A California Christmas

by Brenda Novak

  “True.” He covered another yawn. “Well, I’m going to bed before you start in on Emery again.”

  “Start in?” Seth repeated with a shocked laugh. “I’ve hardly said anything!”

  Dallas gave him a dubious look. “But I know how you feel. You’ve made that clear.”

  “I think it’s how you feel that’s got you worried,” he said, and Dallas hated that he couldn’t deny it.

  * * *

  Emery’s lawyer was ecstatic when she called him around noon her time to tell him that Ethan had agreed to confess.

  “This case will be a slam dunk,” he said. “I bet they’ll settle out of court as soon as possible.”

  “How much do you think we can get?”

  “Wrongful firing settlements usually fall anywhere in the range of five thousand to eighty thousand dollars, but your reputation was ruined as well, which takes this to an entirely new level. I know of one client who was fired for testifying on behalf of another employee in a sexual harassment suit who received more than a million dollars.”

  “You’re not saying I could wind up with that much!”

  “You could,” he said. “You never know. It’s all a matter of negotiation now.”

  Emery felt as though a giant weight had been lifted off her shoulders. And she had Dallas to thank for it. “It’s going to be a nice Christmas, after all.”

  “Oh, the money won’t come that quickly. The holidays will actually slow the process. You’re still looking at a month or more.”

  “I can last a few months. I’m just saying that the pressure is off. Now I know I’ll be able to take care of my mother and grandmother.”

  “You’ll be able to do that and have plenty left over.”

  She thanked him and, just as she hung up, her mother knocked on her bedroom door. “You awake?”

  Emery propped her pillows up and sat against the headboard. “Yeah. Come on in.”

  Connie slipped inside the room and perched on the edge of the bed. “I’ve been trying not to wake you. I know you’re on California time, but I’m so excited you’re here I could hardly wait to see you. Thank you for coming.”

  Emery reached for her mother’s hand. “I’m glad I’m here, too. And I want you to know that you’re not going to have to worry about anything, not as far as money is concerned.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’m going to win the lawsuit. Ethan has confessed.”

  Her mother’s lips curved into a smile, but she started to blink quickly—an obvious attempt to avoid tears. She was hurting so badly that any kindness made her cry. “Thank you, honey. I’m so glad I have you. I promise I’ll pay you back as soon as I receive my divorce settlement.”

  “I’m not worried about that. This will buy you the time you need to make sure it’s a fair one.”

  “Thank you,” she said again.

  Emery pulled her into an embrace. “We’re both going to make it through this.”

  Thursday, December 24

  Over the next few days, Dallas felt his mood grow steadily worse. He’d tried calling Emery a number of times, but his calls went straight to voice mail; there wasn’t even any ringing. He’d left her several messages, but she never called him back. It was as if she’d disappeared off the planet, as if their time together had been blotted out.

  What was going on? He wanted to know how she was doing, how her mother was doing, even how her grandmother was doing. And he wanted to bask in the relief Ethan’s confession gave them both—her, because it made such a difference to her immediate future, and him, because he no longer had to worry about her being in a terrible situation. Once she received her settlement, she’d be able to support herself until she found another job that she actually liked. And if she couldn’t find anything right away? She could survive until a better opportunity came along. That sex video wouldn’t hold her back forever. It would become old news as soon as someone else—a movie star or other high-profile figure—made headlines with his or her own sex tape. Or divorce. Or affair. Or other scandal.

  Emery would soon be in the clear and he would like to have been able to celebrate with her. But there was only this strange, ominous silence.

  Had she cut him off? He suspected she had, that she was handling their separation with the same grit and determination he’d seen when they parted at the airport and she wouldn’t even let him kiss her.

  But he truly cared about her. Couldn’t they have some kind of relationship? Despite all of his issues, he couldn’t help hoping for that, at least. Having her out of his life completely made him miserable.

  He tried to tell himself that he had to let her do what she needed to do. He was the one who’d decided they couldn’t pursue a relationship. And his reasons for it were still true. She’d crashed into his life like a comet—made a huge impact—and now he had to fill the hole.

  He tried to do that by taking his brothers bouldering, as he’d promised. They went ice-skating, too, with the students who were still at the school. And they went Christmas shopping. Dallas even wrapped the presents he’d bought—for the first time ever. They were crudely done, but at least he’d put forth the effort.

  He was doing everything he could to get into the holiday spirit, but the moment Emery left, Christmas had lost its sparkle.

  “It feels strange not to have Emery here,” Liam said as they were making dinner on Christmas Eve. Aiyana and Cal were due to arrive home at any moment, and Dallas had recruited his two youngest brothers to help surprise them by making the family’s traditional Christmas Eve dinner of salmon in parchment pouches with slivered vegetables. “I was sort of getting used to having her makeup in the bathroom.”

  “Yeah, toward the end that didn’t bother me anymore, either,” Bentley chimed in. “We’ve never had a sister. I mean we have sisters-in-law, but have never lived with a girl. I really liked her.”

  “And I bet she’d be a lot better at this than we are,” Liam said as juice rolled out of the corner of one of the pouches onto his lap, and he had to drop it and jump up to get a rag. “Mom makes it look easy.”

