It Really IS a Wonderful Life: The Snowflake Falls but Hearts in Love Keep a Home Warm All Year Long by Linda Wood Rondeau Page B

so ill. If it were Daddy, wild horses couldn’t keep her or Mom from his side. “Why is she here, Gabe? Shouldn’t she be with her father, given his condition?”
    “Helen works three jobs, all part-time and no benefits. Her father’s social security is little help.
    She wanted to feel sorry for Helen, yet anger reared instead of the compassion. The woman had three jobs and Dorie couldn’t get one. She turned away from Gabe’s glance to hide her shallow sympathy. “From the looks of it, the West End Café could use more waiting staff. There’s too much business for a middle-aged woman and two teenagers to handle by themselves.”
    “Those teenagers are the owner’s children. Helen is the only hired help they have besides the cook.” Gabe reached for Dorie’s hand. “You’ll probably think I’m crazy, if you don’t already. Would you mind if we did Helen’s job for a few hours, so she can sneak in to see her father?”
    “Isn’t it past visiting hours?”
    Gabe picked up his phone. “I can fix that.”
    No way could she refuse. “What happens if your beeper goes off?”
    “We’ll chance it.”
    “Well, I could stay here until you come back.”
    Gabe squeezed Dorie’s hand. “Now you’re talking! I’ll let the owner know.”
    He went over to an older blonde woman. She nodded in Dorie’s direction, then handed him aprons and hairnets. He returned wearing his poster-boy smile. “Well, let’s get to work.”
    He thrust himself into his role, welcoming each customer with a “ Bon jour! Come wiz me.” Once Gabe seated them, he signaled Dorie to take their orders.
    She’d never had a date quite like this one, especially a first date. If she’d been sixteen again, she’d have written every detail into her diary, including the fact that she and Gabe never got around to his bear claw and her éclair.
    The crowd thinned around midnight. She counted her tip money with pride. Fifty dollars. Gabe came to the back and hauled a wad of bills from his pocket, then plunked them next to her offering. “These are my tips.”
    He wrapped his arm around Dorie’s shoulders, all sportsmanlike, as if he’d bested her in a footrace. “People around here can be generous. I explained what we were doing and they all chipped in a little extra. I’ve got two hundred dollars here, and your fifty will sweeten the pot.”
    “Like the folks helped George Bailey.”
    “Midville’s a good place, Dorie.”
    She said little as Gabe drove her to the Little Red Hen Preschool. He got out and came around to open her door. “Want me to follow you home?”
    She could get used to this gentlemanly doting. “It’s late and you’ve got early rounds. Thanks for an unforgettable evening.”
    He positioned himself between Dorie and her car door. “When will you be back for rehearsal?”
    “Not until Monday. I’m doing cast interviews then.”
    “Well, how about dinner Sunday? You can do my interview ahead of schedule. Bring the kids and give your mother a break.”
    She wanted to. What held her back? Before she could answer, Gabe brushed his lips against hers. A nice kiss.
    Nice? Shouldn’t there be fireworks, or at least a sizzle?
    He leaned against the car, and Dorie took the opportunity to scoot behind the wheel.
    “Sunday? I’ll pick you up around five.”
    “Okay.”
    He started his car and was off.
    Mom’s warning wailed like a siren, but Dorie willed the clang out of her mind. She shook her head. Mom couldn’t be more wrong about Gabe Wellington.
    ***
     
    Jamey tossed and turned the night away, his conflicting emotions working his heart like a vise. Why did rage reign when reason told him he had no right to be angry at either of them?
    He knew Gabe had planned to take Dorie out after rehearsal. Jamey had hoped she’d refuse. Apparently she hadn’t. He paced the house, then downed two cups of hot chocolate. Nothing eased his sense of loss. He envisioned Gabe and Dorie in a kiss. The images tortured him like a