A Country Christmas Read online

  Naturally he could always invite himself to his brother’s house for dinner. Glen and Ellie would gladly set an extra plate at their table. He’d do that when he got desperate, but he wasn’t, at least not yet. For that matter, he could call his father. Phil would appreciate the company, but by the time Cal was finished with his chores on the ranch, dinner had already been served at the retirement home.

  Come to think of it, he was in the mood for Mexican food, and no place was better than Promise’s own Mexican Lindo. His mouth had begun to water at the mere thought of his favorite enchiladas, dripping with melted cheese. He could practically taste them. Needing no other incentive, he set the pan of soup inside the refrigerator and grabbed his hat.

  If he hurried, he’d be back in time for Jane’s phone call. Her spirits had seemed better these past few days. Her father was improving, and today she’d met a couple of high-school friends for lunch.

  Soon Harry would be released from the rehab center, and once his father-in-law was home, Jane and the children would return to Texas. Cal sincerely wished Jane’s father a speedy recovery—and his good wishes weren’t entirely selfish, either. He liked Harry Dickinson, despite their long-winded arguments and despite his father-in-law’s reservations about Jane’s choice in a husband. He’d never actually said anything, but Cal knew. It was impossible not to. Still, Harry’s attitude had gotten friendlier, especially after the children were born.

  Promise was bustling when Cal drove up Main Street. All the activity surprised him, although it shouldn’t have. It was a Thursday night, after all, and there’d been strong economic growth in the past few years. New businesses abounded, an area on the outskirts of town had been made into a golf course, and the city park had added a swimming pool and tennis courts. Ellie’s feed store had been remodeled, but it remained the friendly place it’d always been. She’d kept the wooden rockers out front and his own father was among the retired men who met there to talk politics or play a game of chess. The tall white steeple of the church showed prominently in the distance. Cal reflected that it’d been a long time since he’d attended services. Life just seemed to get in the way. Too bad, because he genuinely enjoyed Wade McMillen’s sermons.

  The familiar tantalizing aroma of Texas barbecue from the Chili Pepper teased his nostrils, and for a moment Cal hesitated. He could go for a thick barbecue sandwich just as easily as his favorite enchiladas, but in the end he stuck with his original decision.

  When he walked into the stucco-walled restaurant, he was immediately led to a booth. He’d barely had time to remove his hat before the waitress brought him a bowl of corn chips and a dish of extra-hot salsa. His mouth was full when Nicole Nelson stepped into the room, eyed him boldly and smiled. After only the slightest pause, she approached his table.

  “Hello, Cal.” Her voice was low and throaty.

  Cal quickly swallowed the chip, almost choking as he did. The attractive woman standing there wasn’t the kid he’d known all those years ago. Her jeans fit her like a second skin, and unless he missed his guess, her blouse was one of those designer numbers that cost more than he took to the bank in an average month. If her tastes ran to expensive clothes like that, Cal couldn’t imagine how she was going to live on what Annie Porter could afford to pay her.

  “Nicole,” he managed. “Uh, hi. How’re you doing?”

  “Great, thanks.” She peered over her shoulder as though expecting to meet someone. “Do you have a couple of minutes?”

  “Uh...sure.” He glanced around, grateful no one was watching.

  Before he realized what she intended, Nicole slid into the booth opposite him. Her smile was bright enough to make him blink.

  “I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to see you again,” she said.

  “You, too,” he muttered, although he wasn’t sure he would’ve recognized her if he’d passed her in the street.

  “I guess you’re surprised I’m back in Promise.”

  “A little,” he said. “What brings you to town?” He already knew she’d made the move without having a job lined up.

  She reached for a chip, then shrugged. “A number of things. The year I lived in Promise was one of the best of my life. I really did grow to love this town. Jennifer and I got transferred here around the same time, but she never felt the way I did about it.”

  “Jennifer,” he said aloud. “Are you still in touch with her?”

