An Unexpected Kiss (4 page)

Although
Lucy’s
throat felt better, and she was no longer contagious, she still felt tired and
worn out. But not tired enough to miss out on riding the Polar Express. The
magical train ride was the perfect start of the Christmas holiday for her.

As she
finished getting ready, she looked out her bedroom window. The recent snowfall
blanketed Snow Valley in a pristine white canvas that left her yearning to make
snow angels and build a snowman. When she felt a little better, she would try
to get her brothers to play outside with her. She supposed she could try and
track down her girlfriends from high school, but after graduation they’d all
gone their separate ways and hadn’t kept in touch, other than through Facebook.

She knew Lance
would jump at the chance to build a snowman with her. Every time she visited
home he complicated things by trying to monopolize her time. To be honest, she
didn’t even know if he really loved her or if his pursuit was out of habit. He
seemed to be as convinced as her mother that since his name started with L they
were destined to be together.

He’d come
over last night after the bake sale with a plate full of thick brownies with
chocolate frosting and crushed candy canes on top. Lucy was in the middle of
watching one of her favorite Hallmark Christmas shows when Lance stopped by.
Lucy hadn’t been surprised her mother had suggested the visit. He’d apologized
again for making her sick, and hoped the brownies would make up for it.

They
helped considerably. She just didn’t tell Lance that.

He ended
up staying for the rest of the movie, but never tried to put any moves on her. That
probably had more do with Lucy staying bundled up tight in the Christmas quilt
her grandmother gave her a few years ago before she died. Plus, every time she
had to blow her nose she mumbled something about Lance getting her sick.

During a
commercial break, Lance asked about Cole. Lucy wasn’t exactly sure what to say.
It’s not like she could say he’d gone home for Christmas. She finally went with
the truth. Cole knew she was sick, and was spending time with his uncle.

Lance accepted
that, and didn’t ask any more questions. Obviously Cole hadn’t attended the
charity bake sale or Lance would’ve recognized him. Hopefully, she’d be
back in sunny California by the time Lance discovered Cole was his new family
doctor.

Lucy
twisted the last strand of her hair around the curling wand, and tried very
hard not to think about Cole Taggart. How ironic that the one guy she wouldn’t
mind seeing again was totally off-limits.

Cole
might be a handsome, successful doctor, not to mention a fantastic kisser, but
he’d just bought his uncle’s medical practice which meant he was here to stay
in Snow Valley for a very long time. As much as she loved her hometown, and
missed her family, Lucy enjoyed her career and living in Southern California. Plus,
if she got the promotion, there was a chance for an overseas assignment.

“Lucy?”
her mom called through her bedroom door. “Are you about ready?”

“Yes.
I’ll be out in a few minutes.” She put on a navy blue knitted beanie, leaving
her blonde hair to hang in loose curls around her shoulders.

“Are you
sure you don’t want to ride over with Lance?”

Lucy
rolled her eyes and put on her brown suede Sherpa boots. “No, Mom.” She stood
up and made sure her skinny jeans weren’t bunched up above the boots.

“Why
don’t you want to ride with him?” her mom questioned.

Lucy
strode over to her door and opened it up. “Because I’m not dating him.” She
slipped past her mom. “I just need to grab my coat and gloves and then we can
go.”

Her dad
stood by the fireplace, watching a football game on the television. He turned
and whistled when he saw her. “Don’t you look pretty.”

She went
over and hugged her father, loving the familiar smell of his spicy cologne.
“Thanks, Daddy.”

“Lamont,”
her mother said, sounding a little exasperated. “Please tell your daughter to
be nice to Lance.”

Her dad
pulled back and affected a stern expression. “Lucy, are you being mean to the
Christensen boy again?” His eyes sparkled with humor.

Lucy bit
her lip, trying not to giggle.

“Lamont,
I’m serious. She refused to ride over with him to the train station. If she
keeps telling him no, he’ll find someone else.”

“If only
that were true,” Lucy mumbled under her breath.

Laughing,
her dad turned off the television. “Lila, Lucy’s a grown woman. Let her be the
one to decide who she dates.” He crossed the room and put his arm around his
wife’s shoulders. “Let’s not forget who your mama wanted you to marry. It
certainly wasn’t me. She kept pushing you toward Charles Simpson, and now he’s
doing time for embezzling money.”

“Lance
would never do that.”

“That’s
not my point, sweetheart. Stop pushing Lucy, or she’ll never come home to visit
us again.”

Lucy
appreciated her father’s directness, although she doubted her mother would
change her ways.

Logan
came into the family room, with Landon close behind him. “Hey, me and Landon
are gonna head over to the train station now.”

“Landon
and I,” their mother corrected.

“That’s
what I said.”

“Logan,
no goofing around.” Lamont pointed a finger at Lucy’s brother. “One more
accident, and you’ll lose your driving privileges for a month.”

“Good
thing I’m not driving, then.” He grinned and sauntered toward the front door.
“Jake is coming to pick us up.”

As if on
cue, a horn blared.

“Gotta
go. C’mon, Landon.”

Lamont
stopped the boys by placing one hand on each of their shoulders. “You boys
better not miss the train.”

“We
won’t,” Logan said. “We’re gonna try to get on the car where all the
cheerleaders are riding.” He waggled his brows and grinned.

Lucy watched
her father fight back a smile. “All right.” He stepped out of the way. “Have
fun, and remember curfew is eleven.”

“Got
it,” Landon yelled as they rushed out the door.

“You
girls ready to go?” Lamont asked.

“Yes.”
Lila glanced at her watch. “Our tickets are for the six-thirty train, and I
told Lance to meet Lucy by the ticket booth at six.”

“Maybe I’ll
just stay home,” Lucy said, putting on her coat.

