Chapter 5
Brian paced in front of the entrance to the auditorium. Flurries swirled around
him and he checked his watch for the third time. She was twenty minutes late
and he was beginning to worry. And then it dawned on him that she might not
show up at all. He wasn�t making up the chemistry he felt between them. It was
there, he knew it and Brian knew that Jo could feel it too. There was no
mistaking the look in her eyes when they had been at the lake on Sunday and he
saw it again when they said goodnight that evening after dinner. Could he be
that out of practice that he mistook the heat flowing between them? He hung his
head and started up the steps when he heard the screech of tires on the wet
pavement. He turned to see the door of a cab swing open and Jo emerge. Brian
flew down the steps and took hold of her as the cab pulled away from the curb.
"I�m sorry I got stuck at the store, then my car wouldn�t start and I had to
search all over to get a cab," Jo rambled as they walked up the steps to the landing. Brian turned her to face him.
"It doesn�t matter, you�re here." He brushed his thumb along her cheek and the simple gesture set Jo�s heart pounding. The
auditorium was full, but they managed to find two seats at the back of the balcony. Brian helped her off with her coat and they
settled in their seats. During the course of the concert Jo felt Brian�s hand cover hers and she let her thumb brush against the
back of his hand. She gazed at him and his lips curled up in a half smile as he squeezed her hand.
The Symphony played all the traditional favorites and there was even a sing along. Brian�s strong voice filled the air and at one
point Jo just sat and listened as he sang a familiar song. She had forgotten how beautiful his voice was. When he noticed her not
singing he leaned over, "Hey, you okay?" She nodded her head.
"Yes," she whispered not wanting to disturb the other attendees. "I was just listening to you. Your voice made me remember
what I loved about your albums. It was your voice. I was always able to pick you out in every song."
"You weren�t doing too bad yourself." Jo felt her cheeks grow warm. "Come on, sing with me." She joined him as the conductor
began "There�s No Place Like Home for the Holidays." When the sing along was over the mood of the audience grew quiet as
the lights dimmed and the chorus came on stage. It was tradition that the concert would always close with Handel�s Messiah. Jo
sat back and let the music and words wash over her and when the Hallelujah Chorus began she could feel her skin prickle as the
singers voices rose higher and higher. When the last note was sung the crowd rose to their feet offering a standing ovation for
their efforts. Both Jo and Brian joined in applauding with everyone else. Slowly the lights came up and people began to disburse.
~*~*~*~*~
He held her in his arms as the quartet played. They had been dancing for nearly an hour. Brian had purchased two tickets to the
after party in the small ballroom behind the balcony. There was dancing, hors d'oeuvres and champagne till midnight. Jo tried to
tell him she had to be to work early in the morning but he wouldn�t listen. Just an hour he had said. His eyes took on the look of
an injured puppy and she couldn�t say no. And once he had her in his arms she didn�t want to leave. He glided her around the
room with such ease and grace that she felt like she was floating. Jo rested her head on his shoulder lost in the music and the
warmth of Brian�s arms.
At one point they both pulled back. Brian searched her face and Jo watched as his eyes, the blue so dark they almost looked
black, reflected an honesty and yearning that somehow she felt deep within her also. "Jo, I�" Brian hesitated. He wanted to kiss
her, yet here in the middle of a dance floor was not what he had in mind. Yet his desire to taste her lips was so strong that he
wouldn�t care who saw them. Jo lowered her head not being able to stand his eyes any longer. "Come, let�s get some champagne
and a bite to eat and then I�ll take you home." Brian took her hand and led her to the bar.
Thirty minutes later they pulled up in front of her apartment. Brian helped her out and walked her to the door. "Thank you, Brian.
I had a lovely time."
"I did too." He held her hand not wanting to let go. The street light in front of Jo�s door offered them no privacy. Brian didn�t
want to leave her, yet a muffled yawn from Jo�s lips made him realize he had kept her out much too late. "Goodnight, Jo." He
leaned in and pressed his lips to her cheek. When he stepped back Jo could see the passion in his eyes.
"Goodnight, Brian. Thank you again." She turned the key in the lock and disappeared.
~*~*~*~*~
Jo wandered through the tree lot. It was late Sunday afternoon and the choice of trees wasn�t too good. She had left her car at the
shop on Saturday morning to replace the battery and worked till five. And even today, the store was opened till eight but she only
worked from noon till four and rushed right to the Christmas tree lot. With her small apartment Jo could only fit a five-foot tree
and there weren�t many to be found. As she turned down the aisle she spied one amid a cluster of larger trees. It was dwarfed by
them and seemed a bit sparse but it was perfect in her eyes.
"Are you sure you want that little runt of a tree?" There was no mistaking the voice. Jo turned to see Brian standing there with a
smile curled on his lips. He had been in her thoughts constantly since Friday night.
"Yes, I think I can give it a good home," she giggled. "What are you doing here? I�m beginning to believe you do have my house
bugged although I left work and came straight here. Have you got spies there too?" Jo pulled on some of the branches of the
small Fraser Fir.
