Faith, Love, and Fried Chicken: Seasons Boxed Set Bundle 1-4 Page 7

  “My phone’s broke. I realized I hadn’t told you.”

  “I’ve been leavin’ you to yer thoughts.” A long pause followed his words. “Do you want to meet later when I get off work?”

  “Yes, I’d like that.” She found she had been holding her breath and let the air out in a long whoosh.

  “My place then, seven-ish?” She could hear relief in his voice as he spoke.

  “Sounds good. I’ll finish the bakin’ by then.”

  Three pecan, two pumpkin, and two apple pies covered the kitchen table cooling. Jaycee’s Momma’s double oven had helped the process go a lot smoother. Jaycee had even enlisted her father’s help by having him shell the pecans. She had made quick order of the pumpkin mixture after making the pie crusts. Once those were in the oven, she had pared and cut the apples, adding the cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugars to the top of the heaping apples then turning them gently before piling the whole fall-smelling goodness into the pie tins. The pecan pies took a bit longer, but it was now with some satisfaction that Jaycee paused to survey the table before her.

  While the last of the pies were in the oven earlier, Jaycee had pulled out one of her grandmother’s crewel tablecloths to grace the long shiny mahogany table in the dining room. She stopped there briefly to add two burgundy candles in holders to the center. Glancing at the large clock on the buffet table, she noted the time and hurried to her room to change. Time to meet Dash!

  It didn’t take Jaycee long to change. She chose jeans and a burgundy sweater. She took an ivory scarf and twisted it around her neck artfully. Grabbing her boots as she walked, she met her Momma in the kitchen where she sat down to yank them on.

  “The pies look amazing, dear.” Her mother stepped close to kiss her on the cheek.

  “Thanks, Momma. Boy howdy, what a show that was.”

  “Troubles?”

  “No, not at all. Just lots of balancing and timing.”

  “Yes, that is one of the secrets of making a Thanksgiving dinner, timing. And you’ve been so much help already!”

  “I’m off to see Dash, maybe grab a phone on the way if the store’s still open.”

  “That’s fine. Gonna sit and prep some of the veggies tonight.”

  “And the turkey?”

  “Goes in early morning. I’ll take care of that and we’ll do the rest together after.”

  Jaycee nodded, fully aware how much of this her momma had done all these years on her own. Sure Jaycee had done some chopping and stirring, but the bulk of the cooking had been her momma’s responsibility.

  “I love you, Momma. Thanks for all you do.”

  “And I love you, pumpkin. You’re all worth it.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  It was past sunset. Streaks from the last rays of the sun caught on the clouds, like a woman’s pink-tinged cloak. The bare trees on the roadside tangled in the wind, dark in contrast against the sky. A cold snap was in the forecast. Thanksgiving eve. And there he was, broken down on the way home.

  The truck had started sputtering three minutes into the drive. He should have turned back to the shop, but he figured he could make it home. Less than ten minutes later, the truck engine had died completely. He stood beside the open hood, his hands jammed into his jeans pockets. He was too tired to be angry or frustrated. It was what it was and if he hadn’t been so prideful earlier in the shop, Chuck could have diagnosed the minute sound he had heard, which had obviously been a larger issue.

  Dash saw lights bounce against the trees and a car turned down the tiny side road. He shielded his eyes as it approached and pulled behind the truck on the shoulder of the road. The lights remained on, blinding him as he heard the driver’s door open.

  “I told ya’, Dash,” a breathy female voice said, mimicking his own from when he had rescued Jaycee that fateful hot July day month’s earlier.

  She walked in front of the headlights, her silhouette swaying slowly. She drew closer and he saw her gentle smile.

  “My hero,” he said, reaching through the glare and wrapping his arms around her as she stepped into his embrace.

  “Oh, Dash. I’ve been such a fool.”

  “Have you now?” He felt a well-spring of joy spring up from his heart. He rested his chin atop her head “I hadn’t noticed.”

  “The John thing, I – I should explain. It was stupid.” She hesitated, but he was silent, waiting for her to go on. “You aren’t makin’ this easy on me, are ya?”

