A Cardinal Christmas (Christmas Holiday Extravaganza) Read online

  Kameron laughed. “To me, there are a couple spots where the trees sound like old men in rocking chairs.”

  “Writers. You notice the oddest things.”

  “Those walks bring necessary things to mind. God uses nature to distract me, or make me work out things in my stories. Gregg moans about not having the energy to walk the dogs any longer. I don’t mind at all.”

  “I look forward to bike rides with the return of warm weather. Until then, maybe the four of us could go for a walk.”

  “You, me, and the dogs?”

  Werner slapped his hood over his ears. “You, me, and our women.”

  “Does Blythe know you consider her your woman?”

  Did she? All this time, he’d thought they discovered the beaver dam.

  ~*~

  Over lunch in the loft above Auntie’s Antiquities, Hayley’s golden eyes rounded. “Werner asked you to stay in Nebraska? That’s huge. Has he let you know how he feels about you? I’m dying to hear you elaborate.”

  Blythe caressed the heart surrounding the pearls on her necklace. “I’m dying to know how you had time to make these homemade noodles.”

  “Don’t change the subject. The noodles came from the freezer at the grocery.”

  “You’ll badger me until I talk about him. I have no idea if Werner has decided to stay. He’s just so easy going. He takes life a day at a time. I have to keep my planner and my whole week laid out in front of me. I need to know what’s in store for tomorrow. As far as I can tell, he isn’t in a hurry to find a job when Dad gets back to the garage.”

  “Girl, you should just see the way the man looks at you. He’s besotted.”

  Blythe almost choked. “Besotted? What kind of an old-fashioned word is that?”

  “All you have to do is look at what I shelve downstairs, and you’ll see how I feel about cherished old items.” Hayley bit into a baking powder biscuit. “I want someone new to cherish them as well. Seriously, have you forgiven Werner for disappearing all those years ago? I still find it hard to believe you didn’t tell me about him when we were girls.”

  “I know. Who can explain a pre-teen girl’s mind? It’s as if he was my railroad track summer buddy, separate from my times with you. Don’t say it. I know you and I explored along the tracks. My best times with you were checking out all the treasures you and your mom brought home. Such wonderful vintage jewelry and fun stuff. I wanted to be involved in your store life and our times together doing church activities.”

  Hayley drummed her fingers on the table. “You’re avoiding my question.”

  “My tactic didn’t work, huh? All right. I was heartbroken when Werner left. He was my first crush. Meeting him again while I still felt the rejection of a broken engagement raised all my defenses.”

  “And now?”

  Blythe couldn’t prevent the smile that bloomed. “Spending so much time with Werner as a man has me over any exaggerated hurt. I suppose I’ve forgiven him without giving it a whole lot of thought. Sometimes I wonder if he’s become an obsession.”

  “Well, I’ve forgiven you for keeping him a secret from me.”

  “I never thought about doing that. Sorry.” Blythe hugged Hayley. “On some level, I did want the two of you to meet. He was going to a school in Lincoln, though, and we were being bussed off. I don’t know why I kept him a secret from you.”

  “Now that we have that out of the way, what are you doing about the upset at Eiseley Resorts?”

  “I don’t know anything yet. That could mean the new conglomerate is considering me to stay on.”

  “My loving opinion is simple. I believe you should choose to believe Werner is serious about being with you. Follow your heart. You’ve been blessed to fly to places like Cancun and a Greek isle, but you’re still a small-town girl. Bottom line, relationships are more important than job advancement.”

  “I’ve always loved that about you, Hayley. You say things the way they are.”

  “People close to us deserve the truth about how we feel.”

  “Now, your old things. Take me downstairs and show me some treasures. Especially if Mom’s been in and had her eye on something particular. I’ve done no Christmas shopping.”

  “The First Noel” played through speakers as they descended the stairs.

  They each touched the necklaces at their throats, and broke into peals of laughter.

  So in tune with one another, they spoke together, “God is so good.”

  Blythe ran her fingers around the heart of her necklace.

  “We’re each connected to our guys by necklaces.”

