A Double Christmas Surprise
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Cathy Gillen Thacker
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Chapter One
“Have you heard from Joe?” Mitzy Martin McCabe asked.
Ellie Fitzgerald looked at the tall, lithe social worker who would have been her mother-in-law. Had she and Joe ever married.
“You mean besides the text he sent me this morning?” The one that had said his flight to Texas had mechanical problems and had been canceled.
Ellie and Mitzy were standing in the service alley behind historic Main Street in Laramie, Texas, the centuries-old red brick buildings bathed in late afternoon sunlight. A soothing July breeze wafted over them. It was the perfect time for a burst of summer love. The perfect day for Joe to come home to her. And his immediate family, of course. Ellie knew his three quadruplet brothers, only sister and parents were eager to see the Special Forces soldier, too. As was her beloved gran—Eleanor regarded Joe as the grandson she’d never had.
Ellie flashed a grateful smile as Joe’s dad, Chase, carried boxes of cupcakes out of her family’s bakery, Sugar Love. He had the same tall, buff physique and commanding air as his four sons. The same McCabe charisma and charm. It was impossible not to admire their ambition and competence in anything they tried. Like all native Texans, McCabes weren’t afraid to dream big.
“Was he able to get on another flight? Do you know?” Mitzy asked with parental concern.
Warning herself not to absorb the other woman’s worry, Ellie went back to securing the five-tier cake. Its box was fastened to the floor of her van and would keep the confection from being knocked around during transport. “I’m sure he’ll be here for my gran’s party,” she said calmly.
Mitzy frowned in annoyance as she glanced down at her watch. “It starts in an hour.”
Ellie was well aware. She, too, had been watching the minutes crawl by all day, the way she always did when she was awaiting the arrival of the love of her life. But since it wouldn’t do any good to share her impatience, she kept it to herself.
“Either way,” Chase said in his calm and authoritative CEO voice, “he should have kept you updated.”
Except, Ellie thought, the two of them had a deal. Neither would micromanage the other’s life. Micro-worry, either. And with Joe a Special Forces officer who specialized in counterterrorism and extraction—as well as navigating treacherous mountain terrain—there was often plenty to worry about. If she knew exactly where he was and what he was doing when he was deployed to hot spots around the world, that was. Which, luckily, she did not.
Joe’s younger sister, Sadie, wheeled out yet another baker’s rack of cupcakes for the party at the community center and slid them into the back of the Sugar Love van, one box at a time. She was the mirror image of her elegant mom, four years younger than her quadruplet thirty-year-old brothers and the closest thing Ellie had to a sibling.
Sadie’s dark brown ponytail bounced against her slender neck and shoulders as she worked. “He should do more than that,” she harrumphed. “He should put a ring on it. How long have the two of you been serious anyway? Ten years?”
“Twelve,” Ellie said before she could think. If she didn’t count the two years when they dated in high school. Then it would be fourteen years since she had been romantically entangled with anyone else. Which was, as it turned out, almost half her life, since she was now thirty years old... Same as Joe... Even more daunting was the fact she couldn’t remember her life without Joe being a major force in it.
But it had only been twelve years since their botched elopement at age eighteen, which was when things had taken a serious turn.
No matter what, Joe was her man. She was his woman. And that was all they needed. All they had ever needed.
“And that is exactly my point, Ellie,” Sadie said, continuing her rant. “The two of you have been together forever! And now here you are, twelve plus years in, and acting like an old married couple, barely communicating.”
“Sadie,” Mitzy cautioned.
Ignoring the warning to avoid an unnecessary family conflict, Sadie paused to throw up her hands in frustration. “Well, somebody’s got to say it, Mom! Joe needs to step up and do the right thing by Ellie. And honor his relationship with her. With vows!”
Suspecting Sadie’s angst had more to do with her own unrequited love for a military man—her best friend, Will—than what was going on with her and Joe, Ellie murmured, “I know you mean well, Sadie, but Joe and I have made all the promises we need to make to each other right now.”
And maybe forever... After all, why change any of the parameters if everything was working so well?
“And then some,” a low masculine voice agreed.
