The Southern Comfort Christmas: A Heartwarming Christmas Romance (Windy CIty Romance Book 6)

by Barbara Lohr

  Harper sprang up. “No worries. Short conversation.” At least, she sure hoped so.

  Mrs. Powers rose from her desk, a sharply chiseled woman who probably ate two crackers for lunch every day. Smiling, she extended a hand. “Good morning and thank you for waiting, Mrs...?”

  “Miss Kirkpatrick.” She shook the principal’s hand. Dry as paper.

  When Mrs. Powers tilted her head to one side, her short dark curls stayed put. “I don’t believe we have a student with that name.”

  Harper hadn’t expected this. “Oh, well, I’m....” What was she?

  I’m engaged to Cameron Bennett, and soon you can call me her mother. But of course, she didn’t say that. Instead, she dug the toe of one of her new heels into the deep plush carpet. “I, ah, take care of Bella.”

  “Won’t you have a seat?” A frown appeared. “So, you’re that nanny?”

  That nanny?

  “Yes, I was—am Bella’s nanny.” Not that it’s any business of yours. But she didn’t say that either. One more month, and she’d officially be Bella’s mother. The thought stunned her. “I’m here to talk about this note. You need to know that the girls in Bella’s class were mean to her. You probably don’t know that.” The words wouldn’t come out fast enough and seemed to trip over each other, sounding ticked off and immature.

  She was doing this all wrong.

  Tapping the pink note with one index finger that could use a little nail polish, Mrs. Powers gave her a conciliatory smile. “But of course I cannot discuss Bella Bennett with anyone but her father or her legal guardian.” She blinked. “Have you been made her legal guardian?”

  “Well, no. Not legally but...” Reading Cat in the Hat to her at bedtime probably didn’t count.

  The chiseled nose rose higher. “We pride ourselves on discretion. And we simply cannot talk about Bella’s personality adjustment. Not to you, that is. Please ask her father to call me.”

  Personality adjustment? Each word ratcheted the heat higher in Harper’s face. “I see.”

  “Yes, I’m so sorry...” But she wasn’t. Mrs. Powers didn’t look sorry at all. In fact, she looked pleased. Rising, she stood, waiting for Harper to leave.

  I’ve really screwed up. Panic thudded in Harper’s head. She’d told Bella she’d fix this. And she’d only made things worse. “But you’ll make sure that Tiffany and the others won’t corner her in the bathroom again?”

  Mrs. Powers' mouth fell open. Her eyes deadened with disdain. “I can assure you we allow no hooliganism in our restrooms. Not with our children.” Only our was pronounced ahh, floating in the air with stubborn pride.

  Hooliganism? “I see.” But she didn’t. “Thank you for...” nothing. She had to get out of here. Fighting for breath, Harper stumbled from the office and flew past Lucinda. Sliding her bag from her shoulder, she rooted around for the inhaler. This school was probably full of poisonous cleaning products…and maybe poisonous people. As she booked through the lobby with Olympic speed, a maintenance crew was erecting the largest tree she’d ever seen. It dwarfed the two-story lobby, and a pine scent thick as syrup closed her throat.

  No wonder Bella had Christmas tree envy. This Jack-in-the-Beanstalk tree was big as the tree that graced Marshall Field’s when she was a little girl. Every Christmas, her mother would take the girls down to have lunch under the tree. Now the smell and the tinny taste of her own failure made her want to hurl.

  Back out in the sunshine, Harper leaned against a brick pillar and drew in a lungful of air.

  She’d messed up. Plain and simple. Somehow, she made it to the car. Before she started the motor, she took out her phone and called Adam. “Five minutes. Foxy Loxy?”

  “I’ll be there. You okay? You sound funny.”

  “Tell you later.”

  Swallowing a sob, she started the car, punched a knob and blasted Adele’s latest CD.

  Chapter 5

  When Harper reached Foxy Loxy, Adam was relaxing on the back patio with a steaming chai latte. Jumping up, he opened his arms. “Hey, fashion plate, what's up?” A big guy, he gave a good bear hug. She buried his face in his red cashmere V-neck and breathed in.

