Two Hearts for Christmast (7 page)

“
Say yes, and whisk that little lady upstairs off for a wonderful getaway,” his father instructed.

“
Okay, but—”

“
No buts,” his father protested.  “We know what you’ve got going, and we can take over if things can’t wait ‘til you get back.”

“
I appreciate that, Dad.  I think I’ve got the project back on track, so everything should be good for now.  I’ll make sure I leave them your cell phone number—just in case.”

Christopher headed upstairs.  
They’re right.  Yvie and I need some time alone to decompress, and the sooner, the better.
  He had some fences to mend with his wife.  He intended to show her just how much he loved her.  
Starting tonight.
  With a gleam in his eye, Christopher went to tell Yvette about his parents’ generous offer.

9 CHAPTER NINE

“
You wouldn’t believe how relaxed I am,” Yvette gushed as she came into their suite.  She sat on the bed and stretched out next to Christopher.  He set his laptop down and gazed at her.

“
You look it.”  He leaned over her and kissed the tip of her nose.  

“
This place is amazing, Chris.  It’s so decadent.  I’m going to kiss your parents again when we get home,” she laughed.  “This was such a wonderful idea.  Why didn’t we think of it?  And sooner?”

“
I guess when you’re in the trenches every day, it’s hard to see the forest for the trees.”

She nodded.  “Still, we have to make sure that we’re taking care of us as a couple, in addition to us as a family.”

He traced a finger down the front of her shirt from her neck to her waist.  “I agree wholeheartedly.  So, my beautiful wife.  What would you like to do now?  Anything you want.”

She glanced up at him.  “Anything?” she said, seductively.

A fire lit in Christopher’s gaze in reaction to her heated stare.  “I’m at your disposal, baby.”

“
Good.  In that case, I’m in the mood for a bubble bath—with you.”

He was off the bed in an instant, and holding his hand out to help Yvette up.  “Whatever my Snow Queen wants, she gets.”

***

Two hours later, they were in the restaurant looking over the menu.  

“
I don’t have any idea what I want,” Yvette said, in consternation.  “Everything looks so good.”

“
From where I’m sitting, you’re absolutely right.”

There was a note in his voice that caused Yvette to peek at him from over the top of her menu.  “Are we still talking about food?”

He gave her a look that would have melted butter in an ice storm.  “If I must.”

“
Maybe we should order room service instead,” she said, boldly.

Christopher leaned in closer.  “Say the word, and we’re gone.”

Before Yvette could answer, her cell phone rang.

“
Let it ring,” he replied.

“
I can’t, it’s your mom.”

Yvette answered the phone.  “Hi, Margaret.”

“
Hi, honey.  I’m sorry to interrupt your weekend, but I thought you should know that Robin has a bit of a fever.  I’ve given him some Children’s Tylenol, and he’s lying down.”

“
Oh my,” Yvette said.  

Christopher looked at her with concern.  “What?” he mouthed.

“
Robin’s sick,” she whispered.  “He’s got a fever.”

“
You know I wouldn’t think of ruining your evening, but…he wants his mommy.”

“
No problem, Margaret.  We’ll leave as soon as we can get packed.  Tell him Mommy and Daddy are going to be there soon.”  Yvette hung up, and gazed across the table at her husband.

“
Don’t worry.  I just signaled the waiter.”

“
Chris, I—”

He reached across the table and took her hand in his.  “Sweetheart, it’s fine.  I’m happy we got to spend the time alone that we did, but Robby’s sick.  There’ll be other weekends.”  He winked.

Yvette nodded.  “I love you.”

“
And I you.”

They packed in record time, and checked out.  When they got home, Christopher’s parents were in the family room watching The Wizard of Oz, with Robin lying on Margaret’s lap, but with his grandfather supporting his feet.  He was wrapped in his favorite blanket, and though his face was flushed, he was watching the show with avid interest.  When he saw his parents, he scooted off the couch and ran to his mother.

