Hometown Christmas Read online

  Hometown Christmas

  A Novella

  HOMETOWN ALASKA MEN SERIES

  JOLEEN JAMES

  HOMETOWN HEARTBREAKER

  Copyright © 2016 by Joleen James

  All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means now known or hereafter invented, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is coincidental.

  Cover Art by Visual Quill

  Copyediting by The Grammar Chick

  Also by Joleen James

  COWBOY, I'M YOURS

  LOVING GLORY

  UNDER A HARVEST MOON

  FALLING FOR NICK

  HOSTAGE HEART, A SHORT STORY

  Hometown Alaska Men Series

  HOMETOWN STAR

  HOMETOWN HERO

  HOMETOWN HEARTBREAKER

  HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS, A NOVELLA

  This one is for the readers!

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  CHAPTER ONE

  December 21st, 7:00 a.m.

  Tawney Tabor rolled to her side, pretending to be asleep.

  She listened to the sound of the garage door closing. A minute later Rick's key rattled in the front door. She hated when her husband worked nights. After working as a showgirl in Vegas for much of her adult life, she knew that nothing good ever happened after two a.m., but being the new man at the Seward Police Department, Rick hadn't made it off the graveyard shift yet.

  In the bedroom now, Rick's shoes hit the floor, followed by the scrape of the zipper on his fly. A second later his shirt rustled as he shrugged it off. Silence. She knew he was watching her, wondering if she were really asleep. Her heart constricted in her chest.

  When had she become a coward?

  They hadn't been married even a year, and they'd already begun to fight—always about the same thing. He wanted kids. She didn't.

  She didn't get the attraction to babies. Oh, she loved her nieces and nephews, but that love was easy. That love didn't make her responsible for young lives. That kind of all-consuming love scared her. Why didn't Rick understand that? Together they were great. The sex was hot. They loved each other madly.

  But was it enough?

  She was tired of fighting him on the issue. It was easier to feign sleep.

  The bathroom door clicked. The shower came on. A few minutes later, Rick crawled into bed with her. The scent of warmed soap moved between them. A sharp longing for him made her weak.

  She couldn't stand the silence. Unable to help herself, Tawney turned to face him. It was her fault they were growing apart, yet she didn't know how to fix things without giving up a piece of herself.

  "Hi," she said.

  "Hi." He gathered her into the strong circle of his arms.

  Love for him exploded in her chest like a red hot sun. "How was work?"

  "Busy," he said. "Two thugs have been hitting convenience store gas stations in Anchorage, robbing them. Tonight one of them shot the checker."

  "Oh, no," Tawney said. "Is the checker going to be okay?"

  "When I went off-shift he was still in surgery."

  "Any leads on the shooter?" she asked.

  "The guy wears a ski mask." Rick's arms tightened around her. "All we know for sure is that the shooter and his driver are on the move, heading our direction. The department is on high alert."

  "I'm glad you're home safe." She kissed his shoulder.

  His fingers found the hem of her t-shirt. "You know I like you naked."

  "It's cold when you're not here."

  Tawney shifted as he pulled the shirt off. When she came up against him again, a sigh of pleasure left her lips. He was all muscle and smooth skin. To her, he was perfect. He was her everything.

  His hands slid into her hair, and Rick kissed her. Tawney opened her mouth, meeting his tongue, playing with it. Rick's hands tightened on her. He deepened the kiss, and she knew she could deny him nothing. He excited her like no one else.

  So why couldn't she give him the family he wanted?

  The thought hit her like ice water, and she pulled away.

  "What?" he asked in a rasp.

  "Nothing," she said quickly. "If we are going to make love, I need to get protection."

  "Why?" he asked. "You've been off the pill for almost two months. I'm sure it's fine if you get pregnant." He kissed her again.

  "No." She put her hands on his chest. "I'll be back."

  She rolled away from him.

  Rick sighed. "It's okay. I'm tired anyway."

  Tawney's heart sank. She didn't move. She couldn't take his constant disappointment. She got back in bed, a rock in her gut.

  "What time are you leaving?" he asked.

  "I'm picking Brandi up around noon, after her shift at the diner. With Ruby on winter break and Star already on maternity leave, we can get out of town before the evening commute."

  "I probably won't be up yet," Rick said. "They say it's going to snow. I'd feel better if you and your sisters postponed this getaway until after Christmas."

  "No," Tawney said. "We want to do it before Star has her baby. This is her last chance to do something just for herself before she gives birth. She needs this time with us."

  "I get it, T," he said, the words tired. "But the roads could be bad."

  "We are all Alaska girls," Tawney reminded him. "We can drive in the snow. We'll be fine. I'll call you when we get there."

  She met Rick's eyes. She saw so much there. Sorrow, love, frustration.

  "Don't be afraid, baby," he said softly, his gaze drawing her in. "We're a team."

  "Do we have to talk about this now?" she asked, the sick feeling back in her stomach. Every conversation came back to this, to the baby he wanted.

  He moved away from her giving her his back. "Make sure you call me when you get there."

  "I will."

