by Ali Parker
"Awww... poor you." Lisa reached out and patted his cheek.
He gripped her hand and kissed her palm before pressing his teeth to it. "Be careful. I'm still thinking about that spanking you requested."
"Did I?" She tilted her head and pulled her hand from him. "Who requests a spanking? Seems so slutty."
He laughed and moved toward her, pulling her into a tight hug. "Bold, delicious, demanding, yes. But not at all slutty."
Her phone buzzed in her purse, and she moved back out of his arms. "Let me get this. Get out of the outfit and let's go out for dinner and then home to curl up by the fire."
"I love the sound of that." He tried to wink, but his Santa eyebrow got in his eyes, half-blinding him.
Lisa laughed and turned around to walk toward the cars as he put on a scene over it. The man was sexy, smart and funny as hell. Thankfully, he was one more thing... hers.
"This is Lisa Parks." She put the phone to her ear.
"Hi, princess. It's Dad."
Lisa's heart almost stopped in her chest. She hadn't spoken with her father over the phone more than five times in the last few years.
"Hi, Dad. What's going on? Everything okay?"
"Just wanted to see when you would be home for Christmas. Your mother and I want to see you." His voice was airy, like he was fighting tears. He was a sensitive man, always holding his feelings on his shoulders, but a good man. A loving man. Weak and cowardly in front of her mom, but Lisa loved him. She wished she could respect him.
Maybe someday.
"Mom wants to see me?" Lisa laughed sardonically, not able to help herself.
"Yes, she does." Her father's voice grew in strength.
"I wasn't planning on coming to New York this year, Dad. We just got ourselves set up out here in Maine, but-"
"She's sick again, Lisa." His voice cracked a little.
Lisa pressed her hand to her chest and forced herself not to react. "How bad is it?"
"We've started chemo again." Her father sighed softly. "I really need you here with me. I'm sorry that I do, but I can't do this again by myself. We have help coming in January in the form of a few new nurses, but no one was available over the holidays under such short notice."
"I'll be there tomorrow." Lisa pursed her lips, hating how bad her heart hurt over the thought of her mother dying. The bitch didn't give two shits about her, but there Lisa stood, emotionally wilting at the idea of losing her.
"Thank you. I love you."
"Me too, Dad." She hung up. "Me too."
Chapter 7
Marc
The love making never happened the night before. Something was wrong with Lisa, but she didn't want to talk about it. Marc got up the next morning in time to throw on clothes and pack a bag. She was pacing the floor in the kitchen by the time he walked in, scratching his head.
"Baby." He stopped and put a hand on his hip.
She had to open up to him. They were planning a life together, and the other women in his life vomited emotion most days of the week. There wasn't much he didn't know about his mom or Kari, scary enough. Lisa had to at least try to let him into her situations.
"What?" She stopped and walked to the coffee pot, leaving her back to him.
"What's going on with you?" He moved up behind her and wrapped his arms around her before leaning down to kiss up the long line of her neck. "Talk to me. I'm right here and I want to help."
"Nothing, Marc. I told you that my father called and they want to see me." She stiffened in his arms. "Leave it alone, okay? I'm fine."
He kissed her once more and moved back. "All right. Let's stop for a coffee down the street at that little shop you like."
As much as he wanted to force her to open up, it wasn't going to happen. Lisa was the most stubborn woman he'd ever met, and it was part of her charm. No reason to break it down and change something about her that usually had him chuckling. It was just more fun when it was directly toward someone else... not him.
After brushing his teeth, he grabbed their bags and walked to the front door. Sicily and Drake had stayed out at Drake's place the night before, which normally gave him and Lisa time to fuck all over the house, but she had curled up and watched TV all night instead.
Nothing is wrong. Please.
"You mind taking me over to my mom and dad's when we get into town?" She opened the door and moved back. They would be driving her car seeing that he'd flown out from New York a week before. Thankfully Jake had let him borrow the truck when he could, but they were headed to the airport - spending Christmas in Texas. They could swap cars later as he loved to drive his old truck.
"That's fine," Marc mumbled and moved past her as he forced the thought of spending Christmas without Kari from his mind. He hadn't had a holiday without his sister ever. Something about it seemed wrong.
"I'll just use one of their extra cars and you can use mine for the week. That sound okay?" She followed him out and stopped beside the car as he put the bags down and turned to face her.
"Hold up." He paused to force himself not to bark at her. "You're trying to tell me that we're going to New York for Christmas together, but we're not going to spend any time together?"
Her expression tightened. "That's not what I said."
"Right." He popped the trunk and forced his temper back as much as he could. After chucking their luggage in the back of the car, he slammed the trunk and walked around to the driver's side, ignoring her as best he could. Spending Christmas without Kari and now without Lisa? Fucked up.
"Marc." She got in and buckled up as he started the car. "I need to spend some time with my parents, okay? It's complicated."
"Right. Sorry I'm just a college cock. I wish I could understand better what's going on." He turned and put the car in reverse. "Unfortunately, the woman I'm in love with won't fill me in - at all."
"It's complicated and to be honest, I don't want to get emotional over it." She let out a sigh and reached out, running her hand over his thigh.
