All I Want For Christmas

by Ann Roth

  Tina answered. “Hey, you.”

  “You sound sleepy. Am I calling too late?”

  “Are you kidding? I was working. I’ll be up for hours.”

  “Then I won’t keep you long. How’s G. G.?”

  “Not great. But she did agree to see her doctor in the morning.” Which was a huge relief.

  “I sure hope you’ll be able to come to Sam’s party.”

  “You know G. G. She wants me to go, regardless, but I’d better wait until we see Dr. Dove. Can I let you know in a day or two?”

  “No problem.”

  “I did sneak away during G. G.’ s afternoon nap and bought Sam’s Nerf tetherball set.” It was a gift that Kate had mentioned her daughter wanted.

  “She’ll love it. Any news from work?”

  “Yes, and it’s infuriating.” Though it was Sunday, Tina and June had talked a bit earlier, discussing ad campaigns and paperwork. “Wait until you hear what Kendra’s been saying about me.” Even talking about it upset Tina. Her stomach began to burn, and she fished the antacid bottle from her purse and popped a tablet. “According to her, now is no time to take my ‘vacation.’ She says I could easily hire someone to take care of G. G., and if I truly wanted the creative director job I’d be at the office, lobbying for it. In other words, she’s spreading rumors that I’m not at all interested in the position.”

  “That bitch! What are you going to do?”

  “I had planned to call Jim Sperling tomorrow morning and assure him that I definitely want the job. But instead, he called me.” Right before G. G. had gone to bed. “He always says that family comes first. But I’m starting to wonder, since he set up my interview for this Thursday, instead of after Thanksgiving. Apparently, he wants to choose the right person before the holiday.”

  Tina’s interview was four days from now. Four days, and she had yet to put together a proposal for the restaurant chain. The antacids weren’t working, so she chewed another.

  “Calling you on a Sunday? Making you come back and interview while G. G.’ s sick and you’re supposedly on vacation? Some family man. What are you going to do?”

  “Go, of course.” Tina sighed. “I don’t want to leave G. G., but she insists. I’m thinking I’ll fly over and back, as you suggested, to save time.”

  “Do you want me to stay with her while you’re gone?”

  Kate was so busy that Tina hated to bother her. “Let me check with the neighbors first, but thanks.”

  “Any time. I’ll keep my fingers crossed, but there’s really no need to. No matter what garbage Kendra’s spreading, that job will be yours.”

  Maybe I don’t want it. Given what Tina had just told Kate and what her loved ones wanted for her, it was a traitorous thought that she had no business entertaining. She shoved it away. “I appreciate the vote of confidence.”

  “Confidence, schmonfidence, you’ve earned the promotion. How was dinner last night?”

  Tina wished she hadn’t mentioned that to Kate, and wasn’t about to share what had happened between her and Ryan. “It was okay, if you don’t count G. G.’ s obvious pain and Ryan’s misguided concerns. He’s worried that Maggie will get too attached to me and that she’ll be hurt when I leave.”

  “That doesn’t sound misguided to me.”

  “Come on, Kate, she knows I’m leaving after Thanksgiving. How attached can a child get in two weeks?”

  “Good point—I guess.”

  “She did invite me to meet her hamster tomorrow night.”

  “How cute. I wonder if her father put her up to that.”

  Doubtful. “Ryan isn’t interested, remember? And neither am I. I simply don’t have time,” Tina said, hoping she could convince both Kate and herself. “I should get back to work now, but I’ll call you after G. G.’ s appointment in the morning.”

  “I’d rather talk to you when you get back from the Chases’ tomorrow night,” Kate said. “Unless you’re over there really late.”

  Tina dismissed her friend’s suggestive comments by shaking her head at the ceiling. Which, of course, Kate couldn’t see. “All right, but since I won’t be there longer than fifteen minutes, you’re going to be disappointed.”

  RYAN WASN’T in the best mood as he put away dinner leftovers on Monday night. Thanks to Maggie’s nightmares, he was exhausted. And deeply troubled because throughout the day, even when they’d bought Sam’s birthday gift, his daughter had talked nonstop about Tina.

