Nothing Short of a Miracle (20 page)

As the hectic week continued, Chad found it harder and harder to pick up the phone and call home. On Thursday morning, his mother called to see if he was coming home for Christmas.

“Yes. I’m almost done with the changes and negotiations. I have a book-signing on Friday evening for the Christmas rush. I plan to drive home afterwards,” Chad promised. He was ready to leave the city behind.

“After having you home the last couple of weeks, it would be a disappointment if you didn’t make it back for Christmas Eve,” Chad’s mother sighed. “Everyone is caroling Saturday evening.”

“I’m not sure I’ll make it for the caroling, but I’ll be home for Christmas.”

Silence.

“So, how’s Dad? Has he been going to the office all week?”

“He’s fine. Yes, he feels better knowing I’m not alone all day.”

Silence.

“How’s Ethel? Still baking up a storm?”

“Son. I know you don’t give a fig about Ethel’s baking. Why don’t you get right to the point? Why don’t you ask me about Gabriella?”

“Is she still there?”

“Still here? Yes she’s still here. Why would she leave?”

“No reason, I guess.”

“What’s been going on, Chad? She’s wearing one of the longest faces I’ve ever seen. What have you done now?”

“Mother…”

“Don’t ‘mother’ me. I’m not blind. The two of you have been dancing around each other since you both got here. Why don’t you just admit you’re attracted to her? You haven’t met up with Tanya again, have you? That woman is an evil witch.”

“Mother…”

“Junior?”

“Listen, I’ve got to go or I’ll be late for my meeting.”

“I wasn’t just trying to goad you when I said Gabriella was too good for you, you know. I think the two of you are perfect for each other.”

“Mother, I do have a meeting and if I don’t leave now they’ll probably cancel my contract.”

“Not likely. You bring in too much revenue for them. Just talk to her. Give her a chance.”

“I’ll see you this weekend,” Chad said, ringing off.

He should’ve known he couldn’t keep anything from his mother. Her matchmaking skills
were
undisputable!

****

By Friday night Chad still hadn’t appeared. It was as if he were a figment of her imagination. Except his books were real, and his picture on the back cover was real. She stared at it every night—had it memorized, waiting for him to walk through the door to tell her what happened between them was real, and that he missed her. That he loved her as she loved him. But there had been too much left unsaid between them. And he’d been gone all week without so much as a word. She didn’t know what to expect.

Lord, what had she been reduced to?
A couple of kisses—a couple of very toe-curling kisses—had literally knocked her socks off. Which reminded her, she still hadn’t found her slipper-socks. Ethel must have picked them up and put them in the laundry. She would have to ask about them later.

By Saturday afternoon, Gabriella had worked herself into a tizzy. She’d overheard Helen on the phone talking to Chad, and she could only assume they’d been discussing her still being at the Hempstead’s. Had Chad expected her to pack up and leave? Had he changed his mind and didn’t have feelings for her after all? Was he staying in New York? Had she been a fool to fall in love with a man who was just using her?

And who the hell was Tanya?

Heart heavy, she really didn’t have the spirit to go caroling with the others. It had been a long week, and the closer it got to Christmas, the more she missed her own family. Even though she wasn’t up to socializing, she had to admit it would help lift her spirits to get out and enjoy herself.

Dressing in black wool slacks, a red ribbed turtleneck sweater, and a pair of black insulated, ankle-high boots, Gabriella put on her coat and gloves and headed toward the staircase to go down and join Jodi and the others. When she reached the top of the stairs, she met Chad racing up the stairs. He took them two at a time, his jacket unzipped, hanging open, gloves in hand. His hair was windblown. He was the most devastatingly handsome man she’d ever seen. Her heart stopped, jump started, and kicked into overdrive.

He looked up at her. Her smile froze. He didn’t return her smile. What had she done, now?

“Hello. How was New York?” she asked softly—politely. She wanted him to take her in his arms and kiss her. She had missed him. Missed his kisses. Each night she’d closed her eyes and envisioned them making love. From the look on his face, he didn’t reciprocate those feelings.

Gabriella swallowed and tucked her hands in her pockets. “Excuse me. Jodi and Sheila are waiting downstairs. We’re about to go caroling.”

