The Christmas Children (3 page)

“There's a good view of Tampa Bay from my balcony, and the beach isn't far away.”

“You've convinced me,” he said, laughing. “But I'll rest up a few days before I make any plans.”

 

It was daylight by the time they finished eating, and Carissa exclaimed in delight as she viewed the frozen lake from the kitchen window.

“I was disappointed last night when I arrived in Yuletide,” she said, “because it didn't have the Christmas atmosphere I had expected, but this area looks like the winters I used to know. There are lots
of lakes in Minnesota, although we don't have mountains.”

While Paul showered and shaved, Carissa moved the furniture back into place and put the pots and pans she'd scattered on the floor in the dishwasher. She surveyed the room to be sure it looked as it had when she'd arrived. Something seemed to be missing, but she didn't know what until she realized that the stuffed bear she'd seen on the fireplace ledge wasn't there. She knew she hadn't moved it.

Paul returned at that time looking refreshed and more handsome than ever, in spite of his black eye and the bruise on his forehead.

“Did you move a teddy bear off the fireplace ledge?” Carissa asked.

“No,” he said, adding with a mischievous smile, “I stopped playing with toys a long time ago.”

“Surely at forty-five, I'm not having a “senior” moment—as some of my friends say. But I know when I arrived last night there was a stuffed bear lying on the hearth. It isn't there now.”

“Maybe Justin or the medics moved it out of the way when they came for me.”

“Maybe. But I had the strangest feeling that someone had been in the house before I arrived. That's why I barricaded the door last night. The house was warm, although Justin told me that Naomi had lowered the thermostat before she left.”

“Maybe Naomi was having a senior moment, too, and forgot to lower the temperature.” He looked out
the back door. “I'm going over to check my apartment and put my rental truck in the garage.”

Still brooding over possible intruders, Carissa walked to the wide glass door and stood beside Paul. Behind the house was a three-car garage with an apartment on the floor above it.

“We inherited this property from our parents,” Paul explained. “When Naomi and her husband decided to build the chalet, I built the garage and apartment. I'm never in the States more than two months at a time, but when I'm here, I want my own place to stay in.”

“It's a nice place.”

“Good enough for what I need,” he agreed. “Want to go with me and check it out?”

“Sure. I'm still your overseer for a few hours.”

She grinned pertly at him, and Paul thought how fetching she looked. Carissa had intense blue eyes fringed by dark lashes, and a spray of freckles across her nose, which only added to the beauty of her delicate oval face. Carissa seemed young and untouched. Paul found it hard to believe that she was forty-five.

“I'll put on my boots and coat,” Carissa said, wondering at the speculative gleam in her companion's eyes.

His apartment consisted of a large living room and kitchen combination with a spacious bathroom and bedroom in the rear. The absence of nonessential decorations proclaimed the apartment a man's. Car
issa wondered at his age, judging that he was several years younger than she was. He'd said Naomi was his only family—but had trouble with a woman been the unpleasant experience that had caused him to leave Yuletide?

The apartment was chilly, and Carissa insisted that Paul go back to the house with her. “It'll be several hours before the apartment gets comfortable. By that time, you'll be ready to take a long nap.”

“Thanks, I'll do that. But I wanted to point out the intercom system between my apartment and the house.” He pointed to a speaker on the living room wall. “Just flip the switch and call if you need me. The one in the house is on the wall between the kitchen and the living room.”

He yawned, and Carissa said, “Let's take a walk before we go back to the house. If you sit down, you're going to sleep.”

“A good idea, but I'll need some warmer clothes, and I hardly remember what I have. I haven't been home during the winter for a long time.” Paul shoved clothing back and forth in the bedroom closet until he found a heavy coat with a hood that still fit him. He changed his light boots for insulated ones.

Sunshine glistened on the newly-fallen snow as Paul and Carissa crossed the road and took the path around the lake. White-throated sparrows and Acadian chickadees darted into the trees, dislodging tufts of snow that settled on Paul's and Carissa's shoulders. They observed the ungainly flight of a pileated
woodpecker, its red crest conspicuous in the sunlight. Small huts dotted the surface of the frozen lake, now covered with several inches of fresh snow.

