'Tis the Season: A Collection of Mimi's Christmas Books (67 page)

“You look fine now, Jack. That’s why I opened the door.”

“It’s true. I’m taking a different medication that doesn’t make me feel like I’m locked in a nightmare. It’s helped tremendously. Plus the group therapy has taught me that the peace is coming from learning how to deal with my fears and not feeling so alone.”

Belle reached out to hold his hand. “I’m grateful everything worked out, and thankful that you’re so much better.”

“Phil offered me a position, working beside him and I’m going to take it. Don’t worry about me anymore. From now on I want to be able to help you girls.” He squeezed her hand before he dropped it and then passed over the presents. “Enough about me.” Jack scanned her in a friendly way. “Goodness, you look a lot better than the last few months.” When he caught her eye and she looked away, his hand reached but stopped before touching her shoulder. “Something’s not right.”

“I’m fine, didn’t sleep much and it’s catching up. My health is a lot better since I found out what my problems were and have corrected them. I won’t go into it now, but one day, I’ll tell you all about it.”

“Uncle Jack!” Layla ran into the room and slowed before reaching the tall man who looked so much like the picture of her daddy.

He knelt down and waited for her to approach. “Hey sweetheart, I came to bring you a Christmas present because I heard on the grapevine that you’d been a very good girl this year.”

“I’ve been the best girl. Mommy and I are going shopping for more pwesents. You wanna come?”

Belle stiffened and so did Jack. His eyes flew to her and he waited. She knew he was silently asking for permission and his consideration charmed her into giving an affirmative nod. “You can help me keep this monster munchkin under control.”

Chapter Forty-one

Jesse came around the corner just in time to see Jack Foster helping Belle and Layla onto the downtown bus. Flashes of anger consumed him and that made him feel guilty. They looked so happy together which was a good thing.

Sam wanted to run to them and he restrained the anxious puppy. Once they’d disappeared, the thwarted dog ran in circles and whined his disappointment until Jesse hauled him to his side and bent to pet the shivering animal. “Hey, pal. I know exactly how you feel.”

Jesse picked the pup up in his arms and slowed his pace in comparison as to how quickly he’d moved earlier. Anxious to see Belle, he’d cut the usual routine by quite a bit.

Sam’s searching tongue persuaded Jesse to move the nuisance under his arm. Another bus caught his eye and he thought about Belle and the man she’d chosen to spend her time with. He couldn’t believe she’d just taken off with Jack who’d frightened the hell out of her only days before.

A thought popped in and made a lot of sense. Maybe she left a message with her sister or her dad. He hurried back inside and met with looks of confusion and dismay.

Harry spoke first and grumbled his distress. “Bloody hell! I wanted to spend the day with Layla and Belle. Why would she leave like that and not include us in her plans?”

Marilyn, who also looked concerned by their absence, wondered aloud. “She might have had chores to do, maybe Christmas shopping that needed to be done on her own, Dad.”

“She didn’t go alone. Her brother-in-law Jack went with them.” Jesse’s tone caught both Marilyn and Harry’s attention and he knew he had to control his resentment. He didn’t own the girl, but after what they’d recently shared, he felt as if she owed him a little more courtesy than to just up and leave with no warning.

Another thing, going out with a man who she’d spurned not that long ago, one who’d ripped her safe world apart, didn’t seem too sensible either.

From Phil’s last update, he was aware that Jack had come a long way. His medications had been altered and were now working well. It brought some relief, but the worry tearing him apart wouldn’t go away. What if she became attracted to her husband’s twin? Jesse had sensed the innate goodness in Jack, and Belle already admitted that she’d liked the man in the past.

“Call her and ask her when she’ll be home.” Harry’s insistence brought Jesse’s attention back to the others.

“I won’t, but you can.”

“Okay, I will. I only have a short time with them and I’ll be damned if I’ll sit around here while they spend the day without me. I’ll see if we can meet them somewhere.”

While the other two waited, Harry pulled the cell from his pocket and pressed the automatic dial. He let a number of rings pass before slamming it shut. “She’s not answering.”

Chapter Forty-two

Knowing that time had run out and she had no more excuses, Belle sighed and put away the wrapping paper and ribbons. Layla, who’d lost interest in the detailed wrap job minutes ago, waited impatiently.

“We’re going, honey. You can stop pestering. Grab the small parcel for Auntie and I’ll bring the others.”

Before leaving to go down the hall, Belle turned on the lamp and went to close the drapes. Since the late afternoon had darkened the room, she wanted to ready it for their return later.

Shocked, Belle saw the large white flakes and stood spellbound. “Yaya. Come and see. It’s snowing outside, baby. Isn’t it beautiful?”

Yaya ran to the large window and stood beside her. “Oh Mommy, can we go out to play in the snow?”

“Maybe later, after dinner. We’ll see if grampa wants to go for a walk with us and we’ll take Sam on an outing. Now, we’d better go next door.”

