Love Finds You in Frost Minnesota (21 page)

Jack dropped down beside her. His greater weight caused her to lean slightly in his direction, and their shoulders brushed. “Not much. I’ve never seen him green around the gills before.”

“But you ate it. The ladies in the kitchen were pleased.”

“In the kitchen? People were watching me from the kitchen?”

“Of course. That’s life in a small town.”

Her smile faded. “You probably noticed that Harry seemed well informed about your business in town.”

“About that . . .”

“You aren’t going to do anything that will cause trouble, are you?”

“I’ve turned everything over to Vince to handle. He’s one of the best legal minds I’ve ever met. I’m just fortunate that he holds two capacities in my firm—officer and attorney. He has integrity and compassion. He’ll take care of things as well as anyone can.”

“But the people on your land . . .”

He put a finger to her lips and found them to be warm, dry, and very kissable. “Shhh . . .”

She went limp. “Trust God and Vince, right?”

“You’ve got them in the right order.”

After Merry excused herself and went to bed, Jack remained in the living room surrounded by the ornaments and Christmas displays he’d so despised. Only the lights from the tree remained on, and the entire room winked and sparkled with light playing off bits of silver and gold. Occasionally the Santa on the floor by the fireplace would detect movement and belt out “Ho, ho, ho!” The cat, who always waited for Jack to go to bed, now didn’t even open an eye at the sound. They were all inured to the season.

His thoughts drifted back to early evening and the simple but powerful Nativity scene of which he’d been a part. People had laughed and talked as they walked toward the church, but everyone had slowed and paused before the tableau and grown silent. Mary, Joseph, the babe . . . so powerful were those images that they silenced the crowds with the reminder of what Christ had come to earth to do.

A stirring of regret moved within him. He’d shut out Christmas so long. Now, because of Merry, the good memories of the season were finally returning—their family going to candlelight services on Christmas Eve, saying grace over a gigantic golden turkey blossoming with dressing and a table laden with mashed potatoes, gravy, candied yams, and the green bean casserole he and Jamie had loved so much. And the gifts they’d exchanged—reminders, his mother had told them, of the gift of His life that Christ had given them.

Wagons, art sets, balls of every size and color, catchers’ mitts, pajamas, games . . . it had been good. For the last twenty years he’d forgotten that, replaced it with the few awful minutes that changed his life forever.

But some of the good was returning. Tonight, standing in the cold, depicting the husband of Mary, he’d felt the reality and known deeper in his bones than ever that the story of Christmas was true.

Nog yawned so widely that Jack could see every pearly pinprick of his teeth. The cat rose and stretched, jumped onto the couch, and curled up on Jack’s lap.

Feeling the small warm body against him took him back to Merry and the baby, standing close to him so as to share their body heat. He recalled the infant sleeping in her arms, his small mouth working, dreaming, no doubt of warm milk and his mother’s smiles. He’d never felt so protective toward another human being as he had in that moment. This was what he wanted for himself—Merry, a child of their own, the closeness a husband and wife shared. He wanted another chance at life.

He threw his head back against the couch and groaned. He’d come here for a quick business trip to clean up a few loose ends and he’d lost his heart—and probably his mind—in the process.

Chapter Twenty-Two

• • • • • • • • • • • •

“Zeke, you’ve got to stop talking like this!” Merry hadn’t planned to start her morning with an argument, but obviously Zeke had.

“I’m just telling you, Merry, that guy is going to cause a lot of trouble and heartbreak in this town and you’d better get ready for it. Tell him to stay in a hotel here in Blue Earth. Tell him . . . anything!”

“Is that the astute businessman talking or some jealous person who doesn’t like my friendship with Jack Frost?”

She could tell by the hesitation before his response that the second answer was the correct one. Had she been wrong about Zeke? Were his feelings still more than platonic? Or had the advent of Jack brought out the worst in him?

“You don’t even know him. I do. He’s not like that.”

His laugh was dry, without humor. “You might think you know him but you don’t. He’s had his henchman in the courthouse comparing deeds and titles, property tax payments, and who knows what else. What do you think is going to come of that, Merry? Something good? I doubt it. I know you want to think the best of people, but sometimes . . .”

