Mistletoe and Magic (10 page)

“I’m sure that’s not possible, Mal. With all you have going on, there’s no chance of you overindulging.” They turned when the front door jingled. A few customers walked inside and checked out the displays while chatting about the chores they had planned for the day.

Mallory approached. “Can I help you find something?”

“We came in to see your Santa Claus. I’ve been looking at that display every time I walk by that window,” she pointed, “and I love it. I’ve tried talking myself out of buying it, but it’s calling my name.”

Mallory laughed. “Shall I gift wrap it for you?”

“I’m sure Bernie isn’t going to like that it’s calling your name,” her friend said.

“Yes, please do.” She turned to her friend. “Gina, sweetheart, I have this all planned out. Bernie wouldn’t make me return a gift a friend bought for me.”

Gina gave her a quizzical look. “I’m not sure I’m getting what you’re trying to say.”

“You just bought me a Santa,” she said with a wink. “She’ll wrap it, I’ll give it to you to take home and you bring it to the party and give it to me as a gift.” She snickered and looked to Mallory. “How’s that for being clever?”

Mallory smiled. “I’ll get that ready right now.” She cashed out the customer and counted the change out in her hand. When the door opened and Mallory inhaled the scent of his cologne, she knew it was AJ without even looking in his direction. Its woody scent brought back a flood of memories and warmed her heart now pounding out of control. She wished he didn’t affect her the way he did, but there was no stopping her emotions from spilling over. Mallory handed the wrapped package to the customer and the two women walked off.

“Good morning, pretty lady,” he said.

“Hi, excuse me,” she said and headed for the back showroom.

“Where are you going?” he asked and followed her.

She stopped out of view of her sister and Miriam. “You’re a wonderful man, AJ, but the timing isn’t right for us. I’m sorry. I can’t let you waste your time on something that can never be—at least not now.”

“I don’t buy that, Mallory, and neither do you. You can try to hide from love, but I see right through that tough exterior of yours. Now, I know we haven’t discussed Jenny, but I suspect she has something to do with your reluctance. We can work this out. I don’t want to lose the best thing that ever crossed my path.” She looked away, and he reached for her chin and made her look at him. She had tears in her eyes. “Yesterday meant so much to me. And I know you felt it too.”

“This isn’t going to work. My daughter believes I killed her father because we fought before he gunned the engine of his motorcycle and raced off like an adolescent. I’d like nothing better than having a man like you in my life who respects and loves me, but this isn’t the time because, believe me, you’ll only wind up wishing you hadn’t gotten involved. The best thing you can do is forget about me and get on with your life.”

“Don’t you remember what it was like to be a teenager? Jenny loved her dad. I personally think your daughter just needs some time. It’s hard for her to see her mother in a relationship.” He stopped talking and just stared at her. “Mallory.” He sighed. “I’m head over heels in love with you. Please don’t let it stop here.”

The door opened, and several customers walked inside. “I have to help take care of these people.” She walked away.

A few minutes later, Jenny and Lacey came walking inside. “School was cancelled,” Lacey yelled.

Mallory put her finger to her mouth to shush Lacey, whose excited voiced seemed to reverberate off the walls. An empty feeling dwelled in her stomach. Despite the agony, she put her feelings aside and hugged the girls.

“Well, I’m very happy to see you guys.” She leaned down to hug them both. “So what happened?”

“Mrs. Dawson said the furnace crapped out. I don’t exactly know what that means, Mom, but I’m sure glad it did.”

Everyone within earshot laughed. “You’re a corker, Miss Lacey.” Mallory helped her remove her scarf and gloves. Jenny stood close by, her expression filled with remorse. Mallory felt her heart tug from the pain written all over her daughter’s face.

“Mom, I’m so sorry,” she said when Lacey stepped aside. “I know I’m saying that a lot lately, but I am.” Jenny wrapped her arms around Mallory, placed her head against her chest and wept.

“C’mon, honey,” she said, “Let’s go in the back.”

Mallory brushed the hair from her eyes. “I know you’re sorry. We’ll get through this. I promise.” When she looked up, AJ was watching her interact with Jenny, a compassionate expression on his face.

Jenny wiped her tears and noticed AJ. “Hey Mom, isn’t he the man who bought all those ornaments?”

Mallory cleared her throat before responding. “Yes, that’s Mr. Miller.”

“Should I help him find what he’s looking for?”

