Jeff was different than Eric though. Mags’s husband had always impressed her. He’d had a rough upbringing after immigrating to the US as a young child, and he’d had to tough things out most of his life. As far as she’d heard, he’d never taken the easy way out of anything. “I’m not the authority on fixing marital issues,” Dahlia said with a humorless laugh. She’d proven that with the implosion of her own relationship. “But I always felt like you and Eric had something Jeff and I didn’t have.” That grit in their commitment. That toughness. The feeling that they would always fight for each other. “You need to find it again, that’s all.”
Tears brightened her sister’s eyes again. “Do you think we can?”
“I do.” She would believe that enough for both of them right now. As wounded as Mags had been by Eric’s refusal to continue trying for a baby, Dahlia could see how much she still loved her husband.
“Hey.” Ike sauntered over but slowed when he caught sight of Mags’s face. “Can I get anyone a refill?” He hovered a few feet away. “Or some food maybe?”
Dahlia’s heart warmed all over again seeing him stand there with concern tugging at his expression. “Actually, I think Mags is ready to go home.” She stood with an apologetic smile. As much as she would love to stay and dance with him all night, she knew Mags wouldn’t have fun sitting here any longer.
“It’s okay.” Her sister jolted to her feet. “I can call Rose to pick me up. I don’t want to ruin your fun.”
“You’re not ruining our fun,” Ike insisted. “I’m happy to give you a lift home.” Dahlia had never seen so much kindness in someone’s eyes.
“Yes, let’s go,” she agreed, lifting her purse off the chair. “We can snuggle up on the couch and have some tea. Maybe we can watch a good old-fashioned chick flick.”
“Or the Hallmark Channel,” Mags said wistfully. “I could use some escapism right about now.” She dabbed at her eyes again. “Thank you both so much. I’m going to run to the restroom and then I’ll be ready to go.” Hurrying away, she kept her head down, likely embarrassed by the tears.
“Is she okay?” Ike asked as soon as she was out of earshot.
“She will be. Eventually.” The emotion her sister had shown only proved she still loved Eric. Her heart still longed for him. And Dahlia had to believe they would find their way back to each other.
Ike moved in closer, peering down into Dahlia’s eyes. Instead of shying away or darting her gaze to something else, she stared back, completely transfixed by this man.
“Anything I can do?” he asked.
Now that he mentioned it. “I don’t like the way she keeps downplaying the symptoms she’s been having.” If Mags’s facial expression on the car ride over was any indication, she wasn’t serious about getting checked out. Yes, she was sad about Eric, but something else had to be going on.
“Keep encouraging her to come to the clinic,” Ike said. “I’d be happy to do a simple checkup. We could run some blood work and see what comes back.”
“That would be great.” Mags likely wouldn’t think so, but it was time for an intervention.
Ike stepped in closer, bringing that spicy scent with him. “Speaking of dropping by…would it be okay if I dropped by to pick you up for dinner tomorrow night?”
Dahlia’s heart seemed to double in size, making it difficult to breathe. “You mean like a date?” Oh Lordy. She shouldn’t sound so shocked. And excited. And nervous…
Ike simply grinned. “Yes. Like a date. I like you, in case I haven’t made that clear.”
Forget playing it cool. It was impossible to control the smile that rose on her lips. “I like you, too. And I would love to go on a date.” A date! She was going on a date!
“Yeah?” The man leaned in closer, and everything in her seemed to pause. Would he kiss her—?
“Okay. I’m ready.” Mags hurried over, and the moment passed. “Thanks for waiting.”
“No problem.” Dahlia cleared her throat, trying to inhale without a gasp. “Yes. Well. We’re ready. Let’s go.” The quick pound of her heart made her legs shaky, but she managed to lead the way out to Ike’s truck. He opened the door for both of them, and this time, Mags snagged the backseat before Dahlia could.
On the way back to Sassy’s place, she couldn’t stop sneaking peeks at the man sitting next to her. The man who was taking her on a date. Tomorrow night.
