A Christmas in Connecticut Page 3

  Just as she’d approached her car, she’d stepped on something slippery. For just a brief second, she thought she was going to be okay…it felt a bit like ice skating, albeit out-of-control ice skating, but suddenly her feet went out from under her, the bags flew from her grip, she was momentarily airborne before coming down with a thud on the pavement. Shit. She heard the unmistakable sound of a clog making contact with the hood of a car followed by a “What the hell?” in a gruff voice in the distance.

  “Are you okay?”

  Claire’s eyes were closed, but the familiar voice caused them to fly open. It was Jack. Again. Oh my god…he’s going to think I’m an idiot who can’t stand on my own two feet. “I’m fine,” she squeaked out as she used his outstretched hand to pull herself gently off the ground. “Nothing that some Tylenol and bourbon won’t fix.”

  He narrowed his eyes at her.

  “I’m kidding,” she said. “Kind of.”

  “Where’s the other one?” Jack asked as he motioned to her feet. One foot still had a clog attached to it, the other only had on a pink sock adorned with white bunnies munching on carrots.

  Claire silently pointed with her chin across the parking lot where a heavy-set man in an orange hunting vest was eying the hood of his truck and scratching his head at the presence of Claire’s clog lying atop it.

  “I got it.” Jack jogged over to the truck and grabbed the shoe, saying something to the guy before jogging back over to Claire. “Here,” he said, handing it to her.

  “Thanks,” she replied. “Did it leave a dent?”

  “Nothing that wasn’t there before, no worries.” He helped gather her groceries that were scattered about. He held up a frozen box of mac & cheese and another of home-style meatloaf. “You eat these? Really?”

  “What…don’t you ever eat frozen meals?” She eyed him with a look of incredulity on her face.

  “Well, yeah, but I don’t know how to cook.”

  “And neither do—” An alarm bell went off in her head before she could finish what she was about to say. It was blasting don’t say it Claire with big flashing red lights.

  He was looking at her quizzically and had momentarily stopped picking up the groceries, waiting for an answer.

  “And neither do I feel like I can cook very well in an unfamiliar kitchen.” She smiled to herself. Phew. Good save.

  “Because I just read your blog ‘farm to table meals in under thirty-minutes.’” He continued to stare at her.

  “Well…like I said, right now I’m completely unfamiliar with the kitchen…so I just need some alternatives while I get acclimated.”

  He nodded as he resumed retrieving her items…some of which had rolled under the car. “You know, Jenny’s Diner is an excellent alternative. She makes great soups. You can buy them by the quart to-go…or any of the other menu items. Have you eaten there yet?” He stood up with her bags in his hands while she unlocked her car.

  “Not yet. Sounds good though.”

  “What are you doing for lunch tomorrow? We could meet there. I’ll introduce you to Jenny—I’m sure she’d be excited to meet you—we can have lunch; I’ll fill you in on everything you need to know about River Falls.”

  Claire had gotten into her car and was putting the key in the ignition. She looked at Jack as he leaned against her car door, his blue eyes practically hypnotizing her as she continued to dream about what he looked like out of that lumberjack shirt.

  “Sure,” was all she could get out.

  “Great, I’ll meet you there at noon.” He closed her car door and watched as she backed up…giving her a quick wave and a gorgeous smile. Her entire insides had turned to putty. Did he just ask me out on a date?

  Chapter 4

  Claire finished putting her groceries away before filling up a large bag with ice and propping herself up on the couch with her laptop; the bag of ice soothing her sore back. Jack was obviously reading up on her through her blog. She needed to get a handle on what kind of person he was imagining her to be. She found the post she was looking for and quietly read to herself.

  Farm to table meals in under thirty-minutes!

