Jake stayed hidden on the other side of the kitchen door, his hands fisted by his side while he listened to Lindsey cry. His father was sitting on the porch swing with Katie, and Jake had been sent to get cookies. He knew he shouldn't have listened, but when his mom asked about Lindsey's husband he couldn't help himself.

Now he wished for five minutes with the man. Jake would show him what he thought of such callous use of a tender-hearted woman.

"I can't impose on you for Christmas." Lindsey's voice sounded shaky. "It's my fault I'm in this mess. The signs were there, but I wanted so much to believe he loved me."

He heard his mother murmur something he couldn't hear.

Convince her to stay. The thought came straight from Jake's heart, surprising him at it's strength.

Jessica came barreling through the door. "Oh, I was just coming to get you."

Jake tried not to look guilty, but the heat crawling up his neck didn't give him much hope. "I was coming for cookies. What's up?"

"You've got to help us talk Lindsey into staying for Christmas."

Hearing his thoughts echoed in her words felt like a confirmation. However, he also knew you shouldn't make anyone do something they didn't want to.

"Maybe she already has plans."

"I didn't think of that." Jessica grabbed his hand and pulled Jake into the kitchen.

Lindsey looked physically and emotionally worn out. She slumped in the chair with circles under her puffy eyes. The seat belt mark was lighter, but she'd have a burn mark for a few more days. She tried to sit straighter, her hand moving halfway to her hair before she let it rest on the table.

"Jessica was telling me she'd like you to stay for Christmas. We'd love to have you here, but didn't you mention a brother?" Jake almost winced. Smooth. He just didn't know how to ease into things, but he'd work on it.

Lindsey looked from Jessica to Jake and back. "Yes, I'm heading to his house. He sent me a key to his apartment."

"Wait, he won't be there?" Jessica asked.

"Not until after New Year's."

"Then you should stay here. There's loads of fun stuff coming up in town. The dance at the resort, and we still need to decorate the tree for the front parlor. I bet Katie would love that." Jessica fairly danced in place.

"I already feel like I'm intruding on your family time." Lindsey glanced at Marion, then refocused on Jake. "Maybe we should see about my car and then I'll think about it."

Jake nodded. "TJ is headed out there now. It'll take him a while to bring it in and look it over. If you want, Dad and I will play with Katie so you can get a nap. You look worn out."

Jessica elbowed him in the side. When he glanced at her, she rolled her eyes.

"What?" he whispered.

"You're hopeless." Jessica threw her hands in the air. "I'll keep an eye on the men while they watch Katie."

Marion laughed. "They'll be fine, Jessica. You need to help me bring the decorations down from the attic." She stood and pulled Lindsey to her feet. "You do need some sleep though. Come with me."

“But I want to play with Katie too.” Jessica put on an exaggerated pouty face making them all laugh.

"Thank you. All of you.” Lindsey's eyes looked watery, but she didn't cry. “If Katie needs me, please come get me."

"Will do." Jake watched his mom lead Lindsey out the door.

Jessica punched him again.

"What was that for?" he asked.

"You're supposed to make her want to stay, not tell her she looks tired. No woman likes to hear that."

"But she is tired. Probably drove all night from the look of the empty 5-hour shots in her floorboards."

"Maybe so, but you don't say it. Don't you want her to stay?"

"Yeah." Jake felt his stomach drop at the realization of how much he did want her to stay. I don't even know her, so why do I care?

"Then put on a little charm. Didn't you learn anything in college?"

"I learned tons of stuff about soil quality, fertilizers, and so on."

"Hopeless!" Jessica stormed out the door.

Jake shook his head. He'd never told his mom or sister the other lessons he learned in college. He knew he was hopeless around women. That's why he'd avoided all things dating since coming home a few years ago. It seemed he could never get the words right, and most women wanted a man who wanted more out of life than a good year with the crops. More than one co-ed had laughed in his face when they learned he was an agriculture major.

He wasn't getting any younger though. It was time to try dating again, or at least talking to women, but darned if he knew how to do it without putting his foot in his mouth.