  “Mom makes everything look easy,” Bentley agreed.

  “What’s Emery up to?” Liam asked as he returned to his station and continued to tie string around the packets Dallas was filling with food. “Is she having a good Christmas in Boston?”

  Dallas had ignored the mention of her name, but he couldn’t ignore a direct question. “I’m sure she is,” he muttered because he didn’t want to admit that he didn’t know, but he’d spoken too gruffly and he knew it when Bentley shot him a dirty look.

  “Why are you in such a bad mood?”

  “I’m not in a bad mood,” Dallas lied. “I’m just concentrating on making this meal. I want it to turn out halfway decent, okay?”

  Bentley finished another one of the packets. “You know Mom will be thrilled that we even tried.”

  “She’ll be even happier if it’s edible,” he snapped, but when both brothers looked at him in surprise, he realized he’d spoken too harshly again.

  “Jeez, Dal,” Liam grumbled.

  He bit his tongue so that he wouldn’t make it worse and was relieved when the twins came in and the conversation veered toward getting a game of football together tomorrow and trying to decide what time would least interfere with Aiyana’s plans for Christmas Day.

  Once it was settled that they’d head to the field after lunch, and they were finished with the salmon packets, Dallas put them in the oven while his brothers hurried out to play video games.

  Relieved to be alone, Dallas sat at the table and, even though he told himself he was just making things worse by constantly checking, looked for a text or missed call from Emery.

  Nothing.

  His thumb hovered over her name as he considered calling her again, but he knew she wouldn’t answer. “Merry Christma
s,” he muttered, and shoved his phone back into his pocket.

  * * *

  Aiyana couldn’t believe the boys had attempted to make her salmon packet dinner, a meal she typically made only on Christmas Eve. As they sat around the table together, Ryan and Taylor complained that it didn’t taste quite as good as when she made it, but the thoughtfulness behind the effort made it pretty darn delicious to her. She was proud of her family, had never been happier in so many respects, and yet it didn’t take long for her to realize that something was wrong with Dallas.

  She wasn’t the only one who noticed it, either. When he’d grumble at this or that, or simply remained silent when he normally would’ve spoken, Eli, Gavin, Seth or the two younger boys would glance at each other. And when she asked about Emery and how things were going with her mother in Boston, she could hardly get him to answer.

  “What’s going on with Dallas?” Cal whispered when Dallas went to the bathroom and he was helping to clear the table.

  “I’m not sure,” she whispered back. “I hope his father has honored our agreement. You don’t think he came here while we were gone, do you? Could it be that Dallas knows Robert’s not only out of prison but close by and eager to make contact?”

  “Robert promised he wouldn’t interrupt the holidays. But we are talking about a man who murdered his wife and daughter. I doubt he’d have any compunction about taking your money and then doing exactly as he pleases.”

  “It doesn’t have to be Robert. It could be that things didn’t end well with Emery,” she speculated.

  “He texted you while we were gone that Ethan was going to confess. Won’t that make things better?”

  “For her. But I’m pretty sure he’s fallen in love with her, and I don’t think that’s an easy thing for him to face.”

  He brought her fingers to his lips. “I’m just glad you’re so open to love,” he teased.

  “Hey, I just rinsed off some plates—my hands are wet!”

  He chuckled as he kissed them in spite of that. “I don’t care. I’ll take you any way you come.”

  She couldn’t believe she’d waited so long to marry him, but her own life had not been easy. She guessed Dallas was battling some of the same trust and fear issues she’d dealt with in the past. He’d learned how to cope on his own, had eked out a life he enjoyed with his climbing, and he felt safer hanging on to that than trusting love—which was sort of ironic, given the more obvious danger of his job.

  She was hoping for a chance to speak to Dallas alone, but he surprised her by going to bed early. He knew the rest of them were planning to visit the students who were still at the school and leave stockings full of Christmas goodies by each door, which he usually enjoyed, but he didn’t seem to have any enthusiasm for it tonight.

  “What’s up with Dallas?” Cora asked after Dallas disappeared down the stairs.

  “We think it’s Emery,” Cal replied.

  “Really? Eli told me he’s the one who chose not to pursue the relationship.”

  “He was,” Aiyana said. “But maybe he needs a second chance to decide.”

  Cal gave her a suspicious look and Cora’s eyes widened. “What does that mean?” they said, almost in unison.

  A trickle of excitement ran through Aiyana. “Let’s get the others together and see what we can do.”

  “There isn’t anything we can do,” Cora said, perplexed.

  “Who says?” Aiyana responded with a wink.

  * * *

  Emery knew she’d done the right thing coming to Boston. She shuddered to think she’d almost left her mother on her own. Connie was bewildered and hurt, being rejected after so many years of marriage, and yet she was doing everything she could to support her own mother. Emery couldn’t help but be proud of her.

  She was also determined to follow her mother’s example and fulfill her duty to both women instead of feeling sorry for herself. After all, the only thing she had to worry about now was a broken heart. But it still wasn’t easy. She’d blocked Dallas’s number and refused to let herself cave in and unblock him—an impulse she had to override every few seconds.

