A Christmas Spark (Hudson House Holiday #2)

Chapter Five

K ase set a spotted leopard on a shelf to dry. It was the last piece for the carousel tree stand he was crafting for his mother. Once the leopard dried, he could finish assembling the animals on the rods that would move up and down while a music box played a lively rendition of “Jingle Bells.” Pleased with how the carousel stand was coming together, along with the other gifts he’d completed, Kase had one more gift to finish before Christmas.

He was carving an ornament of a little box camera for Dori, but had started over three times because he hadn’t been able to get it just right. This last version, though, he knew would work. One morning, while Dori and Sarah were sorting through photographs in the dining room, he’d snuck into the house, slipped into her room, and taken her camera.

After studying it for an hour and drawing a few design ideas, he returned it to where he’d found it when he went to the house for lunch. Thankfully, Dori had been none the wiser.

He hoped to finish carving the camera this afternoon. Tomorrow he’d sand all the rough edges, and then it would be ready to paint. He planned to coat it with tung oil so it would shine in the lights on the Christmas tree.

Kase hoped she’d like the ornament and that it would remind her of this holiday season spent at Hudson House.

The other day when he’d gone to her room to fetch the camera, he was surprised to see she’d set out her own decorations in the room. At least, he assumed they were hers. The jolly-faced Santa, a snow globe with two ice skaters, and a pillow stitched with a holly design weren’t new items. He could tell that at a glance. But something about them made him think they were priceless to Dori.

Just as the family photographs she’d brought with her were priceless to his family.

A few nights ago, when Kase couldn’t sleep, he’d gone down to the dining room and looked through the stacks of photos. One entire end of the big table was covered with moments from his family’s past that were preserved so beautifully in the images George Stanford had taken.

Kase had spent the better part of an hour looking at photographs of Drake, recalling so many happy memories from their childhood. The raw, ripping pain he’d previously experienced whenever recollections of his brother came to mind didn’t tear into his heart as it normally did. He still felt the wrenching grief of losing Drake, but there were good memories edging into his thoughts too.

Since Sarah and Dori had arrived home for the holidays, Kase had felt … different. Like life was no longer one endless bleak moment stretching out for eternity. He’d laughed. Played games. Helped the girls with Christmas decorations. He’d even taken Dori for a sleigh ride twice since the day he’d shown her the estate.

The look on her face as she burrowed into the blanket against the frosty breeze had been one of pure bliss. After seeing that expression once, he found himself wanting to create new opportunities to make her happy.

Kase had spent the past two years mired in bitterness, guilt, anger, regret, and grief. For the first time since the day Drake had died, Kase felt hope.

Hope that someday he would live a normal life, love a kindhearted woman, and do something to make a difference in the world instead of feeling so mired in one moment of time that he couldn’t move forward.

The beautiful woman he wanted to love was currently in the dining room poring over boxes and stacks of photographs, eager to unite the images with the families who would appreciate them, like his own.

Dori was nothing like the vision he’d created of her in his mind. He hadn’t seen her for more than five years. In that time, she’d changed from a giggling girl to an attractive woman full of wit, strength, and courage.

Several times since her arrival at Hudson House, Kase had seen her walking around with one of her cameras taking photos. His father had given Dori use of a windowless room on the third floor that was used to store odds and ends. She’d turned it into a darkroom, and often brought whatever photos she had ready with her to their evenings in the sitting room or library. It had become Kase’s favorite part of the day.

Then again, Dori had also been making his mornings special. The past week, when he arose in the morning, it was to find a handwritten phrase of encouragement slid beneath his door. A few times, she’d included a photograph of something to reinforce the carefully written words.

Yesterday’s note had said, “Every day is full of tiny miracles. Appreciate them.” She’d included a photo of Grandpa Jack with it, although Kase had no idea when she’d taken it. In the image, his grandfather was laughing, head thrown back, arms wrapped around his youngest grandchild.

After he and Dori, along with Sarah, had mentioned their concerns about Grandpa Jack to their mother, Holland and Savannah had insisted on having the doctor look him over. He was diagnosed with a heart problem, given medication, and was already acting more like himself.

That tiny miracle was one for which Kase was deeply grateful. He knew his grandfather was getting on in years, but he wasn’t ready to think of him being gone. Not yet.

Today’s note from Dori had left him mulling over the words. “The road to peace begins at the end of expectation.”

Kase couldn’t get that simple thought out of his head. He hadn’t been at peace since he and Drake had left for Camp Lewis. Through the months of training, there was always, in the back of his mind, the niggling worry of what might happen when they actually arrived in Europe.

When they’d landed in France, Kase had struggled to hang on to even a shred of hope and peace when all around him were the horrors of war. Drake had been the one who encouraged him, while Kase had done his best to buoy his brother when Drake had experienced moments of doubts and despair.

After Drake had been killed and Kase had come home missing a chunk of his thigh, along with a piece of his soul, peace had been elusive.

If Kase cared to admit it, he’d been so, so angry at God—for the war, for his brother dying, for everything bad that had ever happened in his life. Although he went through the motions of attending church, even praying, it was without sincerity.