  “Our guys? I haven’t committed to having a guy yet.” Blythe turned away to scan merchandise on antique shelving. “That’s something how Kameron recognized your necklace as matching his key chain. And a cardinal supposedly pointed mine out to Werner.” She noticed a piece of wood with a painted manger and cross, and read aloud, “The love of Jesus changes lives.”

  Hayley patted her heart. “I loved Kameron and battled because I didn’t want to be involved with someone who didn’t love Jesus. That man struggled so much because he had the knowledge but didn’t yet believe. Then at the right ordained time, the Spirit opened Kam’s heart, and the love of God poured in.”

  Blythe didn’t answer but kept snaking her gaze over the merchandise. “I can’t choose now. There’s too much. I need to get back. Would it be awful if I come after you close?”

  “I’ve packaged up some fudge for you. There’s chocolate caramel for you to share with Werner, and here’s a bigger sack with a variety to take home for your mom.”

  “You’re the best, Hayley. I know she’s missed those treats from Dad.” She swiveled toward the door and another plaque caught her eye. “God gives us the desires of our hearts.”

  “I treasure Psalm 37. But I’m convinced if I put the Lord first, as in delight in Him, then instead of Him granting the desires of my heart, I need to ask Him to put His desires within me.”

  Blythe turned to look Hayley in the eye. “Maybe I should pray for that to happen to me. I want to return to Atlanta, continue the life of traveling I’ve done. Yet at the same time, this little spot on the Nebraska map holds a huge piece of my heart.”

  Hayley opened her arms and wrapped them around Blythe. “I’ll pray along with you. I’m willing to guess Werner’s desire to stay in Nebraska and make a life with you came from our Lord.”

  9

  Would you stay in Nebraska if I asked you to, for me?

  Blythe’s dilemma remained on her mind through the next two quiet hours in the office. Werner’s question accompanied her as an unbroken refrain. She’d repositioned the antique vehicles and ornaments on the mini tree three times. They ended up where she’d originally placed them, decorating the wall end of the counter.

  The motor of an air compressor finally broke her listening ear. She’d been in tune with his movements as Werner worked in the garage. She lowered her head to her arms and finally prayed. “Lord, I want to be in agreement with Your desire for my next decision, whether it be returning to Atlanta to continue the life of traveling I’ve been privileged to do or to stay here in Edgewood, where my loved ones are.” She heaved a big sigh and looked up at the connecting door just as the machine silenced.

  Werner stood in the doorway, drying his hands on a thick paper towel. “I’ll park the pickup outside and then coffee sounds good. Do you want to brew it here, or should I get some from Hayley?”

  “Coffee here isn’t an option when you’ve offered Hayley’s flavor of the day, coconut caramel. No cream, please.”

  “Fudge too?”

  Blythe waved the white paper sack from Auntie’s Antiquities. “Got that covered. Hurry back, big boy.”

  He swung on his coat, left it unzipped, and reached for the door behind him.

  “Leave it open. I’ll get them both.” She rubbed her crossed arms while she waited for him to back out. Then she hit the button in the garage for the overhead and went to the office w
indow. He came back in sight, and she hungered over every fluid move he made as he crossed the road. “I’ve turned into a voyeur as well as an eavesdropper. Despicable.” She took the office chair and checked her phone, which she hadn’t done since before lunch, and read a text from Mom. They were going to make a hospital visit after Dad’s physical therapy.

  In moments, Werner returned with the coffee. He reached into his pocket “Hold out your hand.”

  She obeyed, keeping her gaze on his face while he set something in her palm. A pair of mini ceramic cardinals nuzzled on a nest.

  “Oh. I keep looking for cardinals in the trees, but they don’t show up for me. Thank you.” She ran a finger over the intricate feather lines, the cap atop their heads, and the points of the wings.

  “Blythe.”

  She looked up.

  He leaned in close, extended one finger, and tucked a lock of her hair away from her face. As light as one of those imaginary cardinal feathers, he brushed over her features.

  His breath ruffled the baby hairs at her hairline. All the air in the room stilled.

  Her whole world was concentrated on Werner’s touch. She gave a soft moan and swayed forward.

