A Wedding for Christmas Read online

  “The takeout’s for your mom and the kids. You’re getting dressed in something nice.” He steers me toward the kitchen door. “We’re going out. Do you mind double dating with Sawyer and your sister?”

  “Of course not.” Now I’m smiling wide. “I haven’t had a chance to go over the bridesmaid’s flower selections with her. The florist says she’s out of tiger lilies, and …”

  Tyler puts a finger over my lips. “No wedding talk tonight. Promise me.”

  “How did the search for Zulu go?” I change the subject, because I hate having him shut me up. Sure, I get it. The wedding’s not his favorite topic, but we haven’t had time to discuss anything, and he hasn’t given me a clue on where we’re going on our honeymoon or if he’s even planning one.

  His lips turn down and his eyebrows lower. “She was brought to the ER.”

  “What happened?”

  “Attempted suicide. She’s safe, for now. They have her under a twenty-four-hour suicide watch. I’m picking her up tomorrow.”

  “Where will you take her?” I dread the answer, but surely, he has a plan. He works with a veterans charity, and they have shelters available.

  Tyler’s lips flatten and he shrugs, glancing at my mother and then looking at his feet. “I know it’s an imposition, but is it possible for her to stay with us?”

  “With us? But we have kids. There’s not much room.”

  “She won’t be in the way. Just a place to sleep at night. She can take the couch, and during the day she can hang out on the streets.”

  “Right, but how well do you know her?” Panic jolts my heart at the thought she could try to kill herself with Bree and Arman around. “How stable is she?”

  “She won’t go to a shelter, and her family won’t take her back.”

  “I feel bad for her. I do, but I don’t like letting people I don’t know and trust near my children.” I cast a glance at my mother for support, but she’s studiously wiping Arman’s lips. I know I’m going to hear all about this later, but then, Mother also takes in strays. After all, she was the one who let Tyler work as her handyman back when he was living on the streets.

  “I know her very well and trust her with my life,” Tyler says. “We don’t have to decide tonight. Let’s go on our date.”

  I take the flowers he gave me and arrange them in a vase full of water. No wonder he’s being extra sweet. He wants reliable Kelly to come to the rescue.

  8

  ~ Tyler ~

  The bar floated at the top of the tallest hotel in San Francisco, and the view was pure “Wow.” Three-hundred-sixty degrees of floor-to-ceiling windows showed every sight from the Golden Gate Bridge, Twin Peaks, Coit Tower, AT&T Park, all the way across the Bay to the port of Oakland.

  Tyler held Kelly’s hand as the elevator doors opened, hoping they were in time for the sunset. Both of them had had a rough week, and while he was worried about Zulu, she was safe—for now.

  “Wow!” Kelly’s jaw dropped at they walked toward the western side of the building. The sun was barely over the horizon, painting the clouds purple, orange, and crimson.

  Tyler wrapped his arms around his sweetheart and stood with his front to her back as they leaned against a metal rail that kept patrons from pressing against the windows.

  There was something surreal about watching the fog roll in as the sun settled beyond the horizon and the city lights blinked on, one by one, like flitting fireflies, until the entire vista was an array of colors. The city at dusk was like an artist’s palette of deep purples and dark shapes dotted with soft light.

  “Thanks for bringing me here,” Kelly said, turning her face toward him. “I needed to unwind.”

  His answer was to kiss her, because he, too, needed not only to unwind, but to reconnect with her. During the week, too many things got in the way—work, responsibilities, and conflicting schedules.

  She was his lifeline—the one person who anchored him and kept him focused on living for the future, rather than regretting the past.

  At this moment, she tasted as sweet as the first time he kissed her while decorating a Christmas tree two years ago. She was more than a gift. She was a treasure he held dear to his heart.

  “You two lovebirds need to get a room,” Sawyer said from behind them.

  Tyler gave Sawyer a brother’s handshake and clapped his shoulder. “You two miss the sunset?”

  “Pretty much.” Sawyer hooked a thumb at the bar. “Let’s order some drinks.”

