Sweet Christmas Kisses (4 page)

“Dave couldn’t cope with Danielle’s diagnosis,” she said. “He couldn’t handle the doctor visits, the hospital stays, the tests. I never would have described him as a weak person—” she shifted her weight from one foot to the other as she tried to formulate some sort of excuse for her ex’s behavior “—but you know how tough it is.” She shrugged. “Some people can handle it. Some people can’t.”

Aaron frowned. “You mean…”

“He left us, Aaron.” Her mouth went flat. “Oh, at first he tried. I’ll give him that. He moved out because he said he couldn’t take seeing our daughter so sick every single day. He came to the hospital a time or two. But as Danielle’s condition worsened, he just… stopped.” Her sigh was resigned. “He stopped calling. Stopped visiting…” Christy didn’t know what else to say, so she lifted one shoulder, hoping to convey that there was really nothing left to say.

“What kind of man could leave his family at a time like that?”

It was clear Aaron didn’t expect her to answer.

Then he added, “What an ass.”

“Yeah, well…” She just let the response trail off.

Aaron didn’t need to know that Dave had showed up at Danielle’s funeral, marched his sorry self right up to stand beside her, and had accepted every ounce of sympathy he could wring out of friends and family members. Christy thought the ire smoldering inside her through the service would burn her alive. And then he’d had the audacity to suggest he move back home so the two of them could start over. Never in her life had she felt more like punching someone in the face. She hadn’t become violent, but she had called him every name she could think of before telling him to leave her home and never contact her again.

Aaron placed one hand on her shoulder and cupped her jaw with the other. “You must have felt so alone.”

Christy pinched her top lip between her teeth, the pain keeping her focused on the here and now. She just nodded.

Then Aaron’s features twisted with anguish. “Did your little girl know? Was Danielle aware that her father abandoned her? And you?”

“I used every excuse I could think of,” Christy told him. “But you know how kids are. They sense so much more than we give them credit for.” Then her eyes did well up as she admitted, “When she left me, she was calling for her daddy. He was all she wanted.”

Aaron whispered, “
The bastard
.”

A tear trailed down her face and Christy smiled ruefully. “I wasn’t able to make Danielle’s last wish come true. I couldn’t make Dave appear at my baby’s bedside. That’s what pushed me to offer to come here. So I could help you with Izzie’s.”

The distress that had him calling her ex detestable names just a second before drained from his handsome face. The emotion that took its place was powerful.

“Christy,” he whispered, leaning forward until he was mere inches from her. “You’re such a sweetheart. I… I don’t know what to say.”

 Was he going to kiss her? For one crazy moment, she wished he would. Feeling his lips on hers would certainly be a distraction from the turmoil brought on by dredging up the past.

He’d called her sweetheart. No, he’d said she
was
a sweetheart. Big difference. Huge difference.

But he was looking at her with such… She ran her tongue over her suddenly parched lips as she tried to put a name to the intensity in his expression.

“I’m ready!” Izzie bounded into the room.

Aaron and Christy sprang apart like teens who had been caught doing something naughty. They avoided looking at each other and focused on Izzie instead. She was wearing her coat, buttoned up tight, hood up and tied, and she held two brightly wrapped packages, complete with bows and curly ribbon.

“Are you going somewhere?” her father asked.

“
We
are.” Then her smile slipped. “We’re going to drive around and look at the lights, aren’t we? We’re going to the boardwalk, right? You promised. It’s nearly dark out.”

“Oh,” was all Aaron said. “Of course.”

Izzie brightened. “These are for under the tree.” She held up the gifts. “One for you, daddy. And one for Christy.” The skin where her eyebrows should have been rose significantly as she added, “I hope you two remembered to bring some presents. Christmas morning isn’t much fun without surprises.”

Christy laughed and so did Aaron.

“Don’t worry,” Christy assured her. “I brought gifts.”

“Honey, are you sure you feel up to going out again?” Aaron asked. “You look tired.”

“I feel great.” Then Izzie added, “
Really
.”

Thinking father and daughter might like some time alone, Christy suggested, “Maybe I should stay here and bake more cookies—“

“No,” Izzie said. “I want you to come. Please, Christy?”

The child’s pleading tone pulled at Christy’s most tender emotions. Without hesitating, she waved her arms, herding them both toward the front door.

