This Holiday Magic Page 7

  “Is there anything I can do? Anyone I can call?”

  “No, but thank you. I’m going to get over there and see what’s going on. Aneka, you remember Ms. Truman from last night?” The little girl nodded and looked at Janelle suspiciously. “Good. Now, I have to leave, but Ms. Truman is going to stay here with you until your father gets home, all right?” Aneka stared at Janelle then nodded slowly. “Ms. Truman is going to give you your snack and then you can take your nap and be a very good little girl the rest of the day, okay.”

  Janelle smiled. “Go. Take care of your son. Don’t worry about us. We’ll be just fine. Any food allergies?”

  “No allergies, but she is asthmatic. Her inhaler’s in the kitchen, but she hasn’t had an attack in some time. Thank you so much for coming. I knew you were the perfect person to call,” Mrs. Ivers said, then hurried to her car.

  Janelle and Aneka waved and watched as she drove off. When the car turned the corner, Janelle looked down at the little girl, who was still looking up at her, frowning. “Well, I guess it’s just the two of us for the rest of the afternoon. What would you like to do?”

  Aneka shrugged her shoulders and looked down at her shoes without answering.

  “Okay, well, I guess we can color or paint or maybe I can read you a story or we can watch one of your animated movies.”

  Aneka shrugged again, still avoiding Janelle’s gaze.

  “Why don’t we get inside out of the cold first?” Janelle said as she held her hand down for Aneka to take. The girl did so, reluctantly. They went back into the house. Janelle looked around. The place was as neat as a pin. She headed to the kitchen and found a cut-up apple on the counter. Aneka followed silently and stopped in the doorway. “Okay, I guess this is your snack.” Aneka nodded, then turned away.

  Janelle smiled. “Okay, I have an idea. While you eat your snack, I’ll look around to see if I can find the ingredients to make my special Christmas cookies.”

  Aneka’s eyes instantly brightened. “Cookies?”

  Janelle nodded. “Yes, a special Christmas cookie. One I learned to make from a friend of mine who lives very far away in a place called Africa. But you’ll have to eat your snack first and hopefully I can find the ingredients.”

  Aneka quickly sat at the kitchen table, grabbed the sliced apple and began eating. Janelle started looking in the cabinets. “What is ingredients?” Aneka asked, repeating the word slowly.

  “What are ingredients,” Janelle corrected. “Ingredients are different things that all go together to make up a finished product,” Janelle said, continuing her search. “And ingredients—” she paused and sighed heavily “—are what we don’t have.” She turned around to Aneka sitting quietly eating her apple. She hated to disappoint Aneka after promising her special cookies, but she didn’t have a choice—or maybe she did. She turned to Aneka and smiled. “How about we go on a field trip first?”

  Chapter 8

  Having received Mrs. Ivers’s message, Tyson immediately cut his workday short and headed home. He wasn’t getting much done anyway. Ever since his conversation with Janelle earlier that morning, all he could think about was her and the kiss they’d shared. He wanted to be with her, but he knew it wasn’t the right time for them to be together. He also knew that it had been the right thing to do to tell her about her father, but seeing her so upset had nearly broken his heart.

  He had tried to call her a few times to make sure she was okay. But then getting the message that she was with Aneka was the best news all day.

  He wanted Janelle and Aneka to get to know each other. Aneka, having lost her parents so young, barely remembered them. She called Tyson “Dad,” but knew about her father and mother. She was a wonderful little girl, but often closed herself off with those she didn’t know. He hoped one day she and Janelle would grow to love each other like mother and daughter.

  As soon as he walked into the house, he heard music playing, joyous laughter and loud singing coming from the kitchen. “Hello,” he called out. There was no answer.

  An instant later Aneka came running around the corner and right at him, her hands and face powdered with flour. “Daddy!” she squealed with joy.

  Tyson leaned down and picked her up as she wrapped her arms around his neck, talking excitedly about her day.

