Her Wish Before Christmas (Holiday Hearts) Read online

  “We’ll find out.” His shoulders relaxed at the tentative smile lighting her face. He felt seventeen again, asking her out for their first date. There was interest in her eyes behind the caution. Whatever it took, he would take the hurt and wariness away.

  “Okay then.”

  Neither moved. He and Genny, making a date amongst the sights and smells he remembered so well, brought a rush of homesickness he hadn’t experienced in years. He was content to simply be in her presence. Her gaze roamed over him. What did she see? Was she comparing how he’d looked when they were dating? All hair and torn jeans under a black leather jacket he thought was the coolest around. She always wore his senior ring on a cheap gold chain he had bought her for her birthday one year. Did she still have it?

  “Oh, I forgot, I have something of yours.” He reached into his jacket pocket, feeling for her necklace. The jingle of the door chimes broke the spell, and she took a step back.

  “Daddy!” A flash of panic at hearing his son’s unexpected voice gave way to curiosity as the excitement in his shouted word resonated through the store. He turned to Jake, who raced to him in his all-out fashion. Ellen rushed in the store behind him. He’d wondered how Genny would react to meeting his son, but he hadn’t counted on introducing them before he’d had a chance to tell her. Insecurity gripped him, slowing his movements, as he knelt to embrace him.

  “What a surprise, buddy.” More apprehensive than he thought possible, Connor picked him up and turned to Genny.

  “Genny, this is my son, Jake.” Eyes widened over flushed cheeks and her mouth worked without a sound coming out. “Jake, this is Genny.” Jake shifted and squirmed in his arms until he faced her.

  “Hi. Are you the gypsy lady?” Jake asked. Connor gave him a quick squeeze and set him down, trying not to be embarrassed at the honesty of youth.

  “Oh, have you heard stories of the Ridgeway women?” A strange note echoed beneath her question.

  “My dad says your grandma was a real live gypsy and could tell fortunes.”

  She knelt, eye to eye with Jake. “My nona came from a long line of gypsies. Your daddy had his fortune told more than once.”

  “She sounds cool. Are you a gypsy, too?” Eagerness for something magical rang in his voice.

  “Of course I am.” Genny smiled. “My nona would have spoiled you like crazy, handsome guy that you are.”

  Ellen stepped up beside Connor, clearing her throat. Red tinged her usually clear eyes, and her fingers gripped a handkerchief, working it into a rumpled wad.

  “Is everything okay, Ellen?” he asked.

  “I’m so sorry, Dr. O’Rourke. Your office told me where to find you. My sister fell and broke her hip. I have to go to New Jersey tonight. I’m sorry to leave without any warning.” She sniffed and held the piece of light blue cotton to her nose.

  “I get to stay with you, Daddy,” Jake said and raced to Lena who was holding out the trays of cookie samples, tempting him with the call of sweets.

  “Is there anything I can do?”

  “No, no. She has an excellent doctor. But, her husband…he can’t really take care of her. I need to go for a few weeks. I need to make arrangements with my family and pack—is it okay to leave Jake with you now?”

  “Uh. Of course.” He’d figure something out. Jake had moved from the sample display to sitting on a stool behind the checkout desk munching cookies, giggling at something Lena whispered to him.

  “’Bye, Ellen. I hope your sister’s hip isn’t broke for long,” he called to her from his perch as Connor walked her to the door.

  “Matilda can help you in the evening, if you need her,” she said, rushing out onto the sidewalk.

  “Don’t worry about it. We’ll be fine. I hope she makes a quick recovery.”

  He returned to the knot of women surrounding his little boy.

  “I don’t suppose any of you know of a nanny I can hire on short notice?”

  Chapter Three

  A son. He has a son.

  Does he have a wife, too? He’s not wearing a ring. Chaotic thoughts twirled through her mind like a Tilt-A-Whirl. She couldn’t reconcile the Connor who had left her to fulfill his dreams without her holding him back to the one she met yesterday. How much has he changed?

  Why would he ask me out to lunch?

