Sweet Christmas Kisses (87 page)

It was too close to Christmas to try to figure out why someone was acting so odd. She didn’t need any more angst and anxiety. This was already vying with last year for worst Christmas ever.

“How are your parents?” Nick asked.

“They’re okay. Same as always, except Mom’s been in Missouri taking care of her dad.” She couldn’t stop the sadness that settled over her.

“He’s been sick?”

She nodded. “They’re waiting for a spot to open in the dementia wing of the nursing home near where my grandparents live. Grandma can’t take care of him alone anymore.”

“That’s rough.”

“Yeah. It’s been hard on Mom.” Every few days her mom would call, just to get a break from the stress of Grandpa’s wandering off, or getting in the car thinking he was going to work.

“So it’ll be just you and your dad for Christmas.”

It would be, if Dad hadn’t agreed to work a second shift at the cement plant that day so another man could be home with his young kids. And it really ticked her off that she was disappointed not to see him. It was such a selfless act for him to make for those little kids.

She was saved from having to respond when Cheyenne set down a tray of assorted appetizers. Nick motioned for Sofia to help herself first. As she reached for a mozzarella stick, he blurted out, “Have lunch with me.”

She blinked, then set down her empty plate. “It’s a little late in the day for lunch.”

“You know what I mean. Tomorrow after church. Or Monday. Your school is closed for the winter break, isn’t it?”

“It is. We’ve got rehearsal after church, to save the parents from driving there twice.”

“Then, Monday. Or, Mom will probably be cooking a family Sunday dinner since I’m here. You should come.”

Her heart twinged. Barb had often invited her to come for dinner on Sundays during her breaks from college. Nick sister Allie and her husband Tom always came and made her feel a part of the family. “I’d like that,” she admitted.

“Great.”

Her mixed emotions must have shown on her face because Pauly rushed over and pulled on her hand. “Come on, they’re playing Disturbia.”

Grateful for the rescue, Sofia mouthed an apology to Nick and let herself be dragged onto the dance floor.

That song was almost over, so they danced through the next one, too. Then Sofia put her hand on Pauly’s shoulder and yelled in his ear. “I’m going back to Nick now. He bought all that food and a drink, I can’t be totally rude.”

Pauly nodded and went in search of another dance partner.

Sofia wound her way through the crowd to where Nick sat, most of the food still on the tray but probably cold by now. She slid into the booth. “Sorry about that. Pauly loves to dance.”

“So I noticed.” He didn’t sound upset. “Are you two dating?”

She almost snorted her drink. “Nooo…” He really didn’t know Pauly was gay? Maybe Pauly hadn’t opened up about his preferences until after Nick moved away. Still, it wasn’t her place to “out” him. “We’re just friends.”

“Is there someone special in your life?”

She was so tempted to give her rote answer that she had twenty-eight special someones this year, but Nick deserved better than that. “No. Not at the moment. You?”

“No. Honestly, I work so much I’m afraid it would take time away from Holly.”

“You don’t think having a woman in her life would be good for her?”

He shrugged. “At some point, yeah. But I don’t want her to think there’s a revolving door bringing them in, then out again.”

“Good point.” Sofia gave him credit for that. Holding her breath to keep from sighing, she reached for a cold potato skin filled with cheese and bacon bits and took a bite.

It wasn’t fair. Nick Randolph shouldn’t be a nice guy. It made it that much harder to keep hating him.

Nick drove his car to church so Mom and Dad didn’t have to hang around afterward for Holly’s rehearsal. It was nice to see so many familiar faces after the service, all greeting him as he walked Holly across the parking lot to the community center. The air held a crisp promise of winter, but the sky was clear.

He took a seat closer to the stage this time, less concerned about distracting Holly now that he’d seen her with the other kids. As usual, it took some time for the more rambunctious children to settle down, but the piano struck a chord and everyone hurried to their places.

Recognizing the pianist from the night before, Nick caught a few glances between Pauly and Sofia as they rehearsed. Added to Pauly’s clinginess at the bar, and the kiss Nick witnessed, he doubted what Sofia said about them not being a couple. So why didn’t Nick do the right thing and back away?

