Christmas in Eternity Springs (4 page)

“I studied the stats before I decided to move here,” she said. “Since the resort opened, the town has added over three hundred permanent residents and half again as many permanent seasonal residents. The only thing holding back even stronger summer tourism is a shortage of rooms to rent.”

“I noticed lots of No Vacancy signs around town.”

“We're having a great summer tourist season. I think the change from a bleak economic outlook to a positive one has taken a big burden off the shoulders of people who live here. Life is easier now. People are happier. They have more time and treasure to devote to what matters to them. Here in Eternity Springs, that tends to be friends and family and faith—the recipe for a basic, simple life.”

“I dunno, Claire. In my experience, family is the most complicated thing on earth.”

Claire smiled ruefully and sadness dimmed her eyes. “I won't argue that, but I think Celeste would say there's a lesson there.”

“What lesson is that?”

“Actually … I haven't a clue. I'm just certain Celeste would point one out.”

The two shared a grin, then Jax said, “I concede you have a point. I've seen how close calls can change an individual's outlook on life. I can imagine that it would work similarly for a community, too. So, if you decided to brew a pot of her attitudinal coffee, what positive thing would you write down about today for tomorrow morning?”

“Hmm … that's actually a difficult question. I have a number of positive things that happened today from which to choose.”

She stilled and an expression of wonder stole across her face. “Wow. It worked. I was all Grinchy Grouch when I arrived here tonight, but now my mind is filled with good things. That's kinda cool. Your turn, Jax. What was your moment of light today?”

The answer was easy. “You. I met you. You've been my ray of sunshine today.”

“Why, thank you.” She beamed like the moonlight. “That's the nicest thing someone has said to me in a long time.” She glanced toward the west where the glow of sunset faded to night. “I also think it's a good note on which to take my leave.”

Claire stood and as she climbed out of the pool and reached for her towel, Jax took advantage of her momentary inattention to ogle her shapely figure. Lots of curves in a compact form. She swiped her towel over her arms and legs before wrapping it around her torso. “I am glad we met, Jax Lancaster. I hope you and Nicholas have a wonderful reunion tomorrow and a fabulous trip home.”

“Thank you. I am glad we met, too, Claire Branham.” He was sorry to see her go. “I wish you a quick recovery from your shoulder injury, continued success with Forever Christmas, and a life free from lawyers for as long as you'd like.”

“Amen to that,” she declared. “Good night and safe journey.”

“Good night.”

As Claire walked off into the shadows, Jax stretched out his legs, laced his fingers behind his head, and tried to recall the last time he'd shared such a pleasant conversation with a woman. Throughout the exchange, an undercurrent of mild flirtation had hummed between them and he'd enjoyed it.

At least, he thought that's what had been going on. He was rusty in that respect. He'd been faithful to his wife, and deployed almost continuously since the divorce, so the opportunities to indulge in flirtation to any degree had been few and far between.

That situation wouldn't be changing anytime soon, either. Nicholas had to be his first, his only, priority for the time being.

Wonder what would have happened if he'd amped things up, if he'd come out and hit on her? Jax didn't pick up women in bars—or mineral pools—as a rule, and she certainly hadn't seemed to be on the prowl herself. And yet, he'd sensed that she was lonely like him. And she
had
mentioned Stamina Sven.

“Jax?”

He lowered his arms at the sound of her voice and sat up straight. His heart began to pound. “Did you forget something?”

“Not really. I had an idea. It's probably really stupid and I can't believe I'm going to suggest it, but what the heck. I think we should do it.”

His eyes widened. Sex? She wanted sex? Had he misread her? Had she come back to pick him up?

“See, I think Celeste's suggestion is spot-on,” she continued. “I believe in the power of positive thinking, but I also believe in running two miles a day. I'm a pitiful self-motivator. If I have a running buddy, I'm much more successful at dragging myself out of bed and lacing on my shoes. That's where you come in.”

Something tells me she's not talking about me dragging myself out of bed with her.