  And to find out he had the ultimate baggage. Connor laughed at Jake making faces with the cookies, and she could see the genuine bond between them. The love was palpable. What if I’m not really over him? Could she relive that heartbreak again?

  What kind of woman got him to settle down? What did she have that Genny didn’t?

  “Perhaps your wife would like to line someone up for Jake?” Genny threw the question out there. How else could she ask if he was married without really asking if he was married?

  “There’s only me and Jake. I’ve grown used to relying on the kindness of neighbors, but I’m in a real bind here.”

  Only him and Jake. Stifling the questions his simple answer provoked, she forced her fears to the back of her mind and turned her thoughts to his dilemma.

  “What about Mrs. Whitman? She babysat for a long time.” Genny looked to her sister, who had been better about keeping up with the local gossip.

  Cilla shook her head. “Retired. Spends all her time gardening and visiting her daughter in Virginia.”

  “I just need someone until the daycare starts up after the holidays,” he said.

  “Why don’t you do it, Genny?” What the hell, Lena? “You’ve nannied for clients before.”

  Revenge is a bitch. She had tried to convince Lena to stay away from that jerk of a bartender, so it was Genny’s turn to get pushed around.

  “Yeah, please.” How could she say no to Jake’s squeal of excitement? “You’d be way more fun, I can tell.” His innocent pleading tugged at her heart.

  Connor caught her hand in his. His warmth traveled up her arm. “Would you, Genny? I’m in a major bind here and am willing to pay premium for someone I can trust. And Jake loves you already.”

  “I don’t know, there’s a lot of work at the store and—”

  “I’ve got Jacqui here now, and I’m sure Jake wouldn’t mind spending some time as official cookie tester.” Cilla cut her off before the excuse could be completed. “He’d be an excellent assistant baker, I can tell.”

  Genny narrowed her eyes at Cilla’s broad grin.

  “You made these? Please, can I help you bake? I’m an excellent taster.” Jake pushed the words around a mouthful of cookie.

  Connor pulled her closer; the tip of his thumb stroked the staccato heartbeat at her wrist, scrambling her thoughts.

  “Me, too. I’m an excellent taste tester and would be in your debt.” His voice lowered, going all mysterious-sexy, sending answering heat to parts she refused to listen to.

  Getting involved with Connor O’Rourke again was dangerous territory. She’d been thinking Laurel Cove might not be where she wanted to settle down. Maybe she should try to get out sooner than later. Coward. Her damn conscience rankled her.

  “Okay. I can babysit for you. Do you need to leave him with me this afternoon while you finish your day?”

  Connor clasped her hand in front of him and rocked back on his heels, showing off with a slight bow and an exaggerated thank-you. She giggled along with Jake but choked on the sound when his look warmed and he raised her hand to his lips for a light kiss.

  “I’ll make it worth your while.”

  The intensity in his eyes sent tingles along her scalp and down her spine. The muscles deep in her belly clenched, screaming Yes! You will. Trying to cool the blush heating her cheeks, she loosened the scarf around her neck and stifled the ridiculous urge to fan herself.

  “Ladies, I owe you all for this. I can’t thank you enough.”

  In an instant he had turned from sexy, charming Connor to polite, charming Connor. No way she had imagined his come-on. Her sister and cousins smiled at him as though he wasn’t openly tryi
ng to seduce her in their grandmother’s store. And doing a fine job.

  “You should know one thing, Connor. I have a job offer and plan to take it as soon as Christmas is over and we get the shop in order. So I’ll be happy to babysit through next week, but I’ll be leaving by New Year’s.”

  The words just popped out. Some kind of self-protective instinct snapped to attention a little too late.

  Her sister moved to stand next to her, blocking her from the front door. “When did this happen?” Cilla used her answer-me voice.

  “Recently.”

  Her cousins circled close to Cilla and with Connor, the four effectively cut off any quick exit.

  “Why didn’t you tell us last night?” Jacqui asked.

  “I was still thinking over his offer.” The excuse sounded weak even to her.

