The light is what guides you home, the warmth is what keeps you there.” Ellie Rodriguez
“Mom! Hurry up! My soldier will be waiting!”
Six-year-old Emma McCullough stood just inside the door to the apartment's one bathroom, dressed in her Sunday best, her startling green eyes anxious as her wild flaxen curls bounced impatiently around her gamine face. Her mother, Janine, who was just finishing with her makeup, glanced at her daughter's reflection behind her and sighed as she screwed the top back on her mascara.
“Honey, for the last time, calm down. We still have some time before we meet him.”
“But we'll be late and he'll leave!”
“No, Emma, we won't be late and he won't leave without seeing you first. I promise.”
The little girl threw up her arms and groaned dramatically before leaving the bathroom to return to the living room. Janine rolled her hazel-green eyes as she ran a brush through her long, dark blonde hair one last time.
“Six going on sixteen,” she muttered, double checking her jeans and ivory sweater before turning out the light and following her daughter.
It was the weekend before Thanksgiving. The afternoon air held a chill and the trees were starting to shed their autumn finery as Janine drove from the older apartment complex in an even older part of town with Emma strapped into her safety seat behind her. Her ten-year-old Subaru was little more than a beater but it still ran well. Though the heater took some time to warm up, making her grateful for their coats, just paid out of layaway a few days before.
Emma had first written to Justin Nightway while in kindergarten the year before. Her simple letter with accompanying crayon drawings had been part of a class project to help support deployed military personnel. There were several responses from recipients of those letters, but it was Justin's letter that had somehow touched the little girl. She had written him back and so had begun a long distance friendship between a five-year-old girl and a thirty-year-old soldier. At first the letters were exchanged through the teacher, but when the school year ended Janine had asked the teacher to give her Justin's address so Emma could continue to write to him over the summer. Eventually, she had began adding notes to Emma's and receiving notes in return and soon the two adults were writing one another letters as well. A few times, the three had been able to video chat over the internet so, in a way, it was like they actually knew each other more than they actually did.
Now, Justin had returned from the war zone and given a medical discharge due to one hand being irreparably damaged during a firefight. Driving home to Oklahoma from the hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, he had made a special side trip just to see them. He'd arrived the night before and had taken a room at a hotel just off the interstate. Now they were going to meet him in the hotel's restaurant for lunch, over which Emma continued to agonize they would be too late for.
The hotel was part of a chain that promised to provide the same comforts as a bed and breakfast and boasted seventy-five warmly appointed rooms. Walking through the cozily appointed lobby, Janine held Emma's hand as they made their way to the restaurant next door where they were met by a pleasant middle-aged hostess. The sounds of many voices and clanking dishes filled the air, along with delicious aromas. Janine's stomach rumbled, reminding her that all she'd had for breakfast was a toasted English muffin.
“My name is Janine McCullough and we're meeting Justin Nightway.” Emma explained. “Has he arrived yet?”
The hostess smiled and nodded.
“Yes, ma'am. If you'll follow me?”
She led them through a busy maze of tables, booths, and potted plants. Janine held tight to her daughter's hand, until they rounded a corner to a quieter part of the room. Suddenly, Emma broke free of her mother's hand and ran to the last booth, where a sandy haired, well built man had risen with a smile to meet her.
“Justin!”
Janine thanked the hostess and approached the pair more slowly, watching with a smile of her own as they hugged like old friends. He was several inches over her own five-foot-four height and ruggedly handsome in jeans and flannel shirt. His left hand was gloved in black leather.
“Hey there, Munchkin,” he said a with a laugh.
“I was so afraid we'd be late and you would leave!”
He shook his head.
“Never! Not without seeing my best girl.”
He straightened and turned his smile on Janine.
“Hey, Janine. We meet at last.”
“Hi, Justin.”
He motioned to the booth.
“Have a seat.”
Emma slid across the side where he had been sitting.
“I'm going to sit by Justin.”
“Emma...” her mother began with a warning tone, but he laughed and shook his head.
“No, it's okay.”
He waited until she had taken her seat before sliding in beside a grinning Emma.