“I know. The kids are excited, too,” he said.

It was as if they had never kissed, as if he had never held her naked body in his arms.

“New York was busy. I was busy,” he said, as if it explained everything.

“Yes. Your mother told me.”

She sidestepped him to go down the stairs—her heart pounded in her ears. She trembled, upset at his demeanor, and hoped she wouldn’t fall on her way down. “I have to go.”

“I’m going, too.”

Her head snapped up. He had just returned from the city. Had he only come back to pack up his belongings and head back to New York? She couldn’t breathe. Was he going back to this Tanya woman?

“Go?” she whispered, her voice cracking.

“Yes, I’m going, too. I’m caroling with the family.”

“Oh.” It came out in a slow whoosh. “Oh.”

Gabriella didn’t know whether she was glad he was staying, or upset at the way he was behaving. He stood still, watching her, giving nothing away. What could she say? Do?

She hid the hurt, and turned away.

“Tell them I’ll be down in a minute,” he said to her retreating back.

He shut his bedroom door, leaving her to her own miserable thoughts.

Five minutes later he joined everyone in the hallway where they were discussing car-pooling.

“You and Chad can ride with us,” Sheila said. “We have a new seven-person van. It’s our Christmas present to ourselves. We need it with our big family. So, seeing as Devon’s staying here, there’s plenty of room without the car seat in the back. Don’t know why we didn’t buy a van sooner.”

She laughed along with the others gathered in the foyer.

At least Gabriella didn’t have to ride alone with Chad in his vehicle. The way he was acting, she knew he was going to tell her it had all been a big mistake and it was over between them before it even got started. She’d anticipated this all week, and now his actions said it all.

Chapter Twelve

The community center was abuzz with more than two dozen carolers waiting to get started. Hot cider and cocoa were already available next to a table piled high with an assortment of cookies. Chad followed his family into the room, surprised to see Dennis, cup in hand, next to a women he didn’t know. Gabby stepped forward, arms outstretched and hurried toward the couple. Chad frowned at her enthusiasm for his friend.

“Mindy. You rascal. Don’t tell me your dinner date the other night was with Dennis?” Gabby said.

The two women hugged. Confused, Chad’s eyebrows rose in a silent question to his friend.

“Hi, Gabby. It’s good to see you,” Dennis said. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and gave her a hug. “Did you get all those papers signed for Nina’s trust fund?”

“Yes. But how did you know?”

Dennis’ eyebrows raised, he looked around sheepishly, then looked down at his feet. Chad was about to drag him outside and give his friend a good talking to.

“Uh, Chad…I…ah… I …”

“I guess I must have mentioned it over dinner the other night,” Mindy said. “I didn’t think you’d mind.”

Mindy’s face turned an embarrassing shade of pale.

Just what was going on?

“You remember Mindy, Gabriella’s roommate? Mindy this is Chad Hempstead,” Dennis said.

“I know. The famous author,” Mindy beamed, extending her hand. “I bought several of your books. They’re great. Would you autograph one for me sometime?”

Chad looked from Mindy to Gabriella and frowned.

“Glad to meet you. Bring your books around sometime and I’d be happy to autograph them for you.”

As the evening got underway, Gabriella joined his sister and nieces, leaving him behind. He smiled, observing her interactions with his family—holding his nieces’ hands as they walked down streets lined with homes bedecked with colored lights and festive greens for the season. He couldn’t take his eyes off her as she sang songs, smiled at those who opened their doors to listen to the spirit of Christmas. He was awed by her serenity.

He suddenly didn’t care whether she wanted him or Bronson B. Brady. They were one and the same, and they both wanted her.

He worked his way toward her, but his nieces surrounded her, with Constance winning the handholding contest for the evening. If he didn’t know any better, he’d think Gabby was avoiding him.

He couldn’t get the feel of her soft skin against his naked body out of his mind. She was a desirable woman. He wanted to get close to her again. Now.

The caroling dragged on forever. Although Chad enjoyed singing at the nursing home and the children’s center, he felt like an outsider. His sisters, and Dennis and Mindy were being over-protective of Gabby. He desperately wanted to be a part of their inner circle. But every time he worked his way up to her side, one of them appeared to catch her attention. Or someone he hadn’t seen in a while would monopolize his time.

