Sweet Christmas Kisses (148 page)

The hollow ache returned. Sometimes the thought of Alicia’s betrayal hurt worse than Doug’s. She’d dated Doug for over a year before getting engaged. Noelle had been best friends with Alicia since kindergarten. They’d shared
everything
.

Including an attraction for the same man, apparently.

“Oh, sweetie. If Doug were here, I’d ring his scrawny neck,” Millie said, rubbing Noelle’s arm.

“You’ll have to get in line, behind my sister, my mother, and anyone else in the vicinity named Robinson.”

“Well, maybe it will all get better once you’re settled in a new town. Atlanta is a great city. I’m sure you’ll meet someone and fall in love again.”

“No way. I won’t be going down that road anytime soon,” Noelle vowed as a shudder worked its way down her spine.

“Of course you will,” Millie said, with all the authority of an older cousin. “You can’t let one bad experience scar you for life. There are plenty of other fish in the sea, as the saying goes, and you’ll have a much
larger
sea to swim in once you hit the big city.”

A watery chuckle escaped, and Noelle hugged her cousin. “I’m gonna miss you so much. I don’t know what I’ll do without your pithy advice.”

“That’s why God invented smartphones. We’ll just do video chat every day.”

“
God
invented that?”

“Well, the people who invented it anyway,” Millie said on a wicked laugh.

At the head of the table, Nicholas Robinson tapped his glass and stood. “As you know I always give a little Thanksgiving speech. Starting tomorrow, we’ll all be busy preparing for Christmas, but today is the Lord’s day. A day when we give thanks to God for our blessings. And I have been so blessed.” He went around the table then. “My beautiful wife Rose. You still make my heart sing every time you enter the room. My oldest angel, Holly, I am so proud of the woman and mother you’ve become. My heart is filled with so much love when I look at my sweet grandchildren, and knowing a grandson will soon join us makes me happier than I can say.” He glanced at the empty seat on Noelle’s right. “My heart is also empty as I look at the chair where my son should be. I pray for Nicky’s safety every moment of every day. And to my baby, Noelle, you have endured heartbreak with such grace. We will miss you as you fly the nest, but know your home will always be here with us.”

‘Don’t cry,’ he said?

How could Noelle not become a blubbering mess after that?

Her father raised his glass. “Now…” He paused, and his mouth twisted in a terrible grimace. “Oh!”

At his side, her mother started to rise. “Honey?”

The wine glass slipped from his fingers, crashing against the table. He pitched forward.

“Dad!” Noelle screamed.

Pandemonium broke loose. Drew caught her father and helped get him to the floor. Holly, who’d almost manically taken first aid courses in case something happened to one of the children, started CPR. For once, Noelle was grateful for her sister’s anal tendencies.

Her cousin, Eddie, had his cell out, dialing 911. “We need an ambulance! My uncle collapsed. He’s unconscious. 3560 Dogwood Lane. Hurry!” He pocketed the phone and took off toward the hallway. “I’ll wait outside for the paramedics.”

The sharp bang of the front door went through Noelle like a shot. Time seemed to stand still as they waited, the tense silence filled only with her mom’s muffled cries and Holly’s methodical counting. “One… two… three… breathe. One… two… three… breathe. Come on, Dad. One… two… three… breathe.”

Her nieces were sobbing, faces white with fear as they stared down at their grandfather.

“Pop-Pop!” Ivy whimpered. “Wake up!”

Drew’s mother swept Ivy up, and then she and Aunt Vi herded all three girls out of the room.

Noelle fell to her knees by her father. “Hold on, Daddy,” she said, gripping his hand. “You hold on!”

After an interminable wait, a siren wailed outside, and a moment later the paramedics rushed into the dining room.

Rapid questions and blunt orders were given, shouts into walkie-talkies. “We’ve got a male, possible heart attack… en route now. ETA, five minutes.”

Heart attack?

Dear God… please. Don’t take my father. We’re not ready. You can’t have him yet.

Holly grabbed Noelle by the shoulders and shook. “Come on,” she cried. “We have to go. Drew’s parents are taking the girls to their house, and Mom’s going in the ambulance. You’re riding with us.”

“Us?” Noelle was too flustered to comprehend anything.

“Drew and me. Come on!”

Somehow, Noelle stumbled out onto the street. A crowd of neighbors had gathered, but she barely registered any of them as they scrambled into the car.