  He shook his head, waiting. He didn’t want to wonder at her actions anymore. He wanted to know and hold no doubts about her.

  “It was dumb, the start of it and the continuation of something out of nothing. I – I met him in New York. He’s Kitty’s roommate.” It was getting colder, the wind picking up, and as Jaycee floundered, Dash pulled her with him to lean against the bed of the truck. She tucked her head against his chest and continued. “I don’t have feelin’s for him, not even when I was there. I don’t know why I let it continue. Please forgive me. I’ll be tellin’ him when I get the new phone set up.”

  “It’s over, Jaycee?” He felt her nod against his chest. “Of yer own volition? I’m not forcin’ you, ya know. I just need to be sure of where your….heart is.” This stumbled from his mouth. It wasn’t like him to ask for validation.

  She stepped back from his arms. He saw her face clearly in the light from her car….which meant she saw his. He looked deeply into her eyes, the words screaming from his brain to his heart and back again. He wouldn’t be the first to say it though. He couldn’t. Not after…everything.

  “I love you, Dash Matheson. There is no one I would rather be with in my whole life than you.” She breathed the words softly and came close to his lips with her own, hovering near enough for him to feel her bated breath.

  “And I love you, Julia Cozetta Hamilton.” He leaned in, meeting her the rest of the way to claim her lips. Her hands flew to the back of his neck and pressed him closer, warming them both against the descending night.

  Thanksgiving came early at the Hamilton household. Jaycee was up at daybreak to help Marcus with the chickens and feeding the horses. Her steps were light across the frost covered ground. Humming as she worked, she put fresh water into the troughs.

  Dash loved her! It was Thanksgiving and he was coming. Not long now, he would walk through their front door with his Aunt Katie. The flash in his eyes when he first glimpsed her and that tender look he gave her when they spoke, she knew what it all meant now. Love.

  Not fascination or excitement for some imagined thing, but a desire of the heart to care for someone outside of yourself. She felt it. She knew now what love was. Over the months that they had dated, she hadn’t wanted to put a name to it. And the conversations with John distracted her. Though weighing heavily on her conscience, they had kept her heart strings from being too attached. She now knew it was fruitless, to hold back or to deny what she truly felt.

  She was in love with Dash Matheson. And she didn’t know when it had started along the way, just that it had grown, budded, and now was in full bloom.

  She slid her sneakers from her feet before entering the kitchen. The smell of turkey teased at Jaycee and her stomach growled loudly.

  “Sit on down and warm up,” Jaycee’s Momma clucked around her. “My, your cheeks are red. Let me get you some coffee and monkey bread.”

  “Oooo, you made monkey bread!”

  “Now don’t you be silly, of course I did.”

  Jaycee grinned at her momma’s back as she turned towards the coffee pot on the counter, eyeing the fluted Bundt pan full of gooey sugary bread. She rubbed her hands together to warm up then got up to wash them beneath hot sudsy water.

  “The pies are in on the buffet. I decorated the table with a centerpiece your daddy had delivered late yesterday.” Her momma fairly beamed at this declaration, sliding coffee and a plate full of food onto the table. “He’s feelin’ slightly better today, praise God!”

  “Amen, Momma.” Jaycee sat again, takin
g a long sip of the hot elixir. “And Happy Thanksgiving.” She stood again and walked over to where her mother stood by the stove. She embraced her fondly then went back to her seat. “Thank you.”

  “For?”

  “For all you do for us. You have been the heart of this family.”

  “God’s been the heart of this family. If we put Him first in our lives…in each day, then things work out...through good or bad, things work out.”

  Dash was stuffed. Thanksgiving hadn’t held so much promise to him since before his parents had passed away. It usually was just he and Aunt Katie. And while that had been nice and he was so thankful for her in his life, it was not the same as being in love and spending that special day with his aunt and Jaycee. The family had joined hands before dinner and each shared what they were thankful for. By the time it was his turn, he was speaking over a lump in his throat. Thank you, God, for the kindness of friends and for Aunt Katie. Thank you for your son, Jesus, for His greatest sacrifice.

