Yuletide Bride (5 page)

“Fate,” Ava confirmed. She looked deep into Mary’s eyes and Mary felt a sudden chill. She decided it was time to go home, and hoped like hell that the Rochesters didn’t hate her after the weekend was over.

Chapter Seven

“So, have you decided yet?” James asked. He felt utterly exhausted.  The past two nights he’d worked and  worried. All he could think about was Mary and their future together. Why he gave her a few days to answer, he would never understand.

“You said I could give you until Friday.” Mary sounded happy. He wished   he was   there, with her in his arms.

“I know…why did I do that again?”

“You said   you didn’t want to pressure me.”

“Ah…well, I am a sweet man like that,” he joked. Mary laughed. Their words were just over a whisper. “You sound happy.”

“I am.”

“Glad to hear it. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow.”

“I can’t wait to see you, either.”

“Does that mean what I think it does?” James asked, trying to trick her out of her answer. 

“Maybe, but you won’t know for sure until tomorrow.”

“You’re right…I want to see your face when you say ‘yes.’”

“I missed you today.”

“I missed you, too.” James crossed his legs at the ankles and leaned back into his chair. “I really wish I could come over.”

“I…come over, James.”

James was silent for a moment and then spoke. “What?”

“I said, come over, James.”

“To your place? Now?” James felt like a randy teenager. His palms started to sweat. “You’re sure?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll be over in thirty minutes.”

On the way over to Mary’s place, James received three phone calls and two texts. It was frigid outside, so it would take a little longer than thirty minutes to get there. James looked down at his phone and noticed his grandmother’s name on the Caller ID. He punched in her number and waited for her to pick up.

She answered on the first try. “Hello, James?”

“Grandmother, how are you?”

“She knows.”

  James swallowed then cleared his throat. “What does she know?”

“The Jamesons told her about the contracts. I don’t know if she knows your part in them or not. Frankly, she didn’t say anything about that, but she does know there are contracts and she knows that it’s all arranged. And she knows that your grandfather is in the dark about it.”

James took a deep breath. “Why the hell would they say anything to her?”

“Christine.”

“What about Mrs. Turner?”

“Well, Christine thought it best. She said she could tell the girl wanted to expose everything, but she thought against it at the last moment. She actually helped Christine before she let the cat out of the bag to Dr. Turner.”

“What do we do now?”

“I don’t know. She is going ahead with the story.”

“No, she wouldn’t do that. Did she tell you that, Grandmother?”

“She did. I told her that I worried about your grandfather’s reaction, and how he would feel about me. She did seem genuinely worried. She was nice about it, though. I hate to ask you to do this, James, but could you talk to her? Maybe ask her not to print that article. Maybe you can read it. She’d let you read it before it goes to print, wouldn’t she?”

James wanted to punch something. “I’ve…” he wanted to tell his grandmother that he couldn’t do that, he’d already asked Mary to marry him. He wanted to tell her about the article and about how things went, but he wasn’t sure that she wouldn’t use that leverage. Right now, if he let Mary in on his part, she might say no, and he didn’t know if he could bear that right now.

“I’ll talk to her.”

“You’re a good man, James. She loves you, you know.”

“Did she tell you that?” James asked.

“She didn’t have to. Search your heart. The answer is there.”

James nodded, knowing that his grandmother couldn’t see him. “Take care. I’ll see you at the committee meeting.”

“See you there.”

****

Mary worked on the article while she waited for James. She was almost finished, checking for spelling mistakes and grammar errors. She felt happy about the way it turned out. It was hard to believe that she’d got all the information that she needed so easily.

A few minutes after she left her office, she heard James’s knock on her door. She answered it with a big smile on her face.  James looked anything but happy. “What’s wrong?”

James walked in the door and paced the living room. Clearly, something bothered him. “Did something happen to you on the way over?”

He still didn’t answer.

“Are you okay?” Mary asked. She walked over to him and reached up to touch his forehead. “Everything—”

“Everything is just fine. You’ve upset my grandmother.”

“If I have upset your grandmother that is her own doing. I just asked her a few questions. The questions may have upset her, but I can assure you, James, that I am just doing my job.”

“Stop writing that damned article!”

Mary jumped, she knew James would be upset, but he’d never yelled at her. “No.”

“No? Then I’ll go to your boss.”

“Go ahead. I really don’t care what you want, James. I am writing the article, with or without your permission. The people of this town need to know the truth.”

“You really think people want to know how cynical you are.”

“I am not cynical!”

“Yes you are. You are the most stubborn woman I know. You say you don’t believe in romance, fate, happily-ever-after…Well, let me tell you something. My grandparents are happy and you are out to destroy that for some reason. I will not let that happen. For years I have watched the way they look at each other. What’s wrong with you?”