  “Oh, sure. We’ve been friends for a lot of years.”

  “How is she?”

  “Good,” Nicole told him, offering no details.

  “Did she ever marry?” He was a fool for asking, but he wanted to know.

  Nicole dipped the chip in his salsa and laughed lightly. “She’s been married—and divorced—twice.”

  “Twice?” Cal could believe it. “Someone told me she was living with a computer salesman in Houston.” He’d heard that from Glen, who’d heard it from Ellie, who’d heard it from Janice at the bank.

  “She married him first, but they’ve been divorced longer than they were ever married.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.” He wasn’t really, but it seemed like something he should say.

  “Then she met Mick. He was from Australia.”

  “Oh,” he said. “Australia, huh?”

  “Jennifer thought Mick was pretty hot,” Nicole continued. “They had a whirlwind courtship, got married in Vegas and divorced a year later.”

  “I’ll bet she was upset about that,” Cal said, mainly because he didn’t know how else to comment.

  “With Jennifer it’s hard to tell,” Nicole said.

  The waitress approached the table and Nicole declined a menu, but asked for a margarita. “Actually I’m meeting someone later, but I saw you and thought this was a good opportunity to catch up on old times.”

  “Great.” Not that they’d had any “old times.” Then, because he wasn’t sure she knew he was married, he added, “I could use the company. My wife and kids are in California with her family for the next week or so.”

  “Oh...”

  He might’ve been wrong, but Cal thought he detected a note of disappointment in her voice. Surely she’d known he was married; surely Annie had told her. But then again, maybe not.

  “My boy’s three and my daughter’s eighteen months.”

  “Congratulations.”

  “Thanks,” Cal said, feeling a bit self-conscious about dragging Jane and the kids into this conversation. But it was the right thing to do—and it wouldn’t hurt his ego if the information got back to Jennifer, either.

  Nicole helped herself to another chip. “The last time Jennifer and I spoke, she said something that might interest you.” Nicole loaded the chip with salsa and took a discreet nibble. Looking up, she widened her eyes. “Jen said she’s always wondered what would’ve happened if she’d stayed in Promise and you two had gotten married.”

  Cal laughed. He knew the answer, even if Nicole and Jennifer didn’t. “I would’ve been husband number one. Eventually she would have moved on.” In retrospect, it was easy to see Jennifer’s faults and appreciate anew the fact that they weren’t married.

  “I don’t agree,” Nicole said, shaking her head. “I think it might’ve been a different story if she’d stayed with you.”

  The waitress brought her drink and Nicole smiled. She took a sip, sliding her tongue along the salty edge of the glass. “Jennifer’s my best friend,” she went on, “but when it comes to men she’s not very smart. Take you, for example. I couldn’t believe it when she told me she was calling off the wedding. Turns out I was right, too.”

  Cal enjoyed hearing it, but wanted to know her reasoning. “Why’s that?”

  “Well, it’s obvious. You were the only man strong enough to deal with her personality. I think the world of Jennifer, don’t get me wrong, but she likes things her own way and that inc
ludes relationships. She was an idiot to break it off with you.”

  “Actually it was fortunate for both of us that she did.”

  “Fortunate for you, you mean,” Nicole said with a deep sigh. “Like I said, Jennifer was a fool.” After another sip, she leaned toward him, her tone confiding. “I doubt she’d admit it, but ever since she left Promise, Jennifer’s been looking for a man just like you.”

  “You think so?” Her remark was a boost to his ego and superficial though that was, Cal couldn’t restrain a smile.

  The waitress returned with his order, and Nicole drank more of her margarita, then said, “I’ll leave now and let you have your dinner.”

  She started to slip out of the booth, but Cal stopped her. “There’s no need to rush off.” He wasn’t in any hurry and the truth was, he liked hearing what she had to say about Jennifer. If he missed Jane’s call, he could always phone her back.

  Nicole smiled. “I wanted to thank you, too,” she murmured.

