“You’re right, I don’t.” His hand circled her wrist and he said with as much certainty as she’d ever heard in his voice. “It’s over, Madison.”
“Beau. Be honest. You didn’t kiss me like you don’t care about me anymore.” So there. A surge of pride went through her as she admitted this was the moment she’d hoped for. The chance to confront him and make him admit his feelings.
He looked her straight in the eye and said, “I thought you were someone else.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Madison gasped and jerked but his hand was still wrapped around hers. “Mad—”
“Let. Go.” She choked it out, wishing it had been more forceful, but he did release her wrist.
In three steps she was at the door, hand on the knob. She turned it, but it didn’t budge. She shook it, desperation making her frantic, then pounded on the door. She had to escape, had to get away from him before she totally lost it, in front of him.
His hand covered hers and she jerked hers away as if she’d been burned. “Let me.”
She stepped aside, glaring at him, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. The big strong man was going to show the little woman she didn’t know how to open a damn door?
She turned away taking a deep breath as he met the same resistance she had. She heard Victoria and other voices from outside the door. “Pamela, I swear I left it ajar like you said. And now it’s locked.”
Buffy. “What happened?”
Pamela’s voice. “We had new doors put on with locks. That nice young man from over in Destiny that you suggested did the work yesterday. We felt lucky to get someone on Christmas Eve.”
Madison heard Ridge chuckle. It irritated her. “If it can be done backwards, inside out, or upside down, Freddie can do it. I guess you didn’t hear about last night—”
“Can you just get the damned door open, please?” Madison called out. A long pause was followed by more voices. Great. Just fantastic, more witnesses.
Buffy said, “Madison? We’re uh, trying to get the door unlocked.”
Beau growled, “I can break it down if need be.”
Wow, that hurt. He was that ready to get away from her. Tears sprang to her eyes as the door opened and a crowd of his relatives stared at her and the big man behind her.
“We… you…” Victoria looked at Beau… “said to wake you when we were getting ready to leave. Some of us are going over to St. Teresa’s to serve Christmas dinner at the mission.”
Buffy made eyes at Madison from behind Victoria and when they connected, she gestured with her fingertip as if it were a lipstick tube. Ohh, she groaned inwardly. The kiss had smeared her lipstick and it was undoubtedly on someone else’s lips as well. Now her humiliation was complete. At least she wasn’t alone.
She raised her head and with as much dignity as humanly possible said, “I’d better be going. The weather looks like it’s getting bad.”
Grandpa Earl rolled to the end of the hallway in his wheelchair and squinted up at her with concern. “Aren’t you going to let me take you on that buggy tour?”
Madison leaned down and kissed his cheek. “I—we should probably do it another time but I’ll look forward to it.” His disappointment was clear as he frowned, understanding something was afoot. She turned toward the other ladies. “Dinner was lovely, Pam, Ms. Victoria. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, Buffy.”
She didn’t wait for acknowledgement. They seemed as shell shocked as she felt. The dozen or so friends split down the middle like onlookers at the queen’s coronation, or the condemned on the way to her hanging. She heard Beau say, “I’ll just come and speak to everyone before the party breaks up, then I need to catch an early plane to Atlanta if I can.”
He didn’t just have to leave the room, he had to leave the state. Bile rose in her throat and she swallowed it. Their disappointment penetrated the fog as she made her way to the front room. She accepted an envelope from Ridge and curious looks from the rest as she mumbled her excuses and fled the house.
The wind was so cold she was surprised the tears didn’t freeze on her face like the organ in her chest. Snow flurries were blowing around in a crazy pattern. She didn’t notice their beauty or acknowledge the rarity of it.
The storm of tears lasted until she let herself into her small rental. Her little kitty, Raven, curled up beside her on the couch. Raven’s warmth felt good since Madison didn’t have the energy to get up and build a fire. Finally, she made a decision—she would grieve and sleep and get the man out of her system, and tomorrow she’d move on with her life.
She made herself endure every beautiful moment, and every painful second of her encounter with him so she would be sure never to make the mistake again. Something about his words niggled at the back of her mind, but it was elusive. Oh yeah, he’d seen her with Gino which meant he’d arrived the night before but after seeing she was in attendance, he’d left. She’d thought her heart couldn’t hurt any worse but she’d been wrong.
The message light on her cordless phone blinked but she ignored it, not wanting to hear words of sympathy or kindness from anyone. Raven snuggled up under her chin as she vowed, tomorrow things would change. Toughness, that’s what she needed, if she was going to prevent this wrenching tearing of her heart once more. If she kept allowing it… well, she just wouldn’t. She would change.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Ridge dropped his keys on the counter next to the door and pulled his wife into his arms. “Merry Christmas, darling.”
Buffy sagged against him. “It was the best Christmas ever, but I’m so glad we’re home.”
He squeezed her tight. “Tired?”
“Completely exhausted. I’m sure glad we’re not open this week. Though…” Her eyes held a hint of concern.
“You’re worried about Madison.” He didn’t have to wonder. His wife cared about all her friends and employees but especially Madison—she was nearly family. No, she was family.
