The Pastor's Christmas Courtship Read online

  “Thanks, Dolly. But coming from a woman who’s all but adopted me, you’re probably a little biased.”

  “I know a good thing when I see it. This church has a future as long as you’re at the helm.”

  A flash of uncertainty flickered through Garrett’s eyes, then he ducked his head slightly. Uncomfortable with the praise?

  “I appreciate your appreciation, Dolly.”

  He hauled out three more bags, then motioned for the ladies to precede him to the door leading to the fellowship hall. While she and Dolly arranged the purchases in the storeroom, Garrett made several more trips out to his SUV.

  “Looks like that about does it.” He looked on approvingly as they accepted the last of the bags and added the contents to the growing stacks of items. The storeroom still wasn’t full by any means, but they were getting there. “Did you want me to drop you off home now, Dolly?”

  “No, I’ve called Al. He’s going to pick me up, then we’ll go out to eat since I wasn’t home this afternoon to prepare anything. I’ll wait inside until he gets here.”

  Garrett stuffed his gloves in his pockets. “Tell him I owe him. Big-time. A man who sacrifices his supper so his wife can babysit their pastor has a special place in Heaven.”

  “You know I’m more than happy to do it.” She patted the bags sitting on the floor beside her. “I finished up my own holiday shopping and got a few things for Christmas dinner to boot.”

  “Well, there you go.”

  Jodi liked the way Garrett returned the older woman’s smile with genuine affection.

  Dolly tilted her head to look up at him. “You could walk Jodi to her car if you want to make yourself useful. It’s almost dark.”

  “Oh, I’m fine,” Jodi piped up. She’d need to brush off the snow that had accumulated while she’d been gone and didn’t want Garrett to feel obligated to help with that when he had other things to see to. On the return trip, he’d mentioned conducting a marital counseling session early that evening for his cousin and his fiancée. He said that although Grady had originally balked at having his single relative instruct him, Sunshine had confidence in Garrett’s ability to share the truths of God’s word, and she'd proved quite persuasive in getting Grady signed up.

  “I’m more than happy to do that.” Garrett gave a nod to Dolly as he pulled on his gloves again.

  Faint light lingered in the west, silhouetting the tree branches overhead as they stepped into the parking lot. The temperature had dropped considerably since leaving town earlier that afternoon, and Jodi tugged at her hood to snug it more closely around her face.

  “Brr!”

  “Brr is right,” Garrett agreed as he turned up his own collar and gave her a lopsided grin. “You’d think this was the middle of December or something, wouldn’t you?”

  She laughed.

  He shared a smile, then motioned to the truck as they approached it. “Rio has a snow brush or ice scraper, I take it?”

  “She does, but you don’t have to—”

  “Pop on in there and get the heater going while I make short work of the snow.”

  Another gust of wind came out of the north, so it didn’t take much to persuade her. She handed the combo brush and scraper to Garrett, then he slammed the door shut and she started up the truck. Flipped the defroster on full blast.

  He worked quickly, brushing the snow off the hood and headlights, then made his way around to the taillights. It took a bit longer, though, even with the help of the defroster, to clean the windshield and back and side windows. To the rhythm of the scraper, she held her hands out to the heating vents and watched him in the dim light as he expertly sliced away the frozen snow that had almost melded itself to the glass.

  She felt special, having someone like Garrett help her on a night like this. He was a good man. One any woman would be fortunate to have in her life. But dreams like that were for people who had time on their side. Time to get to know each other. To build bonds. For people who shared a mutual affection for each other—not a one-sided infatuation.

  A wave of melancholy filled her heart as she continued to watch him, her mind drifting back in time. Back to that night when she thought, for a single, blissful moment, that maybe he felt something for her, too.

  Abruptly, Garrett rapped on the driver’s-side window, startling her from her reverie. He’d finished cleaning the windows and was motioning for her to roll hers down.

