'Tis the Season: A Collection of Mimi's Christmas Books (44 page)

Chapter Twenty-two

Marcus opened his eyes first and stared directly into the sheepish gaze of the dog who’d crawled between them sometime during the night. The beast lay close to Abbie, his face resting on the overgrown paws of a dog not yet having reached its prime. The animal didn’t move, and neither did Marcus. Instead he closed his eyes only to re-open them, hoping he’d been dreaming. Nope, the dog was real.

He lay there and thought about the best way to deal with the situation.
Stay calm,
was his first thought.
Don’t move quickly and spook him,
his second.

Deciding to voice his irritation, he whispered, “Get off my bed, you big black bugger, before I get my pistol and shoot you between those blasted begging eyes of yours.”

The dog didn’t move, but he did whine as if in argument to Marcus’ statement.

“Do it!” Marcus let some of his held-in temper sound in a louder tone. “Now!”

To his surprise the dog sniffed, gracefully got to his feet, and jumped down from the bed to go and sit by the door.

“I wondered if you would be able to convince him he wasn’t welcome,” said Abbie, with an unholy grin etched across her face. “He’s very intelligent, isn’t he?”

“Maybe, but I’m still bigger and meaner than he is.”

“And much more handsome.” She leaned over to kiss his waiting lips and settled closer to his body. “I’m so very happy, Marcus. Last night was everything I’d dreamed of and more. We’re very good together, aren’t we?”

“Last night?” Marcus looked toward the window and saw the golden glow of the sun beaming through the sheers. “Blast and hell, Abbie. I didn’t call the hospital. They’ll be in a frenzy over what happened to you.” He jumped out of his side of the bed, only to stop when his nakedness became apparent. He looked over to see her watching his every move, interest and glee written over her features.

“Don’t look at me that way, or we’ll never get out of this bed.”

“What way? And who cares if we don’t? Goodness me, Marcus, we’re both adults and can do as we please.”

“Is that the way you modern girls intend to get your equal rights? By behaving as naughty as you please? Well, I won’t have it. I might be old-fashioned, but I’ll not have people talking about my wife-to-be, blackening her reputation.” So saying, he stomped from the bed in anger and realized his mistake only after he’d taken a few steps, and then it was obviously too late to back down.
How in the world does the girl do this to me?
he wondered.
Makes me forget myself and act in direct opposition to the way I really want to. It’s got to stop.

He sighed and continued toward his dressing room to search for his robe, feeling her eyes on his backside every inch of the way. The extra wiggle he made before he left her sight brought a delightful giggle from her, and the grin he saw in his mirror wouldn’t go away no matter how much he tried to wipe it off.

She lay exactly as he’d left her, snuggled down amongst the pillows, and her beseeching come-back-to-bed gesture almost had him giving in, but responsibility and his nature wouldn’t let him. There’d be a police search soon if he didn’t alert them to her whereabouts.

They both looked toward the door as the dog started to bark, and then, in fearful resignation, they heard the front door slam, and Madeline’s voice shouting as she ran up the stairs, “Marcus! Abbie is missing. Get up, I say. You must come and help us…”

As soon as Marcus opened the door, the dog burst through and continued his racket nonstop until both startled adults yelled, “Shut up!” in unison. Surprisingly it worked, and he did.

Marcus spoke first. “It’s okay, Mother. I know where she is. She’s fine. I’ll ring the hospital right now and tell them not to wor—”

“You have a dog? Where did you get this brute?” Her gaze narrowed for a moment, and then she shook her head. “Never mind. That doesn’t matter. It’s Abbie I’m concerned about. After getting some rather devastating news yesterday, she’s disappeared. Oh, Marcus, I’m that worried. She had to have left in the middle of that horrible storm. Where in the world would she have gone?”

“I’m right here.” In a small voice Abbie spoke as she stepped from Marcus’ room, snuck under his arm and into the hallway, looking pleased as punch.

Thank goodness she’d dressed, he thought, but he still couldn’t get over it. What did she have to look so damn happy about? They’d just been caught red-handed, hadn’t they? Did his lover have no shame? “It’s not what you think, Mother. We’re—”

“I
think
it’s wonderful, Marcus. Absolutely brilliant! Welcome to the family, my dear.” She lifted her arms and stepped toward Abbie, but the forgotten dog had other ideas. He pushed his way between them and leaned his full force against Abbie’s knees, protection written all over his stiff body and stubborn countenance.

Marcus, over his snit after realizing how pompous his thinking, enjoyed seeing his mother for once in her life being confused and a little bit scared. It was nice to know the animal hadn’t just decided to pick on him—it seemed the mutt didn’t like anyone getting too close to his chosen mistress. Marcus crossed his arms and leaned back against the doorframe to watch the show.

His mother’s hands rested on both her hips, and her lips formed the stubborn expression she’d always worn whenever anything disturbed her. But before she could say or do anything, Abbie pulled the dog’s face toward hers as she bent over him. “Mate, give over. You can’t be growling at all my friends. Madeline’s family. Now, behave.” His ears lowered from her scolding, and he licked her chin. Abbie turned to Madeline to apologise. ‘I’m sorry he frightened you, Madeline. Ever since he saved me in the storm last night, he’s decided he’s my protector. Poor chap, clearly a stray, was wandering around in the snow and came to my rescue. Now he’s adopted me and won’t leave.”

Madeline lowered her hands and stood comfortably once more. “Why, he’s quite a fine fellow, Marcus. We could use some protection, and he’d make a wonderful guard animal.”

“He’s my mate,” Abbie added. Hoping her begging eyes would soften Marcus, and at least let him think about giving the dog a home.

