Her Christmas Hero (Home To Dover 6) (6 page)

Gemma nodded and released him. Slowly Evan went over to Francie’s side. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and hugged him close. “Don’t you worry about that little spill. It’s just milk. Do you see my boy over there?” Evan nodded, wiping his eyes as he looked at Linc. “Well, I know he looks big and strong now, but when he was your age, he spilled his milk every time he sat down at the table. No matter how hard he tried not to, it still happened. We tried moving his glass way back on the table. We tried using a big old mug instead of a glass. We even tried putting the glass on the sideboard, but he’d spill it carrying it to the table.”

Evan almost smiled at that image. “Is that true, Coach?”

Linc wasn’t about to tell the boy that his mother had seriously embellished the incident. “Pretty much. I was all elbows and extra fingers, it seemed.”

Evan looked at Francie. “When did he stop?”

Tori chuckled. “He hasn’t. He spilled his juice just this morning.”

Linc smiled. Well, that was true enough.

“Linc, would you clean that up and bring this young man a fresh glass of milk? We’re having chocolate cake for dessert. Do you like that?”

Gemma abruptly stood and hurried into the living room. Tori gestured for Linc to follow their guest while she cleaned up. He found Gemma standing near the fireplace, head bowed, arms wrapped around herself protectively. He couldn’t be sure, but he suspected she was crying.

“Gemma, are you okay?”

She swiped at her eyes before facing him. “Yes. I just didn’t expect... I mean, I wasn’t prepared... Your mother was very kind and understanding.”

He wasn’t sure what she meant. “It was just a little spilled milk. The boy shouldn’t be made to feel as if he’d done something wrong.”

Her green eyes darkened. “You think I made him that way?”

“No, that’s not what I said. He just seemed unusually upset over a minor thing.”

“Minor? In my parents’ home that would have been cause for punishment.” She curled her fingers against her lower lip. “It’s all my fault. I should have seen what was happening. I should never have gone back there.”

“I don’t understand.”

Tori peeked in the room, interrupting their discussion. “Dessert is on the table.”

Linc took Gemma’s elbow and guided her back to the dining room. Evan was seated next to Francie munching down on a large piece of chocolate cake. He smiled up at them as they entered.

“Mom, I helped Miss Francie cut the cake and I carried all the plates to the table and didn’t drop one.”

Linc heard Gemma inhale sharply. “That’s wonderful, Evan. I’m proud of you.”

Settled beside Gemma at the table, Linc passed her a plate of cake, still trying to sort out Gemma’s and Evan’s odd behavior. She appeared calmer, but his curiosity was piqued. What kind of household had she grown up in? Twice now Gemma had made negative remarks about family. He’d grown up in a strong loving home. He knew not everyone was so blessed, that there were many dysfunctional families.

When the cake had been eaten, Gemma and Evan quickly headed back to the cottage. He shut the door behind his departing guests, puzzling over their strange behavior. His mother’s expression mirrored his thoughts.

“I wonder what that young woman has been through to make her so tense. Did she say anything to you?”

Linc shook his head. “Nothing that made sense. Something about how she should have seen what was happening.”

Francie pursed her lips. “Something’s not right there. I think the Lord has placed her here with us for a reason. We need to keep a close eye on them and see what we can do to help. I have a feeling they are both in serious need of love and attention.”

Linc sensed the same thing, but he had no intention of acting upon them. Love and attention were his mother’s area of expertise. Not his. And he had another, stronger feeling. That he’d be smart to steer clear of the lovely but confusing Gemma Butler.

* * *

Later that day, Gemma made her way out to the front porch and curled up in one of the wooden rockers. The best part of living in the cottage was the peace and solitude that surrounded the little house. And she craved both right now. The spilled milk incident at the mansion earlier still made her stomach quiver when she thought about it. Though it hadn’t ended at all the way she’d expected.

Dining with the Montgomerys had made her tense and on edge. In her experience, family dinners usually ended in a verbal shouting match. So when Evan had knocked over his glass she’d been as stunned and frightened as her son. His heart-wrenching apology had twisted her stomach. She’d wanted to grab him and run back to the safety of their cottage. But Francie had responded with love and kindness. As she’d proceeded to tell Evan how Linc always spilled things as a child, Gemma had watched her son relax, leaning in against Francie as if drawing comfort from her grandmotherly hug. She’d even managed to restore Evan’s confidence and good mood.

The love and understanding displayed before her had brought her to tears, and she’d taken refuge in another room. Though she still smarted from Linc’s insinuation that she was the cause of her son’s insecurity. She was beginning to see that his family was nothing like she’d experienced before. They met every situation with restraint and tolerance. There was no way they could understand her family’s dysfunction.

Gemma glanced up as Francie came across the lawn in the fading light.

