Blue Christmas (The Moody Blue Trilogy | Book One) (3 page)

Hannah realized
the tears pooling in her own eyes must have caught her attention. She felt a
tear break free just as the woman reached for her hand and patted it
maternally.

“Why, what’s the
matter? Did I say something wrong?”

Hannah wiped her
eyes with the back of her other hand. “Oh no, really—it’s me. I’ve been so depressed
all day.” She felt the catch in her voice. The sound of it destroyed what
little resistance she had left. “I mean, it’s Christmas Eve and I’m stuck here
for the holidays. I’m the assistant manager—this is just a part-time job while
I’m in school . . .” The words gained momentum as her misery
spilled out, but she couldn’t help herself. “But Jim, my boss, had a sudden
death in his family. He had to go—it’s not like he had a choice. And I’m next
in line, so it fell on me to work through the holiday weekend.”

Her nose ran like
a faucet and she hiccupped, trying to catch her breath.
Oh brother.  I must
sound like such a whiner.
She paused to take another breath, sending a new
wave of tears down her face. “My whole family is away in Colorado on a skiing
trip. I was supposed to go, but I just couldn’t do that to Jim. And my best
friend Kylie went home to be with her family for the holidays, and here I am.”
She took a deeper breath this time and looked up at the woman. “Listen to me, carrying
on like some blubbering idiot. I’m sorry, I really am.”

“That’s okay, sweetheart,
you just blubber away.”

“No, I didn’t mean
to drag you into my stupid little pity party like this. It’s completely
unprofessional. I’m so sorry.”

“You didn’t drag
me into anything. There’s nothing worse than being separated from family,
especially during Christmas. But surely you don’t have to work tomorrow, do
you?”

“No, the store is
closed for the day, thank goodness. I should be grateful for that and just get
a grip.”

The lady looked
around this way then that. Finally, she looked back at Hannah. “Since it
appears I’m the only customer left, I have a wonderful idea.” Her eyes sparkled
with excitement. “What time do you get off?”

Hannah wiped her
eyes and nose with the hem of her apron then looked at the clock on the wall.
“Actually, we’re closed now. I didn’t realize it was so late.”

“Perfect!” She
clapped her hands for emphasis. “How would you like to join my husband and me
for a Christmas Eve service at our church? It starts in about an hour. Then we
always have a quiet dinner at home after the service. I would
love
for
you to join us.”

Hannah shook her
head. “Oh no. I mean, that’s really nice and all, but I just couldn’t. I
wouldn’t want to impose on your family like that. No offense, but I hardly know
you.”

“Nonsense. We’re
old friends! I see you in here all the time. We’ve talked about everything from
the weather and football to Carolina politics! That’s more than some married
couples talk in a lifetime, by the way.”

Hannah watched
her, the gentleness of her eyes, her easy smile. She was certainly no one to worry
about. The small diamond cross hanging from a delicate chain on her neck shined
like a beacon of reassurance. Still, Hannah wasn’t used to taking risks with a
near stranger. Much less a near stranger’s family.

“Besides, I told
you my son is coming home. He’d be thrilled to have someone his own age around.
Especially someone as pretty as you.”

Hannah could feel
the heat warm her cheeks. She averted her eyes, closing the register and
turning off the light above her. “Look, I know you mean well, but I’m not
really comfortable with matchmaking, if you know what I mean. But thank you
any—”

“Matchmaking? Who said
anything about matchmaking? Although, I must say you are a refreshing change
from some of the bimbos he’s brought home.”

An unexpected
scenario tiptoed through Hannah’s mind . . .

“Mom? Dad? I’m
home!” shouts the handsome son as he throws open the front door. “I want you to
meet someone. Bambi, this is my mother and father. Mom, Dad, this is Bambi.”
His eyes turn to Hannah who sips eggnog, seated on the sofa between his parents.
“And who is this? Picking up strays again, Mom?”