  Tawney headed for the shower. She planned to teach the nine a.m. low-impact aerobics class at Karma Fitness before heading out. She couldn't wait to get away to the cabin for some much-needed girl time.

  She couldn't stand to disappoint Rick anymore, but how did she make him understand that she wasn't ready to be a mother? She didn't know, but Tawney felt sure her sisters could advise her. Star and Ruby had had their own issues with motherhood.

  Yes, being with her sisters would put everything she was feeling into perspective.

  They had to help her, because deep inside she knew that Rick was pulling away from her.

  And worse, she was letting him.

  CHAPTER TWO

  "Can you even see?" Star asked, her tone worried. "I'm sitting right next to you, and I can't see anything but snow."

  "I can see," Tawney said, telling a white lie. Snow covered the windshield of the Jeep faster than the wipers could take it away. They weren't in a full-out white-wash yet—that wall of white where you couldn't tell where you were or what was in front of you—but the conditions were close. She'd head back to town, but the turn off to the cabin was much closer.

  "Look," her sister Br
andi said from the backseat. "Is that a car on the side of the road?"

  "You should pull over," Ruby said from her seat next to Brandi. "We need to see if anyone's in the car."

  Tawney braked.

  "I'll check." Brandi hopped out of the Jeep. She used her gloved hands to clear the snow from the driver's window. A minute later, she was back in the car.

  "It's empty," Brandi said. "I sure hope the person isn't out walking in this."

  Tawney hoped so, too. Snow fell thicker and faster now. She pressed on the gas.

  "We're close to the cabin, right?" Ruby asked.

  "Almost there," Tawney replied. "Don't worry. I've made this drive a hundred times. This time of year we mark the driveway with a tall fluorescent flag."

  A few minutes later the flag came into view. The tight coil of worry inside of Tawney loosened.

  "We're home free, girls," she said. "I see the turn."

  "Thank goodness." Brandi released a breath. "I know I'm an Alaska girl, but a white-wash is always frightening."

  "It's not that bad yet," Tawney said. "Once we are safely inside the cabin, we'll be fine. We can wait this storm out. We have the big three: food, booze, and heat."

  Star laughed. "Well, no booze for me. I don't think the baby would like that." Her hands rested on her very pregnant belly.

  The log cabin came into view, looking like a picture on a Christmas card. Tawney parked the car and cut the engine. "Wait here," she said to her sisters. "I have a surprise."

  She exited the Jeep and went inside, flipping the switch. Running back outside, snow swirling around her, she turned to look at the cabin. Multi-colored Christmas lights decorated the big tree and the handrail on the porch. Although it wasn’t dark yet, the lights sparkled across the snow. As a child, Tawney had never been able to get enough of Christmas lights. They'd been poor, money tight, but driving around looking at Christmas lights had been free.

  Her sisters were out of the car now.

  "Gorgeous," Star said, her eyes on the cabin.

  "I love it." Ruby held her arms wide as if trying to catch the swirling snowflakes. "Can't wait to see it at night."

  "It's perfect, T," Brandi agreed, smiling.

  "I have another surprise inside," Tawney said, "but let's unload the Jeep first." Tawney pointed at Star. "Not you. You go on inside and get comfy."

  The sisters quickly brought their bags and groceries into the cabin.

  Once inside, the scent of fresh cut pine gave away her second surprise.

  "A Christmas tree," Brandi cried. "And there are presents underneath."

  Tawney grinned; she couldn’t help it. "Wait until you see the tree lit." Tawney plugged the tree in.

  Oohs and ahs came from the women.

  "It's gorgeous, Tawney," Star said as she settled on the sofa.

  "Beautiful," Ruby agreed.

  Brandi nodded, going over to touch one of the sparkling snowflakes on the tree. "It's a winter tree."

  "Yes," Tawney said. "All things snowy and glittering." She'd picked out all the ornaments herself, deciding to use white lights to make everything sparkle and shimmer.

  "It's a wonderful surprise," Star said. "It's been years since we've all been together at Christmas time."

  Tawney smiled. "I know, being together is the greatest gift of all." Happiness filled her, as she switched on the oil heaters to get the great room warm. Next she started a fire in the wood stove, which was the cabin's main heat source.

  While Tawney worked on the fire, Ruby and Brandi unpacked the groceries. When the fire began to crackle, she left the stove open a crack and returned to the kitchen to plug in the crockpot full of her homemade chicken mole. She made coffee and put the tea kettle on high.

  "Who's sleeping where?" Ruby asked.

  "Star would you rather be downstairs or upstairs?" Tawney asked.

  "Down," Star said. "That staircase looks wicked in my condition."

  "Okay," Tawney said. "I'll stay down here with you. Ruby and Brandi can go upstairs."

  "I don't like the look of that snow," Star said, unable to keep the worry from her tone.

  Tawney went to the window. Snow fell thick and heavy, swirling. She couldn't see anything past the handrail. "It's a full-out white-wash now. Thank God we made it here safely."

  Star checked her phone. "According to the weather, it's not going to let up until morning."

