The Christmas Baby

The wind off the water would be cold this time of year. Yet his oceanside home rarely saw snow nor, hopefully, none of the more usual ice storms.

What kind of Christmas did Oscar, Maria or Zander look forward to? In less than a month, he’d say goodbye to his classroom and the kids forever.

His hands clenched around the wheel. Which was what he’d worked for—to leave the family on a better financial footing and return to the research he loved.

But the children he’d leave behind tugged at his heart. Even Zander, despite the third grader’s determination to keep everyone at arm’s length. Ryan blew out a breath of air. He’d not foreseen that when he tendered his resignation.

Arm’s length. He’d done the same since changing careers and coming home to help his family. As for seeing Anna again? The rush of emotion had caught Ryan by surprise.

What would happen to kids like Oscar, Maria and Zander after Ryan left the Shore for good?

He throttled the steering column. “This isn’t my problem, God.” But saying that out loud didn’t ease his conscience as he’d hoped.

Ryan released his grip on the wheel and leaned against the seat. The replacement teacher would be fine. The children would be fine. Anna and her baby would be fine.

Would they? Would Ryan? Was there a reason Anna had come into his life now?

Only the sound of shorebirds wheeling above the glittering water of the inlet broke the silence. But he couldn’t shake the memory of the unspoken plea in Anna’s beautiful eyes. To trust her. To understand. To be her friend.

She seemed so sad and alone. First losing her husband and now being a single parent. He shouldn’t have walked away. He needed to apologize. No one should feel that sad or alone, especially at Christmas.

And when her very intimidating ex-deputy dad found out about the baby... Ryan winced. He didn’t envy Anna that conversation.

He spied Seth Duer stuffing something fur-lined and red into the cab of his truck, and Ryan got an idea. He grinned. A surprise not only for the children, but for Anna, too.

* * *

So like their deputy sheriff father, Charlie’s uniformed shoulders hunched in the overstuffed armchair. “Why didn’t you tell us about the baby, Anna?”

Sitting on the sofa in her childhood home, Anna fidgeted. “Because you would’ve tried to talk me out of it.”

Perched on the armrest, Evy dangled her trademark high heels. “And your due date is January 6?” Her smile made her cheeks brush her retro horn-rimmed eyeglasses. “An Old Christmas baby. The Epiphany.”

The glasses reminded Anna of Ryan. She’d expected too much from a childhood friend she hadn’t seen in years. She’d underestimated the distance time and geography had created between them.

Just before high school graduation, she’d actually thought—hoped—Ryan might care for her as more than a friend. But he never said anything. And she chalked it up to wishful thinking. The road not taken. At this point, a road she couldn’t afford to take.

She steeled herself against the ache Ryan’s rejection evoked. “Mateo’s people call it the Día de Los Reyes.”

“Reyes. ‘Kings’ in Spanish.” Evy’s blond ponytail swished. “The Magi. Three Kings’ Day.”

“A day of gifts.” Anna locked eyes with her scowling brother. “And this child is his last, best gift to me.”

His elbows on his knees, Charlie steepled his hands under his chin. “With the rest of the Pruitts scattered far and wide this Christmas, there’s plenty of room for you at the house.”

She looked at her brother with his Clark Kent good looks. “I appreciate the offer, but I rented a house on Quayside Lane before I left Texas.”

His brow furrowed. “This is your home, Anna.”

With her older brothers, Jaxon and Ben, on active military duty and firefighter Will on the mainland, it had fallen to Charlie to keep the home fires burning. A home where she’d spent a happy childhood.

Charlie frowned. “You don’t have to do everything by yourself, Anna.”

Evy slid onto the sofa beside Anna. “We want to be here for you.”

Anna’s gaze darted between them. “I love you both for your support, but it’s better this way.”

“Quayside is so remote.” He lifted his chin, the cleft clearly visible. “It’s not good for you to be out there alone. Especially with winter upon us.”

“I’m the big sister, remember, Charlie? I’ll be fine.”

Anna glanced out the picture window at the maples lining the street. Having dropped the last of their leaves, the bare branches revealed the stark beauty of winter. Christmas used to be her favorite time of year.

She hardly remembered the girl she’d once been. Full of optimism as she headed off to college. Surprised by love’s possibilities after meeting handsome Marine Corps PFC Reyes. And because of Mateo’s deployment, a whirlwind wedding. The girl she’d been before death and fear took their toll.

