First Kiss at Christmas by Lee Tobin McClain

CHAPTER THREE

ON TUESDAYEVENING, Kayla walked into the Gusty Gull and squinted through the loud, beer-scented darkness until she found her friend Amber sitting at the bar, surrounded by men. Of course.

“Am I late, or were you early?” she asked as she slid onto the barstool beside Amber. “Scoot, guys, she’s married.”

Amber laughed and waved the guys away. “They know it. They’re just fooling around. Look, they bought you a beer.” She slid an untouched glass in front of Kayla and pulled her own soda closer.

“Thanks, I could use that.” Kayla settled on her stool and looked around the bar. A favorite of the locals, the Gusty Gull was one of the few bars in town that was open year-round, rather than just during the tourist season. A cluster of fishermen—actually, not just men, there was Bisky Castleman with them—occupied a big table along one side of the room. Eighty-something Henry Higbottom held court, as usual, at the other end of the bar, telling what looked like a long, involved story to a couple of women.

In a corner, a group of twenty-something women seemed to be having a wedding shower or bachelorette party, judging from the balloons and the volume of their laughter.

Amber studied her phone and then put it away, chuckling. “Paul’s over at the gym teaching a bunch of kids to play basketball, and he says he’s losing his mind. So glad you asked me to come out tonight.”

“Anytime. Is Davey over there, too?”

“Yep,” Amber said through a smile. “And speaking of Davey, I heard from him that you have a new kid at school.”

“That’s right.” And it was one of the reasons Kayla needed this beer she was sipping. Again today, she’d had no success at reaching Jax. He’d clung to his uncle throughout the entire class, despite the raggedy sweater and small photo book Tony had brought along in an attempt to ease his fears.

Amber studied the menu written on the chalkboard above the bar. “Davey said the new boy’s dad is scary.”

Was Tony scary? “He’s big.”

“Oooh, I like.” Amber looked at her and raised an eyebrow. “Details, please.”

Kayla rolled her eyes. “Stop. You’ve got your own big man.”

“I do, and he’s perfect.” Amber smiled. “Soooo perfect. But even if you love your own dog to pieces, that doesn’t mean you don’t think the puppies in the pet store are cute.”

“Comparing Paul to a dog now?”

Amber laughed, a loud, happy sound that made various people around the bar look their way and smile. Amber was popular, and most people in town knew about her health history and were glad that she was strong and well.

“Anyway,” Kayla said, “Tony’s not my new student’s dad, he’s his uncle. Some kind of sad story there, but I’m not sure what it is. They’re staying in Victory Cottage.”

“Oh.” Amber nodded. She, of all people, was familiar with the place and its role in the community; she’d helped Mary Rhoades, the program’s benefactor, with the original purchase of the property. “I hope Victory Cottage can help him like it’s helped the other residents.”

“Me, too.” The first resident, William Gross, was happily settled in the community after falling in love with Bisky Castleman. In fact, they were expecting a child together. There had been one other resident so far, a woman, who’d benefited from the program and gone back to her hometown.

The bartender came over, looking frazzled, and they both ordered appetizers and another drink.

“So the new guy,” Amber persisted afterward. “Is he single?”

“I don’t know. He seems to be Jax’s main guardian.”

“Could he be the one?” Again, Amber waggled her eyebrows up and down.

Kayla looked up at the ceiling. “I wish I’d never told you that ridiculous New Year’s resolution.”

“It’s a great one. I want you to do it.”

“Forget about it.”

“No, I feel responsible, since I contributed to one of your bad dates.” Amber had at one point told her now-husband, Paul, to see other people, and he’d gone out with Kayla.

And spent the whole evening talking about and pining after Amber. Which was par for Kayla’s course.

The bartender brought their appetizers, and after Amber took a delicate bite of a fried clam, she continued pushing Kayla. “I can’t even believe it’s true. How can you be twenty-five and never been kissed? I mean, you’ve got the long blond hair and the bodacious bod.”

“You mean I’m fat.” Kayla crunched on an onion ring.

“Nope, you’re just not skinny. Most guys don’t like skinny.”

Kayla shrugged. She didn’t worry about her weight one way or the other; that was one good thing her mom had done for her. She’d never be the tall, thin model type, nor delicate like Amber, but she was healthy and active and had worn the same size since high school.

“Hey, ladies!” A couple of men from the fishermen’s table came over, one standing by Amber, the other by Kayla. “You want some company?”

“Not me.” Amber held up her left hand. “Married.”

The man beside Kayla smirked at his friend, then boldly reached for Kayla’s left hand and held it up. “No ring here.”

