Trading Christmas - Debbie Macomber [48]
“Oh, Faith,” Emily said, instantly cheered. “It’s so good to hear from you.”
“Is everything all right?” her friend asked.
“Everything is positively wonderful.” Emily looked over to where Ray sat with his wineglass.
“It is here, too,” Faith confessed.
“What about Charles?” Emily was sure she hadn’t heard her friend correctly. Faith actually sounded happy, but that couldn’t be possible, since she was stuck with a Christmas-hating curmudgeon.
“Oh, Emily, Charles has been just great. He wasn’t in the beginning, but then I realized he’s just like everyone else, only a little more intense.”
“Really?”
“Yes. In fact, this morning he went sledding with the Kennedy kids. Thomas talked him into it. He was reluctant at first, but once he got started there was no stopping him.”
“Charles?” Although they’d never met, Emily had heard enough about Ray’s brother to find this bit of news truly astonishing.
“Then Charles and I walked downtown and browsed the stores and he bought the cutest little birdhouse for your yard. It’s got a snowy roof and a bright-red cardinal on top.”
“Charles did that?”
“Yes, and then we had a fabulous lunch. He’s working now, or at least that’s what he said he was doing, but I think he’s taking a nap.”
Emily smiled. This definitely wasn’t the man Ray had described. From everything he’d told her, Charles was the classic absentminded professor, as stuffy and staid as they come. And he hated Christmas. Something—or someone—had turned his world upside down, and Emily had a very good idea who that might be.
“Faith,” Emily murmured, “are you interested in Charles? As a man?”
Her friend didn’t answer right away. “Define interested.”
“Romantically inclined.”
That caught Ray’s notice; he stood and walked over to the phone, sitting down on a nearby stool.
“I don’t know.” Faith’s answer revealed her indecision. “Well, maybe.” She sounded uncertain, as if she was surprised by her feelings and a little troubled. This relationship must be developing very quickly; Emily could identify with that.
“I think it’s wonderful that the two of you are getting along so well.”
“He’s not at all the way he first seemed,” Faith told her. “First impressions can be deceptive, don’t you think?”
“Of course.”
“But I didn’t phone to talk about myself.” Faith seemed even more flustered now. “I just wanted to see how you’re doing.”
Emily’s gaze drifted to Ray. “Like I said, this is turning out to be a wonderful Christmas.”
Her announcement was followed by a short pause. “Charles’s brother is still there?”
“Yes.” Emily didn’t elaborate.
“So the two of you are hitting it off?”
“We are. We’re getting along really well.”
As if to prove how well, Ray came to stand behind Emily. He slipped his arms around her waist and kissed the back of her neck. Tiny shivers of delight danced down her spine and she closed her eyes, savoring his warmth and attention.
“Have you heard from Heather?” Faith asked.
Emily’s eyes flew open. “Not a peep, but I don’t expect to since she doesn’t have this phone number.”
“I guess she’ll call after Christmas,” Faith said.
Emily managed a few words of assent, then changed the subject. “It was so sweet of you to come to Leavenworth for Christmas. I just wish you’d let me know.”
“And ruin the surprise?” Faith teased.
“Just like I surprised Heather.”
Faith laughed softly. “I’ll check in with you later. Bye for now.”
“Okay. Talk to you soon.” Emily hung up the phone and sighed as she turned to Ray to explain the call. “As you could tell, that was Faith.”
“What’s all this about my brother?”
He released her and Emily leaned against the kitchen counter. “Charles apparently spent the morning sledding with the neighborhood kids.”
Ray shook his head, frowning. “That’s impossible. Not Charles. He’d never knowingly choose to be around kids.”
“That’s not all. After sledding, the two of them went Christmas shopping—and he bought me a gift. A birdhouse.”
Ray’s frown grew puzzled. “This is a joke, right?”
“Not according to Faith.”
“Charles? My brother, Charles?”
“The very same. Apparently she