Before either could say anything, a waitress appeared with glasses of ice water and menus.
“Hi folks, I'm Hattie,” she said as she placed a glass before each of them then handed out the menus. “I'll be right back to take your orders.”
“Mom, do they have chicken nuggets?” Emma asked as the waitress hurried away.
“Probably.” Scanning the menu, Janine found the children's menu. “Yep, chicken nuggets with french fries. You want that?”
“Yep.”
“I had dinner here last night,” Justin told her, lowering his menu. “They have pretty good food.”
“They must. I can't believe all these people are staying here.”
It didn't take long for Janine to settle on a chef's salad. Justin decided on a hot roast beef sandwich with mashed potatoes.
“So school's out now for the week, right Emma?” Justin asked as the waitress left with their order, and Emma grinned as she nodded.
“Yep. Just yesterday.”
“How well are you doing?”
The little girl shrugged self consciously.
“Well, I guess I could do better.”
“Could?” He asked with one brow lifted, but his eyes were twinkling. He knew what a good student she was.
“Yea. I only got a B average this year.”
“Well, that's not so bad.”
“But I like making A's.”
“I'm sure you do.” He took a sip of water. “What's giving you so much trouble?”
“Math, as always. We had to learn fractions.”
“Fractions? Wow! I didn't have to learn those until much later.”
“Me neither,” Janine agreed. “but they're teaching kids things like that much earlier now.”
Justin smiled ruefully.
“Poor kids. I was more for putting things like that off as long as possible.”
Then he turned his attention back to Emma.
“So what was your favorite subject?”
“Oh, science, I guess. I like the experiments and stuff.”
“Did you make a volcano yet?”
She grinned and nodded enthusiastically,
“Oh yeah! It blew up and everything.”
Janine chuckled.
“Then she came home wanting to make one of her own.”
Justin grimaced.
“Well, that's certainly a lot more interesting than what I had to do.”
“What was that?”
“Collect bugs and pin them to a board.”
Emma gasped and shuddered.
“Eww!”
The adults laughed at her theatrics and the conversation continued with many smiles and laughter, finally waning as they enjoyed their meals. Desserts followed and it was then that Emma brought up the subject of Thanksgiving.
“Will you be having turkey on Thanksgiving, Justin?” she asked around a spoonful of chocolate ice cream. “We always have turkey, even though it's just me and Mom.”
“Emma, don't talk with your mouth full,” Janine reminded her.
The little girl nodded then turned her attention back to Justin. Dutifully he waited until he'd swallowed his last bite of apple pie before he spoke.
“I don't know what I'll be doing for Thanksgiving, to be honest.”
“Don't you have a family?”
He shook his head, his expression sad.
“Not anymore.”
“You don't have any brothers or sisters?” Emma sighed. “I wish I did. But Mom says maybe someday.” Then she brightened. “I know! You can stay with us and have Thanksgiving with us, too!”
There was an uncomfortable silence between Janine and Justin, which Emma didn't seem to notice as she looked eagerly at her mother.
“Can he, Mom? We have lots of room and I'll be real quiet when he's sleeping so I don't wake him up.”
Finally, it was Justin who spoke first.
“That's awfully nice of you to invite me, Emma, but it's too short of notice. Your mom needs more time to plan for company. And, besides, I have to get to my home in Oklahoma.”
“But why? You said you don't have any family anymore. Do you have somebody else to stay with?”
“Emma!” Janine silenced her daughter with an exasperated whisper, then she paused before meeting Justin's eyes with a shy smile. “She's right, Justin. You have no one to share the holiday with and we have plenty of room. We'd love to have you stay with us.”
Not certain what to say, even though the idea was enticing, he started to speak when Emma interrupted him, her young gamine face pleading.
“Please, Justin?”
He turned his attention to Janine and, after a pause, finally nodded with a warm smile.
“Thank you. I think I'd like that.”
Emma laughed and turned impulsively to hug him, her small arms sliding over his muscled arm and around his waist before she sat back with a satisfied smile.
“Good!” She looked across the table at her mother. “Can we go now? I want to show Justin where we live.”
