Maddie and Gabe were the only ones who’d packed emergency bags in case the weather turned nasty. Not to mention Maddie had plenty of clothes and toiletries here for when she stayed over.
On his way out, he whispered, “It’s bad. He and Lisa talked on the phone last night after we all went to bed, and well…” He hitched a shoulder.
That explained the major difference in his mood since purchasing the airline ticket.
I entered the room, not knowing what I should say or do.
Ethan wiped his eyes. “Almost ready,” he said.
“I understand.” I took a seat.
“How’s Casey?” he asked.
“Helping Sarah organize or something.”
He smiled. “Right up Casey’s alley.”
“Same with Sarah.”
“I’m sorry about earlier. It’s just…”
“Already forgotten, Ethan. You never have to apologize to me. Isn’t that the definition of friendship? Maddie has that on a coffee mug, which I think makes her believe she’s covered for all of her jabs at me.”
He laughed. “You are her favorite target.”
“I’ve noticed that.”
“She means well.”
“At least seventy percent of the time.”
He laughed harder.
I stood. “Come on. Let’s help our children have their Christmas. There’s time later for…” I left the rest unsaid.
“I don’t want to bother going to my house to pack. I just want to get there.” He rose and wrapped me into his arms. “Thank you, Lizzie.”
Chapter Thirteen
Freddie sat in Sarah’s lap on the floor by the tree. Ollie was with Maddie.
Casey rooted behind the tree on her hands and knees. “Who’s first?”
“Freddie and Ollie,” Sarah said.
Casey pulled out one wrapped gift and placed it before Ollie. She spied her dad and said, “I’m playing Santa!”
“And doing an excellent job.” He placed a tender kiss on the top of her head before skirting around the Dickens village.
Maddie waved him over to sit next to her and Ollie on the floor. His knees jutted in weird contortions as he settled on the beige carpet.
Casey plunked a gift down for Freddie.
Ollie had already torn through the wrapping paper, more enthused by shredding the paper into tiny pieces than the present itself.
Fred appraised his gift, his eyes wide. He seemed to be calculating the best method to tackle the task at hand. Or perhaps, he didn’t want to spoil it.
Casey’s large eyes implored Sarah. “Next?”
“Casey and Demi.”
“He found me!” She zipped back behind the tree.
“I could use ten of her in my shop,” Helen joked.
“She helps me with everything, including balancing the checkbook,” Ethan added.
No one questioned the veracity of his claim.
Soon enough, the entire room was covered with discarded ribbons, bows, and wrapping paper. I tried to keep up with the mess, making a swing through with a trash bag to pick up the scraps, but Freddie and Ollie rolled around in the destruction on the floor, giggling. Demi sat in a bouncy chair, smiling, and Gandhi licked all their faces.
Hank wandered into the room, looked around, and sauntered out with his tail turned up.
Maddie had her phone out, recording the kids. Casey had placed a bow on the little ones’ heads, declaring, “You’re gifts now.”
Sarah and I stared into each other’s eyes, completely agreeing with Casey’s words.
“The best gifts,” Peter said, much to my surprise.
Dad reached for Helen’s hand, who gave it a tight squeeze.
Rose leaned into Troy’s chest.
Tie and Peter sat as far away from each other as possible.
Ethan’s phone lit up, and soon enough Lisa was on Facetime, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.
“Mommy!” Casey zipped over and grabbed the phone. “I got a laptop, printer, and a copy of Little Women.” She disappeared into the library, Ethan following.
When I had explained the situation to Allen, he didn’t mind one bit about giving Casey the laptop and printer. The special edition of Little Women was the one Sarah had given me when we moved into our house.
Sarah stood. “I’ll get going with brunch.”
“I’ll help you.” Maddie rose along with Helen.
Gabe opened Ollie’s Thomas and Friends Railway Pals Destination Discovery. “Shall we put this together, Ollie?”
She nodded. Freddie stacked his new blocks, with pictures of an owl, badger, hedgehog, deer, fox, and rabbit.
