The Christmas Inn (13 page)

“Not really. You’re simply doing a survey of their
operation.”

“Without telling them!” she said, exasperated that he didn’t
seem to understand what was going on with her. But how could he? She hadn’t told
anyone how much she cared about Luke. She hadn’t even told Luke, for that
matter. She drew in a deep breath. “I’m coming home as soon as the roads are
cleared, which may not be for another day or so. But as much as I don’t want to
do your survey work, I will try to finish it before I leave.”

“Thank you so much. I really appreciate it, sis.”

She got off the phone. What if she didn’t make it home for
Christmas? What if she ended up staying right here with Luke? No family
pressures, no list of things to do to prepare for a party she didn’t want to
attend and no hiding from all the questions directed at her over her sale of
Total Elegance. It sounded like a dream.

Feeling an urgent need to get out of the room, away from her
mixed-up feelings, she pulled on all the warm clothes she could wedge under her
winter jacket and started downstairs. She reached the bottom and, not being able
to see her feet with all the layers she’d bundled on, she aimed her cumbersome
body at the front door, then tripped, only to be caught up in Luke’s arms.

* * *

“W
HOOPS
!” L
UKE
STEADIED
HER
, feeling the heat
of her body through the bulky clothes she was wearing. But her bulky clothes
couldn’t hide her appeal. What he wouldn’t give to spend the rest of the day
with her, without any distractions....

But that was wishful thinking, and there was no room for it in
his life…at least for now. “Where are you going in such a hurry?”

Her eyes were looking straight into his, her breath coming in
short gasps.

“I’m going outside to see if I can help them shovel. I need the
exercise and I want to be useful.”

Reluctantly he let go of her, already missing how she felt in
his arms. “You’re just the person I’m looking for,” he said, recognizing the
hidden truth in that statement. “I need a favor.”

“Sure. Anything.” Her eyes were wide with concern as she pushed
her cap back from her face.

“Lindsay’s in labor, and there’s no chance we can get her to a
hospital. Dr. Pearson and his wife are going to have to deliver a baby here and
probably in the next few hours.” The emotion of the moment momentarily choked
him up. Lindsay was the sister he’d never had and if anything happened to her…
“It would be great if you could watch Ethan. The staff, and many of the guests,
are busy shoveling snow or getting some rest so they can work again tonight. The
snow has grounded helicopters, the road is still blocked and there’s no choice
but to deliver the baby here. It would mean so much to me if you could care for
Ethan at least until after the delivery.”

She pulled off her mitts and took his hand in hers, her fingers
gentle against his skin. “I would love to do that. And if there’s anything else
I can do, please tell me.”

Her eyes were warm and caring. He was exhausted, worried and
needed to be cared for. “Thank you.”

Her lips worked as if searching for the right words while her
gaze never left his face. They stood there, sharing a moment of deep
understanding, which left Luke feeling reenergized. She put her arms around his
neck and hugged him to her, a hug meant to ease his worry, and it did. But it
was also a hug that told him she cared, that she would be there for him. He held
her tight against him, seeking her warmth, her reassurance, and for that instant
he didn’t feel alone, stranded in some emotional wasteland.

“Where is Ethan?” she asked.

“Playing Lego in the apartment. I’ll walk you over.”

“No. I’ll find my way. You go do what you can for Jack and
Lindsay. They need you.”

“I will, and thank you.”

“Luke, I know you’re worried. They’re your friends, and if
there’s anything I can do…”

She left the offer unfinished, but he knew from the deep
concern in her eyes that she meant what she’d said. That she understood how hard
it was for him to face the possibility that, should anything go wrong with the
delivery, there was no one to call that could assist them. That Lindsay and her
baby were facing an uncertain few hours, and all anyone could do was wait and
hope.

For the first time in his career as a manager accustomed to
dealing with people, he had no words to express how he was feeling, as emotions
he’d lost touch with rose through him. In just a few words she’d lifted his
spirits, and offered him hope that everything really would be okay.

He was the first to walk away, not because he wanted to but
because he needed to escape from the sure knowledge that he felt closer to
Marnie than to any woman since Anna. He longed for that deep feeling of
closeness, that mutual contact that said so much without a word being
spoken.

