Mistletoe Bachelors (13 page)

The rehearsal room, in the basement of the community church was a buzz of activity as
parents and children practiced the lines of their scripts and got into their costumes for fittings. In
one corner, a group of carollers practiced their songs, and Madison smiled at the familiar sounds.
A Christmas Carol
was one of her favorite Christmas movies. She loved the original version, and
her family had watched it every Christmas Eve. Madison knew almost every line by memory.

“Wow, I can’t believe how many people are here.” She surveyed the room.
Would there be
anyone left to watch the production?
“I play the same part every year,” a man to the right of Madison said. He stood with his arms
out at his sides. A seamstress added pins to his jacket.
“And he has to get the costume let out every year too,” the seamstress teased with a
mouthful of pins.
“
That
is true I’m afraid.” The man laughed.
“We are looking for the costume room. Can you point us in the right direction?” Madison
smiled at the older man.
“Down the hall, third door on the right.” He nodded in the direction.
“Thank you.”
“I still cannot believe we are doing this.” Cole dragged his feet as they made their way to the
costume room for their fitting. “Why on earth did you give in?”
“What choice did I have?” Madison said, but she smiled at the sight of children dancing in
the hallway. She shrugged. “Besides it might be fun.” This sudden wholehearted acceptance of
the Christmas season was a shock to her, but this assignment kept making it impossible to remain
a Grinch.
“I think I liked you better when you hated Christmas.” Cole opened the door and entered the
costume room.
Madison chuckled. “Sorry.” She gave a sheepish look. “I guess it’s true what they say. If
you can’t beat `em, join `em.”
“There you two are, welcome! The couple I’ve been waiting for.” Rod Livingston’s mother,
Evelyn, greeted them as they entered the room.
“You must be Evelyn. Great to meet you.” Madison said.
Cole shied away in the corner. She’d never seen him this way. She grinned. “Don’t pay no
mind to Scrooge, he’s just upset he doesn’t get to play the lead.” Madison teased, and Evelyn
chuckled.
“Bob Cratchet and his wife are my favorite characters.” Evelyn pulled Cole into the room.
“Now let’s get you fitted.” She placed her hands on her hips and waited for Cole to remove his
coat.
Reluctantly he obliged and slid into the Bob Cratchet costume.
“Wonderful fit.” Evelyn clapped her hands. “I won’t have to do much work with it at all.”
She grabbed a few pins from her sewing tray.
Madison gave Cole a
thumbs up
sign.
His eyes narrowed, and he shook his head. He mouthed the words,
I am only doing this for
you.
Madison smiled.
I know
.

