A Husband For Christmas. Gail Gaymer Martin

to the kitchen, she opened her refrigerator and eyed her pasta salad. It looked a bit bland so she sprinkled sliced ripe olives and slivers of red peppers on top for color. She would attend whether she wanted to or not so no one would think of her as antisocial.

      She shrugged. Who would care? In the few months she’d lived on Lilac Circle, she’d gotten to know very few people, but she preferred it that way. Or did she? “Face it, Nina. You can’t be a recluse. You need to meet your neighbors.” She spoke aloud to herself, and then chuckled. She had become a master of having great conversations with herself—or should she question her sanity?

      The sound of the doorbell drew her from the kitchen. When she opened the door, she wasn’t surprised. “Hi, Angie. I—”

      “You’re joining us, aren’t you?” Technically it was a question, but Angie’s expression was only allowing one answer.

      “I sure am.” She tried to brighten her voice. “I just put some finishing touches on my salad. It’s ready.” She opened the front door wider.

      Angie stepped in. “Can I help you carry something? You don’t need a table. You can share ours, but you might want a lawn chair.”

      Nina motioned for Angie to follow her to the kitchen. Angie carried her salad, and she grabbed a lawn chair in one hand and a plate of cookies in the other.

      Angie led the way across the street and down the block. Cars lined her end of the street where they’d been moved to make space for the food tables.

      Angie’s soon-to-be stepdaughter, Carly, played on their front lawn with three other children. One girl, Nina suspected, was the niece of the single guy she’d heard about. It was probably that information which had discouraged her from attending the event.

      When she’d first met Angie and admitted she was divorced, Angie had mentioned the single man who was caring for his young niece. Nina sensed an ulterior motive, and any reference to matchmaking stopped her cold. She’d had enough of men. Todd had walked out of their marriage at the worst time in her life without an apology or even an attempt to offer a sensible explanation. She had to provide one for herself. And she didn’t like what she’d come up with.

      “You can put your food down there on the tables.” Angie pointed toward a row of long tables behind the sawhorses. “We’ll be eating soon.”

      Following Angie’s direction, she worked her way around the lawn chairs, giving a nod to those she hadn’t met. When she found a spot for her pasta salad and shifted items to make room for her cookies, an elderly gentleman appeared beside her. “You’ve made a friend today, neighbor.”

      She looked up and couldn’t help but smile, a real smile, at the man’s glinting eyes and friendly greeting.

      He extended his hand. “Everyone calls me El.”

      “El must stand for something.” She grasped his palm.

      “Elwood Barnes.” His eyebrows lifted. “And you are...besides being the lady who brought cookies?”

      “Nina Jerome. Everyone calls me Nina.” She chuckled, captured by the smile in his eyes. For the first time since she’d moved, she felt comfortable with a stranger. “I also brought a pasta salad.” She pointed toward the selection of dishes. “With olives and red peppers on top.”

      “I’ll be sure and try some.” He motioned toward a man sitting alone on a lawn chair. “Come meet my neighbor across the street.”

      While he steered her closer, she tensed, suspecting she was about to meet the single man on the block. He was good-looking with light brown hair and one of those five o’clock shadows that gave him an attractive rugged look, yet he appeared bored, as if someone forced him to join the party. She almost chuckled, aware of the similarity to her attitude.

      “Doug, this is another new neighbor, Nina.” El shifted his focus. “Jerome, is it?”

      Doug rose and jammed his hands into his pockets, his expression polite but stoic.

      She eyed him without making a move.

      “Nina, Doug Billings and little Kimmy over there.” El pivoted and motioned toward the children. “They moved here a month or so before you did if my old brain recalls.”

      Doug glanced toward the children. “I’m sort of caring for my niece.”

      She pressed her lips together, hoping not to laugh. “Sort of caring?”

      He shook his head, as if waking from a bad dream and finally looked at her. “I do my best.”

      He looked more uncomfortable than she felt. “Nice to meet you, Doug.” She detested the meaningless phrase. “I’ll head back before Angie thinks I ran off. Thanks, El, for introducing yourself and for...” She motioned toward Doug. “I’m sure I’ll see you both around.” She strode away, monitoring her legs to keep from running.

      Avoiding meeting people had become a new problem. Though never outgoing, she knew how to be civil and welcoming. And she liked El. He was a sweet grandpa-type.

      “There you are.” Angie looked at her, a hint of coyness in her grin.

      Nina grasped her lawn chair and pulled it open. “El is a real gentleman. He introduced himself.” She slipped into the chair.

      “He is.” She arched a brow. “Meet anyone else?”

      The telltale look on Angie’s face gave her away, and Nina squirmed. “You must have seen El introduce me to Doug Billings.”

      Angie grinned. “I wondered where you’d gone so long, and then I noticed you with him.”

      “He’s worse than I am, Angie. Either he’s very shy or he’s preoccupied.”

      Angie shrugged. “I suppose he’s worried about his sister. It has to be hard on Kimmy to be away from her mom so long. It’s already been over a month. I think Doug had planned to watch her for a week or so while his sister and her friend went on a trip, and then the accident happened. Now she can’t travel or do much for herself with her injuries. Two broken legs plus he mentioned something about a torn retina.”

      Nina shook her head, unable to imagine what it would be like in that situation and stranded from her child.

      Stranded from her child. She felt that way at times. Having a physician tell her she could never carry a child to term and, in fact, might never get pregnant again sliced through every nerve. Her husband’s lack of compassion, his turning his back on her and walking away at a time she needed his love, had destroyed her trust and hope of being a wife, let alone a mother.

      “Nina?”

      She jerked her head upward. “Sorry. I was empathizing with Doug and his sister, I guess.” She shifted her gaze, wanting to drop the topic. “The kids seem to be having tons of fun.”

      Angie nodded. “I hate to stop them.” She motioned toward the tables. “But it’s nearly time to eat.” She swung back, a question in her eyes. “Did you receive your wedding invitation?”

      “I did. Thank you.” Envy stabbed at her heart. “Sorry. I should have mentioned it.”

      “No need to apologize. A cousin called a couple days ago and said hers hadn’t arrived. I know I sent it so I’m a bit antsy now.”

      “It was most likely a fluke, Angie. Mine came three weeks ago. I wouldn’t miss the wedding. Carly’s your flower girl, right?”

      A glow filled Angie’s face. “She is, and she’ll look beautiful. I adore that little girl.”

      “I know you do.” She swallowed. “I’m ashamed to say that sometimes I envy you.”

      “Why? It could be you one day, Nina. Love happens even when you least expect it, and it covers all the flaws and fears we’ve carried into our lives. Everything worthwhile deserves a second chance.”

      Angie’s