Demi had wrapping paper sticking out of her mouth, which I removed.
“Allen, can you grab another trash bag from the kitchen?” I asked.
He set aside the hardcover book about the Russian Revolution I’d given him after having the visiting Harvard professor autograph it to Allen. I think it was the first time the eminent historian was asked to sign his book.
Peter took an imaginary practice swing with the new golf glove Sarah and I got him.
Casey and Ethan returned from the library.
“Casey, help Lizzie gather all the paper,” Ethan said.
“Allen will help you when he gets back with another garbage bag. Ethan, we should think about leaving in a couple of hours or so.”
“Gotcha. Anyone need coffee?” Only receiving shakes of the head, Ethan strode to the coffee command center in the dining room.
Helen waltzed in and said something to my father.
Casey spied my system, sorting bows and ribbons that weren’t too badly damaged, and got to work. Some of the carnage ended up under the tree, and once again she was on her hands and knees. “Oh, there’s one last gift. It’s for you, Uncle Peter.”
Tie’s face lit up.
That didn’t compute in my brain until Peter tore through the paper, his face going ashen, then quickly turning scarlet, resulting with the veins in his forehead bulging. His mouth opened and closed, working up to an epic meltdown.
Helen, with her usual keen eye, removed the frame from his hands, handed it to me without looking at it, and ushered Peter out of the room to avoid a scene in front of the children.
Ethan sidled up as I held the frame to see what the hubbub was about. I hadn’t expected to get an eyeful of Peter in bed with a woman who was most certainly not Tie. Ethan and I exchanged what the fuck looks.
Tie sat in the wingback chair, her legs crossed, hands on knees as if sitting for a family portrait.
I wasn’t the violent type, but I had an urge to smash her and Peter in the face. Not wanting to give either the satisfaction, I tossed the questionable gift into the trash bag and continued the cleanup process without saying a word.
Sarah, as if in tune with the turmoil, called me into the kitchen.
Dad nodded, indicating he’d watch the little ones.
Gabe had all three’s rapt attention, guiding their little fingers in attaching the forty-piece set. I gave Ollie another three minutes before she abandoned the project, but Fred would stay to the bitter end.
“Can you help me get the serving dishes?” Sarah asked.
I reached into the trash bag and pulled out Tie’s surprise.
Maddie craned over Sarah’s shoulder, gasping. “It’s the same one.”
“The same what?” I asked without thinking.
“I have a photo similar to that one.”
Sarah and I gawked at Maddie. “You hired a private investigator?” she asked.
“I had to know the truth before the wedding.” Maddie took the frame from me, inspecting it.
It made sense, why she’d waited until the big day, ditching him at the altar. I had no idea how I would react if I had a photo of Sarah with another woman. Lose my fucking mind. But wrap it and present it as a Christmas gift in front of the entire family—that was going too fucking far. Peter clearly didn’t make wise decisions, refused to learn from his mi
stakes, and the women in his life had his number when it came to humiliating him. He deserved a reckoning. Of that I had no doubt. But in front of Demi. My twins. And all our guests. That was too much for me.
Not wanting to lose sight of the real matter at hand, I said, “Helen’s with Peter in the library.”
“On it.” Maddie left, with her hand still clutching the frame.
“Is she going to Peter, Tie, or… is there a third option?” I asked.
Sarah raised one shoulder. “She has a habit of inserting herself into Peter’s life. Or do you not recall when she and Peter stayed the night here?”
I did remember them sleeping together in my home. Something like that was difficult to erase from my delicate memory bank.
I stabbed a useless finger in the air and looked helplessly to Sarah. “I had hoped you or someone else who hasn’t slept with Peter would go, instead of the other jilted woman.” I paused. “No, Peter was cast away. What would the word be for Maddie? And is she going to the library to be helpful or for round two or whatnot concerning this mystery woman.” How many words could I think of for a vindictive woman? Vengeful, mean, petty, hurtful, spiteful… I pulled out my phone and googled more synonyms. One site listed over three hundred.