“Why did you do this, Anna?” Her brother’s pensive tone pulled her away from her memories. “Why not start a new family with someone else?”

She stiffened. “I want Mateo’s child.”

“His child keeps you mired in the past.” Charlie’s lips tightened. “You lost your teaching job over this, didn’t you?”

She knotted her hands in her lap. “There were side effects with the fertility drugs. I was absent a lot.” It was the understatement of the century. “The school district chose not to renew my contract. But I have to do this. This child is Mateo’s legacy preserved forever.”

“Do you hear yourself, Anna?” His eyes widened. “What kind of burden is that for a kid to bear? Being someone’s memorial candle. How dare Mateo Reyes ask you to do this.”

She stood so fast she swayed. “That’s not how it was. I want to do this. I need to do this.” She squared her shoulders. “I didn’t go into this lightly.”

“Help us to understand.” Evy caught Anna’s arm. “Please sit down.”

She allowed Evy to pull her onto the sofa again. “Neither Mateo or I ever believed he wouldn’t win the war against the cancer. He was so young. So strong. So full of life...” Her voice broke. “Don’t you think I’ve considered what it will mean to bring a fatherless child into the world?”

Charlie came out of his chair and crouched in front of her. “Raising a child as a single mother is going to be so hard, sis.” He reached for her hand.

“This was Mateo’s greatest desire—to have a child.”

Her brother’s hazel eyes bored into hers. “There was a court case a few years ago, which made national headlines. Posthumous children aren’t entitled to Social Security or military benefits. They have few legal rights.” He blew out a breath.

Charlie didn’t know the half of it. The procedure hadn’t been covered by the VA. She didn’t want her family to know how she’d depleted her savings.

“At first, I tried artificial insemination. But after three failed attempts—”

“You weren’t pregnant at our wedding a year ago.” Evy put her hand to her throat. “How long have you been trying to conceive, Anna?”

A question she preferred not to answer. “The good news is that the in vitro finally worked.” After two failed procedures.

She’d sold anything she could live without. Everything she owned in the world sat in her VW Beetle parked in front of the house.

Charlie rocked on his heels. “Stay here, Anna. With people who love you.”

She shook her head. “I need to do this on my own.”

Evy’s expressive blue eyes clouded. “Need or want?”

Anna chewed her bottom lip. “When Mrs. Savage forwarded the notice of the interim position so close to Christmas, I thought...”

Thanks to pregnancy hormones, she’d been weepy the day the email arrived. She’d given in to the growing desire to come home. To spend Christmas with those near and dear to her heart. But above all, to make a new life for her child.

And the kindergarten opening offered a small financial cushion to take the edge off her empty bank account. As she was learning, babies were expensive.

Charlie glanced at the mantel clock. “It’s the middle of the night in Europe, but we can call Mom and Dad first thing—”

“I’m not ready to tell them yet.” She fisted the hem of her vest.

“They deserve to know the truth.”

“Please, Charlie. A few more weeks.” She opened her palms on her lap. “Let me be the one to tell them.”

Single parenting would be the ultimate and final letdown of everything they once hoped and dreamed for her.

He sighed. “But in the meantime, what will you say to people in town?”

In Kiptohanock, everybody was always up in everybody else’s business.

She sniffed. “Why should I have to say anything?”

He frowned. “Their accent may be slow, but their minds aren’t. People in Kiptohanock can count. They know your husband’s been dead for three years. You don’t want people thinking the worst.”

“The worst?” She gestured at her belly. “You think this is the worst? Let me tell you about worst, little brother.”

“I’m thinking of your reputation, Anna.”

“By the time I was twenty-eight, I’d already suffered the worst day of my life. Holding the hand of my husband as he breathed his last breath.” Her lips twisted. “People need to mind their own business.”

“It’s not that simple, Anna.” He flexed his jaw. “And you know it.”

Evy touched Anna’s hand. “I don’t think you’re giving people enough credit. They will want to help.”

Like Ryan? Except for God, she’d felt alone for a long time. She wouldn’t have survived without His help. She believed in the deepest part of her being this baby was part of God’s plan for her.

“I have to do this, Charlie,” she whispered.

