“Dr. Ivans, this is my...” only a slight pause and Taylor held back a smile at his unfamiliarity with claiming her as his wife, “... bride, Taylor Thompson Fletcher. Taylor, this is my grandmother’s doctor, Dr. Edgar Ivans.”

  “My most sincere congratulations.” The doctor shook Nathan’s hand, and then beamed at Taylor and took her hand in both of his. “His grandmother has been hoping this wild one would settle down. I’d say he’s done very well for himself. I am so glad to meet you.”

  They were in a different part of the hospital, luckily far away from the ICU. She could hear female voices in the room and wondered if one of Blanche’s friends had stopped by.

  After a brief pause, Nathan asked, “How is my grandmother doing today?”

  Dr. Ivans said, “She’s a little better. She’s stabilized and is being released today.”

  “That’s good news.” Nathan sounded relieved. “Very good news.”

  “It is,” the doctor said. “But this is also what normally happens shortly before the end. The patient will bounce back and have more energy. Just know that she could feel better for several months—or she could fail again next week. The only guarantee is that she has pancreatic cancer and she’s very weak. And she’s instructed me that she wants to be at home when the end comes. I’m recommending hospice but she’s refusing for now.”

  Nathan reached for Taylor’s hand. He must get as much comfort from the touch as she did, for she held it tightly. She squeezed back. This was horrible news for him to absorb.

  “I have to warn you that the hospital is having some security problems because of your grandmother and her friends being so famous. So far, we’ve been able to keep it quiet that she’s here, but I don’t know how long that will last.”

  “Is Blanche famous too?” Taylor asked.

  The doctor smiled at her indulgently. “She was only one of the most famous actresses of the 1940s. She played alongside the likes of Gregory Peck, Laurence Olivier, and Katharine Hepburn. She even earned an Academy Award.”

  Amazed, Taylor stared at Nathan. “Is that true?”

  He shrugged. “Yes. She’s even more famous as all of her friends.”

  “Wow. That’s probably why she looked vaguely familiar to me and to my mom, too.”

  “Just wow?” Nathan asked with a smile.

  “Well, I have to wonder where she keeps her Oscars, but yeah, just wow.”

  The doctor said, “I know Blanche wanted to see you married and wanted to attend the Gala one last time before she goes. I think she’s hanging on for the Gala and for one last Christmas with her grandson and his new wife.”

  The Gala was only five days away. Suddenly nervous about hanging out with people she felt were out of her league, she said, “I might need a makeover before a fancy event like that.”

  “You will get your makeover,” Nathan said. “Ariel and Lexi will be glad to help you.”

  “A makeover?” a woman said. “Count me in, too.”

  Taylor looked up to see Nora. The still-graceful ballerina was easy to spot in the fluid way she moved, even at her age. She gave Taylor a quick hug, then looked at Nathan. “She’s got more color in her cheeks today.”

  A second woman came out of the room. Patricia. The movie producer. Taylor wondered if she’d ever directed the former famous actress. She had some questions for these ladies.

  “Did I hear something about a makeover?” Patricia asked.

  Nora said, “Yes. Let’s go tomorrow. Taylor wants a makeover before the Gala.”

  “Splendid plan.”

  17

  Good Night, Irene

  Four hours, later, Nathan helped his newly released grandmother from the front seat of his car. Taylor had climbed in the back, insisting that the older woman have the comfier seat. Things like that just made him like her all that much more.

  Grandma curled her hand around his elbow, and he walked slowly toward her front door. Taylor appeared at her other side, extending her elbow also. With support on both sides, Grandma did pretty well.

  She was obviously still weaker than normal, and it broke his heart to see it.

  The others in the Gang of Four pulled up in a Lexus and piled out.

  They raced ahead and unlocked the door. Apparently, they all had keys to each other’s homes.

  Finally, Nathan grinned down at his grandmother. “How long has it been since you’ve been carried over a threshold?”

  She shook her head. “I can walk.”