Nick arrive, we can eat.” Evelyn smiled and waved her away.
“Okay. Would you mind if I explored your house?” She’d been dying to see the rest of the
home since they arrived.
“Not at all. Feel free to wander.” She mixed a few ingredients in a bowl and turned on the
hand mixer.
“Thanks.” Madison let the swinging door close behind her and ventured out into the hall.
The old home carried an essence of the community itself. Old fashioned in a traditional,
warm, inviting way. Built in the 1800’s each room had its own fireplace. Each was decorated
with fake snow and different Christmas themes. The dust accumulating on the ornaments
suggested the Christmas decorating started early in the Livingston home. The original hardwood
floor in the house had been re-stained in recent years to create a modern light and dark wood
pattern and the warm colors of brown and blue paint on the walls enhanced the cozy, family
atmosphere of the home.
Family pictures lined the hallways and Madison smiled, studying the school photos of Rod
and his sister Natalie. He’d always had a playful, warm smile and gentle eyes. Maybe Evelyn
would have a copy of his high school graduation photo for her article.
She descended the staircase and rejoined the men in the living room. Rod and his father
Clyde were engaged in a chess match. Cole sat on an ottoman observing the game.
“Who’s winning?” She placed her hands on her hips and glanced at the chessboard.
“I’ve never won a game,
ever
.” Rod grinned at Madison as he moved a horse-shaped piece
to the right, taking one of his father’s smaller pieces.
“They’ve been playing this one game for three years.” Cole moved over on the ottoman and
patted the space for her to sit.
Madison sat on the edge near Clyde. “Really?”
“Yeah, it’s serious stuff around here.” Rod laughed. “We’ve been playing ever since I was
old enough to move the pieces. I think Pop here had hopes of me becoming a champion chess
player like he was in his day.” Rod pointed to the long line of chess trophies lining the ledge
above the chess table.
“You won all of those?” Madison admired the long line of accomplishments.
The older gentleman nodded and placed his cigar in the holder. He narrowed his eyes toward
the chessboard. “Are you sure you want to move there?”
“Not anymore.” Rod laughed. He studied the board and scratched his chin. He shrugged.
“I’m not seeing whatever you are dad.”
The old man chuckled. “Okay. I gave you a chance.” He winked at Madison and moved his
Queen to take Rod’s King. “Check Mate.”
Rod stared at the game board in disbelief. “Seventy-two years old, and his mind is sharper
than a twenty year old.” He picked up his King and laid him sideways on the board. He patted
his dad on the arm. “Good game. We’ll start a rematch after dinner. I think I hear Natalie and
Nick.”
Clyde pulled back the curtain at the window and smiled. “Finally, we can eat.” He smiled.
The door opened and Rod’s sister Natalie entered, her arms full of freshly baked pies.
Rod took them from her. “I’ll take those.” He pulled back the tin foil on one and stuck his
finger in the meringue of the lemon pie.
“Rod, stop that. No one’s going to want to eat that after you touch it.” His sister pointed a
coat hanger at him.
“Exactly. Mmm.” Rod licked his finger and grinned.
Natalie shook her head and laughed. She hung her coat in the closet and kicked off her
boots.
“Natalie, please meet Cole Harris and Madison Grey from
Women’s World Quarterly
.” Rod
did the introductions.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you both.” She smiled. “I’m a huge fan of your work.” She turned to
Cole. “Although, I don’t think even a fantastic photographer like yourself can make this old guy
look good.” She teased her brother.
“Hey, we’re three minutes apart—and
you
were born first.” Rod called over his shoulder as
he carried the pies into the kitchen.
“That’s not how I remember it.” She laughed.
Clyde stood and hugged his daughter.
“Hi, dad.” She gestured toward the chessboard. “Let me guess, your queen took his king in
position eight?” She tucked her arm around the older man’s waist.
“Yup. He made the mistake you predicted he would.” Clyde chuckled. “Where’s Nick and
the kids?”
“Getting their skates sharpened. We took separate cars because I had to work late. The boys
are excited about the skating party tonight.”
“Skating party?” Cole’s eyes widened.
“Yes, it’s one of the highlights of the season’s festivities. The
Town Center Park
is
transformed into a magical ice palace with thousands of white lights. They set up a portable ice
rink and booths where they serve hot chocolate and cookies and provide skate rentals, so don’t
worry if you didn’t bring any.”
“I love skating. That sounds great.” Madison gained another surprised look from Cole. She
suspected he found her sudden change of heart strange. She couldn’t fully understand it.
Maybe
it had something to do with him
.
Or
a lot
to do with him.
“I’ll probably be too busy taking pictures to skate.” Cole shoved his hands in his pockets,
avoiding Madison’s gaze.
Hmm
…Her eyes narrowed as she studied him.
I bet he can’t skate.

Madison gasped as they rounded the corner onto
Main Street,
and the
Town Center
came
into view. The trees surrounding the lake were strung with sets of white and blue lights flickering
to the beat of Christmas carols. Miniature pole lamps lined the pathway around the lake. The
booths Natalie had mentioned were made of Styrofoam blocks, designed to look like ice huts,
each labeled with signs that read hot chocolate, cookies and skate rentals. Traditional Christmas
songs played over a loud speaker, and the three young boys sang along to
Rudolph the Red Nose
Reindeer
.

“You know Rudolph isn’t the only reindeer.” Rod pouted.
The boys laughed and dashed off to put on their skates.
“Shall we get skates?” Madison asked Cole when they reached the edge of the frozen lake.
“I wish I could, but I should probably get to work.” Cole held up his tripod and camera.

He’d been clutching his camera bag since they’d left the Livingston home.
“Maybe later?” Madison’s eyes narrowed with suspicion.
“Of course.” He nodded.
“Okay, I’m going to head out with the others. I’ll see you out there in a bit?” She grinned.
“Yeah, sure.” His tone was noncommittal as he watched the skaters with a look of

