Authors: Samantha Lovern
“I’m going to head home soon, and since the family will open a few gifts tonight you’ll need to help Randi gather up the boxes and papers. We want the place looking good when everyone wakes up in the morning.”
“Sure, we can take care of things. Why don’t you pack up and go home? Sleep in tomorrow, too. We can manage juice and whatever the kids need before dinner.”
“I don’t know. I better not.” Emma pulled her purse closer and started taking out her keys.
“Oh come on, you can trust us. I can cook anything the kids want, and they seem to really like Lillian. I’m sure she’ll be up early too and can help if something was to go wrong.”
“You’re right there. She had all of those kids engrossed in her story.” Emma paused and shrugged, “I tell you what. You have my number. If anything happens, no matter how small, call me.”
“I can do that, but I don’t think we’ll need to.”
Emma rose from the table, keys in hand, and kissed Ann on the cheek. “I sure do appreciate this. I think I’m going to consider retiring after Christmas, or at least cut back on the hours I work. The stress is just too much.”
“I can understand that. What good are our golden years if we can’t enjoy them?”
“You said a mouthful there. Remember, if you need anything, call.” Emma watched as Ann left the room. It wasn’t just the families that she was worried about. It was the love triangle too. At any moment something could happen that would make this Christmas more memorable than anyone could imagine.
Emma walked out the door, through the garage and to her car. She opened the back door and tossed her purse into the back seat. She was about to climb in when she heard a voice.
“Goodnight, Emma.”
She turned and smiled at Martin. “Goodnight yourself. I’m leaving the girls in control, as if your mother needs the help. I think you’ll be fine.”
“Oh trust me, my mother thrives at moments like this. And she’ll handle any kitchen emergency that may arise.” Martin stepped out of the darkness and moved closer.
“It’s not the kitchen that worries me.” Emma leaned on the door and the man before her nodded and crossed his arms.
“Does everyone know?” Martin asked.
“Not everyone, but I do. I had to talk Randi into staying. She wanted to leave. I felt like a heel asking . . . I know it’s not the easiest thing for her to be here.”
“I never meant for this to happen. I didn’t know what to do. I sure didn’t see this coming. I assumed she was playing with me at first, but she wasn’t.”
“No. She had no idea who you were.” Emma sighed.
Martin took a few steps forward, glanced over his shoulder, and crossed his arms once more. “Why did she stay?”
Emma didn’t like talking about people behind their backs, but this wasn’t a normal situation so she answered her boss. “I think at first it was because I ask her to, but then it seemed like more. I can’t say what she’s thinking. Just be careful, and don’t jump to any conclusions.”
“Where is she? I need to talk to her.”
Emma watched the man before her. She’d worked for him several years, and she’d never seen him this visibly upset.
“All I know is that she was going to come around later and clean up, after the kids open their gifts. You might get her to talk to you then.”
“Thanks. I’m sorry I put you—.”
Emma held up a hand. “I know. Just be careful. You have a house full of trouble just waiting to happen.” The look on Martin’s face made Emma wonder if he cared about that last statement. She reminded him once more. “The time will pass quickly. There’s no use in making waves.”
“I know. You’re right. Thanks for the reminder. Goodnight.” As Emma got in her car and sat down she watched Martin reluctantly go back into the house. She shut the door and started the motor. He didn’t turn and look. He didn’t even flinch at the sound of the motor starting.
He walked toward the house, glancing up at the moon, the house, the walk, and she wondered if he was seeing any of it. Martin was in his own world, lost in thoughts of Randi and what he’d done.
As Emma turned the car around and drove home. She just had to wonder what would await her, here at this fine mansion, come the morning’s light.
Chapter 56
Christmas Eve
The children were tearing into presents, the men were having a late-night discussion about something boring, and all Celia could think about was, Where has Martin gone now? He’d stayed for most of the children opening their gifts, but then he’d slipped off, saying he was looking for a bulb.
Aunt Lisa’s baby, Brad, had somehow pulled one of the lights from the tree and lost it. True, the bottom row of lights was off now, but she doubted if Martin was really concerned about the tree, or what the children thought. It was Randi he was looking for.
Here Celia was, being the perfect hostess, tending to everyone, fake smile and all, when she really just wanted to go tearing through the house looking for Randi and Martin.
Celia hadn’t seen Randi for hours and was hoping the girl had come to her senses and left. The idea that Randi might be thinking that the fringe benefits would outweigh being lied to worried Celia.
During dinner Martin had stolen glances at Randi as she came and went. She served only the children and didn’t give Martin a second glance.
Now and then he’d comment about the children, covering for the fact that he was trying to get Randi to even look in his direction. It was obvious Randi knew she’d been lied to, but she wasn’t angry enough to leave, and that wasn’t good.
Celia looked up and noticed one of her nieces looking at her. She forced another quick smile to her lips. From the expression on Kendra’s face, what Celia was feeling must have been showing, for the six-year-old looked a bit worried.
“Do you like your new dolly?” Celia asked, trying to assure the child she wasn’t mad at her. This was all it took, for Kendra beamed.
“I love her, but can we open more presents?”
Celia yawned and dug for an excuse to start ushering the kids off to bed.
“No, and I think we all need to go to bed soon, or Santa won’t have time to sneak in and leave more gifts.” There were the usual frowns and rolling of the eyes from the older kids, Billy and Riley, but the younger ones were all a-buzz.
“I can’t wait,” Kendra squealed.
“I want a new Barbie car,” little Sue added. Brad, who was two, was just crawling around looking for some paper to chew on.
“I think you’re right. It’s time to get everyone into bed.” Lillian moved to pick up Brad before he reached the tree again.
