Sins of Omission (18 page)

“It's yours, I don't want it,” Daniel said sourly. “For all the good it's going to do you.”

“You're just an old worrywart,” she said, skipping ahead of him. At the door to his room she kissed him lightly on the cheek and whispered, “Sweet dreams,” before sauntering to her own room.

Sweet dreams, my ass, Daniel thought, grimacing. Why in hell had he allowed Bebe…He'd done it. She hadn't twisted his arm. He was sorry now. Like Reuben, he was beginning to realize Bebe was the cause of all his discontent. Things had been so nice, so peaceful, until she'd appeared on the scene.

His gut told him Bebe Rosen was trouble…big-time trouble.

The new day brought a harmony that prevailed right up to Christmas Eve. Mickey continued to explain her special traditions, particularly those that pertained to feasting on a wealth of old family recipes, French foods in creamy rich sauces. There would be pheasant and a ham and a leg of mutton. The vegetables would be crisply fresh, the bread warm and crunchy with Echiré butter as golden as a summer sun, melting in little rivers down the partially sliced bread. Marrons glacés and spiced rum cake that would flame at the end of the meal, she said happily. Dinner would be served in the formal dining room with the best linen cloths and the finest crystal and china. The silver would shine like the first evening star. There'd be coffee in tiny china cups in the library before the fire. When Nanette had carried the last of the dishes back to the kitchen, they would gather round the tree. The candles would be lighted, and they'd sing “O Holy Night” along with other carols. At eleven o'clock they'd pile into the Citroën and drive to the village for midnight Mass. When they returned to the château the gifts would be opened, and then it would be Christmas Day. Their first Christmas together.

Bebe took her cue from Mickey and prepared carefully for the evening. She look a long, leisurely bath, then washed and curled her hair. It dried into springy little puffs all about her face. She applied makeup, but frugally, just enough to highlight her best features. The only jewelry she wore were diamond studs in her ears. Her dress was emerald green with a wide lace collar studded with tiny pearls, more elegant and sophisticated than any she'd worn since her arrival. She looked good and felt absolutely wonderful…until she saw Mickey pass by her room.

Her dress was a cranberry silk with lines so defined and elegant it could have been made for a princess. Her shoes were lizard, and very expensive. Bebe knew a thing or two about shoes since she owned over sixty pairs, but nothing she had could compare with the ones her aunt was wearing. Tonight Mickey wore jewels—in her ears, around her neck, on her wrists and fingers. Diamonds, hundreds of diamonds that sparkled and glittered in the dim light. She'd shine like a Christmas tree, Bebe thought nastily.

All her lightheartedness, her good cheer, had vanished. She couldn't compete, and she wouldn't even try.

Downstairs in the library, Reuben was pouring their predinner wine. Bebe drew in her breath in a long hiss. How handsome he looked in his dark suit and gleaming white shirt! His tie was knotted perfectly, his shoes had just the right amount of polish. From where she was standing she could see that his nails were clipped and buffed. She liked the authoritative way he gripped the wine bottle. His hair was slicked back, but already it was drying, with unruly strands falling over his wide forehead. He looked up when she entered the room. Thank God she'd had the good sense to dress…conservatively yet properly. Reuben did two rare things at that moment: he smiled and he complimented her.

“Pretty as a picture,” he said, his eyes warm as he gazed at her. “Your father should put you in one of his films.”

Bebe was stunned by the depth of her reaction to Reuben's smile and his compliment. The strength of it would easily carry her through the evening and into Christmas Day.

She wondered what Reuben had given her for Christmas. Whatever it was, she would never part with it. She'd sleep with it under her pillow, and if it was small enough, she'd place it between her breasts.

She was a lovely child, Mickey thought sadly, watching her. And Reuben was right, she was as pretty as a picture.

If anyone noticed the worry in Daniel's eyes, they didn't mention it.

At dinner, everyone laughed and talked and told stories. “When I was a child there were no presents, just fruit and nuts,” Mickey said. “Once I got a straw doll from an old aunt. It was so ugly I cried, but I came to love that doll as though it were a real baby. I still have it somewhere. Probably in the attic at the Paris house. And what do you remember,
chérie?
” she asked Bebe.

