“You remember someone from the second grade?” Jayne commented, sounding impressed.
“That’s what’s so crazy,” Lindy went on to explain. Perhaps it was the wine making her head spin. “This is unreal.”
“What is?”
Lindy shook her head as if to clear her mind. “When I arrived yesterday, my mother brought out this box she’d found buried in the garage from years ago. Inside were letters I’d written to Santa. I hadn’t thought about Billy in forever, but I mentioned him in one of those letters.”
“We should ask Billy to come to the table,” Peggy said.
Before Lindy could protest, Peggy got the server’s attention. The young man quickly returned to their table.
“Is Mr. Kincade available?” she asked.
The server immediately showed his concern. “Was there something wrong with your appetizers, ladies?”
“No, no, not at all. We know him from school. Tell him Lindy Carmichael is here.”
“Peggy,” Lindy said, and groaned under her breath. “I wish you hadn’t done that.”
“Go get Will,” Peggy insisted.
The server nodded. “I’ll check if he’s available.”
“Oh please,” Lindy said, in an effort to stop him, “that isn’t necessary. I’m sure he doesn’t remember me.”
“You wrote Santa about Billy?” Jayne asked. “What did you say?”
This was more than a little embarrassing. “I told Santa Billy didn’t deserve any gifts this year and that he should bring him coal instead.”
The three laughed.
“It was mean of me, but Billy had intimidated me at school, and I guess it was the only way I could think to retaliate.”
No sooner had the words left her mouth than a man approached their table with a welcoming smile. Leaning forward, he braced his hands against the back of Jayne’s and Chloe’s chairs.
Lindy’s mouth sagged open. It was Billy Kincade, the same Billy Kincade from her youth. How she could be this certain, she didn’t know. But deep down, there wasn’t a single doubt.
Because Lindy was completely tongue-tied, Peggy spoke up. “You remember Lindy, don’t you?”
His eyes automatically landed on her with such intensity it made her want to squirm.
“And you were her ardent protector, as I recall,” Billy said, grinning at Peggy. “Good to see you both.”
“You, too,” Peggy said.
Lindy half raised her hand. “Hello, Billy.”
She had to admit Billy Kincade had matured into a fine figure of a man. He stood a good six feet tall. If his tight chest and muscular arms were any indication, he was physically fit. His eyes were a deep brown, mirroring the color of her own eyes. His hair was cut close on the sides and long on top, gathered into a neat man bun.
“Did you know Lindy wrote about you in her letter to Santa when she was in second grade?” Chloe said.
Lindy would gladly have disappeared in that moment. The last thing she wanted to discuss was that silly letter. She regretted ever mentioning it.
“Did you, now?” Billy’s full attention was focused on her, a smile teasing his sensuous mouth.
“You weren’t exactly my favorite person,” she mumbled.
Billy crossed his arms and smiled down at Lindy. “And what could I have done to earn your wrath?” he asked, as if he didn’t recall a single offense he’d committed against her.
Lindy was convinced he did remember, and she wasn’t going to let him pretend otherwise. “You know good and well what you did, Billy Kincade.”
“Tell him what you said in your letter to Santa,” Jayne urged.
Lindy wasn’t interested in confessing her embarrassing childish rant. “It’s stupid. Billy doesn’t want to hear about that.”
“Oh, but I do,” he countered.
She should have kept her mouth shut earlier. Given no choice, she confessed. “I asked Santa to bring you a stocking full of coal because that was what you deserved.”
“What year was this?” he asked, frowning.
Lindy told him. She was in second grade and he was a much bigger fourth grader.
His face grew tight. “Well, Lindy, you most definitely got your wish. That was the year our father deserted the family. There was no Christmas for Dede or me. Mom had to move us in with her parents in Yakima.”
“Oh no.” Lindy felt terrible. “I’m so sorry.”
Billy’s smile lacked humor. “That was a long time ago. Besides, I probably deserved coal instead of presents, so no harm done. Now, if you ladies will excuse me.” He left, and Lindy felt the strongest urge to follow him and apologize.