Page 9 of All I Want for Christmas

“It’s mutual.” She skimmed a hand through her hair.

“It’s going to sound odd, but …” She hesitated, not quite sure how to word it.

“But that first day at rehearsal, when I looked around and saw them? I had this feeling, this—I don’t know, it was like, ‘Oh, there you are. I was wondering when you’d show up.

’ It sounds strange, but it was as if I was expecting them.

Now, when Kim comes without them, I feel let down. ”

“I guess they kind of grow on you.”

It was more than that, but she didn’t know how to explain. And she wasn’t entirely sure Mac would accept the fact that she’d very simply fallen for them. “I get a kick out of them telling me about their school day, showing me their papers.”

“First report cards are almost here.” His grin flashed. “I’m more nervous than they are.”

“People put too much emphasis on grades.”

His brows shot up at the comment. “This from a teacher?”

“Individual ability, application, effort, retention. Those things are a lot more important than A, B or C . But I can tell you, in confidence, that Kim’s acing advanced chorus and music history.”

“No kidding?” He felt a quick surge of pride. “She never did that well before. B s mostly.”

“Mr. Striker and I have markedly different approaches.”

“You’re telling me. Word around town is that the chorus is dynamite this year. How’d you pull it off?”

“The kids pull it off,” she told him, sitting up when their pizza was served.

“My job is to make them think and sing like a team. Not to slam Mr. Striker,” she added, taking a generous bite.

“But I get the impression he was just putting in time, counting the days until he could retire. If you’re going to teach kids, you have to like them, and respect them.

There’s a lot of talent there, some of it extremely rough.

” When she laughed, the roses in her cheek bloomed deeper.

“And some of those kids will do nothing more than sing in the shower for the rest of their lives—for which the world can be grateful.”

“Got some clunkers, huh?”

“Well …” She laughed again. “Yes, I have a few. But they’re enjoying themselves.

That’s what counts. And there are a few, like Kim, who are really something special.

I’m sending her and two others for auditions to all-state next week.

And after the holiday concert I’m going to hold auditions for the spring musical. ”

“We haven’t had a musical at the high school in three years.”

“We’re going to have one this year, Buster. And it’s going to be terrific.”

“It’s a lot of work for you.”

“I like it. And it’s what I’m paid for.”

Mac toyed with a second slice. “You really do like it, don’t you? The school, the town, the whole bit?”

“Why shouldn’t I? It’s a fine school, a fine town.”

“It ain’t Manhattan.”

“Exactly.”

“Why’d you leave?” He winced. “Sorry, none of my business.”

“It’s all right. I had a bad year. I guess I was getting restless before that, but the last year was just the pits.

They eliminated my job at the school. Economic cutbacks.

Downsizing. The arts are always the first to suffer.

” She shrugged. “Anyway, my roommate got married. I couldn’t afford the rent on my own—not if I wanted to eat with any regularity—so I advertised for another one.

Took references, gauged personalities.” With a sigh, she propped her chin on her elbow.

“I thought I was careful. But about three weeks after she moved in, I came home and found that she’d cleaned me out. ”

Mac stopped eating. “She robbed you?”

“She skinned me. TV, stereo, whatever good jewelry I had, cash, the collection of Limoges boxes I’d started in college.

I was really steamed, and then I was shaken.

I just wasn’t comfortable living there after it happened.

Then the guy I’d been seeing for about a year started giving me lectures on my stupidity, my naiveté.

As far as he was concerned, I’d gotten exactly what I’d deserved. ”

“Nice guy,” Mac muttered. “Very supportive.”

“You bet. In any case, I took a good look at him and our relationship and figured he was right on one level. As long as I was in that rut, with him, I was getting what I deserved. So I decided to climb out of the rut, and leave him in it.”

“Good choice.”

“I thought so.” And so was he, she thought, studying Mac’s face. A very good choice. “Why don’t you tell me what your plans are with the house you’re renovating.”

“I don’t guess you’d know a lot about plumbing.”

She only smiled. “I’m a quick learner.”

It was nearly midnight when he pulled up in front of her apartment. He hadn’t intended to stay out so late. He certainly hadn’t expected to spend more than an hour talking to her about wiring and plumbing and load-bearing walls. Or drawing little blueprints on napkins.

But somehow he’d managed to get through the evening without feeling foolish or pinned down or out of step. Only one thing worried him. He wanted to see her again.

“I think this was a good first step.” She laid a hand over his, kissed his cheek. “Thanks.”

“I’ll walk you up.”

Her hand was already on the door handle. Safer, she’d decided for both of them, if she just hurried along. “You don’t have to. I know the way.”

“I’ll walk you up,” he repeated. He stepped out, rounded the hood. They started up the stairs together. The tenant on the first floor was still awake. The mutter of a television, and its ghost gray light, filtered through the window.

Since the breeze had died, it was the only sound. And overhead countless stars wheeled in a clear black sky.

“If we do this again,” Mac began, “people in town are going to start talking about us, making out that we’re …” He wasn’t quite sure of the right phrase.

“An item?” Nell supplied. “That bothers you.”

“I don’t want the kids to get any ideas, or worry, or … whatever.” As they reached the landing, he looked down at her and was caught again. “It must be the way you look,” he murmured.

“What must?”

“That makes me think about you.” It was a reasonable explanation, he decided. Physical attraction. After all, he wasn’t a dead man. He was just a careful one. “That makes me think about doing this.”

He cupped her face in his hands—a gesture so sweet, so tender, it had every muscle in her body going lax. It was just as slow, as stunning, as sumptuous, as the first time. The touch of his mouth on hers, the shuddering patience, the simple wonder of it.

Could it be this? she wondered. Could it be this that she’d been waiting for? Could it be him?

He heard her soft, breathy sigh as he eased his mouth from hers. Lingering, he knew, would be a mistake, and he let his hands fall away before they could reach for more.

As if to capture one final taste, Nell ran her tongue over her lips. “You’re awfully good at that, Macauley. Awfully good.”

“You could say I’ve been saving up.” But he didn’t think it was that at all. He was very much worried it wasn’t that. “I’ll see you.”

She nodded weakly as he headed down the steps. She was still leaning dreamily against the door when she heard his car start and drive away.

For a moment, she would have sworn the air rang with the distant music of sleigh bells.