Sweet Christmas Kisses (17 page)

Maybe this was worse than he thought, something he was unprepared to deal with. “And?”

Carol broke down in a sob. He yanked more tissues from the box and handed them over. “Carol? What is it?”

She met his gaze, bleary-eyed. “May baby’s growing up!” she cried.

Paul laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. “There, there. It happens to all of them.”

“Who?”

“Kids.”

She sniffed, balling the tissues in her hand. “It’s true. One minute you’re changing their diapers. The next, they’re chasing you out the door, telling you to get a life.”

“Have you been talking to Daniel?” Paul asked with alarm.

She shot him a puzzled look. “Daniel? No, why?”

“It’s nothing, really,” he said, passing her more tissues. “Carol?”

“Huh?”

“You’ve got really great kids.”

“Thanks.” She gave a trembling smile. “You too.”

She broke down sobbing again, and Paul placed his arms around her. “It’s all right. Everything will be all right.”

She threw her head back and cried. “You’re such a nice man!”

He pulled her to him, lightly patting her back. “I like you too.”

She collected herself and pushed back. “Really? But I’m such a mess!”

He shot her a tilted smile, knowing when he said it, it was true. “I like your kind of mess.”

She dabbed her cheeks with more tissues. “I really have been the worst sort of guest, haven’t I?”

“Actually, you’ve been the best guest. Certainly the most memorable—and entertaining—one I’ve had in a long time.”

“Oh gosh, Paul. I apologize. I don’t know why I got so emotional.”

“That was emotional?” he asked, lightly teasing.

“I’ve just been working so hard to keep everything together for such a long time…”

 “Listen, Carol, no one is made of steel. Nobody can be expected to keep everything together at all times.”

Dark lashes fanned wide as she stared at him, more beautiful and bewitching than ever. Paul couldn’t bear to see tears in her eyes and knew just the right remedy for her sadness. All she needed was a little fresh air.

“Carol,” he said, “I’d like to show you something this afternoon.”

“What?”

“The town.”

“But the kids and I have seen it.”

“Not my way, you haven’t.”

“What’s your way?”

He found himself beaming from ear to ear. “I’d like to surprise you.”

“Just me?”

“If you don’t mind.” By the way she gazed at him, his heart hoped that she didn’t.

“What time?” she asked, a little breathless.

“Meet me on the porch at five?”

The kitchen door swung open, and Beth entered. She caught a glimpse of Carol in Paul’s arms and started to back away. “It seems now’s not a good time.”

“No, wait!” he called as Carol quickly collected herself and broke away.

“I’m just going to go upstairs and clean up,” Carol said with a shy smile. “I guess I’ll be seeing you later?”

“Right,” he said, looking from one woman to another. Paul ran a hand through his hair, feeling in the middle of a big mess. Beth’s blue eyes were opened wide, taking in the situation. Who knew what she thought, walking in on them? Paul hadn’t even had enough time to process his and Carol’s interaction himself. All he’d known was that when he’d put his arms around her, it had seemed the right thing to do. He’d been so driven to help her, he wasn’t sure he could have stopped himself if he’d tried. And when she’d looked at him with those trusting dark eyes, he’d longed to find ways to comfort her further. He had the perfect outing in mind, one that would make her feel special, because special was what she was. Quirks and all, he thought, eyeing the empty tissue box beside him.

Beth held the door back for Carol as she exited the kitchen, then stared at Paul. “I was hoping we could talk,” she said softly.

“Of course,” Paul said with a nod. “Pull up a stool. Can I get you some coffee? Wine?”

“Wine sounds good,” she said, coming over and settling in at the counter.

“I think I’ll join you,” he said, pouring them each a hearty glass. What a day this had been. First, he’d had the confrontation with Daniel. Zach had surprised him with his wedding plans next. Then, suddenly, before he could stop it, his heart had apparently jumped all over itself, flip-flopping like a wild fish on a line, just at the thought of holding Carol. Paul only hoped things weren’t about to get more complicated. From the look in Beth’s pale blue eyes, he wasn’t sure.

“I was just looking for an excuse to talk,” she said. “It’s always so busy around here, it’s hard to catch you alone.”

As if to punctuate that, Daniel breezed in the side door, toting grocery bags. Amy wasn’t far behind him and shut the door firmly against the brisk winds and flurries that drifted inside.