He hated himself for doing it, but he reached down and pushed her hand from him. "No. When you decide I matter enough to include me in your shit, then you can touch me."
"It's not-"
He lifted his hand and slammed on the brakes, giving her a stern glare. "No. Keep it to yourself. Spend the holidays with your parents without me. I'll be with my mom or my friends. It's cool. I'll see you when I can."
Her eyes filled with tears, and he hated himself for hurting her, but he was at a loss for what the fuck she expected from him.
He turned back to the road and cranked the radio up as a million emotions raced through him. The holidays were tough enough without having to be at odds with Lisa. Maybe they would figure things out over the four-hour drive. There was nothing else to do.
***
He pulled up to her parents’, his heart aching in his chest. They hadn't spoken more than ten words over the last four hours. Where he expected her to be mad, she wasn't. Sad, depressed, lost, maybe, but not mad.
"Hey. I can't spend this week without you. It doesn't work for me." He reached over and touched the side of her face. "I'm sorry I got crazy. I'm worried about you, and I'm your man, the last I checked, which means I want to know what's going on with you. I want to help fix it."
"I know." She moved toward him and pressed her lips to his.
He breathed her in and made love to her soft lips until she pulled back. "Call me later and I'll come up your trellis again or you come back to Mom's with me. I know you need time with your family, but we can do that together. You have today, okay? It's our holiday too, and I'm a greedy bastard."
She smiled and nodded. "All right. I love you. I'll call later."
"Me too, beautiful." He kissed her again and watched her get out in stony silence. She couldn't stand her mom, and her dad wasn't very high up on the list. Her leaving him to spend time with them seemed wrong - off. Maybe the call from her dad was filled with bad news, but if that was the case, she should have broug
ht him in on all of it.
At least that is what he would have done.
"She was raised differently than you," he mumbled under his breath to the empty car as he turned to head back toward his mother's side of town. Where Lisa's parents were wealthy, his mother wasn't at all. Her little house was all she could afford, and the old piece of shit was falling apart. Funny enough, the house was filled with love and welcome. There was no place in the world he would rather be for the holidays.
He flipped the station to Christmas music, smiling as it blared through the speakers. Lisa hated holiday music, and it wasn't his favorite, but it did something to lighten his spirit. His mom would be expecting him to be in a good mood. He didn't want to let her down.
The ride over wasn't too terribly bad, though the snow was piled up on the sides of the road, and the traffic was a little thick. It was three days until Christmas. The city was filled with visitors from all over the world.
He parked in front of the house and got out, taking a minute to look around as he lifted his hands to the sky and stretched. The old neighborhood hadn't changed a bit since he was a kid. Funny how rarely he stopped to realize that, almost as if he took it for granted.
Memories assaulted him as he stood there, all of them good. Him and Kari had enjoyed most of their childhood, and the moments that were the hardest were softened by his mother being there for them despite her own pain and loss.
Grabbing his bag, he slammed the door and jogged up the stairs, antsy to see his mother as love filled his chest. Kari might move across the country, but there was no way in hell he'd be able to leave his mother. Even moving to Maine with Lisa left him feeling queasy.
"Mom?" He pulled the door open and walked in to find his mom in the kitchen, an older man beside her. They were cooking from what Marc could tell. An odd sense of protection swelled inside of him as he stopped with the door still open.
"Hi, baby!" His mother moved toward him. "Close the door, silly."
"Yeah. Sorry." He tapped it and moved forward as the door closed.
"Hi, Marc. I'm Charles." The guy walked toward Marc and extended his hand as Marc's mom wrapped him in a hug from the side.
"Charles is a friend of mine. A new friend, I guess." His mom giggled like a girl who was falling in love might.
"How new?" Marc shook the guy's hand and gave him a once over. He looked like a good guy, but most of the bad ones did too.
"Marc. Stop it." His mom reached up and touched his cheek, forcing him to look down at her. "I'm glad you're here. I missed you."
"Me too, Mom." He turned and leaned down, pulling his mom into a warm hug. He was glad to be back home even though it had only been a few weeks. How the hell did he miss the fact that his mom was starting to date?
He was too wrapped up in his own shit to notice.
Chapter 8
Lisa
Lisa stood at the front door for a few minutes, trying to process some of the emotions that had bubbled up inside of her. Fighting with Marc didn't help the situation at all. She had to figure out how to let him into the pain of living out her childhood. It sat on her like a wet wool coat. The memories that flooded her, just standing in front of the house, had her searching for more air to breathe. Everything hurt.
She turned, putting her back to the door. Marc was long gone, and she honestly thought about calling him and having him stay with her. He would have, but she'd shoved him away.
It's embarrassing how much she hates you.
Lisa reached up and brushed her hair back, forcing her thoughts back. Her mother did hate her, or something close to it. She had nothing good to say, she never had.
The door opened behind Lisa, and she turned. Fredrick smiled and opened his arms. "Miss Lisa. How are you, dear? Your father said we should expect you today."
She smiled. "Fredrick. It's good to see you." She moved into the older man's arms as the smell of peppermint wrapped around her. Either he bathed in it, or always had one in his mouth. She wasn't sure which it was, but the smell was just part of his persona as far as she was concerned.
