Perfect Bride for Christmas, A

by Dyann Love Barr

  “Can you blame me? My brother had just died, and I find out I’m left penniless.”

  “I wouldn’t call fifty thousand dollars penniless.”

  “James was worth over three million dollars,”

  Brenda hissed.

  “Oh, Brenda. James loved you more than you know.” Zoe sat on the small matching ottoman and took Brenda’s hand. At first Brenda tried to pull away but Zoe held fast. “You have a drinking problem, and when you drink, you say things best left alone.”

  “I know, I know.” Brenda gripped Zoe’s hand so hard that a zing of pain shot through her fingers as her bones ground against each other. “What am I going to do? I told you I don’t have a job anymore.

  The department store downsized me.”

  “Why?”

  “They needed to cut the payrolls, and I had a few tardies on my record. No one in that whole store knew shoes like I did, and I barely made above minimum wage. I’m forty years old. No one wants to hire me anymore.”

  “Did you sign up for unemployment?”

  “No. I’m a Bennett. It’s one thing to ask my family for money but the government—that’s so degrading. My life is falling apart, and if I could get the loan, well, it would mean so much.”

  As angry as Brenda made her, Zoe wished she could help her sister-in-law, regardless of James’

  insistence that Brenda stand on her own two feet.

  He’d enabled Brenda his entire life, telling Zoe it was easier than dealing with Brenda’s constant 246

  A Perfect Bride for Christmas nagging and guilt trips. Right before he’d died, he made her promise not to give into his sister’s whining.

  “I don’t know what to tell you, Brenda. I don’t have any money. I mean, not twenty thousand just lying around.”

  Her sister-in-law squeezed further back into the chair, her fingers digging into the arms. “You have it; you just won’t give it to me.”

  Zoe felt the last of her good will evaporate. “We went through this over the phone. The money is in the girls’ trust. The trustees won’t even let me touch it without a good reason, and I honestly don’t think they’d consider giving you a loan.”

  Hope and desperation filled Brenda’s eyes. Her platinum bob swung as she shook her head. “No, you can talk to the trustees, make them understand.”

  “What happens after this loan is gone? You need help. Maybe I can get them to spring for rehab or job training, but not money you’ll fritter away in a couple of months or less. “ Zoe got to her feet. “ Look, I can give you a few hundred dollars. It’s not much, but it’s all I have until the first of the year. This is a gift from me.”

  “That’s not enough.” Brenda seemed to be on the point of hysteria. “Not nearly enough.”

  “Mommy, is Aunt Brenda sick again?” Mia stood in the doorway, a bright green crayon in her hand.

  Macy and Michaela stood behind her, looks of worry etched into their faces.

  “No, she’s just tired from her trip and a little sad.” The girls gathered around their aunt.

  “Why are you sad?” Mia laid her hand on Brenda’s.

  Brenda wiped her eyes. “I, ah, I don’t know.

  Sometimes, I just get sad.”

  “You can take medicine when you’re sad, just 247

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  like on TV.” Macy glanced over at her siblings. “Did you take medicine? You smell funny, like cough syrup.”

  The other two girls made a face.

  “Girls.” Zoe picked up the sacks and handed them out. “Why don’t you put these under the tree?”

  She turned to Brenda. “Have you had anything to eat?” “No.” She slumped back into the chair, her green knit top hanging on her stick thin body. “I just got in the car and drove.”

  Zoe sighed, not knowing what to do next. Food was always a good start. “Look, let’s get your luggage out of the car and get some food. You’ll feel better.”

  ****

  Alex picked up Keeley at her hotel. She said she’d thought about renting a car until she saw the news reports of the deteriorating road conditions and freaked. At first, she told Amelia it might be better to wait, but his mother refused to let Keeley off the hook. He waited in the lobby and knew her on sight.

  She looked like Dad, except for her green eyes.

  Keeley’s long legs ate up the floor and she walked with the same authoritative swagger as his father but sweetened with a feminine swing. His mother would approve of her classy, yet casual black slacks and yellow sweater set. Her heavily streaked dark blonde hair reminded him of Zoe’s.