“I don’t believe it,” she retorted bravely. “Jack wouldn’t. You’re just miffed because he’s still staying at my house. Well, I don’t care! He’s a paying customer, and so is Vince.”

“I never should have called you that night he was looking for a place to stay. . . .”

“Too late. You did. And I appreciate it. Now please don’t say any more to me about Jack.”

“Don’t say I didn’t try to warn you, Merry,” Zeke said glumly. “I care about you too much to see the pain this guy is going to put your town through.”

After she’d hung up the phone, she sat down and stared disconsolately at the street in front of her house. What if Zeke was right after all? She couldn’t see how, but he’d planted a niggling, unwelcome seed of doubt in her.

She entertained this bit of misery until she saw Abby come up the sidewalk to work. Merry gave herself a little talk. What was she doing allowing Zeke’s unfounded doubts to ruin her day? It was nonsense! Today was Christmas Eve, and she didn’t have the time or inclination to think about anything other than that.

“Hey, Merry, how’s it going?” Abby pulled off her coat and scarf and smoothed her hair.

“We’ll be busy today. All the last-minute shoppers will be out.”

“What time are we closing?” That was a subject Abby and Merry debated every year.

“Three o’clock. I’m having people here for dinner at six o’clock, and we’ll attend the candlelight service at midnight. Everyone needs to be home with their families by three. I’d get so excited about Christmas that my father would take a vacation day on Christmas Eve so my mother could cook our meal and wrap gifts without my . . .
help
.” Merry made air quotes. “Dad always baked my birthday cake.”

“Is Jack around? Maybe he could help wrap presents. Hildy said she had to do some Christmas shopping of her own today.”

It was funny, really, to think how far they’d all come. It wasn’t so long ago that Abby had tiptoed whenever Jack was around. Now she was asking for him.

“Abby, what kind of man do you think Jack is?”

“Me? Why does it matter what I think?”

“I’m curious, that’s all.”

“I didn’t like him very much at first. He was pretty grim. But now I think he’s a really nice guy. I’m not sure what changed him but I like it.” Abby’s eyes twinkled. “And he’s more handsome every day. The more he relaxes, the more he smiles.”

Merry couldn’t argue with that. “Zeke thinks he’s going to cause trouble in Frost.”

A shadow flickered across Abby’s features. “My husband says that too. He’s been hearing rumors, he says, but won’t tell me what they are because he doesn’t know for a fact they’re true.”

“I would have said the same not long ago, but I’ve had the opportunity to spend more time with Jack than anyone else. Even when he was ill, he was a perfect gentleman. And he’s shared things with me that have helped me understand him.” Jamie, his family, the guilt that plagued him, and the honor he was showing to his cousins by including them in his inheritance.

Merry knew who Jack was. She could trust him. The rumors were just that, rumors. Besides, what could Jack really do that would set Frost on its head?

* * * * *

By the time Jack and Vince returned from the courthouse, the house was filled with the fragrant aroma of baking turkey. All the dishes except the gravy were ready to put in the oven, and the table was set. The men stopped in their tracks to admire the festive table.

Merry, dressed in a simple navy sheath, sat at the table folding napkins. Her blonde hair spilled across her shoulders, and her eyes deepened to emerald when paired with the dress. She wore a fine silver web of a necklace. It was dainty, asymmetrical, and looked like a bit of frost gracing her neck.

Jack had never seen her in much makeup. Her skin was flawless and porcelain by nature and she really needed none, but tonight she’d added blush and a slash of holiday red lipstick. It was quite dramatic against her pale skin.

“Merry?” Vince finally blurted. “You look like a model!”

“How nice of you to say that.” She finished the last napkin and stood up. “It’s not true, of course, but I accept the lovely compliment anyway.”

Jack simply stared at her.

The doorbell rang and Hildy entered on a gust of snow. She was balancing pie holders in her hands and had a cloth bag full of gifts hanging from her arm. “Ho, ho, ho,” she said jovially, her disposition much improved for the festivities.

Jack reached for the plastic containers and headed for the kitchen, leaving Vince to help Hildy with her packages and coat.

Merry joined him there with a jar of cranberry relish Hildy had brought in her bag. “I’m so glad to see Hildy smiling tonight.”

“Are
you
okay with celebrating Christmas here?” Merry put a hand on her hip and studied Jack’s face. “I want you to enjoy it but I don’t want to bring up sad memories.”