“Nonsense.”
Her mother came over and put a scarf around Lucy’s neck. “However, I don’t like
the idea of you being exposed to the cold when you’re still sick. The cars on
the train aren’t heated well.”

“I’m not
contagious anymore.”

“I know,
I asked Doc Taggart if it was okay for you to come tonight, and he said yes but
you should check with your new doctor.” Her mother narrowed her gaze. “Why
didn’t you tell me Doc Taggart is retiring, and you saw his nephew?”

Lucy
froze. Had her mother met Cole? “I guess I assumed you already knew.”

“No. Doc
Taggart announced it for the first time last night. His nephew wasn’t at the
bake sale, but I hope to meet him soon.” Her mother stepped back and adjusted a
few of Lucy’s curls. “You’ve got such beautiful hair. I’m so glad you wear it
long. It’s very feminine.”

“Thanks,
Mom.”

Lucy
forced herself not to roll her eyes. When she was little, Lucy wasn’t the
typical girly-girl into all things pink and sparkly. While other little girls
wanted to be a Disney princess, Lucy liked super heroes. When she was six, Lucy
had taken a pair of scissors and cut off her long hair so she’d look better in
her Batman costume. She hadn’t grown it out again until high school.

Her mom
patted Lucy’s cheeks. “Even with your tan, you still look a little pale.”

“Lila,
leave the poor girl alone.” Lamont took his wife’s hand, and led her toward the
garage. “Honey, do we need to buy you one of those frilly little puppies you
can dress up and carry around in a purse?”

Her
mother giggled. “Stop being so ridiculous, Lamont.”

“I’m very
serious. I’ve even thought of a couple of names that start with an L so the
puppy won’t feel left out. What do you think about Lady or Lassie?”

“I don’t
want a puppy. I want a grandbaby.”

“You’d
name our grandbaby Lady or Lassie?” Lamont teased, assisting his wife into the
passenger side.

While
Lucy appreciated what her dad was trying to do, now her mother would be stuck
on grandchildren. She needed to get her mom on another subject.

“Mom, I
forgot to ask you how the bake sale went last night? Those brownies Lance
brought by were delicious.”

That did
the trick. The entire ten minute drive to the train depot, her mother boasted
about the success of the sale, and what was most popular. Lucy’s dad winked at
her in the rearview mirror, and mouthed, “Smart girl.”

They found
a parking spot early on, and headed for the train station. Lucy felt silly
tagging along with her parents. She’d hoped her little brothers would be riding
with them, but they had their own agenda which didn’t involve parents or an
older sister. Of course, since her mother had properly meddled, Lance would also
accompany their little group, making it a foursome.

The train
station was decorated to look like the North Pole. There were several booths
set up inside the station where you could purchase gifts and souvenirs. One
little shop featured items from the book
The Polar Express
, like the bell
from one of the reindeer’s harness the boy chooses as the first gift of
Christmas. Lucy already had one. Someday she’d make sure her children all had
their own bell. She’d also make sure to keep the magic of Christmas alive for
them so they’d always hear the bell ring.

Another
booth featured a souvenir mug of Snow Valley’s Polar Express which you could
use for the hot cocoa served on the train. As she trailed behind her parents,
she noted most of the shops sold items related to the popular book turned
movie.

Her
mother glanced at her watch. “Lucy, since we’re a little early, your father and
I’d like to do a little Christmas shopping.”

“We
would?” her father questioned.

Lucy’s
mom shot him a severe look, and he shrugged. “Yep, we want to do a little
shopping.”

“What
would you like me to do, Mom?” Lucy asked, already knowing her mother had an
agenda.

“I know
you didn’t get to see everything at the Christmas craft fair a few days ago,
but they’ve set up a tent outside with some of the same vendors, so I thought
you could wander through there until it’s time for you to meet Lance.”

Lucy’s
father reached in and pulled out his wallet. “Here’s your train ticket in case
we don’t meet up until after we’ve boarded.”

“Thanks,
Dad.” Lucy took the ticket and tucked it inside her small purse. “For a minute
there I thought you were going to give me some money.”

He
laughed and pulled out two twenty dollar bills. “Don’t tell your brothers.”

Lucy
wouldn’t take the money. “I’m kidding, Dad.”

“Hey, if
your old man wants to give you a little money, you need to take it.” He took
her gloved hand and placed the bills on her palm. “Buy yourself a little
something for your apartment. I know how much you love to decorate for
Christmas.”

“Thank
you, Daddy.”

“Now
Lucy,” her mother admonished. “Don’t you forget to meet Lance.”

Lucy
started to protest, but then Doc Taggart and Beverly were suddenly heading in
their direction, and not far behind them was Cole Taggart. Now was not the time
to argue.

“Okay,
Mom. I better hurry up so I’ll have time to shop.”

Lucy
darted away, hoping Cole hadn’t seen her. She still couldn’t believe she’d told
him he had great kissing skills. It would be nice if she could rationalize and
tell herself she’d told him that simply to pay him a compliment, but she’d been
flirting with him.

Now she
had two men she had to avoid. One she didn’t want and the other she couldn’t
have.

She
slipped behind a crowd of kids in line to write Santa a letter, and made her
way toward the exit. A surge of townspeople entering the station blocked the
exit. At this rate, Lucy wouldn’t even make it inside the craft tent. Inching
around the outer edge, she got in a slow line of people leaving the
building. There were several other exits in the depot, but she would’ve risked
being seen by Cole.

A few
minutes later, she stepped outside. The nippy air made her shiver. As she
approached the entrance to the tent, she was disappointed to find it also had a
long line. Quickening her pace, she veered right to miss a group of teenagers,
and smacked into someone.

“Sorry,”
she said, glancing up at the solid mass she’d just hit.

“Are you
hiding from someone?” Cole asked with a smirk.

Not
anymore
.