The woman smiled as she came up onto the porch. “Mind if I join you?”

“Please. I was just thinking about you. I never thanked you properly for what you did for Evan today.”

“No need for that. The boy was upset over nothing. I’ve raised three boys, so I have a little more experience in dealing with them. Which is one of the reasons I’m here. Evan told me that you’re picking him up from school each day, and then working from home.”

“Yes. Why?”

“I know the job requires lots of face-to-face time with store owners and meetings with vendors. I have a suggestion. Evan and I hit it off. He’s a sweet boy, and I have lots of time on my hands now. I’d be more than happy to watch Evan after school each day, for as long as needed.”

“Oh, Miss Francie, that’s really sweet of you, but that’s too much to ask.”

“Nonsense. It would fill my days. I’m used to having family around, but the children are grown and living their own lives. I’d hoped for grandchildren by now, but the only one I have was taken from us when she was a toddler. I’m praying that Gil will bring her back to us soon.” Francie smiled and patted her arm. “You don’t have to give me your answer now. But I’m sincere in this offer, and I think Evan and I can help each other.”

The warmth behind the woman’s offer tightened her throat. It was the perfect solution. “If you’re sure it wouldn’t be any trouble, then I’d like that. I’m sure Evan would, too.”

“Wonderful.” Francie stood, a big smile on her face. “Oh, and don’t worry about ball practice. He can ride with Linc, and if he’s working late I’ll be happy to take him and watch the practice. I used to watch all the kids’ games.”

Gemma found herself envious of the loving mother Francie was. From what she’d seen, she’d raised fine upstanding children. Tori was friendly and feisty. Seth was kind and helpful. Gil was honorable—fighting for his child. She knew nothing of the sister in New York, but she was obviously pursuing her dream with her family’s blessing. Linc—well, the jury was still out on Linc.

Chapter Five

L
inc strode out of the office Tuesday morning and took the stairs down to the shop, heading toward the workroom in the back. Laughter floated on the air. A woman’s laughter, and he thought he knew who it belonged to. But why was she here? He spotted Gemma and Seth huddled together in front of the workbench. Seth pointed to something on the surface and Gemma nodded enthusiastically. The rush of scalding heat sparking along his nerve endings caught him off guard.

“Hey, bro.” Seth smiled and motioned him forward. “Come look at our project.”

He moved closer, stopping beside Gemma and willing himself not to stare. She glowed with happiness. Her bright smile and sparkling eyes stole his breath. Her red-gold hair lay across her shoulder in one thick braid, contrasting with the blue sweater she wore over a denim skirt. Bright earrings bobbed against her neck as if mimicking her joy. His mouth went dry and he had to clear his throat to speak. “What project would that be?”

“The Christmas wreaths for the street drapes we found in the storage building?”

“Oh, right.” He’d forgotten about those. He stole another quick glance at Gemma, then looked down at the table. The metal wreath looked nothing like the way it had before. The heavy-gauge metal frame had been covered with lights and some kind of green plastic that looked like a dismantled cheerleading pom-pom.

Seth nodded, a big smile on his face. “Watch this.” He inserted the plug into the outlet, illuminating the decoration. “How’s that? Pretty awesome, huh?”

Linc had to admit it looked better lit, but it still resembled something a third grader made from a coat hanger and tissue paper. He doubted expressing his honest opinion would contribute much at the moment. He searched for something noncommittal to say. “Looks good.”

Gemma grinned. “Better than good. He transformed it. I’m thrilled.”

Linc fought to ignore the way Gemma’s delight washed through his senses, and eyed the strange-looking wreath. He couldn’t imagine people flocking to Dover to see something so tacky hanging overhead. “So are they all going to look like this?”

“Oh, no.” Gemma’s smile widened. “Seth just put this together with things he had lying around. I’ll order special green and red wrap to cover the frame. But the best part is it’s not going to be very expensive to do all sixteen wreaths.”

Linc couldn’t take his eyes off her. She sparkled with enthusiasm. Was that all it took—an old restored wreath—to put this kind of joy in her heart? And she had his brother to thank. Not him. Why did that bother him? “So your budget won’t take a hit, then?”

“Nope.”

Seth unplugged the lights. “So what do you need, big brother?”

Linc had forgotten why he’d come downstairs. He’d needed to vent. But not with Gemma here. “I was just getting out of the office.”

Seth chuckled and nodded. “I hear you. I don’t know how Dad could spend all day in that little box. I’d go crazy.”

The mention of their father instantly dropped a heavy silence over the conversation. Gemma reached for her purse. “Well, thanks, Seth, for doing this. Any idea how long it’ll take to complete the rest?”

“Couple days.”

“Great. I meet with the business owners tomorrow. It’ll help that I can report we’ve already started on the decorations. Thanks again. I really appreciate it.”

