“Is she still there? Your mom, I mean,” I asked, smiling as he pushed the apple pie toward me.
“Nah. I used my Formula One signing bonus to buy her a lovely bungalow out in the countryside. My aunty moved in with her, and they’ve made a nice group of friends locally, so she’s happy there,” he replied.
“Are you happy?” I asked, not realizing until I said it what a personal question it was.
“Today I am,” he answered, helping himself to a huge forkful of pie. We finished off our desserts in comfortable silence, and by the end, I was so full that I could barely move. Jensen paid the bill, and all too soon, we were back in his truck. I gave him directions and cringed as he pulled up to the motel.
“I know it’s bad to be living out of a motel, but someday I’ll have my own place,” I said defensively.
“It doesn’t matter where you live as long as it’s home,” he said.
“My home would be decorated with so many Christmas lights that you could see the house from a block away. The kitchen would smell like freshly baked gingerbread, and evergreen garlands would hang everywhere you looked,” I said wistfully.
“You should see my mum’s house at this time of year. By the time she’s finished decorating, the place looks like Santa’s grotto,” he replied.
“Will you still be here for Christmas?” I asked, afraid to know the answer.
“I’ll be leaving Christmas Eve,” he replied, and I tried not to show how sad that made me. The last few hours had been like nothing I’d ever known. To be able to talk freely without judgment was liberating, but to know that he was leaving in less than two weeks upset me. Dragging out my good-bye would do me no good though.
“I’m only in town for a couple of weeks. Do you think we could …?” Jensen asked, but I cut him off without giving him a chance to say what I knew he would.
“I’d love to. But I’m a bit of a kleptomaniac, you see. I’m good at keeping hold of nice things. Not so good at letting them go. And I have a feeling that having you around would be a very nice thing. If I get any more attached to you, there’s a real risk of me kidnapping you and keeping you forever in my closet to stop you from leaving. So for your own sake, I’m going to say good-bye now,” I told him.
“You’re a strange girl, Lauren Matthews, but I’m glad I met you,” he said.
“The strangest,” I agreed with a smile. Jumping out of the truck before he had a chance to, I shut the door behind me and turned to face him.
“I’m sorry I took your wallet, but I’m glad I met you too. Thank you for dinner as well. It was the best time I’ve had in a long time.”
“Well then, Merry Christmas,” he said, looking about as happy as I was at the thought of leaving.
“Merry Christmas, Jensen. I hope Santa brings you something nice,” I replied. With a wave, I walked away, back to a life where Christmas wishes were about as real as Santa Claus.
Chapter Six
Jensen
Ronnie and Nancy Adler’s house was every bit as beautiful as Ronnie had described. The timber-clad home was festooned with thousands of Christmas lights that twinkled like stars, evergreen garlands were strung across the oak porch, and a huge wreath hung invitingly from the front door. Lauren would’ve loved the place. I wished she were there with me now.
So many times Ronnie had invited me here, but I’d always turned him down. In my downtime from racing, there were too many things to see. Too many places I wanted to go. And now I’d never get the chance to see all the things he wanted to show me. At least I’d never get the opportunity to see them through his eyes.
Talking with Lauren last night had been cathartic. Life for me had been one endless, meaningless party. I just hadn’t realized how meaningless until Nancy’s phone call. But one night with Lauren had offered me the magic and excitement I’d been chasing in all the wrong places, and in less than two weeks, we’d be half a world apart.
The idea was almost as depressing as the thought of having to face Nancy. Knowing that she was fully aware of just how badly I’d let Ronnie down filled me with shame. But it wasn’t a shame I could hide from. Being the man he’d tried to raise me to be meant facing up to my mistakes and owning them. Still, I sat with my hands gripped to the wheel, allowing myself one more moment to get myself together, when a loud knock on the window made me jump.
“You’ve been sitting in this truck for twenty minutes, Jensen Caldwell. I’m kind of afraid that frostbite might set in if you don’t come inside soon,” Nancy said through the glass.
“Hey, Nancy,” I replied as I climbed out of the truck, strugglin
g to hide my guilty expression.
“It’s good to see you, Jensen. Ronnie would be so happy that you were here,” she said, and surprised the hell out of me when she threw her arms around my middle and pulled me in for warm hug.
Wrapping my arms around her shoulders, I squeezed her back. She smelt of warm cookies and cinnamon and everything I imagine all good grandmas smell like.
When she pulled away, she reached into her pocket for a handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes.
“You’ll have to excuse me. I’ve become such a silly, sentimental old fool these last few days,” she said.