Harlequin Heartwarming December 2020 Box Set

by Cari Lynn Webb, Linda Warren, Mary Anne Wilson

  She lifted Luci into her arms and kissed her cheek. “Morning, baby. Let’s go potty.”

  Luci liked to do things for herself so Becky let her. There was a small stool at the sink she could step on to wash her hands. She was fond of doing this, over and over.

  “That’s enough,” Becky said.

  At that moment, the memory of the night before came to Luci. “Candy, Mommy,” she cried and took off running. Becky caught her at the bottom of the stairs. “Hold on, hold on.”

  Next followed a long conversation about how much candy one could eat or how little candy one should eat. Luci picked out the candy she was allowed to eat that day and put the rest into the cabinet, except for the cookies.

  “After breakfast, you can have a cookie.”

  Luci clapped her hands.

  While Luci was eating breakfast, Becky’s phone binged. It was Dr. Berger from the hospital.

  “Good morning, Becky, Kathy wants to go home with her mother and I see no reason to keep her here. She’s nervous her husband will find her. I’m going to release her and I thought I’d let you know.”

  “Thank you. Just be sure she makes an appointment. Dr. Eames needs to see her.”

  “Will do. But I examined her this morning and she’s fine.”

  Becky clicked off. Kathy wasn’t fine. She wouldn’t be fine for a very long time.

  “Cookie, Mommy, cookie.”

  Becky handed her daughter a cookie and fervently hoped it wouldn’t take a long time for Bo to adjust. She knew him, and right now he was experiencing a lot of guilty feelings. He had to experience them. That was the only way to deal with what had happened. After that, maybe he would talk to her again and they could meet on equal ground, sharing and loving a child they had created for that brief moment.

  * * *

  BO THREW HIMSELF into work like he always did. If there was a lull in SWAT duties, they usually helped out the cops or trained, but they were always on call for emergencies. Keep busy was again his mantra. It kept him from thinking, but later at night, when he was lying in bed, Becky interrupted his dreams, and he wasn’t sure if they could ever recover from the past.

  Days turned into weeks and he had to face the big Thanksgiving coming up. He’d told his mother he would be there and he wasn’t backing out. If he did anything now, it would be to stand up and be the man he was supposed to be. And forgiveness wasn’t so hard anymore. He’d been through a lot of life’s lessons and there were many more to come.

  On Thanksgiving morning he left early to beat the traffic and was at his mother’s by six. She was up already and busy cooking. There were pots and pans and dishes everywhere.

  “Are you cooking the whole meal?”

  “Lois and I have to make the whole meal. Lois’s daughters are hopeless in the kitchen and what do you think Kelsey’s going to bring? I don’t know what I did, but that girl hates to cook.”

  “Because you always took care of it.”

  “Yeah.” His mom brushed a strand of hair from her face.

  “Do you need me to do anything?”

  “Just stay out of my way. Oh.” She changed her mind. “Could you get that big ice chest from the garage? I have lined it with tinfoil.”

  He brought the ice chest in and placed it on the floor in the kitchen. “Is Kel meeting us there?”

  “Yes. Once I get all of this packed, you can put the chest into the car for me.”

  He helped her pack and carried everything to her SUV. She then took a shower and got dressed. Standing in the living room, she glanced at him as he was drinking coffee in the kitchen. “Bo, you are coming, right?”

  “Yes, Mom, I’m coming, but I’d rather not go this early.”

  She stood there, staring at him, and he knew something was up. “What?”

  “Uh…your father’s girlfriend will be with him and I hope you won’t cause a scene.”

  “He has a girlfriend?” For the life of him Bo didn’t know why that surprised him, but it didn’t matter. What mattered was his relationship with his father. Or the lack of one.

  “No problem. Don’t worry about it. Two months ago I probably would’ve pitched a fit, but who am I to throw stones? I promise you there won’t be a scene.”

  “Well, you do seem rather calm.”

  “It’s called growing up and facing facts.”

  “I’m speechless.”