They all turned in unison. Just in time to see Joe McCabe—the wildest and most fearless of Mitzy and Chase’s four sons—walk around the corner of the building.
As always, Ellie’s breath caught at the sight of him. In his camo utility uniform and combat boots, he was so big and strong and tough looking. His thick dark hair was cut to military regulation. His smoky blue eyes were happy and intent. Focused only on her.
The next thing she knew, he had dropped his olive green duffel and backpack to the ground. Swiftly and purposefully, he closed the distance between them, grabbed her around the waist, lifted her off her feet and swung her up against him. Her body melted against all that warm, hard muscle. The masculine scent of him was familiar and intoxicating. And brought forth a staggering wave of bliss. “Joe!” Tears of delight blurred her vision, and happiness flowed through her. Then his lips were on hers in a brief, hard, possessive kiss. A more intimate reunion would come later, she knew.
But for the moment, this meant oh so much.
Slowly and reluctantly, he ended the kiss. Still holding her tight, he whispered against the top of her head, “Hey, darlin’.”
“Hello yourself,” she whispered back, a lusty sigh catching in her throat.
Eyes glimmering ardently, he squeezed her hard, then reluctantly lowered her back to the ground and let her go. Turning, he greeted his parents and sister, who were suddenly all misty-eyed, too. Everyone was so glad when Joe made it home, safe and sound, Ellie noted gratefully. Which was something military families never ever took for granted.
The welcome-home hugs and greetings complete, Joe turned back to Ellie. “What can I do to help?” he asked in a gravelly voice. As always, ready to step in and give aid wherever and however it was needed. It was this generosity of spirit, mixed with his take-charge attitude and innate selflessness, that made him such a fine soldier and a beloved member of the rural west Texas county where he had grown up.
“We’ve got the delivery to the community center handled,” his dad told him.
As they had previously agreed, Ellie handed Chase the keys to the pink-and-white van. “Gran and her friends should already be there setting up.”
“We’ll help get everything ready for the birthday celebration,” Mitzy promised.
Ellie sent a grateful glance to her. “Thank you. We’ll be over there to assist as soon as we get changed into our party clothes.”
Sadie’s eyes lit with a romantic glint. “Just don’t get too sidetracked!” she teased before getting into the passenger seat of the van.
Mitzy climbed behind the wheel of their SUV while her husband took command of the bakery van, and they were off.
“Alone at last,” Ellie murmured happily, taking Joe’s hand in hers.
He brought her in close, inundating her with his masculine scent. “Our favorite place to be...”
Fortunately, they didn’t have far to go to achieve even more privacy. All the historic buildings had interior back stairs next to their service entrances, which led to private apartments on the second floor. Ellie had been living in the one above the Fitzgerald family bakery since she had returned home after college and culinary school. Joe stayed with her whenever he was in Laramie, his clothes and other belongings already upstairs in her apartment.
“So what was going on when I arrived?” Joe asked as they headed up the stairs to her one-bedroom apartment above the bakery. A happy woof sounded on the other side of the door.
Deciding the last thing he needed was to feel the familial pressure she just had been put through, Ellie shrugged. “Nothing.” She scooped up her white West Highland terrier and bussed the top of her head.
Instead of cuddling close the way she usually did, Scout wiggled and lurched for Joe. Chuckling, he caught the Westie in his strong arms and held her up so they were face-to-face. Scout let out another happy woof and licked Joe beneath the chin. Again, and then again.
“I guess I’m not the only one who missed you,” Ellie said dryly.
Joe grinned and gave Scout another affectionate squeeze before gently lowering her to the floor. Then he grabbed Ellie around the waist and tugged her against him. “Glad to hear it,” he murmured, his lips lowering to hers with intent, “because I missed you, too, darlin’. So much.”
He covered her mouth with his own and delivered a sizzling kiss that turned her limp with longing. Her lips parted beneath the sure, steady pressure of his, and he dipped his tongue in, tangling it with hers. Heat roiled inside her, and her knees went weak. She wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders and held on tight, loving their fierce, elemental connection. The soaring passion the time away from each other always engendered.
