The Best Christmas Ever

She looked at him, her green eyes slightly veiled by thick brown lashes. “I’m afraid I’m not that much of a talker. Especially after a day like today.”

His brows lifted with curiosity. “And what was your day like?”

She knew he was merely making friendly conversation, so why did she feel so cornered by each question he put to her? “It was very busy. I work as a bank teller, you see, and today was my turn at one of the drive-in windows.”

“Hmm. I suppose at this time of year it’s even worse,” he mused, then smiled. “Are you ready for Christmas? I’ll bet you’re one of those people who has her shopping done weeks ahead of time.”

She glanced away from him as his words reminded her just how meager her shopping would be this Christmas. “No... I’m one of those last minute shoppers,” she said, while twisting the stem of her glass between her fingers.

Damn Nick, why did you have to mention shopping? he asked himself. She’d already admitted she couldn’t afford to buy herself a dress. No doubt she could afford little more than necessities.

“I was sorry to hear your grandmother is in a nursing home,” he said, deciding to quickly change the subject. “I can’t imagine her not living in the old farmhouse anymore. When I was a small boy I went to see her every day.”

“I know. She speaks of you from time to time.”

Nick was surprised. “Does she really? I would have thought she’d forgotten me by now.”

A faint smile touched Allison’s lips. “She said you were a pesky little thing, but when you grew up and stopped coming to see her, she missed you.”

Nick wondered why he suddenly felt a pang of guilt because he’d stopped visiting the old woman. “I’d like to see her while I’m here,” he said suddenly. “Is she well enough to receive visitors?”

Allison was taken by complete surprise. She hadn’t expected him to inquire about her elderly grandmother, much less want to see her. “Actually, she’s a very healthy ninety-two, except for her sight, that is. And she loves visitors.”

Allison’s attention was caught by the sound of running feet. Before she could turn her head in their direction, Benjamin was racing around the couch toward her.

“See my dog, Mommy!” he exclaimed excitedly, then thrust the large stuffed toy at his mother.

Allison reached out and patted the floppy-eared version of a basset hound. It was limp and a little ragged in places, but was still holding together. Apparently the dog had been a childhood favorite of at least one of the Gallagher children. “He’s very pretty. Did you thank Sam and Olivia for getting him for you?”

Benjamin nodded with great exaggeration and Nick grinned at the boy and the old familiar dog. “That’s Buddy,” Nick said, nodding his head toward the dog. “Kathleen dragged that dog from here to Texas. She wouldn’t even go to the dentist without him.”

“Who did I take to the dentist?” Kathleen asked curiously as she walked up on the last of the conversation.

“Buddy,” Sam explained. “I got him out of the closet so that Ben would have something to play with.”

“Good,” Kathleen said, reaching to playfully tousle Benjamin’s hair. “He smells better than Jake and Leo. And he has better dog manners.”

Puzzled, Benjamin looked around the group of adults. “What’s that, Mommy?”

“Come here, son,” S.T. said as chuckles floated around the room. “I’ll tell you all about dog manners and little boy manners.”

“You’ll have to do that while we eat,” Ella said from the doorway. “Everything is ready and waiting.”

The announcement caused a stir as everyone got to their feet and moved to the kitchen. Allison led Benjamin by one hand, while he clutched the stuffed dog to him with the other. But once they reached the table she talked him into letting her put the dog under his chair.

Once Allison finally had her son settled safely on Ella’s roasting pot, she looked up to see Nick holding a chair out for her.

“You don’t mind sitting by me, do you, Allison?”

However could she answer that when the whole Gallagher clan seemed to be looking at her? “No—of course not,” she stammered, feeling a telltale heat warm her cheeks.

“I assure you, I’m like Buddy—I have good eating manners,” he said with a wink.

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that, Allison,” Sam warned from the other end of the table. “He’ll steal the food off your plate if you aren’t watching.”

Allison allowed Nick to seat her, while across the table, Ella said, “If I remember right, Sam, you always dropped most of your food under the table for Sally.”

“That’s right,” Kathleen added. “No wonder the poor dog died. She was so overweight she could hardly walk.”

Sam shook his head at his sister. “She could hardly walk because she had arthritis. And what about all the candy you gave her?”

“She loved chocolate candy—” Kathleen countered, only to have Ella tap her fork loudly against her plate.

“Oh, my word. Let’s not start arguing about Sally now!”

Nick and Ella exchanged knowing glances while Allison sat quietly and watched. She’d never been around a big family before, but she’d often wondered what it would be like to have a brother or sister to talk and laugh with, parents that truly loved her.

Her mother had loved her, but her death had left Allison alone with a father who hadn’t wanted her. As a result she’d grown up starved for love and affection. It was no wonder that she’d fallen so easily for Larry’s lies. She’d soaked up the physical love he’d given her and refused to see that it was only skin-deep.

“Your mother is right. It’s time to eat instead of argue,” S.T. said sternly, although the crooked grin on his face revealed just how much he was enjoying seeing all his family together.

“Eat! Eat!” Benjamin repeated.

“Ben! Shh!” Allison scolded lightly.

Nick chuckled. “I think Ben is smarter than the whole bunch of us.”

“Say grace, Sam, and let’s get some food on the boy’s plate,” S.T. instructed his older son.

* * *

The meal was full of boisterous conversation and laughter. Allison was content to merely eat and listen. And try not to notice the man beside her. She tried especially hard not to notice the way his eyes lingered on her face each time he passed her something. But try as she might she could not ignore the curiosity she had about him, or the strange rush of excitement it gave her to have him sitting beside her.

If Allison hadn’t known beforehand that he was a military man, she probably wouldn’t have guessed him as one. But as she studied him covertly, she could see little things about him that looked military. Like the neatness of his clothes, his proud, erect carriage, the trim hardness of his body.

He was very unlike Sam, she thought. And she wondered what had made him want to be in the army. Had he disliked farming, or was it that he loved being a soldier more?

Benjamin’s small hand tugging at her arm brought Allison out of her musings. She saw that her son was finished eating and growing impatient to leave the table.

After excusing them both, she took Benjamin to the den and settled him and the stuffed dog on a braided rug not far from the fireplace. She’d just taken a seat on the couch to wait for the others when Nick walked in carrying three small plates.

“You haven’t had dessert yet,” he explained at her look of surprise.

“You shouldn’t have bothered,” Allison insisted. “I’m already stuffed.”

“Mother’s feelings would be hurt if you didn’t eat a piece of cake. She thinks of it as one of her specialties.”

Nick handed her the dessert plate holding the thick slice of cake, gave one to Ben and then took a seat next to her.