“Sure. I’ll bet he’d appreciate that.”

“Can I help too?” Lacey asked.

“I don’t know if he’s here to buy anything. He may have just come in to tell me how his aunt liked the way I decorated their tree yesterday.”

“You decorated his tree?” Jenny asked.

“Yes, he hired the store as a treat for his aunt. I wanted Aunt Dina to go, but she didn’t want the extra work so she stayed in the store instead.”

“Did she like the way you decorated it?”

“I don’t know. Maybe he came in to tell me.”

“Want me to find out for you?” Jenny asked.

“Sure,” Mallory said, slightly confused as to why Jenny was so concerned. But rather than ignore it, she walked over with the girls. “Mr. Miller, these are my two daughters. You met Lacey the other day when you were in to pick out your ornaments.”

“I remember.”

“And this is Jenny. She wants to help you.” AJ’s brows rose.

“How’d your aunt like the way my mom decorated the tree?”

“She actually loved it,” AJ said. “She hasn’t celebrated Christmas in a long time, so when she came home and saw everything looking so nice, she realized how much she’d missed Christmas and was glad to have the tree decorated.”

“How come she hasn’t celebrated?”

“Because her husband died.”

“Yeah, us too. But I want to celebrate this year.” She turned to look at her mother. “So when are we decorating our tree?”

“Tonight…I guess. I just wasn’t sure if you kids were ready to start celebrating again,” she said, slightly taken back by Jenny’s sudden interest in Christmas.

“You can’t tonight,” AJ said. “It’s the tree-lighting ceremony in the town center. You can’t miss that now, can you?” Lacey was jumping up and down. “Besides, my Aunt Becky is the one who’s officiating it for the mayor.”

“Ooh, Mom,” Lacey said, tugging on her hand, “we can’t miss the tree-lighting.”

“You’re right,” Mallory said, eyeing Jenny. “We should go to support one of our customers. Don’t you think?”

“I know,” Jenny said acting anxious to share an idea, “After we close the shop, we can have dinner at Joe’s Hamburger Joint, and then go to the tree lighting.”

“Okay, then it’s a date.”

“Are you going, Mr. Miller?” Jenny asked.

”Now I can’t very well miss my aunt’s presentation, can I?”

Mallory couldn’t believe Jenny’s personality change. Maybe whatever she’d written in her journal made more sense to her today. Or maybe she was trying to show Mallory she was sincere when she apologized.

“Yeah. I’m sure she’d be upset if you didn’t.”

“All right, then it’s settled,” Mallory said, surprised by Jenny’s sudden interest in AJ. “Okay, you guys need to take care of Mr. Miller while I take care of the other customers. Aunt Dina and Miriam look pretty busy over there.” She walked off, feeling content, not understanding what just occurred, but she was happy things were looking up for Jenny.

Later, Jenny approached her mother. “You like him, don’t you, Mom?”

Acting nonchalant, Mallory was careful about how she responded. “He’s a very good customer, and he seems to be a nice man. I don’t know him very well, though. He’s new in town.”

“He’s purchased a lot of stuff from us?” she asked.

“Yes. And we can use all the sales we can get.”

“I need to go Christmas shopping,” Jenny said changing the subject. “When can we go?”

“You can go with us,” Jenny’s friend said.

“Vicki,” Jenny said, surprised, “I didn’t see you come in.” The pair walked off, leaving Mallory to talk to Vicki’s mother.

“I’m Valerie James,” she said. “Jenny’s more than welcome to join us on Wednesday afternoon if you’re okay with it.”

“Oh, I couldn’t ask you to do that.”

“You didn’t. Vicki is always talking about Jenny. I know she’d really love having her tag along.”

“Well, if you’re sure. I know Jenny would like it too.” Mallory’s cell phone rang. “Excuse me, I need to get this.” It was AJ. Wait. When had he left the shop?

“I miss you,” he said. “I told you we could work this out. I wish I didn’t have to wait until later, but I don’t want to be overbearing with your daughters around.”

“Oh, AJ, please don’t get too excited. This is a good day for her, but she can be just as nasty as nice.”

“I understand, but I just wanted to reconfirm that we can work this out. I love you, Mallory Gardner,” he said, and the phone went dead.