  After his mom left, he strolled through the house and stopped at the window in his bedroom. His heart skipped a beat. Luci sat on the step of Craig’s house with pink ribbons around her pigtails, wearing her pink glasses and a pink outfit he’d never seen before. Pink lay beside her and Purr trailed around the potted plant on the porch. Becky was home.

  He stared at the blue ball on Luci’s lap and before he knew it he was out the front door, walking across the street. Luci jumped up when she saw him and ran to him.

  “Bo, you wanna play?” Such a change from the little girl he’d met weeks ago. A smile split her face as she spoke in a full sentence.

  He lifted her into his arms. “Little angel, it’s Thanksgiving and your mommy probably has plans for you.”

  “Grandpa’s cooking.”

  He sat on the step with her in his lap, and took the ball from her and placed it on the porch. “You’re all dressed up.”

  She looked down at her pink outfit. “Me pretty.”

  “Yes, you are.”

  The door opened and Becky stood there in black slacks and a white turtleneck sweater. Her hair was tousled around her face in a new style. She looked gorgeous. “Lu… Oh, Bo.”

  He got to his feet, letting Luci go, and was unsure of what to say. “I was just talking to Luci.”

  “I see,” she replied in a nervous voice. “Luci, your grandfather needs you.”

  “’Kay.” Luci ran into the house and left him and Becky to face the past between them. It was as big as all outdoors and stretched as far as they could see.

  “I’m sorry for everything you had to go through.” The words came out of Bo in a rush.

  Becky sat on the step and he eased down by her. The scent of Mimosa Rain was all around him and memories, beautiful memories, floated through him.

  “And I’m sorry for blurting it out like that,” she said, “but I had to tell you. You needed to know.”

  “Yes, I needed to know.” He didn’t say he needed to know years ago or that she should’ve found a way to get in touch with him. He didn’t lay the blame at her door. He accepted it squarely at his.

  “Are you okay?” she asked in a soft voice.

  “I’m getting there.”

  “I never realized what a burden I was carrying until I told you. I feel much better now and with less guilt. There’s no way for us to go back and do things differently. We have to learn from our mistakes and try to do better. That’s what I’m doing. I don’t have that ache in my heart anymore or that resentment toward you. I finally set myself free and I suggest you do the same.”

  “I can’t help thinking I’m just like my father.”

  “You’re not. You never cheated on me.”

  “I can look him in the eye and talk to him as a son now.”

  “Oh, Bo. That’s really a big leap for you and I hope it all goes well.”

  He could see through the warmth of her eyes that she did and that part of him that was wound so tight eased enough to let him breathe without angst.

  “Bo, Bo, Bo.” Luci came running out the door again, her blue eyes just as alive as Becky’s. “We gonna get a—” She looked at Becky. “What we gonna get?”

  Becky picked her up. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, baby.”

  “You know, Grandpa said.” Luci held her arms toward the sky. “It’s big and…”

  “Do you mean the Christmas tree?”

  Luci nodd
ed vigorously. “Yes. Grandpa says we gonna get a big Christmas tree… And I want… Bo to help. He’s my friend.”

  “Anything you want, little angel, if it’s okay with your mom,” Bo responded without hesitation.

  “Sure,” Becky said. “We’re going to get one in the morning. Are you off tomorrow?”

  He remembered that Tullous tradition of getting the tree the day after Thanksgiving. He wasn’t off, but he would be by tomorrow morning even if he had to quit. He was that serious about mending all the broken fences with Becky, and it started tomorrow.

  As soon as he got into his truck he called the lieutenant. She was having Thanksgiving like everyone else, but he didn’t hesitate. This was too important.

  “Goodnight, what is it?”

  “I would like some time off, Lieutenant. It’s a family thing and I need to be here.”

  “Just schedule it like everyone else.”

  “I need tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday off.”

  There was a pause on the line. “You’re very aware these need to be scheduled ahead of time.”

  “Yes, ma’am, and I wouldn’t ask if wasn’t something important.”

