A California Christmas

by Brenda Novak

  “Yes. She signed an agreement when she started at the station saying she wouldn’t get romantically involved with anyone in the workplace. But she’s considering a wrongful firing suit. This was revenge on his part, pure and simple. He was out to get her when he posted their personal video all over the internet, and their producer—a Heidi Coventry—piled on. Emery thinks it’s because Heidi has had her eye on Ethan Grimes herself and was angry when he chose Emery over her.”

  Dallas didn’t know Emery that well. He didn’t know Ethan Grimes at all. And yet he felt no small degree of outrage. “Sexism has been such a hot topic, all over the news, and yet this Heidi person, who works for a news station, no less, is only making it worse?”

  “I know. I thought in California we’d come further than that.”

  “The station had better have fired him, too.”

  “They did, but Emery told me yesterday that she’s pretty sure they’ve hired him back.”

  “She needs to proceed with that wrongful firing suit.”

  Aiyana made a skeptical sound. “Even if she does, I’m not sure she’ll win.”

  “How much will it cost to get an attorney?”

  “That isn’t the problem. She can get an attorney who’s willing to do the work for a portion of the settlement. It’s the upset and the negativity she’ll have to contend with, for months, that she’s not convinced she can endure. Not with how hurt and vulnerable she is right now. What’s happened to her is beyond embarrassing, and the more attention she draws to it, the more people there will be who hunt down that video.”

  “It hasn’t been removed?”

  “From some sites, yes. But this is the internet we’re talking about. Once something’s out there, there’s no taking it back.”

  That was true. “What’s her other choice?”

  “To let it all go and try to rebuild her life.”

  He nearly knocked over the chair he’d been using as he shot out of it but caught it just in time. “Maybe I’d better go have a talk with the asshole who posted it. What’s his name again—Ethan Grimes? Who has a name like that, anyway?”

  His mother grabbed his arm. “No! Stay out of it. It’s none of your business, which is why I hesitated to tell you.”

  “But if she ever goes back to work at that station, or even in the same industry, she’ll never live down that video. She can’t be expected to start over at ground zero.”

  “I agree. And she’s always wanted to be a news anchor, has no idea what she’ll be if she doesn’t continue to pursue her life’s dream.”

  “Why in the world would she allow him to take a video in the first place?” he asked. “I get that she probably loved him, trusted him, all that. But this type of thing has become more and more common. You don’t take the chance, especially when you have so much to lose.”

  “She had no idea he was filming.”

  Dallas rubbed his forehead. “That makes it even worse.”

  “I know. It’s so unfair.”

  He pictured Emery’s big blue eyes and couldn’t help feeling protective of her. “What’s she going to do?”

  “That’s what she’s trying to decide. If she moves forward with the suit, she’ll need to remain somewhere close to LA so she’s available to meet with her attorney, take the deposition, go into arbitration or whatever might be necessary. If she decides not to move forward with it, she may pack up and move to Boston—where her mother is—and try to get into another line of work. But I’ve told her she’s more than welcome to stay here through the holidays. She deserves some time to get over what’s happened and to make the best possible decision.”

  He shook his head. “What a terrible thing to have to deal with, especially at Christmas.”

  She checked the doorway to make sure Liam and Bentley were still too preoccupied to be listening in. “Now you understand why I invited her here. I want to help her, if I can.”

  He walked over to give his mother a hug. “You want to help everyone,” he said. He’d always been proud of her. Always been grateful to her, too. He couldn’t imagine how he would’ve turned out—where he’d be—without her.

  2

  Fully dressed, even though she was now back in her bedroom behind a closed door, Emery Bliss paced the short distance at the foot of the bed. She could hear the commotion below, knew Aiyana, Bentley and Liam had returned instead of going to Santa Barbara. She should’ve pulled on a pair of shorts and a bra before venturing below, but she’d had her mind on the call she’d received from an attorney in LA. She’d never dreamed it wouldn’t be safe to run down for a bowl of cereal—not after Aiyana had specifically told her that she’d have the entire house to herself until five or so.

  “Damn it.” She rolled her eyes at the memory of the shock on Dallas Turner’s face when he walked into the kitchen to find her half-naked and helping herself to his mother’s food. She hadn’t gone down there with the intention of causing a problem, but after everything she’d been through recently, she was so sensitive she didn’t feel capable of withstanding any kind of blow. When she’d decided to come here, she’d pictured herself with Aiyana and Aiyana’s two youngest boys, who rarely interacted with her. They were too caught up in their studies, their girlfriends, their sports and their video games to pay her any mind. Aiyana did so much for so many, they took a new guest in stride.

  Emery hadn’t anticipated running into the Turner boy she remembered from high school—unless it was closer to the wedding—and she hadn’t looked that far ahead. She’d simply jumped at the chance to escape LA and go somewhere no one would think to look for her, so she could create a buffer between her and the harsh judgment and salacious interest she’d received once Ethan Grimes posted that video online.

  Had coming here been a mistake?

