Nothing Short of a Miracle (11 page)

Sheila and Jodi looked at each other and Gabriella wondered what they were thinking. She didn’t like the smiles they gave each other. But when they turned back to her, their expressions were serious.

“Your secret is safe with us. We won’t tell a soul Nina isn’t really yours,” they said in unison.

“It’s no secret. Besides, she’ll be legally mine before long, so I don’t mind who knows. I already feel as if she’s truly mine. And being a single mother just goes along with the territory.”

“We’re here to help if you need anything. Just say the word.”

“Thanks. I appreciate your offer.”

“Come on,” Jodi said, wrapping her arm though Gabriella’s. “Let’s go join the others. The Newell’s are here and you just
have
to see Jennifer. The fun is about to begin.”

“What fun?”

“You’ll see. Brother Chad is about to be cornered by another one of mother’s ‘hopefuls.’ She keeps hoping Chad will finally find a woman he’ll fall madly in love with and ask her to marry him. That’s why we call them her ‘hopefuls.’”

The two sisters led her down the stairs and into the library. If possible, the room looked even more festive than earlier in the day. Candles flickered in the window, the pictures on the mantel had been rearranged and taller candles had been lit and were casting a warm glow in between fresh pine boughs. The overhead lights dimmed, and soft holiday music played in the background.

Gabriella spotted the Newells right away. It wasn’t hard. They stood out like beacons on a foggy night, especially their daughter, Jennifer.

Jennifer, fit to kill, wore a short, tight, red satin dress that hugged every curve, accentuating all her prominent parts. The matching red stilettos gave her additional height. Long blond hair, with deep blue eyes, and full red lips beckoned the male species like a neon light. Jennifer’s sex appeal could revive the dead.

Gabriella had accepted a long time ago that she wasn’t tall and sexy, or even beautiful. Still, she found it annoying to watch the reaction of men when they were in the presence of a gorgeous woman like Jennifer.

“Jennifer, this is my son, Chad. Chad, I want you to meet Jennifer. Doesn’t she look festive tonight?”

“She certainly does,” Chad said. He stepped forward and took her hand.

His eyes lit up. Gabriella did a slow burn, reminding her that she wasn’t interested in Chad, or any other male at the moment. She looked over at Dennis. He had the same interest in his eyes, too.

Men!

Without moving a muscle, Gabriella stood transfixed as the other men in the room were just as taken in by this woman’s sex appeal.

She turned to see how Jodi and Sheila were handling the situation. From the looks on their faces, they were irritated.

Jennifer wiggled around the room in her skin-tight, very paper thin dress approaching each of the men in turn. Her handshake was more than a mere touch, it was a lingering grasp. What a vixen! The woman was literally lapping up all the male attention and obviously loving it.

Despite Jennifer being the center of attention, Gabriella caught Chad glancing her way on several occasions. His smile caused butterflies to flutter wildly in her stomach. She felt like a love-sick school girl on a first date. Every time he looked her way, her skin tingled and her face heated like a furnace with the thermostat turned up. Just the thought of him having seen her naked had her insides throbbing in places they shouldn’t be. Lord, she hoped he couldn’t read her mind.

An hour into the evening, however, both Sheila and Jodi had corralled their husbands away from Jennifer’s clutches. Which left Dennis and Chad standing on either side of Jennifer—Gabriella feeling the odd person out. No one noticed, which gave her ample opportunity to observe the scene unfolding in front of her.

Jennifer inched her way toward the opposite side of the room, away from the fireplace with Chad and Dennis keeping in step. Gabriella looked up and spotted the greenery hanging from the alcove toward the side entrance. Ah. Mistletoe. It stuck out like a sore thumb that had been whacked with a hammer. Whoever had placed the mistletoe there must have done so after dinner. The “red-siren” inched her way across the carpeted floor, closer to where Gabriella stood with a drink in her hand.

“Why Chad, you naughty boy. I can’t believe you did that to Denny. So much for friends. Did you kiss and make up?” Jennifer’s cunning voice grated false and shrill.

Gabriella wasn’t sure what they had been talking about. Nevertheless, spellbound, she waited to see what Jennifer’s next move would be. She didn’t have long to find out. Standing directly under the mistletoe now, Jennifer looked dismayed, her eyes wide, her perfectly painted fingernails lying claim to her ample chest where her heart was supposed to be somewhere buried beneath.

