Trying not to disturb the others sleeping in his house, he stepped into his office, turned on the computer and started to type.
Her biggest challenge. It was the second time she’d told him that. Her words rang in his ears. In his heart. He wanted to be more than a challenge. Much more.
He’d thought his biggest challenge was to finish this book. But he suspected it was going to be figuring out how to fit Lexi Anderson into his life. And how to convince her that she belonged there.
The words flowed from him. He worked for close to three hours, and got the last three scenes done. The three he’d been struggling with for weeks. The three that hadn’t worked before, but now did, effortlessly.
Lexi’d been right about that, too.
He’d always clung so tightly to the work, that he’d never realized he needed the relaxation. That by relaxing he could work better. Besides, she’d help him learn that if you were going to have writer’s block anyway, you might as well play.
He hoped he could remember that.
He typed the last paragraph.
Jared had always known it was the gardener, Lefty Sims. He’d just never been able to convince the police of it. He smiled at Melinda. “Want to go grab a Coke?” he asked. “As a reward for us discovering the murderer, that is?”
He went into the header and changed his working title from Strong5 to the new one he’d decided on, smiled, and set his printer to work.
With a satisfied breath, he sat back. He was done. Sure, he’d have to reread the entire book a couple more times, but the bulk of the task was done.
He’d always been afraid he couldn’t have a career and a happy married life, both. But with wonder he realized he could do both. He had just needed the right woman.
Lexi.
In that instant, he realized he loved her. Incredibly, in such a short time. Without a doubt. He wanted her in his life. Forever. He was finally ready to settle down and create a family--with an expert.
If she’d have him.
How could he convince her?
An idea formed in his mind. A crazy, silly, sentimental idea.
It involved a snowman.
And maybe, if he could wake Steven and Trista early enough, they could help him put the finishing touches on everything.
If they agreed to his plan. If they wanted him in their mother’s live. In their lives.
And, if his plan went the way he wanted, he would find out just how good his connections were.
Late as it was, he didn’t hesitate to lift the phone and dial the number of an old friend.
Chapter Twelve
VERY EARLY CHRISTMAS MORNING
Feeling like an idiot, Kyle tossed pebbles at Steven’s bedroom window.
One pinged hard. It would be just his luck to break the glass or to wake Lexi.
When Steven finally peeked out the window, Kyle motioned for him to be quiet, and to come down to let him in. Kyle stood at the front door for only a moment before Steven opened it.
The boy looked at him sleepily and whispered, “What are you doing up so early? It’s only five-thirty.”
“I know. Isn’t it exciting? It’s Christmas morning.”
Steven rubbed his eyes. “I’ll go wake Mom.”
“No, no, don’t do that. Wake Trista instead. I need to ask you both a question.”
Steven shook his head as he disappeared inside and came down a few minutes later with his sister, who was also yawning.
Kyle knelt on the tile and took each of them by the hand. “I have something really important to ask you. You know I really like your mother, don’t you?”
Trista rolled her eyes. “Double duh.”
Steven yawned and nodded.
“Well, I want to ask your mother to marry me, but I also want to make sure that’s okay with you two before I ask her.”
Steven’s eyes shone. “Sure.”
Trista said, “I knew it!”
“But do you like the idea? Do you approve?”
“I love it,” Trista said. “And I definitely approve.”
“Kyle Miller is going to be my new dad,” Steven said. “The kids at school will never believe it.”
“But what if I never ever wrote about Jared Strong again. What if I never had. Would you still want me to marry your mom?”
“Oh, yeah. And I can hardly wait when I introduce you as my new dad to friends at my birthday party.” Steven grew serious. “Is it okay if I call you Dad?”
Kyle’s heart jumped and love for this little boy filled him. “You bet. Can I call you son? And daughter?”
They both nodded, their eyes sparkling with excitement.
“I need help putting my plan into action this morning. Would you two like to be my elves?”
They both nodded again.
“Okay, go get dressed, and put on your coats and gloves and boots. And whatever you do, do not wake your mother.”