  The air shifted. Her heavy eyelids sank.

  He leaned in to kiss her.

  A honking horn outside the garage jarred them apart.

  ~*~

  Blythe caught Hayley waving through the door window of Auntie’s Antiquities. What showed of her face glowed between dangling snowflakes.

  A raised arm signaled Blythe’s answer to Hayley’s wave as she ran across the street. Inside, she wiped her feet on the mat. “The area sure isn’t behind on snowfall this December. First things, first. I need sugar. Mind if I enter your vault and pick out some candy?”

  “Be my guest. Along with the usual hard candies, I stocked your favorite Christmas nougats.”

  “Oh, bless you, friend.”

  Hayley took Blythe’s coat and followed her into the antique bank vault, the pride and joy of the establishment. “What are you so worked up about?”

  “Do you have a bigger sack? After that sweet surprise Werner brought me, I’m sharing with him tomorrow. Those tiny nesting cardinals are heartwarming.”

  “Hmm. Is his gift the reason for your sudden sweet craving?”

  Blythe giggled. “Not too long ago, I was craving his kiss. But we were interrupted.”

  “Do tell.”

  “I think I’ll savor that memory before I share.”

  “Have to admit I’d rather see you this way than when you first arrived, all grouchy and mourning your breakup with the guy who dumped you.”

  “Ugh. Don’t remind me.” Blythe popped a chocolate covered mound in her mouth and held her bottom lip between her teeth as it dissolved, mulling over what Hayley said. She unfurled her lip, smiled, and swallowed the melted candy. “It’s kind of hard to put into words. Kameron could do it since he’s a writer.”

  “I don’t think he needs any romantic pointers.” Hayley sidled to a small tripod and plucked a black and gold lace fan off the stand. She waved it in front of her face. “He’s doing just fine on his own. Thank you very much. Do continue.”

  “Look at Mrs. Kohl blush, you newlywed, you.” What would that be like? Blythe hadn’t focused on the romantic part with her ex, only on the extravagance of planning the wedding.

  “Kameron gives me something to look forward to each day. His love is a treasured gift.”

  “I also wake lately with a reason to anticipate the day. It’s as though Werner has restored my joy of living.” Blythe caught Hayley’s raised brow. “Correction. The Lord restored my love of life by bringing Werner back to Edgewood.”

  “If that’s the case, why’d your face just fall?”

  She handed Hayley the candy sacks. “Because my home is in Atlanta, where my job is.”

  “I’ll add your emotional upheaval to my prayer list. Trust God. He’s got your days and your life planned. Relax.”

  Blythe stared out the large display window over the roof of a Victorian doll house and underneath the greenery dangling above. Travis Auto was dark except for the lone exterior light above the office door. “I’m aware of his every move during the day when he’s in the garage working and I’m at the desk. Werner’s got me all hot and bothered. Sometimes I feel like a stalker.”

  “You’ve been bitten by the love bug. A year ago, I was right where you are. I know what you’re going through.” Hayley weighed the candy sacks and set them aside. “Are you ready to spend some money on gifts now?”

  “And how. Mom, first. What’s new, do you have anything that she might be interested in?”

  “Oh, yes. Thought you’d never ask. I’ve run across hand-milled glycerin and goat milk soaps made on a farm west of Seward.” Hayley led Blythe to white iron shelving. “There’s lavender, cinnamon, lemon, rose. Even licorice and patchouli.”

  “Oh, they’re beautiful. But licorice?” She lifted a purple and green brick and sniffed. “Heaven. I want to smell them all. You said Mom hasn’t seen them?”

  “No. She hasn’t been in since before your dad’s surgery.”

  “All right. I want something feminine and flowery for Mom. This is it. Gardenia.”

  “I don’t know if he’d use it, but here’s one with allspice. Most people who have their limbs covered with casts get flaky skin. I’m guessing Ross’s leg is dry under that tight stocking he has to wear.”

  “Hayley, you are so thoughtful. Yes to both. Now I want to check out more of those masculine ornaments. See if I can find something Werner might get a charge out of.” It didn’t take long to spy a super hero riding a bicycle.

