Page 24 of Christmas Promises

“That’s how it was with your father. He could make me almost choke with laughter. Usually at the most inappropriate times. He still does, the rascal.”

Nolan sipped his mother’s nutty coffee. What had he found so appealing about Laney? From the moment he’d met her at the bookstore all those years ago, his heart had belonged to her. How come he’d not looked for her? It wasn’t as though he hadn’t thought about her over the years. As if he’d contemplated this out loud to his mother, he said, “I wish I’d stayed in touch with her.”

“You were young. You had lives that continued after that summer. High school and college. All the big changes that come with those.”

“She’s thinking about taking over the bookstore. Did Edna tell you that?”

“Oh yes. That’s Edna’s evil plan. She’s hoping Laney falls in love with the place again and decides to stay. Edna would never admit it, but I know she’s been lonely. She told me once she would have loved to have children. Laney’s the closest thing to a daughter she’s ever had.”

“From what Laney said, her parents don’t want her here permanently. She said they strongly discouraged her from visiting again after that summer.”

His mother nodded sagely. “I remember Penelope Gray quite well. She didn’t like how close Laney and Edna had become. She didn’t like you much, either.”

“Wait, what?”

“She told Edna that she thought you were a bad influence.”

Nolan laughed. “I’ve never been a bad influence on anyone in my life.”

“True enough. My other boys, yes. You, not so much.”

Nolan finished his coffee and eyed the cookie sheet for another broken one but found none. He knew better than to eat a fully intact cookie. His mother had been known to smack greedy hands with the back of a wooden spoon. She was ninja-fast, too.

“I wonder why she thought that about me,” Nolan asked.

“My impression was that she didn’t like how close you two had become over the summer. Penelope’s always held very tightly to her daughter. You were a teenage boy. A demographic that doesn’t have the best reputation.” Mom’s eyebrows rose and she tapped the countertop with her fingernails. “Penelope must be devastated over the wedding. According to Edna, Penelope approved of Josh. But she’s always been enamored with the Hampton types, probably because Edna and Penelope grew up so poor. I don’t think Penelope ever got over feeling like that same little girl with the holes in her shoes. Thus, she wants security for Laney. Not just security, but wealth. The right circles. The right job. Some people care so much about what others think of them.”

“Yeah. No one in this family, but yes.”

“Your father taught you all well. The only judgment we should care about is that coming from the Lord above.” Mom gestured toward the heavens. “People seem to forget that sometimes.” She waved her spatula at him. “But you, young man, should not hesitate to ask her out. She may not think she’s ready, but all of that will go out the window when she meets the right man.”

“You think that could be me?” He cringed at how vulnerable he sounded.

“Why not you? You’re the finest man I know. And you had a wonderful connection when you were young. The kind that’s genuine—before people start to pretend to be something they’re not in order to fit in or get someone to like them. Anyway, if you don’t ask her out and she goes home, you’ll regret it. You’re not a shy little boy anymore, sweetheart. You’re an esteemed professor. You own a beautiful home. You’re as handsome as any movie star. Therefore, I see no reason whatsoever that you should hesitate. She deserves a good person in her life, not that awful cheating weasel. She dodged a bullet if you ask me. You slide right in there, honey, and show her what it’s like to be loved by a good man.”

That was her typical response about a lot of things. She had often told her sons they could do whatever they set their minds toward. Her confidence in them never wavered. If only he had the same confidence when it came to women. But she was right. If he didn’t try, then how would he ever know?

7

LANEY

Laney and Aunt Edna had spent most of the day at the shop, but now it was finally time to head out to the cookie decorating event. She felt as excited as a child. Her mother had never been the cookie making type, and Laney couldn’t wait to get her hands on some frosting.

She climbed into the passenger seat of her aunt’s car, and they headed out of the town square just as the sun had begun its lazy descent that cast a rosy blush over the winter sky. Laney nearly pressed her nose against the glass window, mesmerized by the lights, decorations, and garlands that decorated the streets and storefronts. A few families bustled about, their arms laden with holiday shopping bags.

“It’s almost too pretty to believe,” Laney said.

“I’ve always thought so.”

They headed out of town, turning onto the country road leading to the Hayes farm. The sparkle of town gave way to open fields and quiet woods. Snow lay thick and almost pink under the sunset. Laney had just started to lose herself in the rhythm of the ride when Aunt Edna let out a soft gasp and slowed the SUV to a crawl.

“Look there.” Aunt Edna pointed ahead to the right side of the road.

Laney followed her gaze and let out a gasp of her own. It was a moose, standing majestically at the edge of the tree line. The creature’s dark coat was dusted with snow, and its antlers seemed as wide as a car. It turned its head slowly to regard them with large, liquid eyes that seemed almost curious. Or that could have been her imagination.

“He’s gorgeous,” Laney murmured, scrambling to pull her phone from her coat pocket. “I’ve never seen one up close like this.”

“I’m surprised he still has his antlers. Usually, they’ve shed them by this time of year.” Aunt Edna brought the SUV to a full stop on the side of the road.

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