She jerked her hand away. “I still don’t want company,” she said firmly, and turned away from the guy.

“Sorry! Jeez. Didn’t mean to bother you.” The two men headed for the other end of the bar.

“That was cold!” Amber studied Kayla. “And I’ve seen you do that before.”

“Do what?”

“Shut men down.”

Kayla shrugged. “I’m not interested in him.”

“You don’t even know him! He’s cute. Give him a chance. Or if you don’t like how grabby he was, smile at his friend.”

“Oh, well...not tonight.” Kayla shoved aside her beer and took a sip of water.

“You need to practice,” Amber insisted. “You’re so sweet with little kids. Try being sweet with men.”

Kayla snorted. “Not sure grown men would appreciate being treated like preschoolers.”

There was a shout from the other side of the bar, where a table of college-age guys roared as one of their number stood and shook himself. On their table, a pitcher was on its side. Beer dripped onto the floor.

“Not much more mature than preschoolers,” Amber said dryly, nodding at the laughing, jostling group of guys.

Kayla laughed and clinked glasses with Amber.

But she wasn’t laughing quite so much inside. Was Amber right, that she was cold? It wouldn’t be the first time someone had said so.

The trouble was, she didn’t know if she could overcome the past enough to joke around with a guy in a bar the way Amber did so easily.

Let alone find someone who’d give her her first kiss.

If she didn’t start somewhere, though, she’d never fulfill her resolution to kiss a man before the year ended...which was a step toward what seemed like the impossible dream of a husband and family of her own.

FRIDAYATDINNERTIME, Tony held Jax’s hand as they trudged through a chilly wind, headed for Pleasant Shores’ small downtown area. It would have been smarter to throw together something to eat at home, since Jax was already hungry, but Tony couldn’t face the prospect of another evening alone at the cottage.

He’d experienced plenty of loneliness when he’d been stationed overseas. The roller coaster from high stress to boredom and back again had brought out the worst in some of his fellow soldiers, and Tony hadn’t liked partying to let off steam the way a lot of the others did. He’d spent a fair number of weekend nights alone in his barracks, reading a spy novel and missing his family and friends stateside. That was why he’d decided to earn his college degree online—so he’d have something to do during the long stretches of downtime.

Even so, being alone with a preschooler 24/7 made him crave adult interaction in a way he never had during his soldiering days.

Maybe he’d be able to strike up a conversation with a waiter or counter worker. Pathetic.

He’d been on the path to getting settled in his hometown, had just scored a new job as a counselor at the VA, when his sister had been killed and he’d become Jax’s full-time guardian. Jax was so troubled that it was hard to find sitters, let alone a steady day care, where he could be comfortably left. Tony had deferred the job and stayed home with his nephew.

At least back home, he’d had some family and a few old friends. Filmore, Pennsylvania, was a struggling rust-belt town with a serious drug problem, but there were good people trying to solve it. His sister was one of them—she ran the fire department, which these days mostly meant getting naloxone to people who’d overdosed. His brother was a force for good in the community, too; he’d started up a street ministry to help the homeless. Having finished his degree in social work online while serving overseas, Tony had planned to join their fight by working at the VA.

All of them had seen the town’s problems firsthand, among friends and especially their sister Stella’s struggle with drugs. When she’d been killed, both his brother and his sister had tried to help with Jax. But Tony was who Jax wanted. Tony had been named Jax’s guardian in a handwritten will they’d found in Stella’s things. That made sense, because he’d spent a couple of his military leaves with Stella and Jax and had moved in with them when he’d gotten out. He and Jax were close.

But he’d never approved of Stella’s lifestyle, and he hadn’t found the best way to communicate his concern to her. Instead, he’d started multiple yelling fights with her for neglecting her son, which had led to her moving out, getting back together with one of her several drug-dealer boyfriends, and getting shot.

Tony’s fault.

So caring for Jax was the least he could do, and the Victory Cottage program offered his best hope of that. The fact that Tony knew no one in town and had no one to talk to was insignificant.

They strolled through the downtown area, all decorated with twinkle lights. Jax tugged at Tony’s arm and pointed at a shop sign, lit up in the gathering darkness. Goody’s Ice Cream.

“Not now, buddy. We need to get a real dinner first.”

“Here.” Jax planted his feet.

“Later, if you eat your dinner.” Tony knew all too well what would happen if Jax consumed nothing but sugar. He’d made that mistake a few times.

“Here!” Jax bellowed and threw himself down onto the icy sidewalk, where he kicked his legs and banged his head on the ground and wailed.