  Stop asking so many questions. Dammit. She should have known they wouldn’t just roll with whatever she said, but she couldn’t think. Not with Connor so close.

  “Congratulations. Sounds like you have something to celebrate.” Connor’s even-toned words and stony expression made her want to take back her declaration.

  “Thank you,” Simple pride or maybe stubbornness took ahold and she wouldn’t look away. She wasn’t going to show him how much the idea of spending any time alone with him scared her. If she gave her family any attention right then, she’d be pounced on with questions until she spilled everything, including how she hadn’t actually taken the job offer seriously until the minute Connor walked back into her life.

  “I’ll have to take a rain check on lunch to finish up some things.” Connor shifted and broke eye contact, nodding toward Jake. “Can he stay with you until I’m through?”

  “Sure thing,”

  “Be a good boy for Ms. Genny, Jake. I’ll pick you up for monster tree shopping in a couple of hours.”

  Unexpected tears pricked the corners of her eyes as she watched him give Jake a hug and kiss good-bye. She breathed a sigh of relief when Connor left the store. His attention confused and thrilled and made a mess of her emotions. She needed a Connor-free moment to process what just happened. She had agreed to nanny for the son of the ex love of her life, and he was making her think the ex part was up for negotiation.

  “Geneva Ridgeway, when were you going to tell us you had a new job lined up?” Lena got her question in as soon as the door shut on Connor’s nicely formed back end.

  “Well, not exactly lined up. I haven’t told him yes yet.” She held a finger to her lips and motioned to Jake, who was munching on more cookie samples and playing with an antique toy soldier that had been stationed on one of the front tables, holding the You Break It, It’s Yours sign. The silence from her three interrogators wouldn’t last long. “Hey, Jake, let me show you where my Nona kept a whole collection of toys to play with.”

  Genny led him to the back room where her grandmother had set up an area with toys and books the little ones could amuse themselves with to keep them from touching the things they weren’t allowed.

  “I’ll be right back, and we’ll plan what kind of cookies we’re going to bake today. Okay?”

  “Cool. Okay.” He pulled a couple cars out of the toy box and began setting up a racetrack. She returned to the others and the conversation that wouldn’t be forgotten.

  “Okay, I needed some space. Connor’s different, and I needed some space. And I don’t have to explain to you.” She spoke before they had a chance to ask any more questions.

  “He’s the one, Genny.”

  Genny heard the wistfulness in Jacqui’s voice.

  “Whatever, Jacqui.” If the others wanted to believe in a happily ever after for her and Connor, it was their wasted time. Genny would not hope for something that wasn’t real.

  “Don’t you feel the connection? He’s the one. You can’t fight destiny. Nona would tell you the same.” Of all of them, Lena trusted in Nona’s gift for fortune telling the most.

  “Christmas Eve is just a couple days away.” Cilla’s voice softened.

  “Your true love will find you on Christmas Eve. Old and new, the love will be.” Lena recited her grandmother’s words.

  “I forgot how annoying it is that you remember every damn thing.” Genny waved her hand at Lena’s raised brow. “Doesn’t matter anyway. I don’t believe in Nona’s fortune anymore. And neither should you. She was simply having fun with us girls.”

  Genny couldn’t keep the protests up in front of them for long. They all had their own wishes. Nona hadn’t told futures often, saying every day was a surprise gift and it was better to not know what you would unwrap. And when she had, they weren’t always clear or what you thought they would be.

  Her grandmother said and did a lot of things that were mysterious. The one time the girls got her to read their love futures, they also wrote down one wish for her to bless. They each put their written wish in a small vial attached to a leather necklace. Nona said their wishes would be granted one day when their fortunes came true. And they believed. Still believed.

  Her gaze flew to the bowl that had been saved the evening before. She pulled it down and counted the necklaces. Only three. Damn, there should be four. She searched around the floor where the contents had spilled. All over Connor. She sat on her heels and handed it up to Cilla who stood with Lena and Jacqui, watching her as if she had lost her mind.

  “Oh…our wishing necklaces.” Cilla’s voice was breathy with nostalgia. “I’ve been looking for these for years. Why did she have them stashed away in here?”