Gabriella wanted to vomit.

“Speaking of kissing, I must say, I didn’t notice this beautiful sprig of mistletoe and holly hanging here earlier.”

Liar.

Gabriella’s stomach lurched. Chad must have seen this coming—he wasn’t the sort of man to be blind-sided by this kind of woman.

“Tradition is tradition, after all.” Jennifer batted her long thick, mascara-laden lashes at Chad, her voice turning low and sultry.

Chad didn’t move, but then, he didn’t back off, either. Gabriella watched as Jennifer took matters into her own hands and tugged Chad forward. She slipped her arms around his neck, and held on tight. The vixen drew Chad in for a full frontal assault right in front of everyone—her body snug against his. The woman’s very generous, sensual lips were plastered against Chad’s. Gabriella’s stomach roiled at the display. She held her breath, looked toward Chad’s parents and sure enough, Helen had seen the whole thing. The woman looked delighted. There was no other way to describe that animated face and those sparkling eyes. Gabriella hadn’t wanted to believe Helen was a meddling matchmaker, but it appeared to be true.

Gabriella turned back to the couple still standing under the mistletoe in a tight lip-lock. They made a striking couple.

Not to be outdone, Dennis elbowed Chad and Jennifer aside in the middle of their kiss, grabbed Gabriella’s arm, and dragged her to him.

“My turn,” he said, then leaned in for a kiss. Stunned, Gabriella didn’t have time to respond before Dennis ended the kiss and led her over to the picture window, away from the others.

“What was that all about?” Gabriella asked.

“Sorry,” he said. “I couldn’t resist. Seeing Jennifer make a play for Chad, I just got caught up in the moment. Sorry.”

Thankfully, the Hempsteads and Chad’s sisters were still staring in shock at Chad and Jennifer. They hadn’t paid any attention to her and Dennis.

“I wasn’t prepared—you surprised me, is all. You do know I’m not interested in anyone right now. Right?”

“You’ve made it clear. It was just a holiday kiss. Think nothing of it.”

“If you’ll excuse me, I should go check on Nina.”

She crossed the room, startled to find Jennifer blocking her way.

“I understand you’re an unwed single mother,” Jennifer said before Gabriella could make her escape. “How dreadful to have a baby to have to take care of all on your own.”

Jennifer’s negative implications were clear. The rude woman reminded her of Charles and his attitude toward Nina.

“I’m a single parent by choice,” Gabriella said. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to check on
Nina
.”

“Well, of course.” Jennifer’s smile was pure bitter syrup. “I’m sure you won’t be missed.”

Gabriella glanced around the library. All eyes were on them. She was unable to read Chad’s expression. His lips were clamped, his brows lowered. Was he angry thinking she was the one to cause such a scene? She decided not to hang around to find out—he could think what he wanted. She fled to the kitchen where Ethel had Nina’s bottle warming in a pan of water on the stove.

“Thanks, Ethel. You’re wonderful.” Gabriella gave the woman a hug. “I’m going to miss you when I leave.”

“Just doing my job,” Ethel said, her warm smile genuine.

“I don’t think your job is to watch over me and make my job easier. I’m not sure why I have a job here at all.”

“It’ll come to you before long, my dear. Miracles, no matter how big or small, never cease to happen, especially this time of year.”

“I could certainly use a miracle this year,” Gabriella said.

“All in good time, my dear, all in good time.”

“Do you have family of your own?” Gabriella asked.

“Did have.” Ethel wiped her hands on her ample, red-nosed reindeer apron. “My husband died ten years ago. My son lives out west and works for one of those highfaluting computer companies. Don’t get to see him much. I started working for the Hempsteads a year after Ernie died. It’s been my salvation,
my
miracle.”

“Why haven’t you moved out by your son?”

“Never did like the idea of living in California. Traffic? Earthquakes? No thanks. Besides, my son’s lifestyle is too fast for me. I’m happy right where I am. Here, now,” Ethel wiped her eyes with the back of her hands, “you take this on up to our wee-one before she wakes and becomes unhappy. Helps take the pressure off you to be ready when she starts fussing. Go on, now, and be getting some rest yourself. You look done-in.”

