Christmas Wishes

“Right.” Susannah should have remembered. Michelle crawled across the kitchen floor toward her and, using Susannah’s nightgown for leverage, pulled herself into a standing position. She smiled proudly at her achievement.

  “Listen,” Susannah said impulsively, leaning over to pick up her niece. “Why don’t you leave Michelle with me? We’ll take this morning to become reacquainted and you can do your shopping without having to worry about her.”

  There was a shocked silence. “Susannah?” Emily said. “Did I hear you correctly? I thought I just heard you volunteer to babysit.”

  Chapter

  6

  The morning was bright and sunny, and unable to resist, Susannah opened the sliding glass door and let the salty breeze off Elliott Bay blow into her apartment. Sitting on the kitchen floor with a saucepan and a wooden spoon, Michelle proceeded to demonstrate her musical talents by pounding out a loud enthusiastic beat.

  When the phone rang, Susannah knew it was Nate.

  “Good morning,” she said, pushing her hair behind her ears. She hadn’t pinned it up when she got dressed, knowing Nate preferred it down, and she didn’t try to fool herself with excuses for leaving it that way.

  “Morning,” he breathed into the phone. “Do you have a drummer visiting?”

  “No, a special friend. I think she’d like to say hello. Wait a minute.” Susannah put down the receiver and lifted Michelle from the floor. Holding the baby on her hip, she pressed the telephone receiver to the side of Michelle’s face. Practically on cue, the child spouted an excited flow of gibberish.

  “I think she said good-morning,” Susannah explained.

  “Michelle?”

  “How many other babies would pay me a visit?”

  “How many Simmons girls are there?”

  “Only Emily and me,” she answered with a soft laugh, “but trust me, the two of us were enough for any one set of parents to handle.”

  Nate’s responding chuckle was warm and seductive. “Are you in the mood for more company?”

  “Sure. If you bring the Danish, I’ll provide the coffee.”

  “You’ve got yourself a deal.”

  It wasn’t until several minutes had passed that Susannah realized how little resistance she’d been putting up lately when it came to Nate. Since the baseball game, she’d given up trying to avoid him; she simply didn’t have the heart for it, although deep down, she knew anything beyond friendship was impossible. Yet despite her misgivings, after that one afternoon with him she’d come away feeling exhilarated. Being with Nate was like recapturing a part of her youth that had somehow escaped her. But even though seeing him was fun, it wasn’t meant to last, and Susannah reminded herself of that every time they were together. Nate Townsend was like an unexpected burst of sunshine on an overcast day, but soon the rain would come, the way it always did. Susannah wasn’t going to be fooled into believing there could ever be anything permanent between them.

  When Nate arrived, the reunion was complete. He lifted Michelle high in the air and Susannah smiled at the little girl’s squeals of delight.

  “Where’s Emily?” he wanted to know.

  “Shopping. She won’t be more than an hour or so.”

  With Michelle in one arm, Nate moved into the kitchen, where Susannah was dishing up the pastries and pouring coffee. “She’s grown, hasn’t she?” she said.

  “Is that another new tooth?” he asked, peering inside the baby’s mouth.

  “It might be,” Susannah replied, taking a look herself.

  Nate slipped his free arm around her shoulder and smiled at her. “Your hair’s down,” he murmured, his smile caressing her upturned face.

  She nodded, not knowing how else to respond, although a dozen plausible excuses raced through her mind. But none of them would have been true.

  “For me?”

  Once more, she answered him with a slight nod.

  “Thank you,” he whispered, his face so close to her own that his words were like a kiss.

  Susannah leaned into him, pressing herself against his solid length. When he kissed her, she could hardly stop herself from melting into his arms.

  Michelle thought it was great fun to have two adults for company. She wove her fingers into Susannah’s hair and yanked until Susannah was forced to pull away from Nate.

  Smiling, Nate disengaged the baby’s hand from her aunt’s hair and kissed Susannah again. “Hmm,” he said when he lifted his head. “You taste better than any sweet roll ever could.”

