Goodbye Secrets (The Lost & Found Series book #2) (50 page)

“Grown-ups are so weird!” Morgan shakes her head. “Next, please!” she says. Grayson proceeds to pass her all of her gifts. I sit on the floor and lean my back up against the couch. Watching Morgan on Christmas morning never gets old. She and Annie get so excited, showing each other what they’ve opened. A lot of their gifts are the same, so we have the girls open them together. I notice Morgan catch herself looking for Annie a few times. We exchange small smiles.

“Do you like your new ski jacket, sweetheart?” Gray plops down next to her.

“Yes, Daddy.” She looks away.

“What’s the matter, Morgy?” He puts his arm around her.

“I wonder if Annie got the matching one in her favorite color.” She sighs.

“I happen to know that she did indeed get this very same jacket in her favorite color.” He pokes at it. I shoot him a quizzical look. “We also got Annie a round-trip ticket to visit you in California on spring break.” He rubs her back.

“Really?” she asks excitedly and hugs him.

“Absolutely! Annie can come and visit anytime.”

“Can I call her when I’m all done?”

I wince and watch Grayson become visibly uncomfortable—he grabs at the back of his neck and scratches (not something he normally does when he’s asked a question).

“Call her tomorrow, love,” he says.

“But, Dad ... ” she says in a quiet, sad tone.

“No, Morgan ... not today! Damn it, Becca!” he snaps and gets up.

“Grayson!” I call after him as he walks away.

“Mom, I’m sorry.” She looks to me.

“No, sweetie, it’s not your fault. I’ll talk to him.” I get up and head toward the kitchen. “Grayson!” I say with frustration.

“I asked you not to do this today! This is our day!” he yells.

“I have no control over what she’s thinking or asking! You are being fucking ridiculous!” I give it back to him.

“But you do, sweetheart. You have no idea how much control you have!” He grabs my arms.

“You’re mad, Gray! What the hell is wrong with you?” I peer up at him nervously. He releases my arms and looks down.

“Go back out. I’ll be there in a minute. I just need to cool off.” He walks away. I decide it’s best if I just do as he asks.

“Is Daddy still mad at me?” Morgan meets me halfway.

“No, sweetie, he’s upset with me. Do me a favor and just don’t mention the McNeils—at least for today.” I wrap my arm around her shoulders and walk side by side with her into the lounge. We sit down and watch Hazel and Charlie open their gift from Morgan. It’s a framed picture of the three of them that she decorated with a pretty ribbon. It’s beautiful.

“Here, Morgy.” Grayson comes behind us and hands her his phone. “It’s for you.”

She grabs it.

“Hello? Annie!” She smiles up at Grayson. He smiles back and nudges me. I scoot forward on the floor, allowing him room to sit behind me. I rest back against his chest, letting him wrap his arms around me.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I’m acting like a bloody idiot,” he whispers in my ear, then softly kisses down my neck.

“That was nice of you, baby ... to call. She really is like a sister to Morgan.” I turn my head to him.

“I know. You can say merry Christmas to her, too. But please don’t talk to him—not today, baby.” He lays a kiss on my face before he presses his cheek to mine for a hug.

“I promise.” I pat his arm. We watch as Morgan rambles on about her stuff and listens to Annie. She starts laughing and excitedly planning Annie’s visit out to California.

“Yeah, sure,” she says into the phone, then holds her hand over the receiver. “Mom, can you talk?”

“If it’s Annie, yes.” I raise my brows. She hands me the phone. “Merry Christmas, Annie!” I greet her cheerfully.

“Merry Christmas, Becca! Thank you for my plane ticket and ski jacket! Have you opened all of your gifts yet?” she asks.

“No, I haven’t. Why?” It’s good to hear her voice.

“Well, you have to open the gift from Morgan. Tell her to give it to you!” she demands.

“Morgan, Annie said you have something I have to open.” As I’m speaking, she jumps up—to collect it, I guess. She hands me a small jewelry box. “Hold on, baby,” I say to Annie, and begin to open it. It’s a half of a silver heart on a thin chain. It says
Annie
on the front. On the back, it says
Never Apart
. A note from Morgan says,
Wear this close to your heart and you two will never be apart. Love, Morgan
. “Morgan, this is so beautiful and so thoughtful.” I look up at her. Damn, my kid is amazing!

“I have the other half with your name on it,” Annie says. “I’m wearing it right now!”

“I’m putting mine on right now.” I smile as Grayson helps me with it. “Can you do me a favor, Annie?”

“Sure, Becca.”

“Every night at eight o’clock when you go to bed, give your part of your heart a kiss. I will do that every day at five in California. This way, we give each other a kiss good night every night.” I play with the heart on the chain, running it back and forth across my neck.

“That’s a great idea, Mom—er, Becca. I’ll do that every night. I promise!” She’s trying to sound happy, but I can hear the hint of sadness in her voice.

“Me too ... I love you, Annie.”

“I love you, too. Tell Morgan I’ll call her tomorrow.”

“Okay, sweetie, have a good day today.” I wish I could hug her.

“You, too. Bye.” She hangs up and I give Gray the phone.

“Thanks, baby.”

“Welcome. Now, shall we get to your gifts?” He stands up and goes to the tree. He grabs a Christmas bag and brings it over to me. “Dive in, sweetheart.” He sits behind me again.

I get on my knees and reach my hand in. “Any specific order?” I look back to catch him staring at my bum. “Earth to Grayson,” I say with a giggle.

“Hmm? Oh no, no order,” he says, glancing up at me. I mentally shrug and select my first gift. It’s a long, rectangular box. I unwrap and open it to find a PANDORA bracelet. I look closer at each charm. A double-decker bus with the British flag, an airplane, a sleigh, a plain circle with a bible dangling from it, a teacup, a Christmas tree, a baby carriage, a dangling music note, a dangling pearl, an envelope that says
To My Love
. They are divided here and there by glass beads in my favorite colors, purple and lime green. “Do you like it?” He seems unsure.

