Island Christmas (16 page)

“Nothing exciting. How about you?”

“Same.”

“We could do nothing together.” Rachel sounded hopeful.

Regret washed over him. “I would like nothing better, but I’m staying on the mainland tonight. I’ll be back in the morning.”

“Oh.” Disappointment clouded her voice.

“How about tomorrow night?”

“I work.”

He sighed. Life was back to normal for Rachel while he still tried to figure out normal for himself. “I plan to stay at the resort tomorrow since I take possession of my house on Friday. I feel awkward going back to the B&B after checking out early. Maybe we could get together before or after your shift.”

“That might work. Let me talk to Jason’s sitter and get back to you. What did you do today?”

“Hold on a second while I disconnect from Bluetooth.” He stepped out of his car. “You there?”

“Uh-huh.”

He headed into the drug store. “I had a couple of appointments that took forever.” A car honked at him as he quickly walked into the crosswalk that led to the store door. Some people were so impatient. “I’m looking forward to getting back to life on the island. I already miss the easy pace.” He pulled out a shopping cart and strolled down an aisle, checking out the merchandise. It was good to see more than the basics that the island’s general store carried.

Rachel laughed. “I don’t know about the easy pace. Jason keeps me busy, but people are very kind. I’m glad to be here.” She must have turned away from the phone because her voice muffled, and he couldn’t understand her words. “Sorry about that. Jason wanted water.”

“How’s the little guy tonight?” As he chatted on the phone, Chris easily found the air mattress, air pump, and batteries, but he couldn’t locate a sleeping bag anywhere.

“Pretty good, but anxious to get his stitches removed. The poor kid sure has had a time of it since we moved here. Believe it or not, he never had a serious injury or sickness until the last few weeks.”

“I still feel bad about his arm.”

“You had no way of knowing he’d climb onto the counter. Don’t beat yourself up.”

“I’ll try not to.” A bright yellow, radio-controlled car grabbed his attention. Jason would enjoy that. He stuck it into his cart. He walked to the pharmacy window. “May I call you back, Rachel? I have to deal with something.”

“Sure. ’Bye.”

He picked up his prescription and aspirin and paid for the rest of his purchases. He’d like to get Rachel a little something for Christmas too. Her small house didn’t have space for knickknacks. Being a cook, she’d probably enjoy something for her kitchen, but he had no clue what she’d like. He’d spotted a kitchen specialty store on the way here. Then again, he didn’t want her to feel obligated to get him something. It was probably best to keep things simple.

He left the store with an extra bounce in his step, and once he settled in his car he reconnected the Bluetooth and called Rachel back. “It’s me again.”

“Hi. I talked with my sitter. She’s fine with coming early. We could meet at one.”

“Perfect. I’ll meet you in the lobby. See you tomorrow.” He disconnected the call and noticed a horse and carriage ahead decked out with Christmas lights. He suddenly knew what he wanted to get her for Christmas and didn’t think she’d feel any obligation to him because of it. But he’d have to talk with Zoe to make sure it would work.

Rachel pulled her coat on and
kissed Jason on the forehead. “I love you.”

“Love you too, Mommy.” Her son sat on the couch with a book in his lap.

“Remember to call if you have any questions or problems,” she said to her new sitter who’d come highly recommended.

“Don’t worry. Jason is going to be fine. I’ve raised three sons and a daughter, and they all survived.” She chuckled. “Although there were days…”

Rachel studied the middle-aged woman. “I know. And Nick said you are great with the kids at church.”

Beverly’s face tinged pink. “I enjoy children. Now off with you. Don’t keep that man waiting.”

Rachel grinned and blew a kiss to Jason before jetting out the door. A light coat of snow still covered everything. As beautiful as it was, she wished the sun would either melt it away, or they’d get enough snow to actually have some fun.

She took her time driving to the resort. Although there wasn’t a lot of snow, it was a little slick, and she didn’t care to end up in a ditch. A short time later, she parked in employee parking and darted inside to escape the cold.

“Hi.”

Rachel jumped when Chris stepped from beside a large planter. “I didn’t see you there. I thought we were meeting in the lobby.”

“I figured you’d come in this way. Would you like to go sit in the lounge or take a walk by the lake?”

Neither.
Didn’t he realize how cold it was outside? But she really didn’t want to go to the lounge either. “Let’s take a walk.” Good thing she wore her coat, gloves, and knit hat. Otherwise she’d freeze. Even then she would be chilled. This place could use some fun indoor activities for the cold winter months.