  Okay…I get it…many of you have written to me asking how in the world is it possible to work all day and come home energetic enough to cook a meal? Easy, I say! Don’t take the quickest way by settling for fast food when there’s a better and just as easy alternative. My first word of advice is to read my post from last year: Sunday Prep-day. While the guys are watching the game, you can get a jump on your game by prepping veggies for the entire week. Seriously, it’s a game changer. But, even if you haven’t done your veggie prep, there is still no excuse for giving up and calling that bucket of chicken you picked up at the drive-thru, dinner. Click the link at the end for twelve delicious recipes using fewer than ten ingredients…all of them fresh… to make a meal fit for the queen that you are, in under thirty-minutes. Now go kick off those heels, take off that bra, pour yourself a glass of wine and get cooking.

  Claire cringed as she read the post, picturing the image of her Jack must have. Obviously one of a super confident and skilled woman who had her shit together enough to prep a week’s worth of food on Sunday instead of lazing around in sweats, which is how Claire usually spent the day, although she could manage the bra-less and drinking wine part with ease. She popped a frozen entrée into the microwave and called Emmy.

  “So, it’s a date?” Emmy asked after Claire relayed everything that had happened.

  “I’m not sure. Kinda doesn’t sound like a date,” she said as she stuck a steaming bite of mac and cheese into her mouth. “I mean…if it had been dinner, then yes…definitely a date…but lunch? That sounds too close to ‘I’m just being friendly’ territory…right?”

  “Maybe. So how hot is he?”

  “Oh my god hot…like burning hot…but in a quiet way, not a ‘look at me’ way. He’s solid…the type of guy that would protect you in a disaster, type. You know what I mean?”

  “Uh huh…and he works at a hardware store?”

  “Yeah, it’s a family business. I got the impression he’s running the place.”

  “Uh huh.”

  “What’s with all the ‘uh huhs?’”

  “I don’t know, Claire. It’s just kinda crazy…you just got there and now you’ve met this guy that you’re meeting for lunch…do you think you’ll be safe? Do you have your pepper spray?” She could hear the concern in Emmy’s voice.

  “Of course I’ll be safe. This is small town USA…looks like the back of a postcard…not crazy L.A. where the person next to you could be a whack job. He’s solid. I can feel it. Besides…it’s lunch at a diner, not a meetup in a dark alley.”

  “Okay. Maybe you’re right, maybe it’s just a small-town friendly kind of gesture.”

  “That’s what I’m afraid of,” Claire said.

  They continued to chat. Claire relayed all the charming parts about River Falls and how much she adored the cottage. After they hung up, she contemplated what Emmy had said…it probably was just lunch. Which was too bad because Claire wouldn’t mind it being a bit more than that.

  Jenny’s Diner was just catty corner to the hardware store. Anything you needed in River Falls was all within a cute two-block radius. Most of the buildings were brick with canvas striped awnings over store fronts. Jenny’s was black and white over gold lettering on the big picture window that looked out onto the main street.

  Claire pulled the door open and stepped inside. The most amazing smells greeted her, she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. It smelled like home. The space was made up of comfortable looking booths, and a counter to eat at. She quickly spotted Jack back in the corner. He stood up and walked towards her…like a gentleman.

  “Hi,” he said, helping her out of her coat, before hanging it up on a coat hook on the wall behind them.

  “Hi,” Claire replied as she slid into the red leather booth. She couldn’t help but notice how well Jack filled out today’s flannel shirt. Be
ing around him made her a bit lightheaded. She smiled. “Thanks for the invite…it smells heavenly in here.”

  “Right? The food is great. I probably eat here at least three or four times a week, and Hank, the older guy at the store, I’m pretty sure he eats every meal here. It’s easy, being right across from us.” He nodded towards Wilson’s Hardware store.

  Claire nodded in agreement.

  “What brings you to River Falls?” he asked as he looked at her with those sexy blue eyes that made her get that funny, fluttery feeling in her stomach.

  “I uh…just needed a change of scenery for the holidays.” She looked at him across the table.

  “Change of scenery from what?” He said this gently.

  “Oh, well, from memories.” She sat quietly, and Jack didn’t push her to elaborate.

  “Hey Jack, back so soon?”

