A Season to Celebrate Read online

  “You’re damn right!” Mrs. Stafford was regaining her self-control. “I don’t know how I’m going to explain this to your father. He wasn’t thrilled about the divorce, but losing you and Emma might be just too much for him.”

  It wasn’t a pleasant exchange. Mrs. Stafford had always been easygoing, but this time she “showed her teeth,” an expression Kate picked up from her internship when the chief of staff would be having a bad day. A few weeks later, her mom begrudgingly threw her a good-bye party, helped Kate and Emma pack, and sobbed as they pulled out of the driveway.

  As Kate checked out her new surroundings, she thought her mom would approve—if she could only get her to drive the 160 or so miles to visit. Kate settled into the big wicker chair on the front porch of her new home, convinced this was the right choice for her and for Emma. It had to be. She would make plans for the holidays with her folks as soon as she knew what days she would be working at the Cedar Park Medical Center Department of Orthopedics.

  Kate had graduated near the top of her class at the Baylor College of Medicine, had stellar reviews during her internship, and was very much sought after once she completed her residency at the Joseph Barnhart Department of Orthopedic Surgery, so negotiating a reasonable schedule was rather easy.

  Yep. She was finally free and ready for a new start. Making new friends might be a little challenging, but she had heard good things about the area, which was one reason why she had chosen it. She and Emma were on a new adventure, and Kate was pleased that Emma felt the same way about the move.

  Emma rarely asked about her daddy. He had left when she was just over a year old. Occasionally, she would ask if she would ever have one, like everybody else. Kate was always patient and optimistic: “Yes, someday you will have a daddy. We just need to shop for one!” Emma would giggle at the thought of going to a store and picking out a daddy! But Kate knew that the start of a new job and caring for Emma would be more than she could handle. She didn’t have the time or emotional wherewithal to seek out a partner. And you could forget about online dating. That was a full-time job in itself and seemed to attract a lot of losers. She was resolute, with a tinge of faith. Meeting someone would have to happen on its own.

  Kate enrolled Emma in Sunday school classes at the local church. It would give Emma an opportunity to meet kids her age and give Kate a chance to be involved in her new community. Another upside was that there would be plenty of holiday activities that would allow a lot of social interaction. Yes, they were excited. The coming weekend would be their coming-out party, so to speak.

  When Sunday arrived they headed toward the church. “Mommy, I have googly-bumps!” Emma whispered.

  “And I have goose bumps!” Kate tried to subtly correct her daughter.

  As they approached the side door for the Sunday school class, Kate noticed a banner inside the hallway: KEVIN MATTHEWS , OUR HERO !

  I wonder who Kevin Matthews is, she thought to herself. Must be a local big shot to have a banner in the hallway among what appeared to be a tsunami of decorating happening. There were people scattered about hanging stars and ornaments and stringing garland.

  “Make way for the trees!” an older gentleman shouted. “Sorry we’re late. C’mon, folks . . . scoot!”

  It was a mild form of chaos, but Emma and Kate could feel it was a good kind of commotion.

  “My son had a bit of a struggle getting used to the time change and the jet lag,” the gentleman apologized breathlessly.

  Kate and Emma moved to one side of the hall trying to decide if they should stop and ask where they should go or wait until the tree hubbub was settled. Behind the older gentleman was a younger man—about Kate’s age—also carrying a tree. They opted for staying put for the moment and being spectators in this parade of Christmas trees, as another young man dragged the third into the hallway.

  “Kevin, get the big one and bring it into the chapel. Get your cousin Jake to give you a hand.” The older man barked orders.

  “Yes, sir!” was the response. “As soon as I get this one in place.”

  Suddenly, people started clamoring, “Yo, Kevin! Welcome home!” “You’re back!” “You made it!” “How does it feel to be home?”

  “Thanks!” was his humble response. “Glad to be home!” Once again, Kevin was feeling overwhelmed and a little embarrassed by the attention he was getting.

  “That must be the Kevin Matthews on the banner,” Kate whispered to Emma, as she pointed to the letters on the sign, spelling it out for her: K-E-V-I-N.