An involuntary
shudder raced down Hannah’s back. She shook her head again, this time with resolve.
“No, I just don’t think it’s a good idea. But thank you anyway.”

“Hannah, I simply
won’t take no for an answer. I’ll go wait in my car out front. You close up, do
whatever you have to do, then come on out when you’re ready. We have lots of
time. We can even stop by your place if you’d like to change or freshen up.”
She rounded the end of the counter and gently looped her arm through Hannah’s.
Her eyes were warm and sincere. “Please say you’ll come.”

In such close
proximity, Hannah caught a familiar scent. It was the same cologne her mother
always wore. That was all it took. Suddenly the fatigue and stress overwhelmed her.
The thought of going home to her lonely apartment for what was left of
Christmas Eve depressed her even more. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but yes—yes
I’d love to come.”

“Wonderful! Now
just take your time, and I’ll go pull my car right up by the front door. Oh,
this is going to be just perfect!”

“Are you sure we
have time to run by my apartment?”

“Absolutely. I’ll
follow you, then wait in my car until you’re ready. No problem.”

Hannah couldn’t
help smiling. As she pulled out her keys to lock up, a thought crossed her mind.
“Wait! I don’t even know your name!

“Just call me Laura.
We’ll make all the introductions later. Now go!”

The church
engulfed Hannah in a wave of sentiment that overpowered her. Soft candlelight
danced across garlands of pine and ribbons of deepest crimson. An endless sea
of poinsettias covered the bank of stairs leading up to the platform at the
front of the sanctuary, a brilliant contrast to the ivory robes of the choir
members now filling the loft. The crowded auditorium fell silent as the choir
sang with hushed anticipation.

O come, O come,
Emmanuel

And ransom
captive
Israel

That mourns in
lonely exile here

Until the Son
of God appear

Rejoice,
rejoice, Emmanuel

Shall come to
Thee, O
Israel

Rejoice,
rejoice, Emmanuel

Shall come to
Thee, O
Israel
.

Hannah closed her
eyes, breathing in the peacefulness. A slight nudge on her arm interrupted her
thoughts. Sneaking a sideways peek at Laura, she looked into what must surely
be the kindest face on earth . . . eyes sparkling, reflecting
the warm glow of candlelight, her brows raised high in childlike pleasure. She
patted Hannah’s knee.

“I’m so glad you
came,” she whispered. “We’re going to have such a good time.”

“Shh!” Laura’s
husband pretended to scold them, making a valiant effort to act stern.

Frank had joined
them at the church only moments before, arriving late from his own last-minute
shopping. He put Hannah at ease immediately with a warm hug and genuine smile. She
found his dashing good looks of no surprise—she would have easily paired him
with Laura. His premature but striking white hair, cut short along with his
neatly trimmed beard, offered a fatherly appearance that put her at ease the
moment they met. Now, after his feigned attempt at the reprimand, he winked then
looked back toward the front of the church.

The rest of the service
melted into Hannah’s memory. It ended all too soon as candles were passed to
everyone while the entire congregation and choir sang
Silent Night
a
cappella.

“Where is that son
of ours?” Frank asked, as he escorted Laura and Hannah back to their car. “I
was hoping he’d show up in time for at least part of the service.”

Laura chuckled. “He’ll
be here. He’s probably already home and raiding our dinner as we speak.” Laura chuckled.

Hannah felt her
heart flutter, still apprehensive about spending the evening in the home of
these strangers. No, they weren’t strangers. They were far too friendly for
that. Still, it was Christmas Eve, and she wasn’t at
all
sure about
meeting their son.

“Hannah, you’ll just love Jason,”
Laura began. “But I have to warn you—he can be a heartbreaker.”

Hannah felt the
flutter twist into a strangling knot. “Heartbreaker?”