Her brother rose with a groan. “I guess I have no choice but to let you do this your way.”

Evy helped her off the couch. “Don’t forget how much we love you and want to be here for you, Anna.”

She hugged the petite woman who’d become the closest thing to a sister she’d ever known. Saying a quick goodbye before her resolve weakened, Anna lumbered out the door. And nearly fell off the wide-planked porch in disbelief.

Ankles crossed and arms folded, Ryan leaned against her car.

She had a hard time regaining her breath and not only because she walked the distance between the living room and veranda. “What’re you doing here?”

“You caught me by surprise before.” Behind the frames, his eyes flickered. “I wanted to apologize for walking away. Congratulations, Anna. You’ll be a wonderful mother.”

Sudden warmth flooded her chest. He had no idea how much his words meant.

“You asked me to trust you, Anna. So I do.” He ran his hand over his hair. “I don’t understand this situation at all, but I promise to never stop being your friend.”

Her throat constricted.

Pushing off from the car, he came forward to the bottom step. “Will you forgive me for being an idiot and give me another chance to be the friend you deserve?”

“I’d like that, Ryan.” Tears stung her eyes. “Very much.”

He gave her that crooked smile she remembered so well. Like a flash of lightning, momentarily sizzling her brain.

“I figured Charlie might need help unpacking your car.” He motioned to the packed-to-the-roof baby blue Beetle. “Looks like the day you headed off to college. Remember?”

She remembered.

A tender moment on a long-ago August morning when he helped pack her stuff into this same car. When she’d hoped for something more than friendship. But now? If he only understood how little of that girl remained.

“I’ve rented a small house on Quayside Lane.”

He shrugged. “Then I’ll follow and help you unpack.”

“That’s not necessary.”

“Or I won’t believe you’ve really forgiven me.” He cocked his head. “You don’t want me lying awake all night on your conscience, do you, Anna Banana?”

Her lips quirked.

No fair playing on his affectionate childhood nickname for her. Maybe this once, it wouldn’t hurt to let someone help carry the load. She glanced at the overloaded vehicle. Literally.

“If you want to.”

He laughed. “Perhaps the most begrudging acceptance I’ve ever heard.”

It wouldn’t do to become too dependent on anyone. Not even her dearest friend. “What I meant to say was thank you, Ryan. I’d appreciate your help.”

To show him her sincerity, she gave him a wide smile. But when she took hold of his hand to descend the steps, an unexpected tingle shot from his fingers to her elbow.

Ground level, she jerked free. Their gazes locked.

Something flamed in the blue-green depths of his eyes. “By the way, Anna, Merry Christmas.”

“Is it?” she rasped.

He broke eye contact long enough to push his glasses farther along the bridge of his nose. “I think, for the first time in a long while, it might just be a very merry Christmas.”

“Friends?” Something compelled her to add.

He scraped his hand over the beard stubble on his jaw. “Friends.”

Anna owed him the truth. Not everyone in Kiptohanock would understand her decision to carry this child. Would Ryan?

She exhaled, sending a puff of breath into the brisk air. “The baby is Mateo’s. Posthumously conceived. So a tiny part of the life we shared can live on.”

“I meant what I said. I’m here for you.” He swallowed. “For as long as you’ll let me.”

Good as his word, he wouldn’t let her down. Ryan Savage had never let her down. And somehow in the deep places of her heart, she knew he wouldn’t now.

He cleared his throat. “In fact, I’ve made some phone calls...”

She glanced at him.

“I’m going to be your own personal version of Santa. And I could use your help with an idea I have for Maria, Oscar and Zander.”

“Which means what?”

“I’m going to make it my mission to make this the best Kiptohanock Christmas ever.” He smiled, and her heart lurched. “For all of us.”

Chapter Three

Dusk fell as Ryan hauled the last box up the rickety, wooden steps into the run-down trailer. He placed the box on the peeling kitchen countertop. No wonder Anna hadn’t wanted her brother out here.

She raised her palm before he could speak. “It was cheap. It was furnished. It’s temporary and not any of your business.”

“You can’t stay here, Anna. The steps are an accident waiting to happen.”

She folded her arms. “I’ll be fine.”

“And that car you got as a high school graduation present is on its last legs. I can’t believe you drove from Texas in that bucket of bolts.”