* * *
Lexi yawned and glanced at the clock. Nine o’clock.
It took a moment for the meaning of that to hit.
What on earth? It was Christmas morning and her kids had let her sleep in until nine o’clock? This had never happened before. Last night must have worn them out, too.
She pulled on her robe and silly pink bunny slippers and wandered down the hall to wake them. Pushing open Steven’s door, she called out, “Wake up, sleepyhead.”
Except Steven’s bed was empty.
So was Trista’s.
They must be downstairs playing with their Santa gifts, which this year were an iPod for Trista and a new bike for Justin.
As she descended the stairs, she couldn’t hear anything, but the children had never been this quiet before on Christmas morning.
No one was in the living room, either, or the kitchen. She called out their names, but no one answered. Now she was beginning to worry.
Suddenly, there was music coming from the front lawn. Were the kids playing music outside? How weird.
The music got very loud.
Sleigh bells ring.
Lexi crossed to the front door and opened it.
What an incredible sight greeted her.
Her children stood there, along with Kyle, Keefe and Alyssa and their kids, Kenneth, and Kyle’s dad.
They’d built a family of snowmen close to her front porch.
A boom box blared out the Christmas song.
Neighbors opened doors, and began wandering this way, undoubtedly drawn by the music.
Or the chance to see her in her lovely terry cloth bathrobe. She pulled the belt tight and ran her fingers through her messy hair.
Kyle grinned and waggled an eyebrow.
Lexi counted five snowmen. She grinned mischievously at Kyle. “They all have heads. Obviously not your handiwork.”
Trista wrapped her arms around one of the shorter ones. “This is me and that one’s Steven.” She pointed to the other short one on the opposite side.
In between the short ones were three she recognized instantly. A snowman with a bow tie stood on the left and, on the right, a snow bride was adorned with a bride’s veil. Their branch arms were intertwined as though holding hands. Slightly behind them stood another snowman, with a bible in his twig hands.
Keefe stood beside that one. “This one is Parson Brown.”
Kyle said, “This one is me. See, he has a completed manuscript.” He took the pages and handed it to her. It was titled Jared Strong and the Mystery of the Snowman Killer. “I finished it last night. Thanks to your inspiration.”
“That’s wonderful,” she said and hugged it to her chest, a magical feeling of love surrounding her.
“And this one is you.”
As the Christmas music continued to play, Kyle took her hand and led her to the snow-bride.
The warmth grew in her chest. Amazed, she asked. “When did you do all this?”
“Early this morning. And lucky thing your kids got up early, too, and decided to he
lp me. I think they agree it would be a good idea if we get married.”
She stared at him, uncertain. “Are you proposing?”
He laughed gently. “Set to Christmas music, of all unimaginable things.”
Trista said, “Mom, look at the nose.”
“You nose I love you,” Kyle said.
Lexi gasped. Around the carrot was a ring. An impressive diamond engagement ring. “When did you buy a ring?”
“Like I said, I have good connections. A jeweler friend named Franklin, who will be high on our wedding list.” Kyle dropped down on one knee and took her hand. “Will you be my wife, Alexis Anderson?”
Warmth filled her and she knew, in that instant, that he was the man for her--and her children. Without a doubt.
She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him close. She already knew her answer. She’d healed enough that she wasn’t being influenced by her need for family. He really was the man for her. “Yes.”
Trista and Steven joined the hug. The neighbors clapped. Kyle’s family cheered.
Kyle lifted a sprig of mistletoe. “Does this stuff really work?”
In answer, Lexi kissed him while the music played on.
It really was a winter wonderland.
“Geez, Mom,” Steven said. “Come up for air.”
Lexi and Kyle pulled apart, grinning and holding hands.
And, as Lexi took in the snowman scene before her again, it looked for one instant as though Parson Brown winked.
It must have been her imagination.
The End
Thank You!
I hope you enjoyed reading Bah, Humbug! If you have a moment, I'd appreciate if you'd share this story with other readers and take a minute to leave a review. Thanks.