  “Gosh you smell good.” But her voice bobbled at the end, and Adam held her away, scanning her face. The man knew her way too well. “What’s this?”

  Sinking into the chair across from him, Harper tried to control her anger. “I just came from Bella's school where the principal put me in my place. No wonder Bella is having trouble there.”

  The waiter came. Pointing to Adam’s drink, Harper said, “I'll have one of those, please.” Just being with Adam helped.

  He did one of those circling motions with his finger. “Now let's get this straight. I thought Cameron handled all of Bella’s school issues.”

  Good friends always remembered stuff. No need to hold up cue cards with Adam or fill in the backstory. “Correct. But Cameron doesn't know about this. Not yet.”

  The frown on Adam's face deepened. “You’re keeping stuff from Cameron? Your man?” He was almost shivering with indignation.

  The drink was set in front of her. “You're right, and normally I wouldn't be doing this because he likes to take the lead with things that concern Bella. But he's had an accident.”

  She thought Adam would levitate right out of the chair. “An accident? Was he hurt? Total the car? Is he in the hospital?”

  Taking a deep sip of the warm drink, she let the comforting spices ease her throat. “Down, boy. Your questions make me feel better because no, he is not in the hospital and he did not total the car. He broke an ankle.”

  Her friend’s hand flew to his mouth. “I want it all. Dish, please.”

  Just remembering the moment when Cameron came though the door got her all jittery again. “Seems that he was up on a scaffolding, which I asked him never to do, checking out the work of the crew. His foot went through and he twisted. Broke his ankle.”

  Adam recoiled. “Sounds nasty. And inconvenient with the wedding coming up and everything.”

  “Exactly. Which is why I didn't want to put one more thing on his plate. But oh, Adam, I made such a mess of it this morning.”

  “It couldn't have been that bad.” Reaching over, he squeezed her hand.

  “Yes it was and I blew it. Bella is being bullied and that has to stop. Irritates me no end that I couldn’t handle it just because I don’t have that Mrs. in my name.”

  He expelled a breath. “Honey, you don’t have the Bennett in your name. Double mark against you.”

  “Just a technicality. Now I have to tell Cameron and he'll be furious. I can't let this hang out there because I promised Bella I'd handle it. This has to stop.” Remembering Bella’s anguish, Harper thumped a fist on the table.

  “Bullying? Of course it has to stop. What kind of bullying?”

  “Some girls said her hair looks like a rat’s nest. Which it kind of does. And then Bella took matters into her own hands.”

  “Rat’s nest? What kind of conditioner are you using?” Looking alarmed, Adam took a whole different avenue.

  “I don't know. Baby shampoo?”

  A finger wagged in her face. “Well, no wonder. I can fit you in tomorrow, ten o’clock.”

  “But your salon opens at eleven.”

  “For you, I make exceptions.”

  “You're such a good guy.” The humiliation of the morning eased a bit. “What would I do without you?”

  “Don't even think about it. The timing is bad, right? With Thanksgiving next week and the wedding, you both have enough on your plate.”

  “Right, basically this whole week has sucked. Georgina Darlington and Brittany Bedford have made me crazy.” When she filled Adam in, he was predictably horrified. “If it weren't for Julep Tucker, I'd really be tearing out my hair. I've ordered in everything in their individual color pallets, and now I'll have to rethink everything.”

  “The SCAD design library. Perfect place to start for ideas.”

  “I was th
inking the same thing.” She started to work on her hangnails again.

  “And don't bite your cuticles.” Leaning over, Adam gave her hand a slight tap. “Just think of all those photos coming up. Your hand under Cameron's cutting the cake. Your hands clutching your bouquet. You could go down in family history for having chewed cuticles.”

  She looked at her hands in disgust. “Too late for that to be big family news, Adam. I chewed my fingernails all through grade school. It was hard to live up to McKenna. She was an A student and I was, well, the youngest in the family.”

  “But certainly the best looking. And the most charming.”

  Aw, and this is why he was a good friend. “No truth to any of that but it still sounds good.”

  “How is the wedding coming?”

  “My mother seems to have it all in hand.”

  “Got your invitation and noticed all the RSVPs go to her. The design was beautiful. I especially liked the holly berries. Your work?”