“Let’s do this!”

Being a tourist town, Ocean City was flooded with upwards of a quarter of a million people in the hot summer months. But once winter set in, the town was sparsely populated with fewer than ten thousand year-round local residents. The streets were empty this Christmas Eve save for a car or two. But the ghost-town-like feel only made this adventure more fun.

Aaron drove slowly along Coastal Highway, the main thoroughfare that ran through the full length of the town, as Izzie and Christy searched for signs of colorful lights. The object of this game, Izzie had explained, was to be the first to shout out an alert that a decorated home had been found. Businesses lined the highway which meant the houses were tucked away down the short side streets.

“Snowman!” Izzie called.

The turn signal clicked a steady beat and Aaron turned right.

“Where?” Christy craned her neck, looking east, north, west, and south.

“Look
up
.” The little girl giggled with delight.

Sure enough, a fat snowman glowed in the darkness on a condo balcony a couple stories up, a smile frozen on its face, a red mitten lifted in a friendly greeting.

And so it went. They saw one home literally covered—windows, doors, eaves, and roof—in vibrant blue lights. Another property was studded with flashing palm trees and pink flamingoes. Still another had an array of mechanical animals set up in a magical, Christmas wonderland complete with fake snow. Izzie ooo-ed and ah-ed at each display, and Aaron had to admit that some of the elaborate decorations impressed him, as well.

He parked near the boardwalk, cut the engine, and twisted to face his daughter. “Are you sure you’re up to walking?”

She only nodded, and shoved her way out of the car.

Aaron looked across the seat at Christy. “Are you ready for this? It’s cold out there.”

“Gloves, hat, scarf, insulated jacket,” she said. “I’m ready.”

He paused long enough to shoot her a serious look. “You’re being a great sport about all of this, Christy. Being dragged out in the cold on Christmas Eve is going above the call. I do appreciate it.”

She smiled at him, and suddenly he couldn’t seem to draw a breath. He felt as if he was really seeing her for the first time. He blinked, opened his mouth, and then shut it again. She was a stunningly beautiful woman.

Izzie rapped on his window.

Her voice was muffled as she urged, “Come
on
, Daddy.”

The adults exited the car, and as soon as Aaron closed the door, he looked across the roof at Christy. Her blond hair curled softly around her shoulders, and her hands were stuffed into her jacket pockets. She walked up the ramp toward the boardwalk, and Aaron couldn’t help but notice how nicely she filled out her jeans with soft, feminine curves.

He felt a yank on his coat. “Daddy, let’s go.”

“Sure, honey. Sure.” Taking his daughter’s outstretched hand, he followed after Christy.

This was an odd feeling. He’d known Christy was a flesh and blood woman. He’d realized she had a kind and giving nature; she’d been caring for his daughter at the hospital, on and off, for many months now, and no one would sacrifice their own Christmas for the sake of a child unless that person was very special, indeed. So he had noticed some things about her. And after hearing her story earlier, he also knew that, just like him, she’d experienced tragedy in her life. Learning how she’d lost her daughter had touched his heart to the point that he’d been compelled to comfort her. But why hadn’t he noticed just how pretty she was? Or how enticingly her hips swayed when she walked? He guessed it had been because, until this moment, he’d been preoccupied, completely and utterly focused on his goal of getting Izzie to Ocean City for the Christmas celebration she so hoped for.

“Oh, wow, how pretty!”

Aaron had to smile when his daughter shouted out the very words that were racing through his head. Of course, Izzie was describing something totally different.

His little girl released his hand and ran ahead, passing Christy in the process, as she took in all the cheerful holiday lights of the businesses and homes along the boardwalk. Christy slowed her gait until he caught up to her.

“I’ve never spent Christmas near the ocean,” she told him. “The sound of the waves and that salty tang in the air give the season a whole different feel.”

“Everyone should spend at least one Christmas near the sea.”

She hugged herself and shimmied her shoulders. “That breeze that’s so refreshing in the summer, cuts right through you this time of year, though, doesn’t it?”

As if it were the most natural thing in the world, he wrapped an arm around her. “We won’t be out long. Izzie will be worn out soon.”

“Hey, don’t you worry about me.” She grinned. “I’m tough.”

Aaron laughed. “I’m sure you are.”

