The Heart of Christmas Read online

  Before he knew what was happening, he was sitting on a bench while his jacket was being unzipped and Eden was helping him take off his boots and socks. Somehow she knew to help without even asking. And he needed the help. Badly. He could barely stand when she took his hand and pulled him up. At this point he wasn't at all certain he could walk more than a few more steps. She gently led him into the living room and instructed him to sit in an oversized love seat by the fire. He sat down, wincing from the painful throbbing in his feet.

  “I need to go get some blankets and put the kettle on. I'll be right back, all right?” He nodded his head, lulled into a peaceful place by her sweet, comforting voice. Almost against his will he felt his eyelids getting droopy.

  “Hey, don't go to sleep on me. Drowsiness could be a symptom of hypothermia. I need you up and alert.” He opened his eyes to find Eden standing beside the love seat with her forehead furrowed as she gazed at him. She handed him a few blankets and a gray T-shirt, then placed a steaming mug on the end table. “You need to switch up into this T-shirt and then cover yourself with the blankets. You have to warm up your torso before we get to your hands and feet. I'll give you a few minutes to change while I get a tub of warm water ready.”

  “Thank you,” he said as she quickly and soundlessly left the room. He rid himself of his damp shirt and replaced it with the one she'd given him. Although it was a size too big, it was warm and comfortable. He let out a sigh as warmth began settling into his bones.

  He couldn't believe Eden still hadn't recognized him. That knowledge left him a little deflated since he'd recognized her instantly. And how could he not? Even as a child she'd been just as beautiful. Unforgettable. For a long time after he'd left Celebration he'd thought about his childhood crush and wondered what she'd made of his family's fast exit out of town. He felt a painful twinge at the idea that his family had been the object of gossip and innuendo in the weeks and months after their departure. It shamed him to think that Eden knew about his family's disgrace and his mother's betrayal of his father.

  After all these years Brady knew he should get over it, but it still sat like a huge weight pressing against his heart.

  A few minutes later Eden returned, just as he was taking a huge gulp from the mug of hot chocolate. Involuntarily, he let out a sigh of satisfaction. Hot cocoa had never tasted so good. Unless he was mistaken, there was a slight hint of peppermint laced in with the chocolate. Eden stood in front of him, biting her lip and fiddling with her fingers. She seemed to be studying him.

  “When you first came inside you called me by my full name. How did you know my name?”

  He took another sip of the hot chocolate, grateful for the warmth returning to his body. “You really don't remember me, do you?”

  “Remember you?” she asked as she squinted at him. All of sudden she let out a gasp and raised her hand to her throat. “Brady? Brady Shepard? Is it you?”

  Brady couldn't help but grin at Eden's shocked reaction. “Yes, Eden. It's me. I’m all grown up and back in Celebration.” It had taken him seventeen years, but he'd finally found his way back home. He considered it fairly ironic that his arrival back in town was just as dramatic as his exit.

  A huge smile popped up on her face. Her entire face lit up with joy. Within seconds it disappeared, replaced by a smooth veneer that gave no hint as to her feelings. It was such a sudden shift. It was almost as if she'd caught herself, then readjusted her demeanor. He sensed that somewhere along the way she'd perfected the art of covering up her emotions. Even though he'd only been in her presence for a few minutes, he could tell how much she'd changed over the years. The pint-size Eden had been gregarious and a bit of a chatterbox. He remembered the way she'd talked a mile a minute, both in school and in Bible class. The grown up Eden seemed distant and self-contained. Miles and miles away from the girl she'd been. “It's been...how long has it been?” she sputtered.

  “A long time,” he acknowledged. “Almost twenty years.”

  She shook her head. “Vicky didn't say a word about you coming back,” she said. “And I just saw her yesterday at work.”

  “You work at the Country Vet?” He didn't know why he was surprised, since Eden had always had a thing for animals back when they were kids. She'd happily played Florence Nightingale for every broken winged bird in town. “For almost three years now,” she answered, pride ringing out in her voice. “My grandmother never told me.” Although why would she have done so when he'd always made it perfectly clear he didn't want to talk about Celebration? The memories were far too painful. He had never wanted to be reminded of everything he'd been forced to leave behind. In one fell swoop they'd lost everything, most of all the wonderful community he'd been such a part of. The memories were still painful.