  “Yes, glad you like it.” She tugged a curl. “Why did we ever try to pull off this wedding at Christmas? It’s so complicated.”

  “Doesn’t have to be. Do it the way you want it.”

  “The way I want it?” Harper stared down her good friend. “You’re kidding, right? My mother has talked of nothing but this wedding since McKenna got hitched in Santa Fe, which totally rocked by the way. But my mother didn’t think so. Not that she’d tell McKenna that. No, Mom wanted an old-fashioned wedding in our hometown, but she zipped her lip and said nothing. My wedding? It's her last chance. I’m wearing her gown, you know.”

  Brows went up. “Good or bad?”

  “Good if you like swirling meringues and loved Lady Di.”

  “Girls, mothers and wedding,” Adam mused. “A recipe for disaster.”

  “Think you got something there.” Harper stabbed a finger in his direction. “But I don’t think boys, weddings and mothers are any better. Cameron’s mother refuses to come to Chicago. I feel terrible. Not exactly the wedding I’d pictured. Families should be together to, well, kind of bless the union.”

  “Really? You want that rag-tag group there? From what you’ve said, I thought he was estranged from the family over in Hazel Hurts?”

  Her glare could have steamed his chai latte. “That’s mean. It’s Hazel Hurst. No matter what happens, your family is your family. Besides, now that his dad is gone––who was the main problem, mind you––Cameron feels closer to his mother and especially his sister Lily. They were at the Valentine dinner when he proposed.”

  Dramatic rolling of the eyes. Adam really had that down. “Don’t want to mention that I wasn’t invited to that affair.”

  “Adam, it wasn’t a flash mob, it was family that night. Don’t sulk. Did you buy your ticket to Chicago? You know I’ll need you there to do my hair. The one thing I get to do my way.”

  “Done and done. Wasn’t easy or inexpensive because of holiday travel but anything for you. I’ve also wanted to see Chicago in the snow. I’m bringing the bobsled and my pack of huskies.”

  “Okay, enough. But Michigan Avenue is magical with all those lights when it gets dark.”

  “We’re going down there?” Hope glimmered in his eyes.

  “No, probably no time. But I love your loyalty, Adam.” Checking her phone, she found a message from Cameron saying that Rick had brought him home. Nothing to worry about. Just thought I’d come home.

  That didn't sound right and she grabbed her purse. “Adam, I have to move on.”

  “And I should go open the salon. I’m doing Sissy Grantham’s hair before she leaves on her honeymoon. They’ll be throwing rocks through the windows if I’m not there.”

  “Guess I'll stop at the library and then run home to check on Cameron.” They tossed their empty cups in the trash.

  “Really? He's a grown man for God’s sake.”

  How to explain this? “For probably the first time, I feel he needs me.” And that felt good.

  “Well in that case, we’re out of here.” Against her protests, Adam grabbed the check and paid it. Then they ambled outside.

  Putting on her heart-shaped sunglasses, she watched him drive away in the shiny pickup truck that he’d loaned her more times than she could recall. Then she climbed into the SUV, pleasantly warm after being in the sun. Taking her phone out, Harper called Cameron. The phone rang and rang. She went back to nibbling her cuticles.

  “Babe.” Finally he picked up.

  “Hey, why are you home?”

  “Just thought I’d come home early.” The glum tone told her just what he thought of that. She knew he had tons to do at work.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “I’ve had better days.”

  Her whole world seemed to shrink. This just didn't sound like Cameron. “Okay, I’ll be home in about an hour, okay? I’m headed to the JEN library. Have to get my projects back on track for Georgina and Brittany.”

  “You don’t have to babysit for me. Everything’s fine here.” The defensive note in his voice told her it wasn’t. And it wasn’t going to be fine when she told him about Bella and Mrs. Powers. But for Bella’s sake, that had to happen soon. “One hour and I’ll be there. Don’t go anywhere, okay?”

  “Right. I’d thought I’d jog to Daffin Park. Get some exercise.” That familiar teasing tone made her smile. “Love you, Harper.”

  No matter how many times he said it, the words always made her feel squishy inside.