Sarah sighed and placed a hand on each of my shoulders. “Don’t disappear on me, Lizzie. Not with this going on.”
“What?” I asked.
I’d been lost in thought, and Dad surprised me when he spoke. “What’s going on?”
I hid my phone behind my back for some inexplicable reason, as if that would bust what was happening with Peter, not just my nerdy vocab side. “Uh, we’re working on brunch. Should be ready soon. You hungry? I’m famished myself.”
“What’s going on with Tie and Peter?”
“N-nothing,” I stuttered.
“What are you hiding behind your back?”
“N-nothing.”
He showed his palm for me to place my phone in his hand, not speaking but commanding with his eyes.
I shook my head.
Sarah was frozen.
He didn’t relent, saying my full name in what I imagined was his dad-like voice, taking into account it was the first time I recalled hearing it.
I gave in and handed it over, relieved I wasn’t holding the picture.
He scrunched his brow. “Tie? Are you looking up words for her?”
“Possibly Maddie,” I conceded with a shrug.
He nodded, understanding more than I thought he would. Although, he’d have to be a total nincompoop not to pick up on Tie’s jabs for the past fourteen hours or so. And surely he knew why Maddie had called off the wedding. Her note about giving the dress to the other woman hadn’t been meant to be subtle.
Dad headed off toward the library.
“What do we do?” I asked.
“I want them out of my house,” Sarah said through gritted teeth. “I’ve had it with the Petries.”
I looked through the kitchen window. “There’s a foot of snow on the roads, and it’s Christmas.”
“I don’t care what day it is.” She crossed her arms.
“Not that. I don’t think the plows are in full force. How do I get them out of here?”
“Open the door and point your finger.”
I stepped back. “Me?”
“You were in their wedding.”
“So that means I have to toss them out? You’re the one who always insists on having family time.”
“This is my responsibility?” She placed a hand over her heart.
“I-I don’t want to do it,” I stuttered yet again. “They scare me.”
“Well, she scares the shit out of me! Peter—he’s been difficult to read lately.”
We stood in the kitchen, daring the other to act.
Finally, she said, “This is ridiculous.”
“Are you going to do it then?”
“No. They should leave on their own accord to deal with their problems.”
“If this were a normal marital spat between two normal people, I would agree. But this is Peter and Tie. I don’t think they should ever be in the same room together again.”
Tie came into the kitchen. “How can I help with brunch?”
I started to make a fist, but Sarah clasped her hand over mine. “We’re almost done. Can I get you anything?”
I gave Sarah a what the fuck look.
She dished it back.
Tie took in Sarah’s face and then mine. “I don’t want to trouble you two with everything going on. I’ll get myself a refill on coffee.”
When alone, I asked, “What was that about? Can I get you something?” I mimicked Sarah’s voice.
“I panicked, okay?”
Ethan casually strolled in as if trying not to be noticed but dying to know what was going on. He stirred the bacon in the frying pan.
Sarah joined him at the stove, shoveling hash browns onto one of the platters. “Lizzie, can you get the muffins and croissants out?”
“Sure. I can do that.” I glanced around the kitchen. “Where are they?”
Sarah groaned, throwing the spatula onto the hash browns. “Do I have to do everything?”
She stormed around the island to the pantry, pulling out two plastic containers of croissants and an assortment of individual-size coffee cakes and muffins.
I took them from her hand. “Ethan and I got this. Why don’t you go into the living room? Check on the kiddos? Have a mimosa?” Or five.
“Do we have those?” Her eyes were hopeful.
Ethan opened the fridge. “One coming right up just for you.”
I shoved Sarah out of the kitchen.
Ethan asked, “Do you have Grand Marnier?”
“Uh,” I looked at Sarah’s retreating back.
“Jesus, Lizzie. Woman up.” Ethan shook his head and then extended a long finger. “Go into the library and look.”
I was starting to hate the library but knew he was right. I had to step up my game for everyone’s sake. Odd, coming from Ethan, who was flying later to be there for his wife.