  “Hey, hey, look at you,” Tyson said. His suit jacket was instantly covered with flour and frosting, but he didn’t mind at all. Still holding his daughter, he continued to the kitchen, seeing Janelle place a decorated cookie on a plate with several others. “Hello,” he said as Aneka continued talking. “What in the world do we have here?” Tyson chuckled, seeing the kitchen in a complete mess.

  “Hey, you’re early. We didn’t expect you for another few hours,” she said.

  “We’re making cookies, see?” Aneka said happily.

  “Yes, I can certainly see that,” he said, chuckling at the mess in the kitchen and at her face sprinkled with flour. “It looks like you’ve been having fun,” he added as he set Aneka down. She hurried back to the kitchen table and continued icing a cookie with a plastic spoon. “What kind of cookies are you making?”

  “Christmas-ball cookies,” Aneka said proudly, holding her half-frosted cookie up to show her father.

  “Yes, I see. They look delicious. May I have one?”

  Aneka shook her head. “No, no, we can’t eat cookies until after dinner. We promised.” She turned and looked at Janelle, smiling. Janelle nodded her agreement.

  Tyson nodded and smiled. “That’s a very good idea,” he said, looking at Janelle as she began to clean up some of the bowls and cookie pans on the countertop.

  “I hope you don’t mind,” she said. “I usually make cookies at Christmas. This seemed like a good time to get a little help.”

  “Yes, I know,” he said. “I remember we made Christmas cookies together once.” She turned to him and nodded as they shared a glance. “And, no, I don’t mind at all. I’m delighted you’re doing this with Aneka. She needs this. Thank you.” He took his jacket off and rolled his sleeves up to help. He washed his hands, picked up a cookie and a spoon and began frosting it.

  Aneka smiled happily as she added an abundance of sprinkles on her frosted cookie. “See, Daddy? Janelle showed me how to color in my cookies like my coloring books. Then we put on red and green and yellow and blue sprinkles. They are pretty.”

  “Yes indeed, they look beautiful,” he said, still looking at Janelle. He finished his cookie then walked over to Janelle, who was standing at the sink. “I got Mrs. Ivers’s message about her son. Any word on how he’s doing?”

  “No, I haven’t heard anything yet,” Janelle said as Aneka began singing along with the Christmas carols again.

  “Daddy, can Janelle stay for pizza night?”

  “That’s a great idea, sweetheart,” Tyson said, then turned to Janelle and smiled. “Yes, please stay.”

  “Actually, I already have dinner plans.”

  “Oh,” he said, disappointed.

  “Dad and I are having dinner out tonight,” she added.

  “Perfect. We can all do dinner out. I’ll call Ben and invite him, too,” Tyson said, grabbing his cell from his jacket pocket. He dialed quickly and spoke to Ben. A few minutes later he ended the call, smiling. “Ben was just about to call you about dinner. His meeting is going to run late and he’s going to grab a quick bite at the office. So, it looks like you’re joining us for pizza night.”

  Janelle smiled and then looked at Aneka, whose bright, excited eyes shone happily, waiting for an answer. “Yes, I’d love to join you and Aneka for pizza night.”

  Aneka began cheering and then stopped suddenly. “And cookies after, right?” she asked.

  “Definitely,” both Janelle and Tyson responded.

  * * *

  Three hours lat
er, after pizza and cookies, after cleaning up the kitchen and during the second animated holiday movie, Aneka crawled into Janelle’s lap. By the time the movie ended they were both sound asleep. Tyson looked over and smiled. This was his dream come true—to have this family.

  He picked up the remote and turned the television off. As soon as he did, Janelle woke up.

  “Hey,” she said sleepily, then yawned.

  “Hey, sleepyhead,” Tyson responded.

  She smiled. “I guess I’m still on Tanzania time.” She looked at Aneka cuddled on her lap. “Looks like we both fell asleep.”

  Tyson walked over to her. “It’s the perfect picture. Here, I’ll take her up to bed.” Janelle shifted Aneka as Tyson wrapped his arms around his daughter and lifted her up. Aneka immediately twined her arms around his neck. “I’ll be right back.”