“There's a lot of ice fishing on this lake,” Paul commented. “The huts are rented to fishermen for protection from the wind while they wait for a bite.”

“There's ice fishing on the lakes in Minnesota, too.”

“I wonder if the lake is frozen enough for skating,” he said. “I learned to skate on Lake Mohawk. We used to have skating parties almost every night. I've kept up with skating as much as possible. Many Christmas holidays I've spent time in Germany, Austria or Switzerland so I could skate.” He stepped out on the surface of the lake. “Seems pretty solid. Do you skate?”

“Not since I was a child. Skating isn't a Florida pastime.”

Their footsteps crunched rhythmically on the frozen snow as they walked. “Why did you leave Minnesota and move to Florida? Did your family transfer?” he asked.

A somber expression quickly erased Carissa's happy mood, but she answered readily enough. “I moved there by myself, soon after I graduated from high school. I never returned to Minnesota.”

Believing he'd touched on a sensitive subject, Paul didn't question her further.

Carissa's animation returned moments later when she said, “This is the first time I've seen snow for
years. It's glorious.” She picked up a handful and ate it. “Grandma used to make ice cream out of snow. I'll make some if I can remember how.”

“Most of my visits back home have been in the summer,” he said, “and I've missed New York's winters while I've been away. There were fabulous Christmas celebrations in Yuletide when we were children—lights all over the business section and most of the houses were decorated. Prizes were given for the most original ideas. We sometimes built snow palaces on the frozen lake and had them floodlighted. We had programs at the church—just a wonderful time.”

“Why did they stop? I came to Yuletide thinking I'd find Christmas the way it was when I was a child. I was really disappointed when I drove in last night and didn't see any sign of Christmas.”

Paul yawned. “Carissa, surely I've stayed awake long enough. I'll tell you about the tragedy that took Christmas out of Yuletide, but not until after I sleep.”

Carissa was a bit surprised that they'd slipped so easily to a first-name basis, but that pleased her. Mischievously, she picked up a handful of snow and, standing on tiptoes, she rubbed it in his face.

“That oughta keep you awake 'til we get back to the house.”

“Hey!” he spluttered, wiping the snow from his face with his mittened hand. “I'm an invalid and you're supposed to be kind to me.” He scooped up
some snow and threw it at Carissa, but she sidestepped the attack and started toward the house on a run. Paul's long-legged stride soon caught up with her.

“I'll get even with you,” he warned, a gleam in his brown eyes that belied his words. “I expected to be welcomed home as an honored guest, and what happens? I'm assaulted the minute I step into the house, and then I get my face washed with snow.”

Laughing, Carissa said, “I'll make it up to you. While you take a nap, I'll fix a meal for you.”

“Sounds good to me, just as long as I find a bed before I fall asleep on my feet.”

 

While Paul slept in the downstairs bedroom adjacent to the great room, as silently as she could, Carissa unloaded the SUV and carried her luggage upstairs. Periodically, she'd crack open the bedroom door, and each time, Paul's even breathing assured her that he was resting comfortably.

She would have to wake Paul before too long because the doctor wanted to look him over again. She organized her belongings in the master bedroom, then sat on a padded window seat looking over the frozen landscape. Her thoughts were on Paul Spencer.

He seemed like a friendly, easygoing guy, possessing a spontaneous cheerfulness that answered a need in Carissa's heart. She'd never considered herself a joyful person, but when Paul's mouth spread
into a toothy smile that lightened the darkness of his face, Carissa felt lighthearted, and laughter bubbled from her lips.

Having a man in the house was a strange experience for Carissa. She'd never known who her father was, and her grandmother had been widowed before Carissa was born. She'd lived alone for more than twenty years, and it seemed odd to have a man sleeping in her house. She had grown accustomed to solitude, but already she knew she'd miss Paul a little when he moved into his apartment.

