0373659288 (R)

by Leanne Banks

  Something inside him expanded. As after an exercise he hadn’t done often enough, he felt a little sore but invigorated at the same time. “Lucky?”

  “Yes, lucky,” she said, smiling as she looked at the photos. “These are wonderful,” she said. “They will be healing for both Sam and Adelaide. Let’s go back to hang them. Do you want to wait till tomorrow to move?”

  The excitement in her voice lifted his spirits. He shook his head. “No, I think we need to get settled for however long we’ll be in Chantaine. Adelaide may be okay, but I think all the changes affect Sam.”

  “That sounds wise,” Sara said.

  He stared at her for a long moment. Sara had helped the children turn a corner. She was helping to lift the whole family out of the mire of their grief.

  He knew his stint in Chantaine wouldn’t last forever, but Sara was good medicine for his family. He wanted to find a way to keep her around for longer than his time in Chantaine. He wanted to keep her around for a long time. He was determined to find a way.

  * * *

  The family made the big move that evening. The children seemed delighted with their new digs. “How long will we be here?” Sam asked.

  “Until we go back to the States,” Gavin said.

  “I wanna stay here,” Sam said. “Can we stay here?”

  “For a while,” Gavin said as he met Sara’s gaze.

  “Can we play duck, duck, goose?” Sam asked.

  Gavin groaned.

  “Yes, we can,” Sara said, shooting a dark glance at Gavin. “Everyone gets tired after playing duck, duck, goose.”

  Gavin chuckled. “As you say,” he said, and he joined the game.

  An hour later, after too many games of duck, duck, goose, a round of video games and several books read aloud, Gavin and Sara collapsed on the sofa. Sara leaned her head back. “Wow, that was a lot. I hope they sleep well,” she said.

  “Me, too,” Gavin said. “How do they have so much energy?”

  “They didn’t unpack and hang photos,” she reminded him, her eyes still closed.

  “True,” he said. “Thanks for all you did today. I think Sam is coming around.”

  “I hope so,” she said. “I just want him to heal and be happy. Maybe I’m asking too much.”

  “I’m asking for the same thing,” he said. “Speaking of asking. What does Sara want for Christmas?”

  Sara chuckled. “Oh, my goodness. I can’t think of a thing, except maybe the opportunity to sleep for at least twenty-four hours.”

  Gavin heard the weariness in her voice and wanted to make it up to her. “I’ll see what I can do about that.”

  She laughed again. “I was joking,” she said. “I’m fine.”

  Gavin nodded, but his brain was turning. He would find a way for Sara to have her break, and maybe he would take a break with her.

  * * *

  Over the next two days, Sara divided her time between wrapping gifts for the children and helping them get settled into the house. She missed the piano but tried not to think about it. She had plenty else to do, and there really wasn’t a good place for it in this house.

  Ericka had invited Tabitha and herself for a Christmas Tea with the Devereaux women, and she’d been considerate enough to provide a sitter for Sam and Adelaide. How could she turn the Devereaux family down?

  Truthfully, she couldn’t. After giving Tabitha a little nudge, her sister agreed to attend. Sara worried about Tabitha. Her sister didn’t seem herself.

  Sara drove to the palace for brunch, pulled into the parking lot and was immediately admitted into the building. A wave of nostalgia flowed over her as she remembered walking into the tumbledown palace from her childhood with no ID. The guards had known her by her face and her voice. She’d always tried to be polite and gracious.

  After the attacks against her family, she wondered how successful she’d been at conveying her gratitude. Walking into the one of the smaller palace dining rooms, she noticed that many of the royal family were already in attendance. Her sister, Tabitha, however, was nowhere in sight.

  Ericka glanced up. “There you are,” she said as she stood. “I’m so glad you came. And where is your sister?”

  “She’s driving herself,” Sara said. “I’m sure she’ll be here soon. Merry Christmas.”

  “Merry Christmas to you.” Ericka embraced Sara. “I don’t need to introduce you, but I’ll refresh your memory just in case. Eve’s on the other side of the table. Bridget sits to the left of her. Pippa, enormously pregnant, sits to the right. I hope Pippa makes it through tea,” Ericka said in a low voice.”

