Sara in Montana - A Christmas Wish (15 page)

“California.  Sara’s told me so much about the beaches there, I decided I needed to see them for myself.”

Samuel hid his grin. He lived in a little bungalow with its own private beach. He could just see Jane playing in the surf with his German shepherd, Lucky. With his recent awakening to his advanced age and lack of children, he wasn’t willing to play the cat and mouse games Jane seemed to prefer. He was all or nothing this time.

“So, if you visit the San Diego area, will you let me take you out and show you the sights?”

Sara heard Samuel’s opening line and quickly entered the kitchen, pretending she had not just been standing in the hallway listening in on their conversation. “Did I hear someone say something about San Diego?”

“Yeah, I was just telling Jane that she needed to visit San Diego on her beach vacation so that I could take her around and show her the sights.”

“Jane, that sounds great. You wouldn’t have to worry about hiring a reputable tour guide because you would have one already. And I bet Grace would let you stay with her. She lives in a three bedroom house and frequently lets vacationers rent out her extra bedroom. I’d be happy to mention it to her when she gets up.”

“That would be great. Thanks, Sara.”

“Here’s the tray back. Daniella has requested that we make more sugar cookies so that she can help decorate them. It’s one of her favorite traditions,” Sara said, giving Jane a smile. They had spoken at length about family traditions and how important they were to the development of kids.

“Well, of course we’ll have to make more sugar cookies. In fact, Samuel, you should help yourself so that we can justify having to make some more.”

Samuel grinned as he selected several of the frosted treats and poured himself a tall glass of milk from the pitcher sitting on the counter. “These are fantastic, as always. Jane, you could easily work in any five-star restaurant.”

Sara saw the blush that stained Jane’s cheeks and hastily excused herself. There was definitely something going on between Samuel and Jane. She felt out of place in the room and didn’t want to hinder any progress between the two.

Samuel gave Sara a grin and Jane moved as if to follow her, when Samuel stepped directly in her path and blocked her exit. “Jane, I want to talk to you some more.”

“Okay,” Jane replied nervously. She had never been able to understand why Samuel made her so nervous. She got that funny sensation in the pit of her stomach and had to hold her hands together to resist the urge to reach out and run her fingers through his curly hair.

Sara glanced back, and seeing that Jane appeared to be okay with staying, she went in search of Trent. Finding him in the family room, she asked him what Samuel had said about shutting down the drug organization. She was pleased to hear that Trevor Ward and both Quintana brothers had been arrested and the FBI had recover half a million dollars in cocaine. Due to the undercover work of Enrico, neither Sara nor her sister would have to testify in court.

Sara visibly relaxed and Trent knew she had been worried about this. He was glad that he had been able to give her the good news. Sara could finally move on with her life. Trent just hoped it included him.

Chapter 19

December 22
nd
…

“Grace, come on, hurry up,” Sara tried to urge her sister along. They had gone into town to do some last minute Christmas shopping and had ended up in front of the church, looking at the nativity scene again.

Hearing the organist begin to warm up for the children’s choir practice, Sara grabbed Grace’s hand and pulled her along to the church entrance. This was always the highlight of Sara’s visit to the nativity scene. She had figured out the choir’s practice schedule on her second visit and had continued to visit during the practice time. Several other members of the town were regular visitors as well.

The children’s choir was practicing for the Christmas Eve candlelight service. It had been years since Sara had attended such a service, but here in Castle Peaks, it just seemed right somehow. The town was so close knit and everyone helped everyone else.

Miriam Mercer had been able to enjoy many pain free days with the help of the acupressure techniques Sara had remembered and had even attended several of the Christmas festivities in her wheelchair. Bill Mercer seemed to have accepted that his time with his wife was very short, and the times Sara had seen him in town with her had been touching. The care and love they had for each other was evident to everyone.

Samuel and Jane had decided to quit hiding their feelings for one another and Jane was making plans to return to San Diego with Samuel, Grace and Daniella. She would be staying with Grace and Daniella, and exploring a relationship with Samuel at the same time. Trent had expressed his desire for Jane to find someone to share her life with, and that he hoped she and Samuel would try to work things out. They complimented each other in so many ways. Even a stranger could see they were made for each other.

Trent and Sara, on the other hand, had allowed their relationship to flourish and grow. Sara hadn’t told Trent her true feelings yet, but was planning on doing so after the Christmas Pageant tonight. 

Entering the sanctuary and finding a seat in the back row, Sara settled in and closed her eyes, the better to enjoy the soothing voices and beautiful music being made upon the platform. Grace settled in as well, and gave a sigh as the musical creation flowed around them. This was Christmas in its purest form. The voices of children lifted in joyful celebration.

“They’re so good, aren’t they?” Sara asked her sister quietly. Grace was a professional vocal coach at a performing arts center in San Diego. If anyone would be able to critique the children’s choir, it was her.

“They’re angelic. It’s very few times I’ve ever heard music like this from children.”

“The first time I heard them it brought tears to my eyes.”

Grace nodded, too caught up in the music to speak.