“Thanks, guys,” Paul said. “You can just leave the things by the sink over there.”

“Want us to put this stuff away?” Amy asked helpfully.

Paul glanced at Beth, knowing she was right. It really was nearly impossible to get a moment’s peace around here. Particularly today—in this kitchen. “Thanks, Amy. I’ll get it in a minute. Why don’t you and Daniel go and relax for a bit. Take a breather before things get busy for dinner.”

Daniel caught Amy’s eye and nodded toward the kitchen door. She smiled and followed after him as Beth watched the exchange. “Young love,” she said with a sigh after they had gone.

“Hmm,” Paul said, stroking his chin. “If you’ll excuse me a second…” He stood and walked to the kitchen door, swinging it open—just in time to spy Daniel and Amy, hand in hand, sneaking up the stairs. “I meant relax down here!”

They halted in their tracks, then eased back down the steps.

Beth stared at him with amazement. “Wow, you’re good,” she said when he came and sat beside her.

“I was young once.”

She raised an eyebrow. “I recall.”

Paul combated a rash of heat with a swig of wine. “Yeah, me too,” he said, surveying her with a tender melancholy.

“What is it?” she asked, seeming to note his wistful look.

“I was just remembering,” he said with a laugh, “when we got caught necking in your old man’s barn.”

“Oh God!” She giggled. “I thought I was going to be grounded for the rest of my life!”

“Back then, three weeks felt like the rest of our lives.”

She studied him sweetly then clinked his glass. “Good times.”

“Yeah.”

She studied him a beat, then set down her wine. “Paul, I’m not quite sure how to say this. But I want you to know that good times are possible again.”

“I’m sorry?” he asked with a cough.

“For you,” she said kindly. “Now, I know things have seemed glum, but there’s always a rainbow after every storm.”

“Beth? What on earth are you talking about?”

She lowered her voice and leaned forward. “Your mother told me about your…
depression.
”

“My what?”

“It’s all right. You don’t have to pretend with me.” She reached forward and took his hand. “I want you to know you have someone to talk to. I mean, I know it’s been a while, and things between us ended kind of badly—”

“Kind of…?” Paul withdrew his hand. “You left me for my best friend!”

She dropped her chin. “I know, and I feel terrible about that. But Jack was just so…hot!”

Paul blinked hard, wondering how this was helping things.

“It was high school, Paul.”

“Our freshman year in college, actually.”

“A million years ago and a billion miles away… A lot has changed since then.
I’ve
changed
.
”

“Yes, I’m sure you have. Time does that to us all. But”—he crooked a finger in her direction—“I have to tell you something.” She leaned toward him; then he said in a whisper, “I am…not…depressed.”

“What?” she asked with alarm.

“In fact, I have no idea why my mom would say that.”

“But she said you weren’t in your right mind! Were about to do something drastic!”

“Drastic?”

The kitchen door swung open, and Daniel looked from his dad to Beth, then back at his dad again. “I was just coming to grab some eggnog for me and Amy.”

“Daniel,” Paul said, lowering his voice. “Would you happen to have any clue how Velma got the notion I was down in the dumps?”

Daniel thumbed his chest with a blank look. “Dumps, Dad? No, sir. Not at all. Frankly, you’re looking pretty chipper to me!”

Paul narrowed his eyes at the boy, scrutinizing. “You didn’t mention anything to her? Nothing at all?”

Daniel scratched the back of his head, then spouted out with a squeak, “I might have said some little, tiny thing about you possibly selling the inn.” He swallowed hard. “And moving to Montreal.”

“Montreal?” Beth said as Daniel scooted off, apparently having forgotten all about his mission for eggnog.

Paul slowly stroked his chin, a bigger picture coming together. “I’m afraid I need to apologize for my mom. It appears we’ve been set up.”

“What do you mean?”

“Daniel spilled the beans to her about me leaving to retire in Canada. She obviously doesn’t want that happening any more than the kids do.”

“So when she saw me at the airport, she thought that I, somehow, was the solution?”

“Who knows what my mom thought. I am guessing, though, that she figured your being here might help me change my mind.”

“Because we have a history?”

He raised his brow. “Maybe because she thought we’d have a future.”

Beth caught her breath. “I have an admission to make.”