Butterflies danced in her stomach. He was a man who knew how to treat a woman. Did she dare feel confident about the way Jenny had responded to him today? Or the way AJ vowed to love her? She’d suffered a lot of disappointment in her life, and although she had strong shoulders, she didn’t think she could let herself go on this one. She’d be devastated if she allowed herself to get involved only to find out he would leave too.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Mallory was closing up the shop when Jenny came to her. “Mom, I thought I should tell you that I spoke to Dr. Bean today.”

“You did?” She gave her a quizzical look. “Do you feel better after speaking to her?”

“A little.”

“So the journal entries are helping you?”

“They are.” Mallory gave her an expectant look. “I can’t talk about it now. But I promise someday I will tell you everything.”

She reached for her daughter and hugged her when Lacey came skipping into the room. “I want a hug, too.”

~~~

AJ saw Mallory and the girls enter the park. When Lacey saw AJ, she ran toward him. “Hi, Mr. Miller,” she said, her tiny hand waving while he stood next to his aunt.

He bent down. “Hi, Lacey. Did you have a good dinner?”

She was rubbing her tummy when Mallory called out to her, but AJ held his hand up to let her know she was okay. Mallory reluctantly walked toward him. By the time she’d reached him, AJ was already introducing his aunt to Lacey.

He put his arm around Mallory and pulled her closer. “You remember, Mallory Gardner, don’t you, Auntie?”

She nodded, “Of course I do. You did such a wonderful job on my Christmas tree. Thank you so much. I was really surprised when I walked into the house and saw that beautiful tree in the living room. I haven’t celebrated in a long time. Something tells me I’m going to have one of my best Christmases this year, thanks to you.”

“You’re very welcome.” Mallory pulled Jenny closer. “This is my daughter, Jenny.” She turned to talk to Jenny. “You remember Mrs. Miller, don’t you?”

“You came to my dad’s funeral.”

“Yes, I did. How are you doing?”

“I’m okay.”

“Would you ladies like to help me light the tree when it’s time?”

Lacey giggled and jumped up and down. “Can we?”

“How about you, Jenny?” she asked.

“Sure. Just tell me what to do.”

“Is that okay with you, Mom?” Becky asked.

“I think that’s very kind of you to ask. Yes, of course.”

“Okay girls,” Becky said, “I have a few last minute things I need to do like getting these carolers to start singing.” She turned to them “Let’s get this show on the road,” she clapped her hands together and the group filed out and began singing.

Lacey was still jumping up and down.

“Okay girls, let’s get out of the way and check out the other decorations. Look how pretty the sparkly lights look woven into the garland wrapped around the gazebo pillars.”

Lacey was pulling on Mallory’s hand to get her attention. “Mom, Mom,” she whispered loud enough to those close by, despite her hand being cupped next to her mouth to block out the sound, “can Mr. Miller come with us?” AJ grinned and winked at Mallory.

“Sure, if he wants to. Do you want to ask him?” Lacey’s head was bobbing up and down like it was on a spring. But Jenny’s face turned more serious. “Are you okay?” Mallory asked her.

“Yeah.” She pointed to a friend of hers. “Cassandra Lyons is over there, Mom. May I go?”

“Not for long though. You have a tree to light.”

“Okay. I’ll make sure I pay attention.”

Mallory turned back to Lacey and felt her heart melt as she watched Lacey slip her hand into AJ’s and skip along beside him as they walked toward her. Of course, Lacey wasn’t the problem. It was Jenny whose face had turned sullen when Lacey asked if he could join them. She sighed. Would her life ever be normal? Seeing AJ and the way he acted toward her girls brought a smile to her face. He was perfect. But could their lives ever be perfect if Jenny didn’t buy into the normalcy of life?

“Penny for your thoughts, pretty lady,” AJ said.

“It’s nothing.”

Lacey talked the entire time as they neared the gazebo. “Mom, Santa’s here. Can I go tell him what I want for Christmas?”

“Absolutely. Let’s get in line.”

While waiting, Mallory looked at AJ when he wasn’t watching and felt the swells of love filling her. Today, his presence had generated more contentment than her family had ever known. But then, neither of her children realized what normal was. Mitch was rarely, if ever around with Lacey. She wondered if Jenny would ever realize there was something different about AJ? She finally allowed herself to dream if only for tonight.

AJ squeezed her hand. “You’re in another world tonight.” She grinned. “I hope I’m in that world with you and the girls.” He leaned closer. “I love you.”

She nodded in agreement and closed her eyes briefly, wishing the moment would never end.