The quiet in the vehicle hit her full force, and Noelle went numb, every neuron grinding to a halt. Her daddy couldn’t die. Not now. Not like this. Every memory of her father flickered through Noelle’s mind like a movie on fast-forward. Riding on his shoulders at the spring carnival. His steady hand holding the back of her new two-wheel bicycle. His grim determination as he sat in the passenger seat while she took the car out for a first spin; how he’d clung to the door handle and stomped his foot against an imaginary brake pedal. The sound of his
“ho, ho, ho”
as he played Santa every year in the Christmas parade down Main Street.

“Holly…” Noelle said, hating the trembling in her voice.

“Don’t,” her sister said in a warning tone that brooked no argument. “Don’t say it. Don’t even think it. Dad is going to be
fine
.”

The pronouncement was made with such authority that Noelle doubted God himself would challenge her sister.

The hospital was a blur of bright lights and sounds. Her father had already been taken to a trauma room. Rose Robinson stood absolutely still at the waiting room door, as if her presence alone could ward off death on the other side.

Holly continued in her role as temporary general. She went to their mother and took her arm. “Come on, Mom. Sit down. You know it will be a while until they tell us anything.”

“Oh, baby,” their mother wailed.

“Do you want some coffee?” Holly gestured to her husband. “Drew, go find coffee.”

“I don’t want coffee,” Rose said. “I want your father.”

Drew hesitated, but Holly waved him off. “You’ll see Dad soon,” she said. “The doctors are taking good care of him. We got him here fast. He’s still young and strong. He’ll make it.”

“How do you know?”

“Because we still need him,” Holly said, as if that settled everything. “Covington Falls needs him. We can’t even have Christmas in this town without Dad.”

“How could this happen to your father?” Rose asked. “He takes care of himself. I make sure he eats right. He still jogs every day. Did you know that?”

“Yes, I know.”

“I make him go for a physical twice a year,” Rose continued as if Holly hadn’t spoken. “What will I do if we lose him? I don’t know how to be anyone but Nicholas Robinson’s wife.”

“You won’t have to be anyone else yet,” Holly insisted.

Their mother seemed to collapse then, dropping her head onto Holly’s shoulder. Noelle stood awkwardly to the side, not knowing what to do. She’d never seen her mother looking so fragile before. Never known Rose Robinson to lose her composure under any circumstances. Watching her mother come unraveled tore Noelle’s nerves to shreds. She fought back the urge to scream, stuffing the unearthly howl down her throat. Now was the time to be strong, not fall apart.

Minutes later, Aunt Vi and Uncle Irving arrived, along with Millie and Eddie and their spouses. Drew came back with coffee but disappeared again to collect more when he saw the newcomers. This time, Eddie went with him.

When the pair returned, they weren’t alone. “Found a friend out there,” Drew said.

Seth Graham strode in, his steps hurried, yet measured. Right behind him came his wife, Julia.

Seth went to Noelle’s mother. “Mrs. Robinson, one of your neighbors called me.”

“Pastor, I’ve known you since you were a little boy,” she said, attempting to pull herself together. “Please call me Rose. And thank you for being here.”

“I wouldn’t be anywhere else, Rose,” he said, with a gentle smile. “Have you heard anything?”

Somehow, the reassuring gesture seemed to calm Noelle’s mother as nothing else had. “No. They think it was heart attack.”

Seth ushered her mother to a seat. “Can I pray with you?”

Her chin wobbled as she nodded. “Oh please, yes.”

Everyone drifted closer as he closed his eyes. “Father, I lift up Nicholas Robinson to you. You are the Great Physician, and I ask that you put your healing touch on his heart right now. Guide the hands of all those working to save him. And put your loving arms around his family that they might know your presence more powerfully than ever before. Fill them with your enduring peace and unending strength. I ask this in Your holy name. Amen.”

More than a few tears mingled with the chorused
“amen”
. Holly nestled her head on Drew’s shoulder. Their mother’s strength seemed to bolster. She kept her eyes on the door, though. Millie was wrapped in her husband’s arms. Even Aunt Vi and Uncle Irving were clutching each other. Noelle watched them, witnessing the complete love and devotion. She’d never felt her single state more. Doug’s betrayal returned, fresh as the day of her wedding, and the delicate seams holding her battered heart together began fraying again.

Where was her hero? Why wasn’t there someone here to hold her hand? How was she supposed to endure losing her father on her own?