  “Kevin!” Emma shouted. “That’s your name up there?” She thought he might be someone famous, and her excitement was palpable.

  Kevin propped the tree against the wall and knelt to address the little girl. “I think it is.” He smiled a big, generous grin. “I don’t know why everyone is making such a big fuss about me.” Looking up at Kate, he gave her a friendly wink, and a shiver of excitement went up her spine. She could have sworn those deep blue pools twinkled. He held on to the tree with one hand and extended the other to Emma: “I am very happy to meet you. Now you know my name, what is yours?” He looked at Kate to assure her he was just being polite and not being a creep.

  Emma looked up at her mother as if to ask if it was okay to answer him. Kate extended her hand instead. “Hi. I’m Kate Stafford. This is Emma. Emma, it’s okay. He’s the famous Kevin Matthews.” Kate leaned closer to Kevin. “You are famous, right?”

  Kevin laughed out loud. “No. Not really. Just got back from a tour of duty, and the town thinks it’s cause for celebration.”

  “Well, if you served in the military, it is cause for celebration. Thank you for your service.” Kate was beginning to blush.

  “My pleasure to serve. And a pleasure to meet you both. Have you been members of the church for long? I’ve been away for six years, so I’m a little out of the loop.”

  “Actually, we just moved here. This is Emma’s first day of Sunday school.”

  “Well, welcome to Cedar Park. If you and your husband are in the market for a Christmas tree, stop by our farm. We still have lots of them!” Kevin was showing his big, warm smile.

  “Oh, no! I mean, no husband, but yes, to the tree.” Kate thought she sounded like an idiot and started to grow anxious.

  “That’s fine. I mean, not the no-husband part, but the tree part.” Kevin also thought he was being too forward. “Sorry. That’s not what I meant.”

  “That’s okay. I mean . . . I will definitely stop by to get a tree. Where are you located?”

  Her embarrassment was starting to unnerve her.

  “Just a couple miles down the road. I guess everything in Texas is just a couple miles down the road, but we really are only a couple miles.” He smiled that big grin again. “Let me unload these trees, and I’ll write it down for you. That is, if you have the time.”

  “Yes. That’s fine. I have to get Emma to her Sunday school class—if I can find it.”

  “This should take about ten more minutes. Meet you back here?”

  “Shhh . . . sure.” Kate wanted to disappear into the woodwork. Feeling like a fool, she hadn’t been this excited around a man in a very long time, and she certainly didn’t know his situation. I guess I’ll find out , though , she thought to herself.

  Kate and Emma finally found their way to the Sunday school class, and Kate was very happy to see a dozen children Emma’s age. The teacher welcomed them warmly and introduced everyone to Emma. “Kids, this is Emma Stafford. She and her mom, Mrs. Stafford, just moved into town. Can we all say, ‘Welcome, Emma’?” A wave of enthusiasm filled the room, and Kate knew that she had made the right decision—to move to Cedar Park. And thinking she was on a roll, she decided to go buy that Christmas tree.

  Glancing at her watch, Kate realized it had been almost a half hour since her encounter with the “famous” Kevin Matthews and started to panic. She gave Emma a big hug, and said, “Mommy will be back in a little while. You have yourself some fun, okay?”


  “Yes, Mommy!” Emma was very excited at the attention she was getting and the newness of everything. “You gonna meet ‘the famous tree man’? K-E-V-I-N?” Emma proudly spelled out his name. Kate was mortified. How on earth did her little girl remember that? “I am going to speak to him about shopping for a Christmas tree!” Kate recovered, kissed Emma on the cheek, and hurried back to the area where she had first met “the famous tree man.”

  The bustle had subsided, and “the famous tree man” was nowhere in sight. Heaving a big sigh of disappointment, she turned to see the pastor’s wife standing nearby. “Oh, hello dear. You must be Kate Stafford. I’m Betty Palmer, Pastor Palmer’s wife. But everyone calls him Pastor Teddy.”

  Kate regained her composure and extended her hand. “It’s so nice to meet you. I just dropped Emma at Sunday school. Lots going on here today!”

