"So, we're all like that. Is that what you've decided?"

He made her fears sound so irrational. But they weren't. Her wounds had taught her it was better to be safe than sorry. She turned her back on him. "I'm a dead end for you."

She heard him heave a big sigh. "I'm sorry for what happened to you. Not every cop is a wife beater, Jamie. Really."

So he said, but she'd heard enough stories in the news, seen it happen often enough to other women who loved the men in blue. Cops got wound too tight, and then put in a pressure cooker where they were expected not to blow. Of course they blew. And whoever was nearby when it happened became collateral damage.

"I wish I could believe you," she countered. "I'm sorry, Josh. Anyway, there's a reason I'm on my own. I like it that way."

He stood there silently, probably trying to figure out what to say next.

"I'm sure your kids are wondering where you are," she added, since he didn't seem to be getting the message.

"Yeah," he said gruffly. "You're right. Good luck."

She heard him walk across the floor, felt the cold rush in as he opened the door. Then the door shut and it was just her alone in her candlelit house.

A lucky escape, she told herself, and blinked back the tears.

The snow was gone in two days and life returned to normal. Normal wasn't as satisfying as it used to be, Jamie realized as she finished up a batch of caliente fudge for the gift basket she was contributing as a door prize for the Christmas festival. Emma had contributed a quilt, which was going to be raffled off, with the proceeds going to the food bank. Heart Lake Holidays was always a big celebration, and she and Emma had been planning to go together for weeks. But now Jamie wasn't sure she wanted to go. She was bound to run into Josh and his kids there, which would be awkward. It would also remind her of what was missing in her "normal" life. That was the last thing she wanted, but she couldn't bail on her friend. Emma needed to get out and have some fun, take her mind off her troubles.

At nine, the shop phone rang. It was Emma, wanting to bail on going to the festival.

"What? Why on earth do you want to do that?"

"I'm just not in the mood. Anyway, I don't have any money to spend."

Emma needed this, and she was going to go to that festival and have fun even if Jamie had to drag her there and pin her lips up in a smile. "Well, I've got money. And I want to go," Jamie insisted. Actually, she did, she realized. No matter what she told herself, no matter how much she kept trying to protect her heart, she wanted to go and at least get a glimpse of Josh and the girls, torture herself over what she didn't dare take. "Come on. If you're really good, I'll get you one of those giant candy canes."

Emma sighed. "Okay. I guess."

"It'll be fun," Jamie insisted. "Take your mind off your troubles."

"I don't think anything can do that, but I'll come."

So, they closed up shop early on Sat.u.r.day-n.o.body really hit the shops when the festival was going, anyway-and went to the center of town, where the main drag had been transformed into a fairground humming with booths and tents hung with cedar swags, tinsel garlands, and twinkle lights. After a lunch of vegetarian chili and cornbread from the Family Inn booth, they browsed their way down the street, checking out the jewelry, hand-knit scarves, and paintings. Jamie insisted on buying a pair of silver heart-shaped earrings for Emma as an early Christmas present. Then they drifted to the parade route to wait for the Christmas parade at two, which heralded Santa's arrival (always in the back of a pickup truck stuffed with volunteer elves who threw candy to the crowd). This year Tony DeSoto had the honor, and he'd been bragging about his upcoming Santa debut to everyone who came into his wine shop.

"I wonder if it's going to snow again," said Jamie as she rubbed her mittened hands together for warmth. "It sure looks like it."

The old Emma would have immediately expounded on the joys of a Winter Wonderland. The new, depressed Emma simply said, "The weatherman only predicted a thirty percent chance of snow."

Jamie studied her friend. Emma's mouth looked like it had forgotten how to smile and she had dark circles under her eyes. Worst of all was the darkness in her eyes. "Don't give up, Em," Jamie begged. "Things are going to work out."

Emma shoved her hands into her coat pockets. "I know."

The words were right, but her tone of voice was wrong, and Jamie knew Emma was only agreeing to shut her up. She wished there were such a thing as Santa. She'd ask him to bring Emma a fabulous new life for Christmas.

"Jamie!" called a little voice.

"Jamie!" another echoed.

"Here comes your fan club," said Emma, managing a wistful twist of the lips.

Jamie turned to see Lissa and Mandy swimming through the crowd toward her. They were wearing winter coats and mittens and their curls stuck out from under floppy stocking caps. They both sported big smiles and their cheeks were kissed red from the cold, their eyes shining. She felt a painful tug on her heart. Why hadn't these girls come with an accountant or a minister? Behind them she saw Josh, pushing politely through the crowd. He didn't have to push hard. His size alone encouraged people to part before him.

The girls were in front of her now. "Santa Claus is coming," Mandy informed her breathlessly.

"That's what I hear," she said, smiling. "Have you guys been totally good this year so he can bring you what you really want?"

They both nodded.

"What do you want for Christmas?" Emma asked.

"A new mommy," said Mandy.

Lissa frowned at her little sister. "Mandy, Santa can't bring us a new mommy. Daddy has to find her." To Emma and Jamie she explained, "She's just a baby. She doesn't know how it works."

"I am not!" cried Mandy.

Josh was with them now and frowning. "Are you two behaving like we talked about?"

"Sorry, Daddy," they both muttered.

Then, back on track, they started chattering about what they'd done and seen so far. "We got to ride the merry-go-round," said Mandy. "And Daddy got us hot choc'late."

"Sweet," said Jamie. She tried to keep her gaze focused on the girls, to not look up, but she couldn't help herself. He was looking at her, desire plain on his face. She quickly refocused her attention on the girls. Well, that helped a lot.

"After the parade we get to buy something," said Lissa. "I have ten dollars to spend."