  “You’re quiet,” her mother said as they sat in the living room after they’d finished the ham and scalloped potatoes she’d prepared for dinner, cleaned up the dishes, and put her grandmother to bed.

  Emery held a glass of wine loosely in one hand as she studied the sad little Charlie Brown Christmas tree on a table near the front window. Her mother used to do a lot of holiday decorating—always went big—but this was the only token of holiday cheer she’d bothered to put up this year. “It’s a very different Christmas.”

  “My first year spending Christmas without your father since we met,” her mother said distantly.

  Emery took a sip of her wine. “It’s his loss, Mom. I mean that.”

  “His loss?” she echoed sardonically. “Deseret is half my age and probably thirty pounds thinner. Don’t kid yourself. He traded up.”

  “That’s not true. She’s also selfish and controlling and spoiled rotten. I bet he’ll make himself miserable trying to keep her happy.”

  “Regardless, I have to accept my new reality and figure out a way to soldier on.”

  “You’re doing that, and it’s such an inspiration. Anybody can do the right thing when it’s easy. But you’re doing it even though it’s hard.”

  A gentle smile tugged at Connie’s lips as she reached over to pat Emery’s arm. “You were the best thing to ever happen to me, and your father is partly responsible, so I guess I can’t regret marrying him.”

  Emery covered her mother’s hand with her own. “You’re going to be fine.”

  A buzz broke the silence—Emery’s phone. For a split second, she hoped it was Dallas—until she reminded herself that he couldn’t call because she’d blocked him.

  “Who is it?” her mother asked as Emery checked.

  Emery wished she didn’t have to say. “Dad. I texted him about Ethan and the confession. He’s probably calling to talk about that.” Thinking she’d get back to him later, she started to put her phone on the coffee table, but her mother stopped her.

  “Emery, it’s Christmas Eve. Talk to your father. I don’t want you to miss the opportunity just because things aren’t going well between the two of us,” she said and, taking her wine, left the room.

  Emery was tempted to go after her. It had to be difficult for Connie to feel like the outsider when they’d always been a family. But she wasn’t sure her father would have the opportunity to talk if she missed this call. There was no telling what he might have to do—or not do—to avoid an argument with Deseret.

  So she answered.

  “Just wanted to wish you a merry Christmas,” he said.

  “Thank you. I hope you’re having a nice Christmas, too.”

  “It would be better if your mother and I could come to some understanding and agreement, but...”

  Emery felt herself stiffen. She was going to draw a boundary here, too—refuse to let him complain when her mother was trying to be so generous. “I don’t want to talk about the divorce, Dad. Please don’t put me in the middle.”

  He fell silent. Then he said, “You’re right. I’m sorry,” and they were able to discuss Ethan and his confession and finish the call without getting into an argument.

  After she hung up, she went to check on her mother and found Connie in bed.

  “How’d it go?” she asked.

  “Fine,” Emery replied but was grateful when her mother didn’t press her for details. Instead, they talked about what they planned to cook the following day. Then Emery said good-night and went to her own room.

  She’d gotten so little sleep the night before she thought she’d nod off immediately. But that didn’t happen. She kept shifting around and adjusting the blankets, trying to get comfortable, feeling lonely and even a little
frightened by all the changes in her life and what might lie ahead.

  She wished she could at least talk to Dallas.

  At one point, she took her phone off the charger and nearly called him—until she asked herself what it was she was hoping to say. He’d already made his choice. She needed to let him go, not continue to hope that he’d change his mind.

  Still, she probably would’ve broken down, if not for the example of her mother. She missed him that badly. But if Connie could remain strong and do what was necessary to rebuild her life, so could she.

  29

  Christmas Day

  It wasn’t even light yet when his mother, Cal and his brothers banged on Dallas’s door and then flooded his room. He’d gone to bed early, but he still wasn’t happy to be awakened. He assumed they were excited to celebrate Christmas, to eat and open presents, but he couldn’t gather much enthusiasm for any of that. Not this year. He just wanted to get back to the person he’d been before meeting Emery—happy to know, with his sponsorship, that he had the opportunity of a lifetime and could, if he decided to, tackle the most famous climbs in Europe in the next few months.

  “Let me sleep,” he grumbled. “I’ll get up in a couple of hours.”

  “But our present won’t wait that long,” Liam said, his voice filled with excitement.

  Dallas couldn’t imagine what he was talking about. He figured his family would give him a sweater, a football or maybe some new climbing gear, as usual—all things he would like and be grateful for but also things that could easily wait until he was ready to get up. “How old are we now?”

  “Don’t be a Scrooge,” Seth said, and then it occurred to Dallas how odd it was to have Seth in his room—not just Ryan, Taylor, Liam and Bentley. What the heck was Seth doing up this early, trying to drag him out of bed? Seth was more reserved and withdrawn than the others; this wasn’t like him.

  “What’s going on?” he asked as he threw his legs over the side and sat up. “I know it’s Christmas, and you’re excited, but this is the first time you’ve all descended on my room at once.” Normally, Aiyana would call down to tell him to come up. Or one of his younger brothers would fetch him—not all who were currently staying in the house.