“Of course I do! Very symbolic.” I smile and kiss him. “Thank you.”

“Becca ... that’s it?”

“Why? What’s the matter?” I furrow my brow, trying to figure him out.

“I just ... I thought I would get a better reaction. I’m a bit disappointed.” He grabs the bracelet and tosses it into the box.

“Sorry, Gray, I love it. I don’t know what else you want me to say.” I gaze into his eyes.

“Just go on.” He waves his hand. I grab the next gift and open it to find the newest Janet Evanovich
Stephanie Plum
novel.

“Oh wow! I didn’t even realize another came out!” I love these books!

“Really, Becca?” he snaps. “I spent countless hours choosing each charm, and you show more excitement and appreciation over a fucking book?” His voice is one octave below yelling. Everybody is quiet, trying not to stare at us. I feel so embarrassed.

“Excuse me,” I say, and get up. I head into the kitchen to start breakfast.
The big fucking English breakfast I planned for that asshole!
“Fucking jerk!” I snap under my breath as I pull out several dozen eggs, sausage, bacon, beans, and potatoes.

The swinging door slams open.

“Becca! What the bloody hell are you doing? We’re opening gifts!”

“What does it look like I’m doing?” I yell.

“Becca, you’re being rude!”

“
I’m
being rude? You’re kidding, right? Grayson, you are acting very strange today.” I shake my head as I throw the bacon into the pan.

“Please, darling, please come and open the rest of your gifts,” he asks calmly, placing his hands on my hips. A surge of butterflies swoops around in my belly.

“Later.” I close my eyes to try to settle myself. Grayson lets out a frustrated sigh and lets go, then grabs a stool and sits at the island.

“I wish we could start this day over, Becca,” he grumbles.

“Me too, baby ... me too.” I grab the sausages and get them going as well. Within no time, the kitchen smells yummy and my belly is grumbling instead of fighting off the effects of Grayson’s touch. “Gray?” I glance over my shoulder at my defeated-looking fiancé.

“What?”

“Don’t sulk; it’s not very becoming on you, first of all. Second of all, I wish you gave me the bracelet last night. I love it, and I think I would’ve been more expressive if we were alone. Half of those charms have very significant, personal meanings to us. That’s why I didn’t really carry on about it.” I lower the gas on the stove before I walk over to him and lean on the island.

“You know, sweetheart,” he says, and grabs my hips again to pull me to him. “I didn’t even think of that. You’re right. I’m sorry for the way I behaved. It’s no excuse, but I do have a lot on my mind and am a bit off my game.” He rests his forehead against mine.

“Things will be better once we’re back in California.” I squeeze his shoulders, massaging them a bit.

“Will you open the rest of your gifts after breakfast?”

“Yes. I have some for you, as well.”

“You have more for me?” He lights up like a child.

“Of course, baby.” I give him a swift kiss before I get back to breakfast.

I sit back and put my feet up with another cup of coffee—decaf this time—and watch everybody else clean up from breakfast. I don’t feel an ounce of guilt running through my body, nor the ridiculous need to help. I think I deserve to relax for once, and damn it, that’s what I’m going to do! I take another sip and look up to find Grayson holding the Christmas gift bag open by the handles and tilting it back and forth, an unspoken question on his face.

“Sure.” I smile and put my coffee down.

“Okay.” He kneels in front of me and pulls out a thick envelope. “This is last.” He puts it to the side, then hands me three other boxes. “Remember, I have another personal gift I want to give you tomorrow.”

I nod at his reminder and slowly open the first box. It’s a new Cricut cartridge! I pull a Morgan reaction and hurry to the next box. Another one! I look up at Gray.

“I haven’t seen these before!”

“Nope. Not released yet, sweetheart.” He smiles, proud of himself.

“Who’s awesome now?” I kiss him. “Now, what do we have here?” I open the last box and gasp. It’s a Doris Panos blue quartz and diamond bangle bracelet in sterling silver and platinum. I know this not because I have an eye for fine jewelry, but simply because I can read. That’s what the card in the box says. “Grayson, it’s beautiful! I love it!” I put it on immediately.

“Do you, sweetheart?” He takes my hand and looks at my wrist.

“Yes ... really, I do!” I lean in for a kiss. “Okay, I’m dying to know. What’s in that envelope?” With ADD, one’s focus always gets redirected rather quickly!

“Oh ... that? That’s nothing.” He waves his hand like he’s shooing it away. “Let’s not worry about that. Actually, it just may be rubbish that fell in here.” He grabs it. “I’ll just throw it away, sweetheart.” He starts to get up.

“Give me that! Right now, Grayson Michael James, if you know what’s good for you!” I pout, placing my hands on my hips for emphasis.

“Oh ... all right, darling, but I don’t think you’ll like it at all.” He sits beside me and places the manila envelope in my lap. I turn it over, undo the metal brackets, and flip the flap up. I reach in to find a few papers with a narrow, catalog-like book. I pull them all out and start looking through them. I feel Grayson pushing my jaw closed, and I glance up at him.

“Grayson?” I can barely breathe.

“You love to fly, sweetheart. I’ve seen it on your face. It was your dream. I understand why it got pushed aside, but it doesn’t need to be anymore. I want you to get your pilot’s license. It’s an honor for me to make one of your dreams come true, darling.” Finally, he stops talking. My mouth attacks his with such urgency, I take my own breath away. “Shag list then, love?” He chuckles.

“Abso-bloody-friggin-lutely!” I gaze back down at the paperwork.