“Any time.”

Gemma faced Linc, slipping her bag over her shoulder. “Evan is looking forward to ball practice tonight.”

“He’s a good kid.”

“I think so.”

Linc watched Gemma walk out of the workroom, unable to wrest his attention from the soft swish of her braid across her shoulders as she moved. When she finally disappeared from sight, he released a quick breath. Every time he was near her she left some new indelible image in his mind. This time it was her radiant expression.

“Earth to Linc.”

He jerked around to find his brother with a knowing grin on his face.

“She’s a pretty lady, don’t you think?”

No way was Linc going to go there with his little brother. But it did raise a question. Did Gemma find Seth attractive? They were about the same age, he guessed. His little brother was a charming guy. Linc could understand if Gemma was drawn to him. Not that it mattered to him. He gestured to the wreath frame. “This isn’t going to take away from any of your jobs, is it?”

Seth’s smile faded. “No. I get the feeling you aren’t too happy with the changes Gemma plans to make.”

“I think it’s a waste of time and money, and I doubt it’ll make any difference in the long run.”

“Really?” Seth crossed his arms over his chest. “I think you’re wrong, but I guess time will tell. So what’s up with you? Something on your mind?”

Linc set his hands on his hips. “The Coleman bid. I have a bad feeling about it. I wish Gil could have worked up the calculations.”

Seth patted his arm. “No worries. Montgomery Electric rarely loses those big bids. Everyone knows we’re the best in the business.”

“I hope you’re right.”

Seth set the wreath aside. “Have you talked to him about it? You did send him the final figures before you submitted the bid, right?”

Linc leaned a hip against the counter. “Yeah, but he was distracted. I don’t think he looked very closely.”

“He’s got a lot on his mind.”

“I know. But so do I.” None of his family understood the tremendous burden he’d assumed at the company. The only one who would understand was gone.

Linc made his way back to the office, thoughts of Gemma pushing into his mind again. He wondered if she’d come with Evan to the ball field to watch practice. He hoped so. Though having her on the sidelines might not be a good idea. Whenever Gemma was around he was easily distracted by her animated presence.

Hoping to block thoughts of his lovely tenant, Linc placed a call to his brother Gil, looking for a little reassurance that the bid he’d submitted was on target. “You sure those figures were in line with the work they want done?”

“Don’t worry. It’s okay. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there to look at it more closely, but I just can’t leave Mobile right now. Every time I turn around there’s a new legal hoop to jump through.”

Linc’s former sister-in-law had put his brother through emotional torture after their divorce, finding countless ways to keep him from their adopted daughter. “But you’ll get Abby back, won’t you?”

“Yeah, but there’s a lot to untangle first, and the court system here moves like a slug.”

“You can fill us in at Thanksgiving.” His brother’s lack of response made him uneasy.

“I don’t think so. Leaving town might mess things up. Abby’s been through a lot and I need to be here with her. You understand, don’t you?”

“Yeah. Sure. You do what you have to do. We’ll be praying for you. But come home as soon as you can. Mom’s aching to see Abby again.”

“I know. I want her back home, too.”

Linc ended the call, then rested his elbows on the desk, grasping the back of his neck with his hands. Never in his life had he felt so alone and abandoned. His dad and his brothers had been his anchor. But Dad was gone and Gil was stuck in Mobile. Linc had been looking forward to Thanksgiving with the family as a way to reconnect and gain strength and support from those he loved. But it might be a smaller gathering than usual this year.

Fighting off the swell of grief pressing against his ribs, he swiveled back to the computer and pulled up the next construction project. His best course of action now was to make sure Montgomery Electrical had plenty of jobs lined up for the future. He couldn’t bring his father back, but he could ensure the legacy he’d cherished.

* * *

Gemma gathered her hair up on the top of her head and stared at the lighting fixture above her dining room table. She’d been on the job only ten days and she was already facing a major glitch. And for once she wasn’t sure how to proceed. It was at times like this that she missed Darren. Before his betrayal they’d been a great brainstorming team. It was one of the things that had made Fine Day Events a success. Lowering her arms, she propped her elbows on the table. She needed advice.

Time to get another point of view, and who better to ask than the woman who’d directed Christmas in Dover for over a decade? Scooping up her cell, she dialed the main house and was relieved when the older woman answered.

“Gemma, dear. How are you? Is everything all right?”

“Yes, but I do have a problem I’d like to discuss with you if you have some time.”

“Has Linc been giving you trouble?”

Why in the world would she even ask that? “No. It’s about the Christmas decorations for the square.”

“Oh. Fine. Are you at the office or at home today?”

“I’m here at the cottage.”

“I’ll be there in about six minutes. I’m waiting to take the last batch of cookies from the oven.”

