It All Started With a Lima Bean (31 page)

“Well, I best be going to fix Robert’s dinner.” Grace conveniently timed her goodbye as she stood up and dusted herself off. “Perhaps next year Madison and you can help me bake the cake?”

Before she got the chance to reply Madison was jumping up and down in her lap, “Can we, can we, can we?”

Abby smiled widely while looking down at the little girl’s enthusiastic face. “That sounds like a wonderful idea.”

Grace left the three of them cuddled close for warmth as the chilly night air set in. They wouldn’t be able to stay out much longer. “So I guess you’re heading out soon? Are you going to see Leah?” Caleb inquired, and her face dropped.
Was he trying to hint that he didn’t want me around anymore tonight?

“Don’t be silly Daddy! Miss Abby is coming for a sleep over so that she can wake up with us for presents tomorrow morning. Aren’t you Miss Abby?” Although Madison’s intentions were sweet, awkwardness now encumbered them.

“Actually, Leah is already with her family.” She tried to make it sound like it wasn’t a big deal. She hid her face, because she couldn’t look at them while she lied. A warm hand cupped her chin and Caleb turned her to face him. “You were going to spend Christmas Eve alone without telling me? I’m sorry; I just assumed you would have already made plans with Leah since you hadn’t said anything. I thought you would have arranged them a long time back. You are spending tonight and tomorrow with us. You belong with us.” His intense brown eyes looked into hers as he instructed, “Spend the night with me.” Shivers went down her spine, causing tingles all over her body.

“Miss Abby’s cold daddy; it’s time to get her home.” Madison was remarkably perceptive; they would have to be careful about that in the future Abby noted. Caleb helped them to their feet. Leaning in with an all-knowing smirk on his face, he whispered, “You weren’t cold, were you?”

Abby went back to her place to pack an overnight bag while Caleb took Madison home to get her into bed. The top drawer of her dresser had been open a full ten minutes as she stared back and forth between her warm, comfy, pink flannel pajamas, and a tiny black satin number. A war was going on in her head, and she didn’t know what to pick. Where was her best friend when she needed her?

Still undecided, she picked up her home phone and pressed number two on her speed dial, only recently putting Caleb in the number one spot. “Hola chica! Merry Christmas Eve! What can I do you for?” Leah’s overly happy voice came through the speaker. It was obvious she’d been enjoying more than a few glasses of sangria in celebration tonight.

“Well, see I have this tiny problem and...” Why had she called Leah? It should have been obvious there would be only one choice in her book.

“Spit it out Abby; what’s the matter?” The black item in question now dangled from her fingertips as she conveyed her problem through the phone.

“I’m staying at Caleb’s house tonight and I’m not sure what sleepwear to pick, cute pink flannels or the sexy little satin nightie? I don’t want to seem like I’m throwing myself at him, but I don’t want to be too frumpy either.”

Leah’s answer surprised her, “Go with the flannels; Caleb would want you to be comfortable more than anything else. Just make sure you wear something lacy underneath. I got to run girl. Call me with details tomorrow.” The line went dead, promptly cutting their call short.

Happy with her decision after confirmation from her best friend, she tossed the flannel pajamas, appropriate underwear, and an outfit for tomorrow into a bag. Walking toward the front door, she reached down and picked up Madison’s present that was from both Caleb and Abby. She’d kept it hidden at her house for the last week and was truly going to miss having it around. Sending a quick text to her boyfriend to let him know when to expect her, she carefully placed the sweetest gift on the passenger seat next to her before driving off.

When she pulled up to Caleb’s, he was waiting on the front porch. “Hey Sweetie.” As he gave her a quick kiss in greeting, he took the backpack off her shoulder and looked around to make sure the coast was clear. “Come inside; I’ve made you some dinner. Grace called to let me know you didn’t get a chance to eat a proper meal, just cake.”

The smell of garlic drifted toward the entrance as they walked through the door. “You didn’t have to do that.” Although she was grateful, her stomach was rumbling for some decent food.

“It’s nothing special. Just a simple creamy garlic pasta; I didn’t have much time after I got Madison to bed, sorry.”

“No, it’s more than fine, it sounds great.”

They sat down on his leather couch and dug into their pasta while chatting for hours. At one point, Caleb’s phone rang, and when he looked at the number, he excused himself, saying he had an important call he had to take. When he re-entered the room some time later, he had a cat-ate-the-canary type grin on his face. “Your call went well?” She assumed.

“Fantastic,” he replied without elaborating. “How do you feel about building a dollhouse with me before going to sleep? It looks pretty easy.”

Instantly thinking about all those family Christmas movies where the father and mother stayed up late on Christmas Eve to put ‘Santa’s presents’ together came to mind. “I would love to.” She would also love to see Madison’s face when she came down the stairs to discover the dollhouse.

After a couple of hours assembling this ‘simple’ project, a huge yawn escaped Abby’s mouth, which she covered with her hand. “Excuse me. It’s been a long day. Bed time for me I think.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized that she had no idea whether she was to sleep in his room or not. Had he even brought anyone in there since Rene? “Umm.” Surely her face was bright red because it certainly felt hot.

