in over the flowers to kiss her, gathering her hair in the palm of his hand. “Because it's all a part of the plan.”

 

~*~

 

“I thought we were heading into Farragut for today's filming. That's the other direction,” Faith said as she sat up straighter in the passenger seat and adjusted the lap belt over her hips. “This is the way to the children's home. I drive this route every day.”

“I know.”

Ben watched the way her hair skimmed over the creamy skin of her cheeks and down her back in a waterfall the color of soft flames. The hunter green sweater coupled with a flowing skirt and leather boots made her eyes shine like emeralds. “There's been a slight change of plans. Mrs. Jendovani's project has been put on hold for the time being, and we've decided to commence filming at a different venue, for a much more important and high-impact project.”

“I don't understand.”

“You will soon enough.” He reached for her hand, gave it a gentle squeeze. “Can I tell you a secret?”

“Yes, of course.”

“When we began this nonsense—at least I considered it nonsense at the time—of selecting a special venue and filming a Christmas episode, I never thought anything more would come of it than a thoroughly embarrassing experience, orchestrated by my brothers and Harry. But now, well…I think meeting you and spending time with you has been one of the best—I mean
the
best—thing that's ever happened to me.”

“You do? It has?”

“Yes.” Ben swung the truck into the right-hand lane and quickly turned into a side lot at the first opportunity. He shifted into park as the motor purred, and removed his seatbelt. “Faith, you've made me feel something here”—Ben took her hand and pressed it, palm splayed, to his heart. He wondered if she felt the steady thrum, strong and true—“that I didn't know I could feel until I met you.”

“Oh, Ben…I feel it, too.”

“I'm not sure where all this is leading, but I want you to know that this filming project has become so much more than I ever imagined. It's not just about completing an episode now. That's just the icing on the cake—a bonus. You, Faith, and what we've begun to share…well, it's the true prize.”

Ben drew her in, stroking her cheek. He dipped his head, kissed her, felt the rush of her pulse as she skimmed a hand to the nape of his neck. Her touch stole his breath.

“I'm sorry I slapped you that day in the studio.” Faith's hand slid from his neck to his cheek and rested there. “It was…awful of me to do that.”

Ben laughed. “I'm just glad my kisses no longer elicit that reaction.”

“No. Not at all. Not even a glimmer.” Faith feathered her lips along his jaw as she sighed. “Only this.”

“Good. I like
this
much better.” A flash of heat skimmed the length of Ben's spine, and he fought the urge to draw her closer and take her into his arms.

“Ben!” Faith pulled away suddenly as a backhoe rumbled by, followed by a pair of dump trucks. “Aren't those yours?”

“Uh huh.”

“Where are they headed?” Faith shifted in the seat, her gaze trained on the massive vehicles as, one by one, they lumbered down the road and rounded the next corner. “Oh my goodness, they're not—”

“Yes, they are.”

“Headed to Mountain Light?”

“That's right.”

Tears leapt to Faith's eyes, shimmering as she pressed a hand to her mouth. For a moment, music from the radio drifted softly through the cab as she simply gaped at him in disbelief.

“How did you manage…why?”

“Can't you see, Faith? The answer is simple…I'm falling in love with you.”

 

 

 

 

7

 

“This is shaping up to be our best episode yet,” Ben said as he settled into the loveseat beside Faith. He placed a hand on her knee, squeezing gently as the film rolled on a screen the size of half a wall length while Harry made final decisions on what to keep and what to cut, and where to add the last touches of music and narration. “And you're a huge part of the reason for that.”

“I don't know…” Faith paused to gnaw at her lower lip, all her insecurities swirling in her belly. “I never noticed that my voice sounds so tinny, and I twirl my hair way too much.”

“We all have our little quirks, but I agree, Faith. You're a natural in front of the camera.” Ben's sister-in-law, Mandy, held daughter Carrie, who'd just turned two, in her lap. The child slept soundly, a halo of blonde curls fanned around her head and her thumb tucked neatly into her mouth. Samuel settled in at Mandy's side, holding five-year-old Scotty who mimicked the sounds of a car motor—albeit softly so as not to wake his sister—while he ran a small toy car over the arm of the couch.

A few feet away Colby and Trisha were huddled together. Colby had one hand draped across the mound of Trisha's belly. Filming had wrapped up just in time; their baby was due in less than a month—New Year's Day, to be exact—and excitement buzzed through the air like a swarm of fireflies.

“Yes, it was fortuitous that you attended the audition that day, even if you didn't plan on doing a screen test,” Trish added. “God obviously had other plans.”

Fortuitous
…hadn't that been the very word Avery had also used on their way back to Mountain Light following the fateful afternoon audition? Hadn't she mentioned God's sense of humor?

“Thank you.” Faith's voice caught on a breath as tears welled in her eyes. “And, I never imagined the episode would be done at Mountain Light. I couldn't believe it that first day of filming when I was seated in the truck with Ben and watched the heavy machinery pass by.”

“It was a stroke of genius on Ben's part.” Harry, seated in front of them, paused in his note-taking as he turned back for a moment. “I have to admit, it took a bit of convincing but his vision was solid. These ratings should be through the roof.”

“It's not just about the ratings, Harry.” Ben frowned. “There's more to life than numbers.”

“You have your opinion and I have mine. I'd say this is a win-win all the way around. Ratings are up, the home got a beautiful pool, Miss O'Fallon will receive a good amount of money to support her charity, and you—”

“About the money,” Faith interrupted. “I don't think it's fair to take it. Ben bought all those gifts for the Christmas party…and you've all donated the pool, as well. It's gorgeous. The kids are beside themselves with excitement, and my supervisors are so pleased with the way this has all turned out that they've removed my probationary status. I just couldn't—”

“You
can
and you
will
take the money.” Ben's voice was firm as he lifted a hand to stroke the length of her hair. “You're always thinking of others, Faith. Do something for yourself this time around.”