  “Okay, but you will be on call for an emergency in case we have a situation?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Thank you.”

  He slipped the phone into his pocket. He was going to spend Thanksgiving like everyone else, but first he had to face the demon in him and the demon had a name—Mason.

  * * *

  BECKY WENT BACK into the house with Luci in her arms. She and Bo had had a good talk and she was happy about that. Maybe there was a way to talk through all the heartache and pain. Maybe there was a way to start the healing. Maybe there was a way to find love again.

  “Grandpa,” Luci said, slipping to the floor. “Bo’s gonna help.”

  Her dad turned from the stove. He was wearing a big apron that had a turkey on the front of it. “What’s she talking about?”

  “Bo, Grandpa.” Luci tried to make him understand, but failed.

  “Bo’s going to help us get the Christmas tree tomorrow.”

  “Good, then I’m going to sit in my chair and watch football.”

  Luci darted off to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

  “Bo’s going to see his dad today.”

  “I know. Ava told me.” Her dad stirred the potatoes on the stove and wiped his hands on a dishtowel. “I don’t understand why Ava has to go. She’s not married to Mason anymore, but I guess that’s her family.”

  “Yes, I think they are. I hope she’s going to be okay, since he’s bringing a girlfriend.”

  “He’s bringing a girlfriend! That’s just…” Her dad couldn’t find the words as he spit and sputtered.

  “It’s none of our business, Dad. You know Ava has a soft spot when it comes to Mason.”

  “I’m well aware of that. I just never understood her penchant for always forgiving that man.” Anger coated her dad’s voice and that was so unlike him. In all her growing-up years she hardly ever remembered him raising his voice.

  “Did you say any of this to Ava?”

  “Sure I did. I don’t want to see her get hurt again. We’re friends and we speak our minds.”

  “I see.” But she really didn’t. She had the same suspicion she’d had earlier about her dad and Ava’s relationship. Were they more than friends? There were no signs if they were, but she and Bo were rarely home, so how would they know?

  * * *

  BO’S AUNT LOIS lived in a nice Temple subdivision. The houses were on lots that were almost an acre and there was plenty of room for parking, but on this day cars were parked everywhere on the streets as families were home for the holiday. He parked at the curb behind cars in the driveway. He was leaving as quickly as he could, so it didn’t matter if he was blocking some cars.

  Someone got out of the car ahead of him and he looked closer. It was his sister, Kelsey. There was no mistaking that red hair. He used to call her the ugly duckling because of her hair, but he couldn’t say that anymore. She’d turned into a beautiful young woman with deep coppery-colored hair and green eyes. He had to admit his sister was a knockout. Maybe a little clueless, stubborn, opinionated and sharp-tongued, too. His sister could get on his nerves better than anyone.

  She tottered on high heels to him, carrying something in her hand. “I was waiting for you.”

  “I’m here now. What’s the problem?”

  “I’m not going in there alone.”

  “Why?”

  “He’s in there and I haven’t seen him in years. I might need vodka for this.”

  Bo chuckled. “I’ve never known you to be afraid of anything.”

  “There’s always a first time.” She looked down at the glass thing she was holding. It was small at the bottom and wide at the top. It looked like a vase filled with something.

  “What is that?” he asked.

  “Mom told me to bring something sweet. What did she tell you to bring?”

  “Uh…”

  “I knew it. She didn’t tell you to bring a thing, did she?”

  “No,” he admitted.

  “It doesn’t matter how old we get, you’ll always be the favorite and I get diddly-squat nothing.”

  “Let’s don’t do the brother-sister thing today. Our concentration is elsewhere. What did you make?”

  “Banana pudding.”

  He frowned. “It doesn’t look like banana pudding. Is that a vase?”

  She held it up. “Yeah. I didn’t have anything else to put it in.”

  Bo tried very hard not to laugh, but this was classic Kelsey. “How did you make it?”

  “I just mixed it all together and dumped it in the vase. It’s glass and clean, so what’s the difference?”

