Just This Once (18 page)

What she had told Matt was true, she told herself bracingly.
She
had
been working too much. She should go to a movie by herself on
Christmas Eve, since she had the day off. Any movie she wanted, no matter how
sentimental or romantic. Buy something fattening for Christmas breakfast. Sleep
in, listen to music, watch
Miracle on 34
^th
Street
. Read a
romance novel. Spend the whole morning in her pajamas. It would be nice. It
would be fine.

Hannah made it through the rest of the day, leaving earlier
than usual, at six. The rest of the work would have to wait. She needed an
early night. Her emotional afternoon had drained her. She would stop by the
gym, crank up her most upbeat playlist, put in some mindless time on the
elliptical machine.

By the time she reached her apartment again, armed with
takeout Thai vegetables, she still felt tired, but in a better way. She would
sleep tonight, she thought. A shower, dinner, and an early bedtime. She’d feel
better tomorrow. And then she’d have two days off. No matter that she’d be
alone, two days off would be wonderful. She would make them good.

She stopped in the lobby, hesitated over whether to check
her mail, and decided to wait until the next day. Maybe she’d have some
Christmas cards. Better to open them on December 23rd, after her last work day.
They’d give her a lift for the holidays, something to put on her dresser and
look at.

She’d been right, she told herself the next day. Now that
she had adjusted to being on her own over the holiday, she found herself
looking forward to her time off. It had been the shock, that was all. Once she
and the Operations Manager had sent the staff home at two, she firmly set about
enjoying her Christmas. She stopped by the Cheese Board Collective and picked
up her Christmas morning treats, then did some last-minute grocery shopping.
For a final guilty pleasure, she went by the bookstore and bought herself two
new books. She had done her shopping for family and friends weeks ago. This was
her own Christmas present. She was going to have a treat, and be lazy, and do
just what she liked for two whole days. And she wasn’t going to check her work
email or answer any calls from Felix. Not until December 26th. 

Juggling her purchases as she entered her apartment lobby,
she remembered her mail. Hopefully there would be some cards in there by now.
Opening the box with difficulty, she was pleased to find two red envelopes. And
a small package with a New Zealand stamp, straining the hinges of the mailbox.

Suddenly her day looked a whole lot better. She took the
steps two at a time to her apartment. Forced herself to put all her things down
before she sat on the couch and ripped open the packaging. Opened the piece of
paper inside to find a brief message in Drew’s bold, angular handwriting.

Missing you. Merry Christmas, Drew

Tears filled her eyes as she ran her fingernail underneath
the wrapping paper to reveal a small, flat white box.  She removed a layer of
cotton batting, pulled back layers of tissue, and uncovered two intricately
detailed silver hair combs. The finely filigreed design was inlaid with
sparkling stones, while a single, larger black stone adorned the middle of each
embellished piece. She unfolded the small tag in the box and discovered that
the combs were made of sterling silver, inlaid with marcasite and onyx.

She sat for a minute, holding the combs in her hand. Then,
unable to wait any longer, stood up and went to her bathroom mirror. Pulled out
the pins that held her hair in its coil, then drew each side in turn up and
back from her face and carefully inserted the heavy combs. Unlike most hair
jewelry, she found with delight, they were substantial enough to hold the mass
of her hair. In contrast to the hefty weight of the combs themselves, the
delicate style of their embellished tops was perfect for her, the silver and
black flashing against the paleness of her hair and adding an ethereal touch.
They looked absolutely beautiful, absolutely right. And Drew had thought of
this, shopped, sent them to her.

Fishing her phone from her purse, she punched in his number.
It was Christmas Eve there already. He would be with his family, she
remembered. Maybe she should have texted instead? Oh well, if he was busy, he
wouldn’t answer, and she could leave a message.

He picked up, though, after the fourth ring. “Hannah?” He
sounded pleased. “You’re ringing me early. Are you away for your holiday,
then?”

“Yes,” she smiled. “If you call being home from the office
‘away,’ I am. How are you? Are you at your parents’ now?”

“Yeh. My mum’s feeding me already. She’s got a job, eh.”

“I imagine she’s used to it,” Hannah laughed. “You must have
been an expensive teenager.”

