8

Ianto's lungs seized. Oh no. he'd forgotten about the divorced doctor with two first names.

"What a great idea to ask him to help with the pageant," Brianne said, with an exaggerated smile. "We can always use a few strong men to carry boxes and put together the stable."

"I'm happy to help," JP said. "It's the least I can do after the experience you had the other night. I still can't believe you forgot your phone and mine died. I feel awful, knowing you were trapped on a deserted highway all alone."

"Please don't feel guilty. It was a conspiracy of modern technology," Ianto said. Of course, he hadn't exactly been alone, and he was keenly aware that the man he'd ended up spending the evening with was in the hallway behind him.

"Actually, Ianto wasn't alone."

Yeah, he wasn't in the hallway anymore.

Jack shouldered past everyone, carrying a large, unwieldy box as if it were no more than a pillow. He deposited his burden and turned to greet everyone. His audience stared at him as if he'd dropped in from outer space.

Brianne goggled at him. "Reverend Harkness, what are you doing here?"

"Please, call me Jack, and I'm here getting to know my congregation before I step into some very big shoes," he said, as if it were no big deal for him to come strolling out of a storage closet.

"He didn't have anywhere else to go for Christmas so he came here," Ianto explained.

Brianne gasped and held a hand to her heart. "You're all alone at Christmas?"

"Pretty much," Jack said, with a careless shrug.

"Well, that won't do at all." Brianne's face reflected utter despair at the revelation. She may have even developed a few tears. "You'll have to celebrate with us."

"I couldn't possibly intrude on your family."

"I insist," Brianne said. "Daddy would be horrified if he knew you were on your own during the holidays."

Jack nodded. "Thank you for the invitation. I'd love to join you." He glanced in Ianto's direction. "All of you."

"Great," Brianne said, flashing a pleased smile. Then she frowned and glanced at Ianto. "Did he say you weren't alone on the road the other night?"

Ianto let out a little chirp and clamped a hand around his sister's elbow. "Come help me sort the angel wings."

Ianto glared at Jack as he dragged Brianne away, but he just gave him a thumb's up.

"You're hurting me." Brianne ripped her arm away. "What's with you?"

"We have to finish sorting these costumes."

"Why don't you want me talking to Jack? What are you hiding?"

Ianto shoved a white angel's gown toward his sister. "Nothing."

Brianne dropped the costume. "Bro, stop moving, and tell me the truth."

Ianto decided he needed to tell someone, anyone, about the secret encounter. He needed someone to convince him the night had been nothing but a mirage.

"Okay. We met the night my car broke down," Ianto said. "Jack stopped to help and waited with me until the tow truck arrived. I didn't find out who he was until dad and I showed up at the Cooper's the next day."

Okay, watered down version of what had happened. No need to go into details about what a fool he'd been, spilling all his secrets to a total stranger.

"What else happened?" Brianne asked.

"Nothing," Ianto insisted. "We talked. It wasn't like there was anything else to do."

Brianne's nose twitched again as the trail she'd been on resurfaced. "You like him," she said.

"No."

"I think he likes you, too."

"Please, that's ridiculous."

Brianne stuck her hands on her hips. "A man doesn't leave his family at Christmas to go hang out in a strange town for no reason."

"Come on, we sat and talked for a few minutes. It's not like I'm some femme fatale who can make a man fall in love in one night."

Not that he'd fallen in love, either.

"There's no reason he couldn't fall in love with you," Brianne said. "You're attractive, smart, loving, and we all know you'd make a great minister's husband. You've been training for the job practically your whole life."

"Stop it."

"Plus, he's gorgeous, in case you hadn't noticed," Brianne said. "I mean seriously, the pews will be filled by every single woman in town and most of the men once he officially takes over. Good job, getting him all to yourself for a few weeks."

"I didn't arrange this," Ianto said through clenched teeth.

"Maybe not, but you can certainly take advantage."

"What about John Henry?" Mr. Bland who was even now standing next to Jack, looking like a pale ghost in comparison.

"Choice is always good," Brianne said. "So is a little competition."

"I'm not going to play them off each other. This isn't middle school."

A burst of noise erupted from the back of the sanctuary as kids and their parents poured down the aisle. Shrieks of excitement filled the room when the children spotted the costumes. They swarmed around Jack and John Henry.

Jack laughed good-naturedly while JP reacted as though a swarm of army ants had surrounded them.

Brianne leaned close. "No, it's life. Your life," she whispered in Ianto's ear. "The one you said you wanted to change. So, what are you going to do now that you have a chance to do it?"

.

.

.

"Matthew and Sam, we do not use the shepherd's staffs for sword fighting," Ianto rapped out, just as two boys prepared to take up arms on the stage.

The two combatants jumped apart and quickly lowered their makeshift weapons. Both boys gave him an innocent expression.

"We weren't gonna…" Matthew protested.

"Santa doesn't like it when you lie," Ianto said. "Neither does Baby Jesus, and they work together to seek out the good little boys and girls, you know."

The boys glanced at each other in alarm and then back at him.

"We're sorry," they chorused.

Nothing like the threat of Santa's displeasure to bring naughty kids in line. Too bad there wasn't something equally as effective the rest of the year.