  “It’s supposed to be layered, I think.”

  Kelsey shrugged. “Who cares?”

  Bo slung his arm around her shoulder. “Let’s go meet the demon in our lives.”

  His mother answered the door. “Come in,” she said, then whispered, “Be on your best behavior,” as if they were five years old.

  She looked at what Kelsey was holding in her hand. “What is that? Is that a vase?”

  Kelsey handed it to her. “Yes, ma’am, and it’s filled with banana pudding.”

  “Oh, good grief.”

  “Why did I have to bring something and not Bo? He’s capable of cooking, you know.”

  “Not now, Kelsey.”

  “Beauregard, my grandson, is here.” His grandmother threw her arms around his waist and hugged him, and then she hugged Kelsey. “Such beautiful grandchildren.” She took their hands and led them toward Mason and the woman with him.

  Bo had been trained to seek out the enemy and he zeroed in on Mason as soon as he stepped into the living room. His father stood at the back of the crowd with a drink in his hand and a beautiful woman wearing lots of makeup standing beside him. Bo’s stomach tightened, just from habit.

  On the way there he shook hands with John and Nathan, the husbands of his cousins, Mitzi and Sarah. Uncle Jim’s daughter, Andrea, and her husband, Mike, were also there. Mike was stationed at Fort Hood. Three little girls, four, three and two, milled around the room. Uncle Dale sat in his recliner watching a football game. Aunt Lois was in the kitchen.

  Grandma had a death grip on Bo and Kelsey’s hands and she practically dragged them to Mason and his girlfriend. They stopped in front of the couple and Grandma was the first to speak. “Look at your handsome children. I’m so proud of both of them.”

  “I am, too,” Mason replied. “I’m glad you both came.” He turned to the woman beside him. “This is Layla.”

  Before Bo or Kelsey could reply, Aunt Lois shouted from the kitchen, “Dinner. And turn that TV off, Dale.”

  Dale complied and they g
athered around a long dining table. Aunt Lois and his mother had outdone themselves. The table was set for fourteen people with china and crystal, and flowers in the center. There were six places on each side and one at each end. There were place cards so everyone knew were to sit. Aunt Lois and Grandma sat on the ends. Two of the little girls sat at a table with their own special paper china. The two-year-old was in a high chair on Mitzi’s right.

  Dale stood and said the prayer and then Aunt Lois brought a big turkey on a platter to the table and set it in front of Dale, who promptly started to carve it.

  Not a word was spoken during this process, and then everyone passed around the food and started to eat. All this was going through Bo’s head and it was in slow motion, driving him crazy. He just wanted to get out of there.

  Bo thought about Luci and how she would enjoy playing with the little girls. He tried not to look at his dad or the girlfriend. He concentrated on the food.

  “There’s too much salt in the dressing,” Grandma said.

  “Ava made it,” Lois said and pointed a finger at her mother. “You thought I made it and wanted to criticize. Well, this time it backfired on you.”

  “The dressing is delicious,” Mason said. “Ava’s always is.”

  Bo kept eating and refused to look at his sister, who was sitting beside him.

  Kelsey poked her fork into his thigh and he glared at her.

  “Where did you meet Uncle Mason?” Mitzi asked Layla.

  Layla wiped her mouth. “I met him at the Veterans Hospital in Temple. His band came to play and since I’m a singer I didn’t want to miss it. They let me sing a couple of numbers and afterward they hired me.”

  “You’re in his band?” Sarah asked.

  “Yes, for about a year now. Once I heard Mason’s voice, I just fell in love.”

  “A lot of women have,” Lois mumbled.

  Grandma pointed her fork at her daughter. “Don’t start.”

  After that, everyone continued to eat in silence. The only noise in the room was the chatter of the little girls. When they were done, everyone carried their plates to the kitchen.

  “Is it okay to smoke in here?” Layla asked Grandma.

  “No, Lois would have a fit with the children around. You have to go outside to smoke.”