Sleepless Nights (The Donovans of the Delta) (16 page)

CHAPTER EIGHT

The Donovan house was brimming with people, food, and laughter. Amanda sat beside the fire in the den, listening to the happy sounds. She didn’t know when she had felt such contentment.

Martie Donovan, holding two steaming cups of hot chocolate, came and sat down beside her.

“I thought you might like this.” Martie handed her a cup.

“I could have gotten that.”

“You sound like Paul. If he had his way, I’d be sitting on a silk cushion for the entire nine months. Pregnancy mystifies him.”

Martie’s laugh was a silvery tinkle that complemented her bright hair and her bangle bracelets. She was a vibrant woman, still slim in spite of her condition. No wonder she’s Tanner’s favorite sister- in-law, Amanda thought.

“Thank you. This looks delicious.” Amanda took a sip.

“It’s the least I could do to repay you for babysitting the twins yesterday. They talked thirty minutes nonstop about the fun they had at your house.”

“They’re adorable. Tanner and I thoroughly enjoyed them.”

“He spoils them terribly. But then, he’s no worse than Paul. My husband is convinced that he’s fathered the sweetest, most beautiful, most brilliant children in the whole wide world. Of course, I agree.” She laughed at herself.

Amanda felt a stab of envy, and then she was ashamed of herself. But, oh, how she would love to be sitting beside this fire talking about her own children—hers and Tanner’s.

“By the way,” Martie continued. “Where is Tanner? Did I see him sneaking out the back door with that husband of mine?”

Amanda was grateful to change the subject. “You did. Hallie was with them.”

Martie chuckled. “Then you can bet they’re up to mischief.”

“Probably. Tanner calls it a surprise. He told me not to budge from the fire until he comes for me. And I’m only too happy to oblige. After that lunch Anna served, I’m amazed I haven’t fallen asleep.”

“You’re welcome to nap upstairs if you like. One of the things I love about this family is that everybody does pretty much what he or she wants to do.”

“What are Jacob and Hannah doing? If I counted correctly, they are the only Donovans missing.”

“You did. Jacob is ballooning somewhere over North Africa, and Hannah is in Fairbanks getting her sled dogs ready to run the Yukon Quest.”

Amanda laughed. “That makes running an antique clothing store very tame work. I’m surprised Tanner doesn’t run away from sheer boredom.”

Martie leaned over and patted her hand. “Amanda, from the way Tanner looks at you, I’d say running away is the last thing on his mind.”

“Is someone taking my name in vain?” Tanner lounged against the doorframe, smiling. The warm family scene delighted him. There was nothing he enjoyed more than seeing the woman he loved being welcomed into the bosom of his family.

Martie rose and went to him. “Don’t let Paul hear you say that.” She hugged his neck.

“He’s been trying to reform my wicked tongue for years.” Tanner winked at Amanda over Martie’s head.

“Without success, I might add.” The Reverend Paul Donovan strode into the room. “Angel, when you finish charming that devil, how about charming me?”

With a squeal of delight Martie rushed into his arms. “Paul! You’ve been gone forever! What is this wonderful surprise? You know I adore surprises.”

“I’ll let Tanner tell. It’s his surprise.”

“Bundle up, ladies.” Tanner crossed to Amanda’s chair and put his hand possessively on her shoulder. “If we hurry, we can build a snowman before the snow melts.”

Martie and Amanda both looked out the window. “Snow in fifty-degree weather?” Amanda smiled up at him. “What’s going on, Tanner?”

“The twins wanted a white Christmas, so I gave it to them.”

“Real snow?” Martie asked.

“Yes, angel,” Paul told her. “All the way from the Blue Ridge Mountains. Tanner had it brought down in two refrigerated trucks. It’s on the patio now. Let’s get the twins before Hallie uses it all up making snowballs.”

Martie and Paul left to get their children. Tanner quickly walked across the room and shut the door. Amanda was already out of her chair and in his arms when he turned back around.

Tanner’s face was against her hair. “I haven’t touched you in six hours. I’m dying inside. Rescue me.”

She wound her hands into the hair at the back of his head, pulling him close. “Then whose hand was that on my knee under the table at lunch?”

“That doesn’t count.” His lips descended on hers, and it was a long time before they spoke. “I mean, really touched,” he murmured, “as in joined together. Like this morning.”

