Redeemed Hearts (Thoroughbred Men Series Book 3) (12 page)

Richard watched Teri open the bag and was thrilled with his find today and all the one-liners he had cooked up on the way over to her house. He planned on keeping her laughing all evening. Jacob had texted Richard to inform him that today was Teri’s “ritual” and she would spend her night upset after seeing Daniel’s grave.

According to Millie, Teri would spend the afternoon at the nursing home and then go “talk” to Daniel and hole up for the holidays. This had repeated itself several times over the last few years. He intended to keep her laughing and make her smile. If she needed alone time, he wanted to be the friend she turned to. She had wound her way into his life over the last few weeks and he wanted the feeling to be mutual.

“I thought I would accompany you tonight over to the nursing home. They are expecting Santa and his elf. Wanna ride my sleigh tonight or do I need to go elf myself?” he said with a small chuckle, testing out his puns on her.

Teri opened the bag and matched his laugh. Inside, amongst the tissue paper, were a pair of red and white striped tights and a green sweater complete with an elf cap. “Ho ho ho care to see my North pole? Or is that a bad Santa pun?” she heard him tease her again as she cracked up laughing at the costume and his silliness.

“Where on earth did you find these?” Teri laughed, wiping tears from her eyes. She thought the tears might be from laughter, but sadly it could be relief, too. She loved and hated today. Today would have been Daniel’s birthday and the day before Christmas Eve.

Richard smiled tenderly and cupped Teri’s face with his hands. He could see the turmoil in her expression: relief, sadness, happiness, fear, and a tenderness hidden in her eyes. He hoped that was for him.

“Glad tidings I bring… to you and your friends. If you like, I can slip down your chimney tonight, too, if you are a good girl,” he teased softly, kissing her gently on the tip of her nose. “C’mon Teri, let’s get you changed. Let’s have some fun tonight and make someone’s holiday special. The cocoa bar is not going to fix itself up, millions of old people are waiting for us,” he said with an exaggerated sigh.

Teri didn’t know if she should laugh or break down crying. “It’s not millions, it’s more like twenty to thirty people,” she said distracted. Her heart was racing. How could he be this good to her?

Richard was here, ready with a “costume” for her and cracking all sorts of lewd jokes to make her happy on what had been one of her most trying days for the past several years. Who else would do that for her? Even her best friends had not thought to do that-sure they would check on her and drag her out for a drink or bring over ice-cream and Kleenex, but none had tried to make her happy. They commiserated with her, and she might have needed that at one time – but tonight she definitely enjoyed the shared laughter.

Teri shook her head again with a grin as he donned his red Santa hat and swatted her on the bottom. She headed into the house and heard him tease her about being on the naughty list still.

Richard watched Teri head into the house, trying to keep a cheerful tone in his voice. He knew she was tender emotionally right now and could see it. He had been afraid she would break down sobbing and that would crush him. He knew she had been head over heels in love with a young man, but she had given up on having her own life at the same time. He also knew it was scary to change and open yourself up to others. He knew it because he was in the same predicament: he wanted to be the man Teri needed and wanted.

“Get a move on elf or you will have to sit on Santa’s lap and jingle his bells!” he crowed. “Thank you! Thank you! I will be here all night,” he said loudly to ensure Teri could hear him from the back of the house. Sure enough, he heard her giggling from far away at his raunchy comments.

Richard watched Teri enter the room in the green sweater and jeans. Her striped feet peeked out the bottom. He watched as she slapped the elf hat on with a wink. “Atta girl! Moving up to the nice list now,” he praised as they headed out the door.

Richard and Teri arrived at the nursing home amidst a rush of people. Thankfully, the attendants had already set up several tables with large percolators to hold the hot water. Cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, marshmallows, chocolate chips and whipped cream were just a few of the items Teri unpacked as they readied the cups and the candy cane swizzle sticks.

She watched as Richard got into the spirit of the night with a blustery “Ho! Ho! Ho!” as he walked in the door. He shook several men’s hands and flattered several of the ladies waiting on the bar to be set up. Teri smiled happily at him as he fixed several cups and served the occupants that could not easily access the tables with their wheelchairs.