“It’s okay. I’ve come to the conclusion while I’ve been here with so much time to think that I’ve mourned Jamie far too long. The accident wasn’t any more my fault than his. I could just as well have been on that sled. It’s time I let go.” He studied her intently. “I apologize in advance if I fail in that quest. I’m stepping out on baby legs here.”

She came to him and put her arms around his waist and laid her head against his chest. “It’s okay. You’re trying.” When she looked up at him there were tears in her eyes. “I’m so happy for you. God doesn’t leave us. Just remember that. He’ll hold you up and He’ll hold you together.”

“I’m grateful for that and”—Jack hesitated briefly—“and for you.”

She sensed he was about to kiss her, but the sound of a car horn interrupted them.

Vince stuck his head into the kitchen. “I think your little family has arrived, Merry.” He observed how closely the two stood together and noticed Merry’s arms falling from around Jack’s waist. His eyebrow went up, and he glanced at the ceiling. “What? Are you pretending there’s mistletoe up there?”

Caught, the pair guiltily split apart and followed Vince into the living room.

Wayne entered the house first, a large package in his arms.

“You weren’t supposed to bring gifts!” Merry chided.

“The big one is for Greta. We found her a new bike at the secondhand store. It’s in good shape and we bought a new basket for it. The rest of the stuff came from the secondhand store too.” He blushed. “Maybe by next year we’ll graduate to a discount store for gifts.”

“I’m here! I’m here!” Greta bounded in. She was barely visible beneath her stocking cap, but her eyes shone. She was carrying a metal tin. “Mom made Christmas cookies. Pecan tassies—her specialty!”

Merry, from the corner of her eye, saw Hildy watching the scene. She’d flinched, Merry noted, at the mention of tassies. How odd.

But Hildy’s behavior grew even stranger when Stephanie entered and threw back the hood of her jacket. Hildy’s strangled scream filled the room.

Jack was at the older woman’s side when she began to crumple, knees buckling, hand clutching her heart. He caught her before she reached the floor and helped her into a nearby chair.

“Should I call 911?” Vince asked. “You do have 911 out here, don’t you?”

“Yes!” Merry said.

“No!” Hildy blurted.

Every person in the room appeared baffled except Stephanie, who gasped and ran straight for Hildy and fell into her arms.

“Mommy?” Greta said in a small voice as she watched her mother cry.

“Steph, what’s going on?” Wayne hurried to his wife, but she refused to be pulled away from Hildy.

“Do you still want 911?” Vince asked, looking more confused than ever.

“Do you know what’s happening?” Jack asked Merry.

“I’m not sure, but if it’s what I think it is, then we’re witnessing a Christmas miracle.”

Stephanie broke away from Hildy then. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but her eyes shone with happiness. “Wayne, this is Bernice Olson, my former mother-in-law and Greta’s grandmother!”

“Grandma?” Greta echoed, understanding dawning on her small features. “My daddy’s mother?” She too shot toward Hildy. “Do you remember me, Grandma?”

“Remember you? You are impossible to forget.” Hildy started to cry again, and Greta wiped the tears away with a wrinkled tissue from her pocket. “I’ve missed you so much.”

Wayne, stunned, stood there with his hands helplessly flapping at his sides, not knowing what to do next.

It was Vince who finally spoke above the din. “Will someone please tell me what’s going on? Do we need an ambulance or a paddy wagon?”

At that, explanations began to tumble out. Hildy told Vince about her son being killed and how’d she’d returned to Frost and taken back her childhood nickname. Stephanie, in tears, explained the horrible two years after her husband’s death when she cut herself off from everyone she’d ever known. Then Greta, who hadn’t left Hildy’s lap, announced, “I’m the happiest kid in the whole world. I got my grandma back!”

Even Vince, whom Merry knew better for his quick tongue than shows of emotion, had tears in his eyes by the time they were done.

As the excitement began to wind down, Merry clapped her hands to her cheeks and gasped, “I almost forgot the turkey! Vince, Jack, you come with me. The rest of you sit down.”

Jack grinned at Hildy. “Talk amongst yourselves. I’m sure you can think of something to say.” They were babbling happily before he got to the kitchen door.