  Sara chuckled. “She looks fine to me.”

  “Well, let’s get a spot of tea. Hopefully Tabitha will arrive soon,” she said.

  “Hopefully,” Sara muttered to herself.

  Eve, the Texan wife of the ruling prince Stefan, glanced up from her conversation with Pippa. “Welcome, welcome,” she said, rising from her chair and walking around the table to give Sara a big hug. “How are you surviving? I bet this has felt like forever for you.”

  “It has gone on longer than I anticipated, but I’m very grateful for the safety your family has extended to my sister and me,” she said. “I think the hardest part has been not getting any news about Alex.”

  “Yes, I understand. I lost track of my brother for years. It was such a gift when Stefan located him again. I’ll see what I can do to remind him. In the meantime, I’m hearing that the Sinclairs are thrilled with your service to their family. You got up to speed in record time.”

  “Yes, she has,” Ericka said. “And this hasn’t been the easiest assignment with the grief the family has been suffering.” She made a sympathetic tsking sound.

  “I think they’re all making progress, but it’s challenging balancing their grief with the joy of Christmas. You can’t just skip Christmas when you have children,” Sara said.

  “Of course not,” Bridget said from her place at the table. “And speaking of Christmas, I think you and the Kincaids should join us for Christmas dinner. Tell Mr. Sinclair I insist.”

  “That sounds lovely—”

  Tabitha burst into the room. “Sorry, I’m late,” she said. “I had to pull a few extra hours at the restaurant. At least no one is trying to kidnap me. So these are commoner concerns,” she said with a saucy grin that looked a little forced to Sara.

  The Devereaux women chuckled in unison and Sara suspected they were completely charmed.

  “Oh, you poor thing,” Bridget said. “I hate it that you have to work so hard.”

  “It could be worse,” Tabitha said. “I could have Sara’s job. Heaven help the children under my care.”

  The whole group of women giggled. Except Sara.

  Something about Tabitha’s expression seemed a bit brittle. A bit off. She frowned, wondering what was really wrong.

  Tabitha glanced at her. “Oh, no. Have I offended you?”

  “Not at all,” Sara said. “I feel as if I’m doing something important with the Sinclair family. I just want you to be well.”

  Silence followed.

  Tabitha chuckled. “You know me. I’m always better than well.”

  But Sara suspected something about Tabitha was wrong. She just wasn’t sure how to learn what exactly that was.

  Sara enjoyed the tea. It had been a while since she’d taken a formal tea, so it was a pleasure. At the same time, she couldn’t stop noticing that Tabitha just didn’t seem right. Tabitha ate very little and excused herself to go to the restroom. Her sister’s face looked a bit gaunt.

  Sara prayed Tabitha wasn’t truly ill. She followed her to the restroom during her second trip. “Tabitha,” she said.

  Tabitha glanced at her over her shoulder. “Sorry. Can’t stop. I think I have food poisoning,” she said before she vanished into the bathroom and apparently spilled her stomach.

  Sara waited outside the restroom for her sister. When Tabitha walked outside, Sara immediately confronted her. “I’m afraid
there’s something wrong with you. You’ve been ill for too long,” she said.

  Tabitha waved her concerns away. “I’m not ill. I just have a little nausea. It will pass soon. I’m betting it will be gone by next weekend.”

  “Hmm,” Sara said. “I think you should go to the doctor. In fact, I insist.”

  “Insist?” Tabitha echoed. “Have you ever known me to respond to demands?”

  Sara sighed. “Can you respond to loving concern?”

  Tabitha also sighed. “Well, I suppose that’s different.”

  “I just want you to be okay. Can you blame me? You and I may be all we have left. Alexander may be gone to us.”

  “I don’t believe he’s gone,” Tabitha said. “In fact, when we find out where he’s been, I suspect we’ll be irritated, if not angry with him.”

  “Really?” Sara said more than asked, amazed by Tabitha’s prediction.

  “Yes, really,” Tabitha said. “We’re all worked up, worried and growing older by the minute and I’ll bet we’ll find that Alex is perfectly fine and safe.”