  “You must be Alex.” Keeley held out her hand in greeting. Cool, yet not unfriendly. In spite of their amicable phone conversation she was still reserved.

  “Your mother described you exactly. I feel a little strange meeting your family, considering I’m demanding liquidation of the assets.”

  Straight and to the point. Mom would like that.

  “Where you able to get an extension for the 248

  A Perfect Bride for Christmas financing for your project?”

  She shook her head as he took her topcoat from her hands and held it open for her. “Do you mind my asking what it is?”

  Keeley slipped her arms into the boxy, black wool coat. “My company is taking credit for my designs. It gets old after a while, so I’m thinking about going out on my own. There’s a prime location for office space, and I need capital.”

  “Did you find the answers you wanted regarding the estate?”

  “You know the answer to that. The paperwork was very thorough.” Keeley buttoned up her coat, snapping each one through the holes, her mouth thinning into a line of irritation. “The car dealership is in the corporation, so I can’t touch it. That leaves the house and land.”

  That explained the coolness.

  “So you plan on kicking Mom out of a home she’s lived in for forty years? She’ll be forced to sell land that’s belonged in the family for almost six generations?”

  “You’re angry.” She pulled on her gloves and headed out the glass doors, into the exhaust-fumed winter air. “I don’t blame you. I wanted to speak to Amelia before I made a final decision. If I plan to go ahead with the action, I’ll have an appraiser come out as soon as possible. That way we’ll all know how much a buyout would be.”

  “I said I’d front you a loan. The only stipulation is—Mom can’t know about it. She’d have a fit, and believe me, it wouldn’t be pretty.” Alex shifted gears as he led her to the Hummer parked in the hotel’s garage. “It seems strange to see a sister I never knew about. I can’t get over how much you look like Dad. It’s spooky.”

  “Good spooky, like Casper the Friendly Ghost?

  Or Freddie Kruger spooky?” Her smile returned, this 249

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  time less defensive.

  “I’d like to think Casper.” He unlocked the door on the passenger side and held it open. “This blindsided all of us, but one thing I do know, if Dad had an inkling you existed, he’d have made sure you were part of our family.”

  “How do you feel about it?” She slid into the seat and buckled her belt, tugging it tight. “I’m not making myself very loveable by asking for a share of the estate.”

  “Like Mom says, we’ll get into that later. She’s so curious, excited, and I think a little scared, though she wouldn’t admit it.”

  “Well, the threat of having your house sold would make someone scared, but excited?”

  “No, really, she’s been saddled with sons, and I think she’d like a daughter.”

  Keeley flashed him a wry smile. “I’m a little old to be dressing in ruffles and patent leather shoes.”

  “You’re a part of Dad, and that’s enough for her.

  All I ask is that you be kind. Don’t forget she lost her husband less than a year ago. Clint, Heath, and I are trying to adjust to life without Dad. I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t start in on Mom in front of them. It won’t win you a
ny favors.”

  “Got it, keep happy shiny around the big brothers, or in my case, you’re all little brothers.”

  She smiled over at him. “It’s an adjustment for me as well.”

  They exchanged childhood war stories. Keeley’s mother never remarried after Viet Nam but settled in San Francisco. Keeley was a wild child, allowed to roam free, while her mother worked two jobs.

  “I discovered the joys of architecture in junior high.” Keeley glanced over at Alex. “That marked the end of my craziness. No more running with the wrong crowd and getting into trouble. Then it was nose to the grindstone.”

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  A Perfect Bride for Christmas He told her the story of Zoe and the triplets.

  “Wow, talk about an over achiever.”

  They were laughing by the time they pulled up to the house. Mom waited on the front porch, on her crutches for a change. Sydney hovered around in her Angel of Mercy mode, but his mother waved her away. She looked out of place, hands thrust into her shearling coat pockets, and wearing a too-bright smile. Alex had to give Sydney kudos for trying.