  She’d known the woman barely a week, but already she was way too attached. Not that Ryan blamed his daughter. He liked Tina, too. He’d sure enjoyed kissing her. In fact, since the other night, he’d thought about little else, and had fantasized about doing a whole lot more than just kissing her. Even dreamed about her—erotic things that left him frustrated and hungry.

  Tough, because he wasn’t doing a thing about it. Tonight, he’d be civil and nothing more.

  If that wasn’t enough, tomorrow was the first day of his bank’s month-long promotion to bring in new deposits and loans. Without support from Corporate, keeping his staff pumped would be no easy feat, and Ryan dreaded what lay ahead.

  While he loaded the dishwasher, he thought about the Island Banking Corporation. Cheap bastards. The thing was, he loved banking. Just not this banking job. What he wouldn’t give to start a new one and show them how a well-run bank operated.

  But Maggie came first, and Ryan refused to waste any more time thinking about that challenge. It was either hold on to this job or find some other low-level position.

  Dishes done, he riffled through the paper for the sports section, which he hadn’t read yet. With Tina due any minute, he probably wouldn’t be able to read much of it just now.

  He owed her for pointing out that Maggie felt responsible for making him happy. All day he’d tried to joke around and pretend things were great, but lack of sleep and his mixed-up feelings for Tina had gotten in the way, and he’d done a lousy job. Lucky for him, today his daughter hadn’t noticed his crappy mood. She was too excited about Sam’s parties and Tina coming over tonight.

  Suddenly Maggie showed up in the kitchen.

  “Eggwhite wanted her cage to look pretty for Tina, so I cleaned it all by myself,” she proudly announced.

  “You did, huh?”

  The cage was on the bookcase in her room, and Ryan’s head filled with visions of wood chips and shredded news-print littering the carpet. Tina would think he was a lousy housekeeper, though why he cared what she thought was beyond him. He eyed his daughter. “What did you do with the dirty shavings?”

  She sighed like an adult answering a tiresome question. “Put it in the garbage can in the garage, just like always.” She headed toward the refrigerator and opened it.

  “Still hungry?”

  “No, Daddy, I need lettuce for Eggwhite.” She all but disappeared inside the appliance.

  “Help yourself,” he said, smiling to himself, since she already had.

  When Maggie had her lettuce, she headed for the stairs. Newspaper in hand, Ryan trailed her as far as the living room. The doorbell rang, and she wheeled toward it.

  “That’s her! Tina’s here, Daddy!” She shoved lettuce leaves at him, then raced for the door. Jumping up and down, she opened it. “Hi, Tina! Come in.”

  “Thanks.”

  Tina stepped inside, bringing a rush of cold and the scent of fresh air with her. She’d probably been outside all of a minute, but her cheeks were pink and she was slightly breathless. Her unpainted lips opened a fraction, the bottom one looking slightly chapped.

  Nothing remotely sexy in that. But Ryan knew the taste of those lips. For all his resolve, he wanted to kiss her again. And more. Setting his jaw—he would be civil, period—he gave a terse nod. “Tina.”

  She pulled her lower lip between her teeth. She must’ve been doing that a lot lately. “Hello, Ryan.”

  Maggie stared up at her, too distracted to remember to close the door. Tina shut it, then slid a quizzical glance to
ward the lettuce in his hands.

  “A treat for Eggwhite,” he said, handing the greens to Maggie.

  “Ah.”

  While Maggie carefully tucked the lettuce into the kangaroo pocket of her sweater and Ryan wiped his hands on his jeans, Tina glanced around the living room.

  “I knew the walls wouldn’t be pink anymore.”

  “First thing I changed after we bought the place.”

  “What an improvement. I like that shade of green.”

  She pulled a spike of hair through her fingers, then fiddled with another, and Ryan could see that she was as uncomfortable as he was. For some reason, that only made him want her more.

  Neither of them spoke until Maggie pulled on Tina’s sleeve. “Don’t you want to take off your coat?”

  “I can’t stay long.”

  That jibed perfectly with Ryan’s plans, but he helped her out of her coat and hung it up anyway. “How’s G. G. doing?”

  “We saw Dr. Dove today.” She bit on her lip again. “He says she’s doing too much and should cut back, even with the physical therapy. He also wants her to follow up with her surgeon in Seattle, too, but she refuses to go all the way back there. She got Dr. Dove to call the surgeon and ask for the name of a doctor she could see in Anacortes. As soon as he calls with the information, I’ll schedule an appointment.”