“Oh, Ridge did you see the raw pain on both their faces? Madison was trying valiantly to hide it and Beau had no inkling that his feelings were just as plain. What am I going to do with them?”
“Whoa, now, he’s a grown man and whatever is or is not going on—”
“Oh, there’s a lot going on, more so than any of us dreamed.”
“All the more reason to let it be. Let them work it out.” She wiped away a tear. “Aw, baby, come here.”
“I know I’m crying a lot now that my hormones are surging, but I’m not going to apologize for caring.” She leaned her head against his chest and said softly, “I can’t bear to see them in so much pain when they’re obviously so perfect for each other. I don’t understand what happened.”
“I know you care, sweetheart. I hate to say it,” his voice rumbled against her ear as he stroked her hair, “but sometimes things—”
“Don’t say it.”
He sighed. “Okay, but you know what your Grandpa Earl says. ‘It’ll go as it’s meant to go.’” He lifted her chin. “He said that about us, didn’t he?”
Of all the advice he could have given her, it seemed that gave her momentary comfort. He asked, “Are you ready for bed, my love?”
She stepped away and said, “Almost.” Walking around the end of the couch she reached down behind it, pulled out a large rectangular box and handed it to Ridge.
“You didn’t need to hide it. I’m not the one that plunders the packages under the tree,” he said accepting it and giving her a sweet kiss.
“You’re a hard man to surprise. I hope you like it.”
He laughed. “You did a pretty good job of surprising me this weekend.” He lifted the lid off the box to reveal a large picture frame. Shaking his head, he asked, “Is this my copy?”
“No, I wouldn’t do that to you,” said Buffy.
He laid his present down on the coffee table to study it. Framed side by side were the front and back covers of Lana Maisel’s most famous spread—the one that had created a defining moment in Ridge’s l
ife. Now he knew it for the day he’d fallen in love with his wife, when he’d thought her a celebrity and out of his reach. Her image when he was in the service had been a welcome distraction from the war games and what was happening with John.
The back cover was signed, “For my biggest fan, with all my love, Lana.”
“You know how I feel about these covers, but without you, Buffy, they’d be meaningless.” Ridge leaned over and pulled her to him.
She drew back after a few minutes and said, “I don’t know if I could be any happier than I am right now, Ridge.”
“I feel the same way, my love, but there’s more happiness waiting for us just down the road.” He reached for his briefcase. “I have something for you.”
Her delight was plain and he was glad he could still surprise her. He opened his briefcase. “I printed these out while we were at the mission.”
“You are a sneaky man, Ridge Roman—oh, where is that?” The full-size glossies Ridge had spread across the coffee table depicted a large room painted in a soft yellow with white puffy clouds skating across the top of the walls and mobiles hanging from the baby beds. The double French doors led out onto a screened play room on the back porch, overlooking a gazebo in the backyard. “Ridge, this is beautiful. But it’s…”
“A new addition. I showed Declan the bedroom you were thinking of making into a nursery, but Lillie told me there have been several sets of twins in the family so I figured we should be prepared.” Her eyes were filling with tears again so he said, hurriedly, “I want a big family, Buffy. Don’t you?”
“Huge. I can’t wait until you’re my kids’ daddy.” She kissed him again, “I love you so much.”
If anyone had told him his life would have turned out like it did the last two years; that he would be married to the woman of his dreams, the consortium would be entering phase two, and John’s wife and child would have a new life, it would have been difficult for him to believe. He owed their happiness to the woman beside him. She’d challenged him not to accept the status quo. Taking her hand, he backed toward the bedroom.
Inside the door he picked her up, holding her in his powerful embrace and kissing her, then lowering her to the silky blue sheets. In the two years they’d been married, Ridge hadn’t allowed his body to go soft, but had taken his role as a cover model seriously. As he unbuttoned his shirt, the definition in his chest and abs made her mouth go dry. She’d die if she didn’t have him soon.
He moved over her on the bed and then… he was everywhere, inside her and above in the mirror over his shoulder, her pale legs crossed over his buttocks as he thrust. Her fingers gripped the black silk of his hair. His wide shoulders flexed again and again as he supported himself. She responded, feeling the climax coming swiftly. She almost wished she could hold it off, savor it for as long as possible. Once again, he’d shown her their love would forever be fresh.
As they soared together the memories of the last two years, of this weekend and the joy of the new life they’d created burst over her. She thought of Grandpa Earl’s words about what was meant to be and the words of her Grandmother Roberta to Ridge, “There’s nothing like Calloway magic.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
New Orleans, Christmas night 11:30pm
Beau passed his ticket to the flight attendant and walked down the gate to the plane. There were only a handful of travelers leaving New Orleans on this day. Most were still with their families, savoring the time with friends or celebrating. The French Quarter had been in full swing as he walked the streets, waiting for a flight to come available.
He’d told the woman at the airline desk he would even fly coach, which would put him in the position of being recognized and possibly having to visit with a possible fan when he wasn’t in the mood. It had been eight hours before he’d gotten the notification that he had a seat in first class on the midnight flight to Atlanta. Thankfully, non-stop.