Celia looked around the room at her brother Roger, who was pulling himself away from the men’s circle. “Where did mom and dad go?” she asked.
“They went to bed already,” Roger yawned, stretching.
“Did Allie go to bed too? I haven’t seen her in a while?”
“No, our dear sister is more than likely off talking to that numbskull she’s going to marry. He’s one of those exasperating nerds. He’ll more than likely be rich someday, but I can’t stand him. He’s a know-it-all.”
“Really? I never would have thought Allie would have gone for that type.”
“He’s a nice-looking nerd, or she never would have. She’s more than likely gone to her room and is curled up in bed with her iPhone. They Skype all the time, it’s sickening to listen to them go on about which one of them loves the other the most.” Roger shrugged. “I’m going to head up. Aunt Lisa wants me to show her to her room. Does it matter which one she gets?”
Celia shook her head, “No, she told me earlier she was going to sleep with Kendra and Brad and let Uncle Jerry have his own room. Any of them is fine.”
“Good, I’ll let her know. Really great-looking house you have here. Man, Martin must be loaded.”
“In debt is more like it,” Lillian chimed in, and she forced a smile that almost looked genuine.
“That too, I’m sure,” Roger agreed, reaching out to take Brad. “I’ll take this bundle of joy.” Roger took the baby and gooed and cooed as he looked for Lisa.
“You have a really nice family and some wonderful kids,” Lillian said as she started to clean up.
Celia thought it was a waste of time for her to tell Lillian that the maids would pick up the trash but the older woman did look very tired so she took the wrapping paper from her. “I'll take care of picking things up. You should get to bed. And thank you. My family's pretty close. And thanks for reading and giving the gifts out. That was nice. You didn’t have to go to all that trouble.”
“It was no trouble. I love children, but these days they do wear me out a bit faster. I think I’m ready to turn in. Talk to you in the morning.”
Celia noticed that Lillian didn’t bother to mention the disappearance of her own son as the children had opened the last of their gifts. She was tempted to say something, but in the end, it was nothing she wanted Lillian’s opinion on, so she didn’t.
There were boxes and paper all over the floor and Celia picked up a few items that were blocking the path. She glanced up as her Aunt Irene, Uncle William, and their kids, Sue, Billy and Riley started making their way up the stairs. Celia bade them all goodnight, and was thankful that if any of them noticed Martin wasn’t around they didn’t mention it.
She picked up a few boxes and then shrugged. She didn’t care if the paper was there in the morning. She wasn’t cleaning. The two boxes were in her hands already so she went to the kitchen, tossed them into the trash, and started to turn. She heard a swish of something and waited.
There coming out of the dark hallway was Randi. Well, she wasn’t gone after all. A look of hate or something like it must have crossed Celia’s face because Randi stopped in her tracks. Ann appeared right behind Randi. Randi slowly gave a faint smile and spoke as she walked to the sink.
“Are the children off to bed yet?" Ann asked. "Santa can’t come until they are.”
Celia wasn’t sure what Randi was up to, but it was obvious that her smile was strained. Though she went to the sink and glanced in for dirty dishes, Randi didn’t seem to want to turn her back for long. Good thing too. “Yes, they’re all working their way to bed now." Desperate to keep Martin and Randi from meeting again, she forced herself to say, "You two can go to bed. I'll pick up the wrappings in the great room. It's not much.”
Ann shuffled away, yawning. Randi nodded and answered Celia as she put away the few cups she had washed out.
“Good. I’ll see to it that the gifts are under the tree in the morning. Do I need to worry about any of them sneaking down to take a peek?” Randi leaned against the sink and crossed her arms.
“I don’t think so, but you never can tell. Maybe you should get up around six and eat a few of the cookies when you put the gifts out.” Celia thought Randi might frown at having to get up so early, but she didn’t.
“I can do that. Anything else?”
Stay away from Martin, was what Celia wanted to say, but she just shook her head. She wasn’t sure what game Randi was playing, or if she was just trying to hang around for a chance to speak to Martin. If that was her plan, Celia was going to try and get in the way. She wasn’t used to losing and she didn’t want to start now.
“I won’t keep you. I don’t want you oversleeping. It should take you about an hour to get the gifts arranged, so when you’re done, stomp around and ring the bells I left by the cookies. Then go hide. Take the bells with you. I’m sure the little ones will be listening for Santa. Seven won’t be too early for us to rise and open gifts.”
Chapter 57
Three Little Words
Martin was just washing his hands as he heard someone enter the garage from the kitchen. He rinsed, grabbed a towel, and stepped out of the bathroom. It was Celia. He had been hoping to see Randi.
Did he face the music or let her turn and go? Conscience got the better of him and he called out as she was going back into the house. “Were you looking for me?”
She turned, and this time there was no smile. She just nodded. “I was wondering where you’d gone. I was about to clean up around the tree. I was just tossing out some trash. Want to help with the rest of it?”
“Sure.” He said, not really sure what would come next when Celia claimed she was going to do some cleaning up. He followed her into the house and they went to the great room, neither of them speaking.
He really hated the situation he was in, and for the first time it was hitting him. He was going to break it off with Celia. Weeks ago he’d been planning on asking her to marry him. They’d even gone out and looked at rings together. She’d pointed at several she liked, one an engagement ring, one an emerald. He’d bought the emerald, but then decided to return it.
Even if things didn’t work out with Randi, he knew now that he’d jumped the gun by moving in with Celia, and that it would never work.
They were just too different. They wanted some of the same things out of life, but the path they wanted to take to get there was so different.
Martin just couldn’t imagine Celia ever wanting to have children of her own, and if she did, he knew she wouldn’t be the kind of mother he wanted for his offspring. He wanted the kind of woman who would sit in the floor and play with the kids.