“No ice cream for dinner.” He knelt beside Jax. At least this meltdown wasn’t about grief; it was just a normal cranky and hungry four-year-old thing. “Stop that, buddy, you’ll hurt your head.”

“I. Want. Ice. Cream!”

Tony looked around, wondering whether to pick Jax up and carry him back to the cottage or to let this spectacle play out on the street. It was a ten-minute walk home under normal circumstances, but with a struggling, screaming kid, it would take longer.

In the window of the ice cream shop, an older woman in an apron crossed her arms and frowned. Pedestrians stared and then looked away.

And then, like a vision, there was Kayla, dressed in workout clothes and a woolly red hat. Even though she probably couldn’t help, since Jax hadn’t warmed up to her or her class all week, it was good to see a friendly face.

Kayla veered off from the friend she was jogging with. “Jax! Tony!” She approached them like she was going to swoop Jax up and then stopped abruptly, looking at Tony. “Um, can I help?”

Tony sat back on his heels. “I wish you would,” he said wearily. “He wants ice cream for dinner, and he didn’t like hearing ‘no.’”

“Ooooh.” Kayla looked at the ice cream shop and then at Jax, whose cries had ever so slightly decreased in volume. She knelt and lightly rubbed Jax’s arm. “Hey,” she said, her voice quiet. “I can’t talk to you and your uncle if you’re so loud.”

Jax paused, hiccupped, and then resumed the tantrum.

“I can just take him home.” Tony stood. Jax had stopped banging his head, and he was warmly dressed; he wasn’t really hurting himself, just wearing himself out. Which meant he’d sleep well tonight.

Tony could have peace and a break. Although, a break to do...what? Watch bad TV? He’d read all the books he’d brought already.

“Goody’s does have real food.” Kayla stood, too. Apparently she’d come to the same conclusion as Tony, that Jax wasn’t doing himself any harm. “The crab cake sandwiches are to die for, and the fries are greasy, but really good.”

Tony’s stomach rumbled. “Should I give in, though? Won’t that reinforce the bad behavior?” He didn’t really know; he was just echoing what some of his advice-giving friends and siblings had told him.

Jax rubbed his eyes and sat up, still crying dramatically, but not so loudly.

“Maybe make a deal? If he goes in and behaves and eats real food, he could have some ice cream?” She smiled. “I have to recommend the chocolate milkshakes. They’re heavenly.” She kissed her fingertips and gestured toward the shop.

Her pink cheeks and sparkly eyes took Tony’s attention away from his nephew and his guilt and his aloneness. He smiled for the first time in a long time. “That good, huh?”

“Better. You should try one.”

“If the teacher says so, how could I disagree?” He raised an eyebrow at her.

Their gazes held for just a moment too long.

She broke first, laughing a little, looking down at Jax. “He’s listening,” she said.

Tony knelt beside his nephew. “Okay, kiddo. Miss Kayla says they have healthy food here.” If crab cake sandwiches and greasy fries could be considered healthy. “Come in and sit and eat your supper nice, no crying. If you do that, you can have ice cream for dessert.”

Jax hiccupped, considering.

Tony pulled out a pocket pack of tissues and wiped at his nephew’s messy face.

“Miss Kayla, too?” Jax looked up at his teacher.

Tony caught his breath. It was the first sign of liking that Jax had made toward Kayla. Toward anyone outside his family, actually.

Kayla looked surprised and then gave Jax a big smile. “That’s very nice of you.”

Tony stood. “I’d be honored if you’d let me buy you dinner.”

Her cheeks got pinker, and Tony wondered if it had sounded like he was asking her out. “You’ve put up with a lot from us this week. Just consider it a thank-you.”

Her forehead creased, and she glanced off in the direction her friend had headed. The woman stood waiting, pointing at her watch. “I’d like to join you,” Kayla said, “but I should really get back to my workout.”

“Jax and I would love the company.” He didn’t want her to go back to her workout; he wanted her to join him and Jax for dinner. His eyes skimmed her figure and he briefly noted how well she filled out a pair of running tights. “You don’t need to work out.”

She flushed again.

He could have kicked himself. That remark had probably sounded as sexist as anything a sleazy politician would say. “Your call, of course. I appreciate your help.” He busied himself with helping Jax to his feet and adjusting his hat, and then turned toward the ice cream shop. “Come on, buddy. Let’s go in before we freeze.”

“Can she come?” Jax asked.

His hand on the door of the shop, he looked at Kayla and raised an eyebrow. He really did hope she’d join them. It would be good for Jax. Yeah. That was what his eagerness was all about.