  “Your grandparents brag about you all the time. Vicky tells anyone who'll listen about how her grandson is the best veterinarian in California.”

  Warmth settled in his chest at the thought of his grandparents feeling a sense of pride in his accomplishments. The path he'd traveled hadn't been easy, but he could honestly say he was happy about the choices he'd made. Ever since he was a kid growing up in this town he'd dreamed of wanting to do what his grandmother did for a living. Despite all the setbacks, he'd achieved his goal.

  “What made you come back after all these years?” she blurted out.

  Now it was his turn to look at her with curiosity. Surely Vicky had told her. The blank look on Eden's face told him differently. “Umm...I came back because my grandmother asked me to. She invited me to spend the holidays with them.” Something told him to hold off on telling her that he was also going to be working at the Country Vet while his grandmother recuperated from her surgery. The last thing he wanted to do was put his foot in his mouth.

  A hint of a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Vicky can be persuasive,” she said. “I've seen her go toe to toe with quite a few customers who were being ornery about medically necessary procedures for their pets.”

  Brady chuckled. “I think I know who won those battles.” He shook his head. “It's good to know that in an ever changing world, my grandmother always stays the same.”

  She nodded, seemingly in agreement. “May I see your hands?” He held out his hands, which were feeling considerably better now that he'd shed his wet clothes and warmed himself up. His feet on the other hand were still tingling. “They look pretty good considering you weren't wearing any gloves,” Eden noted.

  “I went out of town to pick up some supplies for my grandparents at one of the factory warehouses in Bentonville.” He shrugged. “Thought I could make it back before the storm hit.”

  What was wrong with him? He was tripping all over himself in order to offer up an explanation, not wanting Eden to think he was a fool for heading into the storm unprepared. He hadn't seen Eden Lassiter in almost two decades, yet he was worried about what she might think about him. He'd spent the better part of his life trying not to worry about what others thought, yet here he was falling back into old patterns.

  Old habits die hard.

  “You should probably try to call your grandparents so they don't worry,” she suggested.

  “I tried to call earlier when my car got stuck, but all I got was a busy signal and my grandmother’s cell phone went straight to voice mail. According to Pops, she has a bad habit of forgetting to charge it.”

  “Why don't you try again while you're soaking your feet?” Eden bit her lip. “I hate to think of Vicky or Tom venturing out in the storm to look for you.”

  The thought of his grandparents heading out into the ice storm to look for him had him reaching for his cell phone. He leaned forward in his chair, causing Eden to flinch like a frightened rabbit. Her whole body jolted backwards so that she landed on her backside. She looked up at him with alarm, her features filled with panic. Her mouth hung open and she seemed almost frozen.

  “Are you all right?” He made a move to help her up, then stopped as soon as he realized she w
as shrinking away from him. Suddenly, like a clap of lightning, it dawned on him. He was the problem. Her frightened reaction had been to his sudden movement in her direction. At the moment she was shaking like a leaf.

  He watched, dumbfounded, as Eden scrambled to her knees, then quickly stood up. “I'm fine,” she said, smoothing her flyaway hairs back into place. “I-I need to go check on my father. He hasn't been well. Just soak your feet until I get back.” Without saying another word, she soundlessly disappeared from the room, leaving a tension filled silence in her wake.

  Brady followed Eden's instructions and placed his feet in the tub of warm water. He had no idea why his sudden movement in her direction had caused such a swift change in her. But he did know one thing for certain. Eden hadn't wanted him anywhere near her, so much so that she'd beaten a fast path out of the room in an attempt to get as far away from him as possible.