She pulled back from him and cocked her head to one side, laughing. “This morning? Did something happen this morning? I must have been asleep.”

He roared with laughter. “Baby, if you can do all those tricks in your sleep, I can’t wait to see what you do when you’re awake.”

“Mind your tongue. There’s a preacher in the house.”

Tanner sobered. “Yes, there is, Amanda, and nothing would thrill my brother more than to perform a wedding ceremony for us.”

Amanda closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder. Their time together was almost over. Tomorrow would be Christmas. Right after New Year’s Day Tanner would be going back to Dallas. Only eight more days. It didn’t seem fair. Eight days was too short a time to make up for all the years of missing Tanner Donovan.

She squeezed her arms around him so tightly, she heard his breath whoosh out.

“Does that mean yes, Amanda?”

“No. It means I love you, and although you aren’t gone, I’m missing you already.”

“I haven’t gone yet, Amanda. And you’d be surprised at what can happen in eight days.” Cradling her tenderly against his chest, he began to hum. The song was
I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face
.

“That’s one of my favorites, Tanner. Please sing it.”

He smiled. “It worked for Henry Higgins; maybe it’ll work for me.” He released her, then led her to a chair. Kneeling, he took her hand and sang the love song.

His rich voice filled the quiet room with beautiful melody. Amanda sat very still, letting the music flow around her, in her, through her. She thought how closely music and love were intertwined, especially for the two of them. She imagined that she heard the faint echo of music from years gone by, lovely harmony that had linked her life to Tanner’s.

With the last note resounding against the paneled walls, Tanner touched her face. Her cheeks were wet.

“Tears, Amanda?”

“For us. I’m crying for what might have been.”

“Don’t cry for us. There should be nothing except celebration for us. We’ve been given another chance. How often does that happen?” He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped her eyes. Smiling, he then held it to her nose. “Here. Blow.”

She sniffed. “I’m no statistician. How often does that happen?”

“Only once every fifteen hundred love affairs.”

“That’s impressive, Tanner. How did you know that?”

“I made it up.”

She chuckled. “You’re terrible.”

“I made you laugh, didn’t I?”

“Yes. You always do.”

“Good. Keep that pretty smile on your face. Let’s go outside and play in the snow.”

She shook her head. “Snow in the Delta. What will you think of next?”

“I’m thinking of this new position. It’s called the pretzel. I saw it in a foreign film once, over in Tokyo.”

“You’re making that up.”

“Wanna bet?”

She put her hands on her hips and grinned at him. “No. I’m from Missouri. Show me.”

“Before or after the snow?”

She pretended to be in great thought, all the while watching the play of laughter on his face. That was how she would remember him, she decided. Laughing.

“After lengthy consideration I’ve decided to forgo the pleasures of the pretzel until after I’ve given you a thorough drenching in the snow. One you richly deserve, I might add.”

They put on their coats and went outside to join the rest of the Donovans in the imported snow.

The snow looked as out of place as overalls at a black-tie dinner. It was heaped four inches deep on the patio. All around, the black Delta earth sprouted evergreen shrubs and holly, and even one late-blooming rose.

Paul and Martie and the twins were at the far side of the patio, building a snowman. Hallie was in the midst of a rowdy snowball fight with her teenage nieces and nephews. She let fly a snowball that caught Tanner squarely on the chest as he and Amanda stepped through the door.

“Look who’s come to join the fight. Slowpoke!” Hallie yelled.

“Let’s give them a run for their money, Amanda.” Taking her hand, he ducked behind a redwood picnic table and began preparing his ammunition.

The fight was on—Tanner and Amanda against Hallie and her troops. Snowballs zinged through the air, melting in the warm Delta sun almost as soon as they found their mark.

“We have the advantage, Mandy,” Tanner told her. “Keep low, behind the table. They’ll never roust us out.”

“We’ve got them on the run.” Hallie moved in closer. “Come out from behind that table and fight like a man, Tanner.”

Tanner could never resist a challenge, and Amanda knew it. She cheered as he gave a war whoop and bolted around the table. He caught Hallie in a flying tackle and rolled her in the snow.

“How’s that, smarty pants?”

“Reinforcements,” Hallie yelled. “Where are you when I need you?”

The nieces and nephews were also cheering for Tanner.