Mary looked down at her hands as she continued to type. “Nothing is wrong with me. I just think people should know the truth.”

“I thought you were different.”

Mary stopped what she was doing and looked up, as tears glistened in her eyes. “I am.”

“No, no you’re not. I asked you to marry me. I love you, Mary, and here you are—just the same as everyone else that I talk to every day, and I’m sick of it.”

“James, no!”

“I can’t see you anymore, Mary,” James said quietly as he started for the door.

“But what about your proposal?” Mary started to panic now. She’d just begun to get used to the idea that she and James would be together forever.

“Did you think I could be with someone who would tear apart the lives of my family?”

“But it’s the truth, James.”

“So, what?”

“So what? So, it’s my job.”

“Your job was to write about the festival, not destroy it. I am just sorry I ever got involved in the first place.”

“Go then. Do what everyone else always does.”

“I asked you several times to stop writing it. You still haven’t listened. When you love someone, you compromise. I guess I got the answer I needed.”

“But…”

“You were right, Mary. It was way too soon. Have a good Christmas,” James said, then walked out the door, slamming it.

Mary put her head in her hands, sat on the couch and cried the rest of the evening.

****

That night, while Mary cried, little things happened in the town of Noel. Odd things…things that people who didn’t know about the problems Mary and James faced, wouldn’t notice.

The Tomlins sat in their living room in a loving embrace. Gary brought his wife flowers for the first time in five years, a feat that surpassed the most romantic gestures, according to Mrs. Tomlin.

The Rochesters sat in front of the fireplace in the retirement home’s great room and shared a hot cocoa, wrapped up in a blanket, reading a book by Frost.

The Turners ate dinner together, even though it was difficult for the doctor and his wife to   get time alone.

It seemed the night was filled with small miracles. A time to love one another in secret, before an even bigger secret came out. The committee members and their unaware partners spent their nights in   loving embraces, having great conversations and spending much needed quality time with one another.

****

The next morning, when Mary awoke, she felt the unmistakable feeling of love in her belly. She felt sick to her stomach in love with James but she’d lost him. All because of the stupid article she planned to write. And when she stood up on the podium in front of the whole town, all she could see were the loving faces of the Tomlins, the Rochesters, the Turners and the McClearys. She looked around the room for James, but he wasn’t there. She cleared her throat and began.

“I started my article this year as an exposé. I thought that Christmas and love were two things that were so far apart that I couldn’t see what this town has going for it. Christmas is love. Love is Christmas. Noel is a wonderful place to go on holiday, a place to bring your children and your children’s children. It is a place to see love. Like the McClearys, the Turners, the Tomlins and of course the Rochesters.

‟I’m amazed that I couldn’t see the love of this town and of this festival as clearly as I do now. I am so proud to live in Noel, and I am very honored to have interviewed such wonderful people. Let the Magic begin!” Mary cheered. Her voice held the cheer, but she didn’t feel much happiness. She’d pretty much destroyed what happiness she finally found for herself. She walked off the podium to applause. Several happy faces joined her in the crowd, following her out the packed committee hall outside into the cool weather.

“That was a wonderful speech, Mary,” Ava Rochester said, patting her shoulder. “My grandson must have spoken to you.”

“I never meant to hurt anyone, Mrs. Rochester.”

Ava looked at Mary and Mary knew she could see the sheen of tears on her face. “Oh my, are you all right?”

“I’m…I’m fine. I’m just tired. I had a rough go of it last night.”

“Oh no. Was James rough on you?” Ava asked, concerned. “You mustn’t blame, James, dear. I was just…I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m fine. Everything is okay.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure. Give my best to your family and James.”

“Won’t we see you this weekend?”

“I’m afraid not, Mrs. Rochester. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas.”

Chapter Eight

That next morning, when the Star was delivered to his home, James read the article with mixed emotions. He knew now how deeply Mary felt about him and he felt about two feet high when she wouldn’t answer his phone calls that morning. Voicemail. He hated voicemail.

The article for the Magic of Christmas Festival was the best one yet. It not only included the origin of the festival , but it also included little stories on how Mary got to know each of the couples, the generosity of the town they lived in and the nice things the community and the festival did for not only the town of Noel, but several towns  that surrounded them. Pride shone from Mary’s words about the town and about its people. .

****

Mary packed the rest of her meager belongings into her suitcase and loaded them into the trunk of her car. She needed to get away from town, and from the festival. She needed to get away from James. That morning she’d gotten on the Internet and booked a flight for Florida, hoping the ocean would do her some good. It always helped her in the past to think. She could almost smell the sea when she closed her eyes.