  “This is perfect, Blythe. I already had it hanging on the swag in the corner, so I forgot about it. I still think it was so smart of Werner to take a picture of your necklace and ask me to post the notice here on my board.”

  Blythe sighed. “Nothing like having my own personal hero.”

  Then again, what would the necklace mean to her if there was no longer a job with Eiseley International?

  ~*~

  Werner wandered around the house with the Travis family all away from home. Bette Jean and Ross had gone to Pastor Gregg’s for dinner. Each time he paced past the fireplace, he stopped to pin his gaze on the pictures of Blythe. Kindergarten. Braces and a sprinkling of freckles. High school. No college graduation. His favorite, a close up on a sunset beach.

  He stared into those sea-green eyes, grazed her porcelain skin, and marveled at the raven hair that reflected a shade of purple in the waning light. He sucked in a breath as he remembered how her velvety face felt against the roughness of his skin as he was mesmerized enough to taste her mouth.

  Then that horn had blasted. What timing.

  The look in her eyes haunted him. Glazed. Sexy. She’d welcomed his kiss.

  Did she spend as much time thinking about him as he did her?

  He much preferred keeping busy. If he kept stroking his beard, he’d prevent new growth. What should he do with his hands? Dishes. Neither Travis woman liked dirty dishes laying around.

  A mug and saucer sat next to Ross’s recliner. He took them to the kitchen and added what he’d used for his meal. Washing took no time at all. He heard the front door as he folded the towel over its hook.

  He knew by the way she stomped her feet that it was Blythe.

  “Hi. Mom and Dad must still be gone. The TV’s off.”

  “Right. I’m glad you’re home. I’ve gotten used to others besides my own company. Let me take that bag.”

  She handed it to him. “Thanks. Easier to take off boots with two free hands. I’m starved. What did you find to eat?”

  “Starved, huh? Perfect. I just cleaned the kitchen.”

  “Doesn’t that sound like a good little house husband?”

  They each froze. Neither blinked an eye.

  A few seconds passed. Her cheeks reddened. She bent to slip her second house shoe over her heel.

  He laughed
away the tension. “All kinds of leftovers in the fridge. I managed a balanced meal except for fruit. I’m ready for a cup of cider.”

  She took her shopping bag to the bottom of the stairs and returned with two white sacks from Hayley’s place. “Popcorn, peanuts, and an apple sound good to me. I brought you something.”

  “Wait a minute. You need a veggie.” He pulled bags of celery and carrots from the fridge.

  She burst out laughing. “You’re the nutrition police now? Leave out the celery, please.”

  The microwave dinged as he returned the carrots to the drawer. He took his spicy cider to the lounging area and set the mug on the coffee table beside a deck of cards.

  She brought over a dish with a painted snowman in the bottom, and covered the happy figure with an assortment of hard candies. “From the vault. Have you been inside?”

  “That heavy door behind the counter is a vault?”

  “Hayley’s place used to be the Edgewood Bank. The vault couldn’t be moved so it stayed whenever the building went through renovation. Hayley shelves old-fashioned jars filled with what once was known as penny candy.”

  “Mm. Butterscotch.” He unwrapped the treat. “Thanks for indulging my sweet tooth.”

  “I wanted to do something in return for your gift of the cardinals.” She went to the pantry and pulled out a bag of popped corn. “Do you know how to play Kings in the Corner?”

  “One of my favorites. I used to play with Mom and Dad.”

  “Will it be too sad for you?”

  “Not at all. I use strategy. I’ll win.”

  “No such thing as strategy in that game. It’s how the cards fall.”

  “You’ll still lose.”

  “We’ll see. Be there as soon as I slice my apple. Want some?”

  “Nope. Cider’s just fine.” He shuffled.

  Her phone rang.

  “Oh, bummer.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I’ve been summoned back to Atlanta ASAP.” Her face paled and her eyes looked huge. “Mom and Dad still need my help.”

  He finished laying out the game, gulped his sweet drink, and went to her side where she leaned against the counter.