  Unnerved, and suddenly feeling shy, Susannah busied herself setting the pastries on the table.

  “Do you have plans for today?” he asked, taking a chair, Michelle gurgling happily on his lap.

  Michelle was content for now, but from experience Susannah knew she’d want to be back on the floor soon. “I…I was planning to go to the office for an hour or so.”

  “I don’t think so,” Nate said flatly.

  “You don’t?”

  “I’m taking you out.” He surveyed her navy-blue slacks and the winter-white sweater she wore. “I don’t suppose you have any jeans.”

  Susannah nodded. She knew she did, somewhere, but it was years since she’d worn them. As long ago as college, and maybe even her last year of high school. “I don’t know if they’ll fit, though.”

  “Go try them on.”

  “Why? What are you planning? Knowing you, I could end up on top of Mount Rainier looking over a crevasse, with no idea how I got there.”

  “We’re going to fly a kite today,” he said casually, as if it was something they’d done several times.

  Susannah thought she’d misunderstood him. Nate obviously loved this kind of surprise. First a baseball game in the middle of a workday, and now kites?

  “You heard me right. Now go find your jeans.”

  “But…kites…that’s for kids. Frankly, Nate,” she said, her voice gaining conviction, “I don’t happen to have one hidden away in a closet. Besides, isn’t that something parents do with their children?”

  “No, it’s for everyone. Adults have been known to have fun, too. Don’t worry about a thing. I built a huge one and it’s ready for testing.”

  “A kite?” she repeated, holding in the desire to laugh outright. She’d been in grade school when she’d last attempted anything so…so juvenile.

  By the time Susannah had rummaged in her closet and found an old pair of jeans, Emily had returned for Michelle. Nate let her sister inside, but the bedroom door was cracked open, and Susannah could hear the conversation. She held her breath, first because her hips were a tiny bit wider than the last time she’d worn her jeans, and also because Susannah could never be sure what her sister was going to say. Or do.

  It’d be just like Emily to start telling Nate how suitable Susannah would be as a wife. That thought was sobering and for a moment Susannah stopped wriggling into her pants.

  “Nate,” she heard her sister say, “it’s so good of you to help with Michelle.” In her excitement, her voice was a full octave higher than usual.

  “No problem. Susannah will be out in a minute—she’s putting on a pair of jeans. We’re going to Gas Works Park to fly a kite.”

  There was a short pause. “Susannah wearing jeans and flying a kite? You mean she’s actually going with you?”

  “Of course I am. Don’t look so shocked,” Susannah said, walking into the room. “How did the shopping go?”

  Emily couldn’t seem to close her mouth. She stared at her sister to the point of embarrassment, then swung her gaze to Nate and back to Susannah again.

  Susannah realized she must look different, wearing jeans and with her hair down, but it certainly didn’t warrant this openmouthed gawking.

  “Emily?” Susannah waved her hand in front of her sister’s face in an effort to bring her back to earth.

  “Oh…the shopping went just fine. I was able to get the fresh herbs I wanted. Basil and thyme and…some others.” As though in a daze, Emily lifted the home-sew
n bag draped over her arm as evidence of her successful trip to the market.

  “Good,” Susannah said enthusiastically, wanting to smooth over her sister’s outrageous reaction. “Michelle wasn’t a bit of trouble. If you need me to watch her again, just say so.”

  Her sister’s eyes grew wider. She swallowed and nodded. “Thanks. I’ll remember that.”

  The sky was as blue as Nate’s eyes, Susannah thought, sitting with her knees tucked under her chin on the lush green grass of Gas Works Park. The wind whipped Nate’s box kite back and forth as he scrambled from one hill to the next, letting the brisk breeze carry the multicolored crate in several directions. As it was late September, Susannah didn’t expect many more glorious Indian summer days like this one.

  She closed her eyes and soaked up the sun. Her spirits raced with the kites that abounded in the popular park. She felt like tossing back her head and laughing triumphantly, for no other reason than that it felt good to be alive.