“Don't you want to finish your ice cream first?”
“I don't have to. We have some at home!”
~
By mid-afternoon they had Justin comfortably ensconced in their cozy apartment. He had balked at accepting Janine's bedroom in which to sleep, until she had explained that she worked very late hours as a medical transcriptionist and it was just as easy for her to stretch out on the daybed in the bedroom she used as an office. Privately she asked herself how long it would take the three of them to get used to sharing one bathroom.
Janine was a little self conscious about her thrift store décor but she made no apologies for it. She had worked hard to give Emma and herself a safe, comfortable home after her husband's catastrophic medical costs and subsequent death had left them practically destitute. Neither of their parents had ever reconciled themselves to their marriage so Janine was left to carry on the best she could with what little remained of their once modest, yet comfortable, life.
After unpacking, Justin emerged from the bedroom and walked down the short hall. Looking around him, he found the living room spotlessly clean and the furnishings warmly eclectic. Neutral color furniture from different eras, worn but not shabby, promised comfort, inexpensive pictures and wall ornaments lent interest, a braided rug covered much of the floor, and a brightly colored granny square afghan draped across the back of the couch. A low bookshelf held an older combination TV/DVD player on top, bracketed by that year's school picture of Emma on one side and a potted green silk plant on the other, while the two shelves below were stuffed with a collection of DVDs, well read paperbacks and children's books. Mismatched lamps graced each of the tables at the ends of the sofa while a floor lamp stood behind and slightly to the side of a man-sized recliner that all but guaranteed complete relaxation. The center of the cocktail table boasted a large, charmingly fussy scrapbook, while insulated ivory antique satin drapes covered the windows, helping to keep out the chilly November weather.
It was, he thought, a home in the best meaning of the word.
“Would you like some coffee?”
Turning, he met Janine's smile with one of his own.
“If you're having some.”
She nodded and motioned to the small farmhouse-style table to one side of the eat in kitchen.
“Then make yourself comfortable.”
After taking a seat in a straight back chair, he watched as she measured grounds into the filter lined basket then poured water into the back of the coffee maker and flipped the switch. Her actions were economical, her movements gracefully feminine as she removed a couple of ceramic mugs and a salad plate from a cabinet. As the delicious aroma of brewing coffee filled the room, she filled the plate with lemon cookies from an apple shaped cookie jar and brought it to the table.
“I put Emma down for a nap,” she explained quietly. “She was so excited last night she didn't get much sleep.”
“She's quite the pistol,” he observed, grinning, and Janine chuckled.
“She's all that, and more. She definitely keeps me on my toes.”
She pulled out the chair to his left and reached for a cookie as she took her seat.
“Have one, they're delicious. We splurge on them at the bakery every payday.”
She watched as he chose one and took a bite, then smiled as his eyes widened.
“Good, huh?”
“These are amazing!”
Nodding, she nibbled on her own cookie.
“I know. It's just as well I can only buy them once or twice a month, or else Emma and I would weigh twice what we do now.”
The hiss of the coffee maker signaled that the brew was ready and she returned to the counter.
“Cream or sugar?”
He shook his head, “Black, thanks.”
She added a little creamer to hers, stirred, then carried both mugs back to the table. She watched as he took the last bite of his cookie then took a sip. She noticed how he kept his injured hand resting and unmoving on the table.
“How is your hand?” She asked quietly.
He shrugged and grimaced.
“It lets me know it's still there from time to time. Otherwise, I barely notice it anymore.”
“Can they do anything further for it?”
He shook his head.
“No, too much nerve damage.” He set the mug down and reached for another cookie. “I'm just glad that it was my left hand and not my right.” He took a bite, his expression growing thoughtful as he chewed. “Of course I'll have to find a way to cast a line one handed.”
He slid her a wry grin and she chuckled.
“A fisherman, are you?”
“All my life.”
“My husband tried to teach me fishing once. When I finally stopped tangling the line I managed to catch one, but couldn't bring myself to touch it.” She smiled and took a sip of coffee. “It would flop and I would squeal. He thought it was hilariously funny but finally took pity on me, removed the hook, and threw it back.” She laughed, remembering. “We had pizza for dinner that night.”
