I’m sure that Santa will remember exactly where we live and will bring you your gifts in time for Christmas.”
Satisfied with her answer, JJ turned his attention to the growing crowd. In the distance, Raina caught sight of Clare Connelly. The chief pediatric nurse at Royal Memorial Hospital had been a wonderful support when JJ had been severely jaundiced after his birth and Raina had worried herself sick over him. Newly abandoned by her partner and with her father still on his way to Royal, Raina had had a severe dose of the baby blues as she began to doubt her ability to look after her newborn son. It had been Clare’s confident and capable manner with the babies in her care, not to mention the gentle support she’d offered to the new mothers, that had made Raina begin to believe she could do this parenting thing all on her own.
Raina caught Clare’s eye and waved a hello. Clare was involved in what appeared to be a very intense conversation with one of the pediatricians who’d also attended JJ at the hospital, Dr. Parker Reese. Raina raised her eyebrows in surprise. Was there something going on between the petite blonde nurse and the sometimes prickly pediatrician? The thought brought a smile to her lips. It had been a joke among the mothers in the hospital that Dr. Reese would make a great husband for someone one day—if he could ever let go of his work and develop a social life. The man was dedicated to his career but everyone needed some balance in their life.
The reminder of balance prodded at Raina’s thoughts. Lately everything had been JJ and work for her. There’d been no time for herself, but she was okay with that. One day, maybe, when JJ was a bit older and when her business was on a stronger footing, then yeah, she might think about dating. Until then, she had to stay focused on keeping her financial footing and being the best mother she could be for her little boy.
“Mommy, I can’t see,” JJ complained, tugging at her arm. “Up?”
“Sure, baby.”
Raina bent and lifted JJ into her arms, settling him on one hip. It probably didn’t make a world of difference to his line of sight but it was all she could manage.
“Still can’t see,” he fretted, twisting in her arms and making her clutch his jacket to stop him from falling.
“JJ, settle down. Trust me, when the lights go on, you’ll see everything.”
“Here” came a familiar male voice. “Maybe I can help?”
“Man!”
JJ flung his arms toward the newcomer with an exuberance that dismayed Raina and almost sent her off balance. Nolan Dane loomed up beside her. She should refuse his offer of help, but JJ was already transferring himself into Nolan’s arms and was soon deposited high on Nolan’s shoulders.
“Better now?” Nolan asked, looking up at JJ who was holding on tight to Nolan’s head.
JJ nodded.
“What do you say, JJ?” Raina prompted.
“T’ank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Nolan turned his smile to Raina. “I hope you don’t mind. You look tired and I could see he was getting heavy.”
Raina’s lips twisted into a smile. “It’s okay, thank you.”
So, he thought she looked tired, huh? Wow, way to build a girl up, she thought, then immediately chastised herself for being so churlish. She did look tired. The three late nights this week with the classes, on top of everything else, had taken a toll. She made a mental note to try to get to bed earlier on the nights she wasn’t working.
The crowd around them thickened as the local singers and dance groups performed on the makeshift stage that had been set up for the evening. Raina’s gratitude to Nolan for taking JJ increased. There was no way JJ would have seen the show, or enjoyed it, from her arms; nor would she have been able to hold him for this long.
The night sky was fully dark and the atmosphere quickly became one of excitement as, over the loudspeakers, the master of ceremonies and the newest Texas Cattleman’s Club president, Case Baxter, led the countdown to the lighting of the tree. Everyone in the crowd counted with him.
“... Three, two, one!” Raina shouted along with the rest of the crowd, then she joined them in the oohs and ahhs of delight as the switch was thrown to bring a multitude of colored lights to life in the massive tree that now dominated downtown Royal. Tearing her eyes from the tree, Raina looked up at her son, whose face was a picture of enchantment. A deep sense of contentment filled her. She might not own the world, but it sure felt like it when she could still put a look like that on her little boy’s face.
A choir began to sing “Joy to the World,” and bit by bit the crowd joined them. Nolan had a surprisingly pleasant tenor, Raina discovered as he unselfconsciously added his voice to the singing. As the song wound to its end, the mayor of Royal took the microphone and thanked Case Baxter and the Texas Cattleman’s Club committee for sponsoring the tree lighting ceremony, and he concluded by wishing everyone the very best for the season and inviting them to support the retailers who’d set up stalls around the square.
Raina turned to Nolan. “Thank you. I really mean it. I’m sure he’ll remember tonight for a long time to come and that’s because you helped us out.”
“Only too happy to oblige y’all,” Nolan answered. “Say, do you have to race home right away? How about a churro and some hot chocolate from one of the stalls over there?”
“Yummy, churro!” JJ crowed from on top of Nolan’s shoulders.
“Manners, JJ!” Raina admonished. “What have I told you?”
“T’ank you, man,” JJ dutifully responded.
Nolan laughed and Raina felt her heart skip a happy beat at the sound.
“His name is Mr. Dane, not man, JJ,” Raina gently admonished.
“I think you should let him call me Nolan. Mr. Dane sounds so stuffy.”
Raina nodded her head. “I’ll try but I can’t guarantee it. He can be pretty stubborn when he decides on a word.”
Through the crowd, she spied Liam Wade. The rancher was clearly in demand with the ladies and looking none too thrilled about the prospect. A group of very determined looking mommas with single daughters in tow had circled him like a wagon train, ensuring he had no easy way out. A chuckle escaped her lips, prompting a question from Nolan.
“What’s so funny?”
“Oh, just poor Liam. He’s one of Royal’s most eligible bachelors,” she said, pointing him out in the crowd, “and one of Royal’s most reluctant at the same time. I think he’d be happy if he never had to leave his ranch.”
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