  Cold from the open window swept into the cab. “Thanks, Garrett. Now you’d better get yourself inside before you turn into an ice cube.”

  “Actually, I was wondering...do you have plans for dinner?”

  Her heart stilled. “Tonight, you mean?”

  “Right now. I have to eat earlier than usual so I can get back to the church. Do you already have plans?”

  “Not really. I thought maybe I’d warm a can of soup.”

  “Then join me. How’s the Log Cabin Café sound? Or Rusty’s Grill?”

  “We can do that?”

  A crease formed between his brows. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, you can do that? Go out to eat with me without Dolly riding shotgun?”

  He laughed. “I can—if we walk. You know, if we're out in the open where people can keep an eye us. Are you up to that? It’s only a few blocks, but it is bitter cold out here.”

  What would it hurt? It wasn’t like it was a date or anything. They both had to eat, right? And if he didn’t think showing up with her at a local dining establishment would sully his reputation, well, who was she to argue?

  “Actually, my stomach’s still on Eastern Time, so I’m starving.”

  “Then let’s do it.”

  He handed her the scraper, then let her roll the window back up and turn off the truck before swinging the door open.

  Once outside, he guided her to the sidewalk in front of the church, and they headed toward the main road through town. The steadily falling snow by turns danced, then whipped, around them depending on if they were walking in the open or alongside a building or sheltering stand of pines.

  Except for the occasional gust of wind, it was a quiet evening, most people with any sense having decided to stay close to hearth and home. But this was kind of fun, too, walking beside Garrett as the snow crunched under their boots, a snow glow overhead and halos encircling the streetlights.

  If only she could stop shaking.

  Not from the cold, but from nervousness. Excitement. How silly. She’d enjoyed visiting with Garrett on the drive to and from Canyon Springs. They’d indulged in quiet moments and a fun-filled time of renewing their acquaintance as they refreshed memories. But she wasn’t sixteen anymore. This wasn’t a date. They were just two old friends grabbing a bite to eat. Nothing more.

  Garrett jogged her elbow. “So does Rusty’s sound good to you?”

  “Perfect. I haven’t had his barbecue since the last time we—”

  Abruptly her mind flashed back a dozen years. After a morning’s hike on snowy trails, they’d eaten there for lunch on Christmas Eve. Her. Garrett. Drew. She'd had no idea that not too many hours from then, Garrett would back her into a corner of Grandma’s cabin mudroom and kiss her almost senseless.

  Had he known? Planned it? Maybe even plotted it with Drew or any number of his other buddies looking for a good laugh at her expense? She glanced toward Garrett, but he was focused ahead as they neared the little restaurant.

  “—not since you, Drew and I ate there,” she finished, the shaking anticipation now replaced by an unexpected heaviness in her chest.

  “That’s right. Christmas Eve.” He smiled at her. “I’d forgotten we had lunch together that time you were in town.”

  That time she was in town...and the last time she’d let herself hope that Garrett might return her feelings.


  Chapter Eight

  Although he’d eaten at Rusty’s Grill plenty of times in the last twelve years, it hadn’t changed much since Jodi would have last been here. Its labyrinth of rustic, beamed-ceiling spaces made for a homey atmosphere, with flickering lanterns anchored to beadboard-paneled walls and woven plaid tablecloths accenting the stoneware dishes.

  From where they sat at a small table near one of the fireplaces, Garrett leaned forward to get Jodi’s attention.

  “How’s your barbecue?”

  She glanced up from toying with her mason jar water glass. “Delicious.”

  But for a woman who’d claimed to be starving, she hadn’t eaten a whole lot of her sandwich or sweet potato fries. His were long gone. “Are you feeling better about the Christmas project now? I mean, after we did that shopping today?”

  “Yes, thank you. Those added items take some of the pressure off.”

  “I don’t want you to feel pressured, Jodi.” Without thinking, he slid his hand across the table to cover hers.

  She lifted startled eyes and drew her hand from his. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant it’s good to know we have our bases covered. Somewhat, anyway.”