A gentle touch fluttered against her shoulder, and Noelle glanced over to see Julia now occupied the empty seat next to her. Strange how she always seemed to be present during Noelle’s most trying moments. Julia had been the wedding planner for Noelle’s non-wedding, and she had ultimately delivered Doug’s note to the bride room at the church.

“You interrupted your Thanksgiving to be here?” Noelle asked, grateful for the distraction from her own thoughts.

“The food can be reheated,” she said. “You needed a friend now.”

“Thank you for coming.” A tiny crack threatened to rupture her composure. “What if my dad—” Noelle couldn’t complete the sentence.

“He won’t,” Julia said, with the same edge of certainty Holly had displayed earlier. “But, if the worst happens, you will get through. You are not alone.”

Despair threatened to overwhelm her. “Yes, I am.”

“No.” Julia lifted Noelle’s chin, forcing her to look around again. “This room is filled with people who love you. Do you have any idea how lucky you are to have them? I grew up alone, with parents who couldn’t have cared less about me. What you have right here is a gift from God. So stop focusing on what you don’t have and concentrate on what you do.”

Noelle blinked and shame filled her at how selfish she had become. How could she be thinking about what had happened to her when her father was in trouble? When her mother needed her to stay strong?

“Thank you for reminding me of that,” Noelle said. “How stupid be dwelling on Doug right now.”

A teasing grin replaced Julia’s stern frown. “Don’t feel bad. A year and a half ago I would have been struck with sheer terror by all the love on display here.”

“How does it make you feel now?” Noelle couldn’t help asking.

“Pretty hopeful for the human race,” she said with a soft chuckle. “I’ve become a sap in my married state. I blame Seth completely.”

“You’re happy?” Noelle asked, although she hardly needed to. Julia’s eyes reflected a deep contentment anyone could see. Noelle didn’t remember much about her almost-wedding-day beyond Doug’s fated note, but she was certain Julia’s air of calm hadn’t been present then.

“I don’t know of a word to describe what I am now,” Julia said. “I can tell you that when you find the right person, everything else will fall away. Even the mess with Doug.”

Noelle couldn’t share the same optimism. She wasn’t sure she wanted to fall in love and risk having her heart stomped on again. Didn’t want to risk going through the pain. She’d barely survived the last round.

They settled in to wait. After what seemed like hours, the door to the ER opened, and a doctor in scrubs came out. Everyone in the room collectively held their breath, as if bracing for the worst.

The doctor allowed a smile before addressing her mother. “Your husband is stable. It was a heart attack, but your fast reaction made a big difference.”

Noelle’s mother sagged. “He’s all right?”

“We’ll have to monitor him closely over the next few days, but things look good. He’s not going to be running marathons anytime soon, and for the next couple months I wouldn’t recommend heavy labor or exertion. He’ll need a lot of rest and time to recuperate.”

“Can we see him?”

“Of course. He’s still under sedation, but once we get him settled, you can go up. Keep it to small groups right now.”

A flurry of excitement erupted once the doctor left. The heavy weight lifted, and smiles appeared. Everyone started hugging. Relief flooded through Noelle, and the loss of adrenaline that had kept her going throughout the ordeal nearly sent her to her knees.

Julia wrapped her arms around Noelle. “I told you,” she said. “He’s fine.”

“You did. I should’ve trusted you.”

“Good advice,” Julia said with an arch look. “I know you don’t believe me in the relationship arena.”

Noelle opened her mouth to protest, but Julia waved her off. “Nope. I’m done. No more pushing. You’re tired and upset. I’m going to grab my husband and drag him home so we can reheat our Thanksgiving dinner. Go see your dad now.”

With the immediate danger over, some family members began gathering their things to leave. Aunt Vi and Uncle Irving left on a sea of teary goodbyes. Eddie, Millie, and their spouses also left, vowing to come back and visit in the morning.

As the waiting room emptied, Noelle went upstairs with Holly and their mother. Noelle could never have prepared for the sight of her father lying in a hospital bed. Nicholas Robinson had always been larger than life. Strong, funny, in charge. In only a few hours he seemed to have shrunk. Hollows carved his ashen cheeks, his skin thin enough to see the thread of veins in his arms and hands. Even his hair seemed thinner and more fragile. Wires and tubes were everywhere, and blinking lights accompanied by rhythmic beeping made the room eerie.