She moaned as the kiss deepened. If they didn’t have a party to attend... But they did.
Reminding herself this was a hugely important evening, and they’d have plenty of time to make love later, Ellie reluctantly broke off their damn-but-I’m-glad-we’re-together-again kiss.
His low, tortured groan matched her own. Finally, he let her go. Stepped back and looked her over in a way that set her every nerve ending on fire. With a wicked smile that told he was already thinking about all the things they would do later—things that likely would keep them both up all night—he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, kissed her temple and purposefully headed for the closet. “You didn’t answer my question. When I arrived a few minutes ago, it seemed like you were getting the business from my family.”
She had been. Although it had been mostly Sadie voicing her frustration. His parents had just subtly evidenced their concern.
Ellie removed her dress for the party from its hanger and laid it across the bed. “They were just worried that I hadn’t heard from you since this morning.”
“I said I’d be here for your gran’s big night.”
She toed off her sneakers, unbuttoned the pink chef coat she wore to work and shimmied out of her jeans. “I know.”
He frowned, the way he always did when he was forced to hold himself accountable to other’s expectations.
She found herself defending his family anyway. “Your folks just wanted to know if you’d managed to get on another flight and pick up your rental car at the airport and all that. Or if you were going to be late...”
Joe went to find his electric razor. Flipping it on, he ran it over the stubble on his jaw. Returning to her side, he added with exaggerated patience, “I would have called you if I couldn’t get here in time.”
Their gazes clashed. He looked irritated. Which was, Ellie thought sympathetically, completely understandable. He was part of the Special Forces. Had been on missions all over the world and, against all odds, always managed to come out unscathed. “I know you would have,” she said softly.
His broad shoulders tensed, but he threw her a grateful glance. “Thank heaven you don’t try to control my life.”
His parents’ overprotectiveness was one of the things that had driven him to enlist at eighteen and ask her to elope with him. Thanks in part to her own family’s interference, the second hadn’t worked out, but the first had. And now twelve years later, they had established a relationship that worked for them. She was taking over Sugar Love from her gran, and he had a thriving career in the military and plans to stay until it was time to retire.
Their future was set.
Unfortunately, their relatives just couldn’t accept it as it was.
Joe tossed his razor aside. “Or worry the way our families do,” he continued with a sexy smile, taking her into his arms and holding her close once again.
Except she did worry, Ellie thought as she laid her head against his warm, hard chest. Every time he was deployed. Or was in dangerous territory and went long periods with no access to phone or email. And when he came back, he could tell her absolutely nothing about what he had been doing or where he’d been. During all those long weeks and months and all those dark, lonely nights, she worried. And wondered, would she ever see him again? Would he come back to her, safe and sound? Every single time, she hoped and prayed he was okay.
She just couldn’t let him know it. Because that wasn’t part of their deal. Knowing that could distract him. And that could put him in danger. Which was something she wouldn’t allow. So she did what she always did and kept her anxiety to herself. It was better that way. For all of them. Especially Joe.
Reluctantly, she eased away from him. “We better get a move on, soldier. If we don’t want to be late!”
Four hours later, Ellie and Joe surveyed the community center. Glittering banners hanging across the ceiling read Happy 70th and Well-deserved Retirement, Eleanor! A table set up with balloons held flowers and gifts that only added to the ones that had already been sent to Gran’s home and the bakery over the past few days.
“Oh, Gran, I have to admit I never really thought the party would do you justice,” Ellie murmured happily.
“Was there anyone in the community who didn’t show up tonight to honor you?” Joe grinned.
In a beaded silver dress and heels that set off her silver-blond bouffant and delicate ivory skin, Eleanor turned to face them. Happy color highlighting her pretty features, she winked. “I think it was the incredible potluck and all the baked goods that brought them in,” she joked.
The spread had been magnificent. Which was no surprise. Laramie County was full of wonderful cooks.
“And you.” Ellie kissed the top of her petite grandmother’s head. As the last of the guests collected their empty casserole dishes and filtered out, she noted the weary lines around Eleanor’s eyes. “But we should really get you home.”
“The cleanup...” her gran protested.
