A Family Under the Christmas Tree

by Terri Reed

  Troy rolled to his side. “Good night. Sleep well. I love you, Uncle David.”

  Tenderness filled his chest. “I love you too, buddy.”

  Oh, Daniel. We miss you so much. David had let a singular focus on work keep him from Daniel for too long and now he was gone. But Daniel’s legacy lived on in Troy.

  With a heavy heart, David left Troy’s room and headed back to his makeshift desk at the dining room table. He hoped to get some work done before Troy had a nightmare and required his attention. Before he could delve into the work and lose himself, his cell phone buzzed with an incoming text. Sophie. Asking if he was up. She was outside his house and wanted to talk.

  His pulse sped up. He wanted to see her. Needed to see her for reasons he didn’t fully understand. And that scared him more than he wanted to admit.

  CHAPTER

  8

  Sophie tightened her hold on Riggs’s leash. He sniffed the bushes around David’s porch while she waited to see if David would respond to her text. She stomped her feet softly to keep warm. A chill seeped through her raincoat. She wasn’t sure what madness had prompted her to send the text in the first place. It was obvious something had been bothering David today when he’d arrived at Grandma’s to pick up Troy.

  She hoped she hadn’t overstepped again. She hadn’t touched his house today, but she hadn’t needed to. They’d kept it tidy. She was so proud of Troy for returning his toys to his new chest like they’d talked about.

  She was surprised and a bit wary by the amount of pride she felt, because she wasn’t parent material. She was wandering into dangerous territory here. Everything she’d suggested had been tricks and tips she’d learned from the parade of nannies who’d come and gone from her life.

  The shopping trip with Troy had been a pleasant experience, which surprised her. Not that she’d expected it to be a disaster, but she hadn’t thought it would go so smoothly. She’d been afraid he’d want her to buy him things when the purpose of the trip had been to find gifts for underprivileged children.

  He’d seemed to understand and been very thoughtful in picking toys and warm clothing items for both girls and boys between the ages of two and ten. He’d really considered each present and never once asked for something for himself. Though she did manage to slip in a couple of superhero action figures that he’d said were his favorites without him seeing.

  She’d been so happy with his behavior she’d offered to buy him candy as they were checking out and he’d picked out a kind he’d said his uncle liked. Such a thoughtful kid.

  She wished she’d known his parents. They’d done a good job in such a short time of instilling compassion and generosity into their son.

  When she and Troy returned with their bounty, they’d spent the rest of the time at Grandma’s. She was almost sad that tomorrow would be the last day she’d have alone with Troy since David was taking the rest of the next two weeks off.

  Sad because she was going to miss hanging out with Troy. He was such a delight. Yes, he could be a bit of a handful, testing boundaries and struggling with self-control, but he was also a good kid with a good heart.

  And she’d miss seeing David dressed for the office. She had to admit he’d looked handsome in his suit. She’d liked the gray suit yesterday. But today he’d had on a navy pinstripe with a light-blue button-down shirt and red-and-navy-striped tie that had made him look powerful and confident. She wondered if he wore a suit every day he went into the office or just the days when he had meetings. He was such an interesting man. Charming and friendly at times, then stoic, almost brooding. It was confusing and intriguing at once.

  But she didn’t need the confusion in her life. And she refused to allow the intriguing notion to take root. Her goal was to get Grandma on her feet again and then take off. She had a really exciting job lined up. One that could set her up for a long time. She needed to keep her focus on the future.

  A shiver worked its way over her. The weather was chilly, but thankfully wasn’t raining right now. The neighborhood was quiet, but festive with twinkling lights on the houses. Except for David’s. He hadn’t put up lights. She wondered why. He’d so generously put up Grandma’s lights, why not hang any on his own house? Maybe he would over the weekend.