  Ryan studied his daughter, whose face had lost all traces of excitement. Not wanting her to worry, he ruffled her hair. “G. G.’ll be all right, Sunshine. Sometimes it just takes a while.”

  Tina nodded at Maggie and her face brightened.

  “She’s in bed now, but she promised to call if she needs help,” Tina said. “How was your day, sweetie?”

  “Awesome. We bought Sam’s present. C’mon, I’ll show you. But it’s a surprise and you can’t tell, okay?”

  Tina’s mouth twitched. “Girl Scouts’ honor.”

  “We’re keeping it in Daddy’s study. This way.”

  Ryan’s daughter scampered ahead, leading Tina into a small room across from the powder room. Ryan followed.

  Maggie opened the closet and took out the shopping bag. “It’s a My Little Pony purse!”

  To Tina’s credit, she managed to look impressed. “I love it.”

  His daughter broke into a grin. “Me, too. See Daddy, I told you! Girls like stuff like this. He’s gonna let me wrap it all by myself, aren’t you?”

  Ryan nodded. Time to show Tina the hamster and get her out of here. He opened his mouth, but Maggie spoke first.

  “Look, Daddy!” She pulled out a bag full of jawbreakers. “We bought these at the store today. We forgot!” She chose one for herself, then held out the sack. “Want one?”

  Tina shrugged. “Sure. Thanks.”

  The cellophane crinkled as she unwrapped her candy. Ryan took one, too. Sounds of pleasure issued from Tina’s throat and her mouth made soft sucking sounds. From there, it didn’t take much to imagine that mouth on him.

  Did she have any idea what she was doing to him? Fortunately, Tina’s attention was on Maggie.

  “Let’s go feed Eggwhite his lettuce,” Maggie said, tugging Tina’s hand. “You stay downstairs, Daddy.”

  Badly in need of space and a bit of time to corral his raging lust, Ryan didn’t argue.

  Giggling, Maggie pulled Tina toward the stairs.

  As much as Ryan loved to hear that bubbling sound, the present cause of it bothered him. He watched them climb the stairs, his gaze drawn again to Tina’s backside. She was wearing a hip-length maroon sweater and snug-fitting jeans.

  Ryan’s own jeans grew uncomfortably tight as he imagined placing his hands on her behind and pulling her against his body. Catching himself, he scowled. Enough. He headed for the sofa to read his paper.

  But as he sank onto the cushions, Maggie shrieked, sounding extremely upset. Ryan dropped the newspaper, jumped up, and ran for the stairs.

  “MY HAMSTER is gone,” Maggie wailed.

  Feeling helpless, Tina stood near the empty cage and patted the child’s quivering little shoulder while tears rolled down her face. The cage door stood open. Apparently, Maggie had forgotten to latch it.

  Within moments Ryan strode into her room, as fierce as a warrior and ready to slay whatever dragons threatened his child. For that, Tina liked him even more.

  “Daddy,” she bawled, throwing herself against his legs.

  After hugging her, he hunkered down and gently held her chin in one of his big hands. “What’s the trouble, Maggie?”

  “Look—no Eggwhite.” Maggie pointed at the cage and sobbed.

  Ryan seemed to know exactly what to do, holding his daughter close, one hand cupping her head against his chest, the other patting her back. “We’ll find her,” he said. “She can’t have gotten far.”

  Despite his spoken assurances, he looked less than certain. Tina glanced around the room, with its white wood furniture, quilted pink bedspread and matching curtains, and shook her head in despair.

  At last, Ryan held his daughter at arm’s length. “Try to calm down, Sunshine, and let’s get busy searching. I’ll check the closet. What about you?”

  Sniffling, Maggie turned toward her bed. “Maybe she’s under the bed.”

  “Could be.” Ryan glanced at Tina. “Why don’t you look behind the dresser?”

  Eager to help, Tina did. They spent a good ten minutes fruitlessly searching, before Ryan narrowed his eyes and stared at the wastebasket, which had fallen over. “Eggwhite loves paper. Why don’t you check the trash, Maggie?”