“She’d tell you so. Used to make me do the shopping. Said if
I was going to drink that much milk, I could fetch it home from the shops
myself.”

“I’ll bet. But Drew. I just opened my present. Thank you.
They’re so beautiful. How did you know what to buy? How did you find them?”

“You’re pleased, then? They’re big enough for you? I had
help,” he confessed. “I asked my mate Hemi’s wife, Reka, to help me shop. She’s
Maori, so she has as much hair as you do. She said they had to be big and heavy
to hold it all.”

“She was right,” Hannah said happily. “They’re perfect. And
that’s rare. But they’re so beautiful. Did she choose the style, too?”

“Nah,” Drew said a little proudly. “I found them. But I
asked for her opinion,” he admitted. “She asked me to describe you, and agreed
these would be right. Glad you liked them.”

“I didn’t send you a present, though,” she realized,
conscience-stricken. “I wouldn’t have known what to get you. But I should have
sent you something.”

“I keep telling you, I’d rather do things for you. Just glad
to find something that pleases you, that’s all.”

“You found it,” she assured him. “Is your brother there now
too?”

“Yeh. My mum’s fussing about, but she’s chuffed to have us
both here. My dad had me out mowing the grass earlier.”

She laughed. “I can see they know how to keep you in line.
I’m sure it’s good for you. I’m glad you’re able to have the whole family
together.” As she said it, she couldn’t help the lump coming back into her
throat.

“What about you?” he asked. “When do your brother and sister
come?”

She cleared her throat, tried to sound casual. “They’re not,
actually. They both had the chance to do something fun this Christmas. Kristen
is skiing, and Matt’s at the beach, getting the chance to surf, which will make
him happy.”

“So what are you doing, then?” he asked sharply. “Where are
you going to be, Christmas?”

“Oh, I’ll be here. Taking it easy. Having a two-day
vacation. It’s fine, really. I’ve had so much time off lately, I shouldn’t need
any more, but I confess, having two days just to be lazy is sounding really
good right now. It’s been a busy December.”

He wasn’t to be put off. “Can’t you go someplace for
Christmas dinner, though? Spend some time with friends?”

“I’m fine,” she insisted. “I’ll talk to Matt and Kristen on
Christmas, and I’ll have a good day by myself. It’s never that exciting anyway,
just the three of us. So I’ll go to the movies tomorrow night, and I’ll relax
on Christmas Day. I’m fine,” she said again.

“I wish I’d known,” he objected. “Would’ve brought you down
here.”

“No, you wouldn’t. You know I only have two days off. I’d
have to turn right around as soon as I got there and fly home. Besides, you’re
with your family. I’ll be all right. Really. And I’ll see you soon anyway.”

“Yeh,” he answered slowly. “You will. I’ll book the flight
in a few days, and let you know. You’re taking a day off, right? This time, why
don’t you show me around. I’d like to meet this sister and brother of yours
too.”

“As long as you don’t say anything nasty to them about
Christmas,” she said searchingly. “I mean it, Drew. I’m good. They have a right
to do what they want. They don’t owe me anything.”

“They owe you a lot, seems to me,” he retorted. “But I won’t
say anything. We’ll have dinner, though. And you can take me to all the San
Francisco sights. I’ll be the tourist this time. We can walk across the Golden
Gate Bridge.”

“It’s a date. It’ll be great. It might be raining, though.
Be prepared.”

“I’m from New Zealand, aren’t I. We’re always prepared for
rain. If we didn’t go out when it was raining, we’d never go anywhere.”

“I forgot about that. All right, then. I’ll let you get back
to your family. Have a good Christmas.”

“I’ll ring you on your Christmas,” he promised. “Boxing Day
here.”

“That would be wonderful, but don’t worry if you’re doing
family things and can’t manage.”

“I’ll ring you, Hannah.”

She was glad she had Drew’s visit to look forward to over
the next few weeks. Christmas wasn’t exactly bad, but it wasn’t exactly good
either, she had to admit. The thought that she would be seeing him again so
soon, though, made up for a lot.

Thank goodness she had actually accrued the day this time.
Felix still made a big show of his magnanimity in granting her the Monday off,
which annoyed her. When had he started to think of her as his indentured
servant? Did she owe him every minute of every day?