They sat in companionable silence for a while, sharing cookies and sipping their coffee. Justin found himself watching her with growing pleasure. She was more than pretty though not quite beautiful. He guessed intriguing would be a better word. Her face was expressive and open, with hazel eyes that sparkled and full lips that readily smiled. She had changed into a well worn pair of jeans and a loose flannel shirt after they arrived home. Her hair was pulled back in a pony tail and fuzzy brown house slippers looked warm on her feet. He knew things were difficult for her but she still exuded an easy, generous contentment. He was at once attracted to and comfortable with her.
“Would you like a refill?” she asked when both their mugs were empty.
He thought about it, eyed the remaining cookies, then smiled a bit sheepishly back at her.
“Yeah, I think I do,” he rose to his feet, “But I can get it. Want some?”
She handed him her mug, “Thanks. About half a cup but no creamer this time.”
He nodded and stepped away to the tiny kitchen. She watched as he filled his mug then poured the rest in hers before turning the maker off and returning to the table. She smiled her thanks as she took her mug from him then waited until he'd once again taken his seat. Almost immediately he reached for a cookie.
“Have you ever married?” Janine asked.
He shook his head.
“No. Never even came close.”
“Ah! A confirmed bachelor.”
He smiled and shook his head.
“No. Just picky.” He reached for another cookie. “I was never one to settle on just anyone who might fit the mold for a particular need. I wanted someone special. A true partner in life. So while most of my buddies are getting married then divorced, I'm still looking.”
Her eyes were soft as she nodded.
“You're wise there. I had that kind of marriage. Good, strong, loving. I'll never settle for less, either.”
“So you plan to marry again someday?”
“If the right person came along. It wouldn't be fair to either Emma or me if I didn't.”
She grinned as he took the last cookie and took a sip of her coffee.
“Are your parents still living?” she asked and watched as he paused in mid bite, his face losing all expression. He ate the last of the cookie then washed it down with coffee.
“I don't know,” he finally answered with a slight shrug. “Don't really care, if the truth be known.”
Janine sensed a deeply held pain in his words.
“It was that bad?” she asked quietly.
“It could have been better.”
“I guess I had a good childhood. I felt secure and had no doubts that Mom and Dad loved me.” She stared down at her empty mug. “Then I married Doug and all that changed. For both of us.”
He tipped his head slightly to one side.
“How so?”
“We weren't from similar religious backgrounds. Both of our parents were fundamentalists, in their own ways, and neither would accept our getting married to such different faiths. We got married anyway and they all washed their hands of us.”
“I'm sorry. That must have been pretty hard on you.”
She nodded, “Yeah, it was. But, in the end, we had each other and, as I said, a strong relationship. We accepted their bigotry for what it was and made our lives the way we wanted it.”
“Then Emma came along.”
A gentle smile touched her face.
“Yeah,” she said softly, “Our little angel.”
“Do they know about her?”
“We sent birth announcements to them but never received a reply from either.”
“Their loss,” Justin responded forcefully and she nodded.
“I agree.”
“Mom!”
Emma's voice broke into their conversation from her bedroom.
“And my angel beckons,” Janine chuckled wryly. “Yes, honey?”
“Can you come here?” A pause, then, “Is Justin still here?”
“Yes, I am!” he responded with a smile and watched as Janine stood up and left the room.
~
Over the coming days, their lives evolved into a kind of rhythm. Janine worked extra hours so she could have a couple of more days off for the holiday, then slept a good share of the day. Emma was quite happy to have Justin to keep her company and delighted him with her bright mind and affectionate, mischievous personality. She was anything but boring to him.
As she had already bought most of their Thanksgiving dinner, the only thing remaining to buy were the rolls and salad makings. So they braved the crowds at the grocery store, and ended up bringing home more than they had planned. Justin had insisted on buying extra to replace what he had consumed during his stay. As a result, Janine and Emma had more meat in their freezer than had been there in a long time.