  He pulled his hand back as well and quickly glanced around the room at the other diners. Had anyone seen him reach out to her? But there weren’t many people this early in the evening, and no one seemed to be paying them any attention. “We still have over a week. It will all come together.”

  “And next year Melody will be back and you'll be off the hook.” She offered a smile as she pushed her unfinished plate slightly away from her.

  He nodded to it. “Are you going to eat the rest of that, or would you like a to-go box?”

  She glanced down, looking almost surprised to see over half of one of the best pulled-pork barbecue sandwiches in the state still sitting in front of her.

  “It’s very good,” she said quickly, as though she needed to reassure him. As if not eating it might have hurt his feelings. “Yes, a box would be great. Thanks.”

  “Sure you don’t want dessert? This place makes a mean pumpkin cheesecake, remember?”

  She laughed, and the tension in his shoulders eased. He still wasn’t quite sure how the comfortable atmosphere that lingered after the trip to Canyon Springs had become stiff and stilted by the time they’d settled in at Rusty’s. Maybe she’d started thinking about that Anton guy again?

  She shook her head at him, intimating he was as dense as a rock. “How could I forget Rusty’s signature holiday cheesecake? I ordered one and you and Drew pulled out forks and proceeded to devour most of it when I had to slip off to the ladies’ room.”

  “Then I owe you one.”

  He reached for the dessert menu, but with another shake of her head, she clasped her hand to her stomach. “Thanks, but I’m going to pass this time. There are already too many sweet temptations this time of year.”

  And speaking of sweet temptations...it was time he let this one get on home so he wouldn’t be late to Grady and Sunshine’s counseling session. He’d looked forward to extending his time with Jodi after the shopping trip, inexplicably happy that she’d agreed to go to dinner with him. But maybe it had been a bit too much togetherness? When you’ve exhausted your repertoire of shared memories, maybe you discover that’s all you had?

  He placed his napkin on the table. “Ready to go?”

  She nodded, but before either could rise, a firm hand clapped him on the back.

  “Well, look who’s here.”

  Garrett turned to see a grinning Travis Hunter, cousin Luke’s son, looking down at him as if he’d been let in on a big secret.

  How old was he now? Sixteen? Seventeen? A good-looking kid, the unruly layers of hair brushing his shoulders always bringing a smile to Garrett. The boy’s ex-military father had thrown in the towel on haircuts to keep the peace, just as Garrett’s dad had been forced to do.

  Garrett nodded to his young cousin, who was with his longtime girlfriend. A petite brunette with a pixie haircut and an abundance of eyeliner, she was a sweet, down-home gal despite her trendy looks.

  “I can’t believe you’re still hanging around with this dude, Scottie.”

  Her smile widened as Travis gazed down at her. Young love. Had he looked at Jodi like that twelve years ago? So transparent? So...goofy?

  He quickly made introductions, making sure he emphasized old friends so Travis wouldn’t get the wrong idea and go running back to the family with what he might think was a scoop. It was bad enough having the teenager stand there grinning at them, his gaze bouncing from Jodi to Garrett and back again.

  Garrett caught Jodi’s eye, and they both stood.

  Travis frowned. “You’re leaving?”

  “I have an early-evening counseling session with your Uncle Grady and his bride-to-be.”

  Travis laughed. “Sunshine’s a quick learner, but you might have to schedule some remedial classes for him.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  Eager to escape Travis’s too-observant eye, Garrett motioned to Jodi, who preceded him to the front of the restaurant. Fortunately, she’d stepped around a corner before Travis gave him an exaggerated wink and a thumbs-up. No doubt he’d have some explaining to do at the next family dinner.

  He settled the bill, fending off Jodi’s insistence they split it as a thanks for her help. In the lobby, he assisted Jodi with her coat, then held the door open as they stepped into the still-frigid night.

  “Look, Garrett. Isn’t that beautiful?”