Yet, once Dori had arrived and he’d allowed the tiniest glimmer of joy to penetrate the dark expanse of his heart, he felt hope returning, one drop at a time. Kase no longer felt angry at God. Instead, that fury was gradually being replaced with gratitude. He could have died alongside Drake. While there were months he wished he had, he tried to imagine what that would have done to his parents. To Sarah. To the rest of their family.

For reasons Kase didn’t yet know nor understand, his life had been spared. He didn’t know why he was at Hudson House preparing to celebrate another Christmas, when so many others had died in the Great War. However, the thing Kase was learning was that it wasn’t for him to know. God knew, and Kase had to accept the way things were, or else drive himself mad pursuing answers he might not ever find.

Kase had observed Dori many times when she took a photograph. He knew she had to adjust the focus, or change the perspective, or move so there was better light to capture the best image possible.

Life seemed to be a lot like that. Adjusting the focus. Changing the perspective. Moving toward the light.

For the longest time, Kase hadn’t done any of that. He had remained stubbornly rooted in a terrible, tragic moment and refused to let it go, wallowing in its pain and darkness.

Only now he felt as though he could step into his future. Adjust his focus. Change his perspective. Move toward the light.

He was learning to manage expectations. If he let go of them completely, would the words Dori penned come true? Would he finally find the peace he so desperately needed and craved?

Deep in contemplating the possibilities, Kase cleaned his brushes, tidied his work area, and headed to the house for lunch. He would need to put on a clean shirt before they ate. As he made his way to his room, he wondered what delicious thing Dulcie had prepared today.

Kase washed up, changed into a clean shirt and pair of jeans, then carried his dirty clothes with him as he took the elevator to the basement. He hoped someone could get the paint off the sleeve of his favorite flannel shirt.

As he neared the laundry, he heard a childish voice singing Christmas carols.

Outside the laundry room, he leaned against the wall, just out of view of Mavis Martin, four-year-old daughter of Vera Martin, the head of the laundry department. Vera had joined their staff when her husband had gone off to war. He was one of the unfortunate souls who’d died on a battlefield in Italy, leaving behind a widow and little girl he’d never even had the opportunity to meet.

Kase smirked as he listened to Mavis, amused by her enthusiastic vocals. When, in a loud, boisterous voice, she began to sing, “Hark the Hairy Angels Sing, Glory to the Newberg King,” Kase was hard pressed not to laugh aloud.

He stepped into the laundry room to see Mavis twirling around on her toes as she further obliterated the words to the traditional Christmas song.

“Peace the earth with thirsty wild, God and simmers ready piled.”

“That is quite a song, Mavis,” Kase said when the child finished the tune.

“Thank you, Mr. Hudson.” The child grinned at him. “Whatcha got?”

“I spilled paint on my clothes. I hoped your mother might be able to get them clean.”

Mavis nodded her head and continued twirling around. “My mommy is the best at getting everything clean.”

“She is the best,” Kase said, tweaking the little girl’s nose.

Vera wiped her wet hands on her apron, and nodded to Kase. “Let me see those, Mr. Hudson. I’ll see what I can do.” She reached for the clothes.

Kase would have reminded her he preferred to be called by his first name, but he knew she was trying to teach Mavis good manners.

“Thank you, Vera,” he said, handing over the garments.

“My pleasure, sir.” Vera smiled at him, then returned to her work.

Kase reached into his pocket and retrieved one of the chocolate mint discs made by the NECCO company. He gave a piece of candy to Mavis, then held his fingers to his lips, to make her think it was a secret.

The child nodded and popped the candy into her mouth with a happy smile. Kase ruffled her mussed curly hair, then made his way upstairs for lunch.

He thought about dropping by the kitchen, but knew he’d only be in the way as Dulcie and her staff hurried to get everything ready to serve.

Kase limped to the breakfast room where the family took the majority of their meals but found it empty, although the table was set for two. He made his way to the dining room where Dori sat with photographs spread out in front of her, intently studying the image she held in her hands.

“Where is everyone?” he asked, startling her as he walked up behind her to see the photograph was of a friend of his cousin Mayes.

Dori jumped in her chair and glowered at him. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

“I’m hard to miss. Why are you studying that photo of Cecil Brownwick?”

“Who?” Dori asked, looking from him to the photograph. “You know who this is?”

“Yep. He’s a friend of Mayes. I met him the last time I was in San Francisco.”

“I’m so glad you recognized him.” Dori set down the photo and motioned to the others spread around her. “I thought I recognized the back of Mayes’s head in this one, but I wasn’t sure.”

“Yes, that is my cousin’s egg-shaped noggin.”

Dori’s left eyebrow rose slightly. “Too bad yours is the same shape.”

Kase growled at her, and she laughed, then patted the chair next to hers. “Have a seat and see who else you recognize.”

“I’ll look after lunch, but right now I’m starving.” Kase tugged on her hand. “Please? Come eat with me before I perish from lack of nourishment.”

Dori stood and gave him a studying glance. “What’s inspired the melodrama?”

