A Soldier for Christmas (6 page)

His dad scratched his chin, as if considering the matter. “Maybe Mitch knows.”

“He knows nothing,” Suz winked at him as he joined them on the deck. “As usual. I’ll get Mom.”

“Hey now, move aside, Dad.” Mitch set the bowls on the patio table and knelt down in front of the ice cream maker. “What’s the problem?”

“We’d best wait for your mom. We bust this new-fangled thingy of hers, I’ll get in trouble.” Dad didn’t look too worried as he straightened. “It’s good to have you home, son.”

“It’s good to be here for a change.”

Memories surrounded him of all the summers Dad had barbecued on the grill and they’d eaten at the patio table, gazing out at the Bridger Mountains. The pool glittered in the sunshine and beyond the freshly mown lawn evergreens seemed to go on forever. Growing up here had been good; maybe the years to come would be even better.

Why was it, miles away and hours later, he could still feel Kelly in his heart? Because, he suspected, there was a chance that she could be his future.

Give it up, Kelly. It’s no use. She was
not
into studying, no matter how hard she tried to focus. Kelly slammed the book shut and the sound echoed around the dark house. She was babysitting for one of her regulars, Amy—one of Joe’s many cousins—and the little ones were snug in bed. When she checked the clock, she realized Amy and her husband would be home in less than an hour.

Why couldn’t she concentrate? That was easy, because of Mitch. He was on her mind. Too much and inexplicably. She rubbed the heel of her hand over her hurting heart. Why did Mitch make her feel again in these broken places?

She had no idea. Aimless, she headed into the kitchen. She put a cup of water in the microwave and while it heated, she fished through her backpack until she found the zipper sandwich bag where she kept her teabags. The cinnamon aroma of the tea comforted her, but who was she trying to fool?

Only herself. There could be no comfort for what troubled her tonight. Everything she wanted with all of her soul—it surrounded her in this homey kitchen with bits of love and family everywhere. Crayon drawings and magnetic alphabet letters were tacked on the refrigerator door. Framed snapshots of the babies hung on the walls and were propped on the windowsill over the sink.

The broken pieces of her dreams and of her heart felt enormous in the comfortable silence of the cozy kitchen. And still, like a survivor beneath an earthquake’s rubble, she could feel hope struggling to stay alive in her soul.

I
n the middle of reading her assigned sociology chapter, Kelly felt a soft breeze move through her. Awareness flickered to life within her heart, an awareness that was warm and sweet. Highlighter in hand, she looked up over the rail of her top-floor deck, through the rustling, sun-drenched poplar leaves to the street below. A familiar tan Jeep was parked by the curb.

Mitch. Aviator sunglasses hid his eyes and he seemed to gaze along the block. What was he doing here? She hadn’t heard from him in a week. She recapped her highlighter and slid out of the plastic deck chair. Remembering how she’d left things between them, part of her was glad to see him, the other part wanted to scrunch down in the chair, hide behind her book and hope he didn’t see her.

No such luck. “Hey, Kelly. Are you studying up there?”

“Guilty as charged.” She stood, leaving her book open, pages ruffling in the warm breeze.

“It’s Saturday evening.”

“So? You say that as if it’s a bad thing. I like studying.” She leaned against the wooden rails. “What are you doing here? And how did you find me?”

“You’re listed in the phone book. I know how to read and I am fairly good at finding my way around.” He lifted his glasses off his nose enough to meet her gaze. “You went AWOL on me, so I had to hunt you down.”

“So, is that a punishable offense?”

“Yep. I’ve come to impose dinner on you. I hope you like the works, because that’s what I got.” He withdrew a large pizza box from the back seat. “I’m comin’ up.”

As if she would want to stop him. “I never say no to a man who comes bearing pizza.”

“Lucky me.” He piled a cardboard carrier with soda cups and two smaller pizza boxes on top of the one he already carried.

“I like a man who comes prepared.”

“Good. I take pizza seriously.”

Mitch took one look at her smile, as sunny as the bright summer evening, and the tangle of emotions in his chest yanked so tight he couldn’t breathe. She was smiling at him, okay, maybe she was glad to see him…or she really liked pizza, but it was nice to see. As he headed around the small, seventies’ apartment building, following the walkways through the mature poplars lining the complex, he spotted Kelly in the open doorway of the top-floor corner unit.

He took in the sweet glint of her dark-blue eyes and her girl-next-door wholesomeness. She looked great with her hair pulled back in a careless ponytail, wearing a light summer T-shirt in the palest shade of blue and comfortable-looking, dark-blue drawstring shorts.

He knew when she’d spotted the flowers because her smile widened. In his enthusiasm, he took the steps two at a time all the way to the top. “I tried calling a couple times, but your line was busy.”

“Oh, I was online doing some research at the library. I’ve got a paper due.” She backed into the unit and held the door for him. “I
always
have a paper due, or it seems that way.”

She looked nervous. He didn’t want that, so he handed her the flowers. “I promise I won’t say anything to chase you away this time.”