  The little girl pawed intently but carefully through a mass of wadded-up paper and tissues. Suddenly, the white hamster scrambled from under a scrap of construction paper. Ryan caught the small creature and returned it to its cage, and the bleak expression faded from Maggie’s eyes.

  With the dimple in Maggie’s cheek once again winking, Tina felt as if a dark cloud had disappeared. No wonder Ryan worried so about her.

  “This place is a mess,” he said in a gentle voice Tina had never heard from him before. “I’ll get the vacuum, and you and Tina feed Eggwhite that lettuce.”

  While he retrieved the vacuum, Tina returned the trash to the wastebasket and listened to Maggie scold her pet in loving tones.

  “I’m glad you found her,” she told Maggie.

  “Me, too.”

  Ryan returned. “It’s almost bedtime. I’ll clean up, and you go brush your teeth and get ready for bed.”

  Without argument, his daughter headed for the bathroom.

  It was nearly eight, and Tina had stayed far longer than she’d intended to. Time to go, but she couldn’t leave without a good-night to Maggie. She waited until Ryan shut off the vacuum before speaking. “That was pretty emotional. Now I understand why…”

  His attention jerked to the door. He shook his head in warning. An instant later, Maggie padded into the room.

  She’d changed into a white flannel nightgown decorated with blue sheep. Her face was shiny and clean, and the pigtails were gone. So young to accomplish those bedtime tasks all by herself. But then, Tina, too, had grown up at an early age.

  “That’s a cute nightgown,” she said.

  “Thank you. Daddy let me pick it out. Will you button me?” She turned her back, lifting her hair and bowing her head.

  The trusting act melted Tina’s heart. She breathed in Maggie’s little-girl scent. Longing for a daughter of her own filled her so that her fingers trembled. “All done,” she said in a shaky voice.

  Maggie turned to her. “Tuck me in tonight, Tina.”

  Such a sweet, intimate request. As it was, Tina’s emotions simmered dangerously close to the surface. And after what she’d just witnessed, she was afraid that regardless of her harmless intentions, Ryan was right—she would hurt the little girl when she left Halo Island.

  “I’d better not,” she said. “Isn’t that your Daddy’s job?”

  “But I want you to. Daddy doesn’t mind, do you?”

  Looking as to
rn as Tina felt, Ryan blew out a heavy breath. “As long as you understand that Tina won’t be here much longer. And that usually she visits the island only at Thanksgiving and Christmas.” He paused and peered at her face. “Do you understand, Sunshine?”

  “Yes, Daddy. I do.”

  He gave a terse nod. “All right. Do you want Tina to read the next chapter of Beezus and Ramona?”

  “Uh-huh. You listen, too, Daddy.” Maggie patted the bed beside her.

  Tina brought a wooden, child-size chair from the table in the corner. She sat down near Maggie and opened the book. As she read, she felt the young girl’s trusting eyes on her face. The way her own daughter would look at her, if she had one. What she wouldn’t give for a family of her own. An ache filled her heart to breaking.

  At last, Maggie’s eyelids drooped. Ryan rose, and then carefully tucked the covers around her.

  “Love you,” he said, planting a kiss on her forehead.

  “Love you,” she echoed, before turning her head toward Tina. “I love you, too, Tina. You’re my best new friend in the whole world.”

  “Aw.” The backs of Tina’s eyes stung, and she swallowed hard. “I love you right back.”

  Stern-faced, Ryan turned on the child’s night light and turned off the bedside lamp. In silence, he and Tina headed down the stairs.

  “Can you stay for a minute and talk?” he asked, gesturing toward the living room.

  Feeling as raw as she did, she ought to go back to her room at G. G.’ s and have a good cry. But God help her, she wanted Ryan’s company. Was that so wrong?

  Tina nodded and sat down.

  Chapter Six

  Earlier, Ryan had wanted Tina to leave. But now, with what had just happened…In her own innocent way, his daughter loved this woman, and Ryan was at a loss as to how to protect her from getting hurt. He hoped Tina had some ideas.

  He sat down on a recliner across from the sofa, where Tina was seated. “You heard what Maggie said. As far as she’s concerned, she loves you.” Resting his hands on his thighs, he hung his head. “That’s not good, not good at all.”