Never mind. She had the time off, and she was spending it
with Drew. This time, she told Emery and Beth that he would be visiting, so
they would know she’d be unavailable for a few days.

“You can still call me in an emergency, of course,” she
hastened to add on Thursday afternoon when she reminded them of her plans.

Emery rolled his eyes. “Right,” he drawled. “We’ll just
interrupt that, shall we, to let you know that there’s a problem with the
sizing of the yoga pants. Yeah, that’s happening. When does his flight get in?”

“Tomorrow at noon,” Hannah said happily. “But he won’t get
over here till one or two.”

“Are you crazy?” Emery asked. “You’re going to meet him at
the airport.”

“I can’t do that. I only have a day off,” she protested.
“He’ll get the key, and I’ll see him at home after work. He knows that.”

“Hannah.” Emery was clearly holding onto his patience with
an effort. “Let me explain something to you. This job doesn’t matter. It’s not
going to keep you warm at night. And that man certainly is. I know which one
I’d take. Beth and I are here. Go pick him up at the airport tomorrow. Come in
for the morning if you have to. But I am personally pushing you out the door at
eleven.”

Beth chimed in. “Emery’s right. There’s no reason not to
take the time.”

“What if Felix calls, though?” Hannah asked.

“We’ll tell him you’re in a meeting,” Emery told her firmly.
“And you will be. A long,
long
meeting, unless I miss my guess.”

“Emery. Stop,” Hannah warned, laughing. “But all right. I
will. Thanks. Just cover for me, OK?”

“We shouldn’t have to cover for you,” Beth pointed out. “It
shouldn’t be necessary. But we will anyway.”

When Drew walked through the arrival doors, Hannah couldn’t
imagine why she hadn’t planned this all along. His face broke into a grin as he
saw her. Heedless of the group of flight attendants intent on capturing his
attention or the large duffel he was carrying, she ran and leapt into his arms.
He scooped her up, laughing, and kissed her hard before setting her back down
on her feet, keeping his arm around her to hold her close.

“What a surprise to see you here. Wasn’t expecting that,” he
told her.

“That was Emery. He pushed me out the door. Literally,” she
laughed. “He said . . .” she colored. “Well, he said I had to meet you.”

“What did he say?” Drew pressed. “I think I need to hear
this.”

“Never mind,” she answered hastily. “I don’t want to tell
you. Anyway, you’re here. How was the flight?”

“Not too bad. They could make those beds longer, though.”

“That’s the disadvantage of being so big,” she teased. “They
were fine for me.”

“There are advantages too,” he pointed out. “Take me home
and I’ll show you.”

She had arranged to have her brother and sister over for
dinner on Sunday night. When she told him the plan, Drew asked, “Wouldn’t you
rather go out, so you wouldn’t have to cook?”

“I think it’ll be more relaxed if it’s here. If you don’t
mind eating something simple.”

In fact, she was a bit nervous about the meeting, and hoped
the familiar setting would make things more comfortable. When she had called
Matt to invite him to dinner to meet a friend who was visiting from New
Zealand, he had asked eagerly, “Is she hot?”

“Actually, it’s a man,” she told him. “Someone I met when I
was over there.”

“And he’s visiting you here?” Matt asked, surprised. “Are
you sure he’s OK? Maybe I should check him out.”

“Don’t worry. I know something about him. Nothing shady, I
promise you. Thanks for being concerned, though. Anyway, you’ll get the chance
to see for yourself, won’t you, if you come to dinner?”

“I will,” he answered, in a serious tone she didn’t often
hear from him.

If anything, though, Hannah was more worried about Kristen.
Well, not Kristen, if she were honest with herself. Even when she had been
dating more, she had grown wary of introducing men to her beautiful sister. It
seemed that once they saw Kristen, they weren’t content with the pale imitation
that was Hannah. Watching Drew make a move on her sister would be too painful.

He wouldn’t do that, she told herself firmly. His manners
were too good, for one thing. And it wouldn’t be Kristen’s fault, anyway. Her
sister couldn’t help being beautiful and charming. It was who she was. Hannah
would just have to see what happened.

“Drew, this is my brother Matt,” she said when her brother
appeared at her apartment on Sunday night. “Matt, this is Drew Callahan, my
friend from New Zealand.”