CHAPTER NINE

M
ARNIE
WATCHED
L
UKE
LEAVE
, resisting the
urge to go after him. She’d seen the pain in his eyes, and felt a connection to
him that made her heart rise in her throat.

A baby was about to be born in an inn that was completely cut
off from the outside world, and all that stood between success and complication
was a retired obstetrician and a former nurse, a duo who had no instruments to
work with and no other qualified person to call on to help. She shivered.

Thank heavens Luke hadn’t asked her to help with the birth.
She’d be about as helpful as a kite in a windstorm. But she was good with
children, thanks to all the time she’d spent babysitting her brothers’ children.
She hurried on down the corridor toward the apartment, peeling off her layers of
clothing as she went. She found Mary with Ethan—who’d taken over the entire
living room with Lego blocks—under the supervision of Henry, who met her at the
door with a joyful bark.

“Thanks for coming so quickly,” Mary said, an expression of
relief on her face. “You’ll probably be with him for the rest of the morning or
longer. One of the men is shoveling the snow away from the garden doors that
open onto the patio, and when they’re done, you can take Ethan outside for a
while. His snowsuit, mitts and boots are on the chair by the door.”

“We’ll have fun, won’t we, Ethan?”

“Yep,” Ethan said without looking up.

“And I’ve got to run. If we’re about to have a new baby in our
midst, I need to get to the attic and find some of Ethan’s clothes.”

“They didn’t bring any with them?” Marnie asked.

“No. I suspect Lindsay was so anxious to be with Jack last
night, she didn’t think of bringing baby clothes. It really isn’t a problem as
Anna saved all of Ethan’s baby things. Luke asked me to go to the attic and find
some newborn things. I’m sure there are cloth diapers, receiving blankets and a
bassinet as well up there. Anna and Luke had planned to have a second baby real
soon.”

“They must have been so happy,” Marnie said.

“They were. Luke has been so lonely these past years, while his
parents are off traveling the world, blinded by their selfishness. Those parents
of his, what a pair!” She snorted. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to unload on you.”

“Not to worry. I’m here to provide whatever help I can.” She
gave Henry’s ears a good rubbing, and was rewarded with doggy groans of
delight.

“I hope you don’t mind me leaving you like this.”

“Not at all.” Marnie shed her outdoor clothes, aware that she
was inside Luke’s private home. “Don’t worry. Ethan and I will do just fine.
Right, Ethan?”

Ethan smiled his father’s smile as he came toward her, trailing
a huge misshapen hunk of blocks. “I made a truck,” he said in a proud voice.

“Is this a truck?” Marnie inquired, kneeling down to the little
boy’s level.

“Yes! You can help.” Ethan nodded as he passed her his attempt
at a Lego truck and went back to the pile of blocks. “Here.” He pointed to the
Legos.

“Okay, let’s see.” Marnie sat on the floor, taking in the sight
around her. There were toys scattered everywhere. Luke had turned his
apartment’s living room into a playroom.

She spotted a table next to the propane fireplace. On it were
several framed pictures. Curious to know what Anna Harrison looked like, Marnie
rose and went to the table. Her eye was immediately drawn to a photograph of
Anna, her long dark hair held back by silver combs, as she sat holding Ethan, a
beautiful blue afghan wrapped around his infant body, her face resting against
her son’s cheek, a look of complete happiness lighting her face.

The photos all held so much joy, so many poignant memories for
a man who’d lost his wife in the days leading up to Christmas. And now, with
Christmas so near, how sad he must feel.

She tried to imagine what he’d lived with the past three years.
Her own family had had it so easy. Her brothers were all happily married with
eight beautiful kids among them. Except for her accident, life had been good to
the McLaughlan clan.

Ethan raced across the room, nearly knocking over the photo
display. “That’s me.” He pushed his finger against the glass of the closest
photo.

“Aren’t you handsome.” She ruffled his hair, and he grinned up
at her.

“Okay, let’s get back to work,” she said, returning to the huge
mound of blocks.

Ethan knelt beside her, his eyes wide with interest. “I want a
snowplow, too.”