“You two should really go back to the Crazy Moose after you drop me off,” her sister said from the backseat. “You looked like you were having a great time and then I had to go and ruin it all.”
“It was getting late anyway,” Ike said with a wink at Dahlia.
“Exactly.” Dahlia peered over her shoulder, unable to keep a straight face. “We’re going out to dinner tomorrow night so it’s okay.”
She could tell her sister wanted to squeal, but instead Mags remained silent. “Good. That’s good,” her sister murmured with a false calm.
Ike turned the truck into the Juniper Inn’s driveway, slowing as they maneuvered through the trees. “Huh. Wonder who that is.”
Dahlia glanced over to the house where a dark SUV sat parked next to the porch. “Sassy didn’t mention having company.” She’d said she’d be out all day, but surely, she would have told them if she was expecting someone.
“It looks like one of those car services from Denver.” Ike pulled the truck up behind it and cut the engine.
“That’s weird.” Mags climbed out of the truck, and Dahlia followed, trying to get a peek inside the car as they passed. It sure looked expensive.
Ike got out of the truck, too. “I promised Sassy I’d take a look at the leak in the kitchen faucet, so I’ll come in with you, if that’s okay.”
It was more than okay with her, but she simply peered back at him with a smile, already dreaming of dancing with him again.
“Thank goodness we have you,” Mags commented as they made their way up the front porch. “I wouldn’t know the first thing about fixing a leaky faucet.”
“Yes, thank goodness,” Dahlia echoed.
“Fixing a faucet is the least I can do for Sassy.” Ike hurried to open the front door for them.
Dahlia stepped inside and froze.
Loud voices echoed from the kitchen, and they needed no introduction. She and Mags stared at each other. “Is that Mom?” her sister whispered.
“It sure sounds like it.” Lillian’s voice carried out into the foyer in an intense, one-sided discussion much like it used to when she would lecture Dahlia on the importance of keeping a close eye on her sisters so they wouldn’t get into trouble.
“Maybe I should wait here.” Ike stepped aside into the living room, and she was mighty tempted to wait with him, but Mags waved her down the hall.
“Whoa boy,” her sister muttered.
“I don’t understand,” Rose was saying. “How could you do that? How could you let a man come between you and your sister?”
“It wasn’t my fault—”
Dahlia gathered in a breath. Whatever was happening in there, it sounded like their sister needed backup. “Hi, Mom,” Dahlia interrupted, walking into Sassy’s normally cheerful kitchen. Right now, tension sat heavy in the air. Rose and Lillian were sitting at the kitchen table facing off.
“What’re you doing here?” Mags hung out on the other side of the room by the sink as though she was afraid to go any closer.
“She’s here to drag me back to Savannah,” Rose said with an angry crack in her voice. “My future mother-in-law sent her. Evaline let her use the private jet and everything.” Their sister jumped up from the table and began to pace in front of the window.
“Seriously?” Dahlia didn’t know why she was surprised. Their mother had always admired Evaline Cunningham.
“Don’t be so dramatic.” Lillian rolled her eyes and stood regally, holding out her arms. “I came to see all of you. I’ve missed my girls.”
Dahlia stumbled forward to give her an obligatory hug since she
hadn’t seen her in months, but Mags didn’t move. “Rose can’t go back to Savannah. She has to stay here through Christmas. We all have to stay here together through Christmas.”
“That was our deal with Sassy,” Dahlia explained.
“Well Rose has obligations with her fiancé and his family.” Lillian walked over to where Rose stood. “He’s getting impatient, and quite frankly, I don’t blame the man. This is the most important time of year for the Cunninghams’ foundations. Gregory needs his future wife by his side.”
For a second, Rose looked torn. Oh, no. No, no, no. Rose had always been the people pleaser, especially when it came to Lillian, but she would not let it happen this time. Dahlia slipped between Rose and their mother. “Gregory’s family will survive one Christmas without you.” This was their sisters Christmas, their escape in the mountains, and their mother would not ruin it. “Sassy is the one who needs us.”