Not thinking, Mary went down Main Street, but stopped abruptly when a horse and carriage blocked her way. Mary sighed. She’d forgotten all about the parade. She would be stuck for a while. She looked at the car’s dashboard and noticed the time. Noon. The wedding would happen on the half hour. Thirty minutes until the Yuletide Bride would be chosen. Mary had never missed one ceremony. James was right, she was very stubborn and very cynical. She wanted to cry. She turned the radio on and a love song crooned over the airwaves. Mary could feel the hot stream of tears that trailed down her face. Just then, she heard her car sputter. She looked down and then closed her eyes. “Great!” she yelled and hit her steering wheel. “Dammit!”

Mary got out of the car and kicked her front tire. “Ugh!” she yelled, then looked over and saw an older lady staring right at her. Mary tried not to look any dumber than she already was, but she was too frustrated to act.

The old lady looked directly at her and pointed ahead. In a clear but monotone voice she said, “It’s a sign.”

Mary’s eyes widened and she looked at the horses going by, pulling their carriages. It reminded Mary of Cinderella and the romance of it all. And then it dawned on her. Marriage, carriage, romance, love. “It
is
a sign!” Mary said excitedly, and then smiled at the older woman. The woman gave her a weird look and then Mary ran down the street giddily.

Mary ran, but caught the tail end of the woman’s words. “Where are you going, lady?” A man from the car behind her yelled as Mary headed down the street in the opposite direction, to follow the parade route. “It’s a sign!”

“No,” the older lady spoke loudly, “the gas station…it’s straight ahead.” But, Mary didn’t turn around, she just kept going as if she didn’t hear a word.

As Mary ran toward where the wedding ceremony was to take place, the red scarf  around her neck, unraveled and landed on the ground—right in front of the Christmas tree where the Yuletide Bride would say her wedding vows. “Another sign!” Mary cried excitedly. She couldn’t help it, she smiled and then her breath caught when she saw James.

****

“James!”

“Mary!”

James ran over to Mary and Mary looked deeply into his eyes. “James, you were right. I believe in it all. The signs. The old lady, your grandmother, everyone—they were right. I love you.”

James smiled and took her into his arms, feeling her heart beat against his chest. “Oh, Mary, I…”

“And here is the moment you have all been waiting for,” Mayor Jameson said into the microphone on the stage. Mary smiled and looked at James, waiting for the mayor to call the names of the bride and groom. It was so romantic—all of it.

“James Rochester,” the Mayor said clearly. Mary’s eyes widened as did James’s.

“What?” Mary asked, and then looked around. She could see smiles on the faces all around her—everyone except for James and his grandparents.

“No! No, you can’t go up there, James!” Mary panicked.

“Mary, I’m so sorry, I have to.”

“No, please!”

“I put my name in there, Mary. I put it in there long before I met you. I’ve been ready.”

Mary started to cry. “But, James, I didn’t put my entry in. I didn’t enter.”

James looked crushed. “I told you a long time ago that I was going to put my name in. I just thought… I thought you would have.”

“Please, don’t go,” Mary pleaded.

James closed his eyes, clearly pained by the whole ceremony. “Have faith, Mary.”

Mary fell to the ground as James walked onto the stage. The mayor and his wife turned the shuffler and opened it to get out the bride’s name. Just then, whether by divine intervention or a game of fate, a small piece of paper got dislodged from its hiding place and landed in the mayor’s open palm. It wasn’t the normal way of doing things, but fate, was after all the meaning of the Magic of Christmas. The mayor looked to his wife and then to the crowd. The crowd cheered.

The mayor looked at the paper, and appeared to be in shock, then at his wife and then to James. He cleared his throat once and then spoke firmly into the microphone. “Mary Simms.”

No one moved for several seconds. The mayor laughed and grinned widely as he repeated himself. “Mary Simms…where are you, you lucky lady, you?  Come on up here!”

Mary must have been hearing things.

James grabbed the microphone from the mayor and spoke, “Mary, Mary, where are you?”

She’s over here,” someone yelled from behind her and pointed. Several people near her confirmed it, and soon the whole crowd cheered.

She felt a tap on her shoulder and opened her eyes to see James leaning over her. He urged her to stand. She was still confused and looked around nervously at all the attention she was getting. James steadied her in his grasp and said softly, “It is us, Mary. It’s meant to be.  More than anything in the world we were made for each other.”

“But I didn’t enter…”

“Didn’t I tell you to have faith?”

Mary’s lip trembled and she pulled James’s head down so his lips were hot on hers. “I love you, James.”

“I love you, Mary.”