  However, the effort fell flat.

  “Hey, Mom. Look who I found in town.” He opened the car door and Keeley stepped out. His mother thrust her crutches into Sydney’s hands and grabbed the handrail to hobble down the porch stairs.

  “Oh my, oh my.” She stopped in front of Keeley and grabbed her hands. “You look so much like my Frank.” She turned to Alex. “She looks exactly like your father, doesn’t she?” Tears welled up in Mom’s eyes. His mother’s reaction to Keeley hit him in the gut with the punch of a medicine ball. Tears burned in his eyes, but he blinked them back. “Yeah, Mom.

  She does.”

  “Forgive me, it’s cold out here. Come inside.”

  Mom took Keeley’s arm, but Keeley didn’t budge. “Is something wrong?”

  Keeley shook her head. “This is magnificent.”

  Keeley’s eyes traveled over the front of the house, first taking in the veranda with its wraparound porch, the turrets, and gingerbread work. “A real Spindled Queen Anne.” Her face glowed with rapture. “It’s beautiful.” She followed his mother up the stairs, her hand running over the railing and the delicate columns in reverence.

  “Hollyfield is home,” his mother countered with a pat on Keeley’s arm. “I’m freezing.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry.” Keeley came back to earth. “I 251

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  didn’t expect this.” She turned to look at Alex.

  “There were no pictures with the documents. I thought it would be some little boxy farmstead instead of a work of art.”

  Mom’s eyes twinkled with delight, and for a second, a calculating glance flashed in the brilliant blue. “You can take the grand tour once we get warm.

  I have some hot cocoa, tea, as well as coffee.” She gave Alex a pointed look. “Zoe brought over quite a bit of food yesterday. Alex chose the menu for the reception because Sydney had things to do in town.

  What did you say you picked out?”

  “Good old American burgers and fries.”

  Sydney looked horrified.

  “And chocolate shakes. Isn’t that what you said?” His mother added with a conspiratorial smile.

  It wasn’t right to have fun at Sydney’s expense, so he relented. “Don’t worry, Syd. Everything will be fine. I trust Zoe’s discretion when it comes to food.”

  Later today, he would tell her there wouldn’t be any need for the damned menu anyway.

  His mother led Keeley over to Sydney. “Oh, Keeley, let me introduce Sydney Stanford. She’s Alex’s fiancée.”

  Alex didn’t miss his mother’s pointed stare. He sent one of his own. I’ll get around to it.

  “I’m so pleased to meet you.” Sydney held out her hand. “Yes, he’s the love of my life. I can’t wait for all this to be over so I can have him all to myself.” She let go of Keeley’s hand to hook her arm through Alex’s and wrinkled her nose. “Amelia.”

  Sydney gave his mother a forced smile. “Don’t you remember? I’ve told you again and again, we don’t need the caterer. I already made plans with the country club after you broke your ankle.”

  His mother stopped dead in her hobbling tracks.

  “Sydney, I appreciate your concern, but there will be 252

  A Perfect Bride for Christmas a reception at Hollyfield on Christmas Eve.” She motioned for Alex to hand her the crutches.

  He used his free hand, wondering why Mom was making an issue of them. Was she playing the sympathy card in case Keeley turned out to be a hard-ass in sheep’s clothing? Whatever it was going on, it gave him the willies.

  Sydney’s face looked pinched. “I’m only trying to help you, Amelia.”

  “I’m sure you did it out of the kindness of your heart.”

  “I did—”

  His mother interrupted Sydney with an indulgent smile. “But we’ve already had this discussion. This wedding day is as important to the Kings. You’ve had your way with every other aspect.

  I’ll hear not more about it.”

  Sydney turned away, her face white with high dots of color. She was beyond upset. “I think I’ll go upstairs for a while. I have the beginnings of a migraine. Alex will you be coming up later?”

  “I have a few errands to run, and then I need to take Keeley back to her hotel.”