  “For what?” He cut into an enchilada with his fork and glanced up.

  “For giving me a recommendation at Tumbleweed Books.”

  “Hey,” he said, grinning at her. “No problem.”

  “Annie called me this morning and said I have the job.”

  “I’m glad it worked out.”

  “Me, too. I’ve always loved books and I look forward to working with Annie.”

  He should probably mention that the bookstore owner was Jane’s best friend, and would have, but he was too busy chewing and swallowing—and after that, it was too late.

  Nicole checked her watch. “I’d better be going. Like I said, I’m meeting a...friend. If you don’t mind, I’d like to buy your dinner.”

  Her words took him by surprise. He wondered what had prompted the offer.

  “As a thank-you for the job reference,” she explained.

  “It was nothing—I was happy to do it. I’ll get my own meal. But let me pay for your drink.”

  She agreed, they chatted a few more minutes, and then Nicole left. She hadn’t said whom she was meeting, and although he was mildly curious, Cal didn’t ask.

  He sauntered out of the restaurant not long after Nicole. He’d been dragging when he arrived, but with his belly full and his spirits high, he felt almost cheerful as he walked toward his truck. He supposed he was sorry about Jennifer’s marital troubles—but not very sorry.

  As it happened, Cal did miss Jane’s phone call, but was quick to reach her once he got home. In her message she’d sounded disappointed, anxious, emotionally drained.

  “Where were you?” she asked curtly when he returned her call.

  Cal cleared his throat. “I drove into town for dinner. Is everything okay?”

  “Mexican Lindo, right?” she asked, answering one question and avoiding the other.

  “Right.”

  “Did you eat alone?”

  “Of course.” There was Nicole Nelson, but she hadn’t eaten with him, not exactly. He’d bought her a drink, that was all. But he didn’t want to go into a lengthy explanation that could only lead to misunderstandings. Perhaps it was wrong not to say something about her being there, but he didn’t want to waste these precious minutes answering irrelevant questions. Jane might feel slighted or suspicious, although she had no reason. At any rate, Annie would probably mention that she’d hired Nicole on his recommendation, but he could deal with that later. Right now, he wanted to know why she was upset.

  “Tell me what’s wrong,” Cal urged softly, dismissing the thought of Nicole as easily as if he’d never seen her. Their twenty minutes together had been trivial, essentially meaningless. Not a man-woman thing at all but a pandering to his ego. Jane was his wife, the person who mattered to him.

  “Dad didn’t have a good day,” Jane said after a moment. “He’s in a lot of pain and he’s cranky with me and Mom. A few tests came back and, well, it’s too early to say, but I didn’t like what I saw.”

  “He’ll be home soon?”

  “I don’t know—I’d thought, no, I’d hoped...” She let the rest fade.

  “Don’t worry about it, sweetheart. Take as long as you need. I’ll manage.” That offer wasn’t easy to make, but Cal could see she needed his support. These weeks apart were as hard on her as they were on him. This was the only way he could help.

  “You want me to stay longer?” Jane demanded.

  “No,” he returned emphatically. “I thought I was being noble and wonderful.”

  The tension eased with her laugh. “You seem to be getting along far too well without me.”

  “That isn’t true! I miss you something fierce.”

  “I miss you, too,” Jane said with a deep sigh.

  “How did lunch with your friends go?” he asked, thinking it might be a good idea to change the subject.

  “All right,” she said with no real enthusiasm.

  “You didn’t enjoy yourself?”

  Jane didn’t answer immediately. “Not really. We used to be close, but that seems so long ago now. We’ve grown apart. Julie’s into this beauty-pageant thing for her daughter, and it was all she talked about. Every weekend she travels from one state to another, following the pageants.”

  “Does her daughter like it?”

  “I don’t know. It’s certainly not something I’d ever impose on my daughter.” She sighed again. “I don’t mean to sound judgmental, but we have so little in common anymore.”

  “What about Megan?”