“Oh, well, I can work out anytime, but how often do I get to have dinner with Jax?” She gave the boy a light touch on the head, not hugging him or doing anything to scare him off.

Jax stared up at her, eyes wide, and then his face creased into a smile. He reached up and took her hand. It looked like the kid was getting a sudden crush.

Given that Kayla had rescued Tony from carrying a screaming four-year-old across town, he felt the same way. “After you,” he said, and held the door for her.

KAYLAWALKEDINTOGoody’s ahead of Tony and Jax, inhaled the familiar scent of fries and crab cakes, and looked around the crowded dining room.

Oh, great.

It was just Kayla’s luck that Primrose Miller, the biggest gossip in town, was there. Having dinner with Mary Rhoades and...was that her mom? Really?

Word was sure to spread. But, Kayla reflected, why should she care? It wasn’t like it would hurt her reputation, having dinner with the new, handsome man in town. Maybe it would enhance it. She waved to the trio and then turned back to Tony and Jax, pointing to the chalkboard menu and offering advice on Goody’s best specialties.

They stood in line, ordered, and then snagged a table to await their dinners. Jax, placated with a packet of crackers, was quiet, with no trace of his former upset.

She studied the little boy as he chewed the food and looked out the window, his face tired but relaxed. He was such a cute child. She was thrilled that he’d reached out to her. Maybe that meant she’d be able to connect and help him.

“Hello!” Primrose Miller called as she buzzed over to their table in her electric wheelchair. “I thought I’d come and greet two new members of our community. Make you feel welcome and invite you to church. But maybe that’s already happened.” She paused for a split second and then looked from Tony to Kayla and back again. “Are you two seeing each other?”

“No!” Kayla said.

“No!” Tony added at the same time.

He didn’t have to sound so adamant about it, but then again, that was typical for Kayla. Friend zone, permanently. She sighed. “How’s it going, Ms. Miller? You said you haven’t met Tony and Jax yet?”

Primrose hadn’t, so Kayla made introductions. They chatted for a few minutes, and then Primrose got a text that her ride was outside and headed for the exit, waving.

Their food arrived, further calming Jax, so that by the time Mary and Mom stopped by their table on the way out, the child was half-asleep in Tony’s lap, ice cream apparently forgotten. At the approach of the two older women, though, Jax tensed and clung more tightly to Tony, turning his face away. What had happened to him to make him so scared of people?

Mary greeted Tony, whom she must have met because she ran the Victory Cottage program. “Word of your romance is spreading around town even as we speak,” she told him, eyes sparkling.

Tony looked startled. “What?”

Kayla’s cheeks heated and she hurried to explain. “Because Primrose saw us. She’s sort of the town crier.”

“I hope I didn’t cause you any problem, inviting you to have dinner,” he said. “Honestly, I was just glad to see a friendly face. I don’t know many people in town yet.”

The implication being, once he’d made some friends, he wouldn’t be inviting Kayla to join him and Jax. That figured.

There was a knock on the window. Kayla’s former student Davey was there, and right behind him, his parents: Amber and her husband, Paul.

Jax lifted his head and gave Davey a half smile. Mom noticed it and gestured for Amber to bring him in, so Amber, Paul, and Davey soon crowded around their table, as well. Jax took in the looming adults and buried his face in Tony’s chest, but when Davey climbed on the chair beside him and started a knowledgeable discussion of ice cream flavors, Jax seemed to forget his fears.

After it was explained that Paul and Amber had helped Mary purchase the Victory Cottage property, Tony expressed his thanks to all three of them. “It had to be a lot to organize. It’s been a godsend for me and Jax.” He glanced down at his nephew. “I was at the end of my rope, so I appreciate your setting it up.”

“It helped me,” Paul said. “I needed a volunteer gig as a part of the program I was in—Healing Heroes—and Mary let me work on Victory Cottage. It was nice, because I could do it while taking care of my son.”

“I almost forgot.” Tony looked at Mary. “I need to talk to you about the volunteer side of Victory Cottage. I’m not sure how I’m going to manage just now, because Jax isn’t comfortable being at the preschool without me. Being anywhere without me, really.”

“Hmm.” Mary frowned. “We’ll have to give that some thought. Unless...” She looked at Kayla’s mother.

Mom smiled. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

“Male influences are important for young children, and hard to find,” Mary said. “Weren’t you just lamenting that even your new janitor is a woman?”

“I was. This would be perfect.”

Tony looked confused.

Kayla, though, saw where this was going. “I don’t think—”

“It’s a perfect solution,” Mom interrupted. “Tony, how would you like to volunteer in Kayla’s classroom during your time at Victory Cottage?”