  “Love you too.”

  Silence hummed between them, and she closed her eyes, imagining what he was thinking. The sofa pit and the scissors did come to mind. With some effort, she cleared her throat and her thoughts. “Okay then, see you soon.”

  Cameron was laughing when she ended the call.

  Her stop at the library didn't take long. She knew just which magazines to consult and quickly took notes. When she left the building about forty-five minutes later, she hesitated. Across the street sat Leopold’s, and she was sorely tempted to stop for a chocolate soda. Maybe that could qualify as lunch as far as calories went. They made an old-fashioned ice cream soda that reminded her of Petersen’s back in Oak Park. But she had two more stops to make so she continued to her car.

  Driving to Abercorn Street, she turned south and continued to JoAnn Fabric. A quick inventory of the ribbons told her she’d better move on this. The holiday plaids were already looking a little picked over. She bought a few rolls, and then drove on to Michael’s where she did the same thing.

  As she drove home, her thoughts turned to Bella and school. Somehow, she had to temper the news about Bella and Mrs. Powers without Cameron going ballistic. The situation had to be fixed and fast.

  Pulling in the garage, she saw the Bentley sitting there next to the red Porsche, which was clearly Cameron’s favorite. Bags swinging from her arm, she skipped through the garden, passed the mermaid fountain and took the stairs. She could see Connie working at the sink and waved.

  “Hey, what’s going on in here?” she asked, swirling through the door and dropping the bags.

  “Not much.” Crutches leaning against his chair, Cameron sat at the round kitchen table. Eyes shifting to pool blue, he looked up when she bent to kiss him.

  Resting one hand on the back of his neck, she felt the tension. “How’s my patient?”

  Wrong thing to say. His body stiffened further. Damn. How she wanted to reel those words back.

  “Fine, little girl.”

  Okay, sometimes she liked him to think of her that way. But not today. Not when she’d failed so miserably this morning at school. Delaying this wouldn’t be any easier. When she slipped into the chair next to him, Connie disappeared into the dining room. “Cameron, we have to talk about Bella.”

  “What now?” The smile slid right off his face. She felt him waiting.

  “She brought a note home yesterday.”

  “Yesterday?”

  “Yes, sorry. I didn’t want to bother you because of...everything.” A
nd she waved a hand toward the crutches. “Thought I could handle it and I met with the principal this morning.”

  His frown gave her a chill. “But I’m the one who handles Bella, when it comes to problems.”

  “I know that but I just thought, you know, because of everything.”

  Man, she’d never been known for her silver tongue. She was making things worse. “So I stopped...today to talk...to the principal.” The words came out in breathless bursts. In gathering up her bags, she'd left her purse in the car with her inhaler.

  “And?”

  Oh, this was going to kill him. “She said...she could only discuss a student...with a legal guardian...and that wasn't me.”

  With a roar, Cameron shot up. The pain on his face when he stood on the broken ankle pierced her heart.

  Chapter 6

  “Cameron, are you all right?” Her heart hammered as she watched him struggle to stay upright.

  “Of course I am.” Clenching his jaw, he reached for his crutches. “Harper, honey. Can you just take me over to the school?”

  “Sure.” Besides, she had to get to the car to retrieve her inhaler.

  In silence, they made their way outside and down to the garage. Grabbing her purse from the seat before she climbed in, she took a couple deep breaths from the purple inhaler. Once they pulled out and were on the road, she had to break the silence that felt like a wall. “I went to the library today, leafed through some magazines. I think I've got some ideas for the Darlingtons and the Bedfords.”

  “Good. I’m glad to hear it.” He was clearly preoccupied.

  “Look. I’m sorry, okay?”

  Looking over, he squeezed her hand. “Sorry, Harper. I’m not mad at you. I’m upset about school and the legal guardian runaround. I should have done a better job at explaining your position, that's all.”

  Oh, wow. “I thought I could take care of this for you. Isn’t that what a wife does?”

  But even as she asked, she heard a big no in her head. In the Kirkpatrick house, Big Mike made many of the major decisions. Or at least, he thought he did. But underneath, it was Reenie who orchestrated a lot. Harper had failed in that role this morning.