When she finished work shortly before dawn, Janine prepared the turkey and placed it in the oven to slowly cook over the course of the morning and early afternoon. She was debating what else could be done, and had just decided to make a pot of coffee before she would lie down for a few hours, when Justin walked in yawning and barefooted, with only his jeans on. Not for the first time she found herself admiring the view. He sure was a fine specimen of a man despite his scarred and mangled hand.
“What are you doing up so early?” she asked over her own yawn.
“I had thought to see what I could do to start dinner so you could go to bed.” He grinned sleepily. “I did my share of KP duty while I was still in the army.”
“Ah!Well, you just missed putting in the turkey. I was going to make a pot of coffee. Would you like a cup?”
“Won't that keep you awake?”
“Hardly. I've learned to sleep whenever I can no matter what I eat, or drink before hand. And I love my coffee anytime.”
“Sounds good.” He motioned toward the table. “But you sit while I put it on.”
She did so without argument and watched as he filled the pot with water and measured in the grounds. She was happy to see how comfortable he was moving around her kitchen and how well he had settled into her home.
He opened a cupboard and withdrew a package of cinnamon rolls.
“How about some breakfast, such as it is?”
She nodded and he put them in the microwave to warm while he took two salad plates from the cabinet.
“You're pretty handy to have around,” she told him with a smile as he joined her at the table and placed a plate and fork before her.
“It's the least I can do in return for your hospitality.”
The microwave dinged as the aroma of brewing coffee quickly filled the room and soon he was back with the cinnamon rolls followed by their mugs of coffee.
“We've enjoyed having you here,” she assured him as she reached for a roll.
“Thanks. I've enjoyed being here.”
They ate in silence and Justin noticed how she seemed to be concentrating intently on each bite. Her cheeks suddenly pinkened as she finished her roll and reached for her coffee.
“I, uh, I don't mean to pry,” she began hesitantly, still not looking at him, “but you've never said why you had decided to return to Oklahoma when you have mentioned how little awaits you there.”
“I've begun to question that myself.”
She nodded and took a sip of her coffee.
“Have you considered living somewhere else?”
“Yes.”
She glanced up and found his intent gaze laser focused on her, and looked back down at her mug.
“Near here?”
“Yes.”
“Tha-That would be nice. Emma would love it.”
“Would you?”
He waited as she set her mug down. She slowly nodded.
“Yes,” she replied quietly, then looked up at him. “Yes, I would.”
A slow smile curved his lips.
“That's all I needed to hear.”
Her cheeks pinkened again as she smiled softly in return. But before either could say anything further a yawn erupted on her face and she pressed a hand over her mouth.
“I think you need to get to bed,” he chuckled, then stood and held out his good hand. “C'mon. I'll take over until you get back up.”
“But there's nothing else to be done for a few hours yet.”
“There will be plenty once Emma wakes up.” He motioned encouragingly with his fingers as his voice lowered. “C'mon.”
Taking his hand, she allowed him to pull her gently to her feet then cupped her face with his injured hand.
“Your skin is so soft,” he murmured, “I wish I could feel it with both hands.”
She drew his good hand up to press it against the other side of her face.
“Then do.”
For a long moment their eyes held before he leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on his lips, followed by another, more insistent. Finally, he pulled away, his hands lingering before he stepped back.
“Sleep well,” he murmured.
~
Emma awoke shortly after sunrise and padded slightly unsteadily into the living room as a yawn split her sleep-flushed face. Justin looked up from the chair where he had been watching the early morning news show and smiled. She was so adorable first thing in the morning with her crumpled footed pajamas and severe case of bedhead.
“Morning, Munchkin.”
“Hi,” she responded drowsily then smiled and wrapped her arms about his neck in a hug, which he warmly returned. “I smell the turkey.”
“Yeah. Your mom put it in before she went to bed.”
“What time will she be back up?”
“She said about one. Would you like some breakfast?”
“Can I have eggs?”
He nodded and stood.
“You sure can. I was waiting to eat them with you.”
