Debbie Macomber: Home for Christmas: Return to Promise / Can This Be Christmas?

“I talked with Janice over at Promise First National about her job history,” Annie said, interrupting his thoughts. “She doesn’t have anything negative to say about Nicole, but if you’re uncomfortable giving her a recommendation…”

“Oh, I’m sure Nicole will do a great job for you.”

The length of Annie’s hesitation told him he hadn’t been very convincing.

“Nicole’s fine, really,” he added. He didn’t actually remember that much about her. She always seemed to be there whenever he picked up Jennifer, but he couldn’t say he knew her. Years ago she’d been a sweet kid, but that was the extent of his recollection. He couldn’t dredge up anything that would prevent her from selling books. He’d never heard that she was dishonest or rude to customers, and those were things that would definitely have stuck in his mind. It was difficult enough to attract good employees; Cal didn’t want to be responsible for Annie’s not hiring someone simply because he had negative feelings about that person’s friends.

“I was thinking of hiring her for the bookstore.”

“Do,” Cal urged.

“She seems friendly and helpful.”

“I’m sure she is,” Cal said, and glanced longingly toward the popcorn.

“Thanks, Cal, I appreciate the input.”

“No problem.” He didn’t know what it was about women and the telephone. Even Jane, who had a sensible approach to everything and hated wasting time, could spend hours chatting with her friends. Just thinking about his wife produced a powerful yearning. Nothing seemed right without her.

“I’ll give Jane a call later,” Annie was saying.

“Good plan.” He checked his watch, wondering how much longer this would take.

“Thanks again.”

“Give Nicole my best,” he said, thinking this was how to signal that he was ready to get off the phone.

“I will,” Annie promised. “Bye, now.”

Ah, success. Cal replaced the receiver, then frowned as he attempted to picture Nicole Nelson. Brown hair—or blond? He hadn’t paid much attention to her at the rodeo. And he couldn’t imagine what would bring her back to Promise. Not that she needed to justify the move, at least to him. His one hope was that he didn’t give Annie reason to regret hiring her.

Mary Ann’s squeal of delight woke Jane from a deep sleep. She rolled over and looked bleary-eyed at the clock radio and gasped. Ten o’clock. She hadn’t slept that late since she was in high school. Tossing aside the covers, she reached for her robe and headed out of the bedroom, yawning as she went.

“Mom!” she called.

“In here, sweetheart,” her mother said from the kitchen.

Jane found the children and her mother busily playing on the tile floor. Mary Ann toddled gleefully, chasing a beach ball, intent on getting to it before her brother. Because he loved his little sister, Paul was letting her reach it first, then clapping and encouraging her to throw it to him.

“You should have woken me up,” Jane said.

“Why? The children are fine.”

“But, Mom, I’m supposed to be here to help you,” she protested. The last week had been hectic. Taking Paul and Mary Ann away from home and the comfort of their normal routine had made both children difficult and irritable. That first night, Mary Ann hadn’t slept more than a few hours, then whined all the next day. Paul had grown quiet and refused to talk to either grandparent. The children had required several days to adjust to the time change, and with the stress of her father’s condition, Jane was completely exhausted.

“You needed the sleep,” her mother said.

Jane couldn’t argue with that. “But I didn’t come all this way to spend the whole morning in bed.”

“Stop fussing. Paul, Mary Ann and I are having a wonderful time. If you intend to spoil it, then I suggest you go back to bed.”

“Mother!”

“I’m the only grandma they have. Now, why don’t you let us play and get yourself some breakfast?”

“But—”

“You heard me.” Stephanie crawled toward the lower cupboards, then held on to the counter, using that as leverage to get up off the floor. “I’m not as limber as I once was,” she joked.

“Oh, Mom…” Watching her, Jane felt guilty. She gathered Mary Ann into her arms, although the child immediately wanted down. Paul looked up at her, disgruntled by the interruption.

“Your father’s resting comfortably,” her mother informed her. “He wants us to take the day for ourselves.”

“Dad said that?” He’d been demanding and impatient ever since Jane had arrived.

“He did indeed, and I intend to take him up on his offer. I promised the kids lunch at McDonald’s.”

“Dad must be feeling better.”

“He is,” her mother said. “By the way, Annie phoned earlier.”

“Annie?” Jane echoed. “Is everything all right at home?”

“Everything’s just fine. She wanted to know how your father’s doing. Apparently no one told her—”

“I asked Cal to let her know. I meant to phone her myself, but…you know how crazy it’s been this last week.”

“I explained it all, so don’t you worry. She’d already talked to Cal, who apologized profusely. She sounds well and has some news herself.”

Jane paused, waiting, although she had her suspicions.

“Annie’s pregnant again. Apparently they’re all thrilled—Annie, Lucas and the children. She’s reducing her hours at work, hiring extra help. It was great to chat with her.”

“A baby. That’s wonderful.” Annie was such a good mother, patient and intuitive. And such a good friend. Her move to Texas had been a real blessing to Jane.

Just thinking about Promise made Jane’s heart hunger for home. A smile came as she recalled how out of place she’d once felt in the small Texas town. She’d accepted a job in the medical clinic soon after she’d qualified. It wasn’t where she’d hoped to settle, and she’d only taken the assignment as a means of paying off a portion of her huge college loans. The first few months had been dreadful—until she’d become friends with Dovie, who’d introduced her to Ellie.

This was networking at its finest. Soon afterward, Ellie and Glen had arranged Jane’s first date with Cal. What a disaster that had been! Cal wasn’t the least bit interested in a blind date. Things had quickly changed, however, when Cal and his brother and Ellie had started to teach her how to think and act like a real Texan. When she’d decided to take riding lessons, Cal had volunteered to be her teacher.

Jane had never meant to fall in love with him. But they were a good match, bringing out the best in each other, and they’d both recognized that. Because of Cal, she was a better person, even a better physician, and he reminded her often how her love had enriched his life. They were married within the year.

After the children arrived, Jane felt it necessary to make her career less of a priority, but she didn’t begrudge a moment of this new experience. In fact, she enjoyed being a full-time wife and mother—for a while—and managed to keep up her medical skills with part-time work.

Annie, too, had found love and happiness in their small town. The news of this pregnancy pleased Jane.

“Have you connected with Julie and Megan yet?” her mother asked.

Along with Annie, Julie and Megan had been Jane’s best friends all through high school. Julie was married and lived just ten minutes away. Megan was a divorced single mother. Jane hadn’t seen either woman in three years—make that four. How quickly time got away from her.

“Not yet,” Jane told her.

“I want you to have lunch with your friends while you’re home.”

“Mom, that isn’t necessary. I’m not here to be entertained.”