“Thanks,” Gabriella gave Ethel another hug and this time a kiss on her soft cheek. Ethel was lucky to have found a family like the Hempsteads.

Gabriella wasn’t in her room five minutes when Nina woke wanting her evening bottle. A half-hour later she was back in her crib fast asleep.

Gabriella, on the other hand, was far from ready for sleep. She sat on the edge of the bed and stared at the snow drifting down outside her window. She shouldn’t be worrying about Chad Hempstead, or the cruel words Jennifer had inflicted. She had an exam to study for, a baby to take care of, and a job to do. Who had time to fantasize over a man like Chad? She fell backwards into the soft mattress and closed her eyes. Big mistake. All she could see was Chad’s eyes staring back at her. She found herself drawn to him despite his opinion of her. No matter how warm all over she got whenever Chad Hempstead walked into a room. No matter how disarming his smile. No matter how devastatingly handsome. She didn’t need or want a man in her life.

Yeah. Right.

Chapter Seven

Gabriella spent the following week working around Helen and Nina’s schedule. Tuesday and Thursday Helen’s physical therapist arranged to stop by mid-morning, and Gabriella assisted while Nina slept. After Helen’s session, the older woman settled in the hot tub for twenty minutes before she laid down to rest. Nina claimed Gabriella’s attention for a couple of hours and Gabriella delighted in playing with her niece who was beginning to laugh, coo, and kick about more and more.

Several times Gabriella caught Chad standing in the library doorway watching them. His expression gave nothing away. She wondered what he was thinking, but then Nina would take her mind off her thoughts about Helen’s moody son and back on the bubbly baby and her day would brighten once again.

Tuesday morning, after Helen finished her physical therapy and was tucked back in her room for a rest, Chad, once again, stood in the doorway for a few moments before surprising Gabriella and this time, stepping into the room. He sat down in the chair next to where she and Nina were playing on the floor.

“I want to apologize for Jennifer’s rudeness the other night,” he said. “She was out of line.”

“No need to apologize for her.” She kept her attention focused on Nina. The baby cooed and smiled up at her. “It doesn’t matter what she thinks. But she’s right. Nina is my responsibility—I am a single mother.”

“But you aren’t an unwed mother.”

His statement sounded more like a question.

“I’m not married, but I do have a baby. In her eyes I guess I am an unwed mother.”

“Not in the true sense of the meaning.”

Gabriella wondered where they were going with this conversation—why he was defending her.

“Nevertheless, I could see that it upset you and I wanted to let you know that I don’t feel the same way Jennifer does.”

“Thank you. It makes it easier to live here until after the holidays.”

“I admire you for taking on the responsibility of someone else’s child, even if it is family.”

Gabriella was stunned. Chad actually admired her?

She was speechless. She swallowed and rubbed her thumbs over Nina’s smooth, pudgy hands—the tiny fingers gripped her own fingers. She smiled.

The silence stretched on forever. Gabriella wished he’d leave, his nearness prickling the hairs on her neck.

“Cat got your tongue?” Chad asked.

Was he reading her mind again?

“No. I’m just overwhelmed by you and your family. It’s beyond courtesy to include me in your inner circle, especially during the holidays. You have a very loving family, Chad. You’re a very lucky man. You should come home more often, your parents miss you.”

“Yes. I am lucky. Look, I’m sorry if I made you feel as if you weren’t welcome, earlier. I hadn’t expected to see you again, especially after I bumped into your car. It was quite a surprise to walk into my parent’s home and find you having tea with my mother.”

The sincerity of it shone in his eyes. He rested his elbows on his knees and leaned toward her. His breath fanned the stray tendrils hanging loose against her neck. The sensation made her quiver. She was reminded once again of their encounter in the washroom and of him seeing her naked. She inverted her head to hide her emotions. But his next words squelched the heat that had crept up her neck.

“I want to work out a settlement on the damage I did to your car.” He raised his hands to stop her protest before she could speak. “I know, I know. You said you don’t want my help. But I can see how wrong I was to think the little bit of cash I gave you was sufficient.”

Gabriella leaned back on her bended knees, her head snapped up, her eyes narrowed.

“Correct. I don’t want your help. And you did give me enough to pay to have the car repaired. You’re just feeling sorry for me. Keep your money and your sympathy. I don’t need either.”