Chris grasped her hand, sending tingles up her arm. Maybe taking a walk was a good idea after all. The doorman held the oversized glass door for them as they left. Frigid air blasted her face. She really should buy a scarf.

They strolled along the cleared pathway that led to the lake. “It’s so beautiful.”

“Much nicer than where I was yesterday. Have you noticed how quiet it is here?”

She nodded. “I think snow softens sounds and puts a hush over everything.” Everything except her mind. It moved non-stop. The past few days she’d been trying to learn about her new faith as much as time would allow. She couldn’t figure out why her parents had only gone to church on holidays, but she’d be sure to ask them.

She hadn’t yet shared with anyone about her decision to follow Jesus and felt an urgency to tell Chris. The path curved to the right and continued around to the other side of the lake.

“You’re quiet,” he said softly.

“So are you.” She bumped her shoulder against his. “I made a decision I wanted to share with you when we came home from the hospital, but you took off so fast.”

His face brightened. “Tell me about it.”

“After we hung up the other night, I found the chapel at the hospital. I did what you said, and I’m a Christian now.”

He stopped and turned to face her. “I’m very happy for you. Do you have any questions?”

“Not yet. I’ve been reading the Bible a lot and picking Zoe’s brain when things don’t make sense. She has been more than patient with my questions and even suggested a couple of other books that might help me understand the Bible better.”

“Good. I’m happy to clear up any confusion too.” He tugged her close and hugged her. “This is the best news I’ve heard all week.”

She leaned back and studied his face. He truly looked happy for her, but his comment made her wonder if he’d had a tough week. “You okay?”

“Better than.” He released her and dragged her back in the direction they’d come. “Let’s go. It’s freezing out here, and we need to move to keep warm.”

Chris wanted to tell
her about his medical condition but hesitated. Everything was perfect between them. What if she’d want nothing to do with him once she found out about his angina? Then again he’d already told her the men in his family all died young, and she hadn’t pushed him away. So maybe he was worried for nothing. He glanced at his watch and picked up the pace. He had a sleigh ride scheduled for them in fifteen minutes.

Laughing, she trotted beside him. “You should have warned me you wanted to jog, and I’d have worn my running shoes.”

He slowed. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to go so fast. Is this better?” He didn’t want to spoil his surprise, but they really did need to walk fast. He should have turned them around sooner.

“Yes. Thanks.”

“I’m glad we were able to get together today. This next week is going to be packed for me, so I probably won’t see you until Christmas Eve.”

“That’s right. You move into your house next week.”

“Actually, I’m moving in tomorrow. My stuff won’t be there until the middle of the week, but I hope to be settled by Christmas.”

“Good luck with that. Unless you don’t own much, I imagine you won’t be settled that fast.”

“My condo was small and that house is huge by comparison. It will be scantily furnished. But I’ll have the necessities.” Sleigh bells rang out. Relief surged through him when he saw the driver waiting. “Look, there’s the sleigh. Care to go for a ride?”

“Really?” Surprise lit her voice. She checked the clock on her phone. “I’d love to.”

He picked up the pace slightly and waved to the driver. Rachel didn’t need to know he’d had this planned all along.

The driver stepped out of the sleigh and opened the door. “Good afternoon.”

“Hi,” Rachel said and climbed in.

Chris sat beside her and draped a thick blanket across their laps. The driver settled on the bench in front and made a sound the horse must have recognized as “go” because he pulled forward.

Rachel slipped an arm through Chris’s and snuggled close. “If you don’t have plans for Christmas, Jason and I would love to have you come over.”

“I’d like that.” An uncomfortable feeling gripped his chest.
Not now!
He tried to ignore the feeling but knew he must take his medicine. The doctor warned him against ignoring the pain.

He disengaged his arm from Rachel’s and slid the bottle from his coat pocket. He had to pull off a glove to remove the cap then stuck a pill under his tongue.

“Is that what I think it is?” Rachel’s brow scrunched.

“That depends on what you’re thinking,” he teased as he stuffed the bottle back into his pocket and slid his hand back into the warm glove.

“It’s for your heart.”

“Yes.”

“I thought you were okay. That you were only being cautious.”

“Me too, but I was wrong. Does this change anything for us?”

She sucked in her bottom lip clearly debating her answer. “How serious is your condition?”

“Angina.”

“Is it dangerous?”

