LITMIR.BIZ

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talking.”

      “Where it’s summer?”

      She looked at him. “You’re not getting into the spirit of this.”

      “It’s the best parade I’ve seen in years.”

      “You’re just saying that.”

      He surprised her by putting his arm around her. “No. I mean it.”

      She allowed herself a moment of enjoying the warmth of him next to her, then turned her attention back to the parade. The marching band came by next, blasting a rock version of “Jingle Bells,” then a couple of police cars and a fire truck. The latter had a fireman’s hat on the hood with the number 46 on it. There were wreaths on the side of the truck and a plastic Santa sitting on the bumper.

      A block or so away, people started yelling. Noelle turned but couldn’t see what was causing the fuss. The sounds were happy—mostly surprise and delight. She raised herself on tiptoe.

      “Can you see what it is?” she asked.

      “Not yet,” Gabriel began, then swore softly. “No way,” he said. “No way.”

      Felicia glanced up the street. “Oh, that’s right. I forgot about them.”

      Norm and Karen both looked at her. “How could you forget?”

      Noelle shifted forward, trying to get a look. “Forget what?”

      Then the crowd seemed to move back and she had a clear view of Priscilla...dressed as Santa.

      “Is that an—” Gabriel began.

      “Elephant?”

      “Uh-huh.”

      “Yes.” Noelle squeezed her hot chocolate cup and danced from foot to foot. “Do you see what she’s wearing? I know it’s just a jacket, but still.”

      “How do you get a jacket on an elephant?” Gabriel asked.

      “In pieces,” Felicia told him. “They’re held together with industrial-strength hook-and-loop closures.” She turned to Gideon’s parents. “There’s a ranch outside of town. Mostly they have goats, but there is also an elephant, some llamas and other animals. It’s very eclectic, which suits the town.”

      Noelle didn’t care about that. She began to cheer at the sight of Priscilla the elephant strolling down the street.

      Most of the Stryker family walked with her, each of them dressed for the holidays. Rafe and Shane pulled wagons with their children in them. As Priscilla got closer, Noelle saw that she was trailed by a goat and a pony, each dressed as a Christmas elf.

      “I’m never moving,” she said with a sigh.

      Gabriel still had his arm around her. Now he pulled her against him. “Was it ever a question?”

      “No, but now I’m completely and totally sure.”

      * * *

      After the parade, the family drove back up the mountain. Once in the house, Felicia headed for the kitchen. Noelle and Karen went with her while the men headed downstairs to watch whatever game was on. The smell of roasting turkey filled the air and made Noelle’s stomach growl.

      Felicia crossed to the oven and turned on the light. “It would make me very happy if you could cooperate,” she whispered, then glanced over her shoulder. “I do understand the foolishness of talking to my entrée. I just can’t seem to help myself.”

      Karen nodded sympathetically. “I’ve had many a conversation with my meals,” she confessed. “It’s nothing to worry about.”

      Carter flew into the kitchen, Webster at his heels.

      “I’m going to take him out,” he said, crossing to Felicia and hugging her. “Then I’ll be back. I’m going to peel the potatoes. You remember that, right?”

      “Yes. I remember,” Felicia told him.

      The boy and the dog headed outside.

      When he was gone, Felicia turned to them. “He wants to help. It’s so nice. We’ve been very fortunate with his personality and how he was raised. His mother did an excellent job. I hope when Gideon and I begin a family that I can be half as skilled.”

      Karen moved toward her and touched her shoulder. “You’ll do great.”

      “I have doubts,” Felicia admitted.

      Noelle was about to reassure her when she heard a sharp, angry voice. It took her a second to realize it came from downstairs. Karen and Felicia both turned in that direction.

      “No,” Karen said firmly. “They’re not going to fight on Thanksgiving.”

      She spoke as if this had happened before, but didn’t explain any further. But when she started for the stairs, Felicia and Noelle went with her, all three women hurrying down to the lower story.

      The voices grew louder.

      “This isn’t about you,” Gideon growled. “It’s not your choice.”

      “I get a say,” Norm shouted. “You’re both my sons and you will respect my opinion.”

      The three women raced into the family room. The men faced each other. Tension was thick with more than a hint of anger. Noelle saw Gabriel’s back was stiff, his shoulders set. A muscle twitched in his jaw.

      She had no idea what the fight had been about, but she knew he was in pain. As she moved toward him, Karen grabbed Norm’s hand and physically pulled him toward the stairs.

      “You stay out of this,” he told her.

      “No,” Karen said, still pulling. “You’re coming with me until you can cool off. We talked about this.”

      “You don’t understand.”

      “I understand plenty.”

      Felicia went to Gideon and murmured something. He nodded and they went down the hall behind the family room. Which left Noelle with Gabriel.

      He crossed to the window and stared out toward the mountainside. “Sorry about that. It’s a family thing. My dad has... He has expectations.”

      She thought about making a joke that he was a doctor and what more did his father want. Only she didn’t know what the fight was about and couldn’t be sure she wasn’t stepping on toes. She wanted to help and didn’t know how. A frustrating combination.

      Gabriel stood alone and in that moment, as she watched him, she wondered how much of his life he spent like that. Solitary.

      Without knowing what else to do, she crossed to him.

      “Hey,” she said, touching his good hand.

      He turned his face to her. Pain darkened his eyes, along with something she could only assume was hope. Hope that she would somehow make it all better.

      Panic seized her. She had no idea what to say. What to do. A distraction was called for but short of yelling “Fire,” there was nothing that...

      “You could kiss me again,” she blurted.

      In that split second before he responded, she braced herself for dismissal, sarcasm or pity. Which probably didn’t make her a poster girl for mental health, but then she’d never believed in lying to herself. The fact that she found him attractive didn’t mean the interest was returned.

      One eyebrow rose. “I could,” Gabriel said, right before he lowered his head and did just that.

      The first touch of his mouth on hers was soft. Not tentative, she thought, closing her eyes. More discovery than passion.

      He had nice lips. Warm and tender, but masculine enough to keep things interesting. Although she expected him to straighten right away like he had that morning, he didn’t. He

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