  A cheerful woman with her hair piled on top of her head and an apron wrapped around her waist looked at him, a pad of paper and pencil in her hand, waiting to take an order.

  “Yep…can’t get enough of this place. Jenny…this is Claire. She’s from Los Angeles and is renting the Drake cottage.”

  “Nice to meet you, Claire. That’s an adorable place. After Dolores passed, her kids kept it and decided to rent it out…I’ve seen the renovations they made…so cute. I hope you like it there.”

  “I do, and you’re right…it’s charming.”

  Jenny took their orders, a grilled ham and cheese on sourdough with a cup of tomato soup for Jack and a grilled chicken and root vegetable salad for Claire.

  Claire looked over at Jack…there was something comforting about him…something safe. The next thing she knew, she was spilling out details of her life to him.

  “My parents died earlier this year.” She looked down at her hands wrapped around a mug of tea.

  “Oh, Claire, I’m sorry.”

  She glanced up at his face. The concern was genuine.

  He reached out and put a hand on hers.

  “I know it’s been almost a year and I should start to put it behind me, I just—,” she said.

  “Who says you should feel anything other than what you’re feeling? Everyone grieves differently, Claire. I know what you’re going through.”

  She looked him in the eyes as he spoke.

  “My dad died six months ago. He had a heart attack and instantly was gone. I was shocked. He’d been there just the day before and next thing I know, I’m getting a call from Beth that he had died. It was jarring to my whole being…and there’s no one way that you're supposed to feel other than what you feel.”

  Claire now reached her hand across the table. “I’m so sorry Jack.” Her heart ached as she saw sadness wash over his face. They sat quietly for several minutes, not an awkward silence, but one of just being still.

  Jenny broke the silence when she arrived with their food. Jack was right, it was delicious. Claire actually moaned out loud when she tasted hers. “This is great,” she said as she put another bite of the tender chicken in her mouth.

  Jack had his mouth full and just nodded his head. “I told you it was good,” he said after swallowing.

  They continued to eat their lunches together. Jack told her all kinds of interesting details about River Falls. The town was incorporated in 1835. Only about 9,000 people lived there and there were many buildings on the National Historic Register.

  “Do you enjoy living in a small town?” She asked him. They’d finished their lunches, and neither seemed in a hurry to leave.

  “Yes…and no…but mostly yes.”

  “What do you like about it?”

  “I like the sense of community…everyone knows each other, and we help each other out in times of need. The entire town mourned my dad’s passing. It really helped Beth and me a lot, not to mention that they fed us for months. It was nice. I imagine you don’t really get that in Los Angeles.”

  “No. Not really. You really only have your own circle of friends and family…maybe a neighbor or two. But there’s so much more.”

  “Like what?” Jack asked.

  “Well…for starters, there are about a gazillion restaurants to choose from. Tons of awesome food from other cultures, anything from Korean to Ethiopian. It really is a melting pot, which makes it a pretty interesting place to live despite its shortcomings.”

  “Yeah, I get that. River Falls is definitely not a melting pot by any stretch of the imagination. It’s pretty much a one note town. I can see how variety would be nice.”

  “Other than it being just a big ol’ bowl of vanilla, are there any other drawbacks to small town living?” She admired his face as he thought about what she’d asked. He was handsome in a quiet and rugged way…a way that made Claire’s heart beat faster.

  He was quiet before looking up at her. “It’s been hard to meet someone special.”

  She could barely swallow the golf ball size lump that had settled in her throat.

  “It has?” she croaked out. On the outside, she was trying to remain calm, but on the inside, she was doing somersaults and a happy dance. Maybe he’s single!

  “You’re officially the best brother ever.” Beth gave Jack a big hug, swinging her pregnant belly to the side.

  “Should you be out of bed? Doesn’t bedrest mean resting in bed?” Jack watched as his sister scurried around the kitchen, putting the groceries he’d picked up away.