  “Oh, please, let me, Grandma.” He batted his eyes like he used to do when he was a child—a child who could get his grandmother to do nearly everything he wanted.

  She laughed weakly. “Oh, why not? As long as your bride doesn’t mind.”

  “She got carried over last night,” Nathan lied.

  They stopped and Nathan picked up his grandmother’s too-light body, arms under her knees and arms. Her friends cheered. “Way to go, Nathan.”

  Once inside, he kept hold of her and asked, “Upstairs or downstairs?”

  “Downstairs in my recliner. The girls and I are going to watch some old movies today. Some really good old movies, if you get my drift.”

  “I’m guessing some good old movies starring a certain actress and director.”

  “Good guess.”

  He settled her in her recliner and wrapped a lightweight wrap she kept on the couch around her.

  “What do you say, Taylor?” he asked, catching her eye. “Want to watch some really good old movies?”

  “Oh, no, you don’t,” Patricia said. “This is your honeymoon week.”

  Irene nodded. “We’re going to stay here with Blanche. Have an old person party. You are definitely not old enough to be here.”

  Nora joined in. “We’ll be checking IDs. Anyone born after 1940 is not allowed.”

  “But—” Nathan started, but then stopped as he stared from one set of determined eyes to another. Patricia. Irene. Nora. And his grandmother.

  Nora waved her hands. “Get out of here, you newlyweds. You’re cramping our style.”

  “But come back tomorrow and we’ll have arranged for a makeover, darling,” Irene said.

  And then he and Taylor found themselves outside on the porch.

  She looked up at him and smiled. “Wow again.”

  He laughed, threaded his fingers through hers, and said, “Where to now?”

  She shrugged. “Lexi’s party is tonight. Want to go see how a current TV star parties?”

  “Won’t they tell us to be about our honeymoon, too?”

  “We don’t have to listen. They’re not as tough as your grandmother and her Gang of Four.”

  A woman answered the door at the brightly decorated home.

  Not that Nathan thought the entire street wasn’t decorated brightly, as this was Christmas Street. Sycamore the rest of the year, but definitely Christmas Street this time of year. He’d looked it up on the all-knowing Google.

  “Oh, my gosh!” the woman exclaimed. “It’s the newlyweds!”

  The woman enveloped them both in a warm hug. “Is it true? Did you get married yesterday? I heard a rumor.”

  Taylor laughed. She’d already introduced Lexi to Nathan during the snowball fight party, but she humored her. “It’s true.”

  She turned to Nathan. “I’m Lexi Miller. We met the other day, but you weren’t married then. Welcome to my party. I’m thrilled to have you here—but why on earth are you here instead of on your honeymoon?”

  “We won’t be staying long. We had to stay in town because of Nathan’s grandmother not being well.”

  “That’s understandable.”

  Taylor took Nathan’s arm.

  Lexi studied him. “Weren’t you the most eligible bachelor of the year last year?”

  “The same,” Taylor said. “But he’s off the market now,” she teased, flashing him a quick smile.

  “Well, be sure to take full advantage of the mistletoe.” Lexi motioned above them.

  Nathan felt an unfamiliar flush of warmth flooding his cheeks. Was he blushing? Could that even be possible?

  Taylor looked up and grinned, then turned to him. She went up on her tiptoes and puckered those gorgeous lips.

  He wasn’t about to turn that down. He wrapped her in his arms and laid a good kiss on her. People around them clapped and cheered.

  When he pulled back, he saw many more people in the entryway.

  “It’s true, everyone,” Lexi announced. “They’re married.”

  Women pressed forward and surrounded them, asking to see her ring. Taylor held it out and there were many feminine sounds of approval.

  After an eternity, Lexi led them to a large open kitchen and dining room area. A veritable cornucopia of edibles covered the counters and three long, red-and-green tablecloth-covered tables. Each table had a fancy Christmas centerpiece.

  A young woman joined them.