While he fried up their bacon and eggs, Emma used a small step stool to reach the counter and make their toast. By that time she was wide awake and chattering about the dreams she'd had and how much she loved Christmas.
“Santa will be at the mall tomorrow.”
“I saw that.”
“Can I go see him?”
“That's up to your mom.”
She nodded as she slathered entirely too much butter on the toast with a case knife.
“I hope so. I want to tell him what I want for Christmas this year.”
“What do you want?”
“That's a secret. I can only tell Santa.”
Justin grinned as he slid the single egg onto her plate, added strips of bacon, then carried it with his plate of four eggs and bacon to the table. Emma followed, carefully carrying the plate of toast.
“Can I have orange juice, Justin?”
“I don't see why not. Here, have a seat while I get it.”
They enjoyed a leisurely breakfast while Emma continued to talk about the homework the teacher had sent home to be done over the holiday and how unfair that was, then about what she wanted to get her mother for Christmas.
“The high school always has a store for kids to buy presents for people,” she explained, “I went last year and bought Mom a really nice thing that she can use in her hair.”
“Have I seen it yet?”
She shook her head.
“No, not yet. She'll wear it today, though, because she only wears it for special occasions. She said it's because it's too nice to wear everyday.”
“I look forward to seeing it.”
The morning passed as he cleaned kitchen and helped her do some of her homework. Then he read to her about Peter Pan followed by working on a five hundred piece puzzle of a puppy and kitten. Justin didn't have to pretend interest. He had grown to genuinely love the little girl.
At a little after one, Janine arose and, following a shower, joined them at the table where they were still working the puzzle. Her faded jeans and pink sweatshirt, with her long hair pulled back with a shell hair clamp, made her appear much younger than her thirty years.
“I told you she'd wear it,” her daughter whispered loudly to Justin.
“And it looks beautiful on her,” he responded, his eyes warm on Janine as he rose, kissed her cheek, then went to pour her a cup of coffee while she took her seat at the table.
She looked at the puzzle, now neatly framed on a yellow towel and about half filled in.
“That's looking pretty good. How long have you been working on it?”
“A long time,” responded Emma. “Justin's not as good at it as you are.”
“Emma!”
Justin laughed as he set the mug of coffee down in front of her.
“Don't fuss at her. She's right. I'm one of those people who gets frustrated and thinks about tearing off pieces of the pieces to make them fit.”
Janine grinned as she sipped her coffee.
“The turkey should be about ready to take out of the oven,” she said as she set the mug down again, “then it can rest while I fix the rest of dinner.”
“I made up the salad earlier,” he told her as he settled back in his chair.
“Thanks.” She glanced at the clock on the stove. “We should be ready to eat in about an hour.”
Because the table was too small to hold all the food, they ate buffet style, with all eating much more than usual. Afterward, Justin insisted the dishes could wait while they collapsed in the living room.
“Oh man,” he groaned after pulling Janine down beside him on the couch, “I swear every year I won't do this again.”
Emma was already asleep curled up in the recliner.
“She wants to go see Santa tomorrow at the mall.”
This time it was Janine who groaned.
“On Black Friday?”
“She says it's important that she tell him what she wants for Christmas but she wouldn't tell me what it is. She said it was a secret.” He put his feet up on the coffee table and pulled her close to his side. “I checked and he will be there until six. I thought we'd go late in the afternoon. Maybe the crowds will have thinned out by then.”
“That's a good idea.” She sighed as she snuggled against him. “Umm, this is nice.”
“Yeah. Too bad we don't have a fireplace.”
“We could always get one of those cheesy cardboard ones with the lighbulb 'flame.' I think they were on sale at Walmart.”
“That's an idea.”
Their conversation grew drowsier until, within minutes, they, too, were asleep.
~
Late the next afternoon, they entered the mall with Emma between them holding their gloved hands. The crowds had indeed died down but there were still a lot of people bustling about, occasionally jostling the trio in their hurry. Christmas music played overhead and from inside stores, while the air was scented with mingled smells ranging from spicy summer sausage to expensive perfume as they walked along. Lighted white angels hung from the mall ceiling and decorated artificial firs and greenery were everywhere. The stores themselves were decked out as well. The crowd grew thicker as they neared the middle of the mall where Santa visited with kids.