“You’re right.” The stubbornness returned to her younger’s sister’s features. “I’ll come home when I’m good and—”
“Hey.” Ike stuck his head in through the doorway. “I think I’m going to head out. I can fix the faucet later.”
The interruption broke through the tension in the room, diverting their mother’s attention. “Who is this?” she asked, looking Ike over with interest.
Uh-oh. The last thing Dahlia wanted to do was introduce Lillian to the man she was going on a date with. Her mother had been constantly texting her with the names of eligible bachelors back in Savannah.
When no one said anything, Ike stepped forward and introduced himself. “Ike Songer.”
“He’s the doctor in town.” Dahlia didn’t know why she felt the need to justify him.
“Oh, lovely. A doctor.” Lillian smiled that big fake smile she remembered so well from their childhood.
“Nice to meet you.” He shook their mother’s hand, but then caught Dahlia in a hopeful gaze. “See you tomorrow night?”
“Yes. Let’s say six o’clock.” Dahlia walked him to the hallway. She could feel her mother watching, but she refused to acknowledge her.
Thankfully, they stepped out of view. “I’ll pick you up here.” Ike leaned down and brushed a kiss across her cheek.
“Can’t wait.” One small kiss and she was almost breathless.
The man turned to go, and she floated back into the kitchen on a cloud. Who cared that Lillian had ambushed them? She was going on a date with a man who could dance…
“Tomorrow night?” Lillian started in on her the second she sat down at the table. “You’re dating that man?”
The euphoria started to evaporate under the coldness of her mother’s judgmental stare. “No. I mean, yes. We’re going on a date, but it’s not a big deal. It’s only dinner.” She had to change the subject before her mother gave her the third degree. “What were you two talking about earlier anyway? What man came between you and Aunt Sassy?”
“Oh.” Rose bolted back to the table like she couldn’t wait to share. “Apparently, Sassy was in love with Colt’s father when we were younger.”
“What?” Mags finally came over and joined them.
“It wasn’t love,” their mother said bitterly. “It was misguided affection. The man was a criminal. I knew it from the first time I met him. He was a deadbeat.”
“So, you were right?” Dahlia addressed the question to Rose. “Colt is Sassy’s son?”
“Heaven’s no.” Their mother scoffed. “But she treated him like her son. He practically lived here. Both him and his dad.” Their mother raised her chin the same way she did when she disapproved of something. “That’s why we stopped coming to visit. I didn’t trust that man or his son for one second. I recognize a loser when I see one.” She gloated at Rose. “And I was right, too. The man ended up in prison.”
“Colt’s dad?” Dahlia shared a look with Rose. It was so tragic. Sassy had lost another man she loved when he went to prison?
“What happened to his mom?” Mags asked.
Lillian shrugged. “I’m not sure, exactly. I think she died after he was born. That’s not important. What is important is that I had a bad feeling about the man, and Sassy didn’t care.”
It was just like their mother to see only one side of a story—her side. But Dahlia couldn’t imagine Sassy falling in love with a monster. “What did his father do? Why did he go to prison?” Maybe it wasn’t as bad as it seemed.
“How would I know?” Lillian obviously didn’t care enough to get the whole story. “He got arrested a few years after our last visit. Sassy wrote me a letter to tell me. I called her up and asked her if she was done with him then, and she said no. She told me she still loved him.” Their mother didn’t even have the decency to look defensive. She fully believed she’d done the right thing. “I’m sure you can see why I had to cut everything off.”
“I can’t see it,” Dahlia told her. “She’s your sister.”
Her mother gave her a wounded look. “And she chose someone else over me.”
That would be exactly how Lillian would see the whole situation. Forget sympathy or empathy.
“Oh, and now I know why Colt hates me,” Rose fumed. “Mom reminded me that he gave me flowers once. A bouquet he’d picked himself when we were here the summer I turned eight. And she threw them in the trash! He probably thought I’d done it.”
“I had to throw them in the trash,” Lillian snapped. “I knew that boy would never amount to anything. How could he with that man for a father?”
