Mr. Miracle (15 page)

As was her habit, she knocked once and let herself in. Erich wasn’t in the living room the way she’d expected. Standing just inside the entry, she called out for him.

“Erich?”

“In the kitchen.” His voice came from the far end of the house.

He moved about considerably better now, she noticed. After several days sitting and sleeping in the recliner, she suspected he was thoroughly sick of remaining in the same position for hours on end, which gave her an idea.

“I brought you breakfast.”

“Another protein drink?” he asked.

“No, eggs this morning.”

She found him sitting at the kitchen table with the morning newspaper spread out across the surface. He was able to use his fingers more and more.

“Eggs.” His eyes lit up.

“With cheese and chives.”

He looked impressed. “Wow, you can actually cook.”

Amused, she tossed him a dirty look, then set the plate down in front of him. “Do you want coffee?”

“Please.”

Addie brewed him a cup and then made one for herself. When she finished she carried both mugs to the table and sat down across from him.

To this point, Addie had served him finger food or thin soups that he could drink through a straw. It pleased her to note that he was able to manage a fork. It wasn’t easy or pretty, but he’d become adept enough to get the food to his
mouth. It was evident that the effort taxed his patience, though.

“I have a question,” she said, leaning slightly forward as she placed her elbows on the table. She could be opening a hornet’s nest, but curiosity had won out and she couldn’t stop herself.

He looked up. “Okay.”

“Did we … you and I actually kiss last night?”

He paused and considered the question. “I seem to remember that we did.”

“Didn’t you find that just a little bit odd? You and me … kissing?”

Once more he mulled over her question, letting the fork dangle above his plate, holding it between his fingers. “I’d say it was more surprising than it was odd.”

Addie didn’t see it that way. “I found it shocking.”

He held her gaze and studied her as though curious. “Do you always analyze a kiss this way?”

“Not before now.”

“So I’m the first?”

“Yes.”

He frowned slightly. “Should I take that as a compliment or insult?”

The question gave her pause. “I don’t know. How do you feel about it?”

“Kissing you or how I felt afterward?” he asked.

She wasn’t sure. “Both, I guess. You didn’t plan it, did you?”

“Hardly. At the time it seemed the thing to do. I don’t regret it, if you’re looking for an apology.” He set the fork down and pierced her with a single look. “What are you thinking?”

“I don’t know yet. I think I probably should regret it, but I don’t.”

He grinned then, as if he found this discussion highly amusing.

“I’d like for the two of us to go out today,” she said, speaking impulsively.

“And do what?”

“Just walk. You need the fresh air.”

“Really?”

“Yes. It will do you good. You’ve been cooped up in this house far too long. You’re up and about now and looking more like yourself every day. We don’t need to go far.”

“Not interested.”

“Erich, don’t be difficult. It’ll be good for you.”

He exhaled and leaned back in his chair. “I have the distinct feeling you’re going to badger me until you get what you want.”

“I won’t badger you.”

“No, you’ll probably torture me into submission.”

If he expected her to pout and demand her own way, she was sure to disappoint him. “You make me sound heartless, and I assure you I’m not.”

“It won’t be easy getting me ready for this.”

“I know.”

“You’ll need to help me with my shoes and my coat.” He said this as if it would be enough to cause her to change her mind.

“I’ll be happy to do that.”

No more than a half hour later, Addie opened the front door and they stepped into the cold December air. The morning was crisp, and the frost crunched beneath her feet as she stepped onto the lawn. The sky had clouded up to a shade of battleship gray.

Erich’s gaze followed hers as he carefully moved down the three short steps leading off the porch. “If I could, I’d hold your hand.”

“Ah, that’s sweet,” she said, and slipped an arm around his elbow, wanting to be sure he was steady on his feet. “How are you feeling?”

“Not bad.”

The park where they’d so often played as children was two blocks away. Addie thought they could walk there, rest
a bit, and then return to the house. That would be an outing enough for one day.

Erich looked toward the low-lying clouds a second time. “It smells like snow.”

She appreciatively sniffed the air and agreed. “It does.”

“No class today? No Mr. Mills?”

“No, it’s been canceled due to the threat of snow, although I wish there were classes. I’m surprised how much I like this class and the people I’m meeting, especially Danny and Andrew.”

“Hey, have I got competition?” he joked. “Have you been kissing them, too?”

“No,” she said, laughing. “Andrew’s the war vet I mentioned earlier. The one with the service dog named Tommy.”

“What about the other guy? Danny, was it?”

“Yes, Danny. He’s this big, tough-looking guy who’s like a huge puppy. It seems he’s got a comment for just about everything Mr. Mills says. He’s got a great attitude, although his personality is a bit quirky.”

“Quirky?”

“You’ll know what I mean when you meet him.”

Erich slowed his steps to a crawl. “And just when am I going to meet this felon friend of yours?”

“At the Christmas party Mr. Mills mentioned in our last class. It’s a potluck. Everyone is bringing something.”

“And you want to bring me?”

“Yes.”

“I think,” Erich said pointedly, “when Mr. Mills suggested you bring something, he was referring to a dish to be shared with others, not a person.”

“I know what he meant, and I am bringing food. In fact, I’m baking cookies.”

“Can you explain why you want to drag me to your class party?”

Addie had hoped that by mentioning the invitation casually, Erich wouldn’t make a big deal of it. “I want to include you. It’ll be fun and you’ll enjoy the outing.”

He automatically shook his head. “Thanks anyway.”

Addie couldn’t hide her disappointment.

Using his index finger, he lifted her chin so their eyes could meet. The last time he’d looked at her with the same intensity had been right before they’d kissed. “I don’t think you were listening when I mentioned how I feel about Christmas.”