  Lexi said, “Nathan, I’d like to introduce you to my daughter. I’m not sure where my son, Steven, is, but this is Trista, who is now fifteen going on thirty. Tell them what you want to study in college, baby.”

  The pretty young woman smiled at her mother’s exuberance. “I’ll be going to a special charter school where I can graduate with an associate’s degree at the same time as I graduate from high school.”

  “Wow,” Nathan said. “I’m impressed.”

  “Me, too,” Taylor said. “Way to rock the world, Trista.”

  Her mother motioned with her hand to get on with it, and Trista smiled. “I want to get a degree in biomedical engineering.”

  “Pretty and smart.” Nathan nodded. “Way to go.”

  A handsome man joined them.

  “Hi, honey,” Lexi said. “These are our newly married guests, Nathan Fletcher and Taylor Thompson Fletcher.”

  “Taylor from across the street?” Miller asked.

  Taylor nodded.

  “Congratulations.” The man said.

  “This is my husband, Kyle Miller.”

  “The author?” Nathan asked.

  Kyle Miller grinned. “Yup.”

  “Wows all around,” Nathan said with a grin back.

  Lexi said, “He’s an author, a semi-reformed Grinch, and a destroyer of innocent snowmen.”

  Kyle shook his head. “You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?”

  Lexi looked up at him adoringly. “Nope.”

  And then the party exploded with guests and friends. Nathan didn’t think he’d ever been welcomed so completely into a group ever.

  He liked the feeling. Maybe he and Taylor needed to buy a house here on Christmas Street.

  Wow. Where had that come from? He had a house. She had a place. They weren’t really married, so they didn’t need to buy a new house together.

  Then why did the thought please him?

  Hours later, Taylor glanced at Nathan on the couch next to her.

  He looked down and smiled, slipping an arm around her and squeezing her shoulders gently. “Enjoying the movie?”

  She nodded and smiled back. Like an idiot. What was there about this guy that she couldn’t stop smiling when she was around him? She settled in against his chest again and looked at the screen where superheroes CGI’d their way epically across the screen, but she wasn’t really registering the action. She was too aware of Nathan’s heart beating, the warmth of him spreading into her, his steady breathing. His occasional laughs.

  And she’d never wanted a man so much in all her life. But she didn’t want to respond to just physical attraction. There was more, too. His sense of humor, the kindness to his grandmother, and his charming niceness to anyone who came into his orbit—including her.

  She needed to keep her heart unengaged ... but she was finding it harder and harder. He was charming. He’d charmed her, that was for sure.

  When the movie was over, she would find it difficult to say goodnight and go to separate bedrooms again. But what else could she do? He wasn’t her real husband.

  They were just helping each other out.

  Business. She had to remember that this was just a business arrangement.

  Meanwhile his heartbeat and steady breath blew in and out slowly, his warmth touched her, his chuckles rumbled against her.

  It took all of Nathan’s self-control to step back from Taylor. “Goodnight.”

  An entire evening of being by her side—first at Lexi’s party and then watching a movie with her in his arms—and he could hardly believe he was going to walk away from his bride again.

  But he had to. He’d promised her a shop, not a full-fledged marriage with promises of forever. She was going to want to walk away soon, and he wouldn’t be the kind of man who would give her regrets.

  “Good night,” she murmured dreamily and gave an adorable little waggle of her fingers.

  Did he just waggle his own back? Man up, dude. He nodded and said, “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “What time does the makeover begin?”

  “Ten sharp at City Center Mall.” He took another step back. “We’ll be meeting everyone at A Good Hair Day Salon.”

  “All right.” She shot him a brilliant smile—and shut the door of her bedroom.

  He facepalmed himself. Snap out of it!

  Forcing himself to stop staring at the door, he strode in the other direction and shut his own bedroom door.

  This was killing him.

  Grandma, I hope you’re happy with this arrangement.

  He sat on his bed and called his grandmother’s number.

  Another woman answered. “Hello, Nathan. This is Irene. We put your grandmother to bed two hours ago. She’s still doing fine.”