"You too. Don't you look lovely." He moved back and ushered her into the house. The whole place was lit up with Christmas lights and various trinkets.
There was no way in hell her mother had decorated. She most likely paid someone, but either way, it made the atmosphere nice, better.
"Is Lisa here?" Her father rounded the corner and stopped. "There you are, princess. Come here."
She moved toward him, feeling all of ten years old again. "Hi, Daddy."
He pulled her into a tight hug and pressed his face against her hair as a soft sob slipped from him. Lisa pulled him closer and held him as he cried softly in her arms.
"It's okay. I'm here. I'll stay and help out, okay?" She forced herself to be strong, the same way she had been the last time her mom had gotten sick. Her dad needed her strength, not her emotion or concern.
"I'm sorry." He moved back and reached up to wipe his face. "I promised myself I wouldn't fall apart around you. You deserve better than that."
"Dad. I'm your only child." Lisa reached up and ran her hand down the side of his head. "It's fine that you let yourself be real around me."
"It's just been horrible this time." He pulled a handkerchief from his back pocket and nodded toward the kitchen. "Come in here and let's have a piece of pie and talk. Maria is much better and finally came back to us."
Lisa breathed in deeply, finding the hints of apple and pumpkin as she followed her father to the kitchen. It was easier to be strong and unemotional without Marc there. She had made the right decision, even though she missed him already. It was easy to be weak in front of him and let him be her strength, but that wouldn't have worked in her current environment.
"Hi, Lisa!" Maria turned and moved across the kitchen, her stubbly little arms wide open and a huge smile on her face. "I've missed you, child!"
"Hi, Maria." Lisa gave the little older woman a hug and moved back. "I'm glad to see you're feeling better."
"Yes. Much. My sweet Johnny took my spot while I was down. He's such a good boy." She patted Lisa on the cheek. "You know he's been in love with you since he was a boy."
"Maria. Leave the girl alone." Lisa's dad moved up behind her and squeezed her shoulders. "I'm going to get us a couple of pieces of pie. Go see your mother and come back down to talk to me when you're done."
"Where is she?" Lisa's smile faded as she turned to face her father. The last thing she wanted to see was her mother weak and sickly lying in a bed. Where she hated how mean the woman was, watching her suffer just seemed to add to the horrible feeling of being home.
"In her bedroom." Lisa's father reached up and ran his fingers through his graying hair. "She can't get up without help. She's pretty weak from this last round of treatments."
"What did the doctor say?" Lisa wrapped her arms around herself.
"The cancer is spreading right now, so we're trying to get ahead of it, but it's a pretty high dosage of chemo." He glanced down at his fingers and shook his head. "She's more sick now than I've ever seen her. Just be prepared. She's not really herself."
Lisa held back her comments and nodded, walking past her father and preparing herself for the worst. She climbed the long spiral staircase languidly, each step feeling like her legs weighed a million pounds.
The hacking that came from the end of the hall forced her to stop and steady herself again.
It's going to be bad. It was horrible last time, and Dad said this time was worse. It's going to be bad. Get ready and just get through it.
Lisa forced herself to put one foot in front of the other, stopping beside her mother's bedroom door. The thin, pale woman lying in the bed didn't look much like her mother at all. Her hair was gone, and she'd lost a lot of weight. She didn't have weight to lose to begin with.
"Mom?" Lisa whispered and walked into the room. The need to cry choked her, but she swallowed it back down. Her mother hated sympathy or pity above all else.
"Lisa." Her mother opened her eyes and tried to sit up, but couldn't hold her own weight on her arms. She collapsed back down on the pillow and let out a shaky sigh. "Your father said you were coming. You didn't need to. Everything is fine."
Nothing had changed.
"I know, but I told Dad I would come by since we're in town."
"Who is we? Are you still seeing that young guy that you were messing around with the last time you were here?" Her mother paused to cough, the sound of her hacking almost too much. "You know he's too young for you. Men don't marry older women and stay put, child. You know this. Look at Kari's parents. Her father cheated the minute her mother got a gray hair. Men are bastards, don't be stupid. Dump him and find a man ten years older than you. He needs to be rich, preferably. The more money, the better."
Lisa let her eyes run along her mom's thin frame, which barely lifted the covers. Her words rolled off Lisa as they had for a long time. It didn't matter what she thought or what she had to say, it was done in spite.
"Call if you need me or Dad. I'm going to go share some pie with him." She reached out and grasped her mother's hand, half expecting her to pull it away.
"You didn't need to come. I'll beat this like I did last time. It's a waste of your time." Her mom shrugged and turned to cough again. She waved Lisa off as if she were directing a dog to trot from the room.
Lisa released her hand and moved back, turning and walking toward the door as fast as she could. Her mother wasn't doing better than last time. It was much worse. She jogged down the stairs, gripping the handrail as best she could.
She walked into the living room and stopped as her father glanced up. Dark circles sat below his eyes.
"It's horrible. I told you." He picked up his fork. "Come over here and share something good with me. Brighten my day. Please."