  Tawney dug around in her purse, locating her own phone. Her fingers passed over the small pistol she always kept in her purse for protection. The weapon made her feel safe and in control. Thanks to Rick, she knew how to use the gun and the two other guns he kept here in the cabin, one upstairs in the nightstand and one downstairs in the desk.

  "We should all check in," Tawney said. "Now, in case the storm takes out the tower."

  "Great idea," Star said.

  Tawney called Rick but got voicemail. "Hey," she said. "We arrived safely, but it's a white-wash. Weather says it's supposed to let up by morning. We are all fine. You be safe tonight. Call me when you can." She hesitated, then said, "I love you." More than anything she wanted to make things right between them again. She hoped this weekend would give her some much-needed perspective regarding her troubled marriage. Sisters were like mini therapists.

  "Love you, too," Ruby said into her phone. "Give our Ellery a kiss from me. Talk to you later." Ruby ended her call to her husband, Dane. "Oh, I smell coffee. There's no better smell."

  "Not for me." Brandi stuck her tongue out. "Reminds me of working at the diner. I swear I can't get the smell of grease and coffee out of my nose ever."

  Tawney laughed. It felt so good to be together, just the four of them.

  "I wonder how Mom and Earl are doing on their honeymoon," Ruby said, as she poured the coffee.

  "I know," Brandi chimed in. "Can you believe you actually have parents, Ruby? A mom and a dad? I still can't believe it."

  "No," Ruby said with a shake of her head. "I kind of wish Mom hadn't married him. He's husband number seven for crying out loud. What are the chances of this marriage sticking?"

  "Even if it ends in divorce," Star said, "you will still have Earl in your life. We can all see how taken he is with you."

  "It's more than the rest of us have," Tawney reminded Ruby. "You have a dad. Someone you can go to for advice or help. Someone who will protect you."

  "We all have that in our husbands." Star smiled. "We are lucky girls."

  "Lucky in love." Ruby passed out coffees and a decaf tea to Star.

  "This is wonderful, Tawney," Star said. "Such a great idea for us all to go away together."

  Tawney took it all in: the snow, the Christmas tree, the blazing fire.

  It was a perfect moment. One she would treasure forever.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Tawney stirred the crockpot, inhaling the scent of the chicken mole she'd made last night. The crockpot had been warming the meal for a couple of hours now and the rich scent of the sauce filled the cabin.

  "You're making coconut rice to go with that, right?" Ruby asked, peeking over Tawney's shoulder to get a look at their upcoming dinner.

  "Of course." Tawney put the lid back on the crockpot. "Can I get anybody anything?"

  Star and Brandi sat on the sofa playing a game of cribbage.

  "I'm good," Star said.

  "Me too." Brandi returned her attention back to her cards.

  "Everything okay with you?" Ruby asked her. "You've been strangely quiet."

  "You know me so well," Tawney said, giving her sister a small smile.

  "What's wrong?" Ruby sat at the table. "Sit."

  Tawney did. "Rick's pressuring me to have a baby. It's all he thinks about."

  "And you're not ready?" Ruby asked.

  "No, and I'm not sure I ever will be." Tawney frowned. "I don't know if I want kids. I know you like being a mom. Star and Brandi love being moms, too, but I don't think I'd be good at it."

  Ruby gave her a gentle smile. "You'd be surprised a
t how well you'd do. You're not giving yourself enough credit."

  Tawney shrugged. "Maybe. Maybe I'm not ready to share Rick yet. We haven't been married even a year. I'm enjoying being with him, enjoying it being just the two of us."

  "Have you told him that?" Ruby asked.

  "Yes, but he keeps telling me that a baby isn't going to change that."

  Ruby laughed. "Well, he's wrong. A baby changes everything. It's not a better or worse life, it's a different life. I wouldn't trade Ellery for the world. Kids sleep. You'll still have alone time."

  "I don't know," Tawney said, still skeptical.

  "Having kids isn't for everyone," Ruby conceded. "My advice is to talk things out with Rick. Get on the same page."

  "I know," Tawney said. "I love him so much."

  "You're going to be okay." Ruby patted her hand. "I think I'll take my bag upstairs and get organized before dinner."

  "Sounds good." Tawney stood to snag the coffee pot, intending to give them all a warm up.

  Ruby hauled her bag up the stairs. There was a thump.

  "You okay, Ruby?" Tawney called.

  Brandi gasped, bolting to her feet.

  "Oh my God," Star said.

  Tawney followed their line of sight.

  Ruby stood at the top of the stairs between two men wearing ski masks. One of the men held a gun to Ruby's head.

  Ski masks. The men from the robberies.

  "Nobody move or the lady's history," the shorter man said. He started down the stairs.

  The taller man gave Ruby a shove, and she ran down the stairs. When she reached the bottom, the man shoved her again. Ruby stumbled forward, landing hard on the sofa between Brandi and Star.

  Tawney inched back, her fingers closing over her phone.

  "Drop the phone," the tall man said.

  Tawney whirled around, the phone still in her hand.