If you'd like to read more of my books, Old Money is now available. For more information about my newest book and future books, please visit www.BooksByHeatherHorrocks.com to sign up for my mailing list.
Thanks again, Heather.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to Diane Darcy and Kristin Holt; it was fun putting our heads--and novellas--together.
Thanks to Michael for the original snowman. You're awesome.
About the Author
Raised overseas by her shop-til-you-drop mother and pay-for-the-purchases oilman father, avid mystery and romantic comedy lover Heather read her way through Colombia, Venezuela, London, Kuwait, and Iran--and later bought a video store so she could watch stories on the little screen, too.
She loves anyone who can make her laugh, which explains why she adores her witty husband, her funny friends, Anne George mysteries, Bill Cosby, and her cute little dog Gus. She loves to cook for friends, siblings, and especially her children and stepchildren and their families. She and her husband reside in Utah. You can find her husband reside in Utah. You can find her online at www.BooksByHeatherHorrocks.com.
Books by Heather Horrocks
Who-Dun-Him Inn Mystery Series:
Snowed Inn #1
Rest Inn Peace #2 (2012)
Bad Mothers Club Mystery Series:
The Bad Mothers Club #1
The Bad Mothers Dress to Kill #2 (2012)
Chick Flick Clique Romantic Comedy Series:
While You Were Stranded (2012)
Bear Foot in the Park (2012)
My Spare Lady (2012)
Other Romances:
Old Money
No Sudden Moves
Baby Mine
Inspirational Books:
Women Who Knew the Mortal Messiah
Men Who Knew the Mortal Messiah
Women & Men Who Knew the Mortal Messiah
LDS Romances / Baptism Book:
You Just Turned 8: An LDS Baptism Book (2012)
How to Stuff a Wild Zucchini
Old Maid of Honor
Dinosaur Ball (Valentine's Day Novella)
For previews of upcoming books by Heather Horrocks, to sign up for New Releases email, or for more information about the author, visit www.BooksByHeatherHorrocks.com.
Excerpt from While You Were Stranded (the first Chick Flick Clique)
After her mother’s death leaves 26-year-old Grace Holden without family, she decides to drive up the west coast to a town in Oregon they talked about moving to before her mother fell ill, hoping it feels like home. When her car breaks down outside Aspen Grove, California, the town’s mechanic takes her to Candy’s Café--where they run into his ex-fiancée and he impulsively claims Grace is his date. Unaware that his words and her mother’s ring have set tongues wagging, Grace is unexpectedly charmed by the town, its occupants, and the warm welcome she’s receiving. When she learns what people think, the mechanic begs her to pretend to be his fiancée, just until her car is repaired, to help him win back his girl by making her jealous. When the repairs unexpectedly stretch into weeks, the charade becomes more complicated as she finds herself drawn to the townspeople--and especially to Jake Taylor, Aspen Grove’s handsome mayor and the brother of Ethan’s ex-fiancée Lindsey. Jake is understandably antagonistic and suspicious and protective of his sister, even as he is attracted to this new woman in town. Before Grace knows it, she has a place to stay, a temporary job, and invitations to join the Chick Flick Clique and to help with the town’s Christmas Festival. With friends filling the void in Grace’s heart, Aspen Grove is beginning to feel like the home she wants, but will her part in the deception cost her the good will--and perhaps even love--of people she’s come to care about?
Chapter One
As Grace Holden's car skidded across the snowy highway, she steered in the opposite direction, her fingers clenched white against the wheel. The rear end shimmied for a second before the wheels grabbed traction. Her heart pounding with adrenaline, she slowed even more, down to forty.
In the past fifteen minutes, visibility had dropped to maybe twenty feet ahead of her.
The last night she'd expected in central California was snow, especially blizzard quality. It was much too surfer state for the white stuff. She hadn't seen a single snow flake during the past five years she'd lived in LA.