Carissa had come to Yuletide to discover the faith she'd known as a child, and she was determined to achieve that goal. It had taken a long time, but Carissa finally believed that she could do whatever she set out to do.

Yet she'd never reacted to anyone as she was reacting to Paul Spencer. Her attraction to him confused her.

She found his nearness disturbing and at the same time exciting.

C
arissa retrieved the Christmas pageant key from her luggage and carried it downstairs. She placed it on the coffee table. Confronted by Paul's presence, she needed a constant reminder of why she was in Yuletide.

Paul was still sleeping at one o'clock, so Carissa tapped on the bedroom door. He didn't respond, so she knocked more loudly.

“Uh-uh,” he said sleepily. “What is it?”

“You have to see the doctor at three o'clock. It's time to get up.”

Silence greeted her. Had he gone back to sleep? She knocked once more.

“I'm sorry,” Paul said. “It's taken me a few minutes to realize where I am. You're the lady who's taken over sis's home, huh?”

“Yes, the one who attacked you with a poker last night.”

“Do you have the poker now?”

She imagined his white teeth showing in a slight smile. With laughter in her voice, she said, “Not yet, but I may have to get it if you don't hurry.”

He yawned noisily, and she heard his feet land on the floor.

“Be out in a minute.”

Carissa was standing at the back door appreciating the landscape, when the bedroom door opened behind her.

She turned, stifled a gasp and experienced a giddy sensation as if her heart had flipped over. Paul had the broad-shouldered body of an athlete, but his waist and hips were narrow. Wearing a T-shirt and jeans, he leaned against the door, looking as vulnerable as a child. His eyes were still heavy with sleep and his hair was tousled. He yawned again.

Had she been wrong when she'd made up her mind that she could live a happy, fulfilled life without a husband? Was she old enough now that the pitfalls she'd avoided in her youth would no longer tempt her? Was it possible to disprove the opinions of her childhood neighbors, who'd often said “Like mother, like daughter”?

Deep in her own thoughts and conflicting emotions, Carissa started when Paul said, “It won't take me long to get ready. I'll bring in some fresh clothes from the car.”

She winced when she noticed that the bruise had spread until both eyes and part of his cheek were black.

Intercepting her glance, he said, “I could pass for a raccoon this morning, don't you think?”

Blood rushed to her cheeks, and she covered her face with her hands. “Don't remind me. Does your head hurt?”

He lifted his hand to his forehead. “No, but it's sure sore to the touch. I don't dare turn my head quickly.”

Dropping her hands, Carissa said, “I'll get your luggage.”

He started to shake his head, thought better of it and said, “Thanks, but I need a jolt of Adirondack air to help me wake up.”

“I made some lunch so we can eat before we go. There isn't much food in the refrigerator, but I'll stop at a grocery store after we've been to the clinic.”

“I'll need to buy a few groceries, too, though, I'll probably eat out most of the time. When I'm home for such a short time, I don't want to store up any food.”

Carissa was tempted to suggest that they could share their meals, but she hesitated. At her age, this was no time to become involved with a man. After all, she didn't know anything about Paul Spencer. She wouldn't become chummy with this stranger.

Why, then, did her heart insist that Paul wasn't a stranger?

 

Carissa sat in the waiting room, and when Paul came from the doctor's office with a smile on his face, she felt a great wave of relief.

“There's no damage except a sore head for a few days. I can live with that,” he said.

“I don't know that I can,” Carissa said. “I'll probably have nightmares for years about you collapsing at my feet. I thought I'd killed you.”

“I'm glad you didn't,” he said. He laid his hand on her shoulder.

Carissa flinched and moved away, and his hand dropped limply to his side. Paul stared at her, slightly embarrassed, a confused expression on his face. He must be wondering why she would be offended at such an innocent gesture.

Carissa knew that Paul only meant to be friendly, but she wasn't used to casual touching. She'd denied any natural tendencies toward overtures of friendship for so long that she had a complex about being touched. Several years into her career, she'd finally conquered her phobia enough to shake hands with her customers, but she apparently hadn't overcome all of her hang-ups.