  Cilla held up three identical-shaped small bottles, the size of a perfume sample, made of different shades of glass and attached to a leather string with a gold clasp. Jacqui’s in dark amber, Lena’s in azure blue, and her own in clear yellow.

  “Where’s yours?” Cilla asked, pinning Genny once again in the hot seat.

  “I don’t know.” She shifted on her feet.

  Connor has it because he’s the one.

  Just a coincidence, Nona.

  “You might as well tell us. You’ve been trying to lie your whole life and never succeeded.” Cilla’s maternal tone took control of the interrogation.

  She was right about Genny’s not being able to lie with success.

  “Okay, Connor was here last night, and he found the necklaces when the bowl fell and spilled all over him.”

  “Oh my God, Genny.” Lena didn’t hide her excitement.

  “Nona would make sure he has it if he’s the one.” Jacqui’s assuredness at their grandmother’s posthumous meddling irritated already raw feelings.

  Lena clasped her hands together. “Do you think he’s opened it?”

  “If he does, he’s the one to make your wish come true.” Jacqui and Lena crowded in close. The three encircled Genny. All she needed was for Nona’s spirit to come crashing through the room, and they’d have Connor and her at the altar before she could bake a batch of get-the-hell-out-of-my-life brownies.

  “I’m not talking about this anymore. The necklaces are trinkets she gave us on our birthdays. We were girls having fun. I’m not going to build my life around the hope of something magical happening. I’m a grown woman, and I know full well wishes don’t always come true.”

  “But—”

  “But nothing. I have a child to babysit and cookies to bake.” She motioned for them to move and left them to discuss their own fortunes and wishes.

  Once upon a time she’d believed, but then her wish left her with no intention of ever returning.

  Connor’s back now and interested.

  I’m ignoring you, too, Nona

  She found Jake playing with a train set under one of the Christmas trees in the passageway between the front and middle rooms.

  “Hey, buddy, are you ready to go bake some cookies?”

  Genny held out her hand to him and waited for him to take hold.

  “Okay.” He focused on his feet instead of looking her in the eye, but slipped his small hand into hers.

  “My gr
andmother’s kitchen upstairs will be the best-smelling place in town when we get through.” She led him to a hidden staircase that took them into Nona’s apartment. It seemed empty without her, but Genny loved baking there.

  When Nona had decided to sell the family’s cookies in her shop, she refurbished her kitchen into the envy of any bakery. Her small dining room held shelves full of packaging. Genny had spent hours every evening the last couple of weeks baking dozens of the best-selling cookie varieties their regular customers had come to expect. She’d even tested a couple of new recipes, but her heart wasn’t in the task. Every batch of pumpkin raisin and chewy molasses reminded her of time spent with her family, from the early years of baking for just themselves to expanding for the store. Memories both comforting and too exhausting to filter.

  “Let’s see. I think there’s an apron just your size in here.” She rummaged through a hall closet and pulled out a white child-sized apron. “This was mine when I was your age. My grandmother taught me everything I know about baking cookies.”

  “My grandma let me help her bake cookies once.”

  “Oh? What kind’s your favorite?” She smiled at him. He seemed to have gotten over his shyness. He pulled the apron over his head and turned for her to cross the strings at his back and loop them around his waist to tie in the front. Just as she had done.

  “Chocolate chip. She wouldn’t let me eat any of the chips, and I could only have one cookie when they were ready. I had to eat all my dinner first, too.”

  “I see.” He was tall enough to get his hands over the sink. She squirted soap onto his palms and held the water sprayer close to the edge for him to wash under.

  “You’re not going to make me eat all my dinner first, are you?”

  She passed him a towel to dry his hands and laughed at the pout that accompanied the question. “Not today. I need you focused on cookies. Got it? A taste tester’s job is very important. Every ingredient has to be perfect or it doesn’t go in the cookies.”

  Jake scrunched his forehead and gave a quick nod. “Got it.” He climbed onto the step stool she had pushed up to the counter and watched as she took out all the basic ingredients.