Guilt ate away at her confidence. Aware that she’d dropped the ball with her family, her conscience had niggled at her all day. Just because she didn’t want to be near Jesse, didn’t mean that she could mistreat her sister and father. If the many phone calls she ignored were a ruler to go by, they were very annoyed. And with good reason.

When she opened the outer door and called out, three voices rang from the inner room.

Her father arrived to confront her first. “About time! I was ready to call the police and report you two as missing.”

Marilyn approached and seemed almost shy. “I’m sorry we couldn’t spend the day together. Did you go shopping?”

Jesse held back, and it wasn’t until they’d all entered the livingroom that she saw his displeasure.

Good! Her inner meany had an opinion and it made her grin, or maybe sneer would be closer to the truth. She looked away and focused on the others.

Of course, Yaya, not aware that Jesse was in the doghouse, ran to him with her arms raised. When he lifted her and gave her a huge hug, she hugged back with enthusiasm and kisses.

“I missed you, Jesse. Mommy and I went shopping for pwesents and Uncle Jack came with us. He’s nice again. But I didn’t want to be so long—”

Belle cut in. “Layla. Stop and take a breath. I’m sorry Marilyn, Father. I never meant to be away so long. I wanted to get gifts for everyone and it was crazy-busy downtown. We had to wait in long lines everywhere, and the buses were loaded coming home.”

Jesse interrupted. “You could have called and I would have come to pick you up.”

And I’d rather have an appendectomy without anesthetic
. Refusing to look at him, she gave him her back. “I didn’t want to bother you. What did you all do today?”

Harry answered with a droll tone that, from what she’d remembered, meant trouble later. “Called you! Waited for you to get home. We really wanted to spend this time with you and Layla. Now the day is almost gone.” Crabbiness rang through loud and clear and intensified her shame.

Marilyn stepped toward Belle as if shielding her from the men’s wrath. “It’s Christmas Eve, everyone. Let’s not waste another minute. What were you planning for the evening meal, Belle?”

“I’ll help you get it ready.” Jesse’s tone brooked no opposition.

No way would she be stuck in the kitchen with that playboy jerk! “I’d rather have Marilyn’s help. We haven’t had much of a chance to catch up yet.”

This time her eagle-eye dared him to argue and though she knew he wanted to, Jesse backed down. “Call if you need help. Harry and I will play checkers with this whiz kid who laughs at me every time she wins.” He lowered Layla who now anxiously exhibited her need to be put down.

“Goodie!” Layla ran to the end table that housed her favorite game.

Belle followed Marilyn to the kitchen and was ashamed when a nasty thought popped into her head. Does she always have to dress in high heels and outfits more suitable for fancy restaurants?

Squashing down the green-eyed monster, she tried even harder to be nice. After all, just because Marilyn preferred dresses to Belle’s own choice of well-fitting jeans, whether she liked it or not, Marilyn was part of her family.

A random thought entered and whipped her stomach into an absolute whirlwind. Pray God that doesn’t mean that one day I’ll be related to Jesse through marriage.

Intruding on her personal nightmare, Marilyn began. “How did Layla handle all the crowds today?”

Good, a subject she loved to discuss. Relief made her relax and she poured a glass of wine for them both. Surreptitiously, she watched her sister whose irrational nervousness made her uneasy. Did Jesse tell Marilyn about their affair? No, he wouldn’t. She just knew he wasn’t the type of a man to play and tell.

Therefore, Marilyn’s behavior didn’t make any sense. Shaking off her unease, Belle took out the potatoes and passed Marilyn a peeler while she used the paring knife.

“You know it’s weird. Ever since the other day—”

“It’s okay, Jesse told us the story of her going missing.”

Belle nodded and continued. “The munchkin seemed to sense my worry. Today, both her and Jack stayed real close.”

Belle went on to describe their trip downtown and began to actually enjoy being with Marilyn, who seemed to have a lot of questions. In fact, they put Belle at ease. Happily, she began to share the best and worst parts of being a mom.

Then Jesse appeared and all the lovely tranquility disappeared. “Can I help you girls?”

Marilyn joked, “Who’re you calling girls? Don’t you recognize grown women when you see them?”

Belle felt Jesse’s glance sear her skin as he answered, his voice husky. “Sorry, my mistake.” He reached for her hand as if he had all the right in the world and she pulled away like a fire had scorched her raw. His surprise turned to a frown and then morphed into anger.

But what right did he have to be angry? She hadn’t spent the night with another man. Just a day in a crowd with her little girl as her chaperone!

Chapter Forty-three

That night, dinner again dragged as Belle tried to ignore Jesse’s pointed stares. Whenever he spoke, she got up to fix something so she wouldn’t have to interact.

When he directed a question toward her, she’d mumbled any answer that came to her and promptly changed the subject. Finally, to get him off her back, since it seemed he’d taken to riding her just to be annoying, she turned to Harry and started a conversation between them.

“I’m sorry you’re angry about today, Harry. Layla and I didn’t mean to stay away as long as we did.”

“I get the feeling that being away meant you didn’t have to share my company. Baby, I’m sorry I was such a rotten Dad, but I’d really like a chance to make up for that by being a much better Grandfather.”