Little Carrie sighed in Mandy's arms. Slowly, Mandy handed the child over to her. “Do you mind, Faith? I'd like to stretch for a minute or two.”

“Not at all.” Faith bundled Carrie into her arms, and sighed with satisfaction. The youngest child at Mountain Light had just turned six, so Faith had little interaction with toddlers. Carrie felt good…right…settled against her shoulder. The soft scent of baby powder filled Faith's nose and tugged at her heart. A wave of longing filled her.

“That look suits you, Faith.” Valerie nodded slightly. “Yes, I'd say it's just this side of perfect.”

Faith's throat tightened. If they all only knew how much she'd dreamed of this very moment…of all the possibilities. She scanned the room as she smoothed a hand over Carrie's back, drinking in faces that radiated kindness. There was Mandy and Sam…Trisha and Colby...Mrs. Ward, who insisted on being called Valerie, Harry.

And, of course, Ben. The way he looked at her now, his blue eyes wide and vast as the ocean, reduced her to a weepy puddle of mush.

“You all have been so kind to me. I was nervous beyond words at the outset of this adventure, and you made it all seem so easy. I never imagined…”

“You're part of our family now—our Poolside Oasis family.” Trisha smiled over the rim of her teacup. “I feel as if we're sisters.”

“That's right, dear,” Valerie chimed in with a warm smile. “And you're a third daughter to me…such a blessing.”

Our family…sisters…a daughter…
These were things Faith had always longed for yet had never had for her very own. She'd given up the dream after having her heart broken time and time again over the years. The tears spilled over, and she swiped them away as she leaned down to kiss Carrie's warm, dusky cheek. So soft…so perfect.

All of this was perfect…too perfect to last.

“Please, Ben, take the baby.”

“Why? She loves being swaddled in your arms.”

“Because…” Faith handed the baby to him as tears trailed down her cheeks and the words rushed out. “Take her because I have to leave now. I forgot I have some important work to finish on the Mountain Light Christmas party.” She leapt from the couch as a sob escaped her lips. “I should go. I'm sorry, but I need…”

Her voice faded on a rush of heated breath as the thumb slipped from Carrie's puckered mouth. She stretched and whimpered, and Faith felt like whimpering, as well. Now that the filming had ended what, exactly,
did
she need?

And, even more importantly, what did Ben want—from her?

 

~*~

 

“Faith, hold up!” Ben's voice echoed from the walls as he closed in on her, his boots pounded the tile. “Don't run away. Talk to me.”

“No. I can't.”

“You have to.” He reached her, placed a hand on her shoulder and spun her back to face him. “I
need
you to tell me what's going on. What happened back there, Faith? You were fine one minute and then the next...”

“I told you, I have work to do.”

“The work can wait.”

“No it can't.” Faith wrenched her hand from his. “I'm not like you, Ben, with never-ending resources. You snap your fingers and people jump right up to do your bidding. You come and go as you please, buy what you want. It doesn't work like that for everyone—especially not for me.”

“You're wrong, Faith. I've worked hard to get where I am. It hasn't been easy.”

“Don't talk to me about hard work, Ben. When things get tough for you, you have a family to help see you through. I don't have anyone.”

“You have me.”

“Do I? It's taken me eight months to get off probation at work.”

“I thought we already worked through that. I'm sorry. I've tried to make it up to you, to make things right…”

“Is that what this is all about—your attempt to make things right?”

“What? No!” He took her by the shoulders. “You know that's not what this is about. I care about you, Faith.”

“Do you?” Tears spilled over to trail down her cheeks. “I don't fit in your world, Ben. You have a loving family, roots, and a future. I'm rappelling through life by a thread, with no safety net to speak of.”

“You do have a safety net, Faith.” Ben skimmed her cheek with the palm of his thumb. “Two, actually…me, if you'll allow it, and the Man Upstairs who sports a wicked sense of humor.”

“It's impossible.” Faith lifted a hand to her mouth as she backed away from him. “I have to go now. I
have
to.”

“Fine. You might have to go, but that doesn't mean I have to
let
go.” He drew her back once more to kiss her soundly. “You go take some time to figure things out, but I'll be around again soon. We've got more than a single episode to share, sweetheart; we've got an entire series ahead of us, complete with decades of syndication.”

 

 

 

 

8

 

“You've done a beautiful job, Faith.” Avery set the last of the food trays on the banquet table. She'd offered to help with the dinner, eliciting assistance from the head chef of the banquet hall she managed. He'd prepared a menu of the kids' favorites such as baked macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes with gravy, but everyone knew the highlight of the meal would prove to be the pairing overstuffed turkey with sugar-glazed ham. “The decorations are gorgeous, and that Christmas tree...just look at all the gifts waiting to be opened by the children.”

“Ben must have brought them over earlier today.”

He'd taken care to place the packages wrapped in festive foil paper complete with velvet bows in rich shades of crimson and evergreen, beneath the massive fresh-cut Douglas fir that had been donated by Rose Parker. All of this had been accomplished, somehow, while Faith was otherwise occupied. It was almost as if Ben had planned it that way.

He'd certainly done a fantastic job of giving Faith the space she'd requested. Since the afternoon they'd gathered to view raw footage of the episode that had been filmed, their conversations had been sketchy at best. The only time they'd really spent together had been at his warehouse, where they focused on furiously wrapping the plethora of Christmas packages. Of course, Sam and Mandy along with Trisha and Colby had pitched in to help. Valerie had even popped in for a short spell.