Richard mingled with several people in the foyer and finally made his way back to the table to help Teri so she could mingle and chat with the tenants of the retirement center. He slid in behind her at the table, wrapping his arms around her in a hug. Richard felt her melt against him and several people clapped at the expression of affection. He couldn’t help it, though. She had such a big heart and was so wonderful to everyone. He knew why Tony and Jacob had been so protective!

Richard whispered against Teri’s ear, “If I were a snowman, I’d melt. You are hot stuff, darling,” and kissed her cheek softly. “Go talk, baby. I will keep the table going,” and got progressively louder with a flourish, “You go mingle around, Elf. Santa has got this handled!”

Teri laughed heartily and moved away from the table to watch him. He was outrageous claiming to “make sure it was Santa’s secret blend” and “be sure to tell the elf she did a good job so she comes back”. He went as far as to claim the water in the coffee pots was “melted snow from the North Pole” and it was “magical” and “made people happy and fall in love”.

Teri’s eyes met Richard’s at that proclamation, especially when one of the ladies asked her if “Santa had been drinking the magic cocoa since it was obvious he was in love with her” and “she needed to have a cup or two”. Teri stared at Richard for some time, listening distractedly to the people around her talk. No, she didn’t need any “magical cocoa” to make her fall in love. She was certain she was there already.

Teri and Richard began the cleanup and said their goodbyes for the night. Both promised they would be there again next year with “bells on” for the holiday. Richard followed Teri out of the front door with a loud exclamation “…and to all a goodnight! Ho! Ho! Ho!”

Teri laughed loudly and swatted him gently on the stomach. “You’re pretty good at this, just missing a bowl full of jelly on there, Saint Nick!” she said mischievously. She felt pretty upbeat and was glad she wasn’t alone. “I have one more place I need to stop; do you mind terribly?” she asked quietly.

Richard knew they were headed to the cemetery and determined to keep her upbeat. Still in character, he pulled her close “Ho ho ho… you lead the way, Elf. This sleigh will follow you anywhere.” He held her for a moment, kissed her gently and opened the SUV’s door.

They drove silently to the graveyard. Richard held her hand the entire ride over in support. He wasn’t sure what she was thinking or feeling, but wanted to be supportive. “Want me to wait in my rig for you so you can talk to him alone?” he asked as they pulled up to the dimly lit pathway.

He didn’t like the idea of her being alone there and could not believe she had no qualms about being here in the dark, but he also wanted to give her privacy…and truth be told, it made him distinctly uncomfortable to see her longing for someone else.

Teri smiled and shook her head. “No, I don’t want to be alone. Do you mind coming with me?” she asked faintly. She felt content, happy, nervous and scared all at the same time. Relief swept through her when she saw his acknowledgement and he opened the door for her. She held his hand tightly as she walked back through the lines of stones towards Daniel’s marker.

They both stopped, not knowing what to say or do. Richard felt out of place, like he was invading their privacy-but at the same time felt silly for thinking so. Daniel was gone and he was there for Teri. He wanted to be there for her if she needed him.

Teri was motionless. The crushing despair she had always felt was not there. She felt sad but it wasn’t unbearable this time around. She was relieved to have Richard’s support and to be able to finally move forward.

After a few minutes, she dropped Richard’s hand and knelt by the gravesite that held the flowers she had put down on her last visit. “Hey, Daniel. It’s me. Listen, I won’t be here long tonight but I wanted to wish you a happy birthday. I still miss you sometimes and wish you could talk to me or see me. I have so much to tell you and not sure where to start or how to explain but I know you would want to hear firsthand…”

Richard stood silently. It was hard seeing someone you care for open up and share their innermost thoughts. Teri was talking quietly and he felt like he should step back and give her privacy. Hearing her next words froze him in place:

Teri gave a wobbly sigh and a big sniffle. “I’m happy and doing okay. It’s taken a long time for me to move past you but I am doing so slowly and I know you would be all right if you could meet him. If you are watching me, I want you to know he’s pretty great. He makes me laugh a lot and I really like him. You should have seen what a dork he was at the nursing home,” she laughed brokenly and gave a huge sob. She wiped her eyes on her sleeve and felt her lip quiver with emotion.