"Actually I�ve been here all afternoon. A portion of the sale of all the trees this weekend will go to my charity." He pointed to the
emblem on his hat.
"I didn�t know, I mean I know that this tree lot supports local charities and that�s why I always come here, but I didn�t know one
of them was yours." Suddenly she was glad she had been delayed in getting a tree. She had read a bit about his charity and the
good work it was accomplishing. Now she could help contribute, even if it was in a small way.
"So, this is it, huh," Brian tilted his head towards the tree.
"Yes. It will be perfect. I have the spot all ready." Brian called over a young man who took the tree and bagged it and asked
which car was hers. "Have you got any help getting that in your apartment?" Brian motioned for the man to wait.
"No. I�ll be fine really."
"Barry, put it in the back of my jeep." Brian threw him the keys.
"Brian, you don�t have to�" he stopped her.
"I know I don�t, I want to." They walked to the parking lot. The tip of her tree was hanging out the back of Brian�s jeep. Barry
returned his keys. "Okay, I�ll follow you." Jo just nodded, not quite sure what to make of his gesture. The tree wasn�t that big,
yes it would be awkward getting it in front door, but she wasn�t a weakling. They drove the short distance to her apartment and Jo
opened the front door and turned on the lights while Brian removed the tree from the car.
She had a small wooden platform set in front of the picture window and the tree stand and screws on the floor. Brian went to work
and secured the tree. Jo filled the base of the stand with water and they both stepped back to take a look.
"You�re right. It�s perfect." Brian hesitated and Jo did too. An awkward silence fell between them. "I better go." He turned to
leave when Jo took his arm.
"Brian," she bit her lower lip as her heart raced in her chest. "I was just going to fix some pasta primavera for dinner. Please
stay."
"I�d love to." He took off his jacket and hat and followed Jo into the small kitchen. She took out a bottle of wine and gave Brian
the corkscrew. As she prepared the simple meal they talked about his charity and Jo could see how proud and excited he was.
They sat in the living room in front of the fire and ate their meal. The smell of the tree filled the small room and Jo had a hard
time concentrating on her dinner with Brian sitting so close. After they had eaten and Jo removed their plates she returned with
the rest of the wine and she joined Brian again on the floor.
"Do you realize, we have shared a meal, dancing, a concert, hot chocolate and I don�t know you�re last name." He poured them
both a refill and gazed deeply into her eyes as he sipped from his glass.
"It�s Healy, Josephine Theresa Healy. Quite a mouthful, isn�t it."
"You sound like you don�t like it."
"My dad was hoping for a son, and my mom was determined to name me after her grandmother. Dad didn�t get the boy, but he
shorten my name to make it sound like one though. I learned how to play baseball and soccer, but also took dance. He cheered
me at my games and sat proud in the audience for all my recitals. And then when I was 13 he was killed in the line of duty. He was
a New York City policeman." Jo fell silent. Even after all these years it still hurt as she remembered sitting in the church the day
of his funeral.
"I�m so sorry." Brian took her hand and rubbed it gently.
"It�s okay. My mom and I, well, both families were there for us and then four years later mom remarried. He was a good man and
took care of us. He never assumed he was my father, and for that I was grateful."
"So where are they now?"
"They were killed in a car accident five years ago." She wiped her eyes and nose and Brian lifted her face to his.
"I�Jo�forgive me for�"
"It�s okay. It�s never easy at this time of the year." Her face was a bit blotchy but it didn�t matter. All Brian could see was the
woman he was falling in love with. "Would you help me decorate the tree?" She stood up and Brian followed suit. A couple of
hours later the tree was fully adorned with lights and an unique assortment of ornaments.
They sat on the floor again drinking coffee the only light in the room coming from the tree and fireplace. Jo could feel Brian
watching her. Their bodies had touched many times while they trimmed the tree and many times she caught Brian staring at her.
The spark between them was becoming harder and harder to ignore. She gazed into the fire knowing full well that she was falling
in love with him. Brian took her cup and placed it on the table. She turned to look at him.
"You look beautiful in the firelight." His fingers curled under her chin. Jo let out a sigh as his face came closer. Her heart began
to pound and her mouth opened slightly. At first it felt like a feather had brushed her lips. Brian waited to see her reaction as he
pulled back. Jo leaned forward as his lips left hers and she opened her eyes. They locked gazes and this time Brian didn�t hold
back. His lips pressed hers hard as he pulled her close to his body tangling his fingers in her hair. She moaned as his lips
assaulted hers and his warm tongue coaxed her lips apart. It had been too long since she had been kissed like this. When they
finally parted she was breathless.
"I�m going to go." Brian stood and took her hands and pulled her up against him. "Thank you for dinner and letting me help you
with the tree." Jo gulped still shaken from their encounter. She walked him to the door and he kissed her again. "You�ve made
me very happy to be home this Christmas Jo. Goodnight." And then he was gone.
Chapter 6
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