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Hallmark has already gone to 24 hours of Christmas movies! Michaels has Christmas decorations for sale! The Christmas books are already coming out! Are you excited or annoyed?

Whether it’s the season or not, I love a good holiday romance. Check out this scene from Christmas Dad, in which single mother Melissa Fitzgerald meets a friendly, good-looking man down on his luck . . . who her children have plans to hire.

            With Thanksgiving behind her, Melissa was scrambling. There was so much to do—Christmas for her family, Christmas for the center, not to mention the year-end reports that she was responsible for at the accounting office where she worked.

            She liked the work and had always had an aptitude with numbers. Unfortunately, there just were not enough hours in the day to get everything done. Even now she was hurrying out of the office half an hour early to pick up the kids from afterschool care and head to the help center because of some crisis that Annie said needed her immediate attention.

            There was no evening meal at the center on Monday or Thursday, with the exception of Thanksgiving, due to financial restraints. But breakfast and lunch were offered everyday for the down and out. Melissa was glad that if they had to have an emergency, it was on a night they weren’t serving.

            The kids were comparing notes in the backseat on possible candidates for their “Christmas Dad,” as they’d begun to call him. Melissa cringed every time she heard the term. She silently groaned hearing them discuss the various teachers that might fit the bill.

            “What about Mr. Cline?” Bethany mentioned.

            “Are you serious? Last year he gave me a ‘D’ on a project that I had to do while I was sick with the flu, in a fever.” Melissa didn’t add that he’d had over a month to do the project before getting sick. “What about Coach Dees? He’s kinda cool.”

            “Maybe, but he never smiles. Why would I want a dad that never smiles?”

            Melissa had a sudden thought. “You didn’t mention this to any one of them, did you?” she asked.

            “Nope. We want to make sure of our choice before spilling our guts,” Samuel said.

            Melissa stifled a smile. “Very wise.” Thank you, God, for small favors.

            They pulled into the small parking lot next to the brick building that housed the help center. As always, Melissa felt a pride that she was able to be a part of something that would help many people.

            She rushed in and said, “Annie? What’s up?”

            “Oh, Melissa. The kitchen sink started leaking badly. I couldn’t get the water shut off and it started flooding the whole room. I couldn’t reach Reece and didn’t know what to do but call you.”

            Even as the woman was speaking, Melissa was running for the kitchen. She pushed the swinging door, ready to step into a mess. Instead she walked in to see someone, on hands and knees, wiping up the last of the water.

            Melissa looked around to see that everything was in order. Before she could say anything, the person on the floor turned and looked at her.

            And Melissa was sure the earth moved beneath her feet.

            Her heart stuttered and her breathing caught. It was the man she’d seen on Thanksgiving, she thought, noticing that his wavy hair was drooping over his brow. His eyes held a force that could be angelic or devilish, as if he could go either way.

            She immediately regained her composure and said, “What happened?”

            The man stood, wiping his hands on a towel. “Your pipe was leaking big time. I turned the water off and marked where the leak is. If you can get to a hardware store, I can give you a list of what I’ll need to fix it.”

            “You can fix it?” Melissa stepped forward. 

            “Wait, the floor may still be slippery,” the man said just as Melissa’s shoe slid on the damp surface. The man leaped forward and caught her just before she stumbled to the ground.

            She’d been wrong, she thought as he held her. Her heart banged in her chest as she stared at the eyes before her. They weren’t vivid blue but a mellow blue. Perhaps they changed with his mood.

            “See?” he said with a hint of sarcasm.

            Snapping back, she carefully set her feet on the floor and said, “Thank you . . . ah, I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Melissa Fitzgerald.” She extended her hand to him.

            “I know,” he said accepting the hand with brisk efficiency. “Jack Andrews. Pleasure.”

            “Well, Mr. Andrews, I appreciate your helping us out. I’ll head out to the store now,” she said reaching into her the huge tote that she habitually carried around and pulled out a pad and pencil.

            “It’s Jack,” he said as he took the pad and pencil and began to write, his eyes narrowing in concentration. 

            “Hi Jack!” Bethany said as she walked into the kitchen, smiling at the man.

            “Be careful, sweetheart. The floor’s a bit damp, as your mother can tell you. Hey, champ, how you doing?” he said to Samuel.

            Clearly pleased with the attention, Samuel replied, “Fine. I didn’t know you were here.”

            “Yeah. I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d check in. See if I could score a little work.”