“Dad! Dad!” Izzie shouted. “We’re almost to the Lonely Loon. I can see it from here!”

“We’re coming as fast as we can,” he called back, and the adults hastened their pace. “My daughter is in love with the Lonely Loon. It’s a big, ramshackle Victorian and the owner goes all out with the Christmas decorations.”

They reached Izzie who had climbed up onto the sea wall and now stood, gazing up at the brightly lit house.

“The Lonely Loon.” Izzie’s tongue lingered on the Ls. “I love sayin’ that.”

“It’s a B&B,” Christy said.

The entire house was outlined in tiny white lights. Strings of vibrant red lights spiraled down the full length of the white porch columns, turning them into fat candy canes. Electronic icicles dripped from the eaves and the motion of the lights made them look as if they were actually melting. The evergreen wreath secured to the front door was huge and welcoming.  

“Yeah,” Izzie said. “It looks like a huge dollhouse, doesn’t it? It’s my favorite place on the whole boardwalk.”

“You like it even more than the arcades?” her dad asked.

Izzie laughed. “Okay. It’s my favorite place on the boardwalk in the
winter
time.”

Aaron grinned at Christy and told her, “The arcades are closed this time of year.”

“Ah.” Christy nodded.

Just then a woman hurried around the corner, her arms filled with colorfully wrapped boxes and fancy gift bags. One of the boxes slipped from her grasp and bounced on the wooden boards.

“I’ll get that for you.” Christy hurried to pick up the box.

“Thanks,” the woman said, a bright smile on her face. “Merry Christmas to you.”

“Merry Christmas,” Izzie called. “The Lonely Loon is really pretty this year.”

“Well, thank you, sugarplum,” the woman said. “I’ll be sure to give Heather your compliment. She owns the building. I’m Cathy. I run the Sunshine Grill there.” With a jerk of her head, she indicated the restaurant located on the first floor of the B&B.

“I’m Izzie, and we’ve had breakfast there,” Izzie told her. “I ordered the pancakes with strawberry topping. They were good.”

Aaron didn’t think the woman’s smile could get any bigger, but his daughter’s compliment made Cathy’s face beam. “Well, thank you, Miss Izzie. I appreciate the kind words. Hey, you look like you’re half frozen. Why don’t you bring your mom and dad inside? I’m sure there’s a fire in the hearth and hot apple cider too. And cookies!”

Izzie jumped off the sea wall, grabbed her daddy’s hand in one of hers and Christy’s hand in the other, and then she looked up at them with pleading eyes. “Please, can we go in? Just for a little while?”

Aaron looked at Christy. “Do you mind?”

“It’ll be fun,” she told him. “And I’d love some hot cider.”

“Great,” Cathy said. “Follow me.”

As they traipsed up the steps that led to the front porch, Izzie whispered to him, “She thinks we’re a family.”

The sheer joy in her tone warmed Aaron’s heart, and in his mind’s eye, he could easily imagine Izzie checking off another wish fulfilled on the list in her journal.

The scent of cinnamon and apples wafted in the air as Cathy ushered them into the foyer. An old-fashioned ceramic Christmas tree sat on a round table next to a guestbook and a dish filled with red, white, and green candy ribbon.

“There are plenty of hooks for your coats and scarves there on the wall,” she instructed. “I’m going to go put these presents under the tree before I drop them all over the floor.” She took the box from Christy and smiled her thanks. “Head on into the great room when you’re ready.”

Christy helped Izzie out of her coat and mittens, and then pulled off her own.

“It’s so quaint, isn’t it?” she said.

Izzie was trying to take in everything at once. “Just like a big, ol’ dollhouse.”

Aaron followed his daughter and Christy into the next room. He knew Izzie would go ga-ga over the vintage silver tinseled Christmas tree. And she didn’t disappoint him, practically ignoring everyone in her rush to get closer. Lit from beneath with slowly twirling lights, the tree reflected red, green, blue in a dazzling display.

“It’s beautiful,” she said.

Aaron swept the room with his gaze and cringed at the tragic expressions of the adults as they looked at his daughter. Their knee-jerk reactions were something he was familiar with, of course. Most people responded to her bald head and delicate appearance with the same startled and sympathetic look. Too bad practice didn’t make it any easier for him to witness.