by Claire Adams
Preston was coming over to help decorate it. Mom insisted that he enjoy some of Christmas. She already had a special meal planned for that.
“I always do.” Her smile was bright, and I realized how much she loved having Christmas here, although she’d been all over the idea of feeding the homeless last year in the city. It was horrifying to hear how many people lived on the streets in New York. Dad had to reign her in from giving them all money. “I am going to make a good ham tomorrow for that assistant of yours, with all the fixings.” She looked at me. “Is Rebecca working?”
“I’ll find out,” I promised her, thinking that I’d appreciate some alone time with Rebecca. I couldn’t stop thinking about how great last night had been.
Mom beamed at me. I took a bite of spaghetti, aware that nobody in the city cooked it like Mom. They could claim to be authentic all they wanted, but there was just something about home cooking that appealed to me on this trip. We talked about the farm that we’d be going to in the morning. Mom described her perfect tree to us, and Dad rolled his eyes in feigned annoyance. I remembered how much of a chore picking out a tree had been as a kid. I thought about warning Preston in advance, if I hadn’t already. But it was tradition, and I was going to enjoy it.
We finished dinner, and I helped Mom clean up while Dad went back to his game.
“Mom, I want to get you guys someone to help out around here. A contractor of sorts. There has to be someone in town who’s willing to work for a little extra cash.” My voice was quiet.
She gave me a sad look. “He won’t have that, Austin. He’s a proud man and still considers himself to be active at sixty. Besides, it gives him something to do. Take away a man’s purpose, and you take away his reason to go on living. Now that he’s retired, all he’s got is his work around the house. Maybe if he had some grandkids to distract him…”
“Mom!” I said, shocked.
She smiled innocently. “I’m just saying.”
I shook my head. “Anyway, there has to be something I can do. Something else. Dad looks exhausted from just doing a little bit of work outside. This is ridiculous.” I was angry, and I dried a dish roughly.
She placed a gentle hand on my arm. “You know what I want you to do.”
I did, but I wasn’t ready for the idea of moving back here. I had a business in New York, not to mention a home and a life. I liked the pace there, didn’t I?
“I know, Mom. I just can’t. I’ll do anything I can to help except for that.” She nodded and handed me the last dish without making eye contact with me. I set it in the cupboard. She went to join Dad, and I watched her go with regret in my eyes. I had so much waiting for me in New York, not to mention this other deal going on behind the scenes. That might require me to move even farther away than New York, and I didn’t know what would happen if that worked out.
Fuck. I felt like I was being pulled in a thousand different directions, which didn’t feel good here in North Reed. I was supposed to feel relaxed. I glanced around the kitchen, making sure it was clean, before I headed to my room. I wanted to call Rebecca and talk this out with her, but I’d be leaving Rebecca behind as well. How the hell could I dump this stress on her and then just walk away?
My phone rang in my pocket, and I reached for it, hoping to see Rebecca’s name. I walked into my room, closing the door as I looked down and frowned. Mia? What the fuck did she want?
“Yeah?” I answered, sitting down on my bed and closing my eyes. My head started to hurt, and I pressed my fingers over the bridge of my nose.
“Austin, it’s so good to hear your voice,” Mia purred in that sugary sweet voice that used to work on me. What had I been thinking, getting with her? “I miss you, baby.”
“Why?” I asked abruptly.
She sighed at the other end. “It’s going to be Christmas soon, and you’re not here. The city feels so lonely without you. I don’t have my guy to go to the parties with me.” Her voice was whiny. I rolled my eyes. How I ever found this woman desirable was beyond me. Rebecca was so low key and genuine compared to any of them, especially Mia.
And I was going to leave her here.
“Mia. We broke up months ago. It wasn’t a big deal to either of us then, even though you’ve been stirring shit up with the press.” I could practically see her exaggerated pout. “I know you don’t really miss me.”
“I do. You’re the best man in New York. We had such a good time together,” she continued to whine.
