The Christmas Cottage(6)

“Well, at least let me keep you company.” Or maybe he wanted her to leave? After all it wasn’t his idea for her to come to dinner or interrupt their father and son tree-decorating party.

“I’d like that. Come in the kitchen. I can put on a pot of coffee, or I could make you some tea. My momma was a tea drinker and I always keep it around. Don’t know why. She passed on a couple of years ago. But I just feel like I need to have tea in the house.” He looked like he’d said too much and turned to place the bowls in the sink.

“I’d love some tea, thank you.” Interesting man. He was so gentle with his son and kept tea because his mother had been a tea drinker.

He put a kettle on the stove and cleaned up the kitchen while the water got hot. When the whistle sounded on the kettle, he pulled out a wooden box of tea bags. “Here, pick what you want.”

She picked out a chamomile and Steve poured the hot water into a mug for her. “Sorry, I don’t have a fancy tea cup like Mom had. Just my coffee mugs.”

“This is fine.”

He came over and slid into the seat across from her at the table. He stretched his long legs out and bumped into her. “Oops, sorry. Not used to someone sitting across the table.”

“That’s okay.”

She sipped on her tea. It was turning into a nice evening after all. Well, except for the whole Christmas tree thing. She debated on whether she should ask about Josh’s mom, but decided it might be rude to ask.

“I didn’t mean to cut you off when you were talking about Josh’s mom.”

So, he was a good chili maker and mind reader too?

Steve shifted in his chair and picked up the salt shaker in front of him, twirling it around on the table. “Josh’s mom left us when he was one. We were young. She wanted to put him up for adoption, but there was no way I could do that. I got sole custody and she moved on with her life. Josh asks about her sometimes, but he hasn’t really ever known a life with a mom, so I think he’s okay with it. He does as well as any kid without a mom.”

“I’m so sorry. That must have been hard raising him alone.”

“My momma was still alive then. She helped a lot. I don’t know how I would have done it without her. My sister lived next door too then, and she helped out. Kind of the whole it-takes-a-village-to-raise-a-child scenario.”

“You’ve done a great job. He’s a wonderful kid.”

“I think he is. He’s just, well, he’s great.”

Holly put down her mug. “I guess I should be going. I had a nice time. Glad you invited me.” She grinned at him.

“Yes, it was a great idea of mine, wasn’t it?” He grinned back at her then pushed back from the table. “We’ll walk you home. Let me get Josh.”

“There’s no need for that.”

“Humor me. I’d feel better if we escort you home.”

They walked back into the family room and Steve called for Josh. The boy and the dog came trotting to the room.

“I finished my homework. Can I play now?”

“We’re going to take Miss Holly home first, then a bath, then bed.”

“Ooo-kaaay”

The three of them strolled out into the cool night. Josh ran ahead with Louie, throwing a stick and racing after the dog. They got over to her cottage and Steve stood on the porch while she unlocked the door. Louie came running up to the door, wagging his tail. She reached down to pet him. She stood back up and turned to Steve. “Thanks for tonight. I had a good time.” And she realized she’d had a good time, even with the Christmas tree decorating ambush.

“See you soon.” Steve stepped off the porch. “Come on Josh. Let’s go.”

“Bye, Miss Holly.”

“Goodnight, Josh. Thanks for inviting me.”

The boy turned and waved and raced off toward his house with Louie right at his heels. Steve lifted a hand in a half-wave of his own and followed the boy and the dog back toward his house.

She looked up at the night sky with millions of stars tossed across the darkness. A desolate quietness settled around her, an emptiness that reached to the depths of her soul. When would this aching, hollow feeling ever end? No matter what she did, or where she went, it chased her around like a relentless pack of wild wolves.





CHAPTER THREE



“Miss Holly, Miss Holly.” Josh came hurtling in the door to the animal clinic the next afternoon with Louie right beside him.

“Hi, Josh. What’s up?” Holly had just finished up a busy day at the clinic. Her first one on her own. She thought she’d done pretty well but she’d been glad to have the experienced vet tech, Cindy, who knew where everything was kept and most of the animals and their owners by name.