“
Mommy, up.”

“
Hi, sweetie,” Yvette said, picking him up and holding him close.  

“
I shick, Mommy.”

“
You’re sick?  Oh my.  Are you ready for bed?”

He nodded and lay his head on her shoulder.  “I go night-night.”

“
Hey, little man.”  Christopher rubbed his son’s back.

Robin leaned across and his father picked him up.  “I’ll take him up.  Leave the bags; I’ll get them after I put him down.”

“
I’ll get him some juice, and meet you upstairs,” she told him.

She turned to her in-laws after Christopher left.  “Thank you both so much, we had such a great time.”

“
We’re just sorry you had to cut it short,” Margaret replied.

“
Oh no, it’s was fine.  We promised that we would do it again—soon.  We appreciate you both for giving us the nudge we needed, and for springing for such a wonderful surprise.”

“
Our pleasure,” Anthony replied.  “We’d better get going.”

“
You two must be wiped out.  How was Lacey?”

“
She was just fine, and a big help with Robby.  Adelaide’s gone to bed already, and we’ve made reservations at our favorite hotel again, so don’t you worry about us,” Margaret added.  “Tony and I had a great time holding the fort down.”

Yvette hugged them.  “I love you both.”

“
We love you, too, honey.  Adelaide said she’s going to be leaving soon.  I told her that she can give us a holler if she needs anything, and we’ll be there in a flash.  She said she may come up to Winter Wishes to visit soon.”

“
I’m so glad you two are friends,” Yvette said, warmly.

“
Me, too,” Margaret smiled looking over at her husband.  “We take turns beating Tony in Bid Whist.”

Anthony rolled his eyes.  “What they don’t know is I let them win.”

Yvette traded places with Christopher so that he could see his parents out.  When he got back inside, he locked up, and doused the lights.  Next, he went to check on Lacey.  She and Adelaide were sound asleep.  He kissed his daughter’s forehead, and quietly left the room.

When he went into his room, he was surprised to see Yvette alone.  He came over and sat next to her on the bed.  “I thought Robin would be in here with you.”

“
He fell asleep the moment I laid him in his bed.”

“
Good.  He needs the rest.  You wanna take the Lacey or Robin shift?”

Yvette laughed.  “I’ll take Robby if he gets up.”

They always traded off on duties, so when a child was sick, one would take care of them if they were needed in the night, and the other would take care of the morning responsibilities.

 “
Okay.”

Later, when they were curled up in bed, Christopher leaned over and whispered into her ear, “Thanks for the great weekend, sweetheart.  Especially the bubble bath.”

“
Oh you liked that, did you?  I think we’ll definitely have to…take a bubble bath more often.”

They shared a laugh at that, and eventually drifted off into a sound sleep.

***

For every one step forward, I feel like we’ve taken one step back.  
 Yvette glanced at the clock on the wall.  Ten o’clock, and Christopher still wasn’t home—again.

His hectic work schedule was starting to really wear on her nerves.  He’d missed dinner and spending time with the family three times during the week.  She was exhausted from having to pull double duty with the kids.  Lacey had been a big help, but even so, Christopher’s presence was definitely missed.

To make matters worse, when she had spoken with Margaret that night, she said she hadn’t seen Christopher since early that afternoon.  
If he was there,
how could she miss him?  
Granted, it was a huge farm, but still.  When he was there late, he usually ate with them, and let them know before he headed home, but Margaret had said that Christopher didn’t eat dinner with them.  At that point, she had lamented to Margaret how much Christopher’s hectic work schedule was disrupting their family life.  

“
We told Chris a while ago that all he had to do was say the word and we’d hire someone to take more of the load, but he wasn’t having it.  He is as stubborn as his father when he wants to be.”

“
Hey,” Anthony said loudly in the background.

Yvette was upset, but she had to laugh at the indignant tone in his voice.

She glanced at the clock again.  Where
was
he?  She was about to phone him again, when she heard the garage door go up.  
Finally.