  **

  Eden wiped away the light sheen of perspiration dotting her forehead. After checking in on her father, who was still sleeping peacefully, she headed towards the kitchen to seek refuge. She'd made a fool of herself in front of Brady Shepard, and for the life of her she didn't know how she was going to face him. Her reaction to his close proximity and sudden movement in her direction left her with a feeling of deep shame. It bubbled up inside her, threatening to choke her. Try as she might, she couldn't seem to control her body. Sometimes when a man got close to her she felt a wave of anxiety and dread wash over her. During these moments, her body revealed her innermost fears.

  Somewhere deep down in her soul she knew Brady Shepard wasn't a threat to her, but she couldn't stop herself from being on guard against him. It was such a lonely feeling not being able to trust people. Men especially. And she'd grown up with Brady, or at least until they were ten years old. They'd been friends, hadn't they? Brady had been the one of the sweetest boys in Celebration, and even though he’d been a year ahead of her in school, they'd been good friends. He'd been all kinds of wonderful. Smart. Kind. Cute. With a great sense of humor and a mischievous streak. She chuckled softly at the memory of a nine-year-old Brady placing a frog in Adelaide Smith's lunch box after she'd been mean to Eden. Although Brady had gotten called out for his behavior and made to stay after school by their principal, Miss Smythe, he'd told Eden later that he didn't regret it one single bit.

  She wondered if he still possessed all those amazing qualities. Well, she knew of at least one he still possessed. Brady was a very good looking man. His towering height—six foot two she would guess—combined with his athletic build, a full head of dark hair and chocolate brown eyes, made him eye catching.

  Not that she was interested. She'd realized a long time ago that relationships weren't in her future. Not now. Or ever. Four years ago Eden had learned that men couldn’t be trusted. It was a lesson she would carry with her for the rest of her days. When you put your guard down terrible things happened, she reminded herself. And even though Brady had been a sweet child, she didn't know him anymore. He was basically a stranger. Letting him invade her personal space wasn't an option. Trusting him was out of the question. Hot tears gathered in her eyes as the memories took over and she found herself immersed in the past.

  A black and white parquet floor. The stale smell of cigarettes. The sensation of opening her mouth to scream, but no sound came out. Gran crumpled on the ground. Eden shook herself out of her thoughts. She needed to focus on the here and now. Brady was still in the living room thawing out from the storm. He still needed her help. She needed to put her fears aside and get down to business. Her father's voice rang in her ears. Stand up straight, shoulders back, chin up. Face the world.

  The moment she walked back into the living room her eyes were immediately drawn to Brady. He was still sitting in the chair with a blanket wrapped around him, his feet submerged in the foot bath. Lola and Rodeo were both seated in his lap, looking at him with big, brown, adoring eyes. Brady shot her a sheepish expression.

  Without pausing to think about it, Eden rushed forward, words of apology tumbling off her lips. “I'm so sorry if they're bothering you. They don't usually take to people so quickly.”

  “No worries. I'm a Vet, so I better love dogs, right,” Brady said with a grin as he patted the dogs. He seemed completely at ease with Lola and Rodeo.

  “I have one of my own at Gram's house. An Irish Setter. His name is Toby. He's probably wondering where I am right about now.”

  “He's in good hands with Vicky and Tom. I've never seen two people who love animals more than the two of them.” She could hear the hint of worship ringing out in her voice. His grandparents were special to her. Not only had they taken her under their wing, but they'd shown her how loving and respectful a married couple could be toward one another. She'd never seen a marriage like theirs up close and personal. Her own mother had ditched the family back when Eden was three-years-old. In her eyes, they were the gold standard of a long term, successful relationship. She'd never admit it in a million years, but she yearned for a love like theirs, something to withstand the test of time. Something that might restore her shattered faith.

  Espresso colored eyes followed her every move. The sound of Brady clearing his throat filled the silence. “I apologize if I frightened you.”

  “No, it's fine. You didn't,” she said feebly. But the truth was she had been scared. And they both knew it. Brady's all-knowing gaze seemed to see right through her, all the way down to the things she kept hidden.

  “Eden, please know that I'm mighty grateful for your hospitality. The last thing I want to do is make you uncomfortable, especially since—.” His husky voice trailed off. He started fidgeting with his collar.