“Get her, Uncle Tanner. She ate the last piece of gingerbread,” Theo’s oldest called.

“Yeah, and her dogs chewed up my football,” Theo’s youngest said.

“Traitors.” Halite pounded Tanner’s chest. “Let me up, you big bear, or I’ll have Roseann turn the dogs loose.”

Tanner grinned up at Charles’s sixteen-year-old daughter. “You wouldn’t, would you?”

“I’d consider it. We women have to stick together.”

“Truce.” Tanner released Hallie and stood up, holding his hands above his head.

A snowball caught him squarely in the face. He turned to discover the culprit. Amanda had her hand cocked back, ready to release another.

“What is this? A petticoat conspiracy?”

“Yes. Ready, women . . . aim and fire.” At her signal Tanner’s nieces bombarded him with snowballs.

“Amanda, I’ll get you for this.” She took refuge behind the picnic table as he stalked her, pelting him with soggy snowballs hastily made from the rapidly melting snow.

“You’ll have to catch me first.” Lobbing one last snowball, Amanda raced across the patio and into a stand of pine trees. Tanner came hard on her heels.

“Come on, troops, time to go caroling.” They heard Hallie’s command and the shouts of the Donovan clan, but they were too busy with their chase to notice.

Tanner cornered Amanda behind a pine tree. Swinging her over his shoulder, he marched to the newly deserted patio and lowered her to the snow. He pinned her beneath him, took a handful of snow, and carefully rubbed it in her face.

“Revenge is so sweet,” he said.

“It’s also cold. Tanner, what are the statistics on ladies dying in the snow in fifty degree weather?” He was so busy enjoying his triumph, he didn’t see her reach out and clutch a handful of snow.

“Never, if they have a gentleman to keep them warm.” He circled her lips with his tongue, then raised back up to look at her laughing face.

“A pity you’re no gentleman.” In one swift move she reached up and dropped snow down the back of his shirt.

“Remember what happened the last time you did that, Mandy?”

“No,” she said, lying. She remembered it very well.

“You had to go to great lengths to get me warm again.” He stood up, taking her with him. “Nostalgia has an appeal at Christmastime, don’t you think?”

“Yes,” she said softly. She had to touch him, to feel the solidness of flesh and bone that told her he was really there beside her. Reaching out, she traced his fine cheekbones and the firm, square line of his jaw. “So long ago, Tanner.” Her fingers played over his lips, memorizing them for the lonesome days when he would no longer be hers. “The house was empty then.”

“It is now.” He pulled her into his arms. “The entire family has gone caroling.”

She rubbed her cheek against his, reveling in the feel of him, marveling at the way her love for him kept growing. “Aren’t we going?”

“We’ll catch up to them later.” He lifted her into his arms and started up the back steps. “That is, if you want to.”

The door popped shut behind them, and they were all alone in the Donovan house. There was no sound except Tanner’s footsteps on the polished wooden floors, and yet Amanda seemed to hear the echoes of love and laughter within the walls of the old house.

Tanner’s progress toward the bedroom was slow, for he had to keep stopping to revive himself with a kiss from Amanda. She was more than happy to oblige.

At the top of the stairs he set her on her feet and claimed another lengthy kiss. “Hmm, you’re better than a St. Bernard at rescuing men who are frozen stiff.”

Her hand played along the front of his pants. “If that’s frozen, I hope it never thaws.”

Tanner smiled, “How did you get to be so shy?”

“Practice.”

“Come here, you.” He pulled her into his bedroom and began to strip off her clothes. “I have in mind another kind of practice.”

He took his time, unveiling her more than undressing her. Each time he saw her body, he marveled anew at its perfection. There was some unexpected delight under every garment he removed.

Her bra, damp from the snow, joined her blouse on the thick carpet.

“I never noticed that tiny scar.” His voice was thick with passion as he reached out and touched the side of her breast.

“From chicken pox.”

He wet the scar with his tongue. “Let me kiss it and make it well.”

“Tanner,” she whispered, “how can I ever let you go?”

He was too busy to reply. His hands moved down to her waist, expert now at opening her zipper with the least amount of effort. Deftly he peeled her slacks off, standing back to admire the view.

He bent down and kissed the indention of her navel, the soft down of her abdomen. “There,” he murmured. “There is where our children will take life.”