“Why don't you have a seat over there while we do this?” asked Janine, nodding toward a grouping of wooden benches among decorated trees. Several men sat there, most of them surrounded by shopping bags of different sizes.
“Are you sure?” Justin asked, “I don't mind waiting.”
“No, it's okay. We'll be a while and, trust me, some of those kids are enough to drive you mad.”
Reluctantly he agreed and left them to take a seat. Soon he was in conversation with other men who were waiting on the females in their lives to finish whatever shopping they were doing.
Meanwhile, Janine and Emma were slowly making their way through the crowd, their hands clasped tightly to one another.
“Janine! Hello!”
Looking around, Janine saw a middle-aged woman, dressed in holiday finery, making her way through the milling people like a steamliner on the ocean.
“Mrs. Champion,” she answered, smiling though inwardly she was groaning. “How nice to see you.”
“My dear, what a wonderful surprise. I was planning to visit next week and show you the new samples from this seasons line.”
Margaret Champion was an enthusiastic, and often pushy, women's skin care and makeup consultant that Janine had once made the mistake of buying a lip gloss from.
“I don't kn...”
“There are some new eye colors that would look absolutely gorgeous on you, and there's a marvelous sale on lip gloss and lipstick. We're calling it the Holiday Glamour Collection.”
Suddenly a wall of people seemed determined to run them down, swerving at the last moment but still managing to knock them around. Janine felt Emma's hand slip away. Immediately she looked down and was horrified to find her daughter gone. Instantly she forgot all about Mrs. Champion.
“Emma?” she called, already starting to panic. How would she ever find her in this crowd? “Emma! Where are you?”
There was no answer over the cacophony of music and voices and she began to move around through the surging bodies of shoppers.
“Emma!”
Unable to find her daughter, she rushed back to the benches where Justin was conversing with an old man about his days in Vietnam. Looking up, he saw her hurrying toward him, her face frantic. Then he noticed there was no Emma holding her hand. Instantly he stood up and grabbed her by the arms as she reached him.
“What's wrong?” he demanded. “Where's Emma?”
“I-I don't know! One moment she was holding my hand then a crowd of people ran into us and she disappeared!”
Holding on to one of her arms, he led her back into the seething sea of bodies.
“Where was the last place you saw her?”
“In front of that store there,” she pointed, “But I looked and she was nowhere to be found!”
He continued to pull her along as they headed for the middle of the mall where Santa was holding court, but there was no Emma there either. There was, however, a couple of mall security guards not far away and Justin immediately rushed to them. They noticed him just before he and Janine arrived to stand before them, and they couldn't miss the urgency in their faces.
“Can we help you?”
“My daughter,” Janine gasped, holding on to Justin's hand like a lifeline, “I lost her and she disappeared.”
“Where?”
She told them and they asked what she looked like and what she was wearing. She immediately pulled a small photo album from her purse that was filled with pictures of Emma.
“This is this years school picture,” she told them, holding up one picture in particular. “Oh God, where can she be?”
Justin put his arms around her as she trembled, terrified sobs erupting from her mouth.
One of the security guards was already on his radio reporting the child's disappearance and very quickly they were joined by several others. After showing them all the picture of Emma, he turned back to Janine and Justin.
“I've radioed our main office and we're going to look for her. I need you to stay here so we will know where to find you, okay?”
Wanting to object, they nonetheless stayed where they were while the guards fanned out through the mall.
“Oh, Justin!” Janine cried against his shoulder, “Where can she be?”
Tightening his arms he laid his cheek on the top of her head.
“Shh, they'll find her.” He squeezed his eyes shut as fear ran through him. “They have to find her.”
Another security guard stayed with them as the search continued. Nearly forty-five minutes later, a call came over the guard's radio. They'd found her. Bring the parents to Santa's Toyland.
Immediately the guard started pushing his way through the crowd with Justin and Janine following right on his heels. Within a couple of minutes they met with other guards who were smiling as they arrived. One pointed at Santa, and there sat Emma on his lap, her cheeks wet with tears. When she saw Janine she slid from Santa's lap and rushed into her mother's arms.