  Keeley helped his mother, talking to her about the history of the house as they went through the front door. “It’s called Hollyfield because of the stand of holly shrubs at the back of the house. We still have much of the original furniture. I love modern design, but somehow, it didn’t seem right to change anything. The kitchen is still stuck back in the fifties.”

  “I love the wainscoting and crown molding. I’ll bet you have some stained glass somewhere.”

  “Yes, we do have some stained glass in the house. There’s a lovely bit of work in the landing as you go up the stairs. It’s of irises. The first King who built the house had it made as a tribute to his bride, Iris.”

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  Keeley’s eyes took in every detail of the room.

  “What a lovely story.”

  “We have a lot of family traditions. One is that the Kings marry on Christmas Eve. Clive King, the man who built the house, married Iris Chapman and brought her here that first Christmas Eve.” His mother sat down in her favorite chair by the tree with a sigh. The small table held a tray with hot tea and coffee, along with an assortment of cookies.

  Alex observed the tight line around his mother’s mouth, the dimming of her bright blue eyes. “Are you okay, Mom? Do you want me to get you a painkiller?”

  She held up her hand and shook her head. “No, I’ll be fine. Those things make me feel like I’ve time traveled back to the sixties.” She held up two fingers in a V. “Peace.” Patting the crutches leaning against her chair, she added, “I promise to use these more often.”

  He leaned down to kiss her on the cheek. “Liar. I love you anyway.”

  Keeley sat on the couch, smoothing the black fabric of her slacks. “So Alex is getting married on Christmas Eve because of the family tradition?”

  “Poor Alex, his luck hasn’t been so good so far.

  This Christmas will be different—very different.”

  Keeley grinned, intrigued. “Just how many times have you walked down the aisle?”

  Sydney had his arm in a death grip. He’d have bruises in spite of wearing a heavy jacket. “Mom thinks it’s funny. This will be the third attempt.”

  “Now that’s a story I’ve got to hear.” Keeley laughed and gazed around the room, absorbing the Christmas decorations, the way the red and green stockings, with each of the boy’s names etched in patchy glitter, clashed with the pastels decor. Her eyes swept over to the Christmas tree with ornaments collected from the first King on. It might 254

  A Perfect Bride for Christmas be a holiday mashup but it would always be home to him. “You
have a beautiful house. Thank you for inviting me to share it with you.”

  “You’re always welcome in a King home,” his mother announced. “No matter where it might be.”

  Alex’s eyes widened at Mom’s sucker punch. She went for the throat with charm and a smile. No wonder the car dealership had been such a success.

  Keeley flushed. “I—ah—well, thank you.”

  “Why don’t you come by tomorrow and do a thorough walk-through? As an architect, I’m sure you’ll be able to get an idea of what it will bring on the market.” She reached for the teapot on the table and poured a cup. “Tea?”

  Keeley held up her hand. “No, thank you.”

  “The house comes with five acres. The rest of the land is rented out to Charlie Hanson for hay. He has a five-year contract, but only has two years left. I’m sure you’ll be able to sort that out when the time comes.”

  “I haven’t made any decisions yet.”

  “I’m sure you’ll do what you think is right.”

  Mom’s gaze settled on Keeley. “I still can’t get over how much you look like Frank. He would’ve been so proud of you.”

  As Keeley relaxed under his mother’s smile, Alex let out a sigh of relief. Everything would be all right between the two women.

  “I need to run into town. There’s a few things I need to check on at the office.” He leaned down to kiss his mother again. “Play nice,” he whispered into her ear. He glanced up at Keeley. “When do you need to go back to the hotel?”

  “Before supper, around six.”

  “I’ll get here around five. That’ll give us plenty of time if the roads slick up. I’m sure Clint and Heath will show up before then.”

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  “We’ll be fine, Alex. Go run your errands.” His mother waved him off. “I need to talk to Keeley alone.”

  “Sydney, why don’t you come with me? We can stop by your loft.” This would give him the perfect opportunity to pull the plug on the wedding.