“Is being taken care of by the janitorial staff,” Ellie said soothingly.
“But what about the gifts?” Eleanor continued.
“They can be left here overnight and picked up early tomorrow morning,” Joe said with his usual take-charge attitude. When there was a task to be done, he was right on it. “Ellie and I can do that for you.”
Ellie nodded.
Eleanor looked at them hopefully. “Do the two of you have time to come by for a bit and talk with me?” she asked.
Ellie worried about how long a day it had been for her grandmother. And it was closing in on midnight. “You sure you’re not too tired?”
“This is important,” Eleanor said firmly.
A little unsettled by the unexpectedly sober tone, Ellie drove her grandmother’s car to her home, with Eleanor in the passenger seat beside her. Joe followed in Ellie’s vehicle. They parked side by side in the driveway, then headed up the flagstone path to the three-bedroom cottage with the gingerbread trim.
Ellie had grown up here, with her mother and grandmother. More than anything, it signified home to her. The lights had been left on. Which was no surprise because Eleanor hated coming home to a dark house, especially late at night. What was unexpected, however, was the way the dining room table had been set. With her best tea service and stacks of what appeared to be documents at each place setting.
“I’ll put the kettle on,” Eleanor said.
Ellie blocked the path to the small, cozy kitchen. “Uh-uh. I’ll heat the water. You find your slippers and get out of those heels. Your feet have to be killing you.”
“My goodness, you’re bossy tonight!” Eleanor teased.
Joe grinned. He put his hands on his hips, pushing aside his sports coat. During times like this, except for his regulation haircut, Ellie could almost forget he was in the military. Almost. “What can I do to help?” he asked.
Ellie shooed them both in the opposite direction. “Keep Gran company while I make the tea.”
The two of them ambled into the formal dining room. Ellie could hear them chatting as Joe entertained her grandmother with stories about his hellacious travel day. He’d had to run to catch three different flights, then hitch a ride to the nearest car rental place to make it home in time.
“I never had any doubt you’d be here tonight,” her grandmother said as Ellie rejoined them.
Ellie poured the tea into the mugs, then set out the lemon, cream and sugar. She settled opposite Joe while her grandmother reigned at the head of the table. The manila folders with their names on them, full of documents, were the elephant in the room.
Unable to contain her curiosity a moment longer, Ellie asked, “So what is this all about, Gran?”
It couldn’t be about the transfer of ownership of the Fitzgerald family’s bakery. That had been taken care of weeks ago, well in advance of Gran’s retirement. Thanks to her grandmother’s generosity, Ellie was now sole proprietress of what more and more seemed like a staggering responsibility.
Not that she dared admit that to anyone.
Eleanor sipped her tea. “I have something for you and Joe.”
Joe quirked a brow at Ellie. She shrugged lightly, letting him know she had no clue, either.
“Open your folders,” Eleanor continued.
Mouth dry, Ellie obeyed. The first page held what appeared to be a copy of the title for Eleanor’s house. But instead of Eleanor’s name, it listed Ellie and Joe as the legal owners.
“I’m gifting you and Joe my home, effective immediately. Well, actually, effective a few days ago. I’m just telling you now because I wanted to do it when the two of you were together.”
So many emotions roiled through Ellie. Shock. Disbelief. Gratitude, that her grandmother could be so completely generous. Guilt, that maybe she didn’t deserve it. But most of all, worry.
What could possibly be behind Eleanor’s sudden distribution of all her property? She had lived her entire life in Laramie—was she planning to move somewhere else? Like Phoenix or Florida or some other retirement mecca? Was she planning to leave first the family business and now Ellie behind?
“Gran, you can’t give up your house!” Ellie protested.
Eleanor sipped her tea. “I already have, darling.”
Hot tears pricked the backs of Ellie’s eyes. She hadn’t felt this abandoned since her mother had unexpectedly died of an embolism, seven years before. She leaned across the table. “But why?” she asked urgently.
Eleanor handed over one last folder, filled with colorful brochures and a signed contract, for them to peruse. “Because I’m moving into a suite at the Laramie Gardens senior community.”