I thought back to the months that we spent together. It was all about sex and spending my money so she could be seen at the best places. Paparazzi always swarmed around to take pictures of us, and I was certain that Mia planned that. Or her agent did. It boosted her career. I remembered her getting a few small parts in some television shows around that time.
“Can you come back early and see me?” she asked.
“Mia, we’re over. It wasn’t that great between us to begin with.” I dropped back against my pillows, suddenly feeling tired. “I don’t know what you remember about us dating, but it seems to be a lot different than what I do.” I chuckled. “You started dating that hockey player pretty quickly if I remember correctly. Did he dump you or something?”
There was silence at the other end. I did the math of when she started talking about reconciling with me. I’d have to check the papers, but I thought that was when her new boyfriend started seeing someone else.
“Seriously,” I said. “What do you want with me, Mia?”
“I miss you. The holidays have me all sappy, and I just want to see you again.” I could hear that she was trying to be sincere, though I knew Mia well enough to see through her lies. She just wanted my money and the notoriety that came from dating me.
“I don’t miss you, Mia.” I heard her gasp at the other end. “I think that you need to call someone else or find someone else. I don’t think that you’ll have a problem.”
“Have you found someone else, Austin? Are you fucking another girl?” I smirked at her crude words. “You know she’s not as hot as I am.”
“Fucking hell, Mia. Listen to yourself.” I wanted to laugh at her narcissism.
“I am all over the runways and magazines, Austin. I’m an actress. Everybody thinks I’m beautiful. I know that you want me.”
“Everybody but me,” I said coldly.
She sighed heavily. “I think I might need to take a little vacation in the sun and get away from this weather. Can you suggest anywhere good?” Mia obviously hinted at going to the Bahamas.
I held in the urge to laugh, not wanting her to pick up on the fact that I was not there at all. “I am certain that you’ll find a place, Mia. I also know that you won’t have trouble finding company. I won’t be back for a while.”
She ended the call, and I let out a low laugh, exhausted from the day. Between my father’s health issues, my mother’s desire to have me move back here, and the constant thoughts of Rebecca in my head, I just needed a break.
I turned on the television and kicked my shoes off, listening as they hit the floor. I wanted to hear Rebecca’s voice and feel her body against mine, but I was so tired. I needed rest and some time to think about all of this.
“Fucking Mia,” I grumbled.
I slipped my pants off and settled in for the night. She was crazy to think that I still wanted her after being in Rebecca’s bed with her. Mia was a fake bitch who manipulated people for her own good, and I was not that man anymore.
I wasn’t sure what the outcome would be, but I was going back to New York a different man.
Chapter Eighteen
Rebecca
I placed a platter of fried chicken in the center of the table. Kim eyed it with approval.
“It looks just like Mom’s,” she said.
“That’s a good sign,” I said, refilling her wine glass. “Let me just grab the corn, and we’re all set.”
This was our mother’s recipe. I decided to make it tonight, given that we weren’t going to s
ee our parents anytime soon. It was a way to have them here with us, even when they weren’t physically here. I walked back into the cozy little kitchen and grabbed the plate of corn on the cob, along with my own glass of wine.
I hoped the meal would cheer Kim up a bit. With the library set to close, she’d been having a rough time of it. The worst part was how happy I felt right now. Austin’s quick visit earlier had brightened my day and reminded me how good he felt inside of me.
It was hard to be so happy, knowing that she wasn’t. I felt guilty about the joy I felt. Maybe I could spread some of my good feelings to my sister with dinner and drinks.
I walked back into the dining room and set the corn down. Kim put a couple of pieces of chicken on her plate. I grabbed a drumstick and took a bite. I closed my eyes at the flavors. Mom had a recipe that made it sweet and spicy all at once.
“So good,” I said.
Kim grinned at me. “It tastes just like Mom’s,” she said. “You nailed it. Thank for cooking this for me.”