"Me, too," said Mandy. She slipped her hand into Jamie's. "Will you come with us?"

"Oh, we're almost done," Jamie said. Looking at Josh, she could feel her cheeks heating.

"Don't bug the ladies," he said sternly.

"They're not bugging us," put in Emma. "And we still have to check out the arts and crafts booths."

They had just done that. Had Emma been having an out-of-body experience? Jamie turned her face so only Emma could see and scowled at her.

Emma ignored it. Suddenly she was really smiling and her eyes were starting to light up. Great. So now Emma was figuring to live vicariously through her friend's love life. Except this was not a love life. This was a no-love life. "We did the booths. Remember?"

"Yeah, but I saw something I want to look at again." Emma pointed up the street. "Look, guys. The parade is starting!"

Sure enough, there came the Heart Lake High marching band, and behind it the convertible with the mayor perched in it, all dolled up in a red coat and a Santa hat.

"I can't see," Mandy protested. Josh lifted her up onto his shoulders and in the process wound up standing closer to Jamie. She tried hard to swallow a hiccup.

And then another. This was ridiculous. She stood and fumed as the guys from Fire Station Number Nine drove past in their fire truck, siren blaring.

"There's Sam," said Emma, elbowing her. "Sam," she called, and waved. Not that he could hear her with all the noise.

Right behind the fire truck came Heart Lake's finest, bringing more noise and flashing the lights on their patrol cars. Why wasn't Josh in one of those cars instead of here, next to her, giving her the hiccups?

The swing-dance club paused for a quick performance, shaking their hips to Kellie Pickler's version of "Santa Baby." "I thought we were going home after this," Jamie said to Emma out of the corner of her mouth.

"I want to stay longer," Emma said. "You're supposed to be trying to cheer me up. Humor me."

"This is not a movie moment," Jamie informed her.

"Not yet, but it could be."

No it couldn't. They should have left before the parade. It was a lame parade anyway.

"Santa Claus!" cried Mandy, pointing.

Even though she was frustrated and totally irritated with her friend, Jamie couldn't help smiling at the sight of Tony DeSoto perched on the back of a flatbed truck and surrounded by candy-throwing elves, waving, and holding his padded belly, faking a Santa laugh. Speakers blared "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town."

"This is just like A Christmas Story," Emma gushed. "Well, the parade part anyway."

"I'm glad you're enjoying it," Jamie said. "Next maybe you'll get a miracle on Thirty-fourth Street."

"I'd take a miracle on Lake Way," Emma replied.

Her smile suddenly vanished, and Jamie wanted to kick herself. Way to go, bigmouth.

As penance, after the parade she stayed and wandered the booths with the girls and Emma, Josh keeping a respectful distance between them. Like that helped. With every step, every turn, she was aware of him like a giant guardian angel in a blue parka and jeans.

Lissa drifted into the tent where Jamie had bought Emma's earrings. The girl had expensive taste.

Emma followed her right on in, saying, "Oh, Jamie bought me some earrings here."

Of course, they all had to troop in.

"Look, Daddy," said Lissa, dragging him over to the table. "Can we get these?"

Jamie positioned herself by the door and pretended to watch the people drifting past, in and out, trying to keep some distance between herself and Josh.

Even though Lissa had lowered her voice, Jamie couldn't help hearing her tell her dad, "I want to get these for Jamie."

Not only was the dad falling for her, so were the kids. This was so not good. She stepped outside the tent, but she could still hear.

"I don't think that would be a good idea," said Josh.

"Why not?" There was an element of whine in Lissa's voice now.

"It would embarra.s.s her. We don't know her that well."

"Yes we do," insisted Lissa.

Now Mandy chimed in. "Jamie's our friend."

"I want to get her these," Lissa insisted. "I have money."

"Those are more money than you have."

"I have money," piped Mandy.

Jamie wanted to burst in and say, "Don't, girls. I'm a bad investment."

"They're still too much," Josh said firmly.

"Daddy, can't you give us a little more?" begged Lissa. "I'll do extra ch.o.r.es."

This was awful. She moved away, burying herself in the crowd of people.

A moment later Emma, Josh, and company joined her. Lissa was pouting and Josh had lost his easy smile. Emma looked thoroughly confused, as though she'd just seen a movie with an ending that didn't make sense.

Jamie knew she wasn't really responsible for this, but she couldn't help feeling as if she, somehow, had to rescue the afternoon. She fell in step alongside Lissa. "That was really nice of you to want to buy me earrings."

"You heard?" Lissa looked at her, chagrined.

"I did. But your dad is right. It's important to learn not to spend money you don't have. And besides, heart earrings are more of a boyfriend-girlfriend thing, aren't they?" She was painfully aware of Josh walking behind them, probably pretending not to listen.

"But you bought some for Emma," Lissa pointed out, shooting down that argument.

"Well, they're for BFFs, too."

"I wanted to give you something," Lissa muttered.

"You've given me smiles," Jamie said, hugging her.

"I want to give you a present," Lissa said simply.

As if Jamie would always be in her life. She almost wanted to cry. "Sometimes the most special gifts are things you make, like drawings."

"That's for little kids," Lissa said in disgust.

"Or cards. I know lots of grown-up ladies who like to make cards."

"I guess," said Lissa, sounding unconvinced.

"The best gifts aren't always things we buy, they're gifts from the heart that help us remember special times together. Honest."

Lissa nodded, digesting Jamie's words of wisdom.

"Look, Daddy, hats!" cried Mandy, running ahead to a booth sporting all kinds of goofy hats, and Emma took off after her and Lissa, leaving Josh and Jamie to follow along behind. Subtle as always.

"Thanks," he said.