He’d tried Madison twice and had left one message apologizing. For what, he didn’t know but she didn’t deserve to have his anger and frustration aimed at her. And of course, she’d nailed it. He did still care, more than he should. More than he could admit.
He hadn’t even had the courage not to blame it on a fabrication because if he didn’t then he would leave her thinking there was a chance for them and there simply wasn’t. So, he’d told her he was sorry, blamed it on being sick and ill-tempered and suggested she forget about him.
He leaned his head back against the gateway wall and closed his eyes. This was why he hated Christmas. It reminded him of what he could never have and had always wanted—a real family. Someone to share his life, his success, his… dreams with. Why was he working so hard to make money and no one to share it with? To keep the demons at bay. He didn’t allow himself to dream anymore.
He threw himself into the wide leather seat as attendants straightened and readied the plane for takeoff.
There was a Larue reunion coming up in May. He’d stayed away last year. Perhaps, he should just plead work again next year, because this time he may have learned his lesson. He loved every one of the Larues and Calloways he’d grown up with, but there should be some reciprocation, shouldn’t there?
The heavy fog of loneliness weighed him down, sapping his strength and the depression settled in. He had nothing to give them, not Maddie, and not his family. He was becoming a burned-out husk of… he couldn’t even use the word humanity.
As the engines whined, he closed his eyes and once again willed himself away from thoughts of the things that might have been.
Jed had taken the holiday shift knowing so many of his fellow officers wanted to spend Christmas with their kids. It had been a quiet day on the streets of Larue and at the station. He’d kicked his feet up on the desk and planned to take a twenty-minute break to eat his Christmas dinner—a honey bun and a Snickers bar from the vending machine, and a cup of cold day-old coffee.
“Stern,” he heard through his radio, recognizing the voice of the female officer at the front desk. “You in your unit?”
Jed pressed his mic. “No, I’m back here at my desk.”
“I got a package for you here at reception,” she said.
Jed’s brows rose. “Really. Think it’s a bomb?”
The officer laughed and said, “Nah, a lady dropped it off, said make sure you got it today.”
Jed cocked his head. A lady. “Still might be a bomb. Be right there,” he said dropping the chair legs on the concrete floor, his boots landing with a slap. He popped the last of the candy bar into his mouth and headed to the reception area.
The officer was on the phone, her face lit with a smile. “I’m so glad you called, Mom. I wish I could have gotten off.” She handed him the package, a soft roll wrapped in newspaper, but with a shiny Christmasy ribbon and bow. He walked back to the office and took his scissors, snipping the ribbon so he could rip the newspaper from around his present. Who could it be from?
The colors looked vaguely familiar and as he unrolled the burgundy and navy-blue garment he realized why. His smile kicked up at one corner as he recognized the yarn he’d given Sam with instructions for a man’s scarf. He hadn’t really meant it for himself… had he? And the image in his mind of strong practical Dr. Larue sitting in a rocking chair knitting him a scarf did something peculiar to his stomach.
Extending it, he draped it around his neck and decided to try it out where it could be appreciated, in the blustery cold. He threw one end over his shoulder and pushed through the front doors of the station and walked out into the brisk air of Christmas night, whistling.
Thanks for reading Christmas Wishes. Ready for the next book in the series? In At Long Last Love Beau returns home to Larue a changed man but Maddie can’t help but hope they’ll get a second chance at love.
Please enjoy a couple of Calloway Christmas Reunion Recipes
Calloway Reunion Recipes
Buffy’s Chicken Almond Casserole
Leftovers - great if you can keep t
hem from eating it all.
2 cups cooked, chopped left over turkey/chicken
1 15oz can French style green beans
1 sm. can sliced water chestnuts
1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
1/2 c. - 1 c. chicken broth
1 Box Uncle Ben's Wild Rice (cooked as directed on box) or
2 cups cooked white or brown rice (Roberta did it the old way)
1 2oz jar diced pimento
1 small chopped onion
1/2 c Mayonnaise
1/2 c. Toasted almonds
Optional: 1/4 sour cream
Optional: ½ c. any type of shredded mild cheese
Topping:
1 can onion rings or you could use bread crumbs
Instructions:
Drain all canned ingredients.
Mix all together. Put in 9 x 13 baking dish.
Sprinkle with French fried onion rings or bread crumbs.
Bake 350 degrees 30-40 minutes.
This dish can be frozen and baked later.
Roberta’s Cinnamon Nut Horns
A Calloway reunion favorite
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp sugar
2 sticks butter at room temperature
1 8 oz package Cream Cheese
1 cup chopped nuts, either walnuts or pecans
¼ cup sugar
¼ cup brown sugar
¾ teaspoon cinnamon
Egg white beaten with 1 Tbsp water
Instructions:
With electric mixer cream butter, cream cheese and sugar then barely cut in flour
Roll into a ball, put in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 mins.
For filling, mix nuts, sugar and brown sugar, and cinnamon set it aside.
Whispers of Winter: A Limited Edition Collection of Winter Romances Page 66