  Her family had been so inviting. He knew that his aunt and Jaycee’s momma were close, he just had had no idea how much. It was like two ears of corn on the same stalk. Laughter filled the home as the family spied Dash’s look at the Hamilton’s traditional cranberry relish. He wasn’t quite sure of what to think of the pink jellied mixture, only to find out it was cranberries and oranges mixed into raspberry Jell-O. Delicious! He had near enough finished the whole bowl himself and then they had produced another. A miracle.

  He could feel the love in how the family treated each other, jokingly recalling Thanksgiving’s past and teasing Jaycee on her black Friday sale obsession. She had been strangely quiet on that account…not having brought it up since the weekend fishing trip. But she laughed along at her family’s ribbing.

  He eyed her now, sitting next to him at the table with another helping of butternut squash on her plate; come to find out, her favorite vegetable. She saw his glance and reached a hand over to take his under the table. This Thanksgiving was special, beyond what he could have imagined….and he was grateful beyond any words could express, for what he did have this year…today. Especially for the love of one particular woman who he would swear he had loved since he was 8-year’s old.

  Jaycee had been in a deep sleep. Something was pulling her back though, away from the soft dreams and up into the world of tangled sheets and warm pillows. Ting – Ting. She squinted her eyes open, looking first at the glow of her alarm clock. 3:30

  She looked toward the sound coming from her window then struggled out from the covers, tripping as she went. Falling against the window with her outstretched hands, she pressed her nose to the glass. She could swear the grin started in her toes and worked its way up and throughout her whole body, where it landed on her lips.

  Dash was there, a glowing flashlight at his feet and two mugs in one hand…waving at her with the other. She moved to her nightstand, flicked on her bedroom light and going back to the window, held up one finger.

  Tossing clothes from her closet and drawers, she found her soft pink cashmere sweater and tan corduroys. Rushing into the bathroom, she flipped on the shower and while it was warming, brushed her hair and teeth. She washed up quickly and met Dash outside in the chilly morning air less than ten minutes later.

  He was leaning against his Aunt Katie’s car, grinning from ear to ear. “You needed a wingman?” He held his arms out to her. She stepped into them and he embraced her tightly, the smell of aftershave and cologne warming her senses.

  She didn’t speak for a moment, but closed her eyes, thanking God for the gift of this man. She stilled in his arms, and if truth be told, could’ve stayed there contentedly. Black Friday. Always one of her favorite adventures, it had loomed over her since quitting her job. She had been searching for whether to appease the shopping maven inside of her or listen to the reasoning voice. No job. No job, Jaycee!

  Dash released her and opened the car door for Jaycee. She slid into the seat and he shut the door. The car had been running and was toasty warm. He got into the driver’s side and lifted one of the mugs in the cup holder, passing it to her. He made no move to leave, but gathered his own coffee and sipped quietly, turning to face her.

  “So. Am I or aren’t I your old lady distractor for the day?”

  She couldn’t suppress a giggle. He could just about distract any female from an 80% off clearance sale. “Dash Matheson, what am I goin’ to do with you?”

  From where she sat, she was ready to tell him to drive them both to his apartment so she could near on spend the day in his arms. But you’re a good girl, Jaycee. And sure enough, she was, but she had never found him more attractive than she did in this moment. How did this love just keep building and building?

  She replaced her cup and put her hand out towards his in the space between them. He clasped it and slowly laced his fingers through hers. “I’ve got no job. Seems foolish.”

  She shook her head. She didn’t know why it meant so much to her, this ritual. Sure it was a momentary thrill, but it was something more. Christmas. Giving and showing love as God showed His when He sent Jesus into the world.

  “S’not foolish, Jaycee. Today is the only day we’re guaranteed. God’s been pressin’ on me to live in it despite fires, death, sickness, a job or no job.”

  Jaycee nodded, sliding closer to him on the bench seat.

  He put his hand to the side of her face, looking deeply into her eyes. “We may only be shoppin’ with our pocket change and our heart’s full of good intentions, but herein lies the treasure. We’re together. It’s life. Your life and mine. I want to share these moments with you; make enough memories to live a lifetime on.”