“Oh, you know what
I mean. He’s got his daddy’s charm—”

“—and his mother’s
smile,” Frank finished. “But I’ll keep an eye on him for you, Hannah. Don’t
worry. One wrong move and I’ll—”

“Oh, right,
Frank,” Laura chided. “You never laid a hand on him his entire life. He never
got a whoopin’ unless I gave it to him, thank you very much. But of course,
that’s why he worships the ground I walk on.” A mischievous grin mimicked her
playful eyes.

“That he does, I
must admit.” Frank stepped between them as they walked across the parking lot.
He draped his arm across his wife’s shoulders, then looped his other arm
through Hannah’s. “But stop boring our friend here with all this chatter.
Hannah? You just come on home with us and relax, all right?”

She hoped her face
didn’t mirror the uncertainty she felt, despite the lopsided grin she managed
to fake. The sound of her accompanying laugh was lame even in her own ears.

What in the world
have I gotten myself into?

Chapter 2

S
he wasn’t prepared for this.
There was no way she could have prepared for this.

Laura’s car slowed
as her husband’s shiny black Jaguar preceded them at an enormous security gate which
opened regally before them. The long driveway stretched ahead under a canopy of
barren winter branches covered with tiny white lights.

“Oh my . . .”
Who
are
these people?
Something flitted through her mind but she
couldn’t put her finger on it. Like a thought just out of reach, it teased her
with uncertainty. She chose to ignore it and instead, drink in the warm hospitality
of her new friends.

“Oh now, don’t get
too impressed,” Laura responded. “After all, it’s just wood and brick and
mortar like any other house. And we’re just ordinary people like everyone else.
This house was a gift to us, if you can believe it. And, well frankly, how in
the world would you turn down a gift like that?”

“A
gift
?”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “I feel like Little Orphan Annie going to Daddy
Warbucks’ house for the first time. It’s like a dream or something. I’m
beginning to think I must have scanned one too many turkeys on that register
tonight.”

Whoa.
As
the house came into full view, she felt her jaw drop as she stared at the most
magnificent home she’d ever seen. Decked for the holidays with thousands more
of the miniature white lights, it seemed to stretch on forever. “It’s so
beautiful.
”

“Well thank you! I
absolutely love Christmas, Hannah, and this house is so easy to dress up. I’ll
take you on a tour once we get inside. Since the minute I saw the architect’s
plans, I’ve felt like a kid in a candy store. Do you ever feel that way? Like
you just want to pop, you’re having such a good time?”

“You mean like
now?”

Laura laughed, her
head falling back against the headrest. While Frank pulled around to the
four-car garage, Laura parked her Lexus in the circular front drive. Heading
toward the elegant front porch entry, she wrapped her arm around Hannah’s
waist. “I’m so happy you decided to join us. I want you to just relax and make
yourself at home. Okay?”

Hannah smiled in
return. She couldn’t even think how to respond. Laura pulled off her glove to punch
numbers on a pad, disengaging the security system, then threw open the front
door. Hannah’s eyes opened wide to take it all in.

“First things
first,” Laura offered, taking Hannah’s coat. “Why don’t you go have a seat in
the family room here, and I’ll get us something to drink.”

Entranced by the festive
surroundings, Hannah descended three wide steps into the oversized living area.
The dying embers of a fire glowed from a huge stone fireplace, the focal point
of a room filled with comfortable sofas and overstuffed chairs. In the corner
stood a massive Christmas tree, loaded with ornaments and tinsel, bows and
lights, the star on its highest branch almost touching the two-story beamed ceiling
above. She breathed in the fresh pine scent as Laura lit several candles around
the room, chattering about her fondness for all things Christmas.

Frank strolled
into the room, his purpose clearly evident as he added more logs onto the fire,
then stoked it into a hearty blaze. “There, that’s more like it.” He turned his
attention to the elaborate music system, pressing a couple of buttons. The room
filled with an orchestral version of
I’ll Be Home for Christmas
. He tossed
a wink toward her as he turned for the kitchen. “Now, what can I get you,
Hannah? Coke? Coffee? Perrier? Eggnog?”