“I don’t do it often enough. Mom left her cast iron pans and all the recipes, so why not? Plus, we’re not going to see them for the holidays.” I sighed. There was just too much going on this year.
“I know,” Kim said, with an encouraging smile. “Hopefully, we can work something out soon.”
She looked more upbeat than she had. It was impossible to be sad with a plate of Mom’s fried chicken in front of you.
She shot me a curious look. “You seem to be in high spirits tonight,” she said. “What gives?”
I didn’t want to talk about how good I felt, considering she had a mountain of worry on her shoulders. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s just the holiday spirit. Eat, drink, and be merry, right?”
It wasn’t far from the truth. I’d gotten a tree earlier from the lot in town. Kim and I were going to decorate it after dinner with the decorations Mom left behind.
Austin was doing the same thing tonight with his family and Preston. I wondered what the man thought of it, being from England. Austin’s mom was all about tradition, so he’d be getting his fill. I smiled at the thought, wishing I could be there to see it.
“I just wish that I could work a Christmas miracle,” I said.
Kim let out a soft chuckle. “I was going to wait until Christmas to tell you, but you’re my sister. I can’t keep any secrets from you.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked her, taking a sip of wine.
Her eyes shined. “The library just got a crazy donation, Rebecca. From an anonymous donor. It’s big. I mean, huge. Not only are we going to stay open, but we can expand some and hire the staff to do it. It’s incredible!”
She jumped up and hugged me. I spun her around in a circle.
“That’s awesome,” I said and smiled to myself. An anonymous donor. I knew a certain someone who had that kind of money to give. But I wouldn’t press the issue. I’d just thank him in my own way, quietly and without calling him out, if Austin was, in fact, the donor. “You get to stay here with me.”
“Yes, I do,” she said, sitting back down and digging into her meal. A weight had been lifted from her shoulders. “Now you need to spill about what’s making you so happy.”
“It’s Austin,” I said, blushing. Kim looked me over. “I don’t think I realized how much I missed him until he came back, Kim. Now that we’re seeing each other again, I am over the moon. You were right about giving him a chance.” I couldn’t suppress my smile.
Kim looked carefully at me. “About that, Rebecca.” Kim cleared her throat.
I frowned at her. “I thought you wanted this, Kim.”
“I did. I mean, I wanted you to reconnect with him and clear the air, maybe have some fun. I just worry that you’re falling for him again when he might not feel the same way. Austin doesn’t live here anymore, and his life is so different now. I just don’t want your heart to be broken all over again when he goes back.” She reached out for my hand. “I just want you to be careful is all. Have some fun, tie up loose ends, and most of all, don’t worry about the future like you tend to do. Just enjoy life and the holiday, knowing that I am not going anywhere.”
“He probably donated it,” I told her.
She nodded with a slight smile. “It was a million-dollar donation, sis. I don’t know who else has that kind of money locally who could help. And the timing can’t be a coincidence. We get this huge donation right after Austin comes back to town. But it’s anonymous. We may never know if it was him. And if it was, I doubt he’d admit it.” Kim shrugged. “I just know that he saved a valuable part of this town, or rather, someone did.”
“Yeah, someone did.” I felt the joy from earlier fade away as I picked at my chicken.
“Look, I don’t want to bring you down. I am glad that you’re seeing Austin again, Rebecca. I truly am. I just don’t want you to think too hard about the future, since this might be a holiday fling that you need to enjoy. There’s slim pickings in this town, so a guy from New York is pretty exciting, even if it wasn’t Austin. Right?” I nodded. “If there’s more to it, then that’s a bonus. For now, just have fun.”
She was right. I needed to lighten up and celebrate the fact that she was staying here, and that I had a date for the next couple of weeks. After that, it was a new year, and there were all kinds of possibilities. “You’re right. You’re always right, Kim.” I held her hand tightly. “I am so happy that you’re staying. This town would be nothing without you.”