  “Is she happy?” he asked, suddenly.

  “I believe so,” she said.

  “About my marriage, I mean.”

  “Most definitely.” Irene chuckled. “You two make an adorable couple. I have a sense about these things. If I’m still around, I’ll come to your fiftieth wedding anniversary.”

  “If I’m still around, I’ll invite you.”

  She laughed. “Good night, Nathan.”

  “Good night, Irene.”

  “Isn’t there a song by that name?”

  “I don’t know.”

  She laughed. “Little Richard. Back in the 60s.”

  “You’re right.” He shook his head. “We are too young to hang around with you guys.”

  “Go back to your bride. Talk with you tomorrow.”

  18

  Lori’s Masterpiece

  She’d been to City Center Mall a couple of times since moving to Salt Lake, usually with Ariel, but not when there was a huge Christmas tree, decorations, and a mall Santa.

  “Is that Nick?” she asked Ariel, having heard the story about how Cheyenne Pepper and Nick Montana reunited—and fought—when he was working as the mall’s Santa.

  As they crossed through the food court, Ariel shook her head. “Nick’s got a new job now.”

  Taylor snorted a laugh. “So does Cheyenne beat up all the mall Santas, or just Nick?”

  In addition to Ariel, she walked alongside Nathan and Lexi. The TV star had asked if she could come, too.

  The interesting thing about being with either Lexi or Nathan was the amount of attention other people gave them—whispering and pointing. But when you put the two of them together, the effect was intensified exponentially.

  They walked down past Macy’s, the Gap, and the Megaplex theater.

  As they reached the Disney store, she saw two stylish older women coming out of the Apple store, both holding phones.

  It was Irene and Nora. They spotted the group and greeted them.

  “New phones?” Nathan asked.

  The women held them up. Irene said, “Yes.”

  Nora said, “And we bought one to replace the one your grandmother dropped and broke when she fell.”

  “That’s nice of you,” Nathan said. “Thank you.”

  Irene said, “Patricia is with your grandmother. She’s doing well again today.”

  Taylor could feel the relief pouring off of Nathan as he nodded. The same relief she felt. She reached out and squeezed his hand.

  “Well, come on,” Lexi said, “I’m dying to see what kind of hair cut Lori will give you. She’s the best. Cheyenne is going to meet us at the Good Hair Day Salon in thirty minutes. Hannah’s going to join us, too.”

  “Hannah?” Taylor asked.

  “Zeke’s wife. Zeke is Cheyenne’s brother.”

  “Oh.” Taylor was still learning all the friendly connections along Christmas Street—and was certainly glad to have been accepted into the family of friends. And she had another family with Blanche’s friends. Luckily, her mother had an appointment this morning and couldn’t join them. She loved her mother, but it would be a calmer event without her.

  The mall was crowded with Christmas shoppers and holiday cheer. Sleigh bell music played overhead. Children waited in line by the Santa. Parents with frazzled expressions, parents indulgently smiling down at their children. Children tugging parents and pointing out exciting things.

  What a wonderful time of year!

  It had even started to snow, just lightly, as they drove here.

  She caught Nathan’s gaze. He was looking down at her with one of those indulgent smiles. “What?” she asked.

  “I’m just enjoying this moment alone with you.” He chuckled. “You and the rest of humanity here at the mall.”

  The group had passed by a ZAGG store, the Yankee Candle Company, and a sock store called Bobbi Socks.

  Ariel motioned. “The next door is Cheyenne’s office.”

  Two doors down was A Good Hair Day Salon.

  Lexi grinned at her. “Want to go red today?”

  “I’ve heard blondes have more fun,” Taylor shot back.

  Nathan reached out and touched one of her brunette curls. “I like it the color it is.”

  “The husband has spoken,” Ariel said. “And he’s right. I love your hair color just the way it is.”

  Irene said, “Don’t cut it short, either. Men like long hair, simple creatures that they are.”

 

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