Kase shrugged and held an arm out to her. “I’m just in a good mood. Have you heard little Mavis singing Christmas carols in the basement?”

“No, I haven’t. Why?”

“They are most amusing.” He sang the words Mavis had altered, and Dori began to laugh.

“Sing it again,” she said as they walked into the breakfast room and Kase pulled out her chair.

He sang the tune as he walked around the table to sit across from her, then glanced at the empty spaces beside them. “Where is everyone?”

“Your parents went into town shopping. I think it has something to do with the staff luncheon on Christmas Eve. Sarah went to visit your cousin Hope. I believe they planned to dine at the hotel with Hope’s husband. Sarah mentioned Hope and Harry have only been married since August.”

“They seem happy. Harry works at his father’s bank in town.”

One of the kitchen staff carried in two filled plates.

Kase asked a blessing on the meal and meant it in a heartfelt way he hadn’t experienced for a while. When he raised his head, Dori was studying him, but he wasn’t certain why. He lifted his fork and cut into the flaky crust covering a creamy chicken pot pie. Steam, redolent with herbs grown in their kitchen garden, rose and made him realize just how hungry he was as he took a bite.

The meal was companionable and the conversation relaxed. He found Dori so easy to talk to, so pleasant to be with. She was beautiful to look at, but more importantly, Kase thought she had a beautiful spirit and a kind, caring heart.

When they finished eating, Kase went with her to the dining room where he looked through the photos she’d spread out on the table. To her joy, he was able to identify those that belonged to Cecil’s family.

“How about these?” Dori asked, motioning to a stack of document folders on the far end of the table.

Kase glanced through them. Of the dozen folders, he only recognized three of the families.

“Sorry I couldn’t be more help,” he said as Dori wrote notes about who the people were and how she could locate them.

“You were a big help, Kase. That’s three more families I can contact than I previously had. While we’re on the subject of families, I just wanted to say how much I enjoy yours. Your parents are marvelous, and I adore Sarah, but all your aunts and uncles and cousins are wonderful. I’ve loved getting to spend time with your grandpa. He makes me laugh.”

“That’s only because he likes pretty girls fawning over him,” Kase teased, then grew somber. “Did you like meeting your grandparents? Sarah mentioned you spent time with them in New York.”

Dori shook her head. “Not particularly. My grandfather is embittered from the loss of his fortune, and my grandmother pours her attention and efforts into trying to relive her past. The time I was with them gave me a clear perspective as to why my mother left and never looked back.”

“I’m sorry, Dori. You know I’m happy to share Grandpa with you.”

She smiled and squeezed his fingers. “I appreciate it.”

Kase looked down at her small hand on his big paw. Something about it seemed so perfect and right. He placed his other hand over hers, keeping it captive for a moment as he searched the depths of Dori’s fascinating eyes. He’d never seen anyone with eyes that particular shade. It wasn’t quite brown nor gold, but an incredible sparkling shade in between.

As his gaze found and held hers, something flickered in her eyes. Entranced with her, with the aura of warmth that shone around her, he took a step closer.

He reached up and traced the curve of her jaw with his knuckle, then gently tipped her chin up slightly. The urge—no, the need—to kiss her was so strong Kase couldn’t have resisted if he’d tried.

And he had no interest in trying to resist. Not when all he could think about was Dori’s lips. Would she taste like the orange-spiced tea they’d enjoyed with the creamy buttermilk pie Dulcie had served for dessert? Or would the flavor of her be something darker, richer, or sweeter?

Intrigued and intent on discovering the answer to his questions, Kase lowered his head toward hers, pleased when she closed her eyes and tilted her head back slightly as though she was equally eager for the kiss.

“There you two are!” Sarah exclaimed as she strolled into the room.

Dori stepped around him and smiled at his sister as though nothing momentous had almost taken place between them.

Maybe for her, a kiss wasn’t that important, but to him it was. He hadn’t kissed a girl since he’d left for France. The opportunities to do so before he was injured had been nearly nonexistent. After he was injured, he didn’t want to be around anyone.

Now, though, with Dori at Hudson House, he felt … renewed. As though her arrival had brought with it a new perspective and purpose to his life.

“Come on, lazy bones. Help is needed in decking the halls.” Sarah grabbed on to his arm and tugged.

Kase groaned and set his feet, forcing Sarah to stop. “What if I don’t want to?” he asked, pretending to scowl.

“Please, Kase? We’ll have fun,” Sarah pleaded, looking more like the child he remembered than the woman she’d grown into.

“Only if carols are sung as we work, and hot chocolate is plentiful after we finish.”

“You drive a hard bargain,” Dori said, stepping up on his other side and wrapping her arm around his. “Sing the song you heard from Mavis.”

Kase launched into a rousing rendition of “Hark the Hairy Angels Sing,” making both Dori and Sarah laugh as they bundled up and went outside to hang garlands across the front of the house.

That night, after another evening filled with laughter, games, and delight in the sitting room, Kase went to sleep dreaming of ways he could get Dori alone to see if her kiss would be as spectacular as he imagined.