  Ella and Kelly hugged.

  “I’m not supposed to talk about the wedding tonight,” Kelly said.

  “I’m good with whatever you decide,” Ella said. “It’s too bad the florist doesn’t have spring wildflowers.”

  For some strange reason, Kelly decided to have a Christmas wedding, but insisted on a spring theme, complete with floral garlands, fake butterflies, and potted topiaries for decorations.

  Tyler could only imagine what the wedding cake would look like—what with the wedding colors being golden beige and lavender.

  The foursome settled at the bar and ordered drinks and appetizers. Each colorful drink was named after a landmark in San Francisco: Angel Island Ice Tea, Blue San Franciscan, or a Frisco Sour.

  “How come you went dark on me?” Sawyer said to Tyler while Kelly and her sister chatted about the ring bearer and Bree. “I’m dying to know who you ran into the other night.”

  Tyler debated whether he should let Sawyer know about Zulu. On the one hand, he was someone who cared about her, although he had no clue what she’d gone through. On the other hand, he was already in a relationship with Ella, and he didn’t need any complications.

  “You’re holding out on me,” Sawyer said, clapping a large hand on his shoulder. “Who is it? Crazy Al? Or Mack?”

  “Neither.” Tyler glanced at Kelly who was still chatting with Ella. “If I tell you now, it’ll ruin the evening.”

  “Now you’ve really got me curious.”

  “Take a raincheck.” Tyler tried to sound casual. “Where are we off to next? Did you and Ella ever check out that comedy gig?”

  “We did.” Sawyer’s face beamed with a grin that showed he’d gotten lucky. “After we left, Ella decided she wasn’t tired, and we qualified a few improv acts.”

  “I’m glad.” It was about time his buddy had a good woman. “But I have to warn you. I’m going to be her brother-in-law soon, and I’ll go all protective of her, so if your intentions aren’t good …”

  Sawyer tossed his head back and laughed. “All this from a man I’d never let date my sister?”

  “I’m one of the good guys.” Tyler’s stomach twisted at the memory of Sawyer telling him to stay away from his sister. That had been back in his darkest days when his PTSD was out of control.

  “You are, man.” Sawyer hooked his arm around Tyler’s neck. “That’s why you have to have a bachelor’s party. The guys at the Recon center want to give you one.”

  “I’m a family man.” Tyler chomped on a handful of peanuts and took a swig from his beer. “I just want to get the wedding over with and go on with the rest of my life.”

  “Let’s head out to the Club Rachelle and go dancing.” Sawyer nodded at the women. “Are we ready to eat and hit the clubs?”

  Instead of replying, Ella clapped a hand over her mouth. Her blue eyes widened and she tugged Kelly’s arm. “I don’t believe it.”

  Both Sawyer and Tyler turned toward the direction she was looking. A tall, Asian man with a slick grin on his face sauntered over.

  It was Jaden Sloup, Ella’s former boyfriend.

  Sawyer froze beside him, and Tyler could feel the tension from his buddy at facing a rival. Ella had been on the verge of following Jaden to Korea when he went to play soccer and find his birth mother, but Kelly had talked her out of it.

  “When did you come back?” Ella asked Jaden.

  “Got in a few days ago.” His gaze scanned the group before going back to Ella. “I meant to call you as soo
n as I got settled.”

  She looped her hand around Sawyer’s arm. “That’s nice. I’d love to stay and chat, but we were just about to leave. Aren’t we, Sawyer?”

  “Definitely.” Sawyer took the cue and covered Ella’s hand with his. “It’s nice meeting you.”

  “Nice seeing you, Jaden,” Kelly said as she got off the barstool and pulled her wrap over her shoulders. “Tyler? What are we waiting for? Let’s dance the night away.”

  “Yes, let’s.” Tyler nodded to Jaden and walked away with Kelly behind Ella and Sawyer.

  ~ Kelly ~

  The evening was perfect, other than that little interruption by Jaden at the bar. Tyler and I danced like teenagers, and by the time we returned home, we were laughing and giggling like we hadn’t a care in the world.