Tears burned her eyelids. She couldn't think about LA or the past five years or her mother. A few blinks and multiplication tables to distract herself with--twelve times twelve is one-hundred and forty-four--and the threatening tears subsided.
Keeping one hand clenched on the steering wheel, she pushed in her flasher button. A sports car zipped past her with an apparent idiot at the wheel.
Snow drifted across the painted lines on the highway. A sign appeared along the roadside, and she slowed even more as she struggled to make out the words.
Aspen Grove, California
Population: 2,500
Home of the Christmas Festival
3 miles
Grace’d been hoping to reach San Francisco today and cross the Oregon border tomorrow, but she hadn't planned on this freak storm. With her knuckles white on the wheel and adrenaline singing through her veins from the skid, she'd be glad to reach this smal town to seek shelter.
Without taking her eyes off the road, she reached out and cranked up the heat. The temperature was dropping along with the snow.
This storm looked more like Christmas in Minnesota than October in the sunshine state.
Maybe, if Grace was really lucky, by the time she actually reached Aspen Grove, she'd be past the worst of the storm, and then she could continue on her way to Port Orchard.
The car lurched again and she corrected. "Come on, Ava, hang in there," she muttered to her Toyora Avalon. "We can make it."
The wind shifted, shooting snow directly into the windshield, and she reduced her speed again. Finally, when she was barely crawling along at twenty and still struggling to see through the barrage of fat, wet flakes, the car slid again. Instinctively, she turned the wheel, but it fishtailed again, and she turned the wheel the other direction to regain control.
But it didn't work.
The car slid toward the shou
lder of the road.
Officially out of control, Ava hit a cement barrier with a sickening crunching sound, enough of an impact to slam Grace hard against the seat belt but not enough to deploy the airbag.
At least she was off the shoulder of the road, out of the path of other drives who couldn't see through the snow, either.
Silence blanked everything. The headlights flickered and went out, along with the dashboard illumination and the sounds of ABBA.
She took a moment to decide if she was hurt. Her shoulder ached where the seat belt had hit her and she'd probably gotten bruised. Other than that, nothing seemed broken or injured.
Waiting a moment for the adrenaline to fade, she lifted a stiff-trembling hand to restart the car. She needed to reach someplace warm.
When she turned the key, there was a click-click-clicking sound, but the car didn't start. After three more frantic tries, she realized it wasn't going to. She'd damaged her car. The Avalon was ten years old, but it had served her faithfully during her flush yeras and those more lean years taking care of her mother.
Eleven times nine is ninety-nine.
Had Ava really wheezed her last for the day? If so, Grace was stranded. And she still had a long, long way to go. Even Aspen Grove was nearly three miles away, much too far to walk in this storm.
A damaged car. Not much money. And now no heater. If she sat here long enough, maybe she'd turn into a popsicle. Popsicles didn't have many worries. Yeah, right. Until they got eaten.
Her heart sinking, Grace pulled out the new phone she'd bought just yesterday, relieved to see that there was 3G service here despite the storm, if one measly half-bar of service counted. Her fingers were already so cold she had trouble getting the touch screen to work. She blew on her fingertips and tried again.
When the Google screen popped up, she typed in Aspen Grove, California. A picturesque website popped up promising a winter Christmas festival and summer grapes and sunshine. She could use a little sunshine right about now.
She searched the site for the phone number for City Hall.
In a town of 2,500, surely there was at least one honest mechanic they could recommend, someone who would be willing to come out in a snow storm to rescue a damsel in distress.
Five times nine is forty-five.
--- If you'd like to read more, go to www.BooksByHeatherHorrocks.com ---
Excerpt from The Christmas Star by Diane Darcy
When an old woman makes a wish upon a Christmas star, miracles start to happen. A manipulative angel and a zany Christmas season are exactly what it takes to get Jake and Elsie in the same vicinity again. But can they forgive each other and forget old resentments and hurts? Well, Christmas is a perfect time for miracles. Throw in the hunt for the perfect tree, a sledding competition and a desperate-for-grandchildren mother, and you have the perfect recipe for...love?