  His gaze followed the trajectory of hers upward, where the clouds had parted to reveal a dark window of sky. There, a single star glittered.

  Without thinking, he leaned in to whisper in her ear. “Star light, star bright...”

  Surprised, she turned to him, her eyes questioning.

  He pulled abruptly back and pushed his hands into his jacket pockets as they started down the street. “Don’t you remember that? How we’d sit out at night, competing to see who’d spy the first star?”

  Maybe he could get her reminiscing again. Back to a comfortable conversation such as they’d shared earlier.

  She rolled her eyes. “Get your story straight, mister. That was the first shooting star.”

  “Oh, yeah. That’s right.”

  They walked on in silence for some time, snow crunching under their boots. The wind had died down while they were in Rusty’s, so it wasn’t a half-bad walk back to the church.

  He stopped and turned to her. “Do you remember...naw, you wouldn’t.”

  He moved off again, and she had to hurry to keep up.

  “What?” She punched him lightly in the arm. “What wouldn’t I remember?”

  “You know, that afternoon we charged our sisters a quarter each for a cup of lemonade from the pitcher we’d sneaked out of your grandma’s refrigerator.”

  She laughed. “Of course I remember that, silly. When word got back to Grandma, the next day at lunch she charged us a quarter for a sandwich, a quarter for chips and a quarter for a glass of milk.”

  “Lesson learned the hard way, huh?”

  “We learned a lot of our lessons the hard way,” she agreed.

  He sure knew he had.

  They entered the parking lot all too soon, and at her truck he waited for her to click the key she fished out of her pocket. The headlights flashed, then he opened the door. “Your coach awaits, madam.”

  With an almost shy smile, she curtsied, then climbed into the vehicle. The wind, fortunately, had served its purpose, keeping the windshield clear of snowfall since his earlier scraping.

  He stood at the door, looking in at her. She was beautiful in the faint overhead snow glow, her hair spilling loosely around her shoulders. “I had a good time today, Jodi.”


  She gave him an uncertain look, as though not sure if she could agree or not. “I...did, too.”

  “You know you’ll be the talk of the breakfast table at Hunter’s Hideaway tomorrow morning, don’t you?”

  “Travis, you mean?”

  “Guaranteed.” Realizing he’d leaned a bit too close, he took a step back. “Guess I’ll be seeing you tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow?”

  “Or maybe the next day. I said I’d clean out that shed for you, right?”

  “If you have time.”

  “I’ll make time.”

  He slammed the door, then moved away as she started the truck. The headlights came on, and with a parting wave, she backed out of the parking place and headed home.

  He stood there in the dark for a full minute, then strode toward the church. Yeah, he’d make time.

  * * *

  “Thank you, Mrs. Garver. I’ll be by to pick them up this afternoon.” Thursday already. A week from tomorrow they'd make the delivery, so every donation counted.

  Jodi checked another name off the list, but her happy dance around the room was soon interrupted by a knock at the side door. She turned down the CD player and hurried through the mudroom, then opened the door to Dolly.

  “Come in, come in. Good news! The manager of the discount store donated three car seats. Diamond Grocery has promised formula. And Garrett’s Grandma Jo is pitching in again with a few infant carriers that she ordered online. They should be here tomorrow.”

  “You’re making headway.”

  Not as much as she’d like, but it was a start.

  She helped Dolly with her coat, hung it up, and then followed her into the kitchen.

  “How’d you get here, anyway?” Jodi asked. Dolly didn’t like driving on icy roads if she could help it.

  “Garrett.”

  “He’s here?” She hadn’t heard a vehicle, but after that last phone call she’d cranked up the volume on the Christmas music. “Is he here to clean out the shed? He’d mentioned yesterday that he might be over to do that.”

  “He brought a ladder, so I think he intends to clean the gutters. Those things fill with pine needles faster than you can blink an eye. Al bought us those covered ones last year. Worth every dime.”