“Let’s see what we can do.” Marnie began assembling the pieces
to build something resembling a snowplow as Ethan lugged over his half-finished
truck, but her mind was on Luke and his friends, and whether or not they had
delivered a baby yet. How must it feel to be having a baby under such
circumstances?

Would she ever have a baby? She’d always believed that fate
would determine whether or not having children was in the cards for her—after
she finished proving to everyone, including herself, that she had what it took
to succeed in business.

But as she worked side by side with Ethan, seeing the
enthusiasm with which he hooked each block together, she wanted this—all of
it—in her life.

Ethan gave a huge sigh. “I’m thirsty.”

As if on cue, Henry got up and ambled toward them from his spot
at the door.

“Then let’s get you something to drink.”

She followed him into the kitchen to find him standing with the
fridge door open next to the cold shelves, his hands on a bottle. “Can I have
apple juice?”

She lunged for the fridge, and lifted the glass bottle of apple
juice from his eager fingers in the nick of time. “I’ll pour it for you.”

Before she could close the fridge door, he’d opened the
cupboard next to it and took out a plastic cup. “These are all mine.” He waved
at the array of plastic cups and plates, along with spoons and forks that were
available for him to choose from. What a great idea, having everything Ethan
needed where he could reach it. She poured his juice, which he drank noisily,
and then they returned to his Lego.

An hour later he requested a peanut-butter sandwich for his
lunch, and showed her where to find the bread, peanut butter and jam. Marnie
made one for herself as well, and they ate together at the kitchen table with
Henry looking on hungrily. With lunch over, they continued building with such
intensity that Marnie lost track of time.

Suddenly, Ethan stood up. “Let’s go,” he yelled, heading for
the door.

“Hey! Wait for me,” she called, picking herself up off the
floor and chasing after him.

“I want to go out.”

Henry got up again, wagging his tail so hard his whole body
shook. Ethan buried his face in the dog’s neck. “Henry can come with us,” he
announced.

“You mean out in the snow?”

He nodded vigorously, a large curl bouncing on his
forehead.

“Okay, then we need to get your snowsuit on, and your mitts and
hat—”

“No!” Ethan scowled and cocked his tiny fists on his hips.
Henry barked in support of Ethan’s cause.

“Ethan, it’s too cold to go out without your snowsuit on. Look,
I’m going to put on my mitts and hat and jacket.” She pointed to the pile of
clothes on the chair by the door.

“Not me.” He pouted.

“That’s too bad. You stay here then, and I’ll take your truck
and snowplow outside.”

“No! I want to come with you.” Henry yawned and ambled toward
the door, looking up expectantly at the doorknob.

She knelt down and gently held Ethan’s tiny shoulders in her
hands. “If you want to go outside with me, you have to get dressed.”

He dropped his chin to his chest.

“It’ll be so much fun. There are huge drifts of snow out
there.”

His head snapped up. He leaned closer, peering into her face.
“Can I shovel?” he asked in an enthusiastic whisper.

“You sure can, but first we have to get our outdoor clothes
on,” she said, mustering her most persuasive tone of voice.

He grabbed his snowsuit and dragged it over to her. She helped
him get dressed and put on her outdoor clothes, then followed him out of the
apartment. Ethan lugged his Lego truck and snowplow out to the patio, Henry
trailing after him. Ethan whooped in delight as the falling snow hit his cheeks.
Someone had shoveled out a huge section of the patio that was rapidly refilling
with snow. Ethan went over to the corner of the patio, and put his Lego
creations down on the snow-packed ground.

He tried moving them through the snow, but they kept getting
stuck. “You help,” he ordered, and she squatted beside him.

After a few frustrated moments of trying to make the Lego truck
haul snow, Ethan gave up. “Dump truck.” He pointed to the opposite corner, and
Marnie realized that his metal dump truck was probably buried where he’d left it
the day before.

“Okay, give me a minute.” Down on her hands and knees she used
her hands to dig away the snow from the spot where she estimated his truck
should be. Henry joined her, snorting as he buried his nose in the cold
snow.

“I’ll help you.” Ethan rushed over and fell into the huge drift
she was working on, squealing as the snow rose in a cloud and rained down on
him.