I quietly knocked on the library door and entered with cold dread expanding in my gut. Dad and Helen sat on one couch and Peter on the other, no one speaking. No sign of Maddie, making me wonder where she’d rushed off to. Had Peter tossed her out? Helen? Dad? Had she lost her nerve? Or remembered she was with Gabe at the moment?
“Sorry,” I said. “Just need to check something.” At the bar, I scanned the bottles until I found the one I sought. “Thanks.”
I returned to the kitchen, holding the bottle victoriously in the air.
Ethan finished the drink, kissing his fingertips with a flourish. “Get this to your wife, stat.” He appeared lost in thought. “I’m assuming brunch will have to wait.” He shrugged because who the hell knew what was going to happen next? “I’ll put everything in the oven to stay warm, and then we’ll get the kids dressed to go outside. It’s snowman or snowwoman time. I think I’d like to do that with Casey and all of you before leaving for the airport.” He got to work.
I gave his shoulder a squeeze on my way out of the kitchen.
In the living room, Sarah had Ollie on her lap, soothing our daughter.
“Here you go, my dear, and you, young lady, come with me.” I handed off the drink and scooped up Ollie before Sarah could say anything. The way she sucked down her drink didn’t allow her the chance to speak.
A minute or so later, Ethan appeared and swooped up Fred and Demi. “Casey, help us get the twins and Demi ready to play in the snow.”
Sarah mouthed thank you to both of us.
“What do you think, Ollie Dollie? Can you help Mommy build a snow person?”
Olivia, face still red from a fit, cocked her head, intrigued. I couldn’t help it; I squeezed her tightly in my arms, thankful my entire world wasn’t falling apart like Peter’s in the library.
In the nursery, I pulled out a penguin snowsuit for each twin, handing one to Ethan. “Thank you for
stepping in.”
Digging in the back of the closet, I found an older snowsuit that would fit Demi. Mostly.
“It’s what family is for.” He flipped around, his voice cracking.
“Okay, Ollie. Let’s get you suited and booted.”
“What do you think is being decided?” Ethan asked as he wrestled the wiggly Fred.
“Goodness knows with Peter, Tie, Helen, and my dad involved. So many conflicting relationship dynamics it’s hard for me to fully understand. I’m slightly terrified to find out.”
Casey came in, dressed for the artic. “Let’s get this show on the road!”
“The snow show,” Ethan said with a mischievous grin.
Casey laughed, clapping and acting very much like the child she was, not the brainiac.
Ethan, with Fred and Demi on his hips, said, “Come on, kiddos. Nothing’s going to stop this Christmas from being jolly.”
Out in the backyard, we traversed the shoveled path, which Allen had tackled earlier so Gandhi wouldn’t have trouble going to the bathroom outside instead of in my house.
I nearly broke out into hysterical laughter. How had I, the self-proclaimed orphan, ended up with family—a totally crazy family at that—coming out my ying-yang on Christmas morning.
Ethan sucked a deep breath of the frigid air into his lungs. “So pure. And the wind has finally stopped.”
“Maybe the storm has passed.”
We both peeked through the breakfast nook window, knowing that wasn’t true inside.
A snowball crashed into Ethan’s back, and he flipped around to see Casey disappear behind a tree. Setting both kids down, Ethan squatted on his haunches, and he and Freddie gathered snow. Well, Freddie poked his gloved fingers at the snow, letting Ethan do all the work. And Demi sat with her chubby legs straight out, grinning.
“What do you say, baby girl? Can you make a snow angel for Mommy?” I placed Ollie on the snow and motioned for her to move her arms and legs.
Freddie, with one eye squinted, took in Ollie’s move, showing zero interest in joining in. He was definitely the observer of the two, and I wondered what they’d be like as teenagers. The thought, though, was like a dagger to the gut. No need to rush the process. The days were already zipping by. I wanted to make the most out of each one.
A Woman Loved Page 15
