The Christmas Stranger

She acknowledged his admonition with a slow nod. Ryan’s death had taught her that lesson well. “So how about you? Are you from Morgan Hollow?”

He hesitated then grunted, “Naw.”

“Then where are you from? How’d you end up here?” When he didn’t respond, she glanced over at him. “Matt?”

He scooted out from behind the tub and sat up, leaning against the wall with his legs bent, his arms propped casually on his knees. He stared hard at the scraper in his hand, furrowing his brow as if contemplating a troubling topic.

She shifted her weight awkwardly, uneasy with the silence. What had she said that had darkened his mood? “If you’d rather not discuss—”

“I’m originally from Charlotte. That’s where I practiced for ten years…until my wife—”

When he paused again, Holly waited patiently for him to continue, giving the wallpaper removal a half effort. She made a mental note of the term practiced regarding his career but was loath to interrupt him for an explanation now.

“After Jill died, I…moved to Iona Falls, because I wanted to be closer to my kids, even if my in-laws wouldn’t let me see them. Then I found a job working construction here in Morgan Hollow a few months later, so I moved again. I guess I was looking for a fresh start in a new town where no one knew—” He stopped abruptly and darted a sharp glance at her. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, then he rolled one palm up. “Where no one knew about Jill’s death, where I could start rebuilding my life.”

The grief in his eyes stabbed Holly, stole her breath for a moment. She knew exactly the pain that had motivated his longing for a change of scenery. “Dozens of times in the past few months, I’ve wanted to flee my life and start over somewhere people don’t know me. I’d go somewhere people don’t look at me with pitying looks in the grocery store and avoid using Ryan’s name as if it were taboo. Somewhere people don’t pat my hand as they size me up like they expect me to have an emotional breakdown any moment.” She shook her head and huffed a humorless laugh. “Moving on is hard when the people around you won’t let you put the past behind you.”

“Tell me about it.” Matt gave her a peculiar, measuring scrutiny. “You said your husband’s killer hasn’t been found?”

Biting the inside of her cheek, she shook her head.

His gaze burrowed into hers, insightful, warm, understanding.

“That must make it harder to move forward. The unanswered questions would drive me crazy.” His tone was gentle, a balm to her ragged emotions.

Holly squared her shoulders. “The unknowns bug me, yes. But I intend to get answers. Somehow, someday. Ryan deserves justice. But I try not to dwell on the questions anymore, not at the expense of living for the present, planning for the future.”

A gentle grin touched his lips, and he nodded. “Good for you.”

A thump sounded downstairs, followed by a male voice calling, “Holly? You home?”

“Upstairs!” she shouted back.

Matt sent her a curious look. “Were you expecting company?”

“That’s Jon, my brother-in-law who’s helping me with the renovations. I gave him a key so he could work even if I wasn’t home.” She set her scraper down and gauged their progress with an encompassing glance around the bathroom. “How about a break? I’ll make a pot of spiced cider, and we can eat leftover sugar cookies from my class’s Halloween party.”

Matt rose to his feet and rubbed the muscles at the back of his neck. “You’re not paying me to sit around and eat cookies.”

“Hey, I’m the boss.” She sent him a mock scowl. “And I say it’s break time. Besides, I want you to meet Jon. You’ll be working with him a lot in the coming weeks.”

“Holly?” Jon called again from the hall.

“Coming.” She headed out to meet her brother-in-law, signaling Matt to follow her. She stepped out into the hall just as Jon reached the top of the stairs. Jon, a fireman in a nearby town, had the thick chest and wide shoulders of a man who kept his body in top condition for his job. Like Ryan, he had the Cole family’s brown hair, straight narrow nose and dark eyes.

Her brother-in-law’s smile of greeting dimmed as his gaze shifted to Matt. A puzzled frown dimpled Jon’s forehead for a moment before he schooled his face. “Hey, I thought I’d work on sanding the floor in the study today,” he said by way of greeting. “But if you’re…entertaining—” He cast another meaningful glance toward Matt.

Holly supposed having a man in her bedroom on a Saturday morning could look suspicious…if she were the sort to bring men home for one-night stands. Which she wasn’t. And Jon knew that. She gritted her teeth and sent him a scowl, primarily for the awkwardness his comment might have caused Matt.

“Jon, this is Matt Rankin. I’ve hired him to help with the renovations.”

Her brother-in-law arched a dark eyebrow, reflecting his surprise, but he quickly molded his countenance in a polite smile, offering his hand to Matt, as Holly completed the introduction.

“We’ve been removing the old wallpaper in the master bathroom.” Why she felt compelled to explain why Matt had emerged from her bedroom she wasn’t sure. If she wanted to entertain men in her home, she could—without having to answer to Ryan’s family.

Jon narrowed a scrutinizing gaze on Matt and scratched his chin. “Have we met before? You look awfully familiar.”

Matt’s casual stance stiffened slightly. Not much, but enough for Holly to wonder about his reaction to Jon’s question.

“Not…that I’m aware of.”

Jon continued to study Matt’s face intently. “I know I know you from somewhere. Do you go to Mac’s gym? Calvary Baptist Church? Work for a first-response squad somewhere locally?”

Matt shook his head, his expression wary. “No. None of the above. Sorry.”

“Oh, well, maybe it will come to me later.” Jon shrugged and turned his attention back to Holly. Pitching his voice low, he stepper closer to her. “I told you I’d help you finish the house. You didn’t have to hire anyone. Extra help is an unnecessary expense when I’ll work for free.”

Holly cut a side glance toward Matt, who feigned interest in the family photos on the wall, before facing Jon again. “And I appreciate your help more than you know. But you’re busy with Kim and working at the fire station, and I’m ready to be done with this old house. I want to finish by Christmas if possible.”

Both of his eyebrows shot up now. “By Christmas? It’ll take more than one guy working round the clock to finish in two months.”

Holly grinned and patted Jon’s arm. “Which is why I still need you to come when you can and pitch in, if you’re willing.”

“Of course, but—” He left the complaint hanging, glancing once more to Matt before sighing his resignation. “Whatever. It’s your house.”

“Yes, it is. So…we were just about to take a break. Would you like some spiced cider?” Holly started down the stairs but tossed the question over her shoulder.

“Uh, no, thanks,” Jon answered, his gaze fixed on Matt again. “I thought I’d get started sanding the floor in the study today. You still want to keep the hardwood floor in there, right? Sand the existing floor, then stain and finish it?”

“Yep. That’s the plan.”

The soft thud of footsteps on the stairs told her Matt was following her as she made her way to the kitchen. She moved her Snoopy cookie jar from the counter to the table and removed the lid. “Help yourself. The mother of one of my students made them.”

Matt pulled out a kitchen chair with a scrape and sat down. He ate one of the cookies in two bites and closed his eyes as he savored the treat. “Mmm, can’t tell you the last time I had a homemade cookie. These are delicious.”

“I’ll be sure to tell Mrs. Holbrook you enjoyed them.” Taking a seat across from him, she nibbled a cookie herself, and her mind drifted back to something Matt had said earlier. “What did you mean when you said you practiced in Charlotte before you moved to Iona Falls? What did you practice?”

Matt seemed startled by her question. He drew a deep breath and blew it out, then rubbed his bristly chin before answering. “Medicine.”

“You’re a doctor?” Holly blinked her surprise.

Again, he hesitated. “A pediatrician.”

Holly thought back with fresh understanding to Matt’s quick actions at the community center when the little boy choked on his candy. “But you don’t practice anymore?”

He shook his head, a dark regret shadowing his eyes.

“Why not?”