  Jaycee’s heart flipped as his head inclined to kiss her. She whispered softly, “When life hands you lemons, you make…..fried chicken.”

  She could feel his smile on her mouth as his warm lips touched hers. Her lips parted slightly and she sighed into him, feeling him sober as their kiss became more intense. He pulled away briefly, “God, I love you, Jaycee.”

  “And I love you.”

  They joined lips again. The stars clung to the night and daylight was held at bay. The world suspended in the now and the motion of time paused. Then she pulled away, breathless, remaining in Dash’s arms. Her eyes cleared as she opened them. A giggle burst forth and bubbled over. “The glass, Dash. Look at the windows.”

  She heard a chuckle rumble from his chest. “Steamed windows, steamed heart. I guess my charms are still workin’.”

  “Yes,” Jaycee said, sliding a bit further away on the seat, “Let’s go put those to good use, shall we?”

  Winter

  CHAPTER ONE

  Jaycee stuck her right leg out, working the red tights into position on her torso. She smoothed the short green velvet skirt and fluffed the white puffy trim with her fingers. The man had said if the costume fit then she’d get the job. It was almost Christmas and she’d applied everywhere. This job had popped up in the classifieds just this morning.

  With some trepidation, she turned toward the mirror in the makeshift dressing room. She focused on her head, tucking a length of bangs behind her ear and peering closer to studiously check her makeup. Her eyes wandered lower and she backed up. Might as well face the spectacle. She blinked. The yellow lacing across the front of the green shirt screamed up at her. Tiny red holly berries were stitched across the front. Jaycee pulled up the sleeves slightly, the white edging tickling the backs of her hands.

  She turned and reached for the accessories, fitting the curved shoe covers onto her feet, the bells tinkling lightly.

  “Does it fit?” The man’s voice sounded gruff through the curtain.

  She bit her lip, hurriedly placing the pliable plastic ears at the sides of her head. She smashed the hat to her hair and yanked back the thin fabric, wanting to avoid her reflection.

  The man looked up from where he sat putting on his tall black boots. His eyes crinkled as he looked at her and if Jaycee was 15 years younger, she�
��d think he was the real deal. Santa Claus.

  “It fits!” he exclaimed. “You’ve got the job. Let’s get you familiar with the camera next. Your first shift will be noon tomorrow. A schedule will be posted there.” He pointed with a white gloved hand to a piece of paper taped to the makeshift wall.

  Jaycee followed him over to a camera set up on a tripod. He explained which buttons to push and how to focus then had her stand in front of the camera. The blood rushed to Jaycee’s head as he showed her the image on a small monitor set up on a nearby table.

  “The parents can approve the picture or you can clear it and start again. See?” A different image of a blonde elf appeared. She nodded, her eyes traveling from the pointed ears to the curled-toe shoes on the screen.

  He droned on about saving, printing, and filling out paper order forms. When he had finished, she thanked him politely and dashed back into the tiny dressing room. She wanted to laugh…maybe cry, but instead she got redressed, folded the outfit into her oversized bag, and fled to blend into the crowds at the mall.

  “Don’t laugh,” Jaycee called out from the hallway.

  “I won’t,” Dash promised. She had been quite mysterious about the job she had interviewed for earlier in the day.

  “Can’t say the same,” Marcus yelled out, grinning at Dash from his spot on the carpet before the TV.

  Dash threw a couch pillow at him, which Marcus caught one-handed and jammed beneath his elbows.

  “Thanks!”

  The lights from the tree twinkled onto the television screen as Jaycee’s father hit the power button. He lifted his eyebrows at the two of them then yelled out, “We’re waitin’ on ya’.”

  “Is Momma in there?” Jaycee’s voice carried.

  Mrs. Hamilton rushed in from the kitchen and sat next to Dash. “Here,” she called out.

  A green foot appeared from around the doorframe followed by bright red stockings. Jaycee shook her foot dramatically, tinkling the tiny bell dangling from the top of the slipper. She appeared a moment later, half-grinning, but pink-faced before them.