  Date night is a necessity for us, and I thank my mother for watching the children. While we were gone, Lilly’s mother had picked her up, and both of our children were asleep.

  “Did you two have a good time?” Mother asks as she puts on her coat.

  “We did.” I give her a kiss. “Thanks again.”

  “Thanks, Peggy.” Tyler gives Mother a hug. “Let me get Brownie’s leash, and I’ll walk you to the car.”

  “Okay, sounds good.” Mother picks up her purse and fishes out a piece of paper which she gives to me. “Before I forget. I didn’t tell you before the date, but I got a message on my answering machine.”

  My mother still has the nineteen-eighties style answering machine instead of voicemail.

  “What about?”

  She glances at the kitchen where Tyler’s clipping a leash on Brownie. “It’s from the clinic. The guy who donated the sperm for Bree wants to contact you for a medical reason.”

  “Seriously? Did he say why?” This couldn’t come at a worse time. Bree had finally accepted Tyler as her “real” dad.

  Last year, while he was being held hostage in Afghanistan, Bree had made a big deal about finding her real father, the anonymous sperm donor. Someone at school had told her about fathers giving mothers a sperm, but of course, she thought it was a piece of jewelry and was satisfied when Tyler gave me a teardrop-shaped geode with a long golden chain.

  “I wonder if it’s some inherited disease they want us to be aware of.” Mother’s voice drops low. “I hope it’s not too serious.”

  Chills seize my muscles as I kick off my dancing shoes and slide my feet into a pair of slippers. “I guess I’ll call them back. I thought the donor had a clean bill of health.”

  “Some diseases don’t show up until later in life,” my mother says, not alleviating any of my fears. “Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s chorea …”

  “Mom, please, let’s not speculate. I’ll call them right away.” I enter the number from the note into my phone.

  Unfortunately, the clinic’s offices are closed and would not reopen until Monday. Why hadn’t my mother told me earlier?

  “No one there?” Mother looks up at Tyler who has Brownie in tow.

  “Not until Monday. I’m not going to think about it. I refuse.” I throw up my hands and feel the pressure and stress boiling over me. All the good feelings from the date dissipated from this new development.

  “Ready to go?” Tyler asks as he removes the key from the hook near the door. He slants his face toward me and gives me a kiss. “I had a wonderful time, beautiful. See you in a bit.”

  He and my mother exit the house, with my mother glancing back with a worried look.

  As soon as they’re gone, I retire to my room and take out the folder with Bree’s insemination records. My heart beating too fast, I look over the donor’s health information. Other than the usual family history of heart attacks and one relative who had cancer, he tested negative for the common genetic markers for inherited diseases.

  What could they have missed?

  9

  ~ Tyler ~

  The light in the bedroom was still on when Tyler returned with Brownie. He unclipped the dog’s leash and gave him a pat, then grinned to himself. “Looks like I’m getting lucky tonight.”

  He’d had a wonderful evening, and he could feel the tension melt from Kelly’s body as they danced cheek-to-cheek.

  Tyler peeked in on the children first. Little Arman lay on his back in the crib, purring with baby snores. His curly hair was tousled over his face, and his pacifier had fallen out. Tyler kissed the baby’s forehead and put the pacifier back into his mouth.

  He turned to his precious Bree. She slept on her side on a princess bed—one she’d help him assemble from a kit and painted with flowers and curlicues.

  He knelt at the side of the bed and wiped her long blond hair from her face. Two years ago, she’d brought hope into his life when she chose him to be her father. She was the one person who’d always trusted him fully and the reason he attended the therapy and prayer sessions for veterans with PTSD. Having her trust and belief in him as a hero meant he had to humble himself and accept help for his problems—something he had never admitted until Kelly told him she was looking for her “real” father.

  He kissed her cheek and turned toward the shadow standing at the door. Kelly was waiting for him.

  “Hey, ready for bed?” His voice was low and seductive as he shut the door to the children’s bedroom.

  “I, uh …” Kelly wrung her hands. Her eyes were wide open, and she moved away from his kiss.

