Page 8 of Wishing for Christmas
Brent turned toward his latest project and current source of happiness: a Christmas gift for Clara. He picked up his handsaw and began working away at the piece of wood, executing each move to perfection so it would turn out according to his plan.
That’s what he loved most about woodworking, the skill involved. Dependent entirely on good planning and careful execution, nothing was left to luck. He blew the extra sawdust off the wood and stood back to take a look. Perfect. It looked exactly the way he’d anticipated. If all went according to plan, so would his Christmas with Clara.
Brent thought about the plans he’d made for the two of them. He flipped on the small radio he kept on the workbench. Michael Bublé was singing “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” and Brent couldn’t help but hum along as he carved. He already had several activities lined up for their week together, all laid out in a well-organized checklist. The first item on his list was to take her to Cranberry Pines Christmas Tree Farm. He knew she’d been there before, but he—a relative newcomer to the area—had never visited. He hadn’t even bought a tree last year, having spent the holidays at his parents’ house. From his online research, Brent knew the farm could be the perfect spot for a romantic holidayouting. He would be able to show off his natural lumberjack skills by cutting down a fresh tree. He loved that idea.
Brent felt as if choosing their first tree together would finally solidify them as a real couple. It seemed like a rite of passage only a couple would do, as opposed to a date. He smiled to himself. He liked the idea of them choosing something together, syncing up their individual personalities to achieve a shared goal. Even if it was just a Christmas tree.
As he continued to carve away at the wood, Brent thought about the next item on his checklist: the squadron Christmas party. He hoped it would give Clara a positive impression of the squadron and not scare her away from Air Force life completely.
Although she had grown up in Cranberry Pines—only a couple dozen miles from the Air Force base—he didn’t think she had ever dated anyone in the military before. Had she? She’d only mentioned having dated that sharply dressed boss of hers, Matthew. Brent rolled his eyes. That guy seemed to be about as different as one could get from most of the Air Force pilots he knew. If that’s what she was used to, what was she going to think of his Air Force buddies?
He knew deep down she was going to love his friends. Still, Brent couldn’t stop his mind from cycling through the worst-case scenarios. They had talked about his job quite a bit over the past couple of months, and she seemed to be supportive of what he did. Even so, he wasn’t entirely sure yet what Clara thought about that part of his life or if she was interested in getting involved in it for the long term. How could anyone really know what they’re getting into with this lifestyle?
He glanced over at his list to peek at the most significant item. He was planning to take Clara to his parents’ house for their annual Christmas party. She would get to meet his parents for the first time, along with all their closest friends and neighbors.
Brent adored his family. They’d been his constant rock in a life that sometimes felt like sand that never stopped shifting. Living in the northeast, his parents had been thrilled when he got assigned to the base in New Hampshire. Their house was a short two-hour drive from his, and he loved to visit them as much as possible. He was ready for them to finally meet Clara.
There would be other holiday fun too, and it was all laid out in his list. They would bake cookies, they would explore the idyllic New England villages, they would drink cocoa, and they would exchange gifts.
On the surface, each item on his list appeared to be simple holiday fun. But he knew the truth. Each activity was well thought-out, with the specific intent of bringing them closer together as a couple.It’s how missions are successful. If it all went according to plan, their relationship would take a huge step forward over the course of the holidays.
First things first, he was planning to take Clara out for a romantic candlelight dinner the next evening. Though December had just begun, this date would be the official kickoff to their romantic Christmas together. He thought about the upcoming weeks and imagined everything going perfectly as he continued to hum along with the music.
Deciding to remain optimistic, he made a last-minute decision to add an additional detail to her gift. Taking his chisel, he inscribed the current year into the back of the wood. If things worked out between them—and he was beginning to think they might—they would always have this reminder of their first Christmas together.
Brent placed his safety goggles on top of his head to get a closer look at his work. A satisfied grin spread across his face. His phone rang, and he took off his gloves, hoping it would be Clara. Instead, the number for the squadron appeared, suddenly reminding him of the one thing he could never control.