  “I wish I shared your optimism,” Sara said.

  * * *

  During the rest of the tea, Tabitha was her charming, amusing self, but Sara just knew something was going on with her sister. She wasn’t sure what it was, but she suspected it was important.

  “Sara and Tabitha—” Bridget cleared her throat. “Jane,” she corrected herself. “You just don’t seem like a Jane. No matter. I want to remind you that you’re invited to my house for Christmas dinner. Don’t forget,” Bridget said. “Don’t refuse me.”

  Tabitha laughed. “I like your spirit. It matches mine. That said, don’t feel bad if I can’t come. My restaurant is serving a special meal on Christmas Day.”

  All of the Devereaux women frowned in disapproval. “Well, I don’t like that,” Pippa said.

  “Neither do I,” Bridget said.

  “Nor I,” said Eve.

  Tabitha smiled. “It’s not that bad. I won’t be digging ditches. If I have one Christmas wish, it’s that Alex will be found soon.”

  Ericka exchanged a glance with Eve. “Perhaps we can work on that Christmas wish, Eve,” Ericka said.

  “I think it’s time to talk with Stefan. This has gone on too long,” Eve said.

  Bridget chuckled. “Good luck, Stefan,” she said. “Now, speaking of Christmas, have you completed all of your shopping? And where are you hiding your gifts? One of my boys has already located a gift intended for my daughter.”

  “Oh, dear,” Pippa said. “Thank goodness Amelie isn’t quite that curious yet.”

  “You can always hide them at the palace,” Eve offered.

  “We’re putting Sam’s at the top of my closet. He’s not much of a climber. At the moment,” she added. “So I’m hoping they’ll be safe from his discovery. I would like to give Sam an opportunity to decorate cookies, but I’m not much of a cook. I haven’t ever made cookies.”

  “That’s easy,” Bridget said. “There are these rolls of cookie dough you can buy at the food market. You just slice up the dough, bake them and the children can add canned frosting and sprinkles. They love it.”

  “I’m afraid it’s something most of us have in common. I never really had to cook for myself,” Pippa said.

  “Well, I did,” Eve said, “But I wasn’t raised as a royal. I agree with Bridget on the refrigerator cookies. They’re easy and take care of the job.”

  “Thanks for the hint,” Sara said, glad to know she wasn’t the only one who had been raised without some real-life skills.

  The Devereaux women continued to discuss their children and husbands and plans for Christmas. After the tea concluded, Sara followed her sister to her apartment.

  “Forgive the untidiness,” Tabitha said, waving a hand toward a chair full of laundry. “I haven’t felt much like cleaning lately. I finally got around to doing some laundry.”

  “I can help you fold,” Sara said. “But I am starting to get worried about you. You’re just so pale, and I noticed you didn’t eat much at the palace tea at all.”

  Tabitha made a face. “I wasn’t in the mood for sweets. Well, I wasn’t in the mood for much of anything. But stop fussing. This can’t last forever. I’m sure it’s just a bug that’s hanging on.”

  “I think it’s time for you to see a doctor. I insist,” she said.

  Tabitha’s eyes widened. “We’ve already discussed this.”

  “It’s for your own good,” Sara said. “Sit down and let me fix some tea.”

  Sara went to the adjoining kitchen and fixed two cups, then returned to the den. Tabitha was leaning back against the sofa with her eyes closed.

  “Are you asleep?” Sara asked.

  Her sister opened her eyes and yawned. “Not yet. This must be part of the little bug I have.”

  “All the more reason for you to go to the doctor. Promise me you will,” Sara said.

  “Let me give it a few more days,” Tabitha said. “I don’t want to have to make up a new history for the doctor.”

  “You can just tell him the truth about your health. That shouldn’t be too hard. And I want you to call tomorrow. You may not be able to get an appointment right away,” Sara insisted. “If you don’t do it, then I will.”

  Tabitha lifted her hand. “Okay, okay. I’ll make an appointment tomorrow, but I’m expecting to heal miraculously overnight.”