Back away from what? He wasn’t looking to start anything with Sofia. Wasn’t interested in a long distance relationship, even if it was just a couple of hours between them. He and Holly made the drive up to White Oak on a couple of weekends each month anyway, so he could easily find time to see Sofia.

Slow down. The girl was involved with someone else.

Rehearsal passed quickly, and Sofia hugged Pauly, who left without her. Nick and Holly waited until the last of the parents picked up their children, then walked with Sofia back to the church lot where their cars were parked.

As they were parting ways, Nick caught Sofia’s arm. “Why don’t I follow you to your house and give you a ride out to Mom and Dad’s?”

A line appeared between her gently arched eyebrows. “That’s okay. I can drive myself. No need for you to have to go out again later to take me home.”

“It’s no trouble.”

“Thanks, but no. Barb said to come around three so we can play cards before we eat. I’ll see you there.”

Holly waved as she walked toward Nick’s car, echoing Sofia. “See you there.”

At the house, Mom scurried around like he was bringing home a date, something he hadn’t done since…well, ever. By the time he brought Morgan to a family dinner, he’d already made the decision to marry her and be a decent father to their baby.

Breaking the news to his parents hadn’t been easy. Morgan’s parents were thrilled at the thought of a grandchild, regardless of how young Nick and Morgan were.

Mom had been excited, but guardedly so. Dad was much more practical, disappointed Nick was giving up his plans to play football in college, giving up his plans to get a degree—any degree—to improve the odds of being able to find a decent job after graduation.

Morgan had worked until the doctor put her on bed rest at Thanksgiving, but she’d only been earning minimum wage at a local sandwich shop. Nick had been lucky enough to get a job stocking at the grocery store, which came with insurance. On his days off, he did construction cleanup for a contractor friend of Dad’s.

They hadn’t planned on what would happen if one of them died.

Nick didn’t have to look at his phone to know it was three days past the fourthanniversary of Morgan’s death. Some internal clock sounded an alarm each year and he steeled himself against the waves of guilt he knew would come. He had to keep up the front for Holly, and for his mom, so he wouldn’t be a wet blanket on their holiday.

The front door opened just in time, pulling Nick from the morose state creeping up. Allie and Tom walked in, with Molly in her carrier, hidden beneath a quilt he was sure Mom had sewn.

Nick turned down the volume of the football game Dad had on, and greeted his sister and brother-in-law. Allie gave him a hug. Tom set down the baby carrier and sat on the couch, his focus going straight to the game.

Allie had chosen a man just like their dad, it appeared. Nick was glad Dad had someone to watch the games with now that Nick lived down south.

As she unbuttoned her coat, Allie spoke to Nick. “Mom says you have a friend coming over.”

“It’s Sofia.” Leave it to Mom to make a big deal over nothing.

Allie tossed her coat over the back of a chair. “She didn’t say that. She made it sound like you had a girlfriend.”

“Nah, I just thought it would be like old times having her join us.”

Folding her arms across her chest, Allie looked down on him with all the big sister bossiness she could muster. “You’d better not be messing with her head.”

“Whose, Mom’s or Sofia’s? Besides, I’m not doing anything. Mom seems to think it would be so perfect if Sofia and I got together, but I don’t have time for a relationship.”

“Could you either hold it down, or turn the TV back up?” Dad asked.

Nick turned up the volume again hoping it would put an end to the discussion. No such luck.

Allie sat on the floor beside his legs. “You never had time for a relationship. Even when you were married. Maybe you should make the time. But not with Sofia.”

“What’s wrong with Sofia?”

“She had a bad breakup when she graduated. She and her boyfriend couldn’t agree on the future, so they went their separate ways.”

“Well, she seems to have gotten over it and has a new guy.”

Allie frowned. “Sofia? No.”

“Yes, I saw them together last night. And again at the rehearsal today. The piano player. Pauly something-or-other.”

Allie’s jaw dropped, and she burst out laughing.

Dad and Tom threw glares their way.

Leaning in and whispering, Allie said, “Pauly’s gay.”

It was Nick’s turn to frown. “You didn’t see the way he was hanging all over her at the Royal Oak. And the way he kissed her.”

“He kissed her?” Allie’s lips twisted as she considered that. “Did he know you were watching?”