“Mommy!”
“Oh baby! Where were you? We were so worried!”
“I got lost but I knew that if I found Santa he would help me find you!”
She hugged Janine again then raised her arms to Justin, who lifted her and hugged her close as well.
“I knew you'd find me,” she whispered against his neck.
Suddenly, Santa appeared beside them, his smile wreathed by a very real beard.
“She forgot this,” he said and handed Janine a wrapped gift.
She accepted it with a teary smile.
“Thank you, so much.”
Santa looked to the tall man standing beside her, Emma held securely in his arms.
“You must be Justin.”
Justin's smile was almost as shakey as Janine's.
“Yes.”
“Well,” Santa chuckled, “Emma certainly had plenty to say about you!”
He reached out and patted the little girl's arm.
“I've got to go, honey, but remember what I said.”
Emma nodded, “And you won't tell anyone?”
“Santa is very good at keeping secrets for little girls,” he assured her.
Then, with a wink and a hearty ho ho ho, he returned to his chair to continue listening to wishes from the other kids waiting in line.
Justin pulled Janine under his free arm and hugged them both.
“Let's go home,” he said, and led them toward the exit.
~
That night, after Emma had fallen asleep in her bed, Janine and Justin snuggled together on the couch. The room was lit by a single lamp while mugs of fragrant hot cider steamed in their hands.
“I was so scared,” she whispered, not for the first time.
“I know,” he replied softly, “So was I.”
“I'm glad you were there with me. I don't know if I could have stood it if I'd had to wait alone.”
“That little girl means the world to me, too.”
“And you mean as much to her.”
They were silent as they sipped their cider.
“Remember what we talked about this morning?” He asked. “About my living nearby?”
She nodded against his shoulder, “Yes.”
“Once I find a suitable place, would you and Emma consider living with me?”
Janine stiffened, stunned.
“Consider...?”
“With one caveat, of course.”
“One caveat?”
“I want us to be a real family. I want to marry you and help you raise Emma as my daughter.”
Janine hadn't thought she had any tears left but suddenly they were welling again in her eyes.
“Are you sure?” she asked.
“Yes. I'm very sure.”
“We haven't known each other very long.”
“I got to know you through your letters. Being here with you this week has shown me that you are all I thought you were, and more.” He paused and his arm tightened around her. “I love you, Janine. Will you marry me? If Emma agrees, of course.”
She laughed through her tears, “Oh, I don't think you'll have any problems there.”
Then she pulled far enough away to smile tremulously into his eyes, “Yes. I'll marry you.”
Suddenly there was a whoop from across the room before a small body jumped into their laps, causing their cider to slosh over the sides of the mugs.
“Me, too, Justin. I'll marry you, too, and you can be my new daddy!”
He laughed as he set his mug on the end table then pulled her close to his chest.
“Thank you, sweetheart. That's just what I needed to hear.”
Looking over her head, his smiling eyes met Janine's as he pulled her close to his heart as well.
“I'll marry my girls and we can make a new home, together.”
Emma smiled a secret smile. Santa had given her just what she'd asked for after all.
You are really great at getting to know you banter over food. It must be difficult thinking about what you're going to put on the menu with each meal. It certainly lengthens the story and so do your slow, getting to know you, approach to romance. No overnight, head over heels, love affairs that last a lifetime.
Emma getting lost in the department store was a nice touch that cemented the relationship with its emotion. My twin and eyewear with our mother in the "huge" JCPenney in the big town near where we lived. At about five years old, we found ourselves following the wrong woman around with a skirt similar to our mothers. We started howling until mom found us and we were so happy not to be lost anymore. So I know how Emma felt. It and relying on Santa to help her was a smart thing to do.
Enjoy twists and surprising turns in this erotic collection of sexy love stories based on seven classic fairy tales. There are romantic interludes to touch your heart and plenty of scorching sex to warm your coldest nights.
“Mom! Hurry up! My soldier will be waiting!”