“If I've made a promise to someone, I keep it. So, here's your chance to bottle up the positive energy of Eternity Springs and take it with you to the West Coast, Jax. Want to be my affirmative attitude buddy?”

“Affirmative attitude” isn't the type of “buddy” I'm wanting tonight.
Cautiously, he asked, “What would be involved?”

“Well, we could both keep journals, but it needn't be that formal. It can be as simple as promising that each night, you'll make a mental note of something positive that happened that day.”

“That's it?”

“Sure. Unless … I guess we could pick an amount of time we will commit to doing it. Probably shouldn't leave it open-ended.”

“But no accountability between the two of us?”

Claire shrugged. “It's the guilt that works with me. If I say I'll do it, and I think you are doing it too, well, I can't slack off. So, how about it?”

She was so darned cute. So appealing. He felt the urge to tease her. “I don't know, Claire. It has a bit of a girly, ‘Dear Diary' feel.”

She folded her arms and sniffed with disdain. “Now, that's just wrong. Didn't you tell me you just got out of the navy? I'll bet you made notations in some sort of chart or report every day, didn't you?”

“Well, yes.”

“So think of this as a charting. Or, keeping your logbook.”

Jax arched an amused brow. “Be captain of my own life?”

“Why not?”

“Why not?” he repeated. “Sure, Claire. I'll play.”

“Excellent. Do you want to commit to a time period?”

He rubbed his chin and considered. “How about three months? That's long enough to give it a fair shot and see if it actually works.”

“Perfect. And at the end of those three months, if you're so inclined, reach out to me and let me know how it's worked for you. You can always contact me through my Web site. It's www.ForeverChristmasinColorado.com. Or, if you have a chance tomorrow, stop by and I'll give you a card with my info on it. Your son will enjoy the shop. All children do.”

No, not my Nicholas.
His son would be the exception.

Claire continued, “I'm so glad I came back and asked you to do this with me. Thanks, Jax. This makes me happy. I have a feeling this will be good for both of us.”

They exchanged good nights once again, and she departed. Jax listened until the gate squeaked open, and then closed.

“Well, that was an interesting encounter,” he murmured. And now rather than relaxing, the hot springs pools felt lonely to him.

He rolled his shoulders, then stood and reached for his towel. He figured he'd head to his room, shower, and go down to dinner. Since a gorgeous redhead didn't appear to be on the menu for tonight, he'd settle for a steak and a nice glass of wine.

Who knows, he might even wander into the Angel's Rest gift shop and buy a notebook.

As he walked back toward the resort, his thoughts shifted to tomorrow. His schedule was packed. He had a phone appointment first thing in the morning with Nicholas's psychologist in Seattle, then a second phone appointment with the woman who'd been his teacher. Also, he'd been invited to a parents' luncheon at Eagle's Way, Jack and Cat Davenport's estate. No way was he missing that. He was glad to have the opportunity to personally thank the Davenports for their generosity toward Nicholas and all the campers.

Pickup time at the Rocking L was one o'clock. Jax intended to be there on the dot. Though he was nervous about what the future held, he couldn't wait to hold his boy once again. He'd missed him terribly.

Tomorrow afternoon, he would like to take his son fishing at Hummingbird Lake. Maybe canoeing, too, if Nicholas would like that. Anything that might help them get beyond the awkwardness he fully expected to encounter during the first few hours they spent together.

Hours, hell. More likely days. Probably even weeks. Could be months.
Who knew what sort of things Lara's parents had been saying about Jax to the boy? Nothing good, based on past experience.

Jax sighed heavily as the tension that he'd soaked away in the mineral springs came flooding back. He very much feared that he and Nicholas had a tall mountain to climb to establish a comfortable father-son relationship. Then he glanced up at the big Victorian house that served as the central building at Angel's Rest Healing Center and Spa, and he heard the echo of Celeste Blessing's advice in his mind.
Even the darkest day has a moment of light. Write it down. Use it to jump-start your day the following morning. It's like a cup of coffee for your attitude.