            “You know my children . . . ah, Jack?”

            “Sure.” He walked over to give them both high fives, along with a slight grin. “We played a cutthroat game of monopoly on Thanksgiving. Right kids?” Both nodded. “You’re raising a couple of tycoons there, Ms. Fitzgerald.”

            She smiled. “Yes, I know. And it’s Melissa.”

            He shrugged as if it meant nothing to him and went back to his list.

            For some strange reason, Melissa felt as if the man had dissed her. Uncomfortable, she said, “Well, if you’re finished with that list, the kids and I can hop over and get the items right now. If that’d be convenient for you.”

            “Got nothing else planned,” he muttered, not meeting her eyes.

            “Fine. Oh, I can give you a twenty for fixing it. That all right with you?”

            As he handed the paper to her, Jack said, “A twenty’d be good. Thank you.”

            The kids talked about Jack all the way to the hardware store and back. They laughed at how Samuel had bought Park Place just before Jack landed on it. And how Bethany had looked sad-eyed at him and he hadn’t made her pay when she landed on his hotel. 

            Melissa was happy for their chatter, but she was also cautious. This Jack person was a transient, down on his luck. He seemed to like the kids, that was evident, but she knew nothing about his character. She’d have to keep an eye on him.

            Not a hardship, she’d admit to herself, as he was quite handsome. Seeing him close-up had given her a new perspective. He still had the roughness, but behind it was a nice looking man. 

            They returned to the center and watched as Jack went to work fixing the leak. As he explained to Samuel what he was doing, Bethany said, “Mom, it’s getting late and I’m hungry. Why don’t we order pizza and let Jack share it with us. It’d be the generous thing to do.”

            Melissa saw her daughter’s wide eyes, brown just like her brother’s, and said, “I guess that would be okay.”  

            Bethany ran out of the room and Melissa walked over to stoop near Samuel and Jack, both of their bodies shoved under the sink. “You guys want pizza?”

            She heard a muffled “Yay!” from Samuel. Jack peeked out and said, “Sure.”

            “What do you like on your pizza?” 

            “Surprise me,” he said and went back to his work.

            Was there anything so attractive as a man working in the kitchen? Melissa stood and took a moment to get her heart to slow down, then mentally shook her head to return to the mature adult that she knew she was. Or rather that she needed to be.

           Once the pizza arrived, the four of them sat at the small table in the kitchen. Melissa had worried about what they could possibly find to talk about over dinner, but she shouldn’t have. Her children chatted the entire time, about school, about their interests. Jack seemed to be entertained by the two. She wondered if he really was or just putting on a good show for them. 

            In her experience, there could be any number of reasons for someone to frequent a place like the Orange Avenue Help Center. He could be simply working through a rough patch. He could be a lifer—someone who had chosen a more migratory existence. He could be a shyster, merely trying to trick and steal all he could get out of life. Or he could be in need of serious mental health. Those scared her most and she, Annie, and Reece were vigilant to single these people out and get them the help they needed.

            Listening to Jack interact with her children, she couldn’t really place which category he fell into. His language, although clipped, carried a sheen that most visitors to the center didn’t have. He carried himself with more self-confidence than she usually saw. His eyes were clear, obviously free of the abuse of alcohol or drugs. Curious.

            “So, where are you from, Jack?” she asked casually.

            “Around,” he said taking a bite of hot pepperoni pizza, adding a moan of appreciation.

            “How did you end up in Orlando?” 

            “Job,” he said around his mouthful of food.

            “What do you do?” She said patiently and hoped her expression looked innocent enough.

            He swallowed and looked at her. After a brief hesitation, he said, “I’m a runner, of sorts.”

            “You mean like in races?” Samuel asked.

            “No, Sam,” he said, ruffling the child’s hair. “It means I run errands for other people.”

            That could mean about anything from running messages, dry cleaning, to drugs. But why was he here? “How did you hear about the center?” she asked.

            “From a friend. I need a little help at the moment. Hope that’s all right.” Jack picked up another piece of pizza and took a big bite.

            Melissa could feel two sets of eyes on her. That’s the thing about being a parent. Your children were always watching. She gave a warm smile and said, “Of course it is.”

            The kids took over the conversation again and Melissa settled back, resolving to give the man the benefit of the doubt. For now.

Find out what happens with Melissa, Samuel, Bethany, and the mysterious Jack. Get your copy today at:                                   

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