  “Oh, yes! We are so excited to be getting into the Christmas swing of things. It does get a little busy.” Betty Palmer shook Kate’s hand, and continued, “We have a lot of activities for the children and the parents. After all, Christmas is for everyone!”

  “I’m looking forward to this holiday season. It’s difficult when you don’t have family locally, but everyone I’ve met so far has been lovely.”

  “Well, we’re going to have our tree-lighting ceremony this Friday night if those boys ever finish bringing them in. Speaking of trees, Kevin Matthews asked me to give this to you. He said he had to get back to the farm to get another load.” Betty handed Kate a piece of paper as Kate tried to keep her hand from trembling.

  “Oh. Thank you. Yes, he said he would give me the address.” Kate was both relieved and concerned that her embarrassment was showing again.

  “The tree farm is just a couple miles down the road,” the women spontaneously said in unison, and began to laugh.

  “Seems like everything is!” Kate smiled, thinking about seeing “the famous tree man” again.

  Still a little shaken by her encounter with Kevin Matthews and the note he left, Kate went outside to get some air before she had to fetch Emma from her class.

  As she was walking around the grounds of the church, she spotted a truck pulling in with the sign CEDAR PARK CHRISTMAS TREE FARM . He was back! Not wanting to seem like she had been waiting for his return, Kate twisted to run back into the church, stumbled, and fell facedown into the dirt! Now she was certain she was making a spectacle of herself. Trying to recover from her clumsiness, she teetered a bit as she brushed the soil off her face, slacks, and gloves. She was adjusting her headband and glasses when she felt a hand at her elbow.

  “Ma’am, you’re gonna have to get yourself some Texas two-step lessons. That was abominable.” She had already recognized the voice of “the famous tree man,” who was clearly teasing her.

  “Oh, I am such a clumsy thing!” Kate responded in her best damsel-in-distress tone as their eyes met. “Good thing I’m an orthopedic doctor! I may need some of my own medicine!”

  “Good thing, indeed. I may be in need of one, too!” Kevin released her arm when he felt she was steady enough to stand. “You all right? I’m also a paramedic, so if you need some first aid . . . I mean, I’m not trained like you are, but in a pinch, I’m your man.” Kevin realized he might have just insulted this pretty young woman—a pretty young doctor, no less!

  I’m your man, sent a tingle up Kate’s spine, followed by her next thought: Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. You need to buy a tree first. Or maybe get to know him. And his situation.

  “Kate? You did say your name was Kate, right?” Kevin looked deeper into her eyes. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Oh . . . yes. I’m fine. Thank you so much. Talk about a first impression. Dr. Klutz. A fine name for a clumsy orthopedist!” She began to tremble and fidget with her Clark Kent–style glasses.

  “Well, okay then, Dr. Klutz. I do hope to see you at the tree farm.” Kevin’s Lone Star accent had returned full force after only a few days.

  Kate thought she would faint. “Yes. Yes, you will. When is a good time?” Darn it! Was she being too forward? It wasn’t as if she were going on a date.

  As she was starting to feel like she had put both feet in her mouth, Kevin replied, “I’m usually there from ten in the morning until nine at night, with a few breaks for some of my mama’s good home cooking. But there’s always someone who can help you.”

  Kate thought, There is no one I want to help me but you, Mr. Famous Tree Man. What she said was, “I’ll come by after supper one night this week. Emma has to be in bed by seven, so it will probably be around six.”

  “Tonight? Tomorrow?” Kevin queried, trying not to seem too anxious.

  “What works best for you? I mean, I don’t want to disrupt your dinner or anything.”

  “Well, sure. Tomorrow would probably be better. We’ll be in and out of here all day today. Mama usually has dinner on the table around five this time of year since most folks come by in the evening. See you tomorrow then. Gotta get the rest of these trees inside, or Betty will have my hide!”

  Kate took a deep breath before she took another step. Falling in front of him was bad enough; she didn’t want to reprise her little tumble. Feeling steady, she held her head up high and went back to get Emma.

  Chapter Three

  Even though he was a little uncomfortable with all the attention his homecoming was generating, Kevin was secretly excited about meeting that new woman in town, Kate. Had it not been for the banner, she might not have spoken to him. And her little girl was a darling, asking if he was famous.