He thought about Claire Branham and her challenge, and damned if he didn't feel a little more positive. He could do it.
They
would do it.

Tomorrow was the start of the Lancaster men's fresh beginning. Tomorrow he and Nicholas would begin to forge new bonds in a new version of their family. Shoot, maybe the boy's time at camp in this special little valley might actually help heal some of the wounds upon his poor heart.

How cool would it be if he could take his son shopping at Forever Christmas tomorrow afternoon?

Because ever since his mother's death and the traumatic events surrounding it, Jax's boy—his precious little Nicholas—was afraid of the trappings of Christmas. Deeply, deathly afraid.

The nightmare had started before Thanksgiving last year when his grandmother took him to a mall and continued through the end of the year when the decorations finally came down. He froze at the sight of gift-wrapped packages. The scents of cinnamon and peppermint and fir trees made him sick to his stomach. The sound of Christmas carols sent him into a terrorized stupor.

Unfortunately, Jax's sub had been beneath the Indian Ocean at the time and Lara's parents had taken a “tough love” stance, thinking Nicholas simply needed more exposure to all things holiday in order to get over his fears. It had been a disastrous approach, and by the time Jax learned of it, the damage had been done.

“And you need to manage your expectations, Dad,” Jax murmured to himself. Tomorrow, his goal was to get a hug from his son. Beyond that, well, Christmas was still five months away.

Tonight he'd go up to his room and write down his bright moment and do his best to bottle some of this valley's positive mojo.

Too bad they didn't do miracles here in Eternity Springs.

 

Chapter Three

Hugs are even better than I remembered.

—JAX

Claire deposited a satisfyingly long receipt into the gold shopping bag that bore her store's logo. Wearing a friendly smile, she walked around the end of the antique wood counter and handed two bulging bags to her customer, a lovely sixty-something woman from New Mexico vacationing in Colorado with her husband and two other couples. “Thank you for shopping at Forever Christmas.”

“Thank you, Claire!” the customer replied, snapping her wallet closed. “We had so much fun. The display of ornaments and gifts for family members is the most creative thing I've seen in a long time. I can't wait to give my sister the ornament I bought for her. So clever.”

“I love the Angel Room,” her companion said. “It's easy to imagine that you're being surrounded by love when you walk into that room.”

Claire went to work ringing up the second customer's purchases, which were heavy on angels, she noticed. “Are you staying at our local resort, Angel's Rest?”

“No, we're guests of a fellow church member who owns cabins in a little valley not far from here,” the first woman said. “It's a fabulous place. There are three cabins—although ‘cabin' doesn't quite describe them because they are quite luxurious. And the way each is decorated is just precious. I've never seen such fabulous tile work as the mosaics in the kitchen and baths and on the fireplaces. They tell the story of the settling of this part of Colorado. So creative.”

“We love it there,” her companion agreed. “Eternity Springs is just darling. We've heard that Angel's Rest is wonderful, too. We have reservations for high tea there this afternoon.”

“In that case, be sure to take a peek into the parlor,” Claire suggested. “The owner has an exquisite collection of angels on display there.”

Once the sale was completed and her visitors departed, Claire made a quick pass through Forever Christmas. For the first time since shortly after she'd flipped the
CLOSED
sign to
OPEN
five hours ago, she had a lull in customers.

Good. She could stand to get off her feet for a few minutes. Her choice of footwear this morning had been a mistake. She knew better than to wear heels at the shop. Ordinarily she wore sneakers with slacks, a white shirt, and a Forever Christmas apron. Today for some strange reason, she'd pulled on a sundress from her closet and slipped her feet into darling strappy sandals. The same sandals she wanted to kick off asap.

She detoured into the back room long enough to grab her tablet, thinking she'd use the time to catch up on e-mail. She took a seat on the tall wooden stool behind her checkout counter, which gave her an excellent view of the street.

All day long she'd watched the front door with more attention than customary. Would Jax Lancaster stop by? Why did she care? And why in the world had she worn heels just in case he showed up?