“I made up the spare bedroom for you. I didn’t want you to feel that I wanted you here for the wrong reasons.” Grateful he seemed to sense her discomfort; she nodded and followed him over to the spare room. “Good night Caleb.” She whispered. Before leaving, he leaned down and kissed her sweetly on the lips, taking the time to savor her mouth. “Goodnight Beautiful.” He left her there, standing dazed in the doorway. She had already received the best Christmas gift ever.

Sweet visions of Caleb danced behind Abby’s eyelids. The cozy, soft down blanket surrounded her, and she snuggled deeper into it, wanting to stay asleep for just that little bit longer. A contented sigh left her lips. Giggles sounded from beside her, and her eyes fluttered open to see Madison kneeling beside the bed, looking up at her.

“Merry Christmas, Miss Abby.” Her heart swelled as the little girl, who found a place deep within her life, lifted off her knees and kissed her on the cheek. “I love you.”

Well, if her heart weren’t expanded before, it was now overloaded and about to rupture in her chest. Happy tears formed in her eyes, “I love you too, Pumpkin.” She’d been thinking about something and wanted to use this opportunity to talk to Madison. “What do you say that we only use Miss Abby at school, and you can just call me Abby when we aren’t at school?”

This girl had the best smile, and it happened to burst free after Abby’s question. “Yes, Miss, I mean Abby. I would like that.”

Unable to resist the urge, she pulled Madison onto the bed and cradled the little girl in her arms. “Would you like to help me cook Daddy breakfast?” Hopeful brown eyes lit up her face as she stared back at Abby.

“Can we cook pancakes? Daddy loves pancakes.” The bed rocked as she jumped up and off the side. “Come on Abby, before he wakes up.” What Abby wouldn’t do to go up the stairs and wake him up herself.

Softly yanking on Abby’s arm, Madison led her to the tree. “First, you have to see what Santa brought. Look at this dollhouse. How does Santa know so much? I always wanted this.” Abby held in her snicker. It was funny to her when small children said ‘always’ as though they’d lived a hundred years and pined after that one item every moment. “How fun would it be if it was super big and we could go inside to have a tea party?” Secretly, Abby would love to do that. Growing up, her mom didn’t have a lot of money so dreams like playhouses were not feasible.

“What do you say we get that breakfast ready, then we can play tea party with your dolls.”

“That sounds like fun Abby.”

Strutting over to the kitchen, she found all of the ingredients they needed were in the cupboards, so they got to work. The stack on the plate was almost full and Madison had just taken off to go to the bathroom when firm arms snaked around Abby’s waist from behind. Warm breath tickled down her neck as Caleb moved the top of her flannel nightshirt aside. Frozen on the spot, she held onto the counter top to keep herself upright then he brushed his lips along her shoulder. “I love waking up to the sight of you in my home, in what I hope someday soon will be our home.” At his words, she relaxed into him and let out a little moan.

“I love waking up to the sight of you too, although technically I haven’t actually seen you yet.”

He turned her around in his arms, and she got an eyeful of his bare chest and gawked. “Merry Christmas Abby,” he chuckled.

“Yes it is.” Her thoughts accidentally slipped out. “I mean Merry Christmas Caleb.”

Just as they were about to open presents, Caleb’s phone rang again, for the fifth time that morning. Covering the mouthpiece with his hand, he explained. “Sorry, work stuff.” If she wondered why he was getting so many work calls on Christmas morning, Abby didn’t say anything. With one finger held up in the air, he indicated that he would only be a minute, and then ducked into his office.

When the door clicked firmly behind him, he pushed the laptop aside and sat on top of his mahogany desk. “Mom, what’s up? Are you on your way?” Nervous about getting caught, he threw a quick glance at the door and lowered his voice. “Did you pick up the package yet?”

Grace calmed his nerves when she responded, “Yes, everything is fine. Merry Christmas son.” He relaxed his tense posture and let out a breath. “Thanks, Merry Christmas to you too, mom. See you all soon and drive safely.” With the call complete and the knowledge that he had achieved his secret mission, he headed back out to the living room.

Upon entering the room, he found Madison sitting on Abby’s knee, lightly shaking a gift. With a curious look on her face, she tried guessing what was inside. The tree just beside them was a beautiful vision decorated in red, brown, and silver adorned with little twinkling white lights. Abby glanced at him, “Everything okay?”

Enjoying the view, he answered. “It couldn’t be better.”

Excitedly, Madison opened all of her goodies first, including a charm bracelet from Abby. His little girl was so thrilled once she learned that the ballet shoe charm was from Leah and her new special friends at the dance studio. Then Abby explained that the pumpkin charm was from her and her daddy since she was their little pumpkin. Caleb sat on the arm of the couch and leaned down to squeeze the woman who continued to find a new way to fill the smallest spaces still left in his heart.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you! I love my presents.” Madison’s cheeks couldn’t possibly go any further up on her face as she glowed with happiness.