Being friendly and outgoing had contributed to her mother's undoing. She could do nothing about looking like her mother, but long ago Carissa had determined that she wouldn't emulate her mother's personality and lifestyle. Her mother's vivacious personality had gotten her involved with the wrong
people and sent her down the path to prostitution and, ultimately, premature death.

Embarrassed that she'd allowed a phobia from the past to make her reject Paul's overture of friendship, Carissa lifted a flushed face to him. Her blue eyes mirrored her anxiety. Her voice was strained when she said, “I'm glad, too, that I didn't injure you,” and she added in her thoughts,
for several reasons.

Paul wondered at the anxiety revealed in Carissa's eyes. She was a successful businesswoman…but had he detected a flaw underneath the facade that she presented to the world? At this moment, she seemed like a bewildered little girl unable to understand what had happened to her. For several years, Paul had made it a point to tend to his own business and keep aloof from the problems of others. Now, for some inexplicable reason, he longed to remove that confused, lonely expression from her face. Before the next few weeks passed, he would no doubt learn if it was in his power to do so.

 

As Paul moved his belongings into the apartment, he kept thinking of Carissa. When Jennifer had jilted him, he'd made up his mind he was through with women. He'd deliberately chosen a job that would keep him out of the United States. He hadn't been tempted to seek the companionship of women in the countries where he'd worked, and, most of the time, he was content with his bachelorhood.

Occasionally, Paul wondered if he was missing
anything by not having a family. If he didn't have any children, who would carry on the Spencer name and family traditions? He often questioned what would become of the money he'd accumulated, if anything happened to him—for his sister didn't have any children, either. And what could Naomi do with the fortune she'd inherited from her husband? It was only in the past year, since his fortieth birthday, that Paul had become concerned about this issue.

Carissa was an attractive woman, and he smiled when he thought of her embarrassment over hitting him on the head. But, personally, he thought it took a lot of courage to attack a man with no better weapon than a poker. Paul admired courage in anyone.

She was a little woman—her head didn't even reach his shoulders—but at times she displayed a dignity that belied her short stature. And Paul had detected a lot of warmth and vitality waiting for release beneath that dignity.

He sensed that Carissa didn't think she was beautiful, but beauty was in the eye of the beholder. After the way Jennifer, who was tall and shapely with black hair and vivid green eyes, had treated him, Paul had decided that he'd never choose another companion based on outward appearance.

From what he'd seen of Carissa, he believed her beauty was more than skin deep.

 

Paul saw his sister so rarely that he was disappointed to learn that Naomi had gone to Florida.
He'd called from Kennedy Airport to have his home phone connected, so he asked Carissa for the telephone number of her condo so he could call his sister. He tried three times before he finally found her at home. She couldn't believe he was actually in New York.

“Why didn't you tell me you were coming home?” Naomi cried in dismay. “I would have stayed in New York. But you can come here,” she added. “The weather is wonderful. I go to the beach every day for several hours, and I'm feeling better already. I've even decreased my pain medicine.”

“I'm glad to hear that, sis. I'll come down for a few days before I go back to my job.” The logical thing for him to do was to go to Tampa immediately, but as strange as it might seem to him, he wanted to see more of Carissa.

“I'd come home,” Naomi continued, “but I can't because I've loaned the house to Carissa for two months. Have you met her?”

“Well, yes, we had an…unusual meeting.”

He explained how they'd met, and Naomi laughed merrily before she said, “I can't imagine what happened to the door. I'm sure it was locked when I left home. Will you have it fixed?”

“Yes, I intend to.”

“How do you like Carissa?”

“She's okay,” Paul said nonchalantly. Naomi's ultimate goal was to see her brother married and set
tled down in the United States. He didn't want his sister to read anything into his meeting with Carissa. “She was embarrassed at first about hitting me, but we laugh about it now.”

“Carissa is a very successful businesswoman. She sold her company for a bundle a few months ago. I've been told that the sale netted over a million dollars. And you should see this luxurious apartment!”