The squadron rarely called. A simple issue like a schedule change or logistic update would usually be communicated through email. No, a phone call meant there was something urgent: a squadron recall, canceled leave—or something worse.
Brent’s vision of his perfect Christmas plans came dangerously into view. Despite all his planning, there was one truth that always lingered in the back of his mind: Life in the military was completely unpredictable.
CHAPTER FIVE
CLARA
Saturday nights in Cranberry Pines bustled with activity, especially around Christmas. With tourists flocking to the area to soak up the small-town charm, a table at one of the downtown restaurants could be hard to come by this time of year. Clara wasn’t worried, though. Knowing Brent, their reservation had been secured well in advance.
She’d spent the entire day at the hotel, prepping the conference rooms for a busy weekend of holiday parties. Brent had called her that morning to ask if he could stop by to talk. At the very least, he’d wanted to pick her up for the date. It was sweet of him, but she insisted on meeting him at the restaurant instead. Sure, there was a part of her that wanted Matthew to see her with her new boyfriend, but it was quickly overruled by the side that wanted to keep the peace. With this promotion hanging in the balance, the last thing she needed was any hard feelings, including jealousy.
Clara spotted him immediately as she entered the restaurant. Major Brent McNally was hard to miss, even when he wasn’t in uniform. He sat at the table, his back to her. His tall head of perfectly trimmed hair stood out as a welcome preview to the handsome face she knew would greet her. Her eyelashes gaveway to an involuntary flutter. She still couldn’t quite believe he washerboyfriend.
She lingered back. Something was wrong.Brent seemed different, even from behind. He normally had a calm presence about him and a confident posture that seemed to be missing tonight.
She continued to watch him from across the restaurant. She could tell he was upset—or nervous maybe. His hands were in a pensive steeple on top of the table. His leg appeared to be in a rapid bounce underneath the tablecloth. An uneasy feeling crept over her. Clara watched his chin drop to his chest as if it were too heavy to hold up.
Her thoughts jumped to Matthew. They had been on dates that had this same eerie beginning to them. He had neverwantedto hurt her when he broke up with her those times. It was hard for him too. It was simply that they needed time apart, or at least that’s what he’d said.
“Can I come by the hotel so we can talk?”Brent had asked her that morning. The question now gave her an unsettling feeling that it hadn’t then. He’d just been offering to visit her at work, right? She chewed on her lip. A queasy sensation formed in the pit of her stomach. Surely Brent wasn’t going to break up with her already. Was he?
Clara was prepared for a romantic evening, not a breakup. She forced herself to remain calm and not jump to any conclusions, reminding herself that Brent was nothing like Matthew. That this relationship was nothing like theirs had been. She took the time to remove her coat and draped it over her arm. She wasn’t sure she was ready to confront this yet—whateverthiswas. She smoothed out her new black dress and forced herself to take a deep breath, needing a moment to collect her thoughts. Grateful to have remained undetected, she continued to watch him from afar.
Her mind went back to the first time she had met Brent.He’d come into the hotel with a few other pilots to plan a retirement party for their squadron commander. Tall and impressive in his flight suit, Clara immediately took notice. He had a set of gorgeous dimples, the left one exaggerated whenever he smiled at her. After he had attempted a few jokes—that didn’t land—she chalked him up to being a cocky flyboy, trying to show off.
She hadn’t known much about the Air Force or about the military in general. Over the years she’d often seen airmen around town, but she’d never known any of them personally or even given them a second thought.
That all changed once Brent asked for her phone number. She couldn’t resist the humble smile and the nervous tone of his voice. It was so different from Matthew’s natural bravado.
Clara was intrigued by Brent. She wanted to know more about this guy who looked like an action hero yet seemed nervous aroundher. She’d suggested they have a drink right there in the hotel lounge after work that night, fearing he wouldn’t call. She knew some women wouldn’t condone her being the one to make the first move, but after all those years with Matthew, it was time she started going after what she wanted. She’d always let Matthew call the shots and lead the relationship. She was tired of being pulled along by a man. Besides, it wouldn’t hurt for Matthew to see her with someone else—especially a good-looking military pilot.