Well, at least she was staying here in Laramie, Joe thought.
Although it seemed small comfort to Ellie. Her sage green eyes welled, and her delicate cheeks flushed a becoming pink. She drew a deep breath, the swell of her breasts rising beneath the shimmering gold party dress with the cap-sleeved bodice-hugging top and full knee-length skirt. She’d twisted her long, honey blond hair into an elegant knot at the nape of her neck. The sideswept bangs and wispy tendrils framing her feminine features only added to her allure.
Knowing just how badly she was in need of comfort, it was all he could do no t to get up and haul her into his arms.
He figured that could—and would—come later. He would see to it she got all the physical reassurance and cuddling she needed. Although Ellie hadn’t come out and admitted it, Joe knew she was having a heck of a time handling her grandmother’s retirement. The thought of no longer spending her days working side by side with her beloved gran was daunting to her.
It shouldn’t have been. Ellie had lived independently from her family before, when she had gone to college and culinary school. Plus, she had worked at the bakery since she was old enough to hold a rolling pin. She’d also been second in command since her mother passed away. Whether she knew it or not, she was more than up for the job of running the generations-old family business.
Her hands clasped in front of her, Ellie leaned toward Eleanor, then asked gently, “Is this about you not wanting to live alone in this house anymore? Because I could give up the apartment and move in with you.”
Eleanor shook her head. “Darling, you need your own space,” she returned. “You and Joe both do. For whenever he is home.”
Ellie’s luscious lower lip trembled slightly. “But this is such a big change!”
And Ellie hated change, Joe knew. Especially ones not driven by her.
“And it’s one I’m looking forward to. My two best friends, Francine and Wanda, are already living there. They love it! And Betty is selling her home and moving there next month.”
“It is pretty nice,” Joe felt compelled to put in. “The food is great, there are a lot of social activities and field trips, and there’s medical care on-site if you need it.”
Ellie glared at him. Reminding him what a passionate person she was beneath her easygoing exterior. “Whose side are you on?” she demanded.
Knowing he would kiss all that excess emotion away the first chance he got, Joe shrugged. He looked at both Ellie and Eleanor. “Um—everyone’s.”
“What did you think I was going to do when my retirement was official?” Eleanor asked lightly.
Ellie waved a hand. “What you already do. Come in to the bakery from time to time. Run errands. Cook. Take up some new hobbies, maybe.”
Eleanor sipped her tea. “Well, I do plan to do that,” she confided with an excited smile. “Laramie Gardens has all sorts of classes. Everything from yoga to decoupage. As for the rest, after fiftysome years of waiting on customers all day six days a week, I’m ready to have someone wait on me. In fact, darling, I’m really looking forward to it. Which is why I am wasting no time starting my golden years.”
Ellie tensed all the more. She stared at her grandmother in trepidation. “What do you mean?”
“I’m moving the things I’ll need immediately over to Laramie Gardens tomorrow. And I’d like the two of you to help me,” Eleanor said.
Ellie nodded. “Of course we’ll help you move,” she said, near tears once again.
Unsurprisingly, Eleanor soon pleaded fatigue. Promising to talk more the next morning, she showed them to the door.
Ellie was silent during the short drive back to her apartment. Figuring she needed to process everything that had just happened, Joe quietly accompanied her upstairs, where Scout greeted them happily once again.
Still looking shell-shocked, Ellie reached for the Westie’s leash. “I need to walk her...”
Joe stripped off his sports coat and loosened his tie. “I’ll go with you.”
Together, they headed out. Well after midnight now, historic downtown Laramie was bathed in the golden glow of the street lamps. A crescent moon and a blanket of stars twinkled in the velvety sky overhead. Ellie turned her head up as the warm nighttime breeze swept over them.
Acutely aware the last time he had seen her this dejected was the night their planned elopement had gone awry, Joe gazed down at her. He knew he had to say it. Even if she didn’t appear ready to discuss any of it yet. “I’m sorry,” he told her softly.
Her chin lifted. “For what?”
Joe drew a breath and held her gaze. “Your grandmother never should have gifted half her home to me.”