  Sara let out a little breath. Part of her concern for her sister was selfish. With Alex missing, her sister was the only member of her family she knew was still alive. Despite the fact that Sara and Tabitha were as different as night and day, she’d always adored her sister and spoiled her whenever she’d gotten the opportunity.

  She took a sip of tea, then put down the cup. “We haven’t had enough time together and I’ve really been missing you.”

  “I know what you mean,” Tabitha said, her expression turning serious. “When I heard about the fire I was so upset. I couldn’t eat or sleep even after you called me. I kept thinking about that terrible fire in the palace when they’d gotten everyone out except you.”

  Sara hugged her sister. “That was a frightening time for all of us.”

  “But it was worse for you, and your injuries were worse,” Tabitha said, shuddering at the memory.

  Sara lifted her palms and looked at them. “Everything still works. I guess I’m lucky.”

  “I know you told me you didn’t panic when the smoke alarm went off, but you had to have some kind of reaction.”

  Feeling a twinge of restlessness, Sara went to the chair filled with clothes and began to fold them. “The sound of the alarm was terrible and the smell of smoke took me back for a few seconds, but then I knew I had to get the children out of the house. I was more concerned about getting them to safety than anything. My fingers did shake when I called emergency. After the fire truck came and Gavin arrived, I felt relieved. Gavin hugged all of us.”

  “Oh, he did, did he? And have you and he progressed in the romantic department?” her sister prodded.

  Sara really didn’t want to discuss her relationship with Gavin. It was so complicated. “It doesn’t really matter,” she said. “It’s all temporary. Our situation here—” She broke off. “It’s just beginning to feel like I woke up one day with a different identity. Like I got kidnapped to be in the circus. I know we’re safer here than we would be in Sergenia and I’m grateful to the Devereaux family for taking us in when no one else appeared willing. But—”

  “But?” Tabitha prompted.

  “But I want to find Alex and I want to stop lying about who I am. I want you and me to get on with our lives. Whatever that may mean.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Sara arrived at the new house late that night. She’d helped Tabitha with laundry and cleaning and even heated a can of soup without burning it—a huge accomplishment. She stayed with her sister until Tabitha fell asleep on the couch for the second time. Then Sara urged her sister to get ready for bed
.

  Walking into the house, she noticed the sound of soft jazz music and subdued lighting in the den. Gavin appeared from the hallway with two glasses of white wine. “Ready to relax?” he asked.

  She smiled at the sight of LED candles lit throughout the room. “I’m surprised. I thought you might have been overwhelmed with the children after the sitter left.”

  “Binnie showed up, and I only managed the evening.”

  Sara stepped toward him and accepted the glass of wine. She took a sip and allowed the cool liquid to slide down her throat. “Well, it appears you’ve done a good job if both children are in bed.”

  Gavin took her hand and led her to the sofa. “I’m not sure how she does it, but I think the palace nanny wears them out.”

  Sara took another sip of her wine. “I must talk to her and learn her secret,” she said.

  He gave a short chuckle. “You’re doing pretty well on your own. How was the tea and the rest of your day?”

  “The palace was so generous to include me and—” she broke off when she almost mentioned Tabitha “—another non-Devereaux. It was lovely. They were so welcoming and I received a tip for baking cookies for the children to decorate. I plan to do that soon with Sam and Adelaide.”

  “And afterward?” he asked, drinking from his own glass of wine.

  “There wasn’t much time afterward,” she hedged. “I did a bit of window shopping and ran into a friend I met when I first moved to Chantaine.”

  He skimmed his fingertips over the inside of wrist. “Are you tired?”

  She nodded. “But not as tired as I have been,” she said. “What about you?”

  “It’s good to know I’ll be sleeping in the same bed I’m going to sleep in for the next several weeks.”

  “I think you’re right,” she said.

  “Otherwise, it’s camping,” he said.

  Sara thought about all the times she’d spent only one or two nights in a country when she’d been on a concert tour. “Or work,” she said.

  “Sounds like you’ve been there,” he said. “Not that you’ll tell me much more.”

  She smiled. “Correct on both counts.”

  He gave a faux put-upon sigh. “Okay,” he said. “I have an early Christmas gift for you. It’s not perfect, but I’m hoping it will make the transition a little easier.”