He shrugged. “Not serious enough for surgery.”
Yet.
“This is all new to me. I found out yesterday.”

“Your appointment,” she stated.

He nodded and noted the pain had subsided. This was not the way he’d intended for their sleigh ride to go. He’d planned a romantic trek through the woods. “Do you mind if we sit quietly and take in the view?”

She shook her head, but concern filled her eyes.

The driver expertly guided the horse about a quarter way around the lake before veering off into the woods.

Chris draped an arm across the back of the seat and drew Rachel closer. The air cooled as they wove through gigantic firs of some kind. Twigs crackled under the wheels, since there wasn’t enough snow on the ground to slide.

“This is spectacular,” Rachel whispered and pointed. “A deer.”

He grinned when he spotted the four-point buck that the doe followed. The sleigh slowed, presumably so they could take in the view. A hush fell over the forest, the only sound the jingle bells attached to the sleigh. The deer moved on, and they continued forward. At some point they must have woven their way back toward the resort because it came into view as they exited the canopy of trees.

“It’s snowing!” Rachel raised her face to the sky. “Isn’t it beautiful?”

He reluctantly agreed even though he wasn’t a fan of the white stuff, but had to admit in this setting it was pretty special. The sleigh stopped exactly where they’d begun their ride.

Chris got out and offered a hand to Rachel as she stepped down. “What time do you start work?”

“In about thirty minutes. Would you like to grab a hot chocolate?”

“Sure.” They strolled to the coffee cart they’d visited the night of the movie, and he ordered them each a hot chocolate then guided her to the same secluded bench. He still awaited her answer about whether his medical condition changed anything, and he was worried she wouldn’t answer.

“I have a story to tell you,” Rachel said.

“Okay. I like stories.” He sipped the warm, chocolaty treat.

“You probably won’t like this one, but I think it’s one I should share.” The unease on her face put him on alert.

“I haven’t always been like the person I am today. I was a rebellious teen and didn’t get my act together until I found out I was pregnant.”

He knew all of this but wouldn’t let on he’d overheard her conversation with Zoe.

“When I told Jason, Jasie’s dad, that I was pregnant, he said we should get married. It sounded like a good idea to me. Plus it wasn’t like anyone else had asked. I didn’t love him, and I doubt he loved me, but we were good friends, and I cared about him as a person. What happened between us was stupid and never should have happened, but we were both drunk and…” She shot him a nervous look. “This isn’t easy.”

He clasped her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “You don’t have to tell me.”

“I want to, so you will understand. Jason and I eloped and then discovered he had a cancerous brain tumor. He died two weeks later.”

“I’m really sorry, Rachel.”

“Thanks. But I want you to understand why your medical condition concerns me. I don’t want to fall in love with you and have you die a few weeks or months later.”

“There are no guarantees in life, Rachel. You could die tomorrow. I could die ten or twenty years from now. We simply can’t predict that kind of thing, and I for one have decided to stop stressing about it. Sure I was upset at first, but I decided to live my life the way I want to, and if I die, then I’m going to a great party in heaven. Besides, DNA doesn’t determine my future, God does.”

Her eyes widened, but he saw a hint of a smile behind the shock.

“Does what my life used to be like bother you? I was a party girl who didn’t think twice about what I did. I’m not like that anymore.”

“That’s obvious. To answer your question, yes it bothers me that you were like that, but not for the reason you may think. I hurt for the young woman that you were. I’m sorry you saw and lived that side of life.”

She wiped at her watery eyes.

He grasped her free hand. “You are new in Christ now. Washed clean. All that is past, gone, and you don’t have to hang onto the guilt you’ve been carrying around. This is your new beginning. Some call it a re-birth.”

She grinned. “I know. I suppose that’s what Christmas is all about. Thank you for not holding my past against me and for not judging me. That means a lot. And as for your heart condition, I like your attitude. You’re right that there are no guarantees. Thanks for helping me to see that, but it still makes me nervous.”

“Me too, and you’re welcome.” He grinned.

“I’m so glad I came to this island. Ironically, Jason’s the one who sent me here.”

“I think I knew that, but remind me how that happened?”

She chuckled. “His parents used to own Wildflower Bed-and-Breakfast. He was raised in that house and lived in the same apartment where Zoe and Nick now live.”

“That’s right.” He nodded. “So you’ve come full circle.”

“I suppose so.”

As much as he appreciated her openness about her past, what he really wanted to know was if there was a future for them. Maybe she needed time to process what he’d told her.