We finished dinner while we talked about old memories. Then we went into the living room. The tree that I got wasn’t that big, but it would be beautiful when we were finished. Kim strung the colored lights, and I brought the ornaments in from the garage. We poured another glass of wine before we started hanging the ornaments. Kim would be staying over tonight. We had to celebrate.
Once the wine had gotten in my system, I started to relax. I didn’t even know if I wanted to leave North Reed, particularly now that Kim was staying here. I knew for a fact that Austin wasn’t planning to stay in town after the news about the newest deal. That wasn’t even in the United States. There would be no chance for us if he acquired the company, and everyone seemed to think that he would. It was on the news, which was huge.
I’d have to be happy about what he could give me while he was here.
Christmas songs played in the background as we decorated, using ornaments from our childhood. Mom had split them up between us so they could have some memories of their own in Arizona. Kim talked about making ornaments in school that we still hung on the tree. I laughed at the fact that I wasn’t crafty in the least. Kim was both book smart and crafty. I was just good with hair.
We Skyped with our parents once we were done with the living room, giving them a video tour. They were thrilled that Kim’s job was secure now. They promised to visit soon to make up for missing the holiday with us. Mom was sad about not being able to come down for Christmas, but Kim and I assured her we would get together soon so she didn’t start crying. Dad wrapped his arm around her and comforted her. Kim did the same to me.
Once we ended the video chat, Kim and I both cried a bit. But I was determined to bring the evening back to a happier place. We settled down on the couch to watch A Christmas Story. I’d made cookies earlier in the day, and we ate them and drank more wine as we watched the movie.
I rested my head on her shoulder. “I am so glad that you’re staying,” I told her with a slur. I was pretty drunk. Good thing I had the following day off like Kim did.
“Me too. I didn’t want to move,” she admitted in a shaky voice. “I was so worried about you being here alone.”
“I was thinking that I could cut hair anywhere if I couldn’t convince you to stay here. I thought about so many options, Kim. You’re all that I have here now.”
“We’re staying together,” she assured me. I nodded, and a tear slid down my cheek.
Kim fell asleep before I did on the couch. I sighed and turned off the televis
ion. I wasn’t feeling that tired, and I brought the dishes into the kitchen to clean everything up. I cleaned the kitchen completely before I locked up the house. I covered Kim with a blanket and headed to my room, seeing the messy sheets from earlier.
The room still smelled like Austin. Like us. I changed into some leggings and a t-shirt, washed my face, and brushed my teeth before I dropped back on my pillows. I glanced over at my phone. It was charging on the table next to my bed. It blinked with a new text. I checked it, seeing a photo of Austin and another guy in front of the heavily decorated Christmas tree that I was all too familiar with. The other guy had somewhat similar features to Austin, though he was wiry and lean. His smile was broad, and I could tell that he was laughing. I looked back at Austin.
Austin was gorgeous as he smirked at the camera. He looked happy, though. I sensed there might have been some alcohol while they decorated, even though he said his mom kept it out of the house. They looked silly. I traced his face in the image and smiled dreamily to myself. I texted him back.
Me: You look great. Did you guys have a good time?
Austin: Preston loved Mom’s dinner and decorating. I think he’s going to stay here and keep living the small-town life. He bought his second cowboy hat this week. How was your night?
Me: Good. We had a great dinner, and the tree is done. Kim told me the library’s been saved and she’s staying here. Isn’t that great?
Austin: Perfect! The town needs that library, and you need your sister. My parents wanted to invite you to Christmas this year since you’re not going to see your own family. Will you come?
I smiled wickedly as I read the last word again.
Me: Of course. I’d love to come. That sounds wonderful. Just let me know if I need to bring anything along.
We sent a few more messages that were flirty and fun before he told me to get some rest. There were enough references to earlier today so I assumed that he was alone, and I responded in kind. It was great being with him earlier, if not a bit rushed.
