Page 5 of Wishing for Christmas
Brent frowned. He wasn’t a big fan of surprises. Although, meeting Clara had been a surprise, nothing he could have possibly planned for. Maybe love was like an unexpected snowfall—unpredictable and exciting.
It was a nice thought, but he knew better. Like anything else, relationships took work. They took commitment. They required planning. He’d learned this truth firsthand by watching his parents’ marriage over the years. His dad, a retired military officer, had always shown him the amount of work that went into maintaining a relationship, especially over long distances. There were times when it didn’t look easy for either of his parents, but they’d always assured him it was worth it.
Clara was worth it. At least, he thought she could be. He sensed there was something different about her. Perhaps it was that they seemed to click together so easily. Maybe it was just that the timing was right. All he knew was that this relationship had a potential he’d never felt before. But maybe it was too early to know. It was possible he was simply getting caught up in the excitement of it all.
He’d had a few girlfriends in the past, but no one who had made him want to make a commitment. His focus had always been on his flying and making sure he was successful in his missions. It had worked well for him so far. Still, Brent wondered if he would ever be as devoted to a relationship as he was to his job. Sometimes, he worried his complete focus on his Air Force career would inevitably come at the expense of ever finding real love.
Brent shook off any thoughts of romance. He glanced at the engine shutdown checklist one last time to ensure everything had been completed. With the aircraft secure, he and Dave still needed to stop into the squadron for some quick post-flight paperwork.
He stepped outside the plane onto the attached stairs. Stopping at the top of the staircase, he took a moment to look around. The night sky was dark, and the air was frigid. The lights from the runway shined brightly, like red and white Christmas lights. The sound of jet engines hummed in the background, and snow swirled wildly around him. He felt as if he was in a snow globe—only one that included airplanes. How he would have loved one of those as a kid. As he stood underneath the falling snow, his eyes widened with a sense of wonder.
He turned back to look at Dave. “You’re right, man. Thisispretty exciting.” He laughed. “It’s Christmastime.”
The sudden bout of enthusiasm took him by surprise. He couldn’t remember when he’d been so excited for Christmas, atleast not as an adult. Maybe Clarawassomeone who would be worth the effort needed for a serious relationship. Maybe, with the squadron off his mind for the holidays, it was time to focus on a different mission—executing the perfect Christmas with Clara.
Somehow, he knew this Christmas was going to be different. Timing was finally on his side.
CHAPTER THREE
CLARA
Clara stepped out of the hotel as the Christmas lights began to glow throughout downtown Cranberry Pines. She beamed as she took it in, admiring the beauty of the scenic street. Her feelings about the promotion and Matthew were complicated —but Christmas was not. Christmas was simply perfect. The snow was just beginning to fall, and she felt a welcome shiver as the air grew colder.
Like nearly everyone in her small New Hampshire town, Clara loved being surrounded by the anticipation of the season. There was a certain magic about Cranberry Pines this time of year, the streets overflowing with both New England charm and fresh snow. The Darlington glowed from its position in the heart of downtown. She never tired of going to work there every day. The gleaming clapboard siding and the brassy gaslight lanterns had greeted guests there for over a hundred years.
Recently renovated and all brightened up for Christmas, she still couldn’t believeshewas going to be the general manager. Well, someday. Eventually. A sudden gratitude for Matthew and everything he’d done for her overwhelmed her.
Clara pulled her coat tighter and sped up her walk. The pub was only two blocks from the hotel, but she knew her bestfriend would already be there. Lily was always on time for their monthly Friday-night meetups at Buddy’s Tavern.
It would be a welcome distraction to catch up with her. They’d both been so busy recently—she in her new relationship with Brent, and Lily with her boyfriend, Kyle. With Brent flying, it was a perfect opportunity to have some long-needed girl time.
Clara walked into the pub and was immediately welcomed by the warmth of a wood-burning fire. The paneled walls made it look like an old hunting lodge out of the northern woods. She squinted in the dim light. A candle at each table bathed the place in a soft haze. Her eyes landed on the fireplace, surrounded by a mantle of river rocks. It was framed by a brightly lit garland as Bing Crosby played softly in the background. She placed a hand over her heart and breathed in the smoky-scented air.
Lily waved from a tiny table in the corner. “Over here, Clar!”
As if anyone could miss Lily. With her dark hair full of thick curls and six-foot-tall frame, she was hard to miss. When it came to fashion, her style was constantly changing, but her brands were always from the hottest names. She loved anything flashy and bright, and her philosophy on color was that one simply couldn’t get enough of it. Tonight, she wore a pair of sky-blue yoga pants and a hot pink sweatshirt that probably cost more than the professional attire Clara had on. It certainly didn’t hurt that Lily naturally looked like a fitness model. Still, Clara never understood the idea of wearing workout gear as an outfit.
She and her best friend since kindergarten could hardly be more different, especially when it came to appearance.Clara was petite, or—put less eloquently—short. She had always dressed in simple, classic pieces and usually wore her thick blonde hair in a wavy—yet always polished—ponytail. When most friends were coordinating outfits for school dances, the two of them had never even tried to match up their styles.
“Have you been waiting long?” Clara asked with a look of apology when she reached the table.
Lily said nothing; just looked back at her with a huge smile plastered on her face. She held her left hand against her chest, a new diamond sparkling brightly.
Clara screamed. “No way! He proposed?”
“He proposed,” Lily replied with a relaxed smile.
Several people turned their heads as Clara let out a high-pitched squeal and hugged her best friend, jumping up and down.
Lily pulled back. “Okay, enough of that. Everyone’s looking at you.”
Clara waved her off. She knew her best friend well enough to know she was squealing with excitement, on the inside. It was simply her uniquely reserved personality that allowed her to downplay the enthusiasm. Not one to wear her heart on her sleeve, Lily usually kept her biggest reactions to herself, although Clara was an expert at reading them by now.
She had always admired Lily’s even-keeled and mild temperament, finding it ironic that her taste in style was the exact opposite. She’d always wondered if her tendency to lean toward all things loud and colorful was her way of expressing herself to the outside world. Either way, Clara knew the truth: Lily was thrilled. She had been dating her boyfriend, Kyle, for years now and had been eagerly anticipating this.
“Well, tell me everything. How did he do it?” Clara grabbed her best friend’s hand to get a closer look at the ring.
“Let’s order our drinks first,” Lily said with a sly tilt of her head. “I do believe this calls for a special treat.”