  “I’d better get going. Thank you for this evening. I had fun,” Janelle said.

  “Please don’t leave yet. Please,” he said.

  She nodded and watched as Tyson took Aneka upstairs. After a few minutes Tyson came to the upstairs rail. “Janelle.”

  She looked up at him. “Aneka wants to say good-night to you.”

  She nodded and went upstairs. What was once a nice-size guest room was now a perfect little girl’s princess bedroom. Aneka was sitting up in her canopy bed, holding Janelle’s African doll. Janelle walked over to the bed. “Hey there,” she said.

  Aneka rubbed her eyes. “Good night, Janelle. Thank you for helping me make Christmas cookies.” She looked at her father and continued. “And here’s your doll back. I’m sorry I took it.”

  Janelle smiled. “You’re very welcome, and I’ll tell you what—you hold on to her for me, okay?” Aneka smiled happily and then lay back with the doll in her arms. “Good night, sweetheart. Pleasant dreams.” Aneka sat up and opened her arms for a hug. Janelle embraced her, then stepped back as Tyson gave her a kiss and a big hug. He tucked her beneath the covers and moved a curly tendril from her forehead.

  “Good night, Daddy.”

  Janelle turned to leave and Tyson followed her. They stopped when Aneka sat up and called out, “Janelle, can you come see Santa Claus with me tomorrow?”

  “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I don’t think I can,” Janelle said.

  Aneka frowned and nodded sadly.

  Tyson and Janelle went downstairs. She gathered her coat and purse and then yawned again as she turned to the front door. “Good night.”

  “Janelle, you’re exhausted. Why don’t you stay here? Please. I promise to be on my best behavior.”

  She smiled. “No need. I’m fine,” she promised.

  “No, you’re not. You’re exhausted.”

  “Tyson, I’m a doctor. Of course I’m exhausted. I’ve been exhausted for the past eight years of my life. Trust me. I’m used to existing on fumes. I’m fine.”

  “At least have a cup of tea with me. Please.”

  It was obvious that he wanted her to stay awhile longer. And not surprisingly, she wanted to stay as much as he wanted her to. “Tea sounds like a great idea.”

  He smiled. “Good. Sit, relax. I’ll be right back.”

  Janelle reclined on the sofa. She closed her eyes and began thinking about the last time she and Tyson were together. The kiss they’d shared was soul-moving, heart-stopping, toe-curling incredible. The man had a way of turning her world upside down with just one glance. Everything about him made her heart beat faster. There was no denying her attraction to him. She sighed, wondering if she would ever get enough of Tyson Croft.

  She opened her eyes, smiling, just as Tyson came around the sofa and handed her a cup of hot tea as he sat. “Music or television?” he asked.

  “Music,” she replied quickly.

  He picked up the remote control and pressed a button. Smooth jazz music began to play. She smiled at the familiar selection. He remembered. It was her favorite CD. Janelle took a sip of her hot tea, then placed the mug on the coaster in front of her. “You remembered. Earl Grey with a twist of lemon. Thank you.”

  He nodded. “Yes, of course I remembered, and thank you again.” She turned to him, puzzled. “For staying with Aneka,” he added. “She told me that she really had a great time. She likes you. And trust me, she doesn’t warm up to a lot of people instantly, but she did with you.”

  “She’s an adorable little girl. I like her, too.”

  “I’m glad. I have to admit, I hoped you two would hit it off. Making cookies was a brilliant idea and they were amazing.”

  She smiled. “I haven’t made Christmas cookies in years. The last time was with...” She stopped and looked at him. He smiled, knowing it had been with him—and they had done much more than just bake that night. “I remember making cookies with my mother. It was our annual tradition. Every year we’d choose a dozen different recipes and spend the weekend in the kitchen singing Christmas carols, laughing, baking and decorating. I forgot how much fun it was.”

  “Well, they were definitely a big hit with Aneka.”

  “Aneka—that’s a beautiful name. Does it have a meaning?”