He looked at her.

“I still have feelings for Jack”

Paul paused a beat. “Does he know?”

Her shoulders sagged. “We’ve been talking. Texting back and forth. All this uncertainty has had me really on edge. I apologize if I’ve been crabby.”

“When do you plan to speak with him again?”

“He’s promised to call on Christmas Eve.”

“That’s great.”

All at once, she seemed fragile. “I hope so,” she said, wrapping her hands around her wine.

“I hope so too,” he said quietly. “Beth?” She raised her chin to look at him. “You’re still one terrific catch for the right guy. I’m sure Jack will see that.”

“Thanks, Paul. You’re still quite a catch yourself.

The tips of his ears flashed hot. “Oh yeah?” he said with a laugh.

“Something tells me Carol Baker thinks so.”

“Carol Baker’s one of my guests.”

“Oh, Paul,” she said, swatting his arm. “Don’t be such an old fuddy-duddy. Some chances only come around once, you know.”

Carol stood on the inn’s front porch, bundled in her coat, hat, and mittens. All around her, snow lightly fell, dotting the scenic landscape. The weather was predicted to get worse later, but right now, as dusk settled over the mountains, the setting seemed perfect. Almost like something from an old-fashioned Christmas card, complete with a…horse-drawn sleigh? The horses turned and headed up the hill in her direction. Their driver sat upright in the front seat, dressed in an old-timey winter coat and snow-dusted top hat. But wait! Was that Paul seated in back behind him?

Carol grinned with childlike delight as the sleigh, decorated in winter greenery and jingle bells, pulled up to the porch and Paul hopped out. He held out a hand to help her aboard. “I needed some fresh air too.”

“Oh, Paul, it’s wonderful,” she said, settling in. He opened a large woolen blanket to cover her, then sat beside her, tucking his legs under the blanket as well.

“Where to?” the driver asked them.

“Let’s take a pass through town and around the lake. Okay by you?” he asked Carol.

She felt her face warm. “Sounds like a dream.” She’d never had anyone do anything like this for her before. Something so nice and unexpected.

The driver snapped his reins, and they took off in a trot down the snowy slope. Paul pulled two insulated tumblers of hot chocolate from a basket on the floor and handed one to Carol. She took a sip, delighting in its rich, creamy warmth.

“Why are you being so nice to me?” she asked with a grin.

He cocked his chin, studying her. “Well, I can’t have you suing me for landing you under the ski patrol hut, now can I?”

Carol laughed out loud. “That wasn’t your fault.”

“Maybe not,” he said, leaning close to talk through the chilly winds, “but that doesn’t mean I don’t feel guilty about it.”

“Well, don’t! Klutzing out was my doing entirely. I take full responsibility. I’ll even sign a waiver if you’d like.”

Paul chuckled and toasted her tumbler with his. “Something tells me that won’t be necessary.”

As they approached town, the winds picked up, and she shivered a little under the blanket. “A bit colder than you’re used to in Virginia?”

“More than a bit,” she said with a laugh.

“Ah,” he said, scooting a tad closer. “Maybe this will help.” He placed his sturdy arm around her, snuggling her close. Carol’s heart thumped wildly as she gazed up at this wonderful man. Down below, the town was strung with Christmas lights, the frozen lake in its center catching their magical glow. “I hope you don’t mind?” he asked her.

“No,” she said, a little breathless. “This feels nice.”

“I don’t normally take my guests sleigh riding, you know.”

She looked up into his dark brown eyes. “I didn’t figure you did.”

“I hope that you don’t feel that it’s wrong, unprofessional of me, to want to spend time with you this way.”

Nothing had ever felt more
right
in her entire life. Being here with Paul in this wonderful place was more fantastic than she ever could have imagined. “I don’t think it’s wrong for us to be together as friends.”

“Or make-believe neighbors?” he asked with a grin.

“Or that either.” Her chin was tilted up toward his, and Carol found herself wishing he would kiss her. It was a deep longing inside, and one she hadn’t felt for anyone in such a long while, she’d almost forgotten what this yearning was like.

“I hope you’re having a good time, Carol,” he said, his eyes dancing. “You and your kids too.”

“We’re having the best time,” she said. “In a way, it’s a miracle we came here, but I’m so glad we did after all.”