Gemma smiled as she placed her cell back on the table. Since Francie had been watching Evan there had been an increase in the amount of homemade cookies and cupcakes coming from the Montgomery kitchen. Francie said it soothed her and made her feel grounded to provide warm treats for Evan, and it reminded her of when her own kids were all home.

She tried to imagine Linc as a small boy, but it was hopeless. No way could she see the strong, masculine eldest son as anything other than full grown. Maybe she’d ask Francie to show her a picture sometime.

Within minutes Francie was tapping on the front door. She stepped inside with a smile and a warm plate of cookies. “I always discuss better with fresh cookies, don’t you?”

“Ooh, they smell wonderful.”

“Old-fashioned oatmeal. Linc’s favorite. I put raisins in them once and he pitched a fit.” She chuckled. “I never did it again. Unless I was making a batch for Bethany. She always wanted nuts and raisins in hers.”

“Did you make a special batch for each child?”

“Sometimes.” She nodded. “It’s what moms do.”

Gemma took a warm cookie from the plate, marveling at the scope of her friend’s love. Her mother had never baked a cookie in her life. What would it be like to have someone make your favorite cookies especially for you? The soft cookie melted in her mouth. “Francie, these are scrumptious!”

“Thanks.” She glanced down at the sketches and papers spread out on the table. “So what do you need to talk about?”

Gemma pointed to the two calendars in the center. November and December. “We have a problem and I’m not sure how to handle it.” She pointed to the Thursday with the star in the corner. Thanksgiving. “Notice anything odd about November?”

Francie looked at the date, slowly shaking her head. “Oh! Thanksgiving is early this year. We have a week before the start of December.”

Gemma tugged her hair behind her ears. “This can either be a good thing or a bad thing. I’m not sure which.”

“How so?”

“I’ve started ordering decorations for the courthouse park and scheduling people to hang the street drapes and the lights on the storefronts, but they can’t guarantee them before Thanksgiving because of short notice. Plus, most of what I need can’t be delivered until after the holiday. Traditionally, the day after Thanksgiving is the kickoff for Christmas events, but I’m going to need that week to decorate. There’s simply not enough time to get things ready before then. I’m not sure what to do. The day after Thanksgiving is Black Friday, one of the busiest days in retail. Won’t people be expecting everything to be set up by then?”

Francie stared at the calendar. “Normally, yes. But this year is different. The Chamber knew it was giving you a narrow timeframe. And truthfully, Black Friday isn’t that big a deal in Dover. The majority of folks go up to the malls in Jackson or the big-box stores in Sawyer’s Bend.”

Gemma sank into the chair. “I thought that might be the case. I was looking at sales figures from last year and there’s not much of a jump on Black Friday. So I was thinking, what if we took that lame-duck week and used it as our decorating time? I can schedule everything for the first of the week. We can get the lights hung, the park decorated, the trees set up, and we’ll be ready to kick off the first weekend in December as planned.”

“I think that’s a perfect solution.”

“That’s a relief. I just needed to make sure I was thinking it through logically. You don’t think the merchants will object?”

“Not at all. They all want the same thing. We need to put Dover on the map, bring in new business and new interest. You do what you think best. That’s why I recommended you.”

“Thanks, Francie. I really appreciate your help.”

The older woman patted her arm. “That’s what I’m here for.”

A knock on the front door brought Gemma to her feet. Linc stood on her porch, hands on hips, eyes narrowed in concern. “Is my mom here?”

Gemma motioned him in.

“Linc? What’s wrong?” Francie looked over her shoulder at her son.

“I came home and didn’t know where you were. I smelled cookies, but you weren’t in the house.”

“I brought Gemma some cookies. We had things to discuss about the Christmas events.”

Linc looked between them. “Yeah, well, you left the oven on, Mom.”

“Oh, dear.” She lifted her shoulders in chagrin, and chuckled. “That’s a bad habit of mine. I love to bake, but I get distracted, then I end up with burned cookies instead of chewy ones. Dale used to get so frustrated with me...” She stopped abruptly, her hand coming to rest in the center of her chest. Her eyes grew moist. “I’d better go see to that stove.”

“I already did, Mom.”

“Good. Thank you, dear. Gemma, we’ll talk later.” She hurried out the door.

She closed the door watching through the glass pane in the center as the older woman made her way slowly across the lawn. Her earlier energy was gone, bringing an ache to Gemma’s heart. “Will she be all right?”

Linc spoke from behind. “I hope so. I only wish I knew what to do for her.”

Gemma pivoted to face him, coming up short when she realized how close he stood. She eased back a step and looked up into his concerned expression. He loved his mother deeply. “I’m not sure there’s anything you can do. Just be there and love her.” A flash of sadness darted through his eyes. She tore her gaze from his and stepped around him. “Would you like a cookie? Francie said they’re your favorite.”