When he finally got close to her, Dennis nudged him aside.

“Get all those books signed in New York?” his friend asked, a wicked grin on his face.

“Yeah, about a hundred of them.” Chad couldn’t hide his annoyance and gritted his teeth. “What about you? Contracts going well at the office?” Not expecting an answer, Chad turned to speak to Gabby. But she had drifted to the other side of the room, his sisters on either side of her.

Damn!

On the way home, Chad found himself relegated to the back seat. Once again Gabby sat in the middle with Constance resting her tiny, tired head on Gabby’s shoulder—Gabby’s arm snuggling her as tight as the seatbelts would allow.

Chad groaned. Once they got back home, he was determined to get Gabby alone so they could talk and finally get things out in the open. They rode through the city streets where holiday lights sparkled in the night, but Chad was oblivious, his mind only on Gabby.

Once home, Chad’s mother invited everyone to stay for hot cocoa. To entice everyone, Ethel wheeled out a tray overflowing with her latest batch of cookies straight from the oven.

“My, my, look at all of you,” Helen called when they’d assembled in the library. “My family. Now come on over here by the fire and tell me all about your evening. Did you have a good time?”

“We visited sick people and people who don’t have homes,” Constance ran up to her grandmother, receiving a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek. “Sara and ’Anna memorized all the words to the songs, but I didn’t. Gabby helped me. She’s nice. I like her best.”

“We all do, dear. Now why don’t you go help yourself to some of those cookies Ethel just set out over there.”

Kids—they were a handful. Just being around his family the past few weeks had been an eye-opener. They were pretty neat, and a lot of fun, too.

“Chad, come wheel this contraption over to the piano so I can play a few Christmas tunes. Come on, everyone, time to join in before you all go home.”

As requested, they all gathered in a semi-circle around the piano to sing Christmas Carols while his mother played. Sheila held Devon, cradling him in her arms. Chad looked over at Gabby holding Nina in the same warm, motherly fashion. Emotions welled up in his chest. He couldn’t breathe. He pictured her with another child snuggled close against her breast—his child. He swallowed. Hard. He was unable to sing a single note.

He worked his way over to her side and stood behind her, breathing in her scent—the fresh outdoors mingled in her hair, her clothes, along with a faint hint of baby powder and lotion. It was the most erotic fragrance he’d ever smelled. He didn’t say a word, or even touch her. He couldn’t believe how aware he was of her.

He couldn’t wait for everyone to leave so he could get her alone. Make love to her.

He hardened in anticipation.

The fire blazed, the tree sparkled, everyone smiled and sang, enjoying the moment. It filled him with overwhelming joy. This was his family. He looked at Gabby. His reaction was gut-wrenching. She fit in with his family better than he did. Perfect. The evening was perfect. Why had he stayed away so long?

Love—hard to contain, and even harder to fight.

When the last strains of
Silent Night
faded away, the last drop of hot chocolate sipped, and the last goodbye’s given, Chad was ready to burst with joy at the headiness of it all. An audible sigh of relief slipped between his lips as the front door shut for the last time.

Finally.
Finally.
He and Gabby could be alone.

Chad turned back to the library. But it was empty.

Ethel appeared from the other direction, a tray in hand, prepared to pick up cups and crumbs from the impromptu family gathering.

“Here, Ethel, let me help you with those. As usual everything was great. What would this family do without you?”

“You’re my family. And it’s your family, too. Don’t you forget it. You’ve stayed away much too long, and your mother misses you terribly. She wants to see you settled down, young man. Have babies of your own.”

“Now, Ethel, don’t you start. I’ve heard it all before. It’s one of the things that keeps me away.”

“It’s not, and you know it. You stay away because you can’t face facts. You want what everyone else has, but you’re just too stubborn to admit it. You’ll join the fray one day soon. Mind you, I think it’s going to be sooner than anyone expects.” Ethel smiled, and continued to collect the dirty dishes scattered around the room. “Here, take these to the kitchen while I gather the rest. Then take yourself off to bed. You look near to falling asleep on your feet after your long drive and full evening tonight.”