Rose let out a frustrated grunt and glared at Dahlia as though asking for a little assistance.
But nothing they could say would change their mother. Lillian was who she was. Dahlia had learned a long time ago to let her be. It wasn’t worth the fight.
“Well, I’m not going back,” Rose announced. “Not until after Christmas like I planned. I’m a grown woman and I can make my own decisions.”
Exactly. They were all grown women, and they all had decisions to make. Decisions Lillian couldn’t dictate for them. Dahlia gave their mother a placating smile. “You should stay, too.” She’d always played the part of the peacemaker in the family, and she couldn’t stop now. “This is your chance to make things right with your sister. I can’t imagine my life without my sisters.” Being here with them had revived her…
“I’m not staying here.” Lillian buttoned her fur coat and pulled on her gloves, displaying the same stubborn frown as Rose. “My car is waiting.” She glared at Rose. “If you refuse to come home, you’re risking everything with the Cunninghams. I hope you know that. Evaline doesn’t have patience for this kind of disrespect.”
“Evaline Cunningham doesn’t run my life,” Rose shot back. “She might run Gregory’s, but she doesn’t run mine.”
“Fine.” Their mother started to walk away. “But you’re being selfish. If I were you, I would think long and hard about how you’re treating your fiancé.” She shook her head with disappointment. “After all he’s done for you. It’s disgraceful.” Lillian went to make a dramatic exit, but Dahlia followed her to the foyer.
“Wait, Mom, don’t go.” It would mean so much to Sassy if they could work things out. “All that stuff with Colt’s dad happened years ago. It doesn’t matter anymore. Not now. You’re both getting older. Maybe it’s time to let it all go.”
“My sister made her choice years ago,” she said on her way out the door. “I have nothing to say to her now.”
Chapter Twenty
Rose
I can’t believe Evaline sent her out here.” Rose paced in front of the fireplace in the living room, where she and Mags and Dahlia had retreated after their mother had left. “Actually, I can’t believe a lot of things.” She didn’t even know where to start with unpacking what their mother had told them about Sassy.
“You’re really surprised?” Mags sank into the old leather couch cushions and wrapped a blanket around her shoulders. “Evaline obviously wants you back in Savannah, and I have a feeling she’s u
sed to getting her way.”
“You did the right thing by staying,” Dahlia told her. She’d settled herself on the brick hearth next to the fire. “This is our Christmas. A sisters’ Christmas. No one can take that away from us.”
“Exactly.” And yet…there was still this seesawing inside of her. Was she being selfish? Did she owe it to Gregory to be back in Savannah for Christmas? She was about to commit her life to the man—
“Want to know what I can’t believe? That Sassy had another secret love we never knew about.” Mags propped her feet up on the coffee table. “How did we never notice? I mean, sure, we were kids, but if Colt was around, his father must’ve been, too.”
“Mother probably kept us away from him.” She clearly hadn’t wanted Rose anywhere near Colt. She wedged herself on the couch next to Mags. She’d seen the disdain in Lillian’s eyes when she’d gotten out of the car. “Colt remembers everything though. He knew who Mom was right when she stepped out of the car.” That’s why he’d kept such a distance. “He probably thinks I’m as stuck-up as Mom always has been.”
Dahlia reached into the bin by the fireplace and added another log to the fire. “How sad that his dad ended up in prison.”
“I wonder what he did,” Mags said. “It must’ve been something pretty terrible. Maybe Mom was right to put some distance there.”
The front door clattered, opening with a whoosh of wind. Sassy stumbled through with a beautifully wrapped stack of packages piled up in her arms. “I’m home!”
“We’re glad you’re back.” Rose jumped up to help her with the boxes so Sassy could see over them.
“I spent the whole day shopping in Denver.” Their aunt traipsed into the living room and started to set packages under the Christmas tree in the corner. “Remember how excited you girls would get when I would put the presents under the tree? You would squeal and dance, and—” She turned around and stopped the second she saw their faces. “Whatever is the matter with you three?”
Home for the Holidays Page 18