  “It’s Hawaiian for Annette. It means ‘full of grace.’”

  “It’s very pretty for a very pretty little girl.”

  Tyson smiled. “It amazes me every time I look at her. She looks just like my cousin.” He paused. “I think about him not being here to see Aneka grow up and—” he paused again “—everything he’s gonna miss...”

  Janelle reached over and held his hand. He looked up at her. “I know it’s hard missing a loved one, especially around the holidays. But remembering them keeps them alive in our hearts. And keeping traditions alive keeps their joy close to us. Baking cookies with Aneka this afternoon did that for me. It felt wonderful being with her today. And one day I hope I’ll be baking cookies with my daughter and then eventually my granddaughter.”

  “You will,” he said assuredly. “So, tell me about working with Medics International. Is it as challenging as it sounds?”

  She nodded. “It’s extremely challenging. The intensity was unreal. It was scary and exhilarating. Nothing I had ever imagined prepared me to do the job. There’s no adjustment period and no time to test the waters to see if you’ll fit in. You just have to do the job and save a life. And there are so many lives to save. Just the basic essentials that we all take for granted are terribly needed in some places. It’s desperate and it’s real.”

  “And that was good?” he questioned. “It sounds overwhelming.”

  “It was. In the past two and a half years, I gained a lifetime of medical knowledge. I loved it. Being there took me away from myself and allowed me to focus on others. I needed that.”

  “But now you’re home,” he said.

  She nodded and took another sip of tea. This time she held on to the mug for courage. She cleared her throat and asked the question that had been on her mind since she’d first seen him. “So, when are you leaving?”

  He chuckled. “Are you trying to get rid of me already?”

  “I know you’ll have to leave. I was just wondering when.”

  “There’s a big job in New York. If I decide to take it, we’ll have to leave Christmas Day.”

  “Are you going to take it?” she asked cautiously.

  “I don’t know yet. There’s also a very special project I’ve been working on here. It’s complicated and I’m not sure if I’m making any progress. I hope so.”

  “I’m sure it will work out. I hear you’re very good at what you do.”

  He smiled and nodded. “I hope so,” he said, then paused. “You were right. Years ago, you told me that fixing things and making them better was a lot more rewarding than tearing them apart. Before, when I just bought and sold businesses, it was automatic, no feeling. I’d go in and start cutting it up.
Now what I do is challenging and I enjoy it.”

  “Good. But you’re still moving around the country a lot. What about Aneka? When school begins for her it’s going to be very difficult—even with homeschooling and with private tutors.”

  “I know. It’s time to stop and plant roots, settle down.”

  “Wow. That’s a big step for you,” she joked.

  He chuckled. “No, not really. I’ve been thinking about this for a long time. I’m ready for a home and a real family. I just need to do this one last project.”

  “It’ll work in the end.”

  “I hope so. How about you? When are you headed back?”

  “I’m not.”

  “You’re not?” he said. Happy surprise was clear on his face.

  She shook her head. “No. I didn’t actually resign from Medics International, but I’ve decided that I’m staying here, at least for a while.”

  He smiled. “I’m glad to hear that. So, Africa...are you going to miss it?”

  “Yes, I will, very much. Some places are stunningly beautiful and then there are places that aren’t so nice. Those I won’t miss so much. But overall, I will definitely miss it.”

  “And the people...?” he questioned.

  “Yes, I’ll miss the people, too.”

  “Any one person in particular?” he asked clumsily.

  She laughed. “Tyson Croft, are you asking me if I’m seeing someone?”

  “Too obvious?” he asked, not at all embarrassed.

  “Yeah, just a little,” she said. “And to answer your question, yes, I will miss several people in particular.” She watched as he nodded and looked away. “They’re all under twelve years old, of course.”

  He grinned back at her. “Good.”

  “What about you? Seeing anyone lately?” she asked.

  “Lately, no, but actually, there was this one woman I was seeing a while back. She was amazing—funny, smart, talented, beautiful. I fell in love with her as soon as I saw her. But I kind of messed it up.”