“My car is fine.”

“You and I both know that at the crack of dawn, your brother is going to pay you a visit. And then he’s going to drag you out of here if he has to put you under house arrest—his house—to do it.”

In her defiant brown eyes, for a second he glimpsed the take-no-sass girl raised in a houseful of boys. “He can try.”

She wasn’t the only one who could do stubborn. “I’m fixing the steps, Anna.”

“I’ll fix the steps myself.”

He planted his hands on his hips. “Can you see your feet, Anna, much less crawl under the porch?”

She rocked back. Wrong thing to say to a pregnant woman.

“I didn’t mean that the way—” But she sidestepped his outstretched hand.

Frustration bubbled at her mile-wide independent streak. “I can’t in good conscience let you get hurt on those steps.”

“Conscience’s sake? Is that why you’re here?” Her lips flattened. “What am I, Ryan, this year’s Christmas project?”

He moved around the kitchen island toward her. “Absolutely not.”

She pressed her spine against the speckled counter. “Knock yourself out then. Don’t let me stop you.”

“Anna, I just—”

“By all means do what you have to do so you can sleep at night.” She inched past him, not an easy feat with the lack of square footage in the tiny galley kitchen.

As for the electric spark when he touched her hand on Charlie’s porch? He clamped down on his jaw.

Friends. They were friends. He drilled it into his brain. Just friends.

Retrieving the toolbox from the trunk of his car, he did what he could in the fading light to make the hand railing more secure. The steps needed a total overhaul. But in the meantime...

Poking her head out the door, Anna flicked a switch inside the house. An exterior light blinked to feeble life.

He glanced up. “I’m done for the night.”

“Thank you, Ryan. Don’t let me keep you from...” She fluttered her hand in the general direction of the mainland United States. “Wherever you go in the evenings.”

“From my wife and kids, you mean?”

The strangest look crossed her face, so quickly he almost believed he imagined it. “I didn’t realize you had a wife and children.”

“I don’t.”

“Oh.” She moistened her bottom lip with her tongue. “Good.”

He cocked his head. “Good I don’t have a wife and kids?”

“Yes—no...” She reddened. “I mean, good that I’m not keeping you from anything. Like supper.” She cleared her throat. “I should pay you.”

He frowned. “I don’t want you to pay me.”

Earning him a mulish look.

“On second thought, maybe you are keeping me from my supper.” He chucked the hammer. It clattered into the metallic toolbox. “And since you have to eat, too, we might as well keep each other company.”

She stiffened. “Why?”

He leaned against the railing, testing his weight against it. “You need to eat. I need to eat.” He glanced at her basketball-size belly. “The baby needs for you to eat. And there’s something else you can keep me from.”

She rested her hand on top of her stomach. “What’s that?”

“You can keep me from another Friday night of eating alone.” He grinned at her. “Dinner will give us a chance to catch up.”

“Long time no see?”

“Our Christmas reunion. A lot has happened since we last saw each other.”

“No kidding.” Her gaze fell to the wooden steps. “I’m sorry about your dad, Ryan.” She dropped her hand to her side. “Mateo was going through chemo and...”

“We lost touch. No problem. Dinner?”

Her lashes feathered her skin. “I never could say no to you.”

Which wasn’t how he remembered high school. Though more often than not, he hadn’t given her a chance to say no. He’d been too scared to ask Anna to prom. He reckoned it best to be content being best friends.

He made sure she locked the door. Another item on his To-Do list. Wouldn’t take much effort to break the lock on the wobbly doorknob. He’d feel better knowing Anna was safe at night out here alone. Ryan offered his arm as she descended the steps.

Instead, she gripped the bannister. “I got it. Thanks for making the railing sturdier.”

He stationed himself at ground level in case she needed him. Not that Anna Pruitt had ever needed him. He’d been the one who foolishly hoped their friendship might blossom into something more. “How ’bout Tammy and Johnny’s for burgers and fries?”

“Boot?” Her lips curved. “It’s been a long time since I’ve heard me some Shore talk.”

He rolled his tongue in his cheek. “Which simply means it’s been too long since you’ve been graced by our unique Tidewater dialect.”

She smiled as she crossed the oyster-shelled driveway to his car. “Dutch treat.”

He opened the passenger door. “I’m not going to argue with you about dinner. It’s my treat.”

