A Little Bit of Holiday Magic

“Tummy.” Liam’s voice cracked.

Internal injury? Bill’s throat tightened. “I need to check Liam’s abdomen.”

Color drained from the woman’s face. She rubbed her hands over her mouth. “Maybe we should call 9-1-1.”

“I am 9-1-1, minus the truck, flashing lights and uniform.” Bill grabbed the pajama zipper and pulled. “Relax. I know what I’m doing. If he needs help, we’ll get it.”

“Hungry,” Liam said.

Bill’s hand stalled. “You want something to eat?”

The little boy nodded.

“Wanting food is a good sign.” Bill examined Liam. No redness or marks from where the car seat straps may have hit his body. No signs of distress or shock or concussion. The kid seemed fine. “How does a cookie sound?”

A grin brighter than the lights on the Christmas tree erupted on the kid’s face. “Cookie! I want cookie, puh-lease.”

Bill’s throat relaxed, allowing him to breathe easier. The kid was going to be okay. But the mom was another story. Not quite panicked, but cold and suspicious.

The dark circles under her eyes told only half the story. Exhausted, check. Stressed, check. Nervous, two checks. Her eyes darted back and forth, unable to focus on one thing too long. But with each pass, her gaze lingered on him a second longer than the last. Her wariness pissed him off. She seemed to forget she’d knocked on his door tonight.

“Do you want a cookie?” he asked. “Chocolate chip. My mom made them.”

Grace gnawed on her lip. “No, thanks.”

Bill rose. He grabbed two chocolate chip cookies from the snowman-shaped cookie jar on the kitchen counter, then returned to the living room. He handed one to Liam, who’d removed his mittens, and the other to Grace, who looked as if he’d given her a grenade with the pin pulled.

Her confused gaze bounced from the cookie to Bill. “I didn’t want one.”

“You look like you need one.” He watched Liam munch his cookie. “Nothing wrong with his appetite.”

“Unless I’m trying to feed him veggies.”

Grace’s lighthearted tone surprised Bill, but it was good to see her sense of humor come out. “Who wants to eat icky green and orange things?” he asked.

The kid and Peanut nodded.

“Green and orange things—” Grace emphasized the last word “—help a person grow to be tall and strong. I’m sure Mr. Paulson didn’t become a firefighter by eating junk food and drinking soda.”

Grace sounded like a mom. Duh. She was one. He wasn’t helping her out here. “Your mom’s correct, Liam. Eat lots of vegetables, fruit and protein if you want to grow up to be tall and strong like me.”

She stared down her nose at Bill. “Modest.”

Her tone and look screamed not interested. That only piqued his. “Humility is a virtue.”

Grace opened her mouth, but didn’t say a word. She looked away, then took a bite of her cookie.

Bill knelt next to her. Wet hair dampened Grace’s shirt. She wasn’t busty, but had curves in the places that mattered. She smelled good in spite of being wet, a mix of vanilla and cinnamon and something he couldn’t place. “Let’s see how you’re doing.”

Holding the cookie, she crossed her arms tight over her chest. “I’m okay. The snow washed away the powder from the air bag.”

“Looking you over won’t take long.”

She scooted back. “I’m good.”

He cut the distance between them. “Let me make sure.”

Grace stood. Every motion seemed to take effort. A battle of fatigue and stress and shock, one she was losing. “You’ve done enough.”

His gaze ran the length of her, checking for obvious injuries. He didn’t see any. “Show me where the seat belt straps hit you.”

“It’s not necessary. I told you, the air bag—”

“If you stiffened prior to impact, you’re going to be sore.”

“I’m—”

“I’m trying to do my job here. That’s all. Please let me examine you.” He was losing patience. “I have to determine if you need to go to the hospital tonight.”

She nibbled on her lip.

“Would it make a difference if I put on my uniform?” he asked.

“None whatsoever.” Her firm voice left no doubt she was serious. “I appreciate you letting us get warm, but I need to find a place to stay tonight.”

“You’re not going anywhere unless it’s the hospital.”

She glanced out the window. “But—”

“The weather’s wicked. You’re staying here tonight. I’ll keep an eye on you.”

Forget deer in headlights. Grace’s expression made her look as if she’d been flattened by a semi. “That’s—”

“Your only option.”

Her mouth twisted.

He wasn’t deterred. “I have two spare bedrooms. Use one or both.” Bill pointed to her coat. “You may feel warmer without your wet jacket and shoes, but you need to change clothes.”

Grace rubbed the back of her neck.

“Sore?” he asked.

“Fine.” She moistened her lips. “All my clothes are in the truck.”

“I have something you can wear. Be right back.” Bill sprinted to his bedroom and grabbed a pair of flannel pajamas, a Christmas gift last year from his parents. Well, from his mom. His dad usually arrived home on Christmas Eve and was out the door on the twenty-sixth, leaving Bill to become his mom’s entire world again. Maybe if he’d had a sibling, a little brother or sister, things would be different. Better. But Bill hadn’t called for help soon enough. His mother had lost her baby and couldn’t have another.

Back in the living room, he handed the pajamas to Grace. “They’ll be big on you.”