“Mate, that’s a good name for him.” Madeline clapped her hands and turned to share her excitement with Abbie.

“Killer would suit him better,” Marcus interrupted, his dry tone understood by the other two as his way of taking control.

A disrupting doggy noise brought all three pairs of eyes to focus on the animal under discussion. As if he knew his future depended on the next few minutes, the mutt looked from one to the other, a pitiful expression gleaming back at them from his soft brown eyes.

Had he been human, Marcus would likely have expected the next move but, after all, he was only a dog—a rather diabolical dog, it seemed. From where the creature still stood guard, leaning against Abbie’s knees, he slowly moved his face forward to gently lick Madeline’s hand.

“Oh, for pity’s sake!” Exasperated, Marcus glared at all three as he straightened.

Madeline, sensing her son’s grudging capitulation, smiled at Abbie and said, “We’ll call him Mate, shall we?”

“I’d rather call the dogcatcher,” Marcus insisted, knowing the battle was over but in his stubbornness hating to concede victory.

“Marcus!” Both females were in unison.

Gentle chiding resonated in Abbie’s voice. But it was the warning note in his mother’s that captured his attention. He threw his hands in the air and gave in. “I surrender.” Then he accepted the hugs from both women somewhat gracefully, and groaned when the big dog, obviously thinking this was a new game, jumped into the fray to lick his face.

Extricating himself, he stepped back behind Abbie to reach for the door handle so he could get to his room, his telephone, and his shower—in that order.

Just then, Abbie reached to give Madeline a hug, and Marcus stopped to watch. He saw the young girl’s eyes close and a smile of joy fill her face. Why she’s either fallen for my mum, he realized, or she’s desperate for a mother’s care. My poor little orphan.

The words reminded him of the story he’d yet to hear about her real parents. Now that he thought about it, it seemed they had quite a lot of explaining and catching up to do. “I’ll call the hospital, and then I must check in with Sister Agnes. I have some arrangements I want to make with that woman, and they need to be started as soon as possible.” He hesitated before adding, “Shall we meet in the breakfast room a little later, and we can all eat together? There are questions I know you’re dying to ask, Mother. And, actually, I have a few of my own.”

Trying to protect her, he hadn’t said anything to Abbie about baby Nicholas. Now that everything would work out, he didn’t want to upset her with what a close call they’d had. Happy that they would be able to intervene in time and win the child for their own, he hurried through his preparations.

Losing Nicholas would have destroyed her. He’d felt her desperate love for all the children, but when it came to that needy little boy and the special bond she had with him, well… There were no words. Nothing in the world would stop Marcus from giving her the child she most wanted.

Chapter Twenty-three

Madeline and Abbie had worked together in the kitchen to prepare a lovely meal and were already seated in the sun-filled breakfast room when Marcus finally joined them. He hoped his expression didn’t show the grimness he felt or the pain ripping his heart in pieces from the rotten news he’d just received. Of course he should have known better. His attachment with Abbie went way beyond a casual romantic liaison; they’d taken togetherness to a whole new level. As soon as he saw Abbie’s gaze questioning him, he smiled reassuringly, not wanting to spoil their meal. Why did it seem lately as if life had him taking one step forward and two steps back?

“Before we start, I have something to say.” Madeline reached for both their hands and held on tight. “It’s Christmas Eve today, my dears, and I wanted you to know that you’ve given me the best Christmas gift I’ve ever had. It’s like magic, how you’ve managed to fall in love and get engaged under my very eyes without me knowing anything about it.” Madeline stopped when she saw the humour neither Marcus nor Abbie could hide. “What? What did I say?”

“Nothing, Mother.” Marcus reached over to pat her hand. “It’s just that we consider our meeting rather miraculous.”

“Almost spiritual, you could say,” Abbie added, a gleeful expression contributing to her youthful charm.

“Well, love doesn’t always happen the way one expects. Take Corrie and Hans, for instance. They…” She stopped dead when she saw the confusion on Marcus’ face. “You didn’t tell him about your parents, Abbie?” Shock intensified her voice, and then humour overrode it. “I suppose you were too busy to talk.” All along, Marcus had been waiting for his capricious parent to tease. He’d hoped she wouldn’t, but knowing the way her naughty mind worked, he supposed it would have been too much to ask.

Giggling self-consciously, Abbie spoke up before Marcus could, and with a few well-chosen words, lightened the moment. “I should hope so!” Turning to Marcus, she squeezed his hand under the table. “Yesterday afternoon, Madeline surprised me with a visit. She brought my father and mother, Hans and Corrie Strauss, to see me so they could explain what had happened in the past, and how I came to be left at Holly Mount with the nuns.”

Madeline interrupted. “My bad advice bungled everything. Corrie had no one else to turn to. She—”

“No!” Abbie spoke sharply. “She did what she had to do. I never want to hear you talk this way again, Madeline. As you all explained to me yesterday, the times were brutal, and everyone around had sacrifices they were forced to make. I understand, and I’d never hold their difficult decisions against them, or you.” Abbie reached over to pat Madeline’s clenched hand. “Please!”

Marcus didn’t know exactly what had transpired, but he knew one thing, Abbie’s look begged him to back her up, and it couldn’t be denied. “Mother. Wasn’t it you who got them reunited? How did you manage it?”

“Yes, I suppose I did.” Marcus, ever watchful, knew Madeline had recognized the message that Abbie had conveyed, and was glad she’d decided not to spoil the mood with her remorse or confessions. “I did tell you I went to the hospital to see Abbie, didn’t I? What you don’t know is that it was in that visit I discovered her real identity.”