  “I’m beat,” Nate said, dropping down on the grass beside her. He lay on his back, arms and legs spread-eagle.

  “Where’s the kite?”

  “I gave it to one of the kids who didn’t have one.”

  Susannah smiled. That sounded exactly like something Nate would do. He’d spent hours designing and constructing the box kite, and yet he’d impulsively given it away without a second thought.

  “Actually I begged the kid to take it, before I keeled over from exhaustion,” he amended. “Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Flying a kite is hard work.”

  Work was a subject Susannah stringently avoided with Nate. From the first he’d been completely open with her. Open and honest. She was confident that if she quizzed him about his profession or lack of one, he’d answer her truthfully.

  Susannah had decided that what she didn’t know about him couldn’t upset her. Nate apparently had plenty of money. He certainly didn’t seem troubled by financial difficulties. But it was his attitude that worried her. He seemed to see life as a grand adventure; he leaped from one interest to another without rhyme or reason. Nothing appeared to be more important or vital than the moment.

  “You’re frowning,” he said. He slipped a hand around her neck and pulled her down until her face was within inches of his own. “Aren’t you having fun?”

  She nodded, unable to deny the obvious.

  “Then what’s the problem?”

  “Nothing.”

  He hesitated and the edges of his mouth lifted sensuously. “It’s a good thing you didn’t become an attorney,” he said with a roguish grin. “You’d never be able to fool a jury.”

  Susannah was astonished that Nate knew she’d once seriously considered going into law.

  He grinned at her. “Emily told me you’d thought about entering law school.”

  Susannah blinked a couple of times, then smiled, too. She was determined not to ruin this magnificent afternoon with her concerns.

  “Kiss me, Susannah,” he whispered. The humor had left his face and his gaze searched hers.

  Her breath caught. She lifted her eyes and quickly glanced around. The park was crowded and children were everywhere.

  “No,” he said, cradling the sides of her face. “No fair peeking. I want you to kiss me no matter how many spectators there are.”

  “But—”

  “If you don’t kiss me, I’ll simply have to kiss you. And, honey, if I do, watch out because—”

  Not allowing him to finish, she lowered her mouth and gently skimmed her lips over his. Even that small sample was enough to send the blood racing through her veins. Whatever magic quality this man had should be bottled and sold over the counter. Susannah knew she’d be the first one in line to buy it.

  “Are you always this stingy?” he asked when she raised her head.

  “In public, yes.”

  His eyes were smiling and Susannah swore she could have drowned in his look. He exhaled, then bounded to his feet with an energy she had to envy.

  “I’m starved,” he announced, reaching out for her. Susannah placed her hand in his and he pulled her to her feet. “But I hope you realize,” he whispered close to her ear, wrapping his arm around her waist, “my appetite isn’t for food. I’m crazy about you, Susannah Simmons. Eventually we’re going to have to do something about that.”

  “I hope I’m not too early,” Susannah said as she entered her sister’s home on Capitol Hill. When Emily had called to invite her to Sunday dinner, she hadn’t bothered to disguise her intentions. Emily was dying to grill Susannah about her budding relationship with Nate Townsend. A week ago, Susannah would’ve found an excuse to get out of tonight’s dinner. But after spending an entire Saturday with Nate, she was so confused that she was willing to talk this out with her sister, who seemed so much more competent in dealing with male/female relationships.

  “Your timing’s perfect,” Emily said, coming out of the kitchen to greet her. She wore a full-length skirt with a bib apron, and her long hair was woven into a single braid that fell halfway down her back.

  “Here.” Susannah handed her sister a bottle of chardonnay, hoping it was appropriate for the meal.

  “How thoughtful,” Emily murmured, leading her back into the kitchen. The house was an older one, built in the early forties, with a large family kitchen. The red linoleum countertop was crowded with freshly canned tomatoes. Boxes of jars were stacked on the floor, along with a wicker basket filled with sun-dried diapers. A rope of garlic dangled above the sink and a row of potted plants lined the windowsill.