He climbed out of the drift and wrapped his arms around her
neck, laughing. Henry barked in delight as he circled them. Then Ethan pushed
back and held her cheeks in his hands while he peered into her eyes. “I love
you,” he whispered, his cold nose pressing against hers.

Her heart stilled and her breathing stopped. Tears pooled under
her eyelids as she fought back the feeling she’d long buried. Who could wish for
more out of life than to hear those words spoken by a child? “I love you, too,
sweetie,” she said, smiling at him as she brushed snow off his hat and kissed
his cheek.

“Okay.” He wiggled out of her arms—the moment over—and began
digging for his dump truck once more.

Accompanied by Henry’s enthusiastic barks, they dug together,
and finally Marnie discovered that the ground beneath where she was working was
dirt and not patio stones. “We’re nearly there,” she said to Ethan, who let out
a whoop and began digging harder. They were both on their hands and knees
digging rapidly when Marnie heard a familiar voice.

Ethan stopped. “Daddy!” he squealed, and backed out of the
corridor of snow their digging had created. Henry shuffled past Marnie in hot
pursuit of Ethan.

“I figured I’d find you here.”

“Up,” Ethan ordered.

Wouldn’t you know? I’m on my knees with my
butt in the air when the man of my dreams returns.

Marnie backed out of the tunnel and stood, swiping at the snow
crusted on her pants and jacket as she glanced up into Luke’s face.

“I see Ethan has put you to work and Henry’s assisting.”

Luke had circles under his eyes, his hair uncombed, and his
smile was one of weariness. But he’d never looked more handsome, more human or
more vulnerable. Seeing him this way did something to her. She let the feeling
flow over her, warming her soul. “Yeah, they’ve kept me busy, but it’s been fun.
It’s so pretty out here.”

“With Ethan in charge, I’m surprised you got a chance to do
much looking around,” he said, exhaustion shaping the lines around his
mouth.

“Just a quick peek.” She smiled at him, hoping he’d smile
back.

He didn’t.

Henry put his front paws up on Marnie’s leg and nudged his nose
under her hand. “Is everything okay? Is the baby okay?”

“Yeah, he’s great and so are the parents.” Luke hugged his son
and touched his bright red cheek lovingly. “Everything is just fine,” he said,
his tone filled with a mixture of relief and sadness.

There was something bothering Luke that went beyond his concern
over his friends and their baby. “Let me stay here and watch Ethan. You’re
exhausted. Why don’t you take a break?” She reached for the little boy, who
hugged his father’s neck, pursed his lips and glared at her in response.

Luke held his son tighter as he met Marnie’s anxious gaze.
“I’m… I… Their joy at having a baby…”

The yearning imprinted on his face did it for her. In that
moment she felt connected to him in an inexplicable way, sharing his unspoken
wish for a child. “The perfect Christmas present, a healthy baby boy,” she said.
“Will they be able to get home tonight?”

“I doubt it. The plows aren’t making much progress.” He
squinted up at the sky. “And the weather service says we’re in for at least
another six hours of this.”

* * *

H
E
SWALLOWED
OVER
THE
unwelcome sensation that he was very close to
tears. He couldn’t cry in front of his son, or Marnie. Tears and the emotions
driving them had never been welcome in his family growing up, and old habits
held them in check now. “It is the perfect Christmas present, and I’ve never
seen my friends happier.”

“How’s Dr. Pearson?”

“He’s great. He and his wife were fantastic. It was as if they
were in their own world as they did all the things they had to do.”

“You were there when the baby was born?”

“No, only when they were getting organized, but I waited
outside, in case they needed anything. Francine was there to help Mae. She was
the one who told me the good news.”

She touched his shoulder. “What does he look like?”

“He’s got reddish hair. Other than that I couldn’t see very
much of him.” Emotion clogged his throat at the memory of seeing his friends so
happy, a memory that left him wanting to feel that special kind of joy
again.

“Do they have a name for him?”

“They’re calling him James Edward after Jack’s brother who was
killed in Iraq.”

“What a beautiful gesture.”

“It is. Jack and James were only a year apart, and Jack had
just returned from a tour of duty himself when the family learned that James had
been killed in a suicide attack.”