As the song ended, Sara stood up and prepared to leave. “Let’s get home. Daniella probably has Jane worn out by now.”

Grace giggled, “Trent as well. Jane mentioned that he was planning on coming home early to help Daniella build a snowman. I told her I wanted pictures. You never know when pictures will come in handy.”

Sara laughed at the mercenary look on her sister’s face. Grace had no doubt in her mind that Trent and Sara were going to end up getting married. Trent had spoken to her last night about Sara’s favorite flower and colors.  When she had questioned him, he said he was going to ask her to marry him at their Christmas Eve get together and wanted it to be perfect. Grace had offered to help him in any way she could.

“We better get home and rescue them both. Do we have enough wrapping paper left?”

Grace nodded as they reached the jeep. Trent had been worried about them driving Sara’s car in the snow, so had insisted they take his jeep for their shopping excursion. Sara had teased him that he just wanted to get out of having to shop with them and carry their packages.

****

“Wasn’t the Pageant neat? What part of it did you like best, Daniella?” Sara asked as Trent drove them all home.

“I liked the sugar plum fairies best. Could I be a sugar plum fairy, momma?”

Grace chuckled, “Well, you’re already pretty sweet. How about you just pretend to be a sugar plum fairy?”

“Okay,” replied Daniella around a huge yawn. Someone was worn out. She and Trent had built a snowman in the front yard and even decorated it with a scarf, a carrot nose, rocks for eyes, and M&M’s for a mouth.  Grace and Sara had been impressed upon their return from shopping.

“Mr. Trent?”

“Yeah, sugar?”

“Could we make another snow people tomorrow?”

“Snow people?” Sara asked. She had definitely missed something. “You mean snowman?”

“No, snow people. It wouldn’t be fair if only men got to be made. There’s got to be a momma snow people and kids snow peoples as well.”

Trent laughed. “Believe me, we’ve already had this conversation. Miss Priss there informed me that only making snowmen was sexist.” Catching Sara’s eyes in the rearview mirror, he saw her try to hide her grin. Looking at Grace, he noticed her blush and looked quickly down. “Now, where does a four year old learn about what’s sexist?”

“Mommy told it to me, silly. She tells me all kinds of things.” The child had no notion of what a normal four year old should know or say. Kindergarten was going to be fun for someone.

“Well, I can’t help it if I don’t have anyone else to talk to. I’ve been talking to her like an adult since she was born. Most of the time, she doesn’t repeat the things we talk about. Guess I’m going to have to be more careful, huh?”

“Maybe a little. It was cute though.” Trent chuckled and turned his attention back to his driving.

Grace leaned over and whispered to Sara. Trent couldn’t make out what was being said, but Sara blushed as red as cherries and quickly shook her head. Very interesting, he thought.

Pulling up to the house, Trent carried the now sleeping Daniella into the house and laid her upon the rollaway bed in the guest room. Bidding Grace goodnight, he returned to the family room to see Sara standing next to the tree staring at the lights.

Coming up behind her, he turned her into his arms and hugged her close for a moment. Looking down at her, he could see that she was thinking hard about something. “What’s going on in that mind of yours?”

Sara swallowed and took a deep breath before she replied. “Trent, the last several weeks have been awesome and some of the best in my adult life.”

“I feel the same way, sweetheart.”

“Well, I’ve wanted to tell you something, but it’s never seemed like the right time.”

“What’s wrong with right now? I’m all yours.” Trent guided her over to the couch and sat down, pulling her into his lap in the process.

“Oh, well…”

“Just relax. Now, tell me what you’ve been trying to work the nerve up to say. It can’t be that bad.”

“It’s not bad at all,” Sara protested.

“Well, I wouldn’t know about that, since you haven’t told me what it is.”

Sara relaxed and was silent for several moments. Finally, gathering her courage, she turned her head so she could see his eyes and said, “I think I’m falling in love with you.”

“Only think?” Trent asked. He watched the emotions flit through her eyes and across her face. She was so expressive.

“Well, let me help you answer that question. I
know
I love you. No thinking involved.”

“You do?”

Trent nodded as he held her gaze. “I do. I think part of me has loved you since the moment you walked into the drugstore that day several weeks ago.”  Leaning down, he placed his lips against hers and just held still for several seconds. Finally, he began moving his lips over hers, deepening the kiss after several minutes.

Trent and Sara sat there and talked in front of the fire for several hours. It had been like this from the beginning – instant friendship and romance.

Chapter 20

Christmas Eve Candelight Service…

Trent sat next to Sara and listened to the children’s choir sing. Looking over at her face, he found he couldn’t make himself look away. The look on her face showed rapture and a look of pure enjoyment. That combined with her physical beauty, Trent knew he would never see anything more beautiful than Sara in this moment.

As the choir finished singing, he brought his attention back to the townsfolk gathered in the beautifully decorated sanctuary. He saw Bill Mercer sitting near the front with his wife in a wheel chair by his side. Miriam had enjoyed more days without pain than days with pain. Her strength continued to decline and Dr. Baker had shared with Trent that he believed she wouldn’t see the New Year.  Trent had promised to make himself available to help Bill when the end finally came.