  “Whatever you’re serving smells wonderful.”

  “It’s lentil soup.”

  Emily opened the oven and pulled out the rack, wadding up the skirt of her apron to protect her fingers. “I made a fresh apple pie. Naturally I used organically grown apples so you don’t need to worry.”

  “Oh, good.” That hadn’t been a major concern of Susannah’s.

  “Where’s Michelle?” Father and daughter were conspicuously absent.

  Emily turned around, looking mildly guilty, and Susannah realized that her sister had gone to some lengths to provide time alone with her. No doubt she was anxious to wring out as much information about Nate as possible. Not that Susannah had a lot to tell.

  “How was your day in the park?”

  Susannah took a seat on the stool and made herself comfortable for the coming inquisition. “Great. I really enjoyed it.”

  “You like Nate, don’t you?”

  Like was the understatement of the year. Contrary to every ounce of sense she possessed, Susannah was falling in love with her neighbor. It wasn’t what she wanted, but she hadn’t been able to stop herself.

  “Yes, I like him,” she answered after a significant pause.

  Emily seemed thrilled by her admission. “I thought as much,” she said, nodding profoundly. She pushed a stool next to Susannah and sat down. Emily’s hands were rarely idle, and true to form, she reached for her crocheting.

  “I’m waiting,” Susannah said, growing impatient.

  “For what?”

  “For the lecture.”

  Emily cracked a knowing smile. “I was gathering my thoughts. You were always the one who could evaluate things so well. I always had trouble with that and you aced every paper.”

  “School reports have very little to do with real life,” Susannah reminded her. How much simpler it would be if she could just look up everything she needed to know about dealing with Nate.

  “I knew that, but I wasn’t sure you did.”

  Perhaps Susannah hadn’t until she met Nate. “Emily,” she said, her stomach tightening, “I need to ask you something…important. How did you know you loved Robert? What was it that told you the two of you were meant to share your lives?” Susannah understood that she was practically laying her cards faceup on the table, but she was past the point of subtlety. She wanted hard facts.

  Her sister smiled and tugged at her ball of yarn before she responded. “I don’t t
hink you’re going to like my answer,” she murmured, frowning slightly. “It was the first time Robert kissed me.”

  Susannah nearly toppled from her perch on the stool, remembering her experience with Nate. “What happened?”

  “We’d gone for a nature walk in the rain forest over on the Olympic Peninsula and had stopped to rest. Robert helped me remove my backpack, then he looked into my eyes and leaned over and kissed me.” She sighed softly at the memory. “I don’t think he intended to do it because he looked so shocked afterward.”

  “Then what?”

  “Robert took off his own backpack and asked if I minded that he’d kissed me. Naturally I told him I rather liked it, and he sat down next to me and did it again—only this time it wasn’t a peck on the lips but a full-blown kiss.” Emily’s shoulders sagged a little in a sigh. “The moment his lips touched mine I couldn’t think, I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t even move. When he finished I was trembling so much I thought something might be physically wrong with me.”

  “So would you say you felt…electricity?”

  “Exactly.”

  “And you never had that with any of the other men you dated?”

  “Never.”

  Susannah wiped a hand down her face. “You’re right,” she whispered. “I don’t like your answer.”

  Emily paused in her crocheting to glance at her. “Nate kissed you and you felt something?”

  Susannah nodded. “I was nearly electrocuted.”

  “Oh, Susannah, you poor thing!” She patted her sister’s hand. “You don’t know what to do, do you?”

  “No,” she admitted, feeling wretched.

  “You never expected to fall in love, did you?”

  Slowly Susannah shook her head. And it couldn’t be happening at a worse time. The promotion was going to be announced within the next week, and the entire direction of her life could be altered if she became involved with Nate. She didn’t even know if that was what either of them wanted. Susannah felt mystified by everything going on in her life, which until a few short weeks ago had been so straightforward and uncluttered.

  “Are you thinking of marriage?” Emily asked outright.