admiration mixed with terror. The faster they skated or the more complicated a stunt they landed
the more Cole looked ready to faint.
Madison hid a giggle and turned away, leaving him to set up his camera.
A cheery old man wearing a Santa’s hat greeted her inside the igloo hut. “Nice to see you
again.” He beamed.
It was the same man she’d seen at his costume fitting earlier that afternoon.
What was his
name again? Archie…no Ernie.
“Hi, Ernie. Can I please have a pair of size five men’s skates?” Growing up in California,
they hadn’t gone ice skating much as kids, but they had roller-bladed quite a bit. After moving to
New York, Madison had turned to ice skating as one of her favorite forms of exercise and had
found men’s hockey skates a similar fit and feel to roller blades.
“Sure thing.” He searched the racks behind him and handed her the skates. “Do you need
someone to tie them for you?” He gestured toward two teenage boys who were flirting with two
pretty local girls. He shook his head. “Hey boys, get back to work.”
The girls giggled and rushed off with their hot chocolate.
“Sorry dad.” The taller boy said.
“Boys.” Ernie took a deep breath and rolled his eyes. “Nothing but trouble.” He grinned.
“Do you have children, Madison?”
“No.” Madison shook her head. She had wanted them once, but now she wasn’t sure.
Knowing how fast a marriage could end, she would hate to put children through that pain. For
now she was content being
cool Aunt Madison
to Samantha’s boys.
“Well if you decide to—don’t have boys…” He looked toward the lake where a young girl
was skating hand in hand with a much older boy. His eyebrows furrowed. “On the other hand,
girls are not much better.”
Madison glanced toward the skating couple and smiled. “Your daughter?”
Ernie nodded.
“Can Madison come and skate, Ernie?” Rod teased, poking his head inside the igloo.
“Oh yes. Sorry to keep you. Have fun.” Ernie turned his attention to a family waiting for
skates.
Madison followed Rod outside to the wooden benches. She sat and tugged off her boots. She
slid her feet into her skates and wiggled her toes.
“Do you need a hand with those?”
“No, that’s okay, thanks. My brother taught me how to tie skates years ago.” Madison bent
and started on the laces.
“Okay, when you’re ready one of my old high school friends is back in town for the
holidays, and I would like you to meet him. I’ve made him promise, no embarrassing stories or
they might end up in print. In hindsight though, it was probably a bad idea to tell him not to. That
may be enough motivation for him to reveal all.” He chuckled and dashed off in the direction of
his old classmate on the skating rink.
Madison pulled the leg of her jeans down over her skate and stood. She glanced toward the
hot chocolate booth where Cole had set up his tripod. He snapped photos of the Livingston
family on the ice rink, changing the lens several times. She didn’t doubt the photos for the article
would be amazing.
He
was amazing. Her feelings for him grew with each passing day, and she
was anxious to see where things might lead once they returned to Staten Island.
“Madison, over here.” Rod waved from the other side of the rink.
She waved and headed toward the two men.
Rod took her arm. “Madison, I’d like you to meet Chris Windsor, a pediatrician in New
Jersey.”
Chris smiled at Madison.
“Nice to meet you. So, how long have you two known each other?” She wished she’d
thought of bringing her notebook along. She was having such a great time—she’d forgotten her
purpose for being here. She vowed to work on her notes that evening.
“Too long.” Chris grinned. “We grew up on the same street, went to the same schools…”
“Same little league baseball team in summer and triple A hockey team in winter,” Rod
finished. “Oh, you two will have to excuse me. I think Cole is flagging me over for a family
photo.” Rod skated to the other side of the rink where his family was positioned for a photo
inside the gazebo.
“Shall we skate as we talk?” Chris asked.
“Sure.” Madison pushed away from the boards and weaved in among the skaters. “Do you
two keep in touch throughout the year?”
“Yeah. We make an effort to get together once a month…” Chris lowered his head and
grinned. “When Rod isn’t otherwise engaged.” Chris struggled to keep up with her expert strides.
“What do you mean?” Madison slowed her stride.
“He doesn’t know, I know, but my sister visits him often.”
“Your sister?”
“Anita, from the bakery.” He smirked. “Rod goes there for more than the baked goods, but
for some reason whenever I ask him about it, he denies it.” Chris shook his head. “My sister’s
been in love with Rod since we were in diapers. I think it’s hilarious, they think I don’t know.”
Madison laughed. “That is funny. Why do you think they keep it a secret?” She glanced
toward Rod who was posing for a picture with his nephews.
“Beats me.” Chris shrugged, out of breath. “I just wish they’d get married and have a kid
already. I’m dying to be an uncle.” He paused and took a deep breath. “Okay, where did you
learn to skate?”
“I used to roller blade on the beaches in California with my brother when we were kids, and
the skating rink in Central Park is one of my favorite places to go during the winter months.” She
slowed her pace even more.
“You are certainly graceful on those men’s skates.” Chris matched her slower stride. “You
live in New York?” He studied her.
“I live on Staten Island. The publication I work for has its headquarters there, and I like the
quieter pace.” Madison enjoyed the crisp air and the cool, refreshing wind on her face.
“I haven’t been to Staten Island in years. Maybe in the New Year, I could take you to
dinner.”
The invitation took her by surprise, and she stumbled.
Chris grabbed her arm to steady her. “You okay?”
Madison skated toward the boards and moved away as she reached the edge of the rink.
“Yeah, I’m good. Thank you.” She smiled. Chris was a pleasant man, but the only man she was
interested in having dinner with was Cole. She hesitated.
“So, what do you say—a friendly dinner and a tour around Staten Island?” Chris looked
hopeful.
“Um…” Her eyes landed on Cole studying them from across the ice rink.
Chris followed her gaze. “Oh, I get it.” He put his hands in his pockets. “Sorry, I didn’t
realize you two were together like that.”
“Oh well, we’re…”
What exactly?
They were no longer just co-workers, and she suspected
the growing feelings she had for him were mutual. She smiled and shrugged. “Sorry, I can’t have
dinner with you.”
“Fine, well at least skate around with me so I can tell you more embarrassing stories about
Rod.” He grinned. “There are many.”
Madison nodded. “Okay.”