“As you know, my mother wasn't Jewish, so we celebrated both the Christian and Jewish holidays. The nicest, the most wonderful present I can remember was a train set. It was supposed to be for Eli, but I guess Mama got the name tags mixed up and it was in my pile of presents. Eli wanted to snatch it from me, but Daddy wouldn't let him. He said if it had my name on it, it was mine. He said something about possession being the law. I played with it every day and then right after New Year's I went to a birthday party and when I got back Eli had smashed the train to pieces just to be spiteful. I never forgave him for that,” she said softly.

Daniel spoke of his friend Jake and how they'd sit huddled together, wondering if Santa would find them at the orphanage. “Jake always said we were too big for presents and only sissies believed in Santa. He just said that to make me feel better because I was younger and smaller than he was. He looked out for me.”

Bebe thought it a touching story and told him so. She looked pointedly at Reuben and wasn't surprised to see his jaw harden and his eyes grow steely. Ha! she thought. So now I know your Achilles' heel, Reuben Tarz. It's Daniel Bishop. She stored the knowledge in the back of her mind.

“It's your turn, Reuben,” she said.

Reuben threw his hands into the air and gave them all a lopsided grin that Mickey found particularly endearing. “I never celebrated Christmas. This is a first for me. I've never been in a church, either. I'll do my best not to shame you.” He gazed at Mickey apologetically. For what, Bebe wondered.

 

While Reuben's physical body sat in the pew in the village church, he himself felt far removed. He didn't belong here, not that there was anything wrong with it. The parishioners were all good, hardworking people, devout and caring. He felt…peripheral. And he didn't know if he liked the feeling or not. Someday, maybe, he would go to church just to sit alone on the shiny hard pew and contemplate his life.

He looked around to see where the joy was, but all he saw were bowed heads, rosaries in every hand. It was peaceful and it was cold. He couldn't wait to leave.

When at last he pulled the car in front of the house, they all piled out and hurried to the door. “You aren't going to put the car in the barn now, are you?” Bebe demanded.

“That's where I usually put it,” Reuben replied.

“Not tonight,” Mickey said, linking her arm through his. “Who cares if snow piles on top of it? Tomorrow is soon enough. Come before Daniel and Bebe burst with excitement.”

Reuben began to understand that whatever was going on, Mickey had a grip on it. “It's your car,” he muttered.

Bebe raced into the house, down the hall, through the library, and out to the kitchen. She waved to the old cook as she careened out the back door. Twice she slipped and fell as she raced to the barn. Inside she found the puppy just where Mickey had told Yvette to leave it. He was cuddled into a ball, his new collar standing out against his taffy-colored fur. He was shivering despite the hot water bottle under his little blanket. Bebe scooped him into her arms, blanket and all, covering him with her coat. He'd warm up in the kitchen if she put him by the hearth. Nanette would watch him until it was time to hand him over to Daniel.

This time she walked slowly, careful of her footing. So far the puppy hadn't made a sound. Bebe crooned to it all the way back to the kitchen.

Nanette immediately threw a braided carpet on the hearth and took the puppy from Bebe. She, too, crooned to the animal, but in French. Bebe smiled. Who didn't love a warm new puppy? “For you, Daniel, just for you.”

“Where were you?” Daniel demanded when she returned. “We've been waiting for you.”

“Curiosity killed the cat, Daniel,” Bebe snapped. “For your information, I went to the kitchen to see if I could help Nanette. She is old, you know. I was only trying to help. I'm sorry if I—”

“For God's sake, Daniel, what's gotten into you?” Reuben interrupted. “This is Christmas, peace on earth, kindness to one's fellow man, that kind of thing.”

“Enough! We're all here.” Mickey laughed, waving her hands for attention. “Nanette has just brought our toddies and a delicious tray of sweets. We can eat and drink while we open our presents. I think Reuben should hand out the gifts.”

Obediently they dropped to their knees and sat on petit-point cushions. Mickey instructed Nanette to turn on the phonograph and open the drapes. Reuben thought he'd never been so happy in his whole life. Here he was on Christmas Day in a warm, wonderful house with the two people he loved most in the world. He didn't have to wonder if the others were feeling the same way. He could tell they were by the expressions on their faces.

Everyone's special present was left for last. Daniel handed Mickey the gift that was from both himself and Reuben. They watched as she undid the red bow and picked at the paper. She pried and jiggled the wooden lid until it popped open. When she could see what lay in the box before her, her hands flew to her mouth. “How did…when…I can't believe…but how…?”

“Do you like it?” Reuben and Daniel asked in unison.