She got up and went downstairs.  When she reached the kitchen, Christopher had his head in the refrigerator.  He straightened and closed the door.  Two things occurred after that.  The first was that Yvette could tell immediately that he was angry, and the second was it was directed at
her.
 

“
I would’ve thought you’d be sleep by now,” he said, flatly.

“
Why would you think that?  When do I ever go to bed before you make it home safe?”

“
Yeah, I get that you’re worried about me.  Trust me, I get it.”

She frowned.  “What does that even mean, and why do you have an attitude with
me
?  You’re the one that’s been missing in action lately.”

“
That’s true, and something that you just had to go drag my mother into a discussion that you should’ve had with me,” he accused.

She stared at him.  “What are you talking about?”

“
Oh come on.  Really, Yvie?  You complained to my mother about my work schedule.  So much so, that she and Dad are ready to hire someone to be my partner in running the place.  Sound familiar now?”

Yvette blanched.  She was just venting to Margaret.  She had no idea that she would press Christopher about it.  

“
Oh, now you’ve got nothing to say?”

She sighed heavily.  “I was just…I didn’t know your mother would mention our conversation to you, Chris.  I was merely voicing my frustration.  Nothing more.”

“
Was that even necessary?  I’m at work, Yvie,” he said, tiredly.  “I realize that it’s been a tremendous burden on you this week, but—”

“
It’s not just this week, Christopher.  This has been going on for some time.  How long do you think you can continue commuting like this?  You’re spending more time on the highway than with your family.”

“
Look, I’m tired, and I really don’t want to argue anymore.  I’m going to bed.”

Stunned, Yvette watched Christopher walk past her and up the stairs.  “Seriously?”  She was livid.  
I don’t know how in the world we got to this point, but this has to get figured out.  
There were just too many instances where if Chris was home, he was preoccupied at times, or working on his laptop.  It was as if he worked around the clock.  Which didn’t make any sense to Yvette.  It was a farm, it wasn’t a global corporation.  What in the world was so dire that it would monopolize his every waking hour?  Her thoughts drifted to Margaret and Tony.  It was as if they, too, were surprised at the amount of time he was putting in at work.  
And it was their farm!
 
  
 

Suddenly, a thought wove its way into her subconscious that was so shocking, she gasped.  
Was Christopher having an affair?  
Despair swept through her, and a sour taste permeated her mouth.  Once she thought about it, her imagination ran wild.

Late nights, tired, preoccupied, missing important family functions.  
Is it possible?

“
No,” she breathed aloud.  It couldn’t be.  Christopher would never, ever cheat on her.  She was annoyed at herself for even entertaining the idea.  He loved her…he had always loved her, and would never do anything to jeopardize their marriage.  But…was he happy?  Christopher had taken on a lot of responsibility in a short amount of time.  They’d been married, he adopted Lacey, they’d sold both of their houses, had a baby, and now were living in his parents’ townhouse.  That was enough to make anyone long for a much less complicated life.  
The single life?
 

Yvette shook her head, but emotions sprung up out of nowhere and threatened to overwhelm her.  She felt a sudden urge to dissolve into tears.  Tamping down the emotions, she walked over and sank into the couch.  She wrapped her arms around her middle and tried to get herself together.  She trusted her husband, and would continue to do so until she had reason not to.  Suddenly exhausted, having to climb the stairs and walk to her bedroom was more than she could imagine right then.  Instead, Yvette lay down and grabbed a throw to spread over herself.  
It’s just a rough patch we’re going through.  It will all shake out soon.  Christopher loves you and he loves the family you’ve created together.  Nothing will ever change that.  
 

10 CHAPTER TEN

“
Mommy, wake up.  Mommy, up.”

Yvette opened her eyes slowly.  She blinked several times and eventually her sight cleared and she could see Robin standing in front of her.  He was holding his favorite bear in one hand, and his sippy cup in the other.