“Deal.” She took the bouquet and breathed in the scent of the purple flowers. “I love freesias. How did you know?”

“They just made me think of you. That’s a thank you. My mom loved her gift.”

“I was glad to help.”

He spotted the kitchen straight down the little hallway to the right. Definitely a girl’s apartment, he thought as he slid his fragrant load onto the beige-colored counter and nudged a bowl with dried flower stuff aside so the extra-large box would fit. The pepperoni and garlic scent competed with the potpourri. “You haven’t eaten yet, have you?”

“No. My shift at the bookstore was over at four-thirty, but I’m waiting for my roommate. We sorta had dinner plans.” She joined him in the kitchen and pulled a glass vase from the cabinet beneath the sink. “Do you mind if Lexie joins us?”

“Sure, I’m the one who showed up unannounced.”

“Yes, but with pizza and, oh, is that a box of cheesy sticks?” she asked over the rush of the tap water.

“Cheesy sticks and a dessert pizza.”

“The blueberry cheesecake swirl one, by chance?”

He nodded confirmation as he removed the drinks from the carrier. “Did I do good?”

“Are you kidding? You did perfect. That’s the best pizza in town. Do you mind if we wait? Lexie should be here any minute.”

“Sure.” He slipped his sunglasses onto the counter. “Pretty nice place you got here.”

“Decorated on a budget, but it’s home.” She unwrapped the flowers and began arranging them in the vase.

He checked out the living area. The furniture was mismatched pieces in different shades of brown and blue, well-worn and comfortable, and aimed at a small wide-screen TV. A sturdy green plastic table sat squarely in the middle of the little deck that looked out over the poplars at the busy street below. A textbook’s pages ruffled back and forth in the wind.

“Sit wherever you want,” Kelly invited as she arranged the flowers. “How is the mountain-climbing going?”

“I still haven’t fallen.”

“You must have developed a certain competence at it by now. You said it was an advanced training thing you’re doing, right? What’s advanced about it?”

“Next week we get to train on glaciers. There’s nothing like ice-climbing.”

“I haven’t ice-climbed in ages.” She carried the vase past him to the scarred pine coffee table between a mismatched brown couch and blue striped chair. “Okay, never. It has never occurred to me that people actually climb across mountain glaciers.”

“Well, they do if they want to get to the other side.”

“Tell me that’s not your idea of a joke.”

“My sense of humor. It’s why no woman will have me.”

Oh, I doubt that, Kelly thought as she studied him. She imagined plenty of nice women would definitely consider him a fine catch.

The door opened, and Lexie’s voice filled the little foyer. “Kelly? I couldn’t believe it! I got the last copy on the shelf—”

Kelly watched her roommate skid to a stop midsentence, stunned by the sight of the guy standing in their living room. Before Lexie could jump to the wrong conclusion, Kelly made it clear. “Mitch and I went to the same high school. He’s an old acquaintance, because we were never really friends. I was too shy.”

“So was I,” Mitch added, slipping his hands into his back pockets, which only emphasized the corded muscles in his arms. “It’s good to meet you.”

“You, too.” Lexie swiped a chunk of wayward black hair behind her ear and looked utterly shocked. “I, uh, am just on my way back out. You two have a nice date—”

“Not a date,” Kelly emphasized. “Mitch and I were waiting for you. He brought cheesy sticks. C’mon, let’s grab some plates.”

His ego was
not
getting a boost. Good thing he was tough, Mitch thought. There was nothing a guy liked better than being a friend, when that wasn’t what he had in mind at all.

But it really was, he realized. The least he wanted with Kelly was friendship, and that was a good place to start. He noticed the rental DVD case the roommate was holding. “Is it movie night?”

“You can stay and watch it with us.” Kelly offered, handing him a plate over the counter. “Lexie, did you say that you got the last copy?”

“Yeah, of the new romantic comedy that just came out for rent.” Lexie still looked uncertain, even as she dumped her backpack and the video case on the edge of the couch. “I bet you’re not into romantic comedies, Mitch.”

“Not my thing, but I’m up for it.”

He really was a nice guy. Kelly knew he probably wasn’t jumping for joy to spend his Saturday evening watching a girl movie, but he was here as a friend. He’d come all this way—maybe he really was lonely, just as he’d said last week, when he’d brought burgers for her dinner break.

She was glad he’d come. “This is so much better than what we had planned. Barbecued hot dogs on our hibachi. Thanks, Mitch, for bringing the pizza.”

“And the cheesy sticks.” Lexie chimed in as she started loading up her plate.

“Any time, ladies.”

Yeah, Kelly couldn’t help thinking, he was
definitely
one of the good guys.

Nightfall darkened the dome of the sky as Kelly opened the door. “You were a good sport about the movie.”

“It had some funny parts. It was a nice, wholesome movie. It was good for me.”

“I doubt that, but thanks for coming. Maybe you’ll want to stop by again.”