“Do I like it? I love it! I adore it! Bourdelle did it, didn't he?”

“When we told him it was for you, he dropped all his other commissions and worked night and day on it. So you see, we are the Three Musketeers. Forever.”

They all stood back to marvel at the painting. “It's an exact likeness of all of us. Exquisite!” Mickey cried. “It goes over the mantel. Oh, thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Reuben's eyes glistened when he opened his gift from Mickey. He felt his throat close when he read the inscription on the back. He knew his hands were trembling, but he didn't care. He wished it were appropriate for him to scoop Mickey into his arms, but he held back. To think she cared enough to give him the only thing she had of her father's. In his opinion, that said it all.

Daniel was so excited with his watch, he leapt over the boxes and clapped Reuben on the back. “You son of a gun! Now we both have one. I never had anything so grand in my life. Nothing,” he cried excitedly, “will ever be as good as this watch…except this set of law books!” He swooped down on Mickey, kissing her soundly on the cheek. Mickey reached for him and kissed him back.

Bebe unwrapped her present from Mickey, a strand of pearls. They were so beautiful she felt a catch in her throat. From Reuben she received matching earrings. Mickey must have helped him select them, but it didn't matter. From Daniel there was a tiny pearl bracelet. She beamed her thanks at all of them. Her glance at Reuben was shy but warm. When he returned it, her heart soared.

“Ah, but there is one more present.” Mickey laughed. “Bebe must fetch it from the kitchen. Everyone get ready now. This is for Daniel, and it is from Bebe.”

Bebe was back in seconds, her arms full of warm, soft blankets. She dropped gracefully to her knees and held out her arms to Daniel. “It's for you from me for being such a good friend.” She felt as though she were offering a platter of gold and diamonds.

Daniel reached out and peered down at the bundle he was accepting. Carefully he removed the warm blanket to stare at the soft velvety head of the drowsy puppy.

“Jesus, Crikey, it's a dog! A pup! A live one! Oh, my God!” He lifted the dog from its nest of warmth and nuzzled it to his cheek. “Look! Look at his collar. Jake! It says Jake! Oh, my God, it says Jake! So that's what you've been up to! All the time you were picking my brain you were planning this, weren't you?” Bebe nodded shyly.

“Reuben, look! It's a dog. It has a collar and a tag. I can't believe this.” When the puppy's small pink tongue licked his face, Daniel laughed delightedly, a look of pure rapture on his face.

Only Bebe seemed to be aware of Reuben's black look, the look he was directing at her. At first she didn't understand what it meant. Of course, Daniel would have talked to Reuben about Jake. At some point in time he probably would have gotten Daniel a dog, but its name wouldn't have been Jake. Her eyes pleaded with him to understand that giving Jake to Daniel was something she did from her heart. She'd be damned if she'd let him stare her into the ground. Defiantly she held his gaze, and Reuben was the first to turn away.

Rage coursed through Reuben. How
dare
she! How dare she throw Jake in his face this way! He wanted to pick her up and throw her against the wall, break every bone in her body. He didn't care how pretty she looked or how good she smelled or how she felt when he touched her. He was almost sure he would have done it if Mickey hadn't laughed. Daniel was
his
friend. He should have been the one to get him the dog. He simply hadn't thought in terms of a puppy for a present, and here this girl, who was still a baby herself, had outshone him. In his mind he was convinced she had named the dog Jake just to get at him.

No, whispered an inner voice. She couldn't know you were planning to get Daniel a dog someday. This is now. Look at your friend. When was the last time you saw him this happy? Let it go. Don't hold it against the girl. She meant well. Daniel can have two friends who want to see him happy. Let it go.

The moment his rage subsided, Reuben walked over to Bebe. “Your present is probably the best Daniel will get in his whole life. He's never going to forget this Christmas. I've never seen him this happy.”

Bebe beamed. “I…I thought you might be upset…. I wanted to give him something special so he'd remember me when I leave.” Impulsively she reached up and kissed Reuben on the cheek, “Merry Christmas, Reuben.”

Remember her…when she left…. How sweet she smelled. He was off stride now, his steps jerky as he made his way over to Daniel and Mickey. He peered down at the small bundle and smiled. “Can I hold him?” he asked. Daniel held out the puppy, and the moment Reuben brought him to his chest Jake christened his new suit. Daniel howled with laughter and rolled about the floor clutching his sides. Bebe giggled and Mickey smiled sadly.