“That doesn’t seem fair considering how much you’ve already helped me.”

He kept the door between them. “I insist. For old times’ sake.”

“Old times.” She backed into the seat. “Just let me stuff my beached whale self inside your car.” She swung her legs inside last.

He tucked her red wool coat out of the way of the door. “You look beautiful.”

It was true. She’d been a lovely girl. Pregnant, she glowed with a womanly luminescence.

She twisted at an awkward angle, reaching for the seat belt. “You’re being kind.”

“Let me.” Leaning over her, he clicked the seat belt in position. Unconsciously, he inhaled her scent. A delicious blend of vanilla, cloves and cinnamon. Like Christmas. So like the Anna he remembered.

The air suddenly felt close. Rising abruptly, he banged his head on the roof. “Ow.”

She took a ragged breath. “Are you okay?”

Grunting, he extricated himself and rubbed the top of his scalp. Rounding the hood, he slipped into the driver seat and concentrated on pulling out of her badly rutted driveway. He planned to give Charlie a call tonight. Between the two of them, they’d soon sort a few issues with her landlord.

She shifted in the seat. “How long was your father sick?”

“Mom called us home after his stroke four years ago. At rehab, Dad suffered another stroke two months later and died.”

“Why did you stay?”

He negotiated a bend in the road. “The bills had piled up. The business was in danger of going under. With Mom working at the high school, someone had to keep the business afloat. We all helped with the garden center and farm.”

She placed her palm atop her abdomen. “The Savage siblings rallied.” Her eyes flitted to his. “I’ve always loved how supportive y’all are to each other.”

“Y’all.” His lips twitched. “Glad to see you can take the girl out of the South, but you can’t take the South out of the girl.” He bypassed the turnoff for Kiptohanock.

She swatted his arm. Like old times.

He grinned. “Luke does the actual horticultural work. Justine gave up her art gallery to run the garden center. But Ethan had to finish his enlistment first. Once Tess completed her degree, she came home, too.”

“My mother tells me you gave up your career.”

He swallowed, touched that she’d gone to the trouble of keeping track of him over the years. “Once a science geek, always a science geek.”

“You were never a geek, Mr. Track Star. In fact, you were always too cool for school.” She patted the dashboard. “You’re still rocking the laid-back vibe.” A smile played across her lips.

He arched his eyebrow. “’Cause it doesn’t get cooler than a Saab?”

She laughed and pointed at the radio. “Harry Connick or Sinatra?”

Ryan smiled. “Probably their holiday CDs. As I recall, you start celebrating in October.”

“Not anymore.” She sighed. “Since Mateo died, Christmas is something to just get through.”

Pulling off the highway, he steered into the crowded roadside hangout. It pained him to hear her talk like that. “You have so much to look forward to. And next year will be the baby’s first Christmas.”

Her expression closed. “Did you see Oscar’s face when he mentioned Christmas?”

Ryan took the hint. Talk of the future made Anna uneasy. “Until Zander shot him down like an eight-year-old Grinch.”

“When I think back to the wonderful childhood memories I have, it hurts my heart to imagine what Christmas has been like for those kids.”

He turned off the engine. “After we eat, I could use your help on making this Christmas a happy one for them. But we’ll have to hurry to implement Phase One of Operation Christmas.”

* * *

Operation Christmas?

Perhaps Ryan was on to something. She could think of no one she’d rather see happy than those children. Spending time with the handsome teacher would be a plus.

Inside, he wouldn’t allow her to pay for her meal. “Pick a seat.” He motioned. “I’ll wait for the food.”

Not drifting far, she’d no sooner chosen a seat than two children ran over to him. Max and Izzie, two of his fifth graders.

“Are you coming tonight, Mr. Savage?”

“You gotta come, Mr. Savage.”

He grinned at them. “Since you’ve known me, have I ever missed the flotilla parade?”

Was that tonight? Anna would eat fast so as not to keep him from other commitments. The children rejoined a group of adults and younger children. Caroline and Amelia Duer. Their mother and Ryan’s father had been siblings. The sisters and Ryan were first cousins.

She was less pleased by the other women, who, one by one, sidled over to the bachelor teacher. With his lanky build and the swimming-pool eyes behind the frames, he was not merely popular with children.