“If that’s an invitation, I’ll take you up on it. Say, next Saturday night. I’ll bring pizza again, if you want.”

“My treat since you brought this time. We’re friends, remember?”

“All right, then.” Somehow, he would survive this friendship thing. He hesitated on the top step. “Same time same place next week?”

“I’d really like that.” She trailed him out onto the covered landing. “It’s pretty late. You have a long drive back.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’ve only been up and going full-bore since oh-five-hundred.”

“Your hours seem as long as mine. Except ice-climbing is sadly lacking from my daily workout regime.”

“You don’t know what you’re missing.”

“Seeing as I’m more of an indoor girl, I’m more than happy to pass on the glacier-climbing. You really like it?”

“I do.” That was an understatement. He started down the steps, slowly, going backward so he could watch Kelly standing in the shower of light from inside the door. “Monday, when you notice the whitecaps on the highest mountains, think of me.”

“I’ll send a whole bunch of no-slipping prayers your way.”

“I’d appreciate it.” Mitch stopped at the landing, gazing up the length of steps between them. It was late, he needed to head back but the last thing he wanted to do was to go. “How’s the math class?”

“Good, but then I haven’t looked at that homework all day. When I crack that book tomorrow, I’ll be singing a different tune.”

“You having trouble with the class?”

“It’s math. Math equals trouble. Wait, you love the subject, so you don’t understand delaying torture whenever possible.”

“You just don’t have the right attitude when it comes to math. You wouldn’t happen to have a pen handy?”

“You’re not going to look at my homework, are you?” Her brows knitted and made an adorable crinkle between her eyes. “It’s late. It’s Saturday night. I have a strict no-math policy on Saturday nights.”

“You have a lot of strict policies. First no dating, and now no math on certain nights. I’ll be back in town tomorrow. Mom’s dragging me to church with her and Dad so she can show her friends I really do exist and I’m not a figment of her imagination.”

“You don’t make it home much, I take it?”

“I’ve made it home for one Christmas, and about ten days total, and that’s after boot camp. I spend ninety-nine percent of my life on a mission or waiting for one. Hey, how about I give you my cell number and my e-mail address? You can call if you want me to stop by. Or just e-mail a question.”

“You’ve got to be kidding. You’re busy enough.”

“Sure, but I always have time for my friends. And for the thrill of math.”

“All right, hot shot, but don’t say I didn’t warn ya.”

“Bring it on. I’m used to a certain amount of hardship.”

Kelly darted inside to grab the little spiral notepad by the phone. As she scavenged around the kitchen for a pen, delicate freesias scented the air with incredible sweetness.

“Use mine,” Lexie offered, hopping up from the couch to hand over a purple glitter-gel pen. “He’s awesome. You should date him.”

Kelly shook her head. “Too complicated. He’s leaving soon. He’s stationed in California. Plus, I’m done with romance.”

“Bummer.” Lexie returned to the couch where the TV droned the latest local news.

Bummer
was an understatement, but that was life.

Kelly stepped out onto the front porch and her gaze found Mitch by feel rather than by sight. He’d retreated to the darker corner of the landing, but he radiated such a strong essence of might and honor that she saw him clearly, even when the twilight shadows hid his features.

She came closer and could just make him out leaning against the railing, his arms crossed over his chest. The embers within her heart breathed to life. Just a flicker, but it was bright and joyful.

This is happiness, she told herself. Mitch was a good friend, the pizza-bringing, kindly, offering-to-help-her-with-her-homework type of friend. Why shouldn’t she feel gladdened by that?

Mitch met her halfway, reaching out for the pad and pen. “If I hear you had trouble and you didn’t ask me for help, I’m gonna be pretty mad at you.”

She wasn’t fooled; she spotted the good-natured crook of his grin, even in the shadows. “It’s my strict policy never to get someone as big and strong as you mad at me.”

“Good policy.” His grin widened as he wrote and handed her back the book and pen. “I’ll provide the movie next time. Deal?”

“Something PG.”

“There’s a challenging mission, but lucky for you, I always prevail. Good night, Kelly.”

“Night. Drive safe.”

He raised one hand in answer, moving down the stairs silently. Not even the bottom step squeaked as he disappeared from her sight, taking the brightness of his presence with him.

In his Jeep, heading north over the moon-drenched Montana landscape, Mitch thought over the evening. Not bad. It had gone much better than he had the right to hope for. Kelly had relaxed around him, especially with her roommate there.

Over pizza consumed at the balcony table, with the rustling trees, the wind and sun, he’d asked questions about college life. About Kelly’s life. He learned that she worked full-time at the bookstore and supplemented that with babysitting jobs. That she was a straight-A student. She was starting to do extra study for the exams to get into graduate school. And that she daintily picked green peppers off her pizza.

She amazed him. Life had brought her a lot of twists and turns. The image of her standing on the top step, the light from the apartment behind her, the moon’s glow falling over her in the dark night, remained. She was pretty determined that all the two of them had in store was friendship.