Paul thought he'd accumulated quite a lot of money, but he certainly wasn't in Carissa's league. His attraction to Carissa had reached its first barrier. He wouldn't fix his interest on a woman who was worth more financially than he was. But in spite of his reservations, after he'd finished his dinner, Paul kept searching for an excuse to see Carissa again that evening.

 

As she often did at home, Carissa prepared a taco salad, sat in front of the television and watched the evening news while she ate. Before she'd sold her company, her days had been so busy with business matters that she didn't have much of a social life. It was usually a relief to escape into her apartment at night and let the walls close around her. Her only relaxation was at the health club in the basement of the condo complex. She'd made some good friends there, and she missed them tonight.

She'd gotten a sack of Red Delicious apples at the grocery store, and while she munched on one for dessert, she reflected on her day with Paul. This time
yesterday she'd never heard of the man, but they'd gotten acquainted in a hurry. Had the time come for her to seek the male companionship she'd previously avoided? Now that she'd reached the mellow years, the hang-ups she'd had about dating shouldn't be a problem. It was rather astonishing that she was even thinking about the subject, and most surprising was that she hadn't had such thoughts until she met Paul Spencer.

“Hey, neighbor!”

The loud voice startled Carissa so much that she dropped the apple core on the floor. It took a moment for her to realize that Paul was calling on the intercom.

“Hey, neighbor!” The call came again before she remembered where the speaker was.

Smiling, she picked up the apple core, hurried into the kitchen and answered Paul.

“Hey, yourself.”

“I wanted to see if this thing still works. What are you doing?”

“Finishing dinner.”

“I promised to tell you why Yuletide is no longer a Christmas town. If you have time, I'll come over and fill you in.”

“Great! I'd like some company.”

Humming a Christmas song that she'd just heard on the television, Carissa rinsed the dishes she'd used for supper and put them in the dishwasher. She prepared a bowl of grapes, cheese cubes and crackers
and placed the food on a table between two large lounge chairs in the living room. She poured a jar of fruit punch over ice and was placing it on the table when Paul knocked on the back door. She motioned him inside.

“Brr!” he said, taking off his coat and laying it on the back of the couch. “The temperature is dropping quickly. If it wasn't already, the lake should be frozen enough that I can go ice fishing tomorrow. If I make a nice catch, I'll invite you to have dinner with me in my apartment.”

“Can you cook?” Carissa asked as she motioned him to one of the chairs. It seemed rather odd to be acting as hostess to Paul in his sister's house.

“I'm a fair cook,” he said. “I've prepared dinners many times for some of my co-workers. But I'm not such a good fisherman, though, so don't whet your appetite for a fish fry until you see the fish.”

“Help yourself to the snacks,” Carissa invited. “I'll take you up on the invitation. I'm
not
a good cook— I just make what satisfies my appetite, and that's not always what others like to eat. I never cook a meal for anyone. If I have guests, I take them to a restaurant for dinner.”

“Since I kept you up most of last night, I hesitated to barge in on you—you'd probably like to go to bed early. I'm sleepy, too, but I want to adjust to Eastern Standard Time, so I'm forcing myself to stay up.”

“Good idea. I haven't done much overseas travel,
but it usually takes a week for me to get over jet lag.”

Paul poured a glass of fruit juice and sipped it as he talked. “As I told you earlier, when I was a kid, Yuletide was just like a fairyland during the Christmas season. But a tragedy one Christmas Eve changed all of that.”

He paused, stretched out his long legs and continued. “That night, a woman and her baby came to town asking for shelter. She went to several businesses and private homes, as well as the police station, but everybody was too busy to help. The people didn't mean to be callous, but they just expected the next person to take care of her. No one did, and on Christmas morning the woman and child were found dead, huddled in the entrance to Bethel Church.”

“Oh, how terrible!” Carissa said feelingly, and memories of her own neglected childhood surfaced.

“The woman had fled from an abusive husband, and she died from complications of an unattended childbirth. The temperature went to zero that night and the baby died from exposure.”