  “I’m allowed to be up for brief periods of time for ‘necessary activities’ whatever the hell ‘necessary’ means. She grabbed the ice cream from one of the bags, along with a spoon. “What are we going to do about Christmas now?” she asked as she ate straight from the carton.

  “Well…we’ll figure it out. Make a list of what needs to be done and I’ll see if I can figure out a way to tackle it. But the last thing I want is for you to worry. You need to be taking care of yourself and my little nephew.”

  Beth smiled at him. “I’ll say it again, you’re the best brother, Jack.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek. She turned to go down the hall and stopped and turned back around. “By the way, Jenny said you were eating with some cute out-of-towner today.” Her eyebrows arched up, waiting for a reply.

  Another thing to add to the list of what he didn’t like about living in a small town: everyone knew your business. “It was nothing…really.” He looked at his sister. “Funny thing…you won’t believe this, but it was Claire Bennett.”

  Jack saw confusion on Beth’s face. Claire’s name, out of context, wasn’t ringing a bell for her.

  “You know—from City Meets Country, that Claire Bennett. She’s staying in River Falls for Christmas.”

  “What? You’re kidding! Oh my god!” Beth shrieked. Jack could practically see the wheels spinning in her head. She looked up at him and began to open her mouth. Jack knew exactly where she was going.

  “No. No. No. I’m not doing that.” He was shaking his head and putting his hands up.

  “But Jack, this is a sign, a good sign…we want a Christmas that honors Dad, I’m confined to bedrest, and who happens to show up in our town? None other than the most talented person in the world at creating homey, festive holidays! Jack, you have to.” Beth was pleading with him.

  “I’ll think about it…but you need to go back to bed. I’ll put this all away.” He shooed her back down the hall to her bedroom. “When’s Tyler back?” he called out.

  “Not for another three days,” she hollered from the bedroom.

  “I’ll walk Archie for you until he’s back.”

  The dog was asleep in his tartan plaid bed in the kitchen but popped his head up at the sound of his name and the word “walk.” He looked expectantly at Jack.

  “C’mon Arch…let’s go.” Jack quickly put the rest of the groceries away and took the dog for his evening walk before checking on Beth and locking up the house behind him. He gazed up at the full moon in the sky and the chorus of stars around it. Another good thing about living away from the city, the night sky was amazin
g. He smiled and got into his truck and drove home, feeling happy for some crazy reason he didn’t quite understand.

  Chapter 5

  “Okay, I guess this ‘ell work for now, at least until the new display arrives.” Hank placed the last container of batteries on the shelf by the register.

  “Yeah, I think it’s fine.” Jack’s attention was not on the batteries though, it was only on Claire. He’d tumbled around in his mind what Beth was suggesting. It was too crazy of an idea, not to mention a complete imposition. Claire was in River Falls to escape memories of holidays past. Jack was pretty certain helping his family get their act together for Christmas wasn’t on her agenda. He heard his phone ringing. Beth.

  “Hey Beth, everything okay?” He’d been by earlier and walked Archie and checked on her. She’d bombarded him with ideas for Christmas, hinting again about asking Claire to help.

  “I’m fine. Did you see my text? I sent you a list of things we need to do for Christmas.”

  We? And need? Jack was pretty sure that we meant him and Tyler…and he already knew Tyler would not be much help.

  “No, kinda busy here at the store, but I’ll look at it when I get a chance. I promise.”

  This seemed to appease her, and Jack was able to extract himself off the phone. He pulled up the text and his mouth dropped open slightly as he read through her list:

  * Outdoor holiday lights. Easy, check.

  * Freshly cut Christmas tree trimmed with adorable yet upscale ornaments, maybe even two trees. Trees…check. Not sure whether they’ll be adorable or upscale, but ornaments, sure. Check.

  * Holiday wreath for front door. Sounds easy enough. Check.

  * Beautiful gingerbread house centerpiece for dining room table. Not happening unless we can make it with graham crackers frosted onto milk cartons. He was fairly certain that wasn’t what Beth had in mind.