“You guys would have gotten along famously and you would like him so much. I do. He’s the main reason I have been so happy lately. He is incredible… just like you were. I guess lightning can strike twice. Be happy for me and keep watching over me. I am going to go home and see if Richard wants to watch ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ tonight with me. It’s tradition! I wanted to tell you about him in person. Oh, and to tell you Merry Christmas, too! Take care, Daniel, miss you still.” Teri kissed her fingertips and rubbed them softly over his name on the cold stone. She sniffed again and slowly stood up.

Teri looked at Richard slowly, unsure how he would feel about what she said. It was true, all of it. She was happy having him in her life. He made her feel light and hopeful. She did not feel like she needed to hide away in her work nor did she feel lonely. “Thank you for coming with me,” she said softly.

Richard felt stunned from the emotions rocketing through him. He felt like he could burst from the sheer sense of what a loss it was for the other man and joyful for his own happiness and wonder he saw in Teri. “Thank you for inviting me. I was not a dork, by the way. I was in complete character and still am! Ho Ho Ho and all that jazz,” he said softly and held out his hand. “I want to be a very bad Santa with my favorite elf and this does not feel appropriate to stay here for what I want to say or do. Let’s go home,” he said with gentle smile and a wink. He pulled Teri close as she took his hand, giving her a quick hug. Richard then released her and wrapped his arm around her waist, leading her back towards the SUV.

Teri broke the silence in the SUV on the way back. Both seemed lost in thought and she could not take it any longer. “You were great tonight. Thank you again for all your help. I did notice you avoided the mistletoe when Pearl was trying to talk to you,” she laughed, thinking about how he had dodged the spry matronly woman.

Teri had felt so festive and so happy tonight. The lights seemed brighter, the laughter seemed warm and inviting, the cocoa sweeter than it ever had been and it was all thanks to how she felt inside. She felt like a weight had been lifted off of her and she felt relieved and looked forward to all the tomorrows. She had not realized what a “funk” she had been in until this man made her feel again.

Teri watched him drive his rig and held his hand, feeling the warmth and smiling contently when he would give her hand an occasional squeeze. She liked how they seemed to fit just right together. Their hands, their personalities, their bodies…it was a perfect union. Everything she felt like she was lacking, he made up for and complemented her so very well. Anything she felt was overpowering in him, made him seem to glow and that much more appealing to her.

He could certainly be outrageous sometimes and that part of him drew her out of her shell. She had never done several different things before he came into her life and she could not imagine not having him there as a friend or more than a friend. She adored him and loved the way they were when they were a pair.

Teri liked the changes she had felt in herself. The laughing, the texting, the teasing and she liked the appreciation he showed when she put herself out there for him. The silly intimate selfies, the dinners, the gifts, all made her feel like she was infinitely special to him and she had not felt that way with someone in this capacity in so long.

As they pulled up to Teri’s house, she held back for a moment, thinking how to let him know how she felt without making him run away. She had heard several stories from the girls that if the “timing was wrong, men would run” and Richard was well known for being a player with the women. She waited until he opened the SUV’s door for her, saying, “Want to come in and relax for a bit? I could get you some spiked eggnog and..”

Richard interrupted Teri for a second. He didn’t want her to feel like she had to plead or bribe him to come in. He had no intention of leaving her alone for the night. If she needed a friend, he wanted to be there for her…and if she wanted more than a friend, he would be in paradise with the woman he cherished. “I was hoping you would invite me in and you had mentioned it at Daniel’s site. I have never seen ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’. Growing up, we always watched ‘Christmas Story’. Do you mind having company tonight for a while?” he asked tentatively while his mind screamed at him
“What if she says no?”

Richard had waited patiently for it to be her idea and her move. But, in reality, he had staged tonight fully intending to keep her company throughout the next day or two until he had to return to the station for his next shift. He wanted her to relax around him and she seemed nervous. Richard also wanted to make sure she didn’t cry all night long as Mille and Jacob had hinted that she had done the past several years.