“How do I know? I was walking across the room. Later, Sofia and I were about to eat and he hauled her off to dance.”

“Interesting. He either wanted to make you jealous, or he was protecting her from you.” She appeared to think more on it, then laughed again more quietly. “Very interesting.”

As he opened his mouth to argue, Allie suddenly sobered. “But leave her alone. She doesn’t need to be hurt again.”

That stung. “What do you mean?”

“I saw how she was in the days after you and Morgan got together. She was crushed.”

“But we were just friends.”

“Maybe she wished it was more. Either way, she took her breakup last summer very hard. So don’t start something you can’t follow through.”

She got up at that point and went into the kitchen. Dad and Tom were still deep in the game, or pretending to be so they didn’t have to talk about something like relationships.

That suited Nick just fine.

It was silly for Sofia’s stomach to churn as she walked up the driveway at Nick’s parents’ home on Sunday afternoon. She’d been coming the past few weekends so Barb could help her get the costumes ready for the play. But today had an entirely different feel. Nick was home.

The whole family was home. She should be happy to be included again, be one of them. Her own home life hadn’t been big on doing things together. Dad worked nights, Mom worked days, so most meals Sofia had eaten alone while one or the other parent either got ready for work or decompressed from the work day. Going to the Randolph’s house for dinner, with the four of them so talkative and full of laughter, was a lot more like what she saw on TV.

One day she’d have family dinners in her own home, with as many kids as she could sit around the table.

Holly answered Sofia’s knock, instantly drawing Sofia into the warm space that smelled of roast beef and pine. A tall, real Christmas tree stood before the large window, its tiny colored lights twinkling even though the sun still shone. Female voices from the back of the house were a soft undertone to the television in the living room.

Nick came quickly to the entryway. “Come on in.”

Holly tugged on Sofia’s hand. “Can we try on my angel costume?”

Sofia bent to talk to the girl. “I’m not here to work on costumes today. We’ll try them on at rehearsal tomorrow. Is that okay?”

“Okay. Do you want to come play in my room?”

Laughing, Sofia said, “Maybe a bit later. I should see if I can help your Grandma with dinner first.”

“Okay.” Holly ran down the hall toward the bedrooms.

Nick chuckled. “She’s still a bit wound up from rehearsals. Do you want something to drink?”

“I can get it, thanks.” Shrugging out of her coat, she hung it on one of the hooks on the wall. She recognized Allie’s voice in the kitchen and wanted the security of the women around her.

Nick followed her. “I tried, Mom. I offered Sofia a drink, but she said she’d get it herself.”

Smiling at Sofia, Barb responded, “She’s family. She knows where everything is.”

“What can I help with?” Sofia asked.

“Nothing at this point. We’ve done all the prep work. It’s time to play cards.” Barb steered them back into the dining room. She called to his husband and son-in-law. “Bill, Tom, come on.”

Tom stretched as he rose. Bill grabbed the pinochle deck from the drawer of the buffet, and they all took their seats at the dining table.

It was like old times, with Tom filling the seat normally filled by various friends. Sofia always sat next to Nick. She realized she thought of this as her seat. She never had a favorite spot at her own family’s dining table, since she ate most meals in front of the TV.

The laughter and family cheer sent a flood of emotions through her. She wanted to sink into it, wrap it around her like a fuzzy blanket.

Nick caught her eye and tipped his head in question. Sofia shrugged, looking to see whose play it was. When Nick’s turn came, he laid down an illegal move. His dad jumped on him, chuckling. “You always did pay more attention to the pretty girl rather than the cards.”

Sofia glanced at Nick, surprised to hear this.

Nick shook his head while sorting through his cards. “I haven’t played in forever. I can’t remember from pinochles and marriages.”

“Good excuse,” Allie said. “We’ll pretend we don’t remember what a crush you had on her.”

Sofia almost dropped her cards. She raised her eyebrows at Allie, who laughed and nodded, but didn’t elaborate.

Allie’s words echoed in Sofia’s thoughts through dinner and dessert. She practically floated through the evening, trying to figure out what’d gone wrong that Nick had ended up with Morgan, not her, if he’d really been crushing on her once upon a time.