  Eden knit her brows together. What was he trying to say? “Especially since what?”

  For a second Brady looked uncomfortable. He locked gazes with her, then let out a beleaguered sigh. “Especially since we're going to be working together at the Country Vet. I’m not just here for the Christmas holiday. For the next three months I'm going to be filling in for my grandmother while she recuperates from hip surgery. That being said, you and I are going to be seeing an awful lot of each other, Eden.”

  Chapter Two

  “You're the new Vet?” Shock roared through her as she tried to process Brady's announcement. Brady was going to be standing in for Vicky? He was going to be her boss? The second emotion slicing through her was hurt. Why hadn't Vicky told her she'd scheduled her surgery and that her grandson was coming back to Celebration to fill in for her? She'd assumed Vicky would be calling on another vet from a neighboring town to fill up the slack. Other than the candy canes and her father, there was no one she was closer to than Vicky Shepard. In some ways she was the closest thing she had to a mother.

  “Yep. I'm the new Vet,” Brady acknowledged with a nod of his head. “Temporarily at least. Until Vicky is back on her feet. And please don't be upset that she didn't say anything to you. I came to Celebration a few weeks early so I could spend the holidays with them. And truthfully, my grandmother is having a hard time staying on her feet. She’s been hiding her pain level from everyone, including my grandfather, so I convinced her to put me to work immediately.”

  Eden wasn’t upset at Vicky. She adored her. For at least a year now Vicky had been having trouble with her hips. In the last few months the pain had been severe and she'd had trouble standing for long periods of time. Although Vicky told her surgery was inevitable, Eden had no idea it was imminent. Did this mean their holiday fundraiser for the abandoned animals wasn’t going to happen now? If so, it would break Eden’s heart.

  According to Brady, they were going to be working side by side. Tall, rugged, masculine Brady. When she'd applied for the job at the Country Vet three years ago, she'd purposely sought out a position where she wouldn't have to work with men. By accident she'd stumbled upon the vet's assistant job with Dr. Vicky Shepard and, as a result, her whole world had changed for the better. Her boss was kind and loving. And she was as smart as a whip. Sh
e'd taught Eden all about animals, as well as the ins and outs of running a veterinary practice. And Eden loved her dearly for it.

  “What about your own practice?” Hadn't Vicky and Tom spoken so glowingly about Brady's practice and his wonderful life in California? Most people couldn't just up and leave their lives behind. She winced as the thought raced through her mind. Hadn't her mother done that very thing when she'd walked out on her husband and two daughters?

  Brady frowned, his eyebrows drawn together. He let out a little sigh, then said, “My partner bought me out recently. Things just didn't work out so we decided to part ways. We had different views of how the practice should be run. That’s why my schedule is completely clear at the moment.”

  Rather than outright ask Brady the question she was dying to ask, she lightly bit down on her lip to prevent herself from being nosy. It really wasn't any of her business why Brady had sold his half of the veterinary practice. And she didn't know what it was about being in his presence, but it brought back a part of her personality that she'd thought had been locked away forever. Normally she didn't poke into people's business, nor did she allow herself to care about the goings-on of the townsfolk. But Brady wasn't most folks, was he? He was a part of her childhood—matter of fact, one of the best parts.

  Brady shook his head and raised his hand to his jaw, where he began to lightly stroke his chin. He looked deep in thought. “It's funny how you can have an idea of something and then when it comes to fruition it's nothing like what you thought you wanted.” His face held a sheepish expression. “When Brenda and I started the practice I was so excited about it. Starting my own practice from the ground up, it doesn't get any better than that. I thought I was living the dream.”“But you weren't?” she asked, too overcome with curiosity to hold back.

  “No, I wasn't. Most of our clients were wealthy and I started wishing that I could make more of an impact in my community. Unfortunately, she didn't see things my way. Every time I wanted to devote more of the practice to at risk animals or low income clients, she rejected my ideas.” Brady shrugged. “She didn't think it was part of a good business plan.”