  She eyed the suitcase she’d stashed at the end of the dresser. She’d emptied her clothes into the closet and a chest of drawers so she wouldn’t have to dig through all of the belongings she’d brought with her every time she needed to change. But she could pack and fly to Boston, get out of California entirely. She would’ve done that to begin with if her parents weren’t facing their own problems. They each blamed the other for the breakdown of their marriage, so whenever she talked to them, she felt as though she was being torn in two—literally ripped apart.

  That was more than she could take right now. She also knew her savings would dwindle fast if she wasn’t careful, so she’d been hesitant to spend money on flights she could avoid.

  Emery winced at the sound of a knock on the door, then made a face at herself in the mirror. She looked terrible. Her eyes were puffy and her skin blotchy from all the tears she’d cried, her hair was a tangled mop she had yet to comb and what she’d thrown on immediately upon returning to her room covered her but didn’t match.

  Those small things were the least of her concerns, however. She had to figure out some way to recover from the devastation of losing her boyfriend, her job and, worst of all, her reputation. She had to forget what’d happened at KQLA and focus on the future so she could decide what to do next. But she was so distraught by what other people were seeing when they logged on to the internet and searched for “Emery Bliss sex video” she could hardly cope. This was easily the most embarrassing thing that could ever happen to her.

  After clearing her throat so that she’d be able to talk in spite of the large lump that threatened to choke her, she peeked into the hall.

  Aiyana stood there holding a bowl of Mini-Wheats and wearing the brightly colored clothes and turquoise jewelry she preferred, her black hair falling down her back in a thick braid. “I’m sorry if Dallas surprised you, dear. I should’ve called. I honestly didn’t think of it, or I would have.”

  “No, of course you didn’t need to call,” she said. “This is your house.”

  “We had a last-minute change of plans, but we will be leaving aga
in shortly and then we’ll be gone for the rest of the day.” She handed Emery the bowl. “Here, you left your breakfast on the counter, so I added some milk and brought it up.”

  “Thank you.” Emery managed a smile for Aiyana’s kindness—but then her lip began to tremble.

  Aiyana took the bowl back and set it aside before drawing Emery into her arms. “It’s going to be okay.”

  The scent of her flowery perfume filled Emery’s nostrils as she rested her head on the smaller woman’s shoulder. Aiyana was only about five feet tall but she had the biggest heart of anyone Emery had ever met, and the solidness of her embrace felt so convincing and nurturing that Emery was loath to let her go.

  “You don’t have to worry about Dallas staying here the next few weeks,” Aiyana said when she pulled back. “He won’t bother you.”

  “I don’t want to get in anyone’s way...”

  “You’re not in anyone’s way. There are eight bedrooms in this house. And Dallas doesn’t mind that you’re here. As a matter of fact, if I know my son, he’ll end up being your best friend and your fiercest protector.”

  She sniffed, still trying to hold back tears—now caused by the sympathy she was receiving instead of her former mortification.

  She thanked Aiyana, and Aiyana said goodbye before heading down the stairs.

  When Emery closed the door, she took her cereal and crawled into bed. She’d known as soon as she’d felt Aiyana’s arms go around her that she wouldn’t pack up and leave. Maybe this wasn’t her home, but she felt welcome here. If she stayed, she wouldn’t have to face the outside world, wouldn’t have to pick sides in her parents’ divorce and wouldn’t have to witness the decline of her ailing grandmother—not until she felt stronger.

  And right now, having the chance to get back on her feet in what felt like a safe environment mattered more than anything else.

  * * *

  It was late when Dallas returned from hanging out with his two older brothers at the Blue Suede Shoe, a popular bar they often visited to play pool or darts whenever he was in town. Elijah and Gavin were both married with children, but Eli, the oldest, helped run New Horizons and lived on campus not far from Aiyana. Dallas rode with him, returning to Eli’s house to watch a recorded Lakers game after they left the bar. By the time that was over, it was almost two, so Dallas walked home rather than having Eli drive him.

  All the lights were off, so after he let himself in the back door, he was surprised to hear the soft drone of the television. Aiyana rarely stayed up late; she got up too early. And his younger brothers wouldn’t be watching TV in the middle of the night. Bentley had school in the morning; Liam had work.

  As he neared the family room, the floor creaked under his weight, causing the small figure on the couch to sit up and take notice.

  He could tell he’d surprised Emery Bliss just as he had when he first came upon her in the kitchen this morning. Only now if she didn’t have any pants on, he couldn’t tell; she was covered by a blanket.

  “Hello.” She lifted the remote as though she felt she should turn off the TV and scurry back to her bedroom.

  “Go ahead and finish watching your show,” he said before she could hit the Power button. “This is a big house. The TV’s not going to bother anybody.”

  “Are you sure?” she asked.

  “Positive.”

  Standing about ten feet away from her, he shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans. She was watching an episode of Dateline.

  “What’s this one about?” he asked.

  “A young mother has been kidnapped.”

  “From where?”

  “Her house in Iowa. Right in the middle of the day.”