  Not the reaction he expected after their night out.

  “What’s wrong?” Tyler put his hand on the small of her back, guiding her back to their room.

  “I don’t know what to think, but …” She took a deep breath. “Maybe it’s nothing, but my mother says she got a message from the clinic where Bree’s sperm was donated.”

  Now, it was Tyler’s turn to suck in a breath of shock. “Is everything okay?”

  “I don’t know.” Kelly opened a manila folder and flipped through several sheets of paper. “Bree’s donor wants to get in touch with me, and the clinic wants to know if they can give him our information.”

  Tyler picked up the profile information for the anonymous donor and stared at it. He was Caucasian, had blue eyes, sandy blond hair, and had no markers for any genetic diseases. I.Q. of one hundred fifty-two. College degree. Played sports in high school. Six foot two. One ninety pounds.

  Typical stud material with perfect bones, teeth, hair, and skin. Okay, that latter bit was not mentioned, but Tyler could picture a big-man-on-campus type of guy.

  “Did he say why he wants to contact you?” Tyler put the dossier on the dresser.

  “A medical reason. Maybe he discovered a hereditary disease he didn’t know about before.” Kelly pointed to the file.

  Tyler pressed his lips together and pulled Kelly into an embrace. “If it’s a disease, couldn’t they let us know about it without him having to speak to us?”

  “You have a point.” She sighed and leaned against him. “It’s another thing piled up on everything else. I don’t know how I’m going to make it through Christmas.”

  “You’ll be fine.” He rubbed her back and kissed her forehead. “Let’s go to bed.”

  There was nothing either she or he could do about this tonight, and with everything going on, they’d need their sleep.

  Instead of relaxing, Kelly stiffened her back and pushed away from him. “I can’t keep putting off everything and pretending things are okay. You dropped a bombshell before our date about this friend of yours coming to stay with us, and now I have to figure out what Bree’s donor wants. My sister’s life just turned upside down because Jaden’s back. We have the wedding—no ring bearer, I might add, and I have a million emails to answer about Arman’s birthday party. And then there’s Christmas. It’s two weeks away, and we don’t have a tree. I’m also behind on gift shopping, and Bree’s in a pageant at church with all the rehearsals and practice. And I still have to make her costume. She’s Mary this year, a starring role.”

  He hated when she withdrew from him, not
fully trusting him to fix their problems. She took on too much and drove herself nuts, but she had a hard time accepting help from anyone else—including him.

  “I’ll take care of Arman’s birthday party. It’s only a matter of ordering pizza, right?”

  “We need an accurate count so we can do the goodie bags.”

  “Goodie bags?” Tyler dragged Kelly onto the bed and lay down next to her. “Does everything have to be perfect?”

  “Yes. Maybe not perfect, but enjoyable and memorable.” Kelly sat and twirled a strand of hair around her finger.

  “Not when you get an ulcer beforehand.” Tyler took her hand and unwound it from her hair. “What I’m saying is you can’t do anything about any of this right now, except sleep on it.”

  “I can’t sleep. That’s the problem.” She dragged her hands over her face. “Every time I close my eyes, I think of all the things I still have to do.”

  “Come here.” He pulled her down on top of him. “We’re in this together. We’re a team. Tomorrow, we’ll divide up the work, but first, we’ll take the kids to a tree farm and get a Christmas tree. It’ll be fun.”

  “I hope so.” She closed her eyes and blew out a breath. “I’m not sure I know how to have fun anymore.”

  “Then let me show you.” He feathered his fingers through her hair and tilted her face toward his. “Kiss me, and I’ll make all your worries go away.”

  “If it were only so easy.” She gave him a wry smile and kissed him.

  ~ Kelly ~

  The next morning, I’m frantically running around while Tyler secures both Bree and Arman’s car seats in the back of his extended cab pickup truck.

  I don’t know what it is with men and trucks, because a minivan would have been so much more practical, but at least we have room in the back for a tree.

  “Will there be a Santa at the tree farm?” Bree asks as Tyler puts on her seatbelt.