  It had been very chaotic at the church, and Kate seemed a little overwhelmed, but Kevin sensed she would do just fine in their little community. She sure was pretty enough—even with those geeky-looking glasses. He laughed when he thought about her little tumble outside in the courtyard. She seemed to have become slightly unglued, but he was thoroughly amused at her self-deprecating reference to herself as “Dr. Klutz.” A doctor. Interesting. An orthopedic one at that. Kevin wondered if he should make his requisite appointment with her, ask her for a date, or do both? Was that allowed? He reeled himself in—he was getting too far ahead of himself. But she did say she wasn’t married. That was a plus. Although she didn’t say anything about a boyfriend, either. He guessed he would eventually find out what the situation was. He’d do a little of his own intel gathering when she came by for the tree. He’d offer to deliver it. Yes. Good solution.

  When Monday evening rolled around, Mrs. Matthews had her well-known chicken potpie cooling on the stove top.

  When Kevin opened the front door, he thought he would faint from the sheer pleasure of that welcoming aroma. The savory tang was wafting through the house.

  “Is that what I think it is?” Kevin kissed his mom on the cheek. Grabbing a fork, he was about to dig into the pie before it cooled enough to eat.

  Mrs. Matthews swatted his hand away. “You go wash up first, then you can eat like a person. At the table. Now shoo . . .”

  “But, Mom! It’s been years since I had some of that deliciousness! Give a guy a break!” He feigned desperation.

  “You stop that now. You may be able to charm some of those girls at church, but you’re not going to ruin my beautiful crust!”

  Kevin stopped in his tracks. “What girls?”

  “Oh, I heard you met the new member of the church yesterday. Kate, is it? Lovely doctor with a little girl?” Mrs. Matthews was fishing.

  “Uh, yeah. I met that new woman when we were delivering the trees. So?” Kevin was still feigning indifference.

  “And you helped her up after she took a tumble?” More fishing.

  “Mother. What on earth? Who have you been talking to? Or are you stalking me?” Kevin was amused but found himself even more curious.

  “Betty Palmer said you gave her a note to give to Kate.”

  “Yes. It was the address to the farm. She needs a tree.”

  “Huh. Well, of course she needs a tree. But she could have found he
r way there without a personal invitation, no?” Kevin couldn’t tell if his mom was teasing now.

  “She’s new in town. I was just trying to be friendly and drum up some business.” Kevin attempted to be convincing, but his fingers were raking his hair—another sign that he was either thinking or talking his way into or out of something.

  “Oh, son. I think it’s sweet of you to take an interest in a newcomer. Especially a pretty one. And a doctor.” Mrs. Matthews wanted her son to feel as if he could discuss anything with her. They had always had a good, open relationship, but as boys became teenagers, then men, they didn’t share their feelings very easily. Unless it involved rooting for a sports team, or a heated argument over something trivial, she knew men did not easily express themselves when it came to their feelings. That was a given.

  “Yes. I think she said she was an orthopedist. I suppose that could come in handy.” Kevin was still trying to maintain a facade of nonchalance.

  “Aren’t you supposed to make an appointment with an orthopedist to get your leg checked?” Mrs. Matthews was indeed prying while attempting to sound blasé.

  “Well, Mother. If she’s my doctor, I don’t suppose I could ask her out on a date, now, could I?”

  “A date?” Mrs. Matthews tried to sound incredulous, but it came off as more of a cheer.

  “Yes, Mother, a date. Isn’t that what you were getting at with all these questions?” Kevin looked her smack in the face, grinning from ear to ear.

  “Kevin Matthews, I do declare you are being a bit direct.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Di-rect. She seems like a very nice woman. But I don’t know her relationship status, so before you get all ‘dating game’ on me, let’s just take it slow. Is that all right with you, Mama?”

  “Of course, dear. I was just making an observation. New, attractive woman comes into town. That’s all.” She picked up her glass of sweet tea, trying to mask her enthusiasm.

  “I guess we’ll find out soon enough. She’s supposed to come by the farm to pick out a tree. Tomorrow, I think.”