  Dallas was far more interested in learning if Emery had been able to determine whether Ethan Grimes had been rehired by the television station from which they’d both been fired than getting involved in the crime drama unfolding on TV. He’d thought about her and her situation all day. But he guessed Emery wouldn’t be excited to discuss it with him. For one, she barely knew him. For another, it had to be more awkward for her to talk to a man, especially one she barely knew, about the sex video her ex-boyfriend had posted than it would be a woman.

  Still, he came around the couch and sat at the opposite end. He’d been so infatuated with Emery ten years ago that he couldn’t help wondering what she was like now.

  She didn’t speak, though, and he didn’t interrupt, in case she was as invested in the show as it seemed.

  When Dateline ended and she navigated to Hulu to put on another episode, he got up and told her good-night. His mother was right—what Emery was going through was none of his business. He needed to leave her alone and give her the space to work out her own problems.

  “Aiyana tells me you’re a rock climber.”

  Surprised that she would initiate a conversation when he’d just given up on the idea, he turned to face her. “I like to climb, yes.”

  “She said you often free solo.”

  Most people didn’t agree with climbing without ropes. They considered it too reckless, too foolhardy. He couldn’t tell whether she was one of those who would judge him, label him an adrenaline junkie or whatever, but he couldn’t help feeling slightly defensive. “Occasionally. But only when I know the climb well, have done it many times with ropes and feel certain I can make it.”

  “What happens if you encounter something unexpected, some water or slime on a narrow ledge that makes it too slippery to grip—or a rattlesnake that slithers out of a crack in the rock?”

  “Surprises like that generally don’t end well,” he admitted. “Encountering a rattlesnake while hiking could end as badly, though.”

  She studied him. “Do you know the guy who climbed El Capitan free solo?”

  “Alex Honnold? I’ve met him. Why? Do you know him?”

  “I interviewed him on my show in 2018, right after the documentary came out. Since you probably climb in Yosemite, too, I figured you might’ve run into him.”

  “I’ve encountered him in the valley a time or two.”

  She adjusted the blanket she’d been using. She had on the same faded Van Halen T-shirt he’d seen earlier, but he could tell that she was now wearing a bra. And when she shifted, causing the blanket to fall back, he noticed she was also wearing a pair of pink yoga pants. “How’d you get involved in rock climbing?”

  “Unlike Alex, I didn’t have the opportunity to start as a kid. I didn’t get into it until I was in high school. I began bouldering at Enlightenment Ridge, which isn’t too far from here.” Climbing had provided an outlet. It was the only thing that quieted his mind and barred unwelcome thoughts from intruding.

  “Do you have a sponsor?”

  He leaned up against the wall. “I didn’t until recently. I got one just a few months ago, as a matter of fact.”

  “Some climbers don’t like the idea of getting paid for climbing,” she said.

  “Those are the ones who can’t get a sponsor,” he responded drily, but she didn’t give up that easily.

  “They claim the money incentivizes guys to climb too fast and take bigger and bigger risks—to be the first to scale a particular rock face in a certain amount of time or whatever, which can be dangerous. They also say that the social media and other attention that goes along with climbing professionally is a problem, because it’s so distracting.”

  “It’s a dangerous sport. I’m not going to stand here and argue that it isn’t. But I’d rather be making money doing what I love to do. That’s the only way I can do more of it.”

  She raked her long hair back with her fingers and twisted it on top of her head. She still wasn’t wearing makeup, but she didn’t need any. She was as pretty as ever—just as pretty as she’d been at eighteen. She’d make the perfect news anchor or television host. She had a wide mouth with straight teeth that gleamed when sh
e smiled.

  He remembered being absolutely captivated by that smile, too nervous to even talk right when she deigned to speak to him.

  “How old were you when you came to New Horizons?” she asked.

  “Fourteen.”

  She let her hair drop. “Were you born in California?”

  He nearly laughed. He’d been afraid to ask her anything that might make her uncomfortable, and yet she was veering awfully close to the one subject he didn’t like to discuss—his past. “I was,” he said simply.

  “What part?”

  “Bakersfield.”

  “Do you mind if I ask what happened to your birth parents?”

  He hesitated.

  “Sorry,” she said. “It’s the interviewer in me, I guess. I start in right away, but...is that a no?”

  “Why don’t we trade?” He flashed her a grin. “I ask you something I’d like to know about you, and then you can ask me something you’d like to know about me. Maybe it won’t be comfortable for either one of us, but at least it’ll be fair.”

  She eyed him dubiously. “That’s okay. The last thing I want to do is discuss what I’m going through.”

  “Understood. But I’ll let the offer stand. Let me know if you change your mind.”

  He breathed a sigh of relief as he headed downstairs to the bedroom that had been his when he lived with Aiyana. He was fine with leaving things as they were between him and Emery. Satisfying his curiosity where she was concerned wasn’t worth digging through the wreckage of his childhood, especially because they’d go their separate ways soon enough. What was the point?

  There was no point, no reason to even think about his childhood tonight.

  But after he brushed his teeth and stripped off his clothes, he pulled out the letter he’d received and stared down at his name, written in pencil.

  Somehow, his father had tracked him down. He’d found this letter in his post office box when he went by to clear it out before coming to Silver Springs. He hadn’t opened it, though.