“I heard you, but I didn’t like what you had to say.” He didn’t know it yet, but she fully intended on purchasing that Christmas tree and decorating it. Furthermore, she planned to set it up inside his house. Erich could ignore the holidays if he wished, but she was going to make it as hard as possible.

“Are you saying,” he asked, skeptically, as they continued on their walk, “you were so overwhelmed by the emotional
magnitude of our kiss that you completely lost track of our conversation?”

“If that’s what you’d like to believe, then sure, why not?” She flashed him a brilliant smile, hoping to dazzle him with her charm and wit. All too soon she realized it hadn’t worked.

“Addie, I hate to disappoint you, especially when we’re getting along so well. I’m not interested in this friendly little class get-together. I don’t want to think about Christmas. My goal is to get through the next few weeks as best I can while I’m in these casts and ignore everything else.”

“It’s just that I’d hoped you’d come.”

“Why would you even want me there?” he probed.

“Because I think you’d enjoy it. Is it me you’re looking to avoid or everything else?” she challenged.

“Listen,” he said, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk and turning to face her. “I don’t want to put a damper on your festive mood. Both my wrists are in casts. Even the simplest movements that everyone takes for granted are beyond me. I’m not up to celebrating much of anything. Can you leave it at that?”

As much as she would have liked him to attend the class potluck, she understood what he was saying. “Okay, got it.”

His shoulders sagged. “Darn. I was sort of hoping you’d want to argue.”

“You were?”

“Yes.” He looked down and smiled at her. “Then we could kiss and make up.”

“Are you looking for excuses to kiss me again?” she teased.

He lifted his thick eyebrows with the question. “You interested?”

“Could be.”

They reached the park just about the time it started to snow. The flakes were heavy and thick.

“Stick out your tongue,” Addie urged excitedly.

“What?”

“Don’t you remember when we were kids, we used to catch snowflakes on our tongues?”

“The key phrase here is:
We were kids
. That’s something kids do. Not adults.”

“Erich. What’s happened to you? When I knew you before, you were up for just about anything.”

“The point is, I have two broken wrists,” he returned in quick order. “This past week hasn’t been fun, you know.”

“I realize that, but it isn’t enough of an excuse to be mad at the world.”

“The person I’m mad at is the driver who slammed into my car at fifty miles an hour. I’m mad because I’m as helpless as a baby. And I’m mad because I’m being forced to use my vacation time and accumulated sick leave to sit around
my mother’s house and be treated like an infant. And I hate Christmas. Let’s leave it at that.”

That left her wondering if he was talking about something other than the accident that’d happened in his own life. His father hadn’t died in December. Addie remembered getting word about his dad around Saint Patrick’s Day, so it must have been in March.

The silence seemed to throb between them.

“Okay,” she whispered. “Message received.”

By unspoken agreement, they started walking back toward the house.

It was Erich who broke the silence. “Frankly, I think Scrooge got a bum rap.”

“You do?”

“As far as I’m concerned, he had the right idea when it came to Christmas.”

Humming a Christmas carol, Harry headed toward his class. His spirits were high. He’d managed to avoid Dr. Conceito for the last couple of days, and he found himself adjusting to the ways of Earth. Dealing with emotions continued to be a bit tricky, but he was getting there.

Two inches of snow had accumulated the day before, with more forecast for later in the afternoon. Harry loved snow. For several generations, youngsters had been making snow angels without ever suspecting where the original idea had come from. He smiled to himself as he crossed the campus. He was scheduled to meet with Celeste later and give his mentor an update on Addie Folsom.

The idea of his young charge taking Erich cocoa had worked famously. Harry knew the two had kissed and that Addie had managed to get Erich out of the house for a short walk the day before. Oh yes, matters were progressing nicely. Addie had shown vast improvement when it came to attitude. She truly had matured in the years she’d been away from her family. As for her relationship with Erich, it was too soon to tell. Still, Harry could see significant progress had been made. He couldn’t take all the credit, he realized, but Celeste would be pleased.

In fact, Harry could hardly wait to tell Celeste about the kiss. She’d be thrilled. Two people who had never been able to tolerate the sight of each other were now … friends, with the potential for a whole lot more.

Harry was caught up in his thoughts and didn’t notice until he reached his classroom that his room was the only one down the long hallway with the lights on.

He opened the door to his classroom and stopped cold.

Michelle Heath, the French teacher, was inside his room. She’d spread a red-and-white-checkered tablecloth on the floor, with one corner anchored by a wicker picnic basket. Two champagne glasses rested on top of the basket.

“Welcome, Harry,” she whispered seductively.

His tongue felt like it was glued to the roof of his mouth. “Hi,” he finally managed.

“I missed seeing you in Massey Hall at the performance.”
Her lips formed a soft pout. She sat on the tablecloth with her legs bent behind her and looked up at him with the most enticing smile he’d ever seen. His heart was doing jumping jacks inside his chest.

“I … know. All the seats were taken by the time I arrived.” He remained frozen, standing in the doorway.

“Come in,” she beckoned, motioning him by wiggling her fingers.

Harry felt his Adam’s apple bob up and down in his throat. “What … about class?” His students would arrive any minute. He could only imagine what Dr. Conceito would think if he were to make a surprise visit to the room and find Harry sipping champagne with the French instructor when he was scheduled to be teaching class.

“Didn’t you hear?” Michelle asked, her eyes rounding with surprise.

“Hear?”

“Classes have been canceled due to the snow.”

“Ah … no one told me.”

“It was announced earlier.” She removed the champagne flutes from the top of the basket and opened it. She set aside the lid and reached inside to take out a cutting board, a long loaf of crusty French bread, a block of cheddar cheese, and a bottle of champagne. When Harry didn’t immediately join her, she glanced up.