  “She came with her twelve-year-old daughter. She’s terribly bitter about her divorce. She dragged her husband’s name into the conversation at every opportunity, calling him ‘that jerk I was married to.’”

  “In front of her kid?” Cal was shocked that any mother could be so insensitive.

  “Repeatedly,” Jane murmured. “I have to admit I felt depressed after seeing them.” She paused, then took a deep breath. “I wonder what they thought of me.”

  “That concerns you?” Cal asked, thinking she was being ridiculous if it did.

  “Not at all,” Jane told him. “Today was a vivid reminder that my home’s not in California anymore. It’s in Promise with you.”

  Three

  “I hate to trouble you,” Nicole said to Annie. She sat in front of the computer in the bookstore office, feeling flustered and annoyed with herself. “But I can’t seem to find this title under the author’s name.”

  “Here, let me show you how it works,” Annie said, sitting down next to Nicole.

  Nicole was grateful for Annie Porter’s patience. Working in a bookstore was a whole new experience for her. She was tired of banking, tired of working in a field dominated by women but managed by men. Her last job had left her with a bitter taste—not least because she’d had an ill-advised affair with her boss—and she was eager to move on to something completely new. Thus far, she liked the bookstore and the challenge of learning new systems and skills.

  Annie carefully reviewed the instructions again. It took Nicole a couple of tries to get it right. “This shouldn’t be so difficult,” she mumbled. “I mean, I’ve worked with lots of computer programs before.”

  “You’re doing great,” Annie said.

  “I hope so.”

  “Hey, I can already see you’re going to be an asset to the business,” Annie said cheerfully, taking the packing slip out of a shipment of books. “Since you came on board, we’ve increased our business among young single men by two hundred percent.”

  Nicole laughed and wished that was true. She’d dated a handful of times since her return to Promise, but no one interested her as much as Cal Patterson. And he was married, she reminded herself. Married, married, married.

  She should’ve known he wouldn’t stay single long. She’d always found Cal attractive, even when he was engaged to Jennifer. However, the reason she’d
given him for moving back to Promise was the truth. She had fallen in love with the town. She’d never found anywhere else that felt as comfortable. During her brief stint with the Promise bank, she’d made friends within the community. She loved the down-home feel of the feed store and the delights of Dovie’s Antiques. The bowling alley had been a blast, with the midnight Rock-and-Bowl every Saturday night.

  Jennifer Healy had never appreciated the town or the people. Her ex-roommate had once joked that Promise was like Mayberry RFD, the setting of that 60s TV show. Her comment had angered Nicole. These people were sincere, pleasant and kind. She preferred life in a town where people cared about each other, even if Jen didn’t.

  Only it wasn’t just the town that had brought her back. She’d also returned because of Cal Patterson.

  Almost ten years ago, she’d been infatuated with him, but since he was engaged to her best friend, she couldn’t very well do anything about it. When Jennifer had dumped Cal, that would’ve been the perfect time to stick around and comfort him. Instead, she’d waited—and then she’d been transferred again, to a different branch in another town. Shortly after she’d left Promise, she’d had her first affair, and since then had drifted from one dead-end relationship to another. That was all about to change. This time she intended to claim the prize—Cal Patterson.

  At the Mexican restaurant the other night, Nicole had told Cal that Jennifer compared every man she met to him, the one she’d deserted. Nicole hadn’t a clue if that was the case or not. She was the one who’d done the comparing. In all these years she hadn’t been able to get Cal Patterson out of her mind.

  So he was married. She’d suspected as much when she made the decision to return to Promise, but dating a married man wasn’t exactly unfamiliar to her. She would have preferred if he was single, although his being married wasn’t a deterrent. It made things more...interesting. More of a challenge. Most of the time the married man ended up staying with his wife, and Nicole was the one who got hurt. This was something she knew far too well, but she’d also discovered that there were ways of undermining a marriage without having to do much of anything. And when a marriage was shaken, opportunities might present themselves....