  As the seconds ticked by, she debated walking away. She could talk to David tomorrow or Saturday, when they went Christmas tree shopping. She’d almost forgotten about the planned excursion. Yes, she should wait until then instead of standing here on his porch like a stalker. She turned to go as David’s front door swung wide and he walked out onto the porch. He pulled the door but left a slight crack, no doubt in case Troy called out to him.

  The warm, yellow glow of the porch light revealed the bright shine in his gray eyes. He’d changed into jeans and a pullover hoodie. A five o’clock shadow darkened his jawline. He looked different from the professional man from earlier, but just as powerfully handsome. A quiver of attraction shot through her.

  She inhaled deeply, catching a whiff of his cologne, a musky masculine scent that made her want to nuzzle close to him. She stayed rooted to the porch at arm’s distance away. Safer that way. For her piece of mind.

  “Hey,” he said and bent to rub Riggs behind the ears.

  Was his greeting directed at her or the dog? She found herself tongue-tied as she watched him giving the puppy so much affection. She wanted to be on the receiving end of that affection. Her pulse raced.

  She’d made a mistake by asking him to come out. Drawing him onto the porch where it was just the two of them sent longing winding through her. She should have just kept on walking and let things stay the way they were. But she wasn’t one to ignore her curiosity. He’d been upset, and if she’d done something to offend, she needed it brought to light so she could apologize and they could move on.

  David straightened. “It’s a nice night for a walk.”

  “It is.” She fiddled with the leash, working up the nerve to broach the subject of his obvious upset. “Hey, so, I had the distinct impression you were bothered by something when you picked up Troy today. Did I do anything to offend you again?”

  He groaned. “No. Of course not. It isn’t you. It’s me.”

  “That sounds like a breakup line.”

  His eyes widened. “I’m not—I mean, what?”

  “Nothing,” she mumbled, embarrassed by her choice of words. They weren’t dating, so he couldn’t break up with her. Though the idea of dating David latched onto her mind.

  What would it be like to spend time alone with him, away from kids, dogs, and grandmas?

  She gave herself a mental shake. Not going to happen. Dating wasn’t on her agenda while in Washington. She was leaving to further her career, and nothing was going to stand in the way. Certainly not a man. No matter how handsome or how much he made her heart flutter. “So what’s going on? I promise, I’m a good listener.”

  “I’m sure you are.” He jammed his hands into his pockets. Riggs lay down, putting his paws on David’s foot. They shared a smile.

  “I really appreciate how well you’re taking care of Troy,” David said. “He’s become very fond of you and Louise. It’s great for him to have stability after suffering so much loss.”

  His words slipped between her ribs with swift and lethal accuracy. They both knew she was leaving and what it would do to Troy when she did. Her stomach roiled. “We’re fond of him, too.”

  “When do you leave again?”

  The pointed question lanced her heart. She sighed. “I’ve told you. After New Year’s.”

  “Right.”

  He still hadn’t answered her question. She debated letting it go. She had no reason to pry, especially if she wanted to keep from becoming too attached, too involved with him.

  But there was something about David that called to her. Something that made her believe he carried a heavy burden beyond the obvious one of sudden parenthood and a growing company. And she wanted to know what it was, and despite knowing she shouldn�
��t, she wanted to help. Her brothers would say she was meddling.

  She could almost see her middle brother, Dean, wagging a finger at her, saying, “Sis, you think you’re helping but you’re only making things worse with your meddling. Stay out of other people’s business.” Meaning his business. Though her other two brothers shared the sentiment.

  What would David think? Would he resent her for offering her support? Only one way to find out. “You can talk to me. I won’t judge.”

  David studied the pretty lady standing on his porch. Though the wall sconce created shadows that played across her face, he could see her earnest expression. Her blue eyes held his gaze. She had such a good heart. A giving heart. She wanted him to talk to her about what had him upset this afternoon. But he had a feeling her request came because she saw him as a project. Someone who needed to be fixed. How many times had others stepped into his life with the same agenda? Too many for him to count.

  He didn’t take handouts, nor did he want to be anyone’s good deed. Not even a beautiful and compassionate woman such as Sophie. “You won’t judge, huh?”

  “No, I won’t.”

  “Good to know.”

  Her eyebrows pinched together. “Did something happen at your office?”

  She was tenacious, he’d give her that. “No. Everything there is going well. My staff is prepared for me to take some time off.” He grinned. “In fact, we’re closing the office on the twenty-third.”

  Her influence on him. While he’d been making plans to take time away from the office, it had occurred to him that very few of his employees had taken vacation days. A few sick days here and there, but his staff was loyal and hardworking. And they deserved a reward for their dedication. “I figured we could all use a few days away from work. Paid, of course.”

  A smile broke out across her face. “That’s very generous of you.”

  Her praise puffed up his chest a bit. He’d known she’d like that. Though he wasn’t sure why her approval meant so much to him. Crazy. She was only temporarily in his and Troy’s life.

  Which was something he really needed to make sure Troy understood. He’d already told Troy that Sophie would be leaving after Christmas, but he had a feeling the child would need to be reminded often so his heart didn’t break when the time came for Sophie to say good-bye.

  She narrowed her gaze a bit. He could see her mind working. “So if work isn’t bothering you, then what?”

  Like a dog with a bone. He would admire her stubbornness if it weren’t directed at him. “Are you always so relentless?”

  She shrugged with a wry grimace. “According to my brothers, yes.”

  He wondered what made her tick. What kind of sister was she? What kind of girlfriend would she be? Strike that. He wasn’t interested in a girlfriend. He was so overwhelmed as it was by life, adding a relationship to the mix would only complicate things. But he couldn’t deny he would like to know more about her. It couldn’t hurt to fill in some details as long as he kept his heart from falling for her. Besides, if he could direct the conversation away from himself, all the better. “How many brothers do you have?”

  “Three.”

  That surprised him. She’d said her parents were workaholics. He’d expected her to be an only child or have one sibling at the most. “Where do you fit in?”

  “They are all older. Craig is thirty-five and a doctor, married to Leann, whom I adore. They have two kids, Michael and Gregory. Then there’s Dean. He’s thirty-two, a lawyer, married to Caitlyn, and they have a newborn girl named Deidra, after Cait’s mother. And Sean’s thirty, a pharmacist, and recently married to Rhonda.”

  He couldn’t help the stab of envy at the large family she enjoyed. “You’re the lone holdout, huh?”

  “Yes.” She blew out a breath. “Much to my mother’s dismay.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “That my mom’s dismayed? She thinks if I don’t get married by the time I’m thirty then I won’t.” She shook her head. “I’m twenty-eight. There’s still time.”

  “If thirty is the cutoff to be married, I’m doomed. Thirty was three years ago.” Not that marriage was on his mind.

  “There’s no time limit on getting married. That’s just my mother’s weirdness.”

  He chuckled. “Do you want to get married someday?”

  She shrugged again. “I’m not sure. I don’t have a stellar track record when it comes to relationships.”

  He could relate. “Too career-oriented?”

  She frowned. “Why would you say that?”

  “You travel for your work, live in a studio apartment that you admit is more of a storage and staging place than a home. You seem perfectly happy unattached and unfettered.”

  Her eyes widened. Apparently he’d hit the mark with his observations. “What about you? Is marriage in your plans?”

  “Definitely too work-oriented. My company comes first.”

  “But you have Troy now,” she gently reminded him. “He should come before work.”

  There was that. A game changer. “Yes. So now I have two priorities. I don’t think I could handle juggling a third one.”

  She looked away. What did it matter to her that he didn’t have room in his life for marriage? She wasn’t searching for a soul mate either.

  When she glanced back at him there was determination in her blue eyes. “You still haven’t answered my question. Why were you upset this afternoon?”

  He barked out a shallow laugh. “You’re not going to let that go, are you?”

  Her chin lifted. “No.” Riggs must have sensed the change in her demeanor because he rose and nudged her with his nose. She reached down to stroke his head. David watched the way the dog’s eyes rolled back in pure joy. The yearning to have Sophie running her fingers through his own hair made his scalp itch.

  Snapping his mind away from the dog’s obvious pleasure, David debated hedging. He really didn’t want to go down this road with her, but had a feeling she’d just keep pressing until he broke. Better to just get it over with. To put it out there and see how fast she ran. “Seeing all those gifts and hearing Troy talk about the needy brought back memories from my childhood.”

  She cocked her head. “Did you and your family give to the poor?”

  Acid burned in his gut. Such an innocent query. A valid one. Although everything inside of him wanted to walk away from her question, the answer slipped from his mouth anyway. “We were the poor.”

  She inhaled sharply. “Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”

  No sense in letting her feel bad for asking. “It’s okay. No need to apologize.”

  He wasn’t sure why he’d told her. He’d never admitted the truth to anyone before. He’d kept that part of his life from the public, from his employees and his investors. From anyone in his life. No one needed to know he’d come from nothing. He didn’t want anyone feeling sorry for him, or giving him a boost just because of his childhood circumstances.

  But Sophie had a quality that made him want to tell her things he’d never told to anyone else. He steeled himself against the pity he expected to see in her eyes. “Daniel and I were on the receiving end of others’ charity more often than I care to remember.”

  “Ah.”

  The tenderness in her eyes pricked him. No doubt her compassionate heart was flooded with sympathy. His fingers curled at his sides but he refrained from backing away from her. He’d started this by opening up and he’d take the hit. Better for her to learn now that he wasn’t like her and therefore not someone she should ever get emotionally involved with. They were from opposite worlds.

  She put a hand on his arm. “And receiving gifts from strangers made you feel dependent and out of control.”

  Her insight left him speechless. How could she know or possibly understand what he’d felt when her life had been so different? She’d never wanted for food or shelter. She’d never been teased or laughed at because she had on someone else’s cast-off clothes, or had to stand
in line at the welfare office for food stamps, bread, and milk.

  Despite her parents’ lack of attention, she’d had a privileged life. Still did.

  He should turn around and go back inside his house and leave her to think what she wanted, but he couldn’t make himself move.

  “Your parents?”

  “Did the best they could,” he was quick to say. He didn’t want her to think less of them. “They’d loved each other and their children above all else. My dad dropped out of high school to work on the family wheat farm. He and Mom were high school sweethearts, and when she finished high school, she married my dad and helped my grandparents. Daniel and I came along pretty quickly. Unfortunately, hard times hit.”

  His gut clenched at the thought of all his family had suffered. He had to force himself to continue. He’d come this far, he had to go all the way. “There were problems on the farm. Drought and then a diseased crop. Pressure from the bank.”

  Sophie made a distressed noise.

  He had to look away to continue. “Dad and Granddad did everything they could but weren’t able to save the farm. By the time I was four we lived in a small trailer on the edge of town. Dad did day labor for other farms in the area. Mom took a job at the convenience store.” He couldn’t keep the bitterness from creeping into his tone. “There’s a superstore on our farmland now.”

  She squeezed his arm. “That must have been hard on your family.”

  Riggs shifted his attention to David. The pup moved to lean against David’s leg. Reaching down, David uncurled his hand to bury his fingers in the dog’s fluffy fur. “Heartbreaking was more like it.”

  The memories battered at him, bringing with them the anxiety and fear that had plagued him for so long. Obviously he hadn’t buried his past as deeply as he’d thought he had. “My grandparents both died shortly afterward.”

  Were those tears in her eyes? “And your parents? Do they still live . . .”

  “